A pathway well traveled

Recently we decided to visit the Magnolia Plantation, a favorite place to stroll. You can see a lot more color in the spring when the Azaleas are in full bloom, but the Camelias are a favorite of mine and they are all in bloom right now. They give such a romantic feel to the pathways and arbors. They look very similar to a rose with layers of soft petals in a variety of colors. This is a pathway that I fell in love with because beyond the arbor there are 2 paths and you must choose, much as in life but here you can come back and choose the other, as well.
You can never go wrong in this gorgeous place because at every turn their is a secret garden, a beautiful pathway with bridges, cypress swamps, statues and wildlife. Yes, we saw an alligator and a gorgeous crane, a few peacocks and one that was all white. So regal looking.

For the IAE team blog party, I hosted one of the giveaways and this is what I made. It measures 9-1/2 x9-1/2". I started out with a plain wooden frame with the heart and wings. I wanted to give it a copper patina, so I used my favorite turquoise paint (Jamaican Sea by FolkArt) to paint the entire thing. I then went over it with a Burnt Umber on a dry brush keeping it light so as not to have the brown too saturated. I did use a bit more around the heart and wings to highlight them. Next, I used a Cranberry red on the heart and wiped it off immediately and rubbed a bit of antiquing glaze on it and wiped that off right away,also. Next a white pearlescent paint was applied to the wings and I came back in with the burnt umber rubbing it on the raised areas only and wiping some of it off until I achieved the look I wanted. I then sealed it with a satin polyurethane.
Lastly, I made the collage in the middle using some scrap booking papers that complimented the color of the frame. I must have had 30 sheets pulled out to find the right ones. I wanted them to be whimsical and yet had a patina of their own. We all know how much I love vintage, distressed edges, torn papers, etc.

Tell me what you've been up to lately.

Inspiration

This week at Inspiration Avenue Etsy Team Blog there was a Blog party and a challenge theme of "Inspiration". What, Who or Where inspires you was the prompt. Well since this is my teams blog I decided to let them all know that they are an inspiration to me. Each of them are lovely ladies and wonderful artists. Each has their own style. Some are painters, some are mixed media artists, some are photographers, others graphic designers. We are quite the mix and I love it. The last 4 images are of what else inspires me and that is nature, color, vintage ephemera, trims and papers. I love you IAE ladies!! XOXO

Each week we host an art challenge and each week the works of our followers and members alike are displayed so that everyone can view each artists interpretation of the challenge theme. It is such fun. I hope that you will pop over some time and participate. We always link back to your blog post so that our followers can discover more about you. Hope to see you there. Oh and there is a giveaway drawing for those whom participate in the challenges.

Art and a Blog Party

I have been MIA and I am sorry. My computer is not connecting to the internet because the internal Wi-Fi switch broke off. I guess I am going to have to get a new one within this next year. Mine is in sorry shape. The space bar is broken and I have to hit it 1-2 times between words and my on/off switch broke a long time ago so my husband had to drill a hole so that I can use a toothpick and hit just the right spot to turn it on. I have not had to use any duct tape thus far so we are good there. lol They duct tape is the cure all. Men that is. At least my men. :) This is an ATC I made for a lady who challenged me to use tattered laces and trims, old book pages, script writing, Tim Holtz elements and a vintage image in a beach theme. The sand is comprised of many elements including tattered seam binding, book pages, script writing pages and grains of sand from Aruba and bits of seashells. The water is tattered rick rack, tissue paper and silver glitter to represent the sun dancing on the water. The background is a map of the Indian ocean and the Tim Holtz elements are the tag and the buckle under the ladies image and his distressed inks. I hope she likes it.

This is a September Tag. I included a quote "No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face" by John Donne Such a pretty quote, don't you think?
This is a bird tag using vintage elements. Old book pages, and tattered vintage lace, along with some pretty feathers on a turquoise paper with eggs.

Inspiration Avenue Etsy Team is hosting a blog party this Sunday, October 16th. Go by and check out the fun giveaways, tutorials, art challenge and freebies HERE. It should be a fun week long party.

Gypsy Dreams Party

Ah, you've come to join the gypsy caravan. Please do come in and enjoy a cup of your favorite beverage. French Designer Jeanne Bayol designed these lovely outdoor settings and the lavish bedroom below. It feels like a hug. The bold use of color and patterns along with textures just seem to meld together perfectly, don't they?.

I collect lanterns. We have them all over our backyard and on the tables. There is nothing quite as romantic as candlelight. It just makes the setting feel magical. Apparently Jeanne feels the same as I do. Imagine the sweet dreams you could have while floating above the ground in this cozy bed. You can watch the fireflies dance by, count the stars and listen to the leaves rustle in the trees. aaah... Learn how to make one yourself Here.
This pretty blue and green gypsy wagon, above was made by 2 traveling artists. Their blog is called The Adventures of the Wandering Book Artists. They have done a fantastic job making it quaint. Their blog is a travelogue of sorts. They are out on the West coast and share lots of images along the way. Fun stuff. Well have fun visiting the other gypsy caravan parties HERE.

Fun ATC's

I've been making lots of ATC's lately. The first was to make my swap partner laugh. She likes nature and it was senders choice. The second and third were for a Things with Wings swap. Both ATC's were for the same partner. She likes vintage, hearts, flowers and her name started with the letter E.

If you have not tried making an ATC (Artist Trading Card) before, it is fun and freeing. It measures 2.5"x3.5". It is a small space to create on. They have no limits and they aren't expensive to make. You get to use all of your scraps, stamps, paints, embellishments, ephemera, etc. They can be flat or dimensional. The base (your canvas) can be made using card stock, metal, stiffened fabric, cardboard, leather, etc. There are no rules except for the size. That has to be 2.5"x3.5". If you feel like it try it. It's fun! Everybody's doing it. lol

How to make an envelope and Bird ATC and Tag

Things I've been making.

What to do with an antique book of French fables

I was making some art today and while going through some of my antique books to find some words to cut out, I came across this French book of fables. I love the illustrations on these pages and the elegant written language found within them. I have used these book pages in many art pieces over the years. I especially love using them as backgrounds. While perusing through my collection a light bulb came on. Why not use the pages to write letters on?

Remember the days when penmanship and spelling counted. Now we have email and spell check. I use these methods myself, don't get me wrong but I do still enjoy sitting down and taking out my smooth writing pen and letting the flourishes of cursive dance across the page.

So from the pages of a French book of Fables comes an English hand written letter to a friend.

I love a fresh piece of lined paper. It beckons one to write. The smell of a freshly sharpened pencil is invigorating. The sharp tip is ready to do some composing. Did you know that most pencils are made from cedar. No wonder the shavings smell so good. Here's a YouTube video of how a pencil is made. Here I know I'm a nerd.What can I say? I love learning how things are made. I know some of you are mortified that I would tear out antique book pages but it is in the name of art and repurposing. Otherwise they would simply sit on my shelf and collect dust. Okay a compromise would be to make a colored copy of your book pages and then use those.
What other fun things can you think to do with antique book pages?

Blue porch ceilings and giveaways around blog land

Hi there! Don't you just love these porches! I shot them while visiting a nearby neighborhood. I just love the quaintness of them. There's such a neighborly feel to them. But you better like your neighbor since they all adjoin one another. I can picture ladies talking with one another over the porch railings, passing a cup of sugar or a recipe.

I love the painted light blue ceilings. There are many thoughts as to why you would want to paint your porch ceilings blue. One idea behind these pretty blue ceilings is that it serves as an insect repellant. This was true back when Lye was a key ingredient in milk paint. Lye is a natural insect repellant. However today Lye is not an added ingredient to paints. Another idea behind these soft blue ceilings is that it extends daylight hours with its reflective qualities. It is true that blue is a calming color and who doesn't like the idea of sitting on a porch rocking chair and watching the world go by; reflecting or chatting with someone special.

One of my favorites ideas behind Southerners painting their porch ceilings "Haint blue" (a soft blue-green) is because it was thought to keep the restless spirits of those whom had not moved on, at bay. Their grandmothers painted their ceilings this color so generation after generation has adopted this tradition.

Okay that was my little tidbit for today. Now on to the giveaways I mentioned.

I noticed on my blog dashboard that some of the blogs I follow are hosting giveaways, so I thought I'd share them with you. Who doesn't love to win something, right?

The first is a lovely friend named Angie and she is offering a $20.gift certificate to her etsy shop to celebrate her birthday. On her blog Artangel, you'll see some of her pretty work. She paints, makes gorgeous collages and is infatuated with hearts.

The second giveaway is being hosted by Handmade Bits and Pieces. She has upcycled some pretty vintage buttons into bobby pins. She's so clever.

Dreamy Whites is also having a generous giveaway. She is offering a $200. gift certificate to her online shop. if ou haven't visited her shop, you should do so. She makes very pretty items.

PB's Art Studio is also offering a gift certificate to her shop. She is a wonderful illustrator. See for yourself.

Flea Market Style is also hosting a slew of giveaways this week. I love this magazine! They are such a fun group of people, offering fun ways to revamp your flea market finds and adding them to your home decor.

Southern Hospitality is also hosting a giveaway for a $50 Target gift card. She has a fun blog with lots of decorating
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So go have some fun and try your luck!