Wright Brain Book Group Mess!

Lisa Wright is hostessing the Wright Brain Book Club. The book Mess by Keri Smith is the inspiration behind this childish art. I do not have the book yet. It has yet to land in my mailbox, but I happily await. One of the pages instructs to make thumbprint art, layering it and creating something with it, so here is what I did:

Finger painting you ask? Yep...Only Lisa could make me do it. I saw a kaleidoscope in this one below.

Well after getting into it, I noticed that childhood memories popped into my mind. My version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar is in there.

A dolls dress

A male butterfly character came about quite by accident. He just showed up for the party.

This daisy reminded me of the linens of the 70's.

These cherries reminded me of Erma Bombeck and her saying "If life is a bowl of cherries, then what an I doing in the pits"? She was a funny lady.
Happy Creating!

Welcome to my little art corner

This is my little art corner. Yes, it literally is in a corner of our master bedroom. Well, I say that but really there is an 8' bookcase on another wall that is full of supplies in baskets and pretty boxes, and then there is a large cupboard on the same wall as my table full of supplies too. Under my bed I have storage bins with yes, you guessed it, more goodies. In my old house I had a whole art room to myself, small as it was, everything fit in it perfectly.

The far right wall has a display of Artist Trading Cards from swaps with other artists. Very fun! Right under that is my beloved printer/scanner. I use it like crazy. My favorite Christmas present this year. I have four 4 of those clear drawer towers full of things. I tried to hide them with a table cloth as best I could.

So, let me begin with the bookcase looks cluttered so I bought some solid black boxes to change out the pink ones with and then I also bought black magazine holders for the magazines and books. So it should look more tidy soon. You probably recognize many of the artists works below. We have Noodle and Lou, Time with Tascha, Joy Northrop, Angie Hogan, Lisa Wright, Stephanie Mealor Corder, Studio Sylvia, Druga Szesnascie, Luthien, Angela Thoma, Alison Gibbs, and Tumble Fish Studio, to name a few. Love them all!

A few pieces from art/blogging friends.

An Alison Gibbs photo. She is so sweet and this gorgeous photo is waiting to be framed and hung.

Well, that's it for now. I know it looks cluttered but so is my life with all sorts of goodness. Love you all and thanks so much for stopping by and saying Hi. I love to read your comments and visit your blogs, as well. Happy Creating!

Frida Challenge

This challenge was for a Frida inspiration. Inspiration Avenue has a weekly challenge. Go here to see the results of this weeks. I decided to pick one of her portraits to do and then I added her much used leaves as a frame. As you can see the deadline was not met. I did not finish her border. But I will and when it is done, I will show you. Happy Easter!

FRIDA KAHLO

A nature walk...

Jack has been out of town all week and just came back last night. We usually take a walk on a piece of property behind our neighborhood.

I have been wanting to take a picture of these gorgeous clover flowers. I had never seen red ones. Only purple and white. Theses are so pretty in the clusters in the late afternoon sun. Well, as you can see it is only 2pm here and the sun is bright. I may sneak out this evening and try to get better shots.

Well, what before my wondering eyes appear but a pretty little lady bug. Only the second one I have seen this year. We used to make a wish on them when I was little and then blow on them to get them to fly off our hands.

Funny the things you reminisce about when you are on a nature walk.

Below is a red ant mound. My husband stuck his bog foot in it. Yes, on purpose! He is such a boy. I asked him when did men ever grow up. He didn't answer so I added I think never.

He does this to every ant hill we see on this very walk every time. There are at least 12 large mounds with his big foot print in. I shake my head and chuckle to myself. You gotta' love 'em.

Here is the wildflower bouquet I picked on the way back. So pretty. The droopy looking green leaves were straight before I picked them. I used to have an heirloom tea rose that did this when I picked it's flowers for a bouquet. I never picked them again.
Well, I hope you are enjoying your weekend. It is gorgeous here today. Sunny and 70. People were actually at the pool. In it! Crazy peeps.

A good idea gone bad...

Okay, so I decided I wanted to paint a box and add a set of overlapping angel wings on the top. Easier said than done, I tell you.

So here I am getting pretty excited about how easy this is going to be and then my left side will not come out right to save my life. I erased and erased and erased until the wood was nearly visible again.

So just when I think I may have it, that darn left side creeps back up and says blah!

So what is a woman to do when she is having trouble with a piece?...Well repaint it of course!
Sheesh who knew angel wings were so difficult? They look simple enough. So where do I go for how tos? You Tube of course! Everyone has something they can teach you and I love this resource. So I went and still could not find the exact wings I was looking for , so off to the library I went and I checked out how to draw animals and I am going to use the bird wing instead. Sheesh... I only wanted one simple thing and it turned into an hour long fiasco.

On to brighter things...

Ah the beach has been on my mind so I thought I'd make up some framed table numbers in that theme. The color is Tranquility. I have it on the accent wall in my bedroom. The other walls are called tealight. A soft beigish yellow. I wanted the bedroom to feel like a retreat and it does. Well it did before my art area exploded. lol A picture for another day. Anyway, back to the beach...Summertime weddings are so lovely. The colors of the sand, the sky, starfish, and seashells are so fresh and calming. I have been sitting under the palm tree on my front porch and I just love to watch the palm fronds sway in the breeze. Heck I need a margarita right about now.Here is another project I have been busy working on. A 30 frame order that I have to finish tomorrow. I took this whole week off to create and fill up my etsy shop. I have been so tempted to go to the pool, with these hi 80 and 90 degree days but I am being good and staying on task. Well kinda. Mom and I did go shopping and get our nails done one day this week. Now I have to wear gloves to paint. Ick! Well hugs to you all! Happy Creating!

Traveling Art Journals

I am so excited to be a part of an Art Journal Round Robin with 7 of my favorite artists and friends. In 8 months my journal will come back full of lovely art and inspiration. A true treasure for sure.

The front of my journal has the number 8 along with some fun items having to do with travel and nature. Some of my favorite glimpses of vintage, as well. Inside the cover, I have included some fun patterned tags for each artist to add what inspired them and a little about their art work.

This is the back of the Art journal. All fun patterns and nostalgic items.

Inside the back cover are vintage book pages and I later added a swirl of words but did not get a chance to photograph that. Oh well.

This is a truer version of the front and back with better lighting. I have never partake in a Round Robin before but I am so happy to be a part of this one.

Sweet Etsy Shops

Look at how pretty this is. I bought it and it is in route from the UK to me. I just love vintage book pages and mini envelopes. This is extra sweet because it has a little cross stitched heart tucked inside of a bitty envelope made from a book page. A friend of mine has a great etsy shop chock full of love, well hearts, that is. Angie makes all sorts of beautiful items and they almost always include a heart somewhere. Check out her shop here at Artangel.

Look at this adorable bookmark ("It's never dangerous being who you are") I bought this from one of my favorite shops on etsy. Kim, who is a doll, makes some of the most fun and whimsical art. Check out her shop IMGirl. It always makes me smile.

Look at these beautiful paper roses, I ordered from an etsy shop called Book Craft. They are so so pretty. Tightly wound vintage book pages with scalloped edges. I am enjoying just looking at them. I plan to use them for something but for now they are eye candy for me. sigh...

Oh my gosh look how cute these little leather journals are. These two sweet as can be items are now mine. Yes, all mine. Don't fret there are more. I bought these from a great little shop on etsy called fullmoon. Click to see more of these darling little leather journals that have been made into jewelry and key chains, etc. And when I say little, the red journal necklace is about 1-1/2" and the little earring journals are about 3/4".

Oh my goodness. They are so adorable! I have them hanging above my art table to just look at. Am I sappy or what? I told my husband I was in love with them and he just rolled his eyes and shook his head with a sigh. :) Oh well, it's true.

Okay, I have been spending nearly as much as I have been making. Stop the madness!! Stop the madness!! (that's me talking to myself in the mirror) :) Etsy sucks me in and I can't escape all of the wonderful places it leads me. I am weak...Have a great Monday!

Love is in the air

My muse has been visiting me lately so I have been using that onslaught of creativity to stock my shop. You know how much I love vintage and vintage looking things, so in hopes that others like them too I have gone out on a limb and added them to my etsy shop. Do you ever fall in love with something you make and consider keeping it for yourself, only to be reminded that you are making it to sell? I had that moment with the sweet turquoise box above and the crackled heart below. So instead of selling the heart, I decided to use it as a prop with the vintage inspired postcards in my shop. The little box will begrudgingly go into my shop tomorrow. I hope someone will love it like I do. :)

What have you been up to lately? Has your muse visited you, as well? Any new ideas to create that you are excited to try? Fill me in. I have missed you all.

New Years Resolution A year of Thanks

I don't usually make New Years resolutions anymore because a lot of the time I don't stick to them (lose wight, work out, you know) and then I get all bent out of shape with guilt so this year I decided that I was going to make one but my New Years resolution was going to be something to make others feel good. I've decided to give thanks personally to those who have touched my life in a special way. All year long I plan to hand write notes to each of these people. It may be someone who always smiles and says hello genuinely. It may be someone who always makes me feel special in some way, like my coworkers, my friends, my family.

It might be someone who does a nice job on something I have hired them for ie; the guys who installed my entry door, my fence, that do my landscaping, etc. The nail tech, the hairdresser. I want to say what I often feel but don't always verbalize. The cashier or clerk that bags and loads my groceries into my car, who always have a good attitude even though I know they have had a long day standing on their feet and have more than likely encountered less than pleasant people along the way.

It's the simplest of things that touch my heart and make me happy. People who are genuine, who have an easy smile or laugh, people who have a good heart, people who love to help others, people who are quick to point out the good in others, people who enjoy life, people who make art that makes you smile, people who have a good attitude about life, people who take pride in what they do. You know those people. They surround us every day and yet I don't always let them know how much I appreciate them for whatever reason.

So that is my New Years resolution. I have bought some blank cards by Anna Griffin (I love her stationary) in the wedding section of one of the craft stores, so that I can stamp an image on it and the word thanks or thank you and hand write my note. I saw some pretty thank you cards but I wanted them to be something I took the time to create.

Did you make a New Years resolution that you want to share?

What was your New Years resolution.

Been a busy bee creating

Hi there! Wow, it's been a couple of weeks since we've visited. Sheesh where does the time go? I never wanted to be one of those people that acknowledges the older you get the quicker time seems to go by, but I'm there now and it's true. I'm sorry to say.

I have been busy making things for my poor neglected shop. Above is a wedding guest book alternative. It's a box I made that can hold 100's of my postcards.

I also will be making these table numbers in various frames. I've made these 6 to show some of the options. They're aren't over the top frou frou. They are simple and low key.

I made several of these wedding guest book alternatives, as well. I think having something pretty to display long after that special day is over is a fun idea. And I don't know about you but something in crisp white satin with lace and roses would not go with my decor or stay white in my home for that matter, so I started thinking outside the box. Well of a box, actually. Pardon the pun. I know, I know. Not funny. I couldn't help it though.

You all know that in the past I have made many wedding guest books and I do truly love making them but I thought I might try something new and a little different. I wanted to make something fun and put a twist on the traditional guest book. These are different than anything I have seen out there. The wedding day should be fun and carefree. I have more items in the works. Let me know what you think so far and if you have any fun ideas, please do share them. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Design4u

Hugs!

Tammy

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!

Happy Thanksgiving friends! I hope those of you that celebrate Thanksgiving have a blessed day full of good cheer surrounded by those you love! For those of you who do not celebrate, I wish the same for you.

Good ole' Norman Rockwell, American Illustrator, 1894-1978. He painted such picturesque scenes for the Saturday Evening Post about everyday life.. Love his work! Here is a link that showcases a lot of his works. Check it out. A lot of it will make you smile, if not laugh. Hugs!