My First!...

...Oval canvas.  I have always avoided ovals of any sort, and triangles for that matter. I'm a circle or a square person.  Wonder what that means? There must be some sort of personality test in regards to that out there somewhere. Do you like certain shapes over others or is it just me? Well I did some drawings in ovals (the bears) and ovals have been on my mind since.  I decided to get some canvas and give it a try.  I have to say I think I'm hooked!  I listed this one on Ebay and I have another in the works.

Blessings! Create a great day!

On My Easel...

...Little Angels...A Pug & a Bulldog.

Finished the first layer today. 

 Feels good to paint! Woof!

Finally Finished!...

"Crewel Intentions"

... I finally finished the piece I started in January, that I thought I was going to finish in April. Click here to read my 1st blog post.  You can see how much she changed from the initial first couple of layers of paint.  I lost track of how many layers there are now but they all show up somewhere or another in the piece.  This is one that I wished I had taken pictures of to do a new video.    I made her "crewel" expression a little less cruel.   This Angel is going to Spoiled Rotten Gallery & Boutique today as part of my show on Friday.  Friday the 13th! I hope it lucky for me!  I wish everyone could see her  in person.  If you are in this neck of the woods please stop by & say hi! Friday 13th, 4 - 9pm Spoiled Rotten Gallery.  I also painted another snail & mushroom painting that had been stuck in my head since I did the first one, both will be at the gallery. 

"Vista View"

"Love At First Sight"

I have been working on mermaids for The Empress shop and I am opening up my own Mermaid shop on Etsy. I have a few things in there now but I'm not at the Grand Opening stage yet.  I have been working on an Indian Maiden Mermaid or Mountain Mermaid. I have a ways to go on her. Again I didn't take pictures that I wish I had. Speaking of copying and mermaids. I also noticed a few Angel Mermaids on Ebay. I was surprised because I didn't know there were Angel Mermaids until I painted them, but at least the artists did their own thing with them. I'll show you some of the fun Mermaid stuff in upcoming posts. Here is my newest Mermaid Painting...

"Circle of Friends"

I have been trying out some fun things I've found on  Pinterest.  I tried out the caramel recipe found in my "Party, Party Party!" Board, it's awesome!  I tried letter painting on wood which you will find in my "Crafty Cravings" Board, it works great! I did a couple of signs which I will show you in an upcoming post.  I also tried the peroxide & dish washing liquid claimed to be a miracle cleaner. wa wah NOT. Don't pin that one when you see it!
Create a beautiful day!

And Away We Go...

...Tomorrow Hubby is taking me to a fabric warehouse in Reno, NV that is over 10,000 sq ft.! I'm so excited. I'm packing my walking shoes!! After he drags me out of there, perhaps peeling my fingers off the door handle, we are off for 2 days for Lake Tahoe and a great big tub.   I'll probably be daydreaming about the fabric store and pinning for my sewing machine the whole time! hahaha  

"Fishermen"

Have a whimsical week!

Abstract Anxiety...

"Forgiving" 6 x 6

"Understanding" 16 x 20

These are the first abstracts that I am parting with. It's a little scary. They were painted w/ layers & layers of acrylic paint, scraped, scratched, brushed & rubbed.

Onion Ring Day Come & Gone!

I have onion rings once a year on my birthday! YUMMMM I drifted off to sleep thinking about them. Is that bad? hahaha Actually I didn't drift off much at all because I was so horrified! In all the chaos around here, which there has been plenty, I sent a painting to a person it didn't belong to. Luckily is went to sweet collector of mine in Chicago, she forgave me and sent it back quickly but it made for a rough night. I couldn't get my foot to stop kicking myself in the ... hahahaha

It was some of these Moon Pie's I started painting. I am selling them on Ebay and I'm excited to say that the Heart & Soul Gallery here in town wants them too as well as my mermaids, but that's another post. I just added a new one today. They are so fun to paint. Kind of a combination of my angels & clowns, pushing the distorted boundaries and I like the one big dominate Egyptian looking eye. Better to see you with...

Back At It...

... I was in Long Beach all last week spending precious time with my friend and caring for her & her husband. I cooked for them and kept them company. It is difficult seeing people I love dearly going through such a difficult time. I loved being with them and feel very blessed that I can pack up and go whenever they need me.
While I was there a couple of the ladies from her nail salon came to the house & give us manicures & pedicures. We got fun flowers with little rhinestones on our big toes :) When taking her to a radiation appointments. I noticed a piece of collage art that included paper doilies. It inspired this mixed media painting I started when I got home. She had a roll of embossed paper left over from a kitchen ceiling project and let me take it home to play with. This is how it turned out. I think she's sweet in her big fluffy slippers and I like how the tile effect in the paper makes a cross. I used the embossed wallpaper, layers of paint, some metallic paint & some antique medium. I made cards with it on Zazzle, click here to see and listed a print in my Etsy shop, click here to see. To place a bid on this piece with 10% going to American Cancer Society, click here!

"Under The Weather"

A Rare Glimpse of Me...

...there are no pictures of me that I know of on the internet. I hate my picture taken. I am never happy with any of them. ever. This is a rare occasion.

The reason I am posting this picture is because it's of me and one of the most important people & beloved friends in my life, Layne aka "Bobbi". We are more like sisters having been the best of friends for 25 years. I have my arms around her & she is the one with the big beautiful smile. She doesn't like her picture taken either so this is a few years old. Just last year we were talking about how we don't have many pictures together then started taking goofy pictures of ourselves with our cell phones. We were belly laughing. I wish I had saved them all even though they were hideous & ridiculous.

I am asking for your prayers as she is battling for her life today & in the next few days & months to come. Cancer attacked her this summer. She has been very brave. Keeping her chin up even though she is being bombarded with heavy radiation & chemo but it's beginning to get the best of her. She had emergency surgery in the middle of the night. I know God says I shouldn't worry but I am unable not to. I can hardly think of anything else & in constant prayer.

Thank you for your prayers, they are so appreciated.

What's New...

I joined an Etsy Team this week called the "BEST Team" (Boosting Etsy Shops Team). The members are required to do a feature on an assigned Etsy Shop. I was lucky to be assigned Omni Presents. I was struck immediately by the beautiful banner bursting with colorful stones! Omni Presents has a shop full of lovely handcrafted spiritual new age jewelry. I love her use of color and her whimsical pendants. I just know I would feel good wearing her jewelry! All of her jewelry seems to have a soothing effect on me. I plan to feature her haematite earrings in an upcoming collection on Sometimes Things Are Just Black & White. These are a few of my favorites.

Here is a peek at what's on my easel today. This one is big & long at 12 x 36 with 2" sides. I started working on her a few days ago and still have quite a bit to do as you can see. I am running out of time. Sunday we will be driving to Fremont to deliver all of my paintings to the gallery. I hope I can get her finished so I can take her along.

A Big Shout Out's & Thank you's go to MelissaMoloney, SammysGrammy , Santosleather , BrokenReflections , & FabricatedFamily , for featuring my art in their awesome Etsy Treasuries! Please click on their names to visit their Etsy Shops. And another Big Shout Out goes to The Domestic Goddess for doing such a wonderful feature on both of my shops! She has a great blog and I will be visiting often. Thank you all! I am truly blessed to receive such kindness.

Really?

http://www.favecrafts.com/Christmas-Crafts/Unique-Tampon-Angel#

I'm all for encouraging crafting & creating but Seriously?! LOL

Earth Day...

... is a great day to ponder how you can make a difference. It is also a good day for me to bring up something I am passionate about. "Be green and keep our water's clean!" You may have seen my little slogan occasionally in some of my listings. Global Water , Surfrider, River Network & Clean Water Action are a few organizations that provide, protect & promote safe water.

A work in progress. “Whoever drinks from the water I give will
never thirst, but the water I give will
become in you a well of water
springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14

A big shout out goes to Renie Britenbucher for including my art in her spring time Etsy Treasury. Etsy opened Treasury East and I made my first 3. I have to say it was as fun as I thought it would be! I can see how this could be addicting! Here are the links:

Love Makes The World Go Round

Gypsy Goods

Float Like A Butterfly Sting Like A Bee

Work In Progress

My Gallery show was so fun. There were lots of people and great art. I started this painting which is large 18 x 24 for the Bee show in May. This is in the first few layers stage. It's inspired by my love of bees & vintage vase heads. I started a collection about 10 years ago but in a tragic accident they were all broken except for one. It's a Napco 1959, grey suit & pearls. I keep pale pink silk roses in her hat. One day I may be able to start collecting them again, until then I'll have these Angels.

Alter Egos

"Alter Egos"
(Two Halves Make A Whole)

Deconstructed

A Big Shout Out goes to Angel Pup Creations for including one of my Angels in her lovely Etsy Treasury! Thanks so much! Click on the highlights to see her shop & the Treasury.

A Little Word on Wednesday

Psalm 126:5 They who sow in tears shall reap in joy and singing.

Angel for Haiti

Currently up for bid on Ebay is this old fashioned Angel called "Angel In Prayer". 75% of proceeds are being donated to the American Red Cross to aid Haiti & others in need around the world. Bidding started at $0.99. Search for all work with large proceeds being donated through Ebay by searching the art category 4Haiti. Type in 4Haiti. If you would also like to donate as well, please include 4Haiti in your listing.

Sunday Angels

I just listed these Angels in my Etsy shop. Click here to see or purchase. The Garden Angel with Tulips has to be one of my all time personal favorites. All of these Angels have lots of personality and their skin just glows. Bill at the Artist Center posted the painting video I made

of The Little Dare Devil! Such a compliment! I am going to work on another video with music & my art. I think my mom would love that for her birthday on a dvd. Shhhhhhhh (she never reads my blog hahaha)

Boo Hoo & Something New

"New Beginnings"

I came down with a terrible cold or flu and I missed my Gallery opening last night in Sacramento. I was a crybaby yesterday because I was so upset even though I knew I was doing the right thing. I wouldn't want to pass this on to anyone. It's been one thing after another. If I had a regular job I probably would be fired by now for missing work. I am ready for a "new beginning" & ready for the new year. When I'm much better I am going downtown to see all the art hung & take pictures.

I am totally back up & running now. I listed new things today in my Etsy Shop so please stop by & check it out!

A Little Word On Wednesday

For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all they ways.
Psalm 91:11

A Little Word on Wednesday

Work in Progress

“Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth Thee.” Nehemiah 9:6

A Little Word on Wednesday

The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea,

than the mighty waves of the sea.

Psalm 93:4