MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Just finished the angel that is over the bed in my studio.  I sculpted the head, hands, legs, wings, and feet.  Part of the trim on the angel I purchased in Paris.

 Santa collection on my kitchen island.

Close up of angel.

Joseph, Mary and Jesus

I'm back to my first love, sculpting!  I've been wanting to do this sculpture for a long time and decided I needed to get it done.  I'm not getting any younger.  Imagine that!  I've worked really hard on this and used almost 75 lbs. of clay in it.  It's about 24" tall, but will shrink some when it is fired.  I have a little more smoothing and clean up to do on it and then it will have to dry for several weeks before firing.

2nd Bound Book

Okay, I'm definitely hooked on making these books!  This is my favorite so far.  I made this for my sister's birthday.  Hopefully, she won't see this.

First Book

I started taking an online class from Mary Ann Moss.  If you have a chance to take one of her classes, don't miss it!  This my first book that I made in her Full Tilt Boogie class.  It's made from a vintage photo album from the 1800's.  I'm hooked!  It was so much fun.

The Gilded Life Workshop

The weekend of June 3 found me in Dallas taking the last Gilded Life workshop to be offered at the completely renovated church there.  What fun we had!!  We spent Friday in Canton at the flea market.  It was so hot!!!  I want to go again maybe in October when it is cooler.  Saturday, Lesa Dailey taught a class that was fantastic and Sunday, Shea taught a class that I was unable to attend.  Her classes are always wonderful.  They hope to have classes when they are settled in California.  If you get a chance to go, they are well worth the price.

Studio Bed

I finished the pillow sham for the bed in my studio.  I used a body pillow and made the sham from some hand dyed silk velvet.  Took forever to make the ruffle!  I think it is starting to come together.  

Slipcovered Dining Chairs

Finally, I finished slipcovering the backs of my dining chairs.  Now I just can't decide which side I want the monogram on.  Front or back??  I decided to just do the backs and not the seats.  Bought the monogram stencil online at Etsy.

I finished the drapery in my studio.  I found drapes at Target that are a shade darker than the walls (gray).   I was going to make them, but took the easy way out.   I already had a rod hanging in the window so decided to use Hug Snug and hang all different colors and lengths on it.  Topped some of the ribbon with vintage pins.

Ipad Pocket

I just completed this ipad pocket for jewelry artist, Diana Frey.  Sure hope she likes it.  I used another piece of vintage french quilt fabric for the outside.  The white ball fringe was also from France.  Sure hope she likes it!

Studio Bathroom - Finished!

I finally finished my studio bathroom.  Who's the "doofus" in the mirror?  The bathroom is so small that I couldn't get at a good angle to photograph it.  You can see that the collaged wall is on the opposite wall from the mirror.  Thought it turned out pretty good.  Just painted the small cabinet this afternoon.  It was dark as was the mirror hanging on the collaged wall.  I think it looks much better painted.  I would be happy to share paint colors with anyone who emails me.

Collaged Wall

I'm done adding all the paper elements.  I applied them with wallpaper paste.  I used Mod Podge over the top to seal everything.  Then I used a brown glaze to tie everything together.  I'm now applying dimensional elements.  You can see them in the left hand portion of this picture.  I used an old rouge tin, rhinestone pins, a key, letters to spell Grace.  I will continue adding more elements.  I will post more pictures as I finish things.

Collaged Bathroom Wall

I started collaging this wall in my studio bathroom.  This is just the beginning.  It will have all kinds of things on it.  Scrabble tiles, rhinestone pins, buttons, keys, etc.  The background is painted a cream color.  When I have all the images on it, I will probably wash it with a glaze.  A glaze always helps tie things together.  I'll be posting more pictures after each step.

 Message board - Before

  Message board - After

I have had this message board for several years.  It was stained a dark walnut.  It has a chalk board on one side and a bulletin board on the other.  It is over six feet tall.  It was made out of parts of a house that was demolished.  Recycling at its best!!  I was so tired of it the way it looked.  I wanted to paint it as soon as I got it, but every man who saw it loved the stained wood.  What is it about men and stained wood?  So, six years or so later I painted it!  I also added round knobs on top.  I love it.  I don't know if you can see that it has carved feet (lion?) on the legs.  It even has toenails.  Of course, I had to paint the toenails red!

Studio Changes

I'm planning to paint the walls a light gray in the studio and I'm putting up this old iron bed in front of my fireplace that's in there.  I love the old red paint on it so I just cleaned it up and put a coat of polyurethane on it.

I took the legs off of a tiered table and put a lazy susan base on it.  I will use it on my worktable for paint brushes, and other tools.

ipad case

Just finished this case/pouch for my ipad.  I made it from a piece of a vintage French quilt that I bought in France and some vintage trim.  The ipad slips in the top and then I just used a piece of leather and a button to fasten it.  The madonna & child photo is actually a pocket to hold my glasses.  I left the seams with the raw edges and batting showing.