My project for Clara's challenge

I am by no means a painter or illustrator, so I was a bit apprehensive when Clara posted her challenge to use your own artwork in something that we created. After sleeping on it a day or two, I realized (while talking on the phone) that I can doodle. :)

So, that's exactly what I did for the challenge. I began with a kraft paper colored journal. With a pencil, I freehanded a swirl design. Then I "painted" thin lines of Diamond Glaze over my pencil lines and sprinkled them with black glitter. Once dried, I painted the remaining areas with Lumiere.

I used a wing mold I had and Sculpey Light clay, baked and painted with black acrylic paint. I then highlighted the raised areas with silver metallic rub ons and sealed it with a thin layer of Diamond Glaze to fashion the wings.

The circle was made by using a circle punch and some cardboard that I covered with silver paper, and stamped with solvent ink and a rubber stamp I created from the Identity Femme set from Art Declassified. The crown is another stamp that I made from the same set; I stamped it onto a piece of white shrink plastic with black solvent ink and cut it out.

I heat embossed the words, "I am original" from the Identity Femme set with silver EP along the edge, glued everything down, and called it good. :)

Thanks for the challenge Clara! Even though at first it seemed daunting, in the end I had a great time creating it.

My Creative Space

I know some of the the other designers have shared their spaces, so I thought I would share mine as well.

In our master bedroom is this small room, which when we first looked at the house is what made me decide I wanted it. I wanted this space as my own.

Between moving in, getting settled, and various deadlines, it was a full 6 months before I could renovate it to my liking. Well, that and the fact that my DH was out of town for a week and couldn't see what I was doing. :)

Having said that, he did have an idea as I had requested the paint as a Christmas present, which he did buy for me. So while he was off taking pictures of airplanes in Florida, I went to work. I had chosen Venetian Plaster for the walls in an orangey hue. Since I have no windows, I wanted a color that was dramatic. That being said, while I totally LOVE the effect, it was way too much work!

The thing about Venetian Plaster is that you have to apply it with a spatula, one stroke at a time, letting each application slightly overlap the other. That was easy. The hard part is that you have to sand it all.

OH MY! Let's just say that I started out hand sanding everything and after about 2 hours of that and a gazillion sheets of sandpaper, I sought out DH's palm sander. The person who invented this deserves a medal! I will say though that it's been nearly a year since the completion of my room and my right arm has just recently stopped vibrating.

I wish you could touch the walls in person. When you sand the plaster it becomes a darker hue, not only that, but it gets shiny as well; and if you sand it enough (which I did), it becomes smooth to the touch, not just any kind of smooth, but smooth as glass.

I then painted the trim in a coordinating color. I thought the door needed some character so I used Lumiere to hand paint all the Fleur di lies you see. I then sewed the curtains to hide the yucky parts, shelves that house my supplies, and of course the well pump; the pump, well that's another story! Ummm... I am still learning how to use this blog, so if you have to try and figure out the pictures in correlation to the story please forgive me!

My intent is cover the ceiling with chandeliers and would most appreciate if you happen to know of a source for candle ones!

To one wall I attached metal roofing to create a huge magnetic board. Ignore the calendar; I'm typically a few weeks behind. (In script only! Don't panic Clara!!!) I made the majority of the magnets and just love that I can look up from my screen and see deadlines, handmade cards, addresses, photographs and the like. It keeps me grounded.

Behind the doorway are wire cubes. They hold cardstock, canvas, fabric, stamps, photos and the like. In some drawers are little scraps of paper that I save. I'll admit, it kills me to spend upwards of $1.00 for a sheet of paper and not use it all, so I keep each usable scrap. Funny thing is that I most often turn to my scrap drawers first and usually find what I need. In the other drawers are acrylic paints, chalks, Lumiere and stickers, organized by letter, phrases or words.

And yes, the hands are a project - maybe one that you might see soon...

Oh, I can't help it but there is a picture of my "baby." My Dremel. DH bought it for me as another Christmas present, (Honestly, it was one of the best gifts I have ever received!) and the following year I got the stand. I'm in heaven :D (sigh)

And yes, I do realize that these images are all screwy; I've never done a blog before so give me a HUGE learning curve, besides isn't it fun to match the images with my commentary? :D

Oh and one image shows what is behind curtain #2, the well pump... ahhhh, and as I said before, that's another story in and of itself. Stay tuned....

Welcome

You know, I love getting assignments. Ask me to create something and you’ll find me late at night in my studio giving my rendition of any given subject. Yet, ask me to talk about myself and well, I’m stuck for verbiage. I’d much rather talk about my creations than myself. That being said, perhaps a quick personal history might give you better insight as to why it is that I create what I do.

Yep, I’ll admit, I was a child of the 80’s. Early 80’s to be exact. My mother was quite the crafter. She taught herself everything from Macramé (Remember those huge planters?) to beading (think huge beaded birdcages), plastic canvas and crochet. Not only was I part of her crafting ventures, but she also encouraged me to be myself. So, of course, I took advantage of that and did what any other girl of 13 in 1983 would do; I had her fashion a pair of crocheted silver fingerless gloves. Complete with a big, pink satin bow at the wrist. Now a mother myself, I have a totally new respect for her. I’m sure she was dying a bit inside when she created them for me, but she did it nonetheless. This is the same woman that during my “Madonna” phase, took me to Dennys for breakfast dressed in bright pink leggings, tank to match, rubber O ring bracelets, big earrings and ballet flats, all the while sporting those crocheted gloves…. Here is the amazing thing; she never blinked an eye, even defending me when as other patrons gawked.

I owe my free creative spirit to my mother. She taught me that it is perfectly acceptable to be outside of the norm. Not only that, but expressing yourself in a tangible manner, be it the way you dress or things you create, is yet another way to let your voice be heard. It is a gift she gave without realizing it. As an adult I use found objects, paint, papers and glue as a means of articulating my thoughts, opinions, hopes and fears, just as those Crocheted silver gloves of my youth had.

Fast forward to the actual grown up me. I’m now facing my 40’s and am content in my life. I feel like I have lived a million lifetimes, but seriously, who among us hasn’t? My current incarnation involves politics, school policies, trying to do my best as the parent of special needs child and a “gifted” one. Currently, I reside atop a mountain in the middle of nowhere, West Virginia, and more importantly, realize that life is pretty darn good. Which I think is a great accomplishment, knowing when enough is enough and being content with that. It’s a good feeling. A rather freeing one at that.