GYPSY MAGIC (GIVE AWAY SIGN UP)...

Please Note This Give Away is Closed
Recently as I have begun a more in depth exploration of my own unique creative style, I have come to one conclusion, while I have yet to specifically define it, my style is that of a wandering Gypsy.  

 It is as meandering as my thoughts. 

I don't stay fixed on any one concept or any specific type of artwork for any length of time.  

 There is something in an idea that sets my Gypsy muse astir, my fingers dance to an unknown tune and they must follow her.  

 

I have a need to keep creating, allured by the charm of her spell, being a roaming Gypsy, until the idea has become something tangible, my restlessness is temporarily quelled.  

For a bit my muse is sated to cast her creative camp and linger there a while, then the caravan is packed and she is off and running once again in true Gypsy style. 

 

My most recent stopping off point on my artful journey has been in jewelry making, long draping pendant style necklaces.  This piece, Gypsy Magic, features an old blurry photo of a wistful girl.  This is a symbol of my current expression of wishing I could better identify my creative style.

 

Swirls of antique bronze wire represent the casting of the creative wandering spell I have found myself under on my artful journey.  I chose to highlight the color purple, something I don't usually embrace, because it is often used to symbolize magic and mystery.  Some believe that by putting a little purple in your life you will increase your imagination and inspiration to its fullest.  In this case, it is an expression of  the magical mystery of my own personal creative process that I am trying to discover.  

 

I feel the call to wander on and this piece needs a home so I am hosting a give away.  

To sign up all you need to do is: 

 LEAVE A COMMENT ON YOUR FAVORITE CREATIVE COLOR AND WHY IT INSPIRES YOU. 

Anyone is welcome to enter, you do not have to have a blog, be a follower, like, share, friend, or pin anything and international friends are welcome to enter!

 A winner will be chosen and posted next Monday, April  22, 2013. 

GIVE AWAY SIGN UP...

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS GIVE AWAY IS CLOSED
 

 I have been trying to think of ways to express thanks to all of you who take time out of busy days to drop in and visit.  I am more grateful than you will ever know for this online community.  I have made some really treasured friendships.  I find so much encouragement through you all.  I can't tell you how many times in conversation I will say, "My blog friend...(insert your name here)..." because I do think of each and everyone of you as friends.

 One small way I can say "thanks" is to host a give away but that only benefits a small few and I wanted to include everyone.  While I am hosting a give away today I wanted to give something more.  Over the next couple of months I will develop a free online class called Step-By-Step Saturday.  Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in and create alongside of me a project from start to finish.

 Here is how the class will work, the class will be created as its own blog so there will be no jumping links to find the next weeks step, everything will be contained in order in one place.  This will be a public access blog with no codes, etc.  As it stands at the moment I think the class will be between 6 and 9 weeks, this could change slightly as I develop the class according to the steps in the process.  I plan to have materials lists for each week posted in the class introduction so those can be gathered ahead of time.  Each new step will be posted on Saturday, tentative date for class start is the first Saturday in January.   

 Many of you, after seeing sneak peeks of my new art work, expressed an interest in creating something that uses your own heritage bits and pieces so that is the direction I am going in.  We will be creating a substrate as a foundation for building our piece on, covering some fun techniques, making embellishments, and having a messy good time together!  I plan to launch the class in January 2013, this gives me time to get the tutorials done, glide through the coming holidays, and hopefully gives you something to look forward to in the coming new year.   

 Also, I plan to try and use a lot of really common supplies without you having to go out and make purchases for too many special things.  This is going to be a really fun and great challenge for me and hopefully something you will enjoy.  Now, for the give away!

 The hand made cuff you see featured in this post is my small thank you for your friendship offering.  The cuff base is completely hand stitched fabric, lace, and fiber with an overlay of embroidery.  It features vintage mother of pearl buttons, hand made duponi silk flower embellishment, hand wired glass bead/vintage pearl flower and leaf sprays, as well as hand tatting (done by my best friend Pam).  The fabric cuff has an insert of an adjustable metal cuff blank and is lined with a soft flannel for comfort.  

 To sign up just leave a comment...that's it!  Anyone and everyone is welcome to sign up, no restrictions apply to this give away.  Sign up will be open for the next week with a winner being announced on Friday, October 19, 2012.

I am still plugging away at my first heritage piece, stitching rumpled roses, making silk flowers with hand beaded centers, and embroidering/beading trim... 

 I am off the studio see if I can complete this piece today!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!    

TIME TO CELEBRATE, GIVE AWAY SIGN UP...

 PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS GIVE AWAY IS CLOSED.

 Time to celebrate the grand, OK, maybe grand is too large of word, diminutive, yes, that is much more like it, diminutive opening of my new Etsy shop.  (someday it hopes to grow up to be grand shop)  In honor of the shop opening I am hosting a give away!

 

Here is a little exert from an earlier post when my give away prize was created:

 

"I first met her on a chance encounter. She was milling around in a box full of strangers. She looked to be no more than 16 years of age. There was an air of sadness hovering around her. The faraway gaze in her eyes as well as the unique perspective of the photo drew me to her.

 

At the time, I wondered who she was. What was she thinking when this was taken? At what far off point did she fix her gaze? What was the occasion for this photo? What was her story? Photos are generally taken to commemorate an occasion or to preserve a memory. It made me sad that she had slipped from someones memory and ended up in a dusty box.

 

Wishing to honor this young girls memory, I chose her as a center piece for a new work of art. While working with the photo I made a discovery. On the back of the photo frame in the faintest of faded scrolling script was a name, address, and city. It was too dim with age to make out with the naked eye. Using an LED jewelers loupe I was able to identify her. Excitement mounted with each discernible letter.

 

 

Her name was Cottage...Cottage Bealle. Her address was 985 N. W(smudged out and unreadable) Street, Danvers, Illinois. I googled to no avail, I could find no trace of her or even her surname. There are several other spellings of Bealle and I wonder if through the years it was changed as so often happens. I only wish there would have been a date or that the street address was not smudged away. The photo is mounted to the frame so no luck there either.

 

Here is what I think is the wonderful part of her story. I began gathering the fabrics and elements of this fabric collage before I made this discovery. The piece was almost complete and I was ready to attache her when I saw the writing. The entire piece has a cottage feel to it with the faded lightness of fabrics and fibers. How perfect is that?"

 

Sadly, Cottage has been relegated to another box since her creation, she is ready to come out and come and live with one of you!
The collage measures 12 in. wide by 17 in. high, is fully finished on the back and ready to hang.

To sign up for the give away simply leave a comment.  

All are welcome to enter, no restrictions.

A winner will be drawn and announced one week from today on Monday, May 7, 2012.

 

I hope that each of you know how I cherished you and your constant encouragement, friendship, and support. Blog friends are just the best!  My little shop would not be possible if you did not take an interest.  Thank you for that.

     

GIVE AWAY SIGN UP: STUDIO STORAGE STYLE...

Please note that this giveaway is closed.
I said in a recent post that I would not be posting on the studio any more for a while but I keep getting requests for closeup looks at the new studio storage desk, especially the recycled can designs that hold supplies.  Since you asked so nicely, request granted.

 Just a little refresher of Before & After (you can see a more detailed post on this project HERE)...

 

I made one little addition of a shelf in the blank center area that I could not quite figure out what to place there.  Fingers crossed and the final brace and under mount lighting will be installed this weekend and bring this project to a close...

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Now for a closer peek at those recycled tin cans...

(This little domino art piece was a gift from Beth)

 
I used vintage sheet music, burlap, muslin, and lace as background pieces on the white painted cans...
 
Various bits and bobs from around the studio to make interesting embellishments such as an old spoon, rusty screws, and hair pins...
 
A vintage bottle cap, photo, and jewelry piece...
 
Tarnished silverware and mini drawer pull...
 
An empty watch case...
 
Tiny tin toy spoon...
 
Old buckle, vintage graphic, chandelier crystal...
 
A clay checker, pattern paper petals, mother of pear button...
 
Mother of pearl buckle, hand woven wire birds nest, vintage millinery...
 
Handmade muslin rosettes, vintage pearls...

I also finished the cans to hold all my paint brushes...

Now, enough studio stuff for a while unless it is actual art.

At the end of this recycling project I ended up with an extra painted can.  I thought it might be fun to design just one more, fill it with ephemera and small supplies to use as a give away prize.  I want to do a custom design for the winner so READ THE SIGN UP RULES CAREFULLY, this will determine the winners personal design.  No restrictions apply to the participants, any and all are welcome!  If you do not have a blog or link back please include and email address as contact information in case you are chosen as the winner.

To sign up:

In the comments section leave the following information:

*Favorite Color

*Favorite Flower

*Favorite Collectible

*One word to describe your style (ex: vintage, modern, etc.)

If you do not have a blog or link back please include an email address as contact information in case you are chosen as the winner.

A winner will be chosen and announced one week from today on Friday, March 16, 2012.

I hope you all enjoy a beauty filled weekend!