Merry Christmas.......And A Little Reprieve

I will be taking a few months off from blogging, so that I can move and set up my new studio.  I'm excited about getting a bigger room to play and dream in.  I'll show you pics once I'm done (or almost done--we all know it's always a work in progress).  Wishing you all a joyous and blessed Christmas and a healthy and artful new year.

Let's all remember the real reason for the season--- I will talk to you all in 2013.

Hugs to all,

Abby

Clip Art Beauties

Since I like to work with clip art I made a couple of canvas pieces.  These were very easy to make.  If you want to try it just paint a canvas of your choosing with a simple background using any kind of paint or ink you like.  You can use stamps or any other kind of background technique.  For the best results, make sure your background doesn't overpower the photo you will be using.  Then print or cut out a vintage type photo and paste it on a canvas.  Voila!  You just created a beautiful piece of art.

Here are some pics for you to enjoy....

Clip Art Journal Pages

Happy Fall!

I hope after the storm Sandy everyone is safe.  It didn't hit my part of PA too badly, but I hear there is another one coming.  We pray that that one won't do as much damage.

I'm currently working on three separate journals.  I like to separate my journals into themes and that way whenever I'm in the mood for a particular style of journaling I just go to that book.  These are just two pages of my clip art journal....enjoy!

Have a great week!

Another Girly Girl Project

Anyone who knows me also knows that I love to make retro looking girls, and use my vintage book pages to make my artwork.  Anyway, I found this book by Julie Nutting called Collage Couture that gives you tons of ideas for making fashionable dolls and clothing-- such fun!  I'm crazy about this book and if you don't have it I would highly recommend it.

I made one of the projects by drawing my own body, but keeping the pose she shows and the hair style.  I also made my own background but kept the tag idea.  I then gave her legs and shoes.  Here is pics of my finished canvas.

Paper Doll Fancy

There has always been something about playing with paper and paper dolls that brings out the kid in me.  Perhaps it's because it reminds me of the more fun carefree days of youth.  On my travels one day I saw this book of paper projects and purchased it, knowing I wanted to play with it one day.  I finally got around to it, and these are the two projects I recently made.  You've probably seen the book before.  It's called Fanciful Paper Projects by Sandra Evertson.  I'm currently on a paper doll fancy so I'll be posting more of my paper doll projects...enjoy.....

This one is a business card art doll.  I basically made her the way she was portrayed in the book, except I added a lot of crepe paper ruffles and used a pearl in the center of the flower on her hat.  I also sketched over some of the details on her hat and bow tie to make them more pronounced.

This is a Victorian ballerina art doll after adding some of my dried flowers and feathers, etc.  I sketched the backdrop curtain with bottle ink and a calligraphy pen on printing paper, and mounted her inside an authentic cigar box.

A Tiny Marie

Just sharing a mini (4x5) Marie I made yesterday--I made her sketch a while back and decided to make a mixed media painting....Her hair is made with molding paste and cotton crochet thread, and she has tiny pearl earrings--She was fun and easy--and so cute!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Altered Books

I hope everyone had a great summer.  As for me this summer was pretty uneventful--meaning I didn't really go anywhere special.  However, I did manage to create art and that makes me happy.  I purchased a few old books and turned them into altered art journals.  I really had fun with these.  I've already started a few pages in each.  Below are a few pics of the finished book covers.

I forgot to take a pic of what the original book cover looked like.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

I'm looking forward to some Fall projects.  I'd love to hear what projects you all have in mind for this holiday season.  Let's share our ideas!

My Marie Antoinette

I've been thinking about painting a mixed media Marie Antoinette for a while and finally decided to paint one.  I decided to paint it on a large piece of cardboard so it would add to that kind of throw away beauty to the piece.  Enjoy and have a great week!

My Junk Sale Mermaid

Summer is almost over, but not in my mind.....I found this beautiful mermaid at a junk sale on my way to a flea market in another town.  Isn't she just beautiful?  She is in mint condition and was only a few dollars.  I was so glad when I found her, since I had been looking for one and with summer almost over it would of been unlikely that I would have found one like this anytime soon, especially in my area.  

I am currently altering some vintage books that I'm making into art journals.  I'll post the pics of before and after once I'm done with all the covers. 

I hope you all have a great week.

Some Show & Tell

Being a doll collector I'm always on the look out for vintage dollies.  I've been thinking about collecting dollie heads, but I'm not sure about having a bunch of broken dolls with chopped off heads all over my room.  I've always thought that was kind of creepy.  However, I don't find it so creepy anymore after seeing all the wonderful projects a person can do with them.

Anyway, I saw this little girl at my local thrift shop and just had to have her.  She is a 1991 Daisy Kingdom Doll.  Her dress is in one piece and so is her body.  She does have a little crack in the back base of her neck, but otherwise in very good condition. She is so pretty and sweet.....

This is a vintage kitty I fell in love with also at my local thrift shop--isn't she adorable?

I found this little shelf at my local Goodwill and I painted it pink....love it!

 Have a great week chickees!

Happy Birthday Gracie

I can't believe that my "Mariposita" is one year old now.  In all the busyness of the summer I didn't post this pic taken on her birthday this summer ( It's a pic of a pic so its a little fuzzy).  She is holding her personalized birthday cupcake with her favorite snack for a candle (a cheese curl).  It's so exciting and fun seeing her grow into her individual personality...I can't wait until she is old enough so that we can have a tea party...(tee-hee). 

 Happy Birthday

Gracie

The Cutest Puppy In The World

Yes, he is real.......I just had to share this!.........................Is this not the cutest little doggie you have ever seen?  I just love little white doggies.  I plan to get a Maltese some time in the future--If you want to see more cuties go to Cute Heaven blog.

From Riches To Rags......

 

I like to challenge myself and see what I could do with old or used items that are not being enjoyed the way they once were, so  after 24 years of marriage I decided it was time to re-purpose all that beautiful lace from my wedding dress.   I cut the sleeves and just slipped them onto these two glass candles-- I didn't have to tea stain the lace since it had already aged naturally.  They fit perfectly into the sleeves--too bad you really can't appreciate the lace and pearls with these pics.   I now get to enjoy part of my wedding dress everyday!

It's amazing what you can do with kitchen utensils--this is a cupcake tray I painted and distressed.  I also painted some old mulberry paper flowers and trimmed it with some beautiful pearl and lace trim.  It keeps my most used baubles within reach right on my work desk, and it looks so pretty!

This is a lace collage I made on muslin.  I fused the picture onto the fabric and sewed a zig-zag stitch around it after making a pocket and stuffing it with batting.  I used a vintage piece of doily lace and buttons and some lace from my wedding dress (lace on the left corner).  I also used pink velvet trim woven into the lace on the right, and in addition to the pearls already on the lace I added tiny pink pearls, but you can't see it here too well.  Then I used several layers of white and ecru lace and trims.  To finish it off I added a sparkly vintage tiny pin in the middle and attached a rope belt tie.

What's On My Workdesk?

I've been working on a couple of projects....here are some pics for your delight....

This is an art journal I'm making....I still have to work on the inside. I made it with a cereal box after cutting it to size.  Then painted a paper bag and covered the box.  After that I ripped and distressed corrugated paper.  I added one of my handmade paper flowers and adorned it with some vintage jewelry and lace and some scrappy goodies.  I just love the way the vintage lace drips down on the bottom of the album.  I'm not sure what kind of a journal I want it to be but I like the way it came out.

This is an altered wooden box I painted and distressed and added a bunch of paper flowers from my stash after distressing them with white paint.  I added some vintage embellishments and voila!  This was fun and easy to make.  The beautiful lady on the cover is one of my favorite lady's--isn't she lovely?

These are a few baby food jars that I upcycled to hold my vintage buttons.  I painted the tops white and added some modeling paste for some texture.  I also tea dyed some old lace curtains and added my handmade crochet little flowers and placed a tiny pearl in the middle.  They will be living in a vintage shelf I just painted white.  Once I finish making the other little knick knacks I want to put in my cubby and I finish the arrangement, they will look adorable....

Flower Power.....

Since I haven't made any flowers in a while I thought I would make a few for my stash.  I made all types of flowers....crochet flowers, paper flowers, fabric flowers, pearl flowers--it's a flower mania (lol).

These are pics of some of them.  They are just everyday flowers for everyday projects (I plan to make some more fancy ones for other projects).  I also like to use them to decorate my art studio here and there.  I really enjoy seeing my favorites all around me.

I hope you enjoy them.  If you need some more inspiration, check out YouTube.