DIY Wreath...

A Sunday afternoon, pine branches, wire circle, ribbon, floral wire, wire cutter, holiday stems, battery powered lights & a wreath hook.

Hi Bud...

Beautiful weather in NJ today... warm enough for short sleeves! It made her think of spring, so, she made a polymer clay bud necklace for a dear friend.

Only on Halloween...

A Gypsy ironing a Witch's hair! Artistgirl Irons the lovely Ms. Patti Behan's hair. Bonnie Egenton is behind the camera!

Work it Out...

She decided she's going to up her game. Shake it up a bit with a kettlebell and have some fun.

Out, Damned Spot! Out, I Say!

Sometimes a spot or a stain can ruin a shirt. Sharpie to the rescue! They're available in a slew of luscious colors. Just draw some flowers, vines and leaves over the stains are and, voila, a one-of-a-kind t-shirt!!!

The Glorious Web...

We love the web. The information highway is abundant with inspiration. Learn to Make Money From Your Art. Google a word, phrase or question. Get an (many actually) answer. Send an Instant Gift. Talk to friends from all over the world on Facebook. In a creative funk? Browse some blogs, play with Google Images, view some YouTube videos, look at some Flickr photos. The list is endless! Yes, we love the web!

There is Beauty All Around...

Sometimes all you have to do is look up.

Our House, in the Middle of....

Somerset Studio! She's absolutely ecstatic her Haunted House is on page 56 of the September/October 2009 issue. She's in stellar company with Bernie Berlin, Claudine Hellmuth, Tim Holtz, Amy Powers, Carla Sonheim, Jane Wynn and the Fabulous Wendy Vecchi.
Ranger issued a challenge and gave each artist Claudine Hellmuth Products, a paper mache rectangle and an piece of cardboard. The results were displayed in the Ranger booth at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Winter 2009 Trade Show. What is featured in Somerset is but a taste of all the wondrous houses submitted. Each house showcases the unique talents of each artist. She tips her hat (& brush) to all the marvelous artists who participated in the challenge. Bravo! Bellissima!

A Sunny Summer Day...

Have you ever watched the sunlight dance over a plant?

Bright Things Ahead...

The best is yet to come...

Me & My Shadow...

Do we accept our dark side, or refuse to acknowledge it. Do we stuff it down till it rears up and bites us?

Ch-Ch-Changes....

We could not stand still even if we wanted to. The earth we stand on is revolving. Growth involves change. It can be scary, it can be exciting, it can be both. To be alive is to change. Embrace evolution...and smile!

Meow! She's in Paper Crafts Magazine!

Her 'Meow at the Moon' card is on page 46 of the September/October 2009 Issue of Paper Crafts and she's purring with pleasure! She used Adirondack Alcohol Inks, Ink Applicator, Alcohol Ink Fillable Pen and Pitch Black Pigment Ink to make this spooky Halloween card. Stamping in conjunction with doodling is fun, fast and looks great! Try it and see!

Lightning Bugs at Dusk...

She watches, mesmerized as the twinkling lights of the fireflies usher in night.

Leave It To Cleaver...

A hot, humid day, a cleaver, a cutting board and some young coconuts.........Yummmmmm!

Picture This....

She loves technology. Her new cordless phones...just plug in the wall! Her new cell phone, she can text and take photos and video! (That she can download to her computer and post on her blog...like the photo above.) Technology that captures images, sounds & words. Little bits, pieces and whole slices of life that can be shared. She's thrilled.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun...

We ALL need to play!

What's going on out there?

Curiosity killed the cat. Who in the world said that? Curiosity and creativity go hand in hand. Curiosity often leads to new discoveries. As a muse I'm all about the 'what if'. Anyway, as the saying goes ....satisfaction brought him back.

What is Real?

What is real and what is reflection? Why do witnesses to the same event perceive it differently? Isn't that the real beauty of human existence? Unique viewpoints and how those viewpoints are expressed.

Underneath...

Sometimes something interesting lies beneath the surface.

I Just Wanna Fly...

Those little sparkling wings are beautiful!

The Slate Path...

Wash the slate clean. Walk a new path...

Rainbow & Lightning

It's been raining like crazy here in New Jersey. The storm yesterday was especially fierce. Downed branches and trees everywhere. To top it off a full rainbow with lightning! Mother nature sure knows how to put on a show!

Sweet Baby James.....

Her Heart Belongs to Daddy...

Much thanks and love to the first man to love her unconditionally. He made, and still makes her feel loved and appreciated for who she is. His belief in her gave her the confidence to follow her dream, to make a living doing what she loves. Here's to the man who has always made her feel she can do anything she sets her mind (and heart) to. Happy Father's Day!

On the Small Screen...

She had such a fantastic time with her friends screen printing. She had experience...but that was a lifetime ago. Her teacher Molly was fantastic! A good time & wonderful results were had by all. I particularly like her choice of subject matter... Moi!

Let's Have Fun....NOW!!!

Have you heard people say, "I'll be happy when I _____". Fill in the blank... make more money, lose 5 pounds, go on vacation, retire, or whatever. I say there's no better time then the present! Back away from the computer, silence those cell phones, take a break from the texts. Experience the person in front of you. Smile, laugh, have fun....right NOW!

Big Shoes to Fill...

Why do we sometimes feel we must live up to others standards? Mom or Dad? Significant other or potential customers? The only shoes we need to be concerned about are our own. Let's be comfortable in our own shoes.

Who's There?

Does your style carry over into any medium you use? Does your artistic voice make it through the medium? Or does technique take center stage? Techniques are tools. You have the power of expression. Let your unique vantage point shine.

Dress Me Up!

Designing and sketching out a dress is restful to her...maybe she'll make it sometime!

Unfinished, Unapologetic...

It hangs on the wall in her studio, and yes, it's unfinished. It does tie into her Commitment Issues but it goes a little further. It's a expectation rebellion thing... 'Who says I have to finish everything I start?....Who says I can't love it just the way it is?"....not me... I'm only the Muse around here.

Play Time...

Time for Artistgirl to play. Watercolor and The Original Series Star Trek DVD Set ... she's in heaven..... or maybe she's in space.

Sunny Sunday = Farmer's Market!

Beautiful weather in Red Bank, NJ! Time to enjoy simple pleasures. Fresh fruit, vegetables, wonderful plants and unique gifts!

Simplicity & Detail

How do you fill your space? Your canvas as communication. What mood are you trying to convey? Peaceful and static, precarious and energetic? This is your world. You are in control. Isn't it exciting?

Art is Everywhere...Can You See It?

She had just finished washing her hands. She ripped a piece of paper towel from the dispenser and was drying her hands when she looked into the garbage can. It was then that she saw him. He was peeking out at her from inside his shroud. She rushed to get her camera taking the wet paper towel with her, not wanting to disturb the man in the can. After she retrieved the camera from her purse she almost ran back to him, briefly wondering what someone would think if she was seen rushing into the ladies room with a camera. Laughing to herself she remembered artists are allowed to be eccentric. Thankfully no one had disturbed him and the photograph she took is pictured above. There is beauty in a landscape, a still life...and even in a garbage can. It all depends on your perspective.

She saw the light...

What is it that draws an artist to a subject? What draws a person to a piece of art? Art is subjective. Who is to say one piece of art is 'better' than another. Was Picasso 'better' than Van Gogh, Gauguin 'better' than Renoir? A piece of art has value if it speaks to your soul, if it brings you joy each time you look at it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Inspiration & Execution

The Aloe Vera plants. Their shape, color, form texture, line and energy provided the inspiration. The table was in need of refinishing. My muse self took hold of her and didn't let go until it was done. Time does not exist and all else falls away in the process of creation... Eckhart would be proud.

Getting it out on the Table....

I had her thinking about painting the kitchen table for a while...then boom, I overwhelmed her with the urge. She sanded, applied 2 coats of gesso... then pained (with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints)

in one day! She let it dry a couple of days, just to be safe. Today she applied 2 coats of sealant....tomorrow a few more.

Commitment Issues

The blank page, a blank canvas, a lump of clay, sometimes these items strike fear into the heart's of artists. For Artistgirl it is a little different. It's not so much a fear like artist's block as it is commitment phobia. You see, once she makes a mark on the surface she narrows all of her other options. For her it's all about possibilities. She absolutely adores blank canvases, they are a screen on which she can project endless images. Once you commit to a certain vision you leave all the other choices behind....So what to do? We've figured out a solution....have several blank canvases, many sketchbooks and a lot of clay...it lessens the commitment phobia. Ahhhh choices.

Beauty Everywhere....

A flower? No! Sliced onion in a food processor! She spent part of the afternoon making a double batch of RAWvolution's Famous Onion Bread from Matt Amsden's Book Rawvolution

. The house smells delicious and in about 24 hours (dehydration time) there will be feasting!

Life is a Highway...

Sometimes it's misty and we can't see the road ahead...all the better for living in the moment!

All Work and No Clay...

...hey let's not even go there! Clay play is a necessity!

Clay Daze...

She's in a clay phase. Polymer begs to be experimented with...she just loves to clay!

Nesting...

Baby it's cold outside...she's inside nesting, playing with wire and polymer clay infused with embossing powder.

A Tisket, A Tasket....

Mew on a basket.

I Want to Ride...

Enough of the indoors! We want to ride like the wind! Spring will be here soon!

Still a Little Baby...

Mew is growing up so fast, but she's still got a lot of kitten in her. Everyone gets older, but hopefully we never lose the kid inside.

Positive Energy...

She painted the energy of a Rose Of Sharon.