Fall Into the Holidays - A Thanksgiving Santa

 

I really wanted to give this santa a warm and inviting look for the holidays. He's suitable for year round display, with his plaid coat and handsome looks. He's perfect for a cabin in the woods, or palatial log home, or even a Northwoods cottage. You can find this handsome Santa at MothersDreamRtworks

Another Reason to Fall Into the Holidays

 

Autumn lives in our community right now. 

Golden carpets soften once verdant lawns,  

sidewalks yield to crispy piles of leaves.

The mountains streaked with stripes of yellow and rust,

among forest pinacles....

stand in contrast to the pastel skies above.

Another Santa awaits a new home, perfect for decorating throughout the rest of the year.

Why not learn more about him at MothersDreamRtworks

Fall Into the Holidays with Mother's Dream Artworks

 A Fall favorite, pumpkins are everywhere these days, even on pillows. 

A fun and easy way to add a touch of Autumn in your home decor. Easy to put out, easy to store. See more about this pillow at MothersDreamRtWorks

Buford Jack has a slightly wicked smirk on his face as he plans his Halloween shenanigans. Hand sculpted features on a cured gourd, he's a one of a kind JOL that will be the talk of the home. I hear some of my creations tend to move around on their own, so be aware, he's a sneaky fella. You can purchase him at MothersDreamRtWorks

Autumn Serenity In Acrylics

I've always been afraid of attempting landscapes, so this is my first one in acrylics. Years ago I attempted a few in watercolor, but at the time I didn't have the eye or confidence to just go for it like I do now. It was a fun venture, but today we are going to try oils. I've never used oil paints. Well okay, we did have paint by number sets when we children, but I'm not sure that counts. This piece is available for purchase.

 $175.00 + SH Calculated by location

An Autumn Abstract in the Making

Started off with gold and then orange. Now to the metallics. This will be fun!

Sunflowers In Autumn

 I can't believe I didn't take a photo of the last sunflower commission I created, but this time I made sure I got some pictures. This piece was commissioned because of the last one. It's already hanging in it's new home.

I love the vibrant colors, and wish I had been able to get better photos. I took these at the Tooele Chamber of Commerce office where two of my pieces are now hanging. The new owner of this painting and I met there as we are members of the Stansbury Art & Literary Society and the Chamber is letting us display our art there. It's a great opportunity! So this is my Monday share. I am hoping to be on here more often, but as soon as I commit to that life always runs away with my time. I hope you have a good week!

Pumpkins and Pears and Moons, Oh My!

A little piece of Autumn inspiration for your home or office. Available on ebay now: Mother's Dream Artworks

PFATT Marketplace Offerings for August

 Marcus Moon

SOLD!

 Northwood Pines Santa

Pumpkin, Pear, Moon Folk Art Painting

So here I am four days after the new month launch trying to get things sorted out. Not only am I waaaay behind on posting this, it appears that I boo booed and sent the wrong link or didn't get the link changed when I created my page for this month. So what you see is Marcus Moon, which is on his way to his new home, an oil can JOL, that really should be the painting above, and the Santa. These are my three offerings on the PFATT Marketplace this month, and we are working on changing the painting photo. If you are interested in the painting let me know.

Whew, all this running around trying to take care of two homes 600 miles apart, church responsibilities, family and art makes for a whirlwind life, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

If you are interested in the two pieces left that you see above, stop by PFATT Marketplace

Happy Monday! Okay, it is for me at least.....

 Oh the joy of listing an item on ebay and having it sell right away! Printed on very high quality heavy duty gloss finish paper, with very high quality ink, this is the last of the series I had printed from the original painting I did. I only have one of the prints left of the above painting so head on over fast to snag this! Prim Pumpkin Pear Print

 A sweet and woodsy gourd Santa, hand sculpted and painted with layers of paints, this little fella is also available here: Northwoods Dreaming Santa
So I'm having a good Monday, mailed off a few pieces that sold last week and today, and this little guy will go to some lucky home so we are starting off the week right. How's your week going?

Autumn Pumpkin, Pear & Grapes Still Life Prints

A 12" by 12" print that's sure to warm your home and delight the eye. Two photos as my camera is having a hard time trying find the right colors...lol. You can find more about these here: MothersDreamRtworks

Hagatha Witchley

 August has arrived with an outlook for back to school and fun holiday times just around the corner. Soooo, I pulled out my gourd collection, which is growing by leaps and bounds, and found this lovely lady just waiting to be brought to life. A gourdeous pumpkin witch isn't she?

Hagatha has made her debut on ebay this week, so scurry on over and learn more about her and how you might be able to have her keep you company this Halloween. You can find her here:  Hagatha Witchley

An Amber Colored Autumn....

 Leaves have started to change their dressing..
Bright green fades to a golden blessing.

 A touch of amber is seen on some...
Or rust, like copper soon to become.

 Drifting slowly to the ground,
An amber blanket, all around.

They crunch and rustle in the breeze,
Gold leaves or amber, if you please.

Earrings can be found here and necklace can be found here.

Monday Muse....The Hidden Color

 It's always a marvel when the hidden color of leaves reveal themselves in the twilight of their existence. As the green fades away we are blessed with an abundance of vibrant color. It's as if Autumn is saying, "I will go out in a blaze of glory!", as she waits for Winter to arrive.

Who can doubt the hand of God and His handiwork when finding such an intricately "painted" leaf as this one, with it's dabs of gold, red, and orange?
"Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
Yea, for food and for rainment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul."
Doctrine and Covenants 59:18-19
May you have a blessed and peaceful Monday!

Falling Leaves

 As I rounded the corner into Lostine, a tiny burg not far away from where our Oregon home is, I was met with a literal wall of golden leaves, shimmering in the sunlight. "Wow! I wish I had known about this before I came into town so I could stop and take a photo. I will on the way back to Utah Thursday, as it was so pretty! It reminded me of Autumn in Alaska, with the paper birch brilliant with a Midas touch of gold, against the deep green of spruce and the pastels of the cloud laced skies.

There is a strong breeze blowing here, and the leaves are turning gold on our tall willow. They are falling to the ground, covering the grass with a blanket of leaves, so I will have to rake before I mow tomorrow. The dried leaves are skittering across the pavement, as if they are running away. Ahhhhh, the joys of Autumn.

Autumn Elements...

Another of my Autumn clothing favorites was pulled out of storage, and thus the inspiration in part for this necklace. I figure that if I want to sell jewelry, it doesn't hurt to be a walking advertisement for what I do. Or, it's probably a great excuse to make jewelry for myself. :-) This soft burnt orange faux suede top matches a skirt with the many colors of this piece. So now I'm ready to show off some more new work as we head to the city today for temple and feasting at Benihana.

 Brass acorn beads, vibrant ruby Lucite leaves, moss green pearls and soft turquoise twists are complimented by gray wood beads in this Autumn elements necklace. I found a new bead store in Salt Lake City, and while some of the beads I know I can get much cheaper on ebay, they had some pieces that I've not seen in my internet travels through bead land.

Of course, what jewelry ensemble would be complete without matching earrings? Who knew jewelry making would be so addicting? If you have a special outfit that you would like some matching jewelry for, contact me and lets see if we can come up with a custom set or piece for you. You can email me at mothersdream@mac.com

Hippie Art?

A little music to go with this post...hopefully....

 The other day as I was showing my husband these newest creations he asked when I decided to create hippie art... huh? I asked him what he meant and he said he thought the colors, so bright and the patterns reminded him of California and hippie art. Well duh! Lol... I am a Cali girl born in Salinas... and yes I spent a bit of time on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley right after the riots....

 ....so I guess it comes naturally? Funny he would see it that way, but I am having fun, and hippie or not, it's a nice change of pace for me. The wood scoop at the top is about 16 inches tall and will hang or sit. The pink and orange and lime green still needs it's backing and frame. I did do the antiquing and some touch ups with color. I wish I had taken photos during the day as I just don't have good lighting in our tiny cave. Hopefully you get the idea.

This one is ready to hang, and again, I will have to try and get some daylight photos as these just don't show the true colors. I antiqued this one as well, and am pleased with the over all result. I can see some fun possibilities with this medium.
What are you working on that's different or new for you?

To Antique...or not...that is the question among others

 I have become so addicted to these textural abstracts! Fun and challenging, as I try out different color combos, they give me a freedom to explore color in a way I've never done before.

I've also re-visited the whole color purple and shades of thing in regards to photos. This is a bit off in color, but as close as I could come. My husband says the painting on the top is done, and ignored both inquiries to this one, so I'm thinking he's not fond of it, or it was just coincidental....lol. I was going for a spring like feel with shades of peach and violet, but am not sure yet if I've done what I could. I threw in green to give contrast.  I'm trying to decide if I'm done layering color on both pieces, and if either one should have a final antiquing to bring out the texture more. What do you think?

Saying goodbye to Thanksgiving

With a bit of sadness I put away Thanksgiving yesterday. The weekend went by way too fast and now it seems as if we are hurdling toward the end of the year at lightening speed! Where has the time gone? Into the tote went the Indian corn and hand carved log pumpkins that I made a few years ago here in Utah, the Indian string doll family that was created almost 20 years ago when we lived in Alaska, went in the box with the hand carved Indian maiden gourd ornament from Diane McNaughton, as well as my new pumpkin ornaments for my new feather tree from Willow Springs Family Farm. I had just barely got the new ornaments done and now they are put away until next year..... already. The ceramic turkey condiment set I got in Alabama this year is stashed in the buffet and all is ready for Christmas.

Gee, when I think about it, my Autumn/Thanksgiving decor is a gathering of memories and times in nine different homes. Next year I hope to have more ornaments created for my feather tree. Perhaps some bluish green pumpkins, some beeswax turkeys and some tiny Indian corn.
It's certainly looking like Christmas outside right now, with skiffs of snow on the ground and dusting our desert peaks. So tonight I finish setting out the Nativity, getting the tree ready to decorate, and hanging the garlands with lights. The Santa collection is out on the breakfast bar already, and the wreath is on the door. The ribbons are hung on the cabinet doors in the living room, waiting for the first Christmas cards of the year to arrive. The wind is much too cold to be outside in, so decorating the porch will have to wait until things get warmer.
So goodbye Thanksgiving, until next year. Things will be different then, they are already changing. Let's hope and pray it will be for the better......

Speaking of color....

 My beautiful Autumn feather tree I bought from Benita at Willow Springs Family Farm is standing naked since I took Halloween down and put it all away so I decided to put my red paint down and create some pumpkins to hang on it. These are a bit rough but I experimented with different ways to layer or wrap the clay around the foil balls and now they are drying. I can see that I want to use some great brown twig like wire for the stems the next go around and perhaps foam balls instead, but these were fun, and once painted will be great! Just like regular pumpkins, no two look alike which is what I like.

On the topic of color, have you ever walked into a room full of people and noticed that many of them have the same color of clothing on? I noticed that yesterday when I arrived at the twin's home. Mom and older sister were wearing the same turquoise blue although different tops. I asked Mom if they color coordinated and she laughed stating she hadn't even noticed. I pick up on this a lot. For instance the people on the Bank of America commercial playing on the Food Network right now all have a shade of gray on, whether it's a dress, shirt or slacks, each person has gray on. I wonder if it has to do with keeping the clothing tones subtle so you will hear the message and not be distracted by what they are wearing? It's the first time I've watched a commercial and noticed something like that. Often when I go to church several of my friends will have the same color on. It too is as if we all color coordinated. What is most interesting is that it's not always a seasonal color. I probably notice it even more now that I lead the music during Sacrament meeting. I can see everyone from where I sit or stand so I get to watch who's sleeping, (including hubby), who's wrestling with their children, who looks bored stiff and who is paying attention and enjoying what they are hearing.
Thank goodness for color I say! What a drab world we would live in if we didn't have the variety of color all around us. It's back to playing with more white stuff before I pull out my paint drawer and decide what color to paint my next creation. Taa Taa!

My Favorite Pumpkins - What color should a pumpkin be?

 Where did all the colorful varieties of pumpkins come from?! If you do a search on the internet it can be interesting to see who says what about this or that variety. I remember growing up thinking all pumpkins were orange. Really now, were there other varieties out there being sold in the US, but we somehow missed them in all our travels?

 Then I discovered the Lumina pumpkin while leafing through my seed catalog one frosty January day in North Pole. Oooooh, I thought! White pumpkins with a bright orange flesh. Supposedly tasty pumpkin as well. I found out that I could grow the Funny Face bush pumpkins easily in Alaska, but for some reason it doesn't matter where I am, either here in Utah or there in Alaska, I just can't get a Lumina to grow. I did get a tiny Cotton Candy variety to grow last year, but it wasn't any bigger than an apple. Not quite what I had in mind.

Over the past 5 or so years, I've seen many different varieties and colors of pumpkins which for someone who loves color, I'm thrilled! I can't believe we've not seen these before so I'm just guessing living in Alaska for 20 years and living in the west desert where nothing is grown except by a few of us brave souls, kept me in the dark until now. I really love the different colors, from the blue green Jaradales, to the creamy white Lumina and Cotton Candy, to the multi color miniatures that are out there. Martha Stewart had a magazine spread a couple of years ago with some very rustic burnt orange and brown pumpkins as well as the above mentioned. I want some of those! Yes I love the traditional orange pumpkins but it's fun to have a choice of color and shape. Are you a traditional pumpkin lover? Does it matter?
With all that in mind I tackled a painting that's been waiting to come out from the recesses of my tiny brain into the light of day. The colors show up brighter than they actually are, with the blue having more of a soft tint of green as well. I picked my favorite colors of pumpkins and let my brushes do the rest. A fun labor of love. I hope to create more, but we shall see.