Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!

Hello Lovelies, wishing you the most joyous, beautiful, awesome Christmas you've ever had! May your day be filled with three of the most important "F" words.

......................FOOD . FAMILY. FRIENDS........................

Speaking of friends please show some love for this exquisite piece of Art created by a friend and fellow Artist. He took classic images and added his own spin on them, pretty clever don't you think?  You can check out more of his work, Strider Raven at monstersago-go.blogspot.com




Cherio!

Eureka! - Wall Art For The Fashionista

So this week, I had a light bulb moment.  I suddenly had an idea to create some timeless fashion prints.  I did my best to infuse my own personality and originality but I wanted them to be classic and able to be mixed and matched with other wall art so I kept it clean and simple.  Let me tell you, this was so much fun!  Hope you like them.  They are all available at www.alligatorbay.etsy.com

Cherio!

Oh Happy Day!

If you have been following my blog for a little while you would know that I am totally obsessed with tapestry. I talked about it here.  Honestly though, I talk about it all the time.

I have been looking for that special piece...you know, the one.   It has just the right colors, theme and size.  It is very much like finding a good man, hard to do but when you do, it is pure magic!

Well, here is my baby.  Found it!  Oh happy day! 

It took me many months of searching which goes to prove that diligence is always rewarded at the end of the day.  I will be using this as a focal point in my bedroom.  Yay me!  

Next up is a chenille spread in a beautiful shade of light teal/Seafoam green.  Am siked, I will post it here when I find it. Fingers crossed.

Have a beautiful weekend lovelies!

Cherio.

Tapestry In Fashion

Hola, Compadres!  I feel like a bad mama. I've been so busy, my poor sweet little blog is not getting all the love it deserves.  Sometimes it is so hard trying to balance it all but like a true soldier I keep at it.

I had a few hours of R&R this today so I decided to spend some time searching for one of the things I am madly infatuated with at the moment.  Tapestry! 

Now I know this may not sound exciting but after this post you will see why I am so hyped. Trust me, a good piece of tapestry is like comfort food.  It is soooooooo good!

Tapestry has always captivated me because of it's texture, depth and personality.  It is so much more than just a piece of fabric. Tapestry has heart. Soul. Love. And history.   Many of them are hand woven and can take months even years to complete. The hard work and attention to detail is what makes these pieces so endearing and special.  I particularly love the fact that tapestry allows for boundless artistic expression. From fashion to decor and beyond, there are no limits, only fabulous-ness.   

Enjoy.

I am still looking for a vest similar to the one pictured here but anyone of these pieces would be very welcome in my closet.  

I absolutely adore this framed piece.  So romantic and dramatic at the same time.  Pieces like these are hard to find but perfect to express one's personality and well worth the time spent searching for them.  

Cherio!

Done And Done!

http://static.tmag.tas.gov.au/tayenebe/workshops/bicheno.html

A few weeks ago in my post Are You Ready For This! I shared with you how I had won the opportunity to showcase some of my work in a design challenge.  I had entered the contest on a whim so when I got confirmation that I had made the cut I was really surprised and so excited.

The challenge was to create original pieces/Art from indigenous plant fibers.  I did just that with palm leaves, sisal, burlap and hemp.  I also accented my pieces with feathers, shells and seeds.

Well, today I am happy to report that my work is completed and presently being viewed in the prestigious New Providence Art gallery in Nassau, Bahamas. It has come a long way from this conceptual sketch.  Many thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement.  It means a lot to me.

Hmmmm, I wonder what I should I do next............

Cherio!

Craft Of The Week

All A'bloom

 When I started this blog, my intention was to post craft projects weekly.  Somehow though, mostly due to my work schedule, these postings became farther and farther apart.  I am not happy about.  At all.  And so, this post will be the first of "creation/craft of the week" which will be whatever I created for the week.  I am looking forward to learning new techniques and crafts....good, bad or ugly, I will be sharing it so stay tuned.


 Here are a few pieces I painted this week.

You Are Not Alone

As For Me And My House

These are all mix media pieces (acrylics and pastels on heavy weight paper) and I had so much fun playing with the colors.  Next time though, I will use a new medium or technique to ensure that I am challenging myself and learning something new every week.  Sounds like a plan?  I think so......let's do this!  


Cherio!

Old Door.....New Tricks!

contentinacottage

In my post decorating on a dime with salvage and garage sale finds I couldn't get enough of how these sometimes discarded pieces could be transformed and integrated into a space.......and look so amazing!

Old doors are my personal favorite though.  Why?  Well, because doors are important in every home. It is the way we welcome someone or something,......and, the way we say goodbye. Either way, we choose. This symbolism makes it all the more special to me.  Also, the aging process/patina on these pieces are just incredible!!!  And some of them are pretty amazing "as is".  No work required.  Gotta love that.  I. So. Do.

deviantart

Lately my crush on these battered and bruised doors has really gotten out of hand intensified. I am always on the prowl looking for the perfect old door.  I stalk craigslist, my local thrift shops and I always, always, pay attention whenever there is construction going on in/to an old building.  Old doors are that special to me.  They have so much personality, texture, interest, history and of course they can be fully functional.

I personally like the look of adding glass on top of the door which modernizes and enhances the textures underneath.  A perfect combo of old and new.  Luv! Luv!

aroundapplegate

Of course old doors can be used for headboards, coffee tables, wall pieces and much more but since the desk and head board is perhaps the easiest to do, I chose the desk.  When I feel more confident, who knows, I might build me a coffee table.  Come what may though, one thing I do know for sure.  Am gonna have a lot of fun in the process!  You betcha.

brandywineview.com

Cherio!

Simple Pleasures

 Art and crafts excites me....

It's the only activity that allows me to both lose and find myself at the same time...

And the cares of this world?..............Well, they just fade away.

The whole world seems to be "on pause"

Like 5:00pm.........already????  Whew...where did the time go?....

When I create, I am the truest and highest expression of myself.........and my creator.

A better and more beautiful person on the inside.  Where it matters.

So, to me creating is like a cool drink of water on a very hot day. 

 Refreshing. 

 Necessary.  

To be savored and enjoyed.  Thoroughly.

What are you passionate about?......... 

 What makes you happy?

(Watercolor quotes I painted last week)

Cherio!

Native American Design...All kinds of Amazing

 For as long as I can remember, I have been totally fascinated by Native American Art.   The textiles, crafts, and jewelry all seem to have a spirit/story that gives it a life of it's own.  And, the craftsmanship..........well, it's just exquisite.  

Native American artwork is crafted with care and patience, and is still handmade by many different tribes. These very skilled artist have many religious and spiritual beliefs which they infuse into their design.   As a result, the pieces are both beautiful and expressive. 

Wood has always been and still stands as one of the most worked-with materials in Native American art but there is so much more to the art.   Bone beads, seed beads, coral, silver, feathers, turquoise, seeds, animal skins and even porcupine quills are all used in the art and jewelry making as well. In other words they were "green" before we even thought about it.  Native  Americans love the earth and they believe in taking care of it.  Their relationship with the land is one of total inter-dependence.

Here is a a beautiful quote by Owatsinas of the Nuxalk nation that about sums it up.
"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees."
~ Qwatsinas, Nuxalk Nation

There will always be a special place in my heart for Native American design.  The skill, creativity, patience and love that goes into each piece makes the Art so very special.  

Here are a few of my favorites!

Cherio!

For The Love of Abstract Art

michelle adams

Hello my lovelies, I hope you are having a great weekend!  And if you're not, this will put a smile on your face.  I promise.  Even if you are not a fan of abstract art like I am, these pieces just have a beauty and life of their own that just makes you feel something.  Even if that something is confusion......like  "what the heck is that?"  You will feel something.  

Rue 

I have always wondered about abstract Art.  At first I could not appreciate it the way I do now.  I guess I thought that ANYONE could do it, so really as far as I was concerned there wasn't much skill involved.  I was so wrong. 

Abstract art is really one of the purest forms of Art.  There are no rules just you, and what you put on the canvas/paper. There is nothing literal to hide behind....nothing to distract from your composition. Nothing. Either it works or it doesn't.  Great abstraction painters are succesful at conveying moods and emotive qualities without painting anything familiar like a face or an animal.....they know balance scale and how to manipulate tonal values and textures.  In other words these people are on their game!  Perhaps they are on a spiritual/emotional plane that we only get to visit occasionally through their art.  How else can we explain Jackson Pollock?  There is definitely a method to the madness.  

 

Jackson Pollock

I have mad respect for all abstract painters now.  Why?  Well, of course I tried painting my own abstract painting. Trust me, it's not nearly as easy as it looks.  Here is my hair pulling 6 hour ordeal earnest attempt at this, it did not turn out anything like I envisioned but hey, I tried and I learned an invaluable lesson in the process.  Thou Shall not judge.  Amen.

If I accomplish anything at all with this post I would like that something to be a thank you to all the Abstract painters out there creating Art that keeps us inspired, challenged, and in love with your work! You guys rock!  

Here are some of my favorites. 

Coco Hearts

decorati

image source unknown

franz kline

i suwannee

skona hem

eclectic revisited

ken browne art

Elizabeth Chapman