February 28

This year is just going by so quickly.  Starting out with a 7 day trip to Oahu with my mom, sister and daughter early in January!  It was sooo nice to relax and take in the beautiful island vibe.  It was my first trip to Hawaii and I certainly hope not the last.

So many other things have happened already in this new year my head has been spinning but I won't bore you with that.  My main art focus has been working with the Madison Arts Council and their Art 4 Paws event.  It is going to a lot of fun this year...many new and exciting events for you and your family to come out and enjoy.  I've been working on some new "Furry Friends" art and craft items as I will have my very first art tent at the event. YAY!!!

The art you will see in my tent is all hand made, hand painted or created by me.  These are not mass produced items, they are all one of a kind offerings at very reasonable prices.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Art 4 Paws event.

Please come out and support the Madison Arts Council April 5th from 10am to 3pm.  Bring your well behaved and leashed dogs, and your family for a "tail waggin" good time!

If you would like to participate as an artist or other vendor there is still time visit artsmadison.org/art-4-paws/

I'll see you there!!!

Happy Fall Y'all

Ok.  Well obviously I fell off the proverbial bog wall in April.  But I am here again and doing some updating including Gallery posts - YAY!

I've mostly been tinkering and dreaming about all of the art I would like to make but then something shiny (or dirty as with housework) distracts me and I'm helplessly lost in my sea of thoughts and priorities.  Sigh.  The days I do seem to break away from the voices (just kidding) I escape to my private little art room (studio) upstairs.

This is my happy time.  I have paints and brushes, magazines, books, and patterns.  Lots of empty canvas, papers, wooden objects and mixed media just waiting for me to let loose and color outside the lines.  My 2 doggies and 2 meezers love to hang out with me in my studio!

During the summer I didn't paint much.  I did teach my first adult class which was a lot of fun.  I made a few small artsy pieces for the Madison Arts Councils "Amore' Arts" dinner and fundraiser.  I attended the "HOOTERS" Painted Bra event for breast cancer awareness, attended a paint class, sketched and generally hid from the heat and humidity.

I just became a member of the Huntsville Art Council and look forward to meeting other artists and artsy people, AND I would like to have a workshop out of my house with some friends (anyone want to have a paint day?) and make some holiday items.  My favorite part of fall and winter holidays is presenting a loved one with a handmade gift.  The holidays are just around the corner and already full of events and travel.

OK enough blogging for today...Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Remembering an angels birthday.

When my daughter married in 2006 I gained not only a son in law...but I became a part of a lovely extended family. 

I am a HUGE family gal.  Family is the most important thing in my life...I feel like I can never express to each and every one how much their happiness means to me. Nothing could have prepared us for the tragic heartbreak of losing the littlest member in August 2011, she simply went to sleep one night and never woke up.

Little Aubrie Noelle was the light of so many lives.  She was (my grand baby in-law (?) whatever)...a beautiful little girl and although I never got to meet her (they live in Washington) I ooed and awed over every photo and tidbit her beautiful mommy shared with all of us.

This month she would have celebrated her 3rd birthday.  She has a new baby sister who is a miracle in every sense of the word (but that's another story...this post is for Aubrie).  I feel blessed just by having seen what a light shown through her and how much she has made our family closer.  The painting below (which is about half complete) is a gift for Aubrie's mother Hollie, her daddy Brandon and baby sister Jaelyn.  

Happy Birthday Lovely Angel Aubrie - butterfly kisses.

March 1st

I am amazed that it is already March 2013.  This year just seems to be flying by.

I am looking forward to Spring, here in the south daffodils have already popped up and I can't wait to see more green. I grew up in Northern Nevada which is beautiful country but it really is a big cat box. Dirt, dirt and more dirt.  Oh and sage brush.  lol

Well to finish of February, I finally re-upholstered my dining room chair cushions!!! This is a project I first started planning out last Spring so I am thrilled I finally completed.  I am still working the rocker I keep sanding and changing colors on it...maybe it will be a never ending project.  

This months projects:

• rocking chair
• sand big rocking chair and design pattern
• cut spring wood projects
• paint paint paint!

This and That

Hello all,

I've been keeping busy playing in my studio, and now I have a few photos to share.  

The sunflower painting was Java Paint Night at Coffee Tree Books & Brew in Huntsville, instructed by Deborah Taylor.  I've included her website link so you can see more of her art and learn more about my friend.

The butterfly painting is a gift for my neighbor.

The two photo frames were just quickie designs for fun.

I'm still painting the children's rocking chair.  I keep changing my mind on color and accents hopefully I be done soon because I have so many other projects I want to start.

Please leave me comments and don't forget to visit Deborah's website.

Mid Week Post

I have been focused on refreshing my blog, domestic chores and other pressing issues for a couple of days now and need a break.

I was speaking with a friend regarding one of our neighbors who is going through cancer treatment.  This afternoons focus will be creating a little sunshine to brighten her day!

1 art project, 2 art projects, 3 art projects....4

I am so excited to create new things that I never have just one project going.  What about you?

My newest creative love is crochet!  There are so many adorable patterns for the wee ones that I can't help but save them all on Pinterest or Ravelry (or my hard drive).  I bought a couple patterns yesterday that I can't wait to play with.  Check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHatandI for some cute patterns!


And then...upstairs in my studio I have 3 projects in progress and my brain is already thinking about several spring projects to create and market.  

Getting back to those 3 projects: 

1. A small antique rocking chair perfect for a doll or stuffed animal.  I'm getting a little crazy with lots of color and scribble paint.  My inspiration comes from a fellow artisan I have met online http://lauriemillerdesigns.blogspot.com/  I love the whimsy and color in her designs.  
2. A sketch I want to paint.  A tribute to my father who died shortly after he turned 46.  This is my 46th year and it saddens me to think his life ended so young.  I may or may not proceed with the painting...it is very emotional for me.
3. I started a drawing of my son this month. I set it aside to work on the rocking chair. I need to get back to it...it's almost done!

I am also a new member of the Madison Arts Council!  I'm very excited to be getting more involved.  Good things to come.

So that is what's happening in my art world, what's happening in yours?

Butterfly...restoration part 1

I picked up my butterfly this past weekend, she has a lot of damage from being in the garden all spring and summer.  I am glad I outbid everyone.  I would be mortified to have someone pay several hundred dollars for her and find out after the fact that she is damaged.  I wonder how the other butterfly winners feel about the damage on their butterflies?  We looked at a lot of the butterflies waiting to be picked up and most had moderate damage. 

The base on mine has the most damage as she was located in a mostly shady area with lots of humidity and moist soil.  I haven't decided if that part is worth restoring - maybe I will just bury the metal pole that the butterfly sits on in the ground?  Too soon to tell.

The butterfly needs some TLC.  The seal I put on did not weather well.  I'll need to carefully sand and seal with a boat type of lacquer/sealant.  I haven't determined what if any other restoration on her is needed.

Regardless, I'm happy to restore her and give her a grand spot in my yard.

I won my HSVBG Butterfly!

Call me silly but I couldn't resist the chance of owning the butterfly I painted for the Huntsville Botanical Garden earlier this year. 

The garden set up an online auction for all of the butterflies and it has been open for about 30 days now.  Maybe I should have bid on someone else's butterfly, or let my monarch slip through my fingers but I just wanted her back.  That's the thing with creating a piece of art...sometimes the piece speaks to your soul and you just can't let it go.

Regardless I am happy to say my butterfly will be returning home and she will be a permanent piece in my own art collection :)

March Madness

 

There is nothing like falling ill when you have a great project to work on.  I am finally on the rebound and this is where I am at on my B-E-A-utiful monarch butterfly.  I made a stencil out of some old thin poster paper...the design is mine.  Then I tried using some artist grade acrylics for the base coat but after 3 applications I still didn't have a saturated/opaque bas to work with.  So off to Lowe's I went.  I picked up 3 nice colors and although it still took a couple of coats for the base orange I'm almost ready for the next step (1 wing side to base coat). 


Next step gradated color on the wings, and designing the base of the stand.  Stay tuned...

Hooray For Garden Art!!!

Green Things and Butterfly Wings

I am so excited that Spring is just around the corner...new ideas and opportunities are popping up like bright yellow daffodils in and around Madison, AL.   Yesterday while I was out it was 80 degrees!  Open up the windows and doors and let that sunshine in!  Of course that didn't last....but it'sa comin!

As you may already know, I was selected as one of the 35 volunteer artists to paint a  large butterfly & it's stand for the Huntsville Botanical Garden this Spring.  I will be picking my butterfly up next Tuesday and will upload pics and progress notes as I go. 
I am so grateful to be able to share a part of myself this way!

Please leave me comments, I would love hearing from you. Have a happy day!

More before pics

Before Pics-Dogwood Diner

My art in a public forum! Get outta town!

Is just high on life right now!!! My newest adventure is fixing up and designing/painting whimsical mural scenes inside the "Dogwood Diner" tree house at the Huntsville Botanical Garden!!!! Sketched out some ideas yesterday taking measurements and "before" pics this weekend! Woot Woot!

Good Wednesday Morning

Today I am visiting the Huntsville Botanical Garden for the first time.  Regretfully I have put this off but the time is perfect.  The weather is in the 60's, which for me is lovely...it gets so hot here in summer.

I am actually meeting with one of the directors to discuss an art project for one of their tree houses...I can't even put into words how excited I am to volunteer my creativeness!!!  The tree house is called the "Dogwood Diner" how fun...my inner child is running and skipping and singing.  I hope this will be the start of some other creative opportunities.

...in other news, I have been busy doing Spring cleaning and home projects this month so I haven't finished any paintings.  I do have one painting in progress and I am loving it - it's about 2/3 complete.  I will try to remember to get a picture of it posted. 

Greg and I completed a makeover of our foyer HOORAY!  And we did it in a weekend!  the original eggplant color is now a warm fawn/tan and all of the molding is a fresh warm white.  We added a little table, mirror and floral arrangement and VOILA!  Greg also revamped the french doors so they now stay open or can be properly closed...before they were hung but could not close due to missing hardware.  It really looks fabulous!

The master bath is still in progress but we pulled down the 3 huge mirrors over the sinks and the walls are now primed and ready for paint.We also need to replace the bathroom window, tile/grout the shower and buy the panes for the enclosure.  On the bright side art is now on the walls in the master bedroom!

Next is the main guest bath (which is hideous).  Pull out the carpet and lay down new indoor/outdoor carpet (because this it the bathroom that connects to the back patio and pool...this way no one will slip), Greg is picking up a new sink vanity and toilet, a coat or two of fresh paint and new towels and misc accessories and it will look AWESOME!

So exciting to see the house becoming more and more our home :)

Friday 4:20pm

Some people may get the title and others not.  Actually it's 4:24pm...but enough silliness.

I got my surface (canvas board) prepped, paints selected, brushes ready and basic pattern on the canvas but that was as far as I got yesterday.  I took a lunch break and never made it back upstairs.hrrrumph.

Today has been to busy running here and there, and dinner out with the family tonight.  I doubt after 1 or 2 margaritas I will be ready to paint but who knows, it could happen.  I'm hoping the hubby will be busy with his stuff Saturday so I can start my painting.  I'm actually using a pattern from a book so it won't be an actual original but it helps me practice different techniques.  It is a country bird theme.  I can't wait to get painting!

OY! February is flying by

Brrrrrr!  We got snowed on again here in Northern Alabama...maybe our summer will be a bit cooler this year, I'd like that.

I've managed to get the studio organized -hooray!  I also spent a couple hours wandering up and down the isles at Hobby Lobby yesterday and picked up some new paints, and a couple new books which I am excited about.  So what better way to spend this ccccold winter day than getting creative and painting!

How lucky I am!!!

February 6th already?

I fell into a black hole this past week between the grey weather and just not feeling well. By Thursday I was back to myself but was playing catch up.  I painted a couple cards on Friday but my lack of experience with watercolor type media ended up being a blurry mess.  On the up-side I have a new design for a painting for my niece. 

My art studio needs a good organizing too so that will be my goal for today.  And then hopefully this week I can get some real painting done :)

January has flown the coop

It's hard for me to believe that today is the last day of January, where did it go?  I think I need to take inventory on artsy things I have dabbled with this month:

1. Started an art blog
2. Completed 3 paintings
3. Took a painting class
4. Met new artists
5. Volunteered
6. Sketched a koi painting, and meezer kitties
7. Created my own Teddy Bears to use in paintings, cards and who knows what
8. Picked up 2 wooden children's chairs to paint, currently primed and drying
9. Started thinking and actively searching for a venue to teach art classes.
10. Watched painting videos and learned some new things

Wow, for me that's quite a lot of artsy this and that. I think it's going to be a great ART year!

The best of both worlds

Followed up on volunteering at the 16 Main Gallery and have agreed to volunteer when needed.  Which means I'll be rubbing elbows with the artists.  Call me a geek but it's exciting to me.