Clouds & Something for Karen

I love clouds.  People ask why are you taking more photos of clouds...why are you always looking at the sky?  Some just shake their heads at my inability to realize that all clouds are the same...I keep on shooting. 

I find clouds soothing...no matter if they are happy little clouds or the kind of clouds you might see just before you run for the cellar*...they speak to me on a very deep level, in many different ways...as different as each ones beauty exists to be seen.  I really do not think I can explain why...words seem to fail me.  I am just happy to have learned this about myself.  

Clouds make a difference to me on a daily basis. Especially when I am thoughtful about a thing or two...or three.   Someday, when I am ready...I will start painting them.

This shot is for Karen, a very good friend and exceptional Mixed Media Artist that has done a series with towers in the sky.  It found me when I stopped for a light...

*By the way...cellar is Hoosier for basement :o)

Walls Of Spun Gold; A Memory for Barb

While talking to a friend the other day, I was reminded of a wall finish I had done over 11 years ago in a formal dining room.  When asked if I remembered these golden walls, I found that I was quite humbled and amazed that my work had made that much of an impression on another person...enough for them to remember it all of these years later.  For those keeping track...this is a three layer finish.   This photo is posted for you Barb, thank you for remembering,  you really made my day!

Historic Home Keeps Hand Painted Treasure!

They are keeping my Hand Painted Wall covering!  As of today, my work has become a permanent fixture in the historic Booth Tarkington home. 

Yay for me!

A Fairy Tale Castle...

From the Archives:  A two story Entry in a 90 year old Tudor style home.  The old plaster walls had an original limestone block imprint that had been painted over for years.  The Home Owner wanted soft faded limestone blocks painted individually on each imprint.  One by one each was painted with translucent grays, umbers, sienna, sepia tones and a tiny touch of rose.

The scroll motif was painted in my studio on canvas and hung on the ceiling in between the layered and roped beams. I really loved working on this one, it was like working on a castle in a fairy tale...

You may say I'm a dreamer...but I'm not the only one...

John Lennon

BirdyBoo Necklace & Earrings & Art Fair Finds

This charmed necklace is dripping with vintage and antique glass cabachons, beads, turquoise, blown glass and reproduction findings. Many oval/egg shaped beads bring to mind the sound of birds singing on a warm spring morning. Birds, bees, feathers, baskets, flowers and butterflies complete this vintage look.   Perfect with a simple blouse and a favorite jean jacket...simply charming!

As I mentioned before, I had volunteered to work at our Stutz Artist Association booth at the Broad Ripple Art Fair. While there, several people mentioned how nice it was to see Art from the Stutz at the Decorators' Show House.  I loved hearing this...feedback is always nice...especially this soon after the event.

A Nautical Floor & an Art Fair!

A hand painted floor, this time with a rope border and compass stars.  I really love painting hardwood floors, but please do not ask my knees how they feel about this...  This floor was sanded down to raw wood , the pattern was drawn and then painted with wood tone glaze.  Three coats of polyurethane to protect, and 12 years later still in great shape. 

Tomorrow I will be in our Stutz Artists Association booth at the Broad Ripple Art Fair, perhaps doing a Pique Assiette demo.  Please Stop by and find out about all of the great programs going on at the Stutz, and of course, all of the great art at the fair!  225 artists I believe...something for everyone!

Keeping my fingers crossed...

Today I finished repairs from where the artwork was hung on my hand painted wall covering at the Show house...all went very well...Thanks to the Franklin Brothers, the best installers in this region.  A little touch up by me...and viola! 

I wish that my photos could show you the pattern and depth of the finish. 

Back in February, carefully rolled and numbered for the Franklin Brothers....I just love them!

And in January, on the studio walls... 

I find out Tuesday if the Home Owners will be keeping my creation in the Booth Tarkington home.  It is my hope that they will, and have many happy years with a memory of our little stroll...

Feels kinda funny seeing the house so empty so fast...echoing with only a memory of the recent activity. Surreal.  The echo will soon be replaced by the happy sounds of a family back home in Indiana.

Sweet!

Show House Stats

As the 2010 St. Margaret's Hospital Guild's Decorators Show House draws to a close, new information makes itself available to us. More than 10,000 patrons came through the Booth Tarkington home from  April 24th to May 9th, Mothers Day.  We handed out over 4,800 cards to patrons...not a bad average. 

So many good contacts were made for all of the Artists involved, and all of the Artists at the Stutz.  I am so grateful for all of the hard work put forth by all of these exceptional Artists...to help make this project a success. You have all inspired me so much.  My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you...

Tomorrow...some great news!

Mothers Day at Show House!

A long standing tradition at St. Margaret's Hospital Guild's Decorators' Show House is the Mother's Day celebration.  By this I mean bringing Mom to the Show House, especially on Mother's Day proper, is how so many people in our region celebrate their own Mothers. Grandmothers...Aunts...Sisters...and Babies too.

It is really amazing to watch...I would say a thousand plus patrons go through the finished home on this special day. Mothers and Daughters.  Mothers and Sons. Maybe their eyes give it away, maybe it is their smile or freckles or spirit or laugh...maybe it is the way a Son lovingly leads his Mother step by step all the way through this huge and beautiful home.  The ties that bind and the love that bonds... 

A touching and lovely and revealing thing to observe on this day of days at the Show House. 

Today, as I stood in my design area... I thought of my Mother, and all that she had taught me, and how much I missed her beautiful smile...and how she had influenced my life...

 

After hearing so many comments this past week about my Pique Assiette mirror and table, I also thought of how many years I have used the checkerboard pattern in my work from time to time.  It is not something that I get up in the morning every day and think about...but it does seem to creep into my designs from time to time. After thinking about it, I realized I had been using it for many years.  I tried to think of how it must have started...

I then thought of the gingham dress that my Mother made for me all those years ago...

I carried this photo with me today, to honor her... and to celebrate our years together.

Happy Mothers Day

Vintage Denim Embellishment...thoughts of the day

As Promised, today I am posting a photo of a vintage jean jacket that I have painted and embellished.  A flowing damask pattern done in metallic old gold covers the bodice of the garment.  Hand beaded ab crystals catch the light just so...without being too flashy :o)  Vintage reproduction findings include Napoleon Bumblebees standing guard on the collar points and love bird filagrees adorning the cuffs.  As I look at this design I feel there is an addition that is needed to complete the look that I want to achieve...  I guess sometimes just writing about something helps to work out the final details...helping us to learn...even from ourselves.

Funny the things we learn along the way, whether we teach ourselves or learn from others...all of the things we learn help to shape out lives.  So much of the knowledge is wanted and needed and comes at just the right time, very organic...I love it when this happens.  Other times we learn something that we might rather not know...but it still becomes a part of the process of growing and learning and trusting...and in the end who we are.   Another reason for posting something blue today...

I love to learn and it is my plan to continue along this path where ever it takes me.  My wish for all of us is to always at some point, be able to locate a soft place to land...when we need it the most. 

Blue Willow Bracelet

One of my vintage style cuff bracelets designs, this time with a deep blue shard of vintage Blue Willow China. Nepolean Bumble Bees flank the setting of cobalt blue, along with ab crystals to capture the light.  All done on a filigree cuff.  A perfect accompaniment to that hand painted jean jacket, don't you think?

You havn't see the hand painted jean jacket?

Perhaps you will tomorrow...and while you are waiting...hug a friend why don't ya?   :o)

A Rosebud Of A Chair & thoughts of the day...

Actually a pair.  This is a close up of one of the chairs from my Frog and Lady Bug set, that I mentioned a while ago. I recently got to visit my rescued old chairs and could not resist trying to get a better photo for my...er...records :o)  In the seat this time is the flumpy pillow my workroom made for the owner.

The pillow matches the back of the chair...

My favorite part of this little chair, is the rose and bud laying across the top. This photo also shows the tiny stripe I used for the welting...what fun!

I have been getting ready for so many different events lately that I am really looking forward to getting back to my well worn brush and broken bits of treasured past.  Once the Show House closes and the studio readies for the next project I will settle into a few projects that I have been looking forward to for a long time.  To follow ones passion is not always the easiest thing to do...so many ideas, so little time...  

To follow ones passion

I've heard it said...

is the best way to keep 

from feeling a bit dead.

To write, sing and dance 

to paint, shoot and play...

it matters not the

medium per se. 

It matters only

that we do it today...

That we no longer

allow a delay.

So follow I must

it is all I can do...

Along passion's path 

I'll find my heart too.

A Sweet Surprise

A funny thing happened on my way to Show House &  Open House preparations this year. I was asked to submit a list of Five Things I Love to the Indy Star.  It was not hard to pick some of my favorites, but I must admit number five I had only tried once, at my Sisters wedding.  The margarita cupcake from Holy Cow Cupcakes in Carmel. Yum! 

Less than one week later, someone was tapping on my studio door.  As I walked around the corner I noticed a tall man with a little hot pink box in his hands.

Margarita cupcakes!

note the icing to icing...er...I mean cake ratio.

purrrrrfection confection!

I called Karen at Holy Cow Cupcakes to thank her for her wonderful gift, and learned that people had been coming in all week to request this exact little bit of crystal crunchy, moist and cakey, fluffy creamy bit of mouth watering goodness!  Who knew?

Karen, your Cupcakes are welcome at the Stutz any old time, and we look forward to you considering bringing your delectable treats to our Open House next April!

Good Weekend at the Show House

I spent some time at the St. Margaret's Hospital Guilds Decorators' Show House this weekend people watching, and greeting and welcoming patrons to our walk with Penrod.  It was so nice seeing that our efforts were appreciated and very well received by so many people.  I hope you will all get a chance to see our tribute to Penrod, before the show ends on Mothers Day, May 9th.