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I have been a busy little bee... buzz buzz buzz, and have created 14 one of a kind mixed media brooches (pins) and 2 wee owl magnets. Wearable art!
Once I get these all photographed they will be available in my Etsy shop!
I am excited to add something new.
Here they are!
To make these brooches/pins I used an array of materials a few one which include tissue paper and acrylic paint. Upon completed, a gloss varnish was applied for added beauty and protection.
So one our favorite family activities is taking a trip to Home Depot or Loews! are you laughing? shush that ;) seriously though it's true! for you international readers these places are two home improvement stores that we have locally in the states. They are both almost exactly the same with only minor difference.
On any given weekend we wake up, eat our breakfast and then all hop into the car with our hair disheveled, still in our pajamas. Except for the hubby of course... a man just can't walk into a "mans" store with his cartoon pajamas on!
I tell my husband all the time that most women have to worry about their husbands going to the home improvement store, not the other way around! I LOVE these stores!
8 years ago my husband and I updated our 1890's home. All the work was done by our hands with the assistance of a few family members here and there. It was very rewarding and we just adore doing the little things.
For a few weeks now I have been thinking about succulents... you know, plants in the cactus family? I am a firm believer that if you put a thought, want, or need out into the universe, that it will come to you. Crazy you say? blah blah blah ;)
Crazy this! Ask and you shall receive for just inside the door was a rack of clearance items and on this rack sat a whole lot of little un-watered succulents, pots, and various last years garden goodies. If you know me, you know I love my garden.
If you don't know me, I'm telling you now... I love my garden!
The succulents were .25 cents for a 4 pack, the pots which were ceramic not plastic mind you cost .50 cents and my bag of cactus soil a whopping $4! Not only were the succulents there for me, but the pots were the perfect color to match the curtains in my studio.
A little tender love and care, new soil and a good soak and these lil' greenies have a brand new home where they will thrive instead of being tossed into the trash.
My cat Mowgli likes to eat plants as you might have read in my avocado post. He joined me while planting and sniffed everything as if I were preparing him a plate of tuna...
"Meow... I'm not doing anything mommy... meow"
"I'm just... lick lick lick... nom nom nom... cleaning my bits and pieces". I'm not sure why but as of late Mowgli the cat has taken to cleaning his nether regions in front of me where ever I may be. I think he's ready to take our relationship the next level, but I'm just not ready for that kind of commitment.
There, much better! now don't they look happy? I think so :) Not only did I bring a little green into my studio and nurture my need to grow things, but I feel a lot like I just rescued a puppy from a dark alley except you know... not so human and not so fluffy.
Enjoy your sunday where ever you are, what ever you may be doing. Don't forget about your needs and the little things that make you happy. Breathe <3
My whales are going the Hawaii! How appropriate that they should be going to an island surrounded by ocean :) What made this sale ever so special was the note that came from the woman who bought it for her husband as a Valentine's Day gift...
Hi, Ashlie!
My name's Michelle, and I'm a Navy wife and artist/creative dreamer who lives in Hawaii, and I dream of being an Etsy artist/seller one day -- but in the meantime, until I'm ready for that, I love supporting other artists, and I am thrilled to be purchasing this charming and romantic whale art from you. There is just something about this piece, and I feel my husband and I must have it; besides, I love that it's an original, as that makes it that much more special. Thanks for creating such a unique and sweetly romantic piece of art that I will be so happy to surprise my husband with for Valentine's Day, and which we'll very much enjoy displaying in our home. Keep finding joy in creating -- your work is wonderful, comforting, and so endearing! :) Have a lovely day.
Aloha,
Michelle
Giving my Etsy shop some thought and getting some advice from friends I think these will be a lovely addition to my inventory. Perhaps even as surprise gifties when a painting is purchased.
These Owl Brooches are sculpted out of Sculpey Clay, painted, tissue papered, painted again, chalked, drawn upon, stamped... and given the Ashlie ta-da! I do plan on signing each one of course!
I plan on doing some more and possibly some other creatures such as whales and foxes. Anything you would like to see? I would love to hear.
p.s. If your wondering why that guy's name is on my work surface, I listen to music when I paint... and if I like someone I write them down so I can research them and download their album :)
Enjoy your Saturday!! I hope it's a hoot!
I am getting super excited about starting my alphabet, in fact I have already started it! And of course in true Ashlie fashion, I haven't started with "A"... "A" has been a hard one for me. I haven't figured out what it will be, or better yet... it hasn't come to me yet. Hasn't made itself apparent.
"A" starts the whole alphabet. Sets the mood if you will. It's pressuring me, and so I started with "L". The one I was most sure I wasn't going to change...
I have been working on it for a total of about 3 hours now and it isn't even close to done. I want to really pay special attention to each letter as I have big plans for this alphabet. I am going to complete it, send it to Somerset, and then when it comes back home... send it to publishers.
Why not right?
Who say's I can't?
(I love that saying!)
I am hand cutting, inking, and applying each feather individually because...
L is for Little Lavender Owl :)
p.s. you don't have to be "truly" talented ;)
It's our crafty day of the week and so close to the weekend! can I get a hurrah? HURRAH! Today's tutorials are lovely rings you can make and wear.
4 Tutorials for the 4th day of the week! As always, click the image to visit your tutorial.
Get your Craft on!
{{ Lovely Wire Knot Ring }}
I love how simplistic this is, would make a lovely thumb ring.
{{ Pin Cushion Ring }}
For you lovely stitchers whom I love so much, this is for you!!
{{ Button Ring }}
I love buttons and as you know I collect them... perhaps this is a great way for me to wear my buttons :) one for every outfit!!
{{ Fabric Flower Ring }}
How sweet this one is, very spring! THINK spring! it's closer than you think ;)
Now get your supply list and have fun shopping! if you already have the supplies, well then your one step ahead of the rest of us!
Happy Thursday!
When was the last time you wrote a letter?
no, not emailed a letter or face booked somebody... but genuinely sat down with a paper and pen. Hopefully your answer isn't that it was ages ago! if it has though, take heart for it's never too late!
Handwriting is such an important thing. Important to pass down to our children, important to keep for ourselves in our everyday life. You can learn so much about a person just by looking at their handwriting... if they are tender, soft, kind... if they are sloppy, lazy, angry. Letter writing to me has always been a vital part of who I am. I started very young writing letters. In fact one year I wrote my grandmother a letter every day for weeks. She still has all of my childhood letters, complete with visuals cause you know I couldn't just write... I had to also draw.
(a segment of my grandmothers handwritten recipe to me for her "famous" pumpkin and lemon meringue pie, she is an amazing baker and cook)
I have recently made a new friend over seas, and it has been so much fun getting to know her! You can visit her blog called Theowlclub here. Just a week or so ago I received a wonderful package from her in the mail full of lovely things just for me! My favorite part? her handwritten letter! she also left little notes with just about everything. It was so admirable and adorable. I felt like I knew her on a whole 'nother level just by seeing her neat and beautiful penmanship.
A letter is a glimpse into someones life. Right then and there. The second, minute, or hour they wrote it. As soon as they seal the envelope that moment is over, shut tight between paper and ink. I myself feel very special receiving a letter. In those moments I know that their thoughts were about me... Just the same as when I write a letter to someone else. I only think about the person I am jotting to. In those captured moments, I am focused on my friend or my family member. It feels intimate and genuine.
You will always be able to write a nice letter if you keep a box of note cards around. You can pick up a whole box at ACmoore or Michaels or any other craft store for that matter for $9.99... or half that if you have a coupon. Wanna make it really fun? go on Etsy and purchase some handmade note cards! or even even even better yet!? MAKE it YOURself!
All one needs is...
Blank Note Cards...
Markers, pens, crayons... whatever you have or want!
Stamps or stickers! one can never go wrong with stamps or stickers. NO they are not just for little kids!! I say that... but doesn't writing a hand written note feel sort of like being a kid again? It makes me feel that way! I find myself WANTING to use stickers... WANTING to doodle in the margins... and not just because I'm an artist.
Now, my friend Suki from Theowlclub and I are going to on the first of each month write a letter to each other. We will catch our moments, our days, or free time like butterflies in a net... seal them up tight in a paper sack and send it across the ocean... little alphabet travelers.
I will be sure to share these with you :)
Although can't read them! they are my friendly private notes :)
So, if you don't have blank note cards, stickers, stamps, or what have you... no problem! just get some paper and write something! with your hand for God sakes! not with the tippity tap of your fingers on a keyboard. One does love the immediateness of email... but isn't it fun to wait in anticipation to see what arrives or better yet, be surprised? isn't it wonderful to receive a note amongst the junk mail, bills, and grocery ads? go ahead, surprise someone... and enjoy yourself while you do it!
p.s. stamps are still cheaper than coffee ;)
I just realized that I shared with you throughout the holiday season how I was hand making most of my gifts, but I forgot to actually show them to you! I couldn't show them then, due to the fact that some of my readers a.k.a. family and friends, would be receiving the gifts I was putting together with my two busy hands. Soooo.... without further adieu!
Large Mason Jar Luminaries... I made like 12 of these each different than the one before. Here is one of them :) I used pink tissue paper and a bird charm tied around the neck with pretty yarn from my scrap collection. I didn't know how much they would light up given they are lit with only one small tea-light... I was really impressed!
Wire Bird's nest brooch with a feather charm dangle placed upon a super super soft hand crocheted blue cowl. I used a yarn called angel hair, and you know what? it could of been, it was better than silk.
Homemade soap made with a dear friend in an afternoon. I gifted these soaps in clear cellophane bags tied with yarn scraps. On the front I hung a pine cone wreath I got on clearance day before Christmas eve for 70% off :)
There were bunches of other handmade gifties, but I forgot to take pictures of them in my eagerness to get them all wrapped up. I made several cowls, braided scarves, more soap, etc. It was so much fun to have a careful Christmas :) I plan to have an even more careful Christmas next year!
Have a great day! remember that handmade gifting and being careful about gifting doesn't have to be just for Christmas but for ever holiday and birthday's as well! if your not the hand made type than buy handmade from crafters and artists via Etsy or craft fairs :)
I have been giving a lot of though lately to some big projects I would like to tackle, one of which is an illustrated mixed media alphabet. Something different! unique! not A is for apple and D is for dog, but clever and well thought. It will include items, animals, and objects that inspire me every day. I haven't thought of all of the letters yet and what their pictures will be, but I know all of it will be quite random (like me!) and I like the possibilities of that.
To find inspiration I hopped around Etsy-land like a robin in spring... hop hop hop, boing oing oing! I found a few that were really great and wanted to share them with you.
the following pictures were not done by me but the others that I admired while looking about.
I love this one... especially the letter "R" for raindrops!! It's full of things from nature which I know mine will include. I am so inspired by nature and I can tell this artist is too... This piece was done by
As you all know I am a fan of owls and so are a few of my friends :) one of which is Suki from theowlclub! she has her own inspiring blog and is an all around sweet friend and talented sewing gal. The following piece was not done by her, but found by her and pinned on pinterest. I could not resist showing this one...
The Owlphabet - Done by Gingiber
This one doesn't have any pictures with the alphabet but I admire it's color and the great detail in each letter. They are neat and clean yet altogether not. The warm colors the artist used are comforting and soft. It's very NYC sheek yet sweet enough to be on a nursery wall. I admire the duality of this piece, very inspiring.
This piece was done by littlebitties
So who knows what my alphabet will be like! lots to think about and ideas to write down. I know I want to do a one piece like these but then I also want to a separate piece that for each letter. Perhaps a children's book in the making?
Enjoy your day and sing your A,B,C's! maybe you do every day because your parent, maybe you haven't in a L-O-N-G time! give it a whirl... here I'll start you off... A B C D E F G.... you take the rest ;)
Keeping it light today as it is a Sunday and we all want to relax. Yesterday I was inspired by the snow that fell over our area. We had such a great time playing in the white fluffy stuff!
"Perfect Weather to Fly"
(Inspired by a favorite song of mine by the group Elbow)
8x10 Mixed Media
Will be available with a few other new pieces before the end of tomorrow in my
Etsy Shop
If you would like to hear the song... here it is for ya! :) Enjoy your Sunday, every little minute of it.
