Fall Is Upon Us

Here it is September 2016. Reallllly? 

Wow, when did that happen?

Another year to prepare for a Craft Show in just 6 weeks

When will I learn.....hehe!

One of these days I am sure.

Here is a

 sample of the first 

set of Creations from my 

basement studio

Sea glass, delicately gathered by my
 wonderful mother-in-law, Edith Gourley.

Life Book 2016

Exciting news only a month to go and 

Life Book 2016 

will be open for signing up.

Read about it all here!

Welcome 2015

2015  I can hardly believe it! 

I am looking forward 

to a hopeful and enlightening year. 

A new chapter, 

a new direction, a new passage.

I am 55 

but still young at heart experiencing

 and

cultivating life stories. 

I feel more prepared to face them head on 

with what I know 

and

 what I have learned.

2015...

The time is right and I am ready to start becoming my most creative self. 

Looking back at some of my art and creations

and 

aspiring to 

     accomplish many more....

2014: Year of the Fairy Tale An On line Class by Carla Sonheim

I wanted to introduce you to Carla Sonheim,
 an illustrator and online art instructor known for using 
innovative exercises and techniques to help students of all levels 
embrace a more playful approach to creating art. 
She is the author of

 "Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists: 
52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun" 

and 

"The Art of Silliness: 
A Creativity Book for Everyone."

Carla Sonheim

For the last three years 
her focus has been on creating engaging online art classes, 
where she teaches and also presents well-known guest artists.
 She made this Paper Doll tutorial 
in anticipation of her next online class, 

"2014: Year of the Fairy Tale," 
which begins  
January 20th, 2014. 

You can find out more about 

 "2014 Year of the Fairy Tale" Online Class here

 and 

Carla's other art and classes here:

Here is a step by step illustration of the Paper Doll Tutorial:

A quick and fun way to make original paper dolls... a perfect thing to do with your kids or to nurture the kid inside you... because we're never too old to play with paper dolls! Have fun!

Carla Sonheim

P.S. This tutorial was made in anticipation of my next online art class,

2014: Year of the Fairy Tale

paper doll tutorial

1. Gather your supplies.

- a small watercolor set

- #12 round paintbrush (or similar)

- 8"x10" sheet of 140# hot press watercolor paper (or similar)

- a regular pencil

- an eraser (I like kneaded rubber erasers)

- scissors

supplies

2. Lightly sketch 

in an outline of your doll. Keep your hand loose, and try not to worry about exact proportions (sometimes the most charming characters emerge when we let go of perfection!).

3. Using lots of water, 

mix up a color to use as the skin tones. Paint face, arms and feet. When face has had a chance to dry, get some red pigment on your brush and "dot" it into the watercolor quickly. The color should begin to spread out a bit for some nice rosy cheeks.

4. Let dry completely.

5. Paint in some hair; let dry completely.

6. Cut out your paper doll, and...

7. Play!

Craft Fair 2013

Well I will be making it to another craft fair this year!

Started getting ready a bit late (mid September) but I was able to keep a pretty good pace

and not get too discouraged. 

Having the wonderful support from my family and friends helps so much, I really am thankful.

Here are a few pictures of what I will be selling this year.

Last of the Wooden Bird Houses, this is 12 inches high

Who Ville Trees

Printed on Vintage Music Sheets

My wine bags, Bob's wooden tree branch tags

Original Mixed-Media Art

Wooden Bird House