I’m not much of a jewelry person – never have been.  I have a hard time working with dangling earrings getting in the way of the telephone, bracelets hitting against the desk when I type, and necklaces simply getting on my nerves.  However…I’ve decided I’d like to try my hand at making jewelry (bracelets at least)  and have also been given some really cool jewelry lately by my best friend Kim.  So, I decided that I would whip up a little jewelry organizer from a cheap, but uniquely shaped, wooden frame that I don’t think I paid about $2.00 for last spring.  I’ll let the photos tell the story.

I’ve got several new projects to show you soon! 

 I remembered that another artist friend of mind had used burlap for her Christmas Art Camp project.  She had the kids paint and cut out a design, they used glue to attach front and back, stuffed it with garbage bags like a pillow, and then attached a wire to the top for hanging.  They turned out so fantastic that I think people would have paid big bucks for them!  Several months ago, I had saved some white, burlap-type fabric destined for the garbage bin…I knew it was be useful some day.  As a matter of fact, I didn’t have to buy a single thing to make this heart – so it was sort of free (as opposed to the $65 or so my friend paid for hers!).

Here are the steps I took:

1)  I drew one-half of a heart, free-hand on a large sheet of brown craft paper, then cut it out;  2)  Because I needed a front and a back, I cut enough of the fabric to fold in half (top to bottom), so that each half was large enough for an entire heart;  3)  Next, I folded the fabric in half again (left to right) and traced my half a heart with the flat center half of the heart lined up against the fold of the fabric;  4)  Leaving the fabric folded, I cut along where I traced and ended up with a back and a front for my heart;

5)  Next, I used a very stiff-bristled brush to cover what will be the outside back  and the outside front of the heart with oil-based primer;

6)  I  used acrylic paint to then paint the front of the heart with my design;

7)  Once dry, I applied a layer of Modge Podge over the design, but polyurethane or acrylic varnish of any kind would work just fine;  8)  Last was the not-so-easy part…I hot glued the front of the heart to the back of the heart like a pillow, stuffing plastic grocery bags and batting (I didn’t have enough batting for the entire thing) as I went, finishing up with the top of the heart, leaving just enough room to glue a loop of lace (again – something salvaged from somewhere) to place over the nail in the front door.

Have a HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!

I think I have a new obsession though – DIY jewelry.  This is very notable for me because I’m not even a jewelry wearer!  I take off the two rings and earings I wear as soon as I walk in the door after work.  I don’t wear a watch, I don’t wear bracelets, I don’t wear necklaces…EVER.  What started my obsession was my son’s.  The new thing for 5th grade boys is making and wearing “paracord bracelets”.  They are literally made from parachute cord and kind of the male version of the friendship bracelet that girls make.  Here are a few my little boy has made.

He picked up how to make them on you tube and it looked so easy I started thinking how cool they might be with beads added or different latches.  So after looking around the internet at various DIY jewelry websites and designer jewelry websites, I decided to get out the bags of vintage costume jewelry I’ve been hoarding, and see what I could come up with myself!

I decided to make this little leather, bead, and blue twine bracelet below first because I had the general makings sitting in front of me without running to the store.  You can find the tutorial here. 

via honestlywtf.com

Here’s what I decided to use – then I decided to use some parachute cord rather than the twine. 

So here are my first two attempts at jewelry making…I’m pretty sure there will be more!

The Camp went GREAT!  I worked with some VERY creative kids who really put a lot of thought into the project and were very proud of their finished masterpiece.  It’s so wonderful to see how unencumbered children are from the preconceived notions of what art “should look like” – they are always so certain of the fabulousness of their accomplishment and that self-confidence allows them to be much more creative and less constrained – therefore the artwork IS really fabulous!  Does that make sense??

I moved the island next to the frig and put an 8 foot table in the middle of the kitchen (the floor cannot be hurt – waiting for kids and dogs to grow up before we remodel and refinish!).

The Living room was equipped with craft paper taped to the floor and a plastic drop cloth over the sofa…

I moved all of the dining room chairs, occasional chairs, and even the accessories off shelves to make room for painting and painting supplies.  The dining room table covered with an elastic-trimmed, twin-sized mattress cover with a plastic drop-cloth on top.  The mattress cover fit PERFECTLY snug over the top of the table and all I had to do was put the plastic on top and tuck the excess under the table and into the elastic edges of the mattress cover and all was covered from paint and possible scratches.  Any paint dropped on the floor was easily removed with just a little water on a cloth (that doesn’t work with clothes!). 

I decided to go with a folk art bird for the project.  I made Display Boards with a bunch of different bird body shapes, leg styles, beaks, eyes, tail feathers, and head “dress” for the kids to use to go by when they began to put their own bird together.  

After I explained the boards to the kids, I showed them a few birds that I put together in the exact same way I was asking them to (by picking and choosing each piece just like a puzzle).  Then we talked about naming their bird and what the bird would be like in real life (what type of personality it has, etc) – this helped the kids establish a basis for what their bird would end up looking like and what the background needed to be.  Some of the kids even wrote down a little biography for their bird. 

The kids really got into the project and worked diligently to finish on time and do the best job possible.  They learned a little about mixing colors, using a pallette knife for mixing and painting, how to hold a paintbrush, complimentary colors, color contrast, and working the paint quickly before it dries! 

And just look at the phenomenal results!

I SO enjoyed myself and can’t wait to do this again…probably spring or summer.  Good work you guys!!!

Here are the two bodies I made and then later painted black.  I could not figure out what I could use to make the 3-D bodies.  I thought about felt, fabric, rolled up paper…but none seemed like they would capture a similar look to a real butterfly body.   Because i would never even consider running out to buy something to use, I racked my brain to come up with something that I had on hand that would fill the bill.  Finally – an idea!  See if you can tell what it is.  You’ll see the finished piece in a few weeks after I complete all the butterflies and paint the frame of the box!

Here are a few other butterfly paintings on etsy.  I have opened an etsy store but have not had time to fill it yet…but I am always available for commissions!

I LOVE the colors in this little painting

Go here for more info

I adore this print of a collage – I’ve wanted to try something like this for a while.  I have a really long list.

Go here for more information

I was going to say that this oil painting has a truly “etherial” quality, but the artist beat me to it!

Go here for more information.

My friend recently had the not so pleasant task of cleaning out her grandmother’s home after she moved to a retirement village.  Lucky for me, there were plenty of items she was certain belonged in the trash pile or the Goodwill box.  This lovely late 1960′s – early 1970′s painting on thin plywood (with an equally low-end frame), had to be mine – I had a plan.  It measures almost 28″ tall by 53″ long – perfect for a still-empty wall in my breakfast area.

First things first – it had to be thoroughly cleaned with a damp cloth (even in all the little cracks of the frame).  Note my other projects in progress or in waiting in the background.

Next, I applied random, torn bits of newspaper here and there to make sure the raised paint of the daisies didn’t show through to whatever I decided to paint.  I could have sanded but just chose this method to add a little dimension as well.  I thought I made a photo of that step but must not have! 

Next came the primer…and I mean plain old brush-on, out-of-a-paint-can, primer.  I applied a couple of coats over the entire painting and frame as well.  Then I painted the frame and inner trim a high-gloss white.  After the frame dried completely (a couple of days) I covered it in Frog Tape and began my first ever abstract painting.  Having no clue what I was doing, I did everything from smear, drip, and splash, to using combs, forks, cups, my hands, and dry rags!  I applied layers and layers of paint for days on end…and here is the finished product (and please remember I had everything on hand and did not spend a dime on the painting other than the cost of my paints).

What do you think?  I’m pretty pleased with myself.

The one above was still wrapped in plastic!  It appears that it was drawn with a bamboo brush and sumi ink (the word “bamboo” below her signature) on newsprint as probably a quick study in an art class.  It’s dated 1976.  The art, without the matting, measures roughly 16″ x 22″.  There are a few age spots and stains on both the art and the mat.  The art is very firmly attached to the mat so if I decide to re-mat it, I may be placing a new mat over the top of the old one.  I cannot believe my good fortune – I have wanted to draw nudes for quite some time in either pen and ink or conte crayon but seem to be constantly sidetracked by my paints.

This beauty appears to be the same bamboo and sumi drawing and is dated 1975 – it measures 17″ x 12″.  I can just envision an entire wall covered in these vintage originals.

I don’t have a lot of experience in pen and ink or watercolors for that matter but I believe the one above is either a pen and ink or a combination of that and watercolors.  It is also dated 1975 and measures 18″ x 12″.

This one is my favorite just because of the colors.  It’s really large at 21″ x 15″.  I can’t wait to get it in a frame!  I took them all with me one day recently and shopped for frames at a few thrift shops.  I’ll show you the final result after I re-mat and frame them all.

For some very affordable and absolutley gorgeous nudes, visit Krisitna’s etsy shop - she’s another southern girl from Woodstock, Ga.

I get a lot of my creativity from my mom (even though she would say she’s not at all creative at all).   She definitely has varied tastes and doesn’t stick with the “norm” or “traditional” that many Southern women (especially those her age).  She loves original art including paintings and sculpture, and anything brightly colored.  Because she lived in the vintage era everyone now wants to emulate – she’s a little less in that look in her home but I have convinced her to incorporate a couple of pieces. 

Anyway, I thought today would be a good time to highlight something a little different…things I covet at my mother’s house. 

This is one of just a few pieces I have actually made-over for mom’s house.  We bought this at a nearby antiques shop for $85 and I spray painted it high-gloss orange the same week I painted her kitchen light green and the ceiling, light blue.  See the exact piece here that sold for $1,750!  It MAKES her kitchen.

This chair is one of a pair that we bought that same summer at a thrift shop for $15 each.  I suggested painting them a pretty color with some fabulous fabric seats but she’s of the opinion that if there’s nothing wrong with the wood, you DO NOT paint it.  I would SO paint these a glossy white with some turquoise and white patterned fabric.  The only thing I could find close was this set of 4 for $425 at a consignment shop but I’m not sure they’re vintage.

I would actually love to have these vintage rattan bar stools in MY kitchen.  We got them at a local thrift store for $3 each!  I, of course, spray painted them to blend with the ceiling color in her kitchen.

The last lovely in the kitchen is the turquoise garden bench we snagged at Big Lots for a whole $20 last summer.  I hate now that I didn’t get one too.

I want these artichokes so bad I can’t stand it – they were a Home Goods find. 

And this fabulous, funky “starvin’ horse” lamp makes a grand statement in her not-so-grand foyer. 

I’ve loved this crazy, colorful, clay rooster, that she brought back from Mexico years ago, since he came in the door!

I believe she bought this cool piece of folk art on a trip to Ashville, NC several years ago.  I love that it’s on an old piece of rough wood and the colors are earthy and weathered. 

Last, but not least, she bought this very vintage Moroccan-style hassock (or “pouf” as they are called now) at a local store called Unclaimed Baggage for next to nothing.  I think it’s very Bohemian and much cooler than the new, fully pouffed kind.

OH – But wait – I almost forgot the one thing I REALLY wish I could have on my little street in Greenville, SC:

I hope you all had a very restful Thanksgiving…do something creative over the weekend!

So, a friend of mine re-framed some pictures and these frames were going in the dumpster.  I cleaned them first, laid them out in the driveway on my crusty, old, paint-covered sheets and went to town with the most fabulous spray paint known to man:  Rust-Oleum 2x.  This stuff covers like crazy and comes out of the can without spurting like fake snow – always a great finish. 

 After painting the frames and mats they sat for a while until I decided what type of artwork I wanted to make to go inside.  I had some un-cut matboard lying around that was the exact size to go inside the opening so I decided to go with something organically shaped that I wouldn’t have to put a lot of thought into – just keep painting shapes and adding layers.  I love the way they turned out.  They are for sale on my Shop page.

This was a pretty easy fix.  My good friend wanted a make-over for her little table and a couple of hours later we were hauling it back from my garage and into her dining room.  We still need to lower that mirror – the nail was already there!  Anyway, it just needed a tiny bit of wood filler, a touch of sanding, a thin coat of primer, and a special mix of Clemson orange paint with a tiny bit of brown mixed in…and it’s ready for a coming out party.