Art Sale Fun!

A friend had asked if I wanted to be a part of a art and craft show she was having. I said sure, then promptly went into panic mode, because the date was only 3 weeks away when she asked and I had nothing to put in it. Haha! That is so very me. It makes my very methodical, prepared husband crazy...poor man. But I managed to make 40 pairs of earrings, and do some paintings as well.
The earrings were a big hit, and I was so nervous because this was my first time making jewelry. I took a couple classes but have never tried to make anything to sell. I had so much fun with etching metal though that the earrings were just too fun to make! I used copper, nickel and brass for the etched metal design part, and silver for the french wires. Using Muriatic acid to etch was pretty beastly, but I can't get the less toxic ferric chloride up here where I live....so I looked like a mad scientist with a face shield and smock and long rubber gloves!! I should have taken a picture of that.

Detail of the bottom of my latest painting. (Pear in the Poppies)

This also sold, which was a complete surprise! The ink wasn't even dry and I wasn't sure I was ready to part with it yet. It was a huge canvas, and I was thinking of hanging it in my bathroom (which is done in these same colors), but I guess I'll just have to make another painting! It's always nerve wracking I find to put my art out there, and I'm always so surprised and excited when people connect with my work. The woman who bought this wore plum colored shoes, and told me it was going to look amazing on her purple wall. I'm so happy it's going to a home filled with colour to be loved. An artist can't ask for more than that! Well, selling stuff is pretty cool too. :o)

This is a painting I did this week for my upcoming sale. Its so wonderfully freeing to create things. My art is usually full of whimsy and nature. Lately I am feeling so drawn to color, I can hardly contain myself in my work. This is hopefully just the first of at least a few to be put in the sale. We will see what happens :o)

Little Snowmen!

Lots of creating going on around here. Have 2 sales this month, and a little gallery in my hometown that asked for some stuff, so I have actually been producing some stuff.

First sale made 22 of these little vintage bottle snowmen as I like to call them. I usually find antique medicine bottles or vintage salt and pepper shakers for the bodies. Then I fill them with pearls,glass beads, glitter. Next I make the heads from paper clay, and roll their noses out of sheet copper. A few I ran through my embossing machine to put tiny polka dots on the copper, and I liked how that looked. Next decorate the head. I usually use long stick pins, beads and anything that can be used for crowns or hats. I even did one with Angelina fiber for hair! Looked a bit too much like a troll though...so I kept her. Next make the arms with steel wire and put things in their arms! I have an amazingly talented artist friend who makes lampwork beads,and she made all the glass mittens on some of their hands! Next wrap their necks up with scarves. I like to use fibre, silver wire, pipe cleaners etc. Then I hang little charms with old tiny safety pins, and cover the head and parts of the body in German Glass glitter. Sharp, but so sweet. I wish I had better pictures, but I remembered I hadn't taken any photos 10 minutes before I had to drop them off! So here's some not so great photos of them. Sold quite a few, then I sent the rest to the gallery for the gift shop. We usually have tonnes of snow by this time of year, but strangely it is still above zero here, so making little snowmen while looking out at the still brown world was relaxing. All I need now is a little Nat "king" Cole...