Seashell Series

 Probably about a year ago, I acquired a weathered, white, 3-window picture frame from my mother that I always knew I wanted to use for some future artwork. I recently decided it would be a good picture frame for my upcoming photography show and I decided I wanted to feature photos of seashells.

Also, about a year ago, I purchased seashells from a local gift shop with the idea of using them in artwork (which I haven't) and I laid these shells out on some brown bark paper which I have in my paper arsenal.

Then I photographed a dozen or more photos of these shells and worked with them in photoshop in order to come up with three designs to use in the frame.

Here are the results of that exercise.

Tangy Zoodle #108

I'm going somewhere with this. This is just a prototype and I think I'm liking the direction this is going in. It will be awhile before I can develop it further because of other projects that I need to finish first; but this has definite possibilities.

(This is how it started out, of course.)

In Time For Mother's Day

On the eBay auction block I currently have three original collages that I picked with Mother's Day in mind. The auction ends Saturday. Click on the captions below the images for more information and a direct link to eBay.

"First Love"

"Red Balloon"

"Paisley Bathtub"

This Week's Note Card Post :D

French Daydreams Note Card

OK. So I decided to incorporate a rubber stamp in this note card as well. In truth, it's probably not my favorite note card, but, it has a certain charm. 

Cupcake Note Card

But, of course I made note cards last week. I had a great time making this one. Upon checking out at Michael's a few days prior to its creation, I had to go past the $1.00 bins on my way to the check out counters. Those bins are irresistible! I found cupcake rubber stamps! I bought one for myself and one for my eight-year-old niece, Georgia. 

As you can see, I made it the focal point for this very fun "scrap collage" which has all things in it. I wonder who the unsuspecting recipient of this card will be! :D

Marble Steps

And yet another new addition to the Savannah Series. Graceful, curved steps is such a noteworthy architectural feature in this city.

Savannah Series Continues

Last week I posted the first three collages of my new Savannah series and this week I'm happy to be able to post three more! 

"Pirate House Window" - 5x7 - mixed media collage
The Pirate House is one of the oldest standing buildings in Savannah and contains much history as well as many ghosts.

"Red Lion" - 6x6 - mixed  media collage
Once again, I've featured the proud beast who silently sits in front of the Cotton Exchange and watches everything that happens on Bay Street.

"Factor's Walk" - 6x6 - mixed media collage
This area was the center of commerce back in the day when cotton was king.

The Latest Collaged Note Cards

I was very good last week at creating a new note card every day. They are something I use all the time when sending a birthday or greeting card and an item I sell whenever I'm doing an outdoor show. Some customers have caught on to the idea that for $5.00 they can go home with a piece of original, frame-able artwork!

Flowers & Butterflies Decorative Gift Box

Click here for more info!

3 Red Hearts Decorative Gift Box

Had to make a couple more boxes for the upcoming show!

For more information, click here!

Chelsea Dragonfly

For more information, click here: Chelsea Dragonfly

I love New York, I love dragonflies and I love paper shops. So, after stumbling upon Paper Presentation in Chelsea during my recent trip to NYC, I just had to celebrate my great paper find by creating a dragonfly! What would you have done?

Fab papers by Black Ink, found at Paper Presentation

Therapy

I don't know whether or not you've guessed this, but making collaged note cards is therapeutic for me. Whether I'm using it as a studio warm up or specifically spending an entire studio session making note cards, I find that I can truly escape into the right side of my brain and put these together without thinking. I rummage through all my scraps and start assembling by color and shape. And then, of course, comes lots of glitter! You know I love glitter.

And I use these cards, too. For birthdays, anniversaries, thank you's, condolences. And I also include a free note card with every Etsy purchase! ;)

Although I make them available for purchase at my art shows for $5.00 a piece, they are not available online. Sorry.

Crab Art

"Crab In Red" - 6"x 6" - mixed media collage

One thing I've noticed by doing the art festivals this summer is that when people see my banner, "crabulous fine art" they expect to see crabs. They're not sure if it's paintings of crabs or paintings made with crabs, but they want to see crabs. One gentleman came in, took a quick look around and demanded, "Where are the crabs?!?" I then pointed to my husband and myself and when he saw our name tags he "got" it.

But, I always have at least one piece of crab art available. And since I sold my last piece at the last show, I'm busily making more for the one coming up next weekend. I'm planning on three pieces that will work singly, but also look great all together (and there will be a special price for buying all three).

The crab above is the first of the three. It is not available on Etsy. They will not be available for purchase until the show on Saturday. 

Cat Eye Marbles

"Cat Eye Marble Collage Gift Box"
click here for more information and to purchase

I used to love to play marbles on the playground as a kid. To me the marbles were like so many jewels and the transparent glass ones, as opposed to the opaque, were my favorites. Cat eyes, snake eyes, clearies... you remember. So, I couldn't resist when I ran across these cat eye marble cabochons and I felt a gift box was the perfect place to use them.

You might want to check out my Treasury List on Etsy for other beautiful cat eye marble creations!

No Spring Chicken

"No Spring Chicken" - 8x10 - Mixed Media Collage

If you believe that the Pottery Barn catalog is the bible for interior designers, then you'll have faith that rustic bird paintings are the "in" thing right now. That may or may not be true, but I was prompted to try one of my own. lol!

Simplicity

"Simplicity" - 8x10 - Mixed Media Collage

One of my fondest memories as a child is spending hours with my mother in JC Penney in the fabric department. Because I was short waisted, long-legged and super abnormally tall for my age, my mother had no choice but to make my clothes for me. She has always had a fine eye for design and color and I have to admit I was delighted in the clothes she made. I can still remember some of the first dresses she made me at the age of 5 and how I felt absolutely beautiful in them. One in particular was a black, sleeveless, summer dress with tiny bouquets of forget-me-nots strewn all over the fabric and shiny, faceted black buttons. I thought that dress was magical!

As I grew older and formed some of my own opinions, I had the best time choosing my own patterns and fabrics and with Mom's help, selecting the notions and/or accessories, such as zippers, belts, lace and buttons. Oh, but especially the buttons!

I gave it my best shot, but sewing has just never come easily for me; therefore, my mother continued to make my clothes for me clear through high school, even though by that time I could generally wear off-the-rack fashions. The dresses she made for me were always prettier than anything you could buy.

Given the opportunity, I just had to purchase used clothing patterns when I discovered, with the help of a friend, a supply of them at Goodwill when I was visiting my hometown recently. Oh the memories! So don't be surprised if this is not the only pattern piece I make.