Saturday Mood Board

Ha!...

So, as all things with life go....I really, truly accept and believe I am an optimist. Really.
Of course I am!! No doubt. ..........but where there is an optimist, there is a pessimist. I decided to start another sister  blog  to this site chock full of well, the glass is half empty sorts. :)  I often say to my hubby that he lives in LollyLand where he just lollies around doing as he pleases. (Same goes for my kids).  After a not-so-great day I decided to build another blog in order to rant about the lemons life throws around every once in a while. As I sat down with a scribbly little rain cloud over my head, typing in the URL, the word verification really got me going.....hahaha. Unholi. How perfect.

I simply had to take a picture of this. Proof that some how this blog may be fated!

 Monday-ish, I was writing on a cause I would love to be a helping hand in. Peace Corps...no way.... but raising funds in creating something small, a reminder of sorts, is really my only plan of attack. I pulled out all of my fabric remnants to find a perfectly, springy green color....much to my despise there wasn't anything that really caught my eye. (P.S. Again....I may have bolts of fabric for sale in my Etsy shop soon. My shelf seems a mile high and yet the groups making it so large are the ones I never use. Possibly this stack:

The "Pickle" fabric at the bottom cracks me up. For some reason my Sister and I bought like 10000 of yrds of this . LoL. Silly girls we were.  The patterned shapes are not real pickles. But. There is waaaay too much similarity. :) So if you enjoy pickles in the strangest way that my Sister and I do...........Rock on Girls!!!

Pickles. Haha. 
I want to create little green floral brooches. All proceeds would be donated to Japan. :) I'm currently looking for 'upcycling' materials I may be able to use to create such things. It sort of makes me feel sick just going out to buy all new materials to help with their situation. It almost defeats the purpose to me. Many of these people have nothing. Why must I spend, spend, spend to help their cause??? Ugh. Super conglomerates.  The search continues in my long list of doings. Japan may be back to normal by time I find something that suits my liking.


This week has really flown by!  We spent a day out on the beach searching for some sea glass and drift wood.  

Yesterday was a beautiful day. The weather was warm, the sun was out, and the whole family helped out with some yard work. It was exciting and invigorating to be out cleaning up the gardens and seeing little spring-lings shooting up here and there.

Baby 'Barbs (Rhubarb)

Snow Bells

Tulips

I hope everyone has a most fabulous weekend, I'm off to spend some more time in the yard (Our trees must have had a great fall season, you wouldn't believe how many acorns are out there. Like a RIDICULOUS amount). Hopefully some creative time will be in store also!

HAPPY WEEKEND!!

 I feel silly not knowing about this earlier while writing my post today. :(
 

Monday, Monday...

....Monday Monday, can't trust that day,
Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Monday morning, you gave me no warning of what was to be....
                                                         -The Mamas and The Papas


In my heart and mind today is the devastation that hit Japan a few days ago. There is no surprise that I can't help myself wanting to attribute in some kind of relief toward all the suffering people. I figure any little thing can suffice. Help is help no matter how big or small.

......to be continued.....  :D

Sneak Peek

 Happy Sunday!

Kiele Lounging

We've really had a nice, relaxing weekend. The snow is somewhat melting, birds are coming back, and with daylight savings time in effect I am feeling a little brighter. We spent a lovely afternoon at Papa Jim and Nana Bobbi's house yesterday where they served a Primanti Brothers style lunch: Sandwiches of  Pulled Pork, Brocolli Coleslaw, French Fries and a side of Homemade Baked Beans. The kids also had a great time playing with each other and reading books on the Nook with Bobbi (...wishing now I had taken some photos!)

We then spent the rest of the evening at home with Jamie's brother and our nephew watching movies and hanging out. 

I've taken it upon myself to upload some photos of my workspace: The Art Room as we call it. 

Glitter

Paint

Some of my favorite colors to use

Sophie's Bird she made in preschool

Pretty treasure from a friend's travels

Collection Board

Books

Mini works in progress

I didn't take any pics of the entire room, frankly it's quite messy and even though I like to call it a collage of creative chaos....it's just not suitable to photograph! I love little sneak peaks into other people's studios. 

I hope you all had a pleasant and enjoyable weekend!!! I'll leave you with a picture of Sophie posing for the camera (I think she was a little jealous her little sister was on here, and she wasn't! )

Sophie's Favorite New Pose

Ta-da!!

A Mood Board of Sorts

Late last night I created a little treasury. I have an overwhelming amount of favorites, favorite items, favorite shop on Etsy. I might as well start making little Treasury/Mood Boards with how I'm feeling, what's inspiring me, and so on and so forth. I think this is my loveliest treasury yet! :)♥

♥♥♥

♥ Etsy Shop Updates♥

♥ So, it's about time I've updated the new items I have been working on into my Etsy Shop . 

 First is a upcycled vintage teak salad bowl. The last of it's family. The rest have been painted and given away as gifts and I thought I had used all of them, but I found one more little guy hiding away in the Art Room closet just waiting for it's day to become a thing of beauty. :) 

The design inspiration came from an outfit in Anthropologie's Catalog (from the December 2009 issue.....Yes. I save all my Anthropologie catalogs).

Collecting Dish: Flora

"Blooms Revealed Cardigan & Longing-For-Yellow Dress"

Last year for Christmas I made some decorative birdhouses as gifts. They were so adorable I became a little obsessed and thought I could make it a tradition of creating a new birdhouse for each collection every year. Well- for some odd reason none of the craft stores had any in stock through the holiday season (how stupid!). So I was delighted to recently pick up a few. The house itself always takes on a persona- nothing is planned per se, i kind of start painting and as a general sense the house 'tells' me how it should be painted (if that make sense??).....haha, it sounds crazy, I know.

This is the house I made for my Mom. We are of English/Swedish/German heritage so this wooden-clog-wearing, cuckoo-clock winding, Hansel & Gretel looking design seemed perfect for her. :) I've had many offers on this particular house. Point being, you'd really have to fight her for it! Anyway, I'd be the one to have it next. 

Scandinavian Christmas House

Here are the birdhouses that ARE for sale: 

Tumbling Teardrop Birdhouse OOAK

Whale of a Tale Birdhouse OOAK

Gem of the Forest Birdhouse OOAK

I also added two portraiture paintings: 

Gemma

Genevieve

Both girls were painted with high quality acrylic paints on a plank of cherry wood. They measure approximately 15.5" x 11.5".  I have a few more originals yet to add in the shop- a few mixed media/drawings on paper. They need photographed and uploaded. 

I'm trying to be a little more weary of keeping up with my blog.....maybe posting a FEW times a WEEK instead of weekly or...ahem, bi-weekly. In the meantime, keep calm, carry on, and stay creative! ♥

♥meg♥ 

   xo

Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire...

I have some serious issues in keeping up in the blogosphere world. *Oops* It's been a little over two weeks since my last post. ....Not that I'm letting an army of people down or anything...haha. I've been finishing up art projects, working on home reno projects, being a mommy, and geez...whatever else I can seem to cram in.

I was thinking about my last post featuring my nemesis: Winter. It's almost over, I know- my Martha Stewart  March issue came just the other day (& I love my Martha). The planting and growing season is just over the horizon but I still have a tiny, uncreated Old Man Winter sitting upon my shoulder (remember I said I would have a go at my own rendition?). Even after all the Springy type things I've been working on He's still weighing on my mind.

As a child, I always knew I would be a life long artist. I grew up with some wonderfully creative people (mom, aunts, cousins, sister), including a couple that neighbored my Grandparents house; The Kemenyffy's. They clearly have had an out standing influence on my own personal artistic abilities. Susan and Steven, are a husband/wife artist team that create clay pieces using the Japanese Raku firing process. Beside their amazing work, they also live on the most spectacular piece of property. A true to life Secret Garden. They are the most phenomenal, eccentric, warm, generous people one could ever meet. The numerous gardens strewn through out the (quite literally) 50 acre wood- was where I spent day in, day out all of my childhood days. I took these photo's from Susan's site....I'll have to rummage through the trove of pics I have of my own and post them up. :) (p.s. you can expect these pics to be posted in 2-3 years!).

In the Secret Garden

Pathways and Pondways

It is here, my thoughts drifted to while taking out the trash last night. Our neighbor boy had created a snowman in the previous days when the snow was ripe for the making of men. It had toppled over in the recent "heat wave" leaving its body disassembled. The lower base, in the darkness and reflection of the porch light created an uncanny likeness parallel to the giant heads emerging from Raku Place gardens. Though, opposing an 'old man' virtue, the head looked like that of a young skateboarder type man, or Michaelangelo's David's head. I stood there studying the features enough for me to go inside and sketch from memory.

Giant Heads of Raku Place

I fantasized myself  actually creating this piece out of clay to place in my own garden (I have no familiarity in clay/ceramics at all...you know, beside grade school). The 'torso' of the snow man looked like it could be the young man's wife. The actual snowman head looked like their child. It was an 'Old Man Winter FAMILY'!! All three poking out of the snow from the shoulders up, like they were melting into the earth. Their rein was through and it was time to surrender to the warmth and  green of Spring.

The quickest of sketches a sketch could ever be sketched. :)

I went to take photos this morning of this phenomenal site. But all the 'heads' had rolled off the 'shoulders'. :( So I just have to go by what I sketched in my book last night.

Beside, getting caught up into that whole ordeal. I created a treasury this morning for the Undiscovered Weekly Challenge. Glazed some of my paintings and birdhouses to prep them for the shop. Picked up the neighbor girl off the bus, made chocolate chip cookies, sat down to write this post, and oh- did I mention that I may (or may not) start painting the Dining Room tonight?

So after a few meltdowns from my girls through the duration of this post, it is time for me to go.  Take care and keep creative!

Spring is just around the corner.....

....Right?

Illustrations by Beatrice Braun-Frock

1959 Old Man Winter Comes to Town by Hilde Hoffman

It doesn't look like Old Man Winter will be letting up anytime soon, especially in NW Pennsylvania. Today he's laying down his wrath. It's icy, it's blustery, and honestly it's snowing like a mo'fo outside.

Luckily the topic for today's Undiscovered Treasury Challenge has a nice Springy attitude.

I don't know about anyone else, but it's about this time of year where I start to get a bit antsy. While winter lingers around like an unwelcome guest overextending his stay, I start dreaming of fresh breezes, the scent of the re-awakened earth, and delicate greenery bursting into full effect.

I named my treasury Spring, Spring, come our way!  

It completely brightened my day....for a while at least. I found some really lovely items all from some sweet little shops :) If it isn't apparent already I think it might be safe to say that I have an Etsy addiction!

In hindsight of getting ready for Spring themed art, I may attempt to create my own version of (nasty) Old Man Winter.  And as an update I am still working on my little beauties; Previews will be out tomorrow! So, yes, I just love to pile it on!!!

Pouncey, Pouncey Up and Downcy!

Oh Tuesday, here you are again. So you know what that means! Time to let the lead out and get my pouncey on. 

This weeks pounce fell upon the very talented artist and creator of ArtSavvyStudio

 The mastermind behind all these great pieces is Melissa McGraw-Petrusch. She works out of her home studio using a range of mediums whether it be glass, clay, acrylic paints, watercolors, charcoal, wood, paper, dye, felt, canvas, ink, sterling silver wire, beads, and glaze....just to name a few. So I asked her what inspired her while creating each piece;

Digital Illustration Prints

"All self proclaimed, self taught or schooled artists remember the day or the time in their life where they married themselves to the world of being a "creative" - mine started with a love for Mr. Walt Disney and the worlds and characters that he created and brought to life.

I remember vividly immersing myself in his imagination and hoping one day I can be just as blessed to be so in tune with my creative imagination. So, I studied him and his work. I was the little girl who preferred paint brushes, paint and canvas to dolls and dress-up.

I'm inspired by other artists, first and foremost. Nature, my two pups and two kitties, black and white films, music by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and animation. I'm also inspired by the works of Saul Bass and Roy Lichtenstein. "

Glass Earings, Pendants, and Art Pins

 You can also see what Melissa is up to by checking out her website/blog Art Savvy Studio. I truly hope you enjoy all her artwork as much as I do :) Give some love by ♥ing your faves!

For those thinking of purchasing one of her pieces don't forget her grand opening coupon code!

(♥♥♥♥************GRAND OPENING!************♥♥♥♥ Use coupon code: LOVEART23 and receive 10% off your order :) a little thank you for stopping by!)

up, UP and AWAY...

Well, no, not really.
I'm not going anywhere physically, but I am totally stoked for some new things I'm working on. I was digging away in my 'archives' and found some interesting ideas scribbled down but never completed.....as you know, a collection.
Some of my past ideas stemmed from what started as a floating head turned hot air balloon:

 Daughters of such soon fallowed:

                             

              A few made it to the 'gallery' but I was sad to see that the rest were just shoved (nicely) into a sketch book. (The others did not qualify to show their faces....being, in my book, sucky and all). I felt they needed more attention and I could evolve the ideas. ...cue husband...

Having a strapping lad in the house (James) has its many benefits, that; plus knowledge of extra wood planks and an electric saw lying around the basement, you probably can guess what I had him doing. :)  I was just too excited thinking about bringing some new faces into composition. After Jamie cut some generously sized planks, and we sanded the edges, I got to sketching out new faces, new hair, and played with color arrangements.

I can't wait to see them take affect. First, I'll have to hone up on my portraiture painting skills. ...I possibly need to re-stock some paints, and get some new brushes (my children take all mine) ....all of which could be a great excuse for a craft store shopping spree! woot woot :)

P.S. Thank you Picnik and Picasa photo options. I was ready to MURDER THE PHOTO LAYOUT provided here on blogspot. That being said, I'm having a much better day today than I was late last night continuously clicking and re-clicking and click, click, clicking my patience away. :)