Snow, Ice and the Winter Blues

It's been hard lately to be motivated. It has been so cold and miserable here that all I want to do is stay curled up under a blanket. Doesn't matter if it is in bed or on the sofa. All that matters is the world is on hold as long as I have that blanket covering me.



Funny thing is I don't usually get the winter blues. It's usually in the fall when the days are getting shorter and the weather cooler that I get down. The signs that signal summer is over are sometimes too much for me to bear. This year though my fall blues were very brief. I guess I am making up for them now. Oh well... they will pass.



Today the sun was shining and it was slightly warmer so I decided to go outside to rake the roof. We have had so much snow that the ice is building up on the gutters and we have some good sized ice dams already. Don't want any damage from water coming in. Had that several years ago and it was a pain to get it fixed as we have plaster walls instead of drywall. There just aren't as many plaster artisans around as there used to be and good ones are even harder to come by. Hopefully I was able to clear the snow quick enough and the ice will melt.

The Collection

The Collection blog is finally up!

For the past couple of months I have been working like a mad woman editing photos, taking measurements, archiving info, and last but not least... uploading to blogger. Even though I haven't finished uploading all of my work I feel there is enough posted to make the announcement. It has been an enormous task but in the end worth it. This project came about as a result of being asked repeatedly if I have a website which I would always respond with a less than enthusiastic NO. I finally decided I needed to get my work on the internet and figured a blog was the best way to do that until I got my website up and running. The blog was conceived to be a catalog of most of my work and eventually will contain images of almost everything which I consider important to my growth as an artist. Unfortunately some of my pieces were sold before I could get good photos so they are either missing from the catalog or are represented by less than ideal photographs. Fortunately though, I was able to get many of my pieces re-shot by the very talented Paul Primeau whom I highly recommend if you are in need of a great photographer. In the end I hope this blog will shed some light on where I've been as an artist.

Enjoy!

My Vintage Christmas...

Just wanted to share my humble little tree and some cool vintage ornaments that were my grandparents. They are acrylic with a mirrored back. Each one is a different color acrylic with a different figure inside made out of paper, pipe cleaners, brick-a-brack, etc.
I love the style of these ornaments.



The icicle ornaments were made by Mary, a gal I worked with while in college. She made these icicles with simple craft beads and pipe cleaners and sold them to make money to put herself through college. I have since lost track of her but still use her ornaments every year for Christmas and wonder what she is up to. They look so beautiful sparkling in the Christmas lights.



The flower lights are vintage as well. I am definitely a scrounger and like to happen upon stuff as opposed to buying everything to be matchy matchy. It also helps if items have sentimental value as I am truly a mush at heart.



I don't have room for a large tree anymore but luckily I have this little tree courtesy of my brother Chuck. When we were in college he asked me if I would take him to the Hallmark store. It was the year they first released the Loony Tunes ornaments and he wanted to get some. Because he spent over a certain dollar amount he was given a little artificial tree which he turned around and gave to me as a thank you for taking him to the store. It is the perfect size for my house & I always think of my brother when I decorate it.



May you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Seven Random Facts...

A few weeks ago I was tagged by my friend Jeremy Melton. I have been too busy to post until now so here goes!


Game rules:

1. You must link to the individual who tagged you and post the rules of TAG (which you are currently reading).
2. Post 7 random facts about yourself
3. Tag 7 friends and link to them and
4. Let them know that they have been tagged by leaving a nice little message on their blog.


My facts:

1. I collect tiki and Hawaiiana.
2. One of my best friends was my Grammy who passed away 3 years ago.
3. I am a recovering perfectionist.
4. When I was younger, I used to think that if I could experience every walk of life, even for just 5 minutes each, it would help me to be the best artist ever.
5. I like sparkly things but wear very little jewelry.
6. I love plants and have a small jungle in my house.
7. I have always made things.


Friends I am tagging:

1. Carolyn Gallo
2. Little Robot
3. Don Kilpatrick
4. Chris Houghton
5. Andrea Kowch
6. Chef Ann
7. Charles Parzych III

Winter Wonderland...

The first real snowfall happened today. It was that magical first snowfall where everything looks like it's covered in fairy dust and the snow keeps falling like the snow in a snow globe. It wasn't too warm and it wasn't too cold so the snow was perfect packing snow.



I am lucky. Even though I live in an urban area there are lots of trees and greenery. When the temperature is just right the snow will stick to the branches just so making everything look beautiful. And even though I dread the cold I love the first snow.



These photos are of my neighbor's bush. It has those tiny red berries and a few of it's leaves left giving it a pop of color against the white snow. I was hoping to get some photos of the trees but I didn't take my camera to the store when I went. It is slowly dying and being persnickety. I will have to get a new one soon.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Lets see... where to begin...

Well... there's the huge framing job that I am doing for a friend. The fun little penguin zipper pulls I did for another friend's kid's hockey team--the penguins. The new additions to my Cafe Press store.(Yes, there is newer stuff than what is in this post.) Getting my work photographed professionally. The new blog I am setting up. And all of the little things that go into pulling all of this off on top of the every day stuff! Whew! As a result I have been a tad neglectful on updating my blog(among other things...). Everything has been in progress and I think that is kind of boring unless you can show the final result. So here are a few photos:


part of the giant frame job


penguin zipper pulls(penguin art courtesy of Dave Chow)


one of my paintings professionally photographed

Oh yeah... I just bought a glass pendant kit from Annie Howes. She makes these beautiful glass and scrabble tile pendants and several months back, started selling the DIY kits with all of the supplies you need plus instructions. I finally ordered some and was able to squeeze out some time the last couple of days to try making a few. They aren't too difficult and are so much fun to make! I made two with my own art: the moth and the mandala(snowflake looking one) and would like to make a few more using my own images. The other three are made with the beautiful papers that come in the kit. They will make fabulous gifts as there are many family birthdays this time of the year!




If you are interested in buying or making pendants check out Annie's website and her Etsy store.

And maybe next time I will be able to unveil my other blog...

tsk, tsk... Shame on me...

Yes I know I have been neglectful of you dear blog but I have been planning something very special! I am creating a sister blog for you so you won't be lonely! Please be patient as I make all the necessary details to make her unveiling just perfect! You won't be disappointed!