This is a commission I did last year of Elizabeth, who had passed away earlier in the year. The photo I drew from was small and grainy and I had a hard time seeing some of the details. It helps to put the image into Photoshop and magnify it. My experience is if you look at something long enough (the photo) your eyes will start to pick out the details. Here's a link to another artist/writer that I absolutely love, Beatrix Potter. Most of you would know her as the author of the famous Peter Rabbit books. I fell in love with her artwork when I took a book out of the library about her and her artwork. The Tailor Of Gloucester is my favorite book by Beatrix and I read it to my kids many, many times. As well, there is a movie, Miss Potter, who is played by Renee Zellweger, that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This is a commission piece I did for a client a few years ago. He wanted a watercolor done of his cabin but it was so surrounded by trees that I had to climb a huge tree in order to photograph it. This little shed of his was so lovely, I took several photos of it and he decided he would like to have a painting of this instead of the cabin. I did think it was a great adventure to climb a tree which I hadn't done since I was a little girl. I believe my camera lens cover is still up there somewhere balanced on a branch. Or maybe some crow came along and snatched it up thinking it a wonderful treasure. Here's another favorite artist of mine, Carl Larsson.

Here are some funky earrings that I made last night. They are available for sale on Etsy

I made both bracelet and earrings using steel wire that I sanded, filed, hammered and polished. The earwires I made using sterling silver wire. The beads are a lovely moss colored jasper. Available for sale on Etsy.

Yesterday I spent in my studio making these earrings while a huge blizzard raged outside. Last evening I spent cozied up in my room with the fireplace on reading Stephen King's Night Shift while the blizzard continued to rage on. There are some really scary stories in this book, if you're in to that sort of thing. Today it's a walk in the park, hot chocolate with a good friend and a movie; there's no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Here's another of my favorite artists William Bouguereau. His work is awesome.

View from my bedroom window. As you can see, there is lots of snow. We are in the middle of a blizzard as I write. Earlier in the day we headed out in the car for a drive. For some oddball reason, my family and I like to drive in snowstorms. I think it's because there is hardly anyone around and we like having the road to ourselves. We always pick up hot chocolate and coffee from the local coffee shop on the way. It's like going on an adventure. Sometimes we go to the beach and watch the waves pound against the shore. I guess we really need to get a life. :)

Yesterday was a snow day and tomorrow there's a heavy snowfall warning in effect. There is snow everywhere and if you are not an outdoor person, which I'm not, it can be very depressing. I'm not letting it get me down though. I'll appreciate the Spring all the more when it does come. Keeping busy in the studio does help and it is fun to be cozy and warm in the house when a blizzard is raging. Here's a link to the website of one of my favorite artists of all time, Anders Zorn. Why not grab a cup of something hot and settle down and take a look.

Yesterday's jewelry listed on Etsy

Moss Jasper Earrings

Here are today's earrings that I created for my Etsy shop.

Grace And Innocence

This is a portrait I did several years ago of my mother-in-law, Sandra and my nephew, Noah. I entered it into the Arts and Letters Awards at the time, and it was criticized harshly by the judges. It was my first time entering, and I had to work up the courage to do so. I was a little angry at first when I read what they had to say because I felt the judges could have done it a little more gently. I found out afterwards that the judges were very harsh with everyone who entered, including the winners. It just made me more determined to keep drawing no matter what anyone else says. Not everyone is going to like what you do. The important thing is that you like what you do and to keep doing it.

Bernie Berlin is a woman who runs a full time dog rescue -- A Place To Bark
Why not take a pop over to her website and read about (and make a donation if you are able) all the wonderful work that she has done to help these poor animals have a better life. And if you make a donation, I'll follow Misty's lead and send a pair of earrings and a sand dollar necklace to the person whose name I draw out of a hat. Minimum donation of $10. Just leave a message on my blog to let me know that you have made a donation. The photo above is of Ruthie, a beautiful dog my sister, Liz, rescued and pampered until Ruthie passed away two years ago from heart failure.

Yesterday's earrings created for my Etsy shop.

New earrings listed on Etsy

Sand Dollar Necklace

For several years I have collected sand dollars from the beach. I would bring them home and I would put them away in a closet. Still, I continued to pick them up off the beach whenever I saw one, I couldn't help myself. A couple of years ago I started doing mixed media/collage work and I fell in love. I decided that I would use the sand dollars like little canvases and I would make necklaces with mixed media/collage paintings.
First I drill a hole in the top and I harden the piece with a mixture of glue and water. Next I paint, stamp, texture, add vintage newspaper, add a transparent image, add text and then I varnish to protect the artwork and to further harden it. It's fun to do and the result is a beautiful, little piece of art to wear around your neck.

I made these earrings with forged steel wire and glass beads. I made the earwires with sterling silver. Available for sale on Etsy.

Etsy is an awesome site where you can buy handmade goods from people from all over the world. The quality of goods is excellent, the prices really reasonable and there's so much to choose from, and it's all handmade. Soaps, jewelry, art, knitwear, handbags, and the list goes on. Why not pop over there and have a look, you won't be disappointed.

It's early morning here now. It's quiet and the snow is falling so softly. The faery lights are twinkling brightly on the bare branches of a tree in the corner of the living room. Put there after the Christmas tree was taken down to brighten up the gloom of January. All is right with the world. Today I spend in the studio, and what a perfect day it is to get cozy and warm in my tiny space.

The images above are of some earrings I have listed on Etsy

I made this necklace to wear during Christmas. It was time consuming, but worth it.

Yesterday's earrings

Making jewelry can become very addictive. With some wire and a couple of tools, you can get very creative and make some beautiful earrings. I like twisting and shaping the wire to see what I can come up with.

Here are some details from a mixed media/collage journal I created last year.

I had lots of fun in the studio yesterday. I played with a blow torch and I made some really cool earrings. Today I'm going to start a watercolor using a technique a fellow blogger shared with me.

Self Portrait

This self portrait was created using 2b, 3b and 5b pencil on mat board.

I started making jewelry last year and people have shown a great interest in it. As well, my sand dollar necklaces have been a big hit. So this year, I plan on spending most of my time in the studio working on some new jewelry pieces. I want to divide my time between doing this and creating mixed media/collage work and watercolor paintings. It's difficult to find the time when you have a household of four to run. I'm torn between keeping the house clean, the laundry done and the fridge and cupboards stocked with food, etc. and going to my studio and staying there for the whole of the day. When I am in my studio, I'm constantly running back into the house to work in between creating. Sheesh! But I guess it's all a balancing act and certainly not impossible.

Simon is fitting into our household just fine. My other three cats are still a little wary of him but things will settle down in time. Another stray cat has moved in under our porch and I'm trying to gain his trust so I can help him too. He looks exactly like Simon, except much younger. I've named him Samuel.
I've been working on a self-portrait in graphite and John gave me these two books Jewelry Making Techniques and The Art & Craft of Jewelry Making for Christmas with many interesting techniques I want to try. I feel it's going to be an exciting year for me.

Happy New Year!