Sunday, October 30, 2011

Oliver, Jaime and Me

This is Oliver and his very sweet 'mama'....
sadly...she has to go back to her job starting this Wednesday.

Then...
it's going to be Oliver, Jaime and me...
from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
four days a week.

Skittles has been very jealous of Oliver...but I'm hoping it was
just a 'heat' thing.
She's FINALLY over the back to back heat of the past two months....
and beginning to get back to normal...and I'm praying
that means she won't be jealous and 'barky' whenever I hold Oliver...
I'm sure it will be fine.

I'm very much looking forward to it!!


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Cell Phone Cases


I was discussing, with my girls, what kind of Art covers to make this year. It seems I'm a 'dinosaur' when it comes to writing checks, so those weren't the 'obvious' choices this year. But, I couldn't figure out what I thought I'd have the skills to do, even though I really wanted to offer some kind of art cover...and I wanted something new.


So then, my cell phone rang and while I was grabbing it out of my pocket, I accidentally hung up on the caller. It became apparent that I, at least, needed a cell phone case. So I made myself a cell phone case and started using it.
I can't hear my phone when I'm in another room, so it was the perfect solution for me and I LOVE it! I haven't hung up on a single caller since I started using my case.


Whether or not to make them for the shop was another matter entirely. See...I'm not the best 'seamstress' in the world. Most of the time I can't seem to sew a straight line. I thought a new sewing machine might help...it didn't.
So, I did the best job I could do and with a little paint here and there, I think I hid most of my janky sewing pretty well. The biggest point is...the cell phone cases seem to be really durable and not too badly made.


I started with primed canvas...same as the checkbook and journal covers of last year. Then, I lined them with a soft fleece lining, to help protect the phone. I added a loop to these cases (though I may leave them off some future ones, I'm not sure yet.)
A little painting is then added and finally they are varnished twice with a gloss varnish, to protect the painting and the case.


They have a small painting on both sides of the case...which makes them unique 'One of a Kind' "designer" cell phone covers. I did design them, after all.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

What my 'creepers' mean to me.



'Say A Little Prayer'
was the first painting I did in the 'creeper' style
a few months after losing my husband to cancer.
It was a pretty dark time for me...
I couldn't seem to pull myself out of the 'dark' place
I had gone.
Grief stage 1 - Denial.



'Give It Back'
Grief stage Two -- Anger.




'Two Hearts'
Grief Stage Three -- Bargaining









With their hearts on their sleeves or dragging in the dirt behind them, 
I think I was at this point the longest.
Grief Stage 4 - Depression.



Finally...though it
 took a few years... eventually my art
began to take on a lighter and more hopeful 'feel'.
Grief Stage 5 - Acceptance





Now...I think I can move on to other things
and other characters in the coming year.
Not...that I've given up on my creepers....I think we'll see them
'evolve'.




Wednesday, October 19, 2011

All Hallows Eve






A couple of my children are going 'all out' for Halloween...
seems they do every year.
This year they've decided to have a party...
so I may be going to that...we'll see.

I've been buying treats for several weeks now..
since I've moved to a neighborhood with children...
I anticipate getting 'trick or treaters' this year.

We've got costume making going on here...
need to get some hot chocolate to have on hand
for these cooler fall evenings...
summer is officially over for this year!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Alice in Wonderland - Encore




My newest painting on Etsy.

It is my first two panel - 'fairytale' painting
and I really LOVE it!

I will be listing two different sized print sets
one will be an 8 by 10 inch set
and the other will be a 12 by 16 inch limited edition set...
it will also be the first time I offer a print set
in Limited Edition size.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Working in some different shops.






I've been noticeably  absent from my blog
and facebook of late.
This is one of the reasons why....
I've teamed up with my oldest daughter to offer graphic downloads
in a new Etsy Shop...

I'm trying to get as many items as possible into the shop...
and it's basically for other folks to use the
designs in whatever way they choose..
except for the sale of the downloads themselves.

Most of the designs are free to use public domain vintage images...
but I've spent a lot of time working on some of
our own designs.

So...that's just one of the things I've been "up" to...
once the shop has a few items in it...I'm hoping
it can kind of 'run itself'...
hopefully I'm not being too naive.