2013 Artful Gathering Online retreat

If you have not had an opportunity to take an online class from some of the most amazing instructors ever...Now is your chance.  You can still sign up for the second session of Artful Gathering that just started this week.  The videos are great, the classes, are awesome and the teachers are amazing!  I took a class from Colleen Moody, the doll Atelier.  She taught a class on making one her amazing Birdie clay dolls.  Briley the Birdie.  I have to say it was one of the easiest classes to follow.  Colleen is a wonderful and talented teacher and artist.  I have taken classes from her in person and it was just like being there.

This is my version of Briley the Birdie, her name is Isabelle and she was a swap gift for my Swap partner Theresa, Dulaney Woods Treasures.  Theresa has received  her swap so I can now share Isabelle with you.  I have been so excited for her reveal.

I have several more in the works that are not finished yet.  I love working with this medium.

  

I also sent other goodies to Theresa along with Isabelle, but I did not take any photos.  Hopefully Theresa will share some pics when she gets her stash. 

I will aslo be showing my altered playing cards art work when I am finished with them.  That class, The Spoken Soul, was taught by Mary Jane Chadbourne, Desert Dream Studios.  Mary Jane is teaching another class this session too. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Blessings....Becs

Fun Projects Finally Completed! YAY!!!

 So many fun projects! Have you ever found yourself almost done with about 20 projects?  Seriously!  I am always working on several things at one time.  I kinda like it that way, until I get behind.  And I am awful about taking photos. I am determined, though, to get all my unfinished projects done! 

I did finally finish several projects that have been on my work table for some time.  This cute little Pin cushion I made in a class with Lisa Super (Vintage Handmade).  Lisa has workshops a few times a year and a creative campout every summer.  I got to go last year for the first time and am excited to go again this year!  I adore this pin keep, (I think Lisa has the kit for sale on her site) I have it perched on an old spool for display.

We also made this cute little shadow box with a stamp from Catherine Moore, Character Construction.  It's about 3 x 3".  I made mine steampunk and added gears inside the box that roll around.  I added silver metal wings and perched her ontop of an old spool that I covered in washi tape and pigment dye.  I love her!  Lisa always has such fun projects for us to do. 

I became addicted to Character Constructions stamps last summer at Lisa's Creative Campout.  So I have bought a few.  This steampunk girl is one of the new ones from the Time Keeper's Garden set and yes it is the same one that I used in my shadow box. 

I made a heart pillow for my friend Marsha (Tattered Chick) after Valentine's day.  Marsha likes neutral colors and is an awesome "junker".  I repurposed a couple of kitchen towels, crocheted doily, vintage lace, buttons and some charms that spell out "junk".  I stamped the image on some old ducking cloth and added a charm to the bottom.  I am really pleased with the way it turned out.  I think Marsha liked it too! 

 

Kim at Kim's Whims on Facebook, hosted a prim easter/spring themed swap.  I was partnered with Kim Robinson.  We decided to do a bird themed swap.  I made this little Prim paper clay bird on some vintage spools that I covered with washi tape, vintage lace and an old rusty pin.  I attached the spools to a vintage tart tin and added nest moss and flowers.  This little birdy has a paper hat and ruffled collar.

Here are some jewelry pieces I made for a local shop.  I am using old hardware, watch parts, frozen charlottes, and vintage jewelry and buttons creating unique and one of a kind necklaces.  Here are a few.

 

 I made this little primitive paper clay birdie doll. Her name is Hazel. She has a bird nest in her pocket on her apron.  Her fancy bonnet is made with vintage lace.   I learned how to make these birds from Colleen Moody.  Colleen is teaching the birdie class online this summer through Artful Gathering 2013 online retreat.  It's not too late to sign up.  There will be two sessions and lots of great classes being offered. 

 

  

I found this lamp base awhile ago and then found this old vintage colander that is a faded grey and a little rusty.  So, I recruited my brother-in-law and we made a lamp shade ou of the colander.  I painted the lamp base a satin pewter color to match with the shade and stuck a vintage edison type bulb in it!  It is so cute! 

 

 These are fun photo or card holders that I repurposed from old door knobs and funnels.  I blinged them up a little with vintager rhinestones, beads and wire. 

 

You can find some of my jewelry, aprons, pillows, photo holders, lamp, soy candles, and many other awesome finds from other vendors, at Embellish and Restore in Visalia, Ca.

 

Kim at Art Joy Stuff is doing an ATC swap called "52 Weeks, 52 Artists, 52 Trades"  I was lucky enough to get one of her ATC's and I made this one to send her in return.  If you haven't already participated, check out her blog and contact her when she posts the ATC for the week.  Awesome Idea!

 

 

 

 

 Finally, another project from a kit I purchased from Lisa Super. Hese are little metal file tags and they are embellished, with paper, lace, tibbon, buttons, and a frozen charlotte. They are great to hang as small ornaments or tags for that special gift. Lisa has kits in her store often, so check it out!

I sure hope I didn't overload you on pictures.  Thanks for the visit, have a great week and God Bless You!     Becs

 

My Snow girl from Colleen Moody's Doll Class

As many of you know, Colleen Moody is an EXCEPTIONAL Doll artist who resides in Northern California near San Francisco. At the beginning of September I had the amazing opportunity to take one of her doll sculpting classes. It was held over a weekend at her home. Her studio is to die for! I am so amazed at her talent and so overjoyed to have been able to attend. I met some wonderful women that weekend and learned how to sculpt these dolls. It was actually not as difficult as I anticipated, although I have a LOOONNGGG way to go! LOL



The class consisted of making two dolls in shadow boxes. We made the shadow boxes from old frames, then sculpted our dolls. One was a winter snow girl and the other was a Halloween Pumpkin. My Pumpkin is almost ready for reveal, not yet....But my snowgirl is making her debut!



My frame was brown stained with gold leafing, but it didn't look good with my girl, so I took some of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint, her newest color, French Linen and painted my frame. I antiqued it with the dark stain. I liked the color, but it just didn't pop. So I took the Antique white chalk paint and dry brushed it on over the French Linen! It was exactly what it needed. I love it!

Colleen sells her wonderful creations on her blog The Doll Atelier, she posts in advance when she puts them up, so if you are interested you gotta be really quick cause they go fast!

Colleen is an anazing artist and if you ever get the chance to take one of her classes, they are totally worth it! On Sunday, she took several of us to the Alameda Antique Mart. It was Huge! It was Amazing! It was Wonderful! Thanks so much Colleen, for sharing a bit of your time with us! Becs