Windows Update , Alcohol Inks & Knitting Books

Greetings & Salutations

It's been a very busy two weeks here at the Studio. Still working on the House Windows and we have three left to do out of 37. Yes, that is correct...37 Windows in this House! LOL They sure needed some tender loving care. LOL  In the mist of working on these Windows, we also had this burst of energy to start clearing out the attics. I can't believe how much "STUFF" you acquire over the years. It's absolutely amazing.  We have been taking bags and boxes to the Good Will everyday! It feels good to be clearing out, fixing up the House so we can enjoy Fall Season.

Here are some pics of what has been going on here at the Studio.

I WILL NEVER GLAZE WINDOWS AGAIN! That stuff is HORRIBLE! Stick with good old fashion Window Caulk!

Looking really good!

My husband was playing around with my eye glasses and my camera...

Pretty Cool Photo! OMG...I'm blind as a freaking bat without my eyeglasses! LOL

I managed to get some time (very little) in the Studio. Started playing with my Alcohol Inks. The key with these, make sure you let them really dry and spray a varnish on them before you start adding water to your piece.

Gotta love Amazon...Got some new Knitting Books and Sewing Books. Once my "Crow Art Dolls" are wrapped up for the Gallery Show, I'll be spending some quality time with my sewing machine, knitting needles, and of course all of the lovely yarn I have been collecting!

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week!

Keep Creating Your Magic!

Until Next Time

CHEERS!

Commissioned Piece: Designs by CK

Greetings & Salutations!
It's Friday and the weekend is upon us!
A ways back I had commissioned Chris from Designs by CK to put his magic to King Kong for my husband. When I received it in the mail, I was so ever pleased with Chris' amazing hand at this piece he did for us. My husband is a huge fan of King Kong and I knew the right person to design this piece. Chris' work is just amazing and if you haven't been over to see him, you must visit him at: www.designsbyck.etsy.com, www.designsbyck.com, and www.designsbyck.blogspot.com
Chris work is truly amazing and I'm always so happy when I get artwork from him. Thank you again Chris for your hard work on this, and being so patient with me. LOL
I haven't found the perfect frame yet, but I will know when I see it!
As for this Friday, it's cold out, raining, and the perfect day to kick back with some Joni Mitchell, go through my latest yarn purchases and KNIT ALL DAY LONG!

I can't wait to make leg warmers out these. Just look at the colors.....oh la la.... www.knitpicks.com. These colors come out early May and I can't wait to buy one of each!

I received some new Knitting Books yesterday from Amazon and these are the BOMB. These books are terrific. Tons of instructions, patterns, and pictures. I love these. Check out the Pumpkin Dress color on the color of the one book. This is a must for me to make. Now, I just need some pumpkin yarn! LOL

Almost done with my fourth washcloth. My husband absolutely loves these. Plus, they are so great to practice different stitch patterns. I love making these.

I would've have posted my scarf I'm making, and I will once it's done. However, I screwed up a couple of the rows and have to take it to knitting classes tomorrow so my teacher can fix it for me. LOL The trials of being a beginner knitter. LOL

I hope you all have a wonderful and creative weekend. Stop back earlier in the week to see more of my finished projects. You never know what I'm up to next! LOL

Until Next Time...

CHEERS!

IT's All About Knitting These Days!

Greetings & Salutations!

My current obsession is KNITTING. I've been so busy with getting my hands on anything dealing with Knitting. I'm completely crazy over this new love. I'm even dreaming about knitting and the dreams go, knit 1, purl 2, knit 1, purl 2! LOL

On Tuesday during my mad search over at Etsy, I came across a wonderful shop called "Lambsears." Kelly's shop is just amazing and what even makes it better, she is an amazing knitter, and great to deal with. Make sure you check out her shop here Lambsears When ordering these beautiful handmade, hand painted knitting needles, you get a free Knitting Needle Case that comes with your purchase. Also, Kelly does special orders, which she is doing for me. I wanted these Knitting Needles in 14 inch length because when doing bigger projects, I need the extra length. However, I did order some in the 10 inch length for shorter projects.

www.lambsears.etsy.com

Kelly also offers some fabulous HomeSpun Yarns. These are very YUMMY!

Check these out! I just absolutely love these, and they are PINK!

I just ordered a bunch of HomeSpun Art Yarn, and I'm waiting to get those from England. So in the meantime, I purchased some yarns from Joann's. These wonderful colors will be made into more Art Doll Shrugs for my little girls.

I just had to get another BASKET! LOL Just full of new and beautiful yarns ready to be turned into something wonderful!

Yes, Books on Knitting. Can't have enough in my library of learning! These books are wonderful. Especially the Book on Yarn. This book goes really in to depth about the properties of yarn and where it all comes from. Who would've thought there are so many different types of wool. LOL If you are new to knitting or would like to learn more, these books are awesome. The book on 400 Stitches is the bomb. You can't imagine all of the stitches you can create by just knowing the knit stitch and the purl stitch! It's just amazing!

Here is my first WASHCLOTH I knitted. My husband actually used it this morning and loved it. Well, why wouldn't he...right? LOL I used 100% cotton yarn (Sugar & Cream) to knit this. When working with WHITE yarn, make sure you keep your hands clean. LOL I'm pleased on how it came out. Not bad for the first try.

My Art Doll Shrugs. These are addicting to make. I can't wait to finish up some Art Dolls so they can be dressed in their little Shrugs!

Now onto my other passion...drawing. Still working on my style, techniques that I'm learning through the various workshops that I'm taking. Shading is the hardest part...I gotta tell ya! It's not there yet, but I swear I will get there if it kills me! LOL

Well, I'm off to make another pot of Java, put some Joni Mitchell in and get knitting and doing some other things. I plan on locking my Studio door again this weekend...hopefully my husband will send food up to me! LOL

Have a WONDERFUL and CREATIVE WEEKEND. Remember...DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO and always GIGGLE when doing it!

Until Next Time...

CHEERS!

Happy New Year Everyone & Studio Madness!

GREETINGS & SALUTATIONS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL FROM STUDIO!

THANK YOU ALL FOR A FABULOUS 2009 & LOOKING FORWARD TO 2010!

I hope you all had a wonderful, happy, and safe Christmas! It's hard to believe that it's over and we are heading into 2010 shortly! As we gather our thoughts and writing down our "New Year's Resolutions"... (please, I'm lucky if I commit to one of them, but I do try!!! HAHAHA). However, for those of you out there in blog land, make a commitment to start an "Art Journal." You will never regret it and you will find such peace and freedom in this art form. I have only been doing Art Journaling for a very short time, and it's really helped me with ideas and my sketching. It has also given me the freedom to do whatever I want. Over Christmas break I continued working on my Art Journals and here is a sneak at some of my pages. Now, mind you, an Art Journal you don't have to finish it in one sitting...some of these pages I work on for months...that is the beauty of the Art Journal...there is no AGENDA! It's just you and your Art Journal...Try it, I promise you that you will always continue on this path!

This Darn Page is Sideways...arrrrghhhh!

Pop in a movie while you are working on your Art Journal...Remember, it's just you having fun!

One of my Art Journals. I have several going all at once! WHOOOHOOO

More Sketches
Grab yourself some Adirondack Color Wash Sprays...These things are freaking AWESOME!

Cut-up paper towels and use gel medium...Look at how much fun you can have with a PAPER TOWEL!

This is the Journal Page I did for "Create and Pass the Journal" over at "Art From the Heart!
My Angel Page from the workshop I'm taking over at SuziBlu.ning.com

This piece that I'm working on is from Angel Workshop with Suzi Blu. I am having loads of fun with this. She isn't done, but she is getting closer to being completed.

Still working on this piece. I keep switching her colors. By doing so, it's creating really cool layers and textures.

A Basket Full of "Works in Progress." It takes time considering all of the layers of paint these little suckers require! LOL

Got my little girl ornies done! I think they came out really well! These are addicting to make!

My little "Gothic Annies" are all most done. Just need to add some clothes and hair!

Now for some new "Art Book." It's so nice getting new books. It's better than buying chocolate! LOL Well, I might not go that far!

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR! ALWAYS HAVE ART IN YOUR HEART AND KNOW THAT YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD!

UNTIL NEXT TIME

CHEERS!

Ink Techniques, Work's In Progress & Etsy Shop Update

Greetings and Salutations!

I hope all of you had a great week and that you are all creating art! Weekends go by so fast and if you are like me, where you can't get into your studio until late Friday nights, make the most out of the time that you have. Even if you create in your journals and only have 10 or 30 mins...you will feel better and after awhile, you will make time...even if it means going without sleep! LOL

Okay, now on for some new techniques I was trying! I hope you like them! With the costs of art supplies now, and the fact that we have to have it all, and everyday there is something new coming out for all of us to go crazy with, I thought I would see if this new line of Ink from Liquitex would do the same job as all of those Glitter Mist Sprays, Tim Holtz's Spray Inks, etc.(Because let's face it, when ordering those sprays, you can't just get one color and they are expensive!) This technique works just as well as those expensive sprays...well at least they did for me and it's a heck of a lot cheaper. All you do is get yourself a little spray bottle (they sell them at Blicks for $1.19) I put about 12 drops of ink in the bottle and added about half water. You will get so much for your money and these inks go along way! Try mixing the colors...I haven't done that yet! I bet you can make all kinds of colors. The ink will last a long a long time and you don't need very much. I also tried using it directly out of the bottle for a drippy effect. I was very happy with the results. These little spray bottles are great for this process. They even come with a stick on the front so you can write the color on it. (www.blicks.com).

I tried the same process with the wonderful and to die for Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints. These work just as well. Just add a little bit more water because the sprayer head gets a little clogged, but it does the job.

I just added three Witches to my Etsy Shop.
HILGA WITCHY

BERTHA WITCHY

JUST WITCHY

I have been working on some new Cloth & Clay Art Dolls and they are still in the "WORKS IN PROGRESS" Mode! This little girl is a custom order from a lady in Austria. She wanted a cloth and clay art doll, and requested that she have a big "X" for an Eye. Do you think I got that? LOL

My Sitter Dolls. Man...are these fun to make! They are in the process of drying.
Here are some that have moved on from the drying stage and now are getting sculpted with clay!

Just got my BIGGIE BOARD and BIGGIE PAPER! If you don't have one of these and are interested in just practicing your drawing, these are absolutely great. I got both at Blicks. They are having a great sale (well they always do)! LOL

I'm getting my supplies ready for Art School. I start January 18th...Can't wait!

My good friend Anita told me about this amazing new Art Book. If you love drawing and using colored pencils, this book is MUST HAVE! It's brilliant and is filled with amazing works, techniques and demos. Who knew you could use mineral spirits with colored pencils!

I hope everyone has a wonderful and creative weekend and remember to take time out of your day to create ART!

Until Next Time

Cheers!