girl and octopus~mixed media painting

it has been a while since I painted anything. I was especially disappointed after I lost all my paintings during a move. here's something I started and almost finished when my lights went out during a storm. it's amazing how much you can achieve without little distractions such as t.v. and the internet and of course the kids ... lol.
this is what it reads:

"I bear my burden proudly for all to see, to conquer prejudice and ignorance and hate with knowledge and sincerity and love. Whenever threatened by a hostile presence, emit a thick cloud of love like an octopus squirts out ink..." 
— William S. Burroughs

on a side note:::
I hope you all had a great year and lets look forward to the new one, may we all learn a lot more and create a lot more this upcoming year. I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors and happy creating!

xoxo
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Forgot to mention, I won a doll from Pattee from Odd-Dolls!!! Could I be so lucky!!!

YESSS!!!! Thank you Patee!!! What a sweet Christmas gift it is! I am checking the mail everyday!!!

another one just in time for the new year~

So I finished this one faster than the others, I actually made this one in 4 days!!!! That's a record for me! I was making her for a gift exchange that I had for Christmas, but I started her the day before so I ended up having to wait because the clay was not dry by Christmas morning. Nevertheless, I am very happy that I got to keep her for my collection, wouldn't want her in the wrong hands. Not everyone can appreciate art, right? or at least my art, maybe??? Anyhow, I was very happy about how she turned out.

I guess I should try to sell some of these, but I have grown attached to them all and can't bare to part with them... one day.... maybe...

I did learn a few things while making her:

Make glitter the final step!!!
Do not crackle too much, once you add the antiquing, it will show a LOT more!!!
The antiquing paint/medium whatever it's called, use it sparingly, she doesn't need to look like she was dragged through the mud afterwards, LOL!

Here she is: Golden Fairy (need to find her a name!)

 Musical notes on her wings... not my idea of course... I think I saw this on one of Nancyes Art Dolls.

Christmas Ornaments

Wanted to share these new paper clay ornaments. They sat on my table since November and I finally finished them. Used up a whole lot of glitter. My favorite is the Snow Fairy (pink and white one) Hope you likeeee!

new doll... lazy suzie!

because she has a lazy eye, lol, wasnt meant to be, but it is... her clothes are hand sewn, much easier than with a sewing machine! liked the look and might stick to it. Mohair for hair under two styrofoam balls.

yessssssssssss, finally a completed doll!!!!

sewing her dress was my biggest fear! thus, Shelle (the doll) sat there. on a corner shelf, dressless (that's not a word, huh) ... so it took me almost a month to give her an outfit. I just didn't know how to. I originally had in mind a green dress, she was also suppose to have red hair. Somehow along the way everything changed and this is how she turned out. I named her after my daughter Michelle, hence the green dress and red hair idea... but like I said, that didn't work out.

I started making this doll because my husband had written a song for her many years ago, when she was much younger, it was called Michelle and her red balloon (he is a musician). So there my idea was born. anyway, I guess I deviated from the main subject.... the dress... so she was there in mere panties and tank, so sad... (hey, at least I gave her panties)  I just could not get myself to making her a dress, some pants anything! I just hate sewing! Not only that, I think I am not too great at it. when it comes to that, I draw a blank. so, today I made up my mind. I went for it. not having an idea of what I was going to do, I just pulled out stuff from the drawers and got to it. and so here she is, dress and all... I wonder what she is concerned about now!!!??? she has this look on her face... LOL!

some pics i wanted to share...

work in progress, shelle with a red balloon

still in progress! it has been a while since I had time to work on my dolls, even to blog. shelle is still in progress and I have no clue on how I'm going to dress her. sewing is my struggling point and I hate it! here she is, much happier to finally have hair and a red balloon!

           

This is how she started:

:

need to work on my alice doll! favorite mad hatter quotes:

Life is but a Dream

We're all mad here.

“Mad Hatter: No wonder you're late. Why, this watch is exactly two days slow.”

“You mean you ca'n't take *less*. It's very easy to take *more* than nothing.”

“Trance is really fast paced. You are constantly dancing and jumping around.”

little etsy shop

i designed my etsy banner! i've set up my shop and i am so excited to get started! i only have one item for sale now. i need to take some pics of some other things i have created (purses) paintings... random stuff that i kee p collecting. i need to let go of some of my art! although its hard to part with something that you put so much effort into!

My little pencil/ stuff holder

I bought this at Hobby Lobby, it is made of wood. It has a little round thing at the bottom that makes it spin which is I think super cool. So, I decided to paint it, I tried to give it a shabby look. I added some napkins in the background and painted over them. I wanted to get it done so I hastefully finished it without giving it much thought. The side with the doll reads:

I am not skin nor bones,
not flesh, not heart, not heart.
A rock, a stick, a stone,
a doll, a doll, a doll.

The one with the bunny, is a little wierd. Just whatever came to mind at the time.

The balloon went up,
and up and up.
And it was so high,
as high as kite.
And then POP
it was gone.
And the bunny girl cried,
and she cried and she cried.
And then she got high.

I would like to clarify that I do not do drugs in any form or way. LOL and do not approve of illegal drugs. Not for me anyway. I believe in the freedom to make the right choices. But I thought it sounded cool.

Let me know what you think.

work in progress

I decided to make some of my dolls for gifts. I am making a doll similar to my Leah doll for my sister and some busts to give to some of my friends and family. Problem is, once I finish them, I doubt I'll want to part with them! I still need to make a standing doll! I just cant get to it! NEVER ENOUGH TIME!

my new friend camila

This one was a challange, I think because of all the sewing. I was about to give up on her, I had to patch her up several times here and there and I wasnt happy how she was turning out. She just sat there unfinished every night hoping that I wouldnt give up oh her. Last night, finally Camila came to life and she is lovely! I was so proud of her! I coffee stained the skirt and crackled and antiqued her and the whole nine yards! I was so hesitant to do the crackling and especially the antiquing (thats spelled wrong) and I just had to cross my fingers and go for it! She is more folkish than my others and grittier. This I thank Jane for. Thanks Jane and everyone in this network. Have a great weekend, almost! and happy doll making!

we're all mad here!

my next doll after fancy nancy will be an alice doll. i am excited! speaking of which, these are some of my favorite quotes from lewis carols alice in wonderland book.

The Cat: We're all mad here. (this is one of my favorites)
The Mock Turtle: We called him Tortoise because he taught us.
my favorite: Alice: But then, shall I never get any older than I am now? That'll be a comfort, one way -- never to be an old woman -- but then -- always to have lessons to learn!
The Queen: Now, I give you fair warning, either you or your head must be off, and that in about half no time! Take your choice!
Alice: It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.
Doorknob: Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.
Mad Hatter: No wonder you're late. Why, this watch is exactly two days slow.
Alice: Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only knew how to begin.
 

my bird doll challange

i was very happy with little blue, blue is my doll that is going to a mascarade ball to meet her prince charming. she is made of polymer clay, painted with metalic acrylics, she has tibetan mohair for hair and i was am very very pleased on how she turned out. i think i am ready to try to make a different type of doll, although i might stick to this type with long limbs and skinny legs. i am still hesitant to antique and distress my dolls, i am worried i might ruin the hard work i put in them, but i might take a chance on the next one. i think i need to rough them up a bit to give them that folk look. what do you think? PLease cOmmenT!!!!

thoughts for today...

as an artist, I like to call myself an artist, you're mind is always going at 100 miles an hour. i always think of what i can create next. it's hard to define yourself when you dabble into so many things, kind of like a jack of all trades but a master of none. well, i decided i will find my niche. i don't like to call myself a teacher, as I never liked to call myself a designer. I don't believe in allowing a "job" define who we are. I do like my new job, but, again, i would prefer to call myself an artist. it's fancier! and i do make some art. lol. I used the word fancy, because this is my next project: Fancy Nancy. i'm going to make her my own.

welcome pink! woo!

I succesfully completed a second one! This one was much more work than the first since I sculped the nose and lips. I also used the white clay, the original sculpie. I think I prefer super sculpie. I think I will xperiment with paper clay next....

some of my graphics...

sometimes I miss designing. I still freelance, now and then, old customers and clients who have know me or refer me, but with a full time job and the family, I try not to avoid it because it gets very demanding, I always thought designing was glamorous and fun. then I got a real job and it paid well, but I  was doing car ads and pageant advertising.... "It's your time to shine!, Reach for the stars, if you miss, you'll land on the moon!" bah humbug!!! I hated those lines! i did work several years for a design firm and got to do some interesting and big stuff for big companies and I had my art out there, although in graphics, usually the firm is the one to get the credit. I worked long hours all year long for people who only cared about themselves. I got burned out and decided to try something else. well, now I miss it. so here is some of it.

These are all for a campaign against verbal abuse for the Women's  Shelter.

Just some random stuff made in my spare time:                                                                          

first doll, her name is Leah!

welcome to our world!

witchie woman

   my first polymer clay creation... wooo!!

lost in wonderland

I love Alice, can't wait to March 3rd! I also love Johnny! Lalala! I want to buy this ring. I collect tea pots. My favorite is this Cardew set, I also have the cute mug set that comes in the little case.
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