My Funny Valentine.....

 My funny Valentine.....

Sweet comic Valentine!

You make me smile,

with my heart.

Your looks are laughable...

Unphotographable.

But you're my favorite

work of art!

Ah Jacques, my funny Valentine, you finally found yourself! After sitting around for years waiting to become the real you, your creator was inspired by your winsome and melancholy look to dress you to play a fool for love. The little Valentine you carry must be a subtle way of asking for my heart, but alas, my heart belongs to another, so search you must, for that special someone who will cherish and love you. So on to ebay you go, to see who will be that sweetheart you look for. I know you will find this special someone, just keep on doing what you are doing....

A simply lovely Valentine for your sweetheart.....

 Small and sweet, a little Valentine ornament to tuck into your sweethearts goodies.

She's on ebay right now, wondering where she will end up for the big day. I hope you've had a great Monday so far.

Tonight's movie special wips.....

Sometimes I start a project, just to see if I can do it, and then it sits there unfinished like a story waiting to be written. Such is the case with the doll you see to the left. I created the head about 3 years ago, when I first started sculpting. I antiqued and crackled him to give him that aged look, and there he sat, no body, no limbs, no clothes....months went by and I would look at him and try to envision him with a Little Lord Fauntleroy style suit, or perhaps a little boy in bibs, and I just couldn't quite get inspired. He has a somewhat forlorn look to him, and although I know I had something in mind when I first started on him, apparently it didn't quite make the grade because I can't even remember what I had planned originally. Valentines Day has really inspired me this year, so much so that I can see this little man pining away for his lost love perhaps..... the rest of the story will be shared when he is finished....

So I had so much fun watching Ever After last night and working on my little fool that I decided to continue with him and an ornament while watching another movie tonight. What to watch is the dilemma hmmmmmm... Shadowlands? Maybe, but then there's The Other Side of Heaven, or perhaps The Shop Around the Corner, or maybe Silas Marner.... any way I go I can't lose....hope you're having a great weekend....taa taa!

I Have a Plan, Really I do......

I had to laugh when I noticed what I'd done here. Can you see the hole drilled in the dowel? You're probably wondering what sort of creature I'm trying to put together that would need a hole drilled near the bottom of the dowel. As usual I was working on 3 projects at once, the dovetailing technique in overdrive, and while shoes and hands were drying on one piece I decided to glue the base and armature of a future piece together. I thought I was so cool, actually drilling the hole in the dowel before I glued the base on so it wouldn't be so awkward to drill.
Yes, well, I suppose I needed a lesson in not getting ahead of myself. So now I will knock the base off and start again. Thank goodness I hadn't nailed the darn thing in place and really made it difficult to change. Oh sure, I could probably try and drill a hole on the other end, but lining it up would take more time than knocking the base off and re-gluing, after I turn the dowel right side up that is. :-)

The Queen of Hearts is looking for a new kingdom....

 Oh so bored with where she's at right now, the Queen of Hearts is looking for a new kingdom. It seems her servants are not meeting her expectations, so she must find a place where she can start with a whole new crew, and new life.

She's heard how well other famous figures do when selling on ebay, so she's stuck her toe in the water so to speak to give it a try. I would think she would look for a kingdom up for auction, but no, she would rather someone bid on her and take her home with them. She feels that they will appreciate her more that way. We shall see where she ends up......

Primitive Valentine Queen Snowman Doll

 Do you ever have a hard time trying to title your ebay auction? I was befuddled with this one as this is a snow lady, but who would search for a snow lady on ebay? No one I know of sooooooo...... I put snowman in the title.

 This little dolly has a vintage chenille dress, with a muslin body and sculpted clay head.

 She's a prim dolly, with loads of vintage buttons as well, and a valentine ornie for whomever takes her home.

If you have a moment stop by my ebay auctions and see what I've got to offer. I've been on the computer most of the day and am getting weary of creating graphics, so it's off to dress a doll or two and perhaps get some sculpting done. Have a great evening!

Americana Uncle Sam...a double feature!

 It's a red, white, and blue sort of trend with the new year, the newly elected officials in Washington D.C. and the upcoming patriotic month of February. There's never a bad time to be patriotic, so I have two Americana offerings on eBay this week. The first is my hand sculpted Uncle Sam ornament.

Above I am also sharing a hand sculpted Uncle Sam and mixed media wall hanging or shelf sitter.  Click on my ebay link to the right for more on these handsome fellas.

Queen of Hearts Doll

 A new Queen of Hearts to start the new year off right. She's looking for a new kingdom to reign in as she has grown bored with her current location.

 She's asked her personal maid to get out her best gown, complete with dotted swiss, embroidered flowers, and layers of sheer tulle under skirt.

 Many of her elements are hand created, with careful attention to detail. We wouldn't want to make the Queen mad you know.

Stop by my ebay listing to learn more about her. Search AHA art.

Angels Among Us....A Valentine Keep

 I'm making a mad dash in to share my newest creation listed at our American Holiday Artists Studios Marketplace.

 Her head is hand sculpted, with feather wings attached. She has a metal heart pocket, perfect for tucking little Valentines or treats in.

She is dressed up with antique buttons, lace, and a tiny rose necklace. Stop by our studios to learn more about her. I'm off to take care of the in-laws for a couple of days. Hope you have a wonderful Monday, oh and Tuesday as well. ;-)

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a a very happy holiday season. May peace, joy and love fill your homes.

Two Heads.....WIPS

I left my sanding block at home so these fellows will have to wait on that before I can continue with them. A Santa and a snowman that will have to make their debut another time. What's the delay? Baking, wrapping gifts, helping friends, dinners, and well.... just life can be the roadblock or the slight delay depending on your mindset. So I'm preferring to look at it as a slight delay, and thus perhaps turn them into more than I'd originally planned. These will both be dolls which is exciting for me. I've always wanted to create a Santa doll so I'm taking the time to do it. What are you working on right now, or have you set aside creativity for the holidays?

What do a snowman and a Santa have in common?

 What do they have in common?
1. They both have to do with Christmas, at least these do...
2. They are both made out of gourds....okay these two are....:-)

3. They can both be found on ebay! These would make special gifts for that someone special, so if you're looking for a last minute gift idea you've come to the right place. Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you are enjoying the season.

Paper Snowflake Tutorial

 Paper snowflakes are so easy that I learned to do them as a child. We would start with an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper.

 Take a corner and bring it over to the opposite edge, making a square. Cut off the excess strip.

 I know this doesn't look square, it's just the way to fold  makes the paper sit on the tablecloth. Now,

 fold your paper over in half, hot dog style. Next you will fold this in half, hamburger style. See below.

 Now you have a smaller square. Next you will fold the square on the folded point in thirds see below. This is folded to the outer edge, but it's popped up.The upper edges should be open edges, no folds.

 Now take a peek inside and see the lower edge in there? You will want to cut the top off even with the shortest corners.

 Taa daah! Oh, that notebook in the background is hubby's day timer. It's his life, if it ever disappeared he would need therapy. ;-)

 Now you decide which edge will be your longer points and start cutting down into the middle of the cone shape, twisted and curving to your heart's content.

 Then you start on the other side and work your way down to the small point, but not all the way through.

 You should have something that looks like this. Now start on the outside edges and make little nips and cuts here and there if you like. Or you can stop where you are and open. I personally and detail crazy so I keep going.

 You can even cut the very tip at the bottom point of your shape.

 Now you are ready for the unveiling of your beautiful creation. Isn't this exciting??? I love to see them unfold and open up as a snowflake blooming.

 Whaalaa! So now, you may say, hmmmm I want the shorter points even shorter so go back and fold this all up, (good luck) and trim off the tips of the shorter points if you wish. Or, next time, make them short in the first place, ;-).

You can prick a tiny hole and string filament through one point to hang from a window, or tree, or where ever. I usually iron these flat with a dry iron after I'm done making them. Good luck, and have fun!

Snowflake Tree

The other night some friends had what they call a snowflake party. They invite several people/families to come over and help cut out snowflakes to decorate their tree. There are no other ornaments on the tree, just snowflakes. It was a nice get together, with food and chatting, and then they got to playing the piano and there was singing and a lot of fun. I LOVE cutting out paper snowflakes! Here's one that I did to show how my mom taught us to cut snowflakes. No two are a like, as in real snowflakes, and they turn out beautifully. Check back and I will give instructions if you are interested. So now, others know what Mom taught us, and her legacy lives on...... in snowflakes.

Winter's Tranquility

This little fellow is all finished now and ready to find a new home on ebay. For all who stop by here's a lovely poem I found in a 1968 Ideals Christmas publication that goes with this wintry scene.

 WINTER'S TRANQUILITY

Ned Nichols

The snow has fallen gently

On meadow tree and brush

To create a tranquil silence,

An almost sacred hush.

 To view a winter landscape

At such a time as this

Is to know a deep contentment,

An unearthly kind of bliss.

It serves to make one humble

To feel His blessings flow

When God speaks in a whisper

With the lovely silent snow.

Glitter or not, here he comes.....

 Sometimes it's a wrestle I go through to decide whether to glitter or not. The dilemma is the fear that if I glitter it will take away from or cover too much, the painted scene on the snowman's "globe".

I've wanted to do some stencil style paintings on a piece or two, and yet, I'm wondering if I'm completely done with this piece now.

The other dilemma is the red pom pom, does it belong, or should it go? Either way, I will be posting this fellow on ebay tonight, depending on whether I get him completely finished or not. So here's a call out to my fellow artists, what do you think, glitter or no, red pom or should it go?

A Blue Christmas.....

 The first time I saw a color theme for Christmas decorating that differed from the traditional red and green was when I was in 2nd grade. We had come back from Taiwan earlier in the year where we had bought a living room set made from Teak wood with dark turquoise cushions. The drapes had a peacock feather pattern with a white background and again had the same shade of dark turquoise throughout. So Mom gathered some paraffin wax, candle wicking, our broken crayons, and empty frozen juice containers. She created, with our help, the prettiest column candles to put on her brass dragon candle holders we brought back from Taiwan as well. After the candles were firm, she took more melted paraffin and whipped it with her hand mixer until it resembled snow. She topped the lovely candles with the "snow" and sprinkled on glitter. They were so beautiful we didn't want to burn them, so we didn't....lol. That year we had a turquoise colored Christmas, with other turquoise and white decorations to go along with the candles she made. It was so pretty!

 After I set up homemaking and and tending my babies I bought several books and such on Christmas and found that there are many color schemes people like, such as blue and white, purple and gold, maroon and forest green, white, or white and pink, the possibilities are endless!

For those who like the blue and white theme, I've created this blue and white Santa, made from an empty Caesar's Palace shampoo bottle. He's only 5 1/2 inches tall, so he would tuck in anywhere. Right now he's available on ebay .

What color scheme or theme to you like for Christmas? Do you change each year, or stay the same with an addition or two? I'm traditional, but I can see that having different themes in each room might be fun!