What can you do with a burned out light bulb?

 

Make a White Rabbit of course! I guess you could say he has an inner light ready to come forth, or not...:-) Some day I may stop playing with light bulbs, but probably not until they have been banished into obscurity. Until then, the skies the limit and each light bulb has his own character waiting to shine through. This winsome fellow can be found on EBAY

Possible Dreams... WIPS

Sometimes I jump the gun on creativity and don't plan things out, just dive in and start mushing and mashing clay here and there to get a feel for where I want to go with a piece. The two forms to the right are those sort of soon to be creations. I have an idea, but I will let them play out as I add a bit of clay here and there to bring out their personality.
The bunny to the left was rough sketched to give me some direction, and he's coming along pretty well. Can you see the little vest taking shape? He will have legs and feet, but I'm still trying to decide their shape. I'm thinking I will go a bit pudgy, we shall see. I will be heading back home tonight for a couple of days of respite and to get rejuvenated for the return to the folks home. These are all going with me and I hope to have them ready to paint by Saturday. Wish me luck, I may need it! The biggest challenge will be going home and not looking at the chores that may need to be done. Tomorrow will be an all creative day, Saturday we can clean and get ready to come back. There's probably not much to do anyway but I tend to obsess about those sorts of things. Can you ignore the dust bunnies and still be fully creative? If so, how do you do it????

New Year...new WIPS

 I'm not sure how far I will get on these projects as I'm at the in-laws trying to keep them happy while sneaking away once in awhile to my tiny room to work. Not that my in-laws are hard to please, but Dad is only partly ambulatory and Mom has dementia, so I'm never sure which Mom I get to deal with and whether or not I'm doing all I can to make Dad's last days here comfortable as possible. For now, in keeping with my ever vigilant effort to upcycle as I create I've got a lightbulb bunny in the works.

When I saw this remote I knew exactly what I could do with this, but first I checked to make sure there were no Magnavox TV's here anymore....lol and I've started the project, but will reveal more at a later date. It's amazing the things folks collect, even those who tend to toss everything not nailed down. My in-laws are no exception so I have a treasure trove of goodies to possibly turn into folk art. I've already connived a vintage button collection and Japanese coin away, hopefully that won't count as the inheritance...;-). Anyhew, I must dash off to the dentist for a cleaning and check up. What do you think I will do with this remote?

The Layers of Life and Art

I've been reading "Of Human Bondage" by W. Somerset Maugham. It's the story of a young man with a club foot, who is orphaned at a young age. His discoveries in life and human nature take him through a period when he is in his late teens and early 20's, where he thinks he wants to be an artist, in fact he is sure he has the "genius" for it. He soon finds out though, that his aptitude for art amounts to being able to copy others quite well. After much soul searching, and a compatriots death by starvation and suicide he finally realizes that perhaps he hasn't got what it takes, and asks others their opinion. He is told that while he is good at the mechanics, he has no real "genius" for art. His friends have the mind set that you must have the overwhelming drive, the "do or die" attitude towards art, where all else suffers, even family, so that one can paint. The idea of making money wasn't as important as creating. But, without money, you have no resources to create. Quite a dilemma, wouldn't you say?

That got me to thinking about where my artistic journey is taking me. I love to create holiday figures, or storybook figures such as this White Rabbit, from Alice in Wonderland.

I made him a couple of years ago, and he was sure a fun challenge. I have a tendency to be very literal in my thinking, and that spills over into my art. As much as I would love to create whimsical figures that delight and bring smiles to those who see them, I have an even stronger drive to paint and sculpt in a more serious vein. I would also like to make money at it, so that we can do the things we want to do when hubby retires, and not feel like we have to pinch pennies all the time. Then you throw in the human factor of the needs of those around me. I am so in tune with those around me, that I can't seem to step back and let them find other resources or support so I have more time to create. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, but then am I being arrogant in thinking I'm the only one who can do it right, or do I truly care those around me and want to be helpful.
I find it interesting that I should get "Of Human Bondage" at a stage in my life where I'm assessing where I want to head with my art. Do you ever have those sorts of life coincidences? What are your challenges in your creative ventures?

Ruffles Easter Bunny is hopping over to etsy!

I have so much fun creating these little Easter babies! An egg shape is perfect for all sorts of Easter baby delights, so there will be more to follow.
With the advent or hope of warmer weather, which we will have a taste of this weekend (yippee!), sometimes we have to deal with the rain or muck or melting snow and slush so decorating for Easter is a great way to brighten up your home. I like to bring Spring indoors early by spreading a little color through out ours with my hand crafted Easter goodies. This year I'm hoping to have a feather tree in pastel Easter colors, and I can just imagine how one of these little fellas would look underneath it. In the mean time, I'm offering some one of a kind creations in my etsy shop for you to enjoy as well. :-)

Alice In Wonderland White Rabbit AHA Challenge Piece

The final unveiling of the White Rabbit! Ta daa! 

His head was created using air dry clay over a foam egg. The stand/base is a vintage textile spool attached to a wood base.

He has several elements that make up his whole. Stop by my ebay listing to learn more about him. A little side note I didn't add to his listing, did you know that the white rabbit Alice saw had pink eyes?

WIP Alice in Wonderland White Rabbit continues

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Here is another teaser on the way to seeing the whole piece finished. I used stamps as well as  polymer clay to create the design and numbers for the clock face. There are card photos applied to the trunk of the piece. I was excited to be able to use the mesh ribbon I have for the collar. The unveiling will come later!

WIP Alice in Wonderland White Rabbit

 

Don't know what is happening with blogger but I will try and post here. I've been working on a white rabbit figure for our AHA Alice In Wonderland Challenge. It took me longer than I wanted because I was torn between making a cloth body for him or just moving ahead with my idea of using a vintage spool as the base. Here's what I gathered together to put this together. I started with a pink layer after gessoing the whole head. Scary huh?!

Then I dry brushed shades of buttermilk and white. I touched up the strokes with some maple syrup to give him some depth. I continued on with layering colors until he was the way I wanted him to be. Blogger is really not cooperating right now so I'm moving on rather waste time. Below you find the finished head. I will unveil more later today. Thanks for stopping by!

American Holiday Artists Alice In Wonderland Challenge

That's right, in honor of the new Tim Burton movie our AHA artists are creating some magical wonders to add to your Alice collection. Stop by our blog, and search AHA on both etsy and ebay to see more of what is up for purchase or auction.

WIP Valentines or Alice in Wonderland White Rabbit

Pulling out my illustrative skills to paint this rabbit up in a new and different way. Couldn't decide whether he should be a White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, or a Valentines bunny, so why not both?! He's almost done being dressed, well we couldn't have a naked bunny running around, really now! :-)
Here's a little something to put you in the mood for love......

"Kisses are sweetest under covering hair"

Kisses are sweetest under covering hair,

And whispers in its woven twilight best;

As flowery boughs above the chirping nest

Make sweet and sacred all the darkened air

Wherein abide the soft-secluded pair,

And know in the warm fragrance where they rest

The small heart beating in the downy breast

Each of its mate:--a Paradise they share.

This is a longing of the human heart

After that dream, an Eden all for two,

Some lonely island 'mid the ocean's blue

Where Love may sport, and laugh, and kiss apart.

Therefore it was a moment past I drew

Thine hair about mine eyes, Eve that thou art.

Just a Little Tease for PFATT

Blooms

Time is running out!

Who will help me makes this bread?

New WIP"S for PFATT

Okay, I hope Sandy doesn't have heart failure if she sees these, I'm really farther along than it appears here....:-). I'm trying my first cloth and clay doll, who will be a patriotic angel when done.
Another White Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland style. This will be a clock when all done. Check out PFATT Marketplace on the 10th for all the new creations for Spring.

Taa Daa!

Here he is! I was holding my breath all the way with this one, as I have ideas that don't always come to fruition but this little guy sure did.
I sure hope you like him!

Get a sneak peek......

Hee hee...... can't show you the whole creation yet.....he's in the final stages.....but, he's dressed, and looking quite dapper if I do say so myself. He's having an issue with his time piece, so we are waiting for that to get repaired, and then he will be ready to be on his way.......
This little bunny is another of my Go Green Challenge pieces. He was sculpted over a pimiento jar, so he is glass on the inside and clay on the outside. He would be a perfect jelly bean cup, or paper clip holder...or...well you decide. These will be up for auction on ebay starting Monday afternoon and ending Saturday the 28th. Check back for more photos......

White Rabbit is finally dressed!

It's about time! It was getting embarrassing having to make excuses for this otherwise dapper fellow! Now comes the choosing the colors for his suit. I'm thinking a light color for his vest, perhaps a soft yellow with a plaid design, but the coat I want perhaps a grey or slate blue color, and then the scarf perhaps red? It seems I always have to get red in there somewhere. Well, we shall see. Any suggestions?

Eek! There's a naked rabbit in my studio!

The nerve of this guy! I've been trying to get him dressed all week but he just wont' hold still! He keeps looking for his watch and exclaiming, "Oh my ears and whiskers, look at how late it's getting!" Well if he doesn't hold still and let me dress him, he will miss the big event...whatever that is.....