My Peppermint Girl

This folk art doll sculpture was made for a PWGL challenge entitled "Enchanted Christmas." However, so many hours went into her that I missed the entry date completely. Like, swoosh, completely flew over my head!

She has just come back from the factory, conveniently located in the North Pole, because really, that's where all the enchanted Christmas people live right?

After spending her day making sweet confections, she's getting to do what she's been thinking about all day- decorating for Christmas! See that pinkalicious garland? It's about to go on her fireplace! Right next to her tree of ooey gooey gumdrops!

This challenge really was a challenge for me...just not used to making such a whimsical face. I debated a lot with myself, but figured it would be more fun to eat a peppermint if someone like this actually made them!

She's on ebay now until Thanksgiving night. If she doesn't sell, I'll be taking her over to Briar Patch on Friday.

It does make me curious though, what is your favorite Christmas candy? Without a doubt, mine is peppermint bark...YUM! :)

Best of luck to you all as you get ready for Thanksgiving!! :)

Peppermint Bliss

Well, hello ladies! :) How is everyone today? I can't believe it has been so long since my last post! I've been working like crazy to get ready for Briar Patch...it is this FRIDAY!!! Time has just flown by!

But first, Bliss Fest!! This event was put on by the store Domestic Bliss in Mesa- a store that is full of eye candy! Allow me to introduce to you a few of my favorite bloggers/artists. First, there is Tricia, from Vintage Bliss. She makes wonderful items and has great little vintage items too! :)Next up is Julie Haymaker Thompson...she is one of my all time FAVORITES!! I am so glad she moved to Arizona and I can't wait to take one of her classes. Seriously folks, check her out- she rocks with a capital R! And now I have a piece of my own! :)Ironically, another one of my favorites is her cousin, Beth Quinn! Creativity and talent must run in the family! I admit to not being a big fan of jewelry, but that is just NOT the case when it comes to Beth! I had been drooling over her necklaces long enough and finally got one of my own! She has the best sayings right in her pendants. Mine says, "She loves her journey." How perfect is that?! Such an optimistic sentence...one you can believe when you are happy with the way things are in your life, but also when things are hard because it is the hard times that gets you to the good ones...it's all part of the journey! :)I also got to visit with Michelle of Mosaic Cottage. I have definitely talked about her before! She is putting those antique doll heads on her cupcakes now...pure heaven! Each artist was just as sweet as pie...it was a such a treat to go! :) I mean, really, how lucky am I to have all these artists right here in my part of town?! It's like Esther Smith being excited about the Worlds Fair being in St. Louis! Don't know what I'm talking about? Watch this!

Our little outing also served as a Mommy-Daughter date. So the icing on the cupcake was that I got to share it all with my little girl who is not so little anymore. Can she be eight already???Now to what has been consuming all my time lately...the show! The sad part is, I have no plan. What I make anyway is so random...I have so many WIPs I'm just trying to finish them all and throw some paintings in with all the cupboards and scrap wood I've been hoarding. It has been very satisfying to go through my stash...which is way too large even though I've been extremely thrifty in how I have gotten it, and using only what I have. I really want to get some sewing done...I have an antique red velvet bedspread that is just amazing and patiently waiting to be turned into something else. I know I'll never get it all done in time, but I'm still determined to try! :) I may never do this show again and want to make the most of it!

In searching for ideas, I remembered this photograph that I love. These are Dave's grandparents, Florence & Pete. I hear they were a very cute couple....looks like it doesn't it? :)

Pete died when my hubby was just a newborn, but Florence is just as devoted to him now as she was then. I wanted to do a folky version of the photo and here it is: Not my regular face, I know! It wasn't planned, but I liked how it looked and decided to stop. Kind of funky I think!

A Goodwill makeover: I would love to live in white and weather house in the country like this!

I'll post tomorrow about my Peppermint Girl...this post has gotten a bit long. Thanks for sticking through to the end!

Have a happy day!

Mere

P.S. I posted this on my facebook, but through this process, I have noticed that I have an art quirk! I have to work on three things at a time in order to be happy when creating. Sure it gives things time to dry, but why three? Don't know! It made me curious though, as to what other art quirks might be out there....what is YOURS? :)

Busy as a bee and...

...I have so much to tell you!! :)

First off, I was interviewed this last weekend by one of my favorite bloggers...Jennifer Rizzo of Sanctuary Art for her Women Who Create series. If this is your first time visiting me, WELCOME!! :) If not, thanks for coming back! :) If you have not been to Jen's blog yet, you must go see what this wonderful woman can do with discarded furniture and a gallon of paint! Her blog is full of great tutorials too! I want her home, I really do! :) Thank you for such an honor Jen!

Secondly, I'm sorry for being MIA, but that show wore me OUT! In two days, I had 1.5 hours sleep! It went well, but I'd have to say it is a lot easier to sell online than in person. I'm still glad I did it though!

It was so much fun to meet so many people and see their reactions to our booth. One sweet lady even sat down with us and we enjoyed a nice long talk! Here are some photos from our booth.
My friend, Jeri, did the landscapes and abstracts, and all the little nifty home decor items. She has a blog now...finally! :) She is one of my best friends, and we have a blast on our designated art day that we have once a week! We are now getting ready for our next show, Briar Patch, on the 27th. Come and see us if you can!

Here are some of my latest pieces. I'm also busy working on a peppermint candy girl for a PWGL challenge...it's been fun! :)

A Good Laugh is Sunshine in a House

She Has Stolen His Heart

This is from a photo I took of a birdhouse at a round barn in Frederickburg, Texas. The barn looks like the birdhouse!

You have to love Jodi Messina! :)

The Late Rabbit's Portrait

My first Christmas angel for the season. Real glass glitter on her wings!

Lastly, I'm so excited to tell you that I heard back from Stampington! They want to do a feature on Alice for Art Doll Quarterly!!! The owner of Alice was even so kind to drive her over there for her photo shoot! Thank you Suzan! It sure makes a girl feel lucky and blessed, that is, once I got over the shock! lol

Thanks again for stopping by...my next post will be on our Mommy/Daughter date at BlissFest!

Have a great day all!

Look What I've Gotten Myself Into!

Hello all! Thanks for all the kind words on Jack! It was so sweet of you! He was really fun to do and is on his way to his new home. :)

I've been taking a lot of risks lately. It's not my nature, but I'm making myself do it.

It's partly one of those live life while you have life to live things and partly about seeing where I am going in this adventure I'm taking with art.

Starting this blog was one of those steps. Listing items was another. Joining Prim & Whimsy Girls. Each step I took was not done without me wondering if I can do this. Do what I love.

It's been fun, SO much fun, and I've met so many great people that I never would have met otherwise. YOU, of course, customers that have become friends, other artists. What a great ride.

So I've taken another couple of steps. First, I sent pictures of the Alice Story Doll I did to Somerset for their Alice in Wonderland challenge. In March, they will be doing a whole issue dedicated to the story for the movie...can't wait! If they don't choose her, that's okay. It was all about taking the risk and maybe getting a chance to be part of something fun.

Second, I'm going to be doing two shows this fall! I admit that I am nervous, but it's not a risk if you're not nervous! :) A friend of mine is sharing a booth with me and we are SO busy getting ready for the first one...this SATURDAY!! If you are local and want to stop by, consider yourself invited! :) I'd love to see you!

Here's the information:
In other news, I just came back from TEXAS. I LOVE Texas! We did SO much and I have great pictures, but that will have to wait for another post as I have some sculpture thing-ies waiting for me!

Is there a risk you've been thinking about taking? I'd love to hear about it! Maybe you could take that leap of faith today! It would definitely make life more exciting, now wouldn't it? :)

Have a great day today!

Aww...Poor Jack

Poor Jack.

Left all alone in the pumpkin patch.

Like the awkward kid in gym class, he has not been picked to grace a happy home on Halloween.

OH, how he longed to be choosen. To have children deliberate on what kind of face he should have. Alas, that was not his fate.

So what's a Jack to do when life hands him a head full of pumpkin seeds and guts?

CARVE HIMSELF!

Okay...I know it doesn't sound so nice, but actually it is quite painless. Pumpkins are used to getting carved, you know...and they tend to like it.

And THIS way, Jack was able to choose what kind of face he would have HIMSELF, and being a bit of control freak, he is very happy about that.

He's not quite finished yet...he's almost there. But you can see from the look on his face that he is thinking to himself, "Hey! This is turning out GREAT!" Special thanks to my hubby, who drew me a sketch and said, "Make this!"

To which I did, and we stayed up very late to finish him. We took a video too, so that you can see what he looks like all light up and flickering.

Please excuse my slurred, sleepy voice in the video below. I swear, no alcohol was involved in the making of this Jack...just lots and lots of time!

He's on ebay, along with more pictures and jokes that I couldn't resist making. I get VERY chatty with my ebay auctions. LOL

Introducing Sir Maxwell Webbington the 3rd!

Hello!
Isn't it SO exciting when summer turns to fall?! Our fall is probably a lot different from yours, but if I imagine hard enough, I can put myself back on the east coast, where rust colored leaves fall like snow as I drive through the windy, shaded roads. All it takes to bring me back there is for it to be cool enough to put the window down, feel that little chill, and smell someone's barbeque smoking. Ahhhh... Fall is my FAVORITE season and Halloween my FAVORITE holiday!

My mind is bUrStInG with ideas for Halloween little creatures and things. I am in a mad dash to get them all out before it is too late. Girls, I don't think I am going to make it!

I did, however, accomplish a lot yesterday and wanted to share with you my progress. First, some of you might remember my spider girl I did a year ago? Well, every spider lady needs a spider suitor right? I mean, isn't life more exciting when you have someone wooing you? Not wanting to leave her lonely, allow me to introduce Sir Maxwell Webbington the 3rd!

See his spats?! He is also sporting an orange tuxedo ruffle shirt and a crumbled, yet still stylish top hot!

A suitor always comes bearing gifts, but flowers are of no use to my spider lady. Sir Maxwell knows better and can be seen here presenting fresh, dead flies! See the x on each eye...catch of the day I tell you! :)

Little side note: I love that with this journey I can do the unexpected. However, it makes your stories kind of odd to other people that don't get it. Like once, I was telling a friend a story and it started with, "I was making detective capes and..." She outright started laughing and said, "How often does someone start out a conversation saying they were making dectective capes?!" I see her point and it has stuck with me over time. While I think life is more interesting the way I am living it now, I know I'll get a similar reaction if I tell anyone but you all about the time I was making dead flies and my hands kept shaking while putting on the wings! It was frustrating, but also funny too...like a game of operation!

So anyway, thanks for listening to my odd stories!

Here is a WIP photo...this is the one my hubby drew for me! He is so talented on so many levels, especially with wood. I draw him a picture and he will make it for me in wood. This time, he drew me a sketch and wanted me to make it. It is awfully nice to return the favor!

For now, it is just a race against time. Will it dry fast enough to finish before it's too late? At least I have the remnants of an Arizona summer on my side!

Have a great day ladies! Make it count! :)

PWGL Giveaway!!

Happy Monday! Are you in the mood to win a Halloween treat?! Well then! Head on down to Prim & Whimsy to be entered into their Tricks & Treats Blog Giveaway! My Witch's Tea Party print is up for grabs along with lots of other Halloween goodies!

Our whole house was hit with the flu- and Lil and I caught it TWICE!!! We are all finally on the mend! I am so happy to actually feel like doing something again! I have orders to ship and then 2 Halloween sculptures to finish before the 9th. What do you say girls? Will you hold me accountable? :)

I hope you are all feeling well and that you stay that way! :)

Wanted to Share...

This is by Pam Warden...I love her sense of humor! Love this!! She gave me permission to share this with you. You can check out more by going to her blog. :)

Have a great day! I'm off to feed my sick girls...poor babies!

Uh oh! It's an Art Emergency!

DEE doo DEE doo DEE... make way!

Look what arrived in my mailbox! I could hear the sirens from inside my house! Unfortunately, this was a box I was expecting, but definitely not all painted up like this! This lady rocks, I have to say...and she even included some blooming tea for her plastic surgeon! Thank you Suzan!

You see, Alice arrived at her new home in California. She was all packed up ever so carefully in a excessively painted box. Her new owner was very happy to have it until someone she knew dropped it from her hands and well...let's just say that the Queen appeared to have gotten her wish for Alice after all! Oh my!

Thankfully, Alice was able to be saved! Here she is in the operating room...she asks that you please pardon her current condition. Her collar was all cracked and her nose and forehead were broken. She is now making a speedy recovery.

Here is another WIP...does he look familar? ;) I will give you a hint...he has a girlfriend...who lives in New Jersey!

This is the top of an old trunk I found. It has embossed metal on it and it felt very Henry VIII to me. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that my husband was sick for his birthday and we spent it having a Tudor marathon! So here is my Anne Boleyn...

That's it for today girls! Have a great night! :)

P.S. What did YOU make today? Tell me and I will come see! :)