Goddess Paper Dolls

I love it when I'm rooting through the overwhelming collection of art and supplies I have and uncover a treasure I had forgotten about.  Such is the case with these little goodies.  I was working on them several months ago and somehow, in the move to my new home, they got waylaid.  Until now.

I had been given a big stash of glittery bits and bobs from a friend who was going to throw the lot out.  Can you imagine??  Anyway, all the sparkly things got me thinking about a couple of patterns I had for goddess dolls and mermaid dolls and here are a couple of the results.  They are made with assorted reclaimed papers, recycled wallpaper (an old standby of mine), along with all sorts of doodads that had been headed for the trash until I intercepted them.

I think that ultimately I will use some wire and funky beads to finish off these dolls, but in the meantime I thought you'd like to see them.

(Watermarks do not appear on the originals.  Each doll is at least 8" tall.)

Happy New Year ! "Live Every Day"

I wish all of you the very best for 2012.  It is a bright, beautiful new year, filled with possibilities.  May all you wishes and dreams come true.

Hopefully, I can be more vigilant about posting to this blog on a regular basis.  Daily life always seems to have other plans for me, but I will do my best.

Today, I am offering a little mixed media piece with a heartfelt message to "Live Every Day."  So appropriate, I thought, as we start a brand new year fresh with opportunity and hope.

This piece is 8" X 8" by about .5 inches thick.  It was created on a gallery wrapped canvas.  The base was a reclaimed piece of fabric, that I painted and collaged over.  I love the bright colors and the inspirational message it carries.  (Watermark does not appear on the original.)

"Ever Vigilant" Mixed Media Collage

Finally!  This piece is done!  You know how it is.  Sometimes you get a piece of art to about 90% done and then it just sits there, sometimes for months on end, because it just isn't quite right yet.  Well, this is one of those pieces.  It has been sitting on the desk literally for months just waiting for the right couple of pieces to show up that were needed to finish it off.

As it turned out, I was waiting for other little soldiers to show up to keep the central image company on his watch.

Dedicated to the service our Canadian troops provide us every day and to all military personnel worldwide who work so hard to keep the peace.  This one is for you.

Namaste.

More Repurposed CD Art

Here are a couple more of those recycled CDs turned into collaged art magnets made recently.  The first is 'Key To My Heart' and the second is 'Gypsy Spirit.'

Returning To My Roots

I've been having so much fun "returning to my roots" lately.  I've been revisiting the early days of my online art career by going back to creating work similar to that I produced about twelve years ago.  Along with my miniature art (magnets), I've been doing some collage/assemblages on reclaimed CDs again.  As always, I so enjoy keeping even the smallest bits out of the trash and creating something for someone to treasure.

Here are a couple of simple little collages I did this weekend entitled, "Character and Beauty" and "Angel Watching Over."  They are made with assorted recycled papers, vintage images and stamped images.  Each has a decorative ribbon loop to hang them from (not shown), as well as a large, flat magnet on the back for maximum display potential. 

I think I'll make a few more of these.  Lord knows I have enough discarded CDs collecting dust around here!

"Virtue" And "Soar" - Altered Plate Mixed Media/Collages

I salvaged a couple of square plastic plates from going in the trash.  They're about six inches square and are bevelled (concave).  It dawned on me that they would make a great base for some kind of collage or assemblage.

So, here are the results.  Both pieces are highly textural and very primitive in finish, with lots of lumps and bumps from the many, many layers of stuff I used to create them.  It was a bit of a challenge working on something bevelled and not flat.  They are both quite dark pieces, not just in color but in feel.  Kinda gothic in some ways.  I used all kinds of recycled materials to make them and it took the better part of six months to finally get them to the point where I am happy enough with them to let them go.

Each has a wire hanger on the back.  Because of the bevelled shape of these plates, they are about a half inch or more deep.

Although they don't show up well in the scans, the little blocks on the pieces are vintage dictionary definitions of "virtue" and "soar."

Journal Pages

It hasn't been easy for me to embrace this art journal thang.  As a kid, I never was one to keep a diary.  God forbid I wrote down some highly personal thoughts and someone else saw them!  The thought of that just terrified me.  Even doing this blog is weird for me, but hey, I'm adjusting in my old age.  ;-p

Anyway, I decided to bite the bullet and start a couple of art journals last year and while I still struggle with what to do with them, I do enjoy their portability and flexibility.  I like being able to leave my studio with one, in some state of done-ness, and go join my husband in living room.  He often complains when I squirrel myself away in the studio evenings on end, so it's nice to be able to do something in front of the television he always has on.  I'm one of those people that can't just sit and watch tv.  I have to do something else while it's on otherwise I feel like I'm wasting time.

So, doodling, zentangling, coloring or otherwise enhancing my journal pages fills that need nicely.

The first journal page (called Feather Your Nest) says "Be Sure To Feather Your Nest With Love, Laughter, Dreams, Memories."

The second journal page (called Mom's Advice) has a number of sayings we all heard from our mom, including, "Clean Your Room," "Call Your Grandparents,"  "Mind Your Manners," "Eat Your Vegetables," "Say Your Prayers," "Brush Your Teeth," and "Take The Dog For A Walk."

To be listed in my Etsy store soon.  Thanks for looking!!