heart shaped box (lullaby version)

Someone posted this on Facebook today and it really got me thinking. In an artistic way. I was messing around with ideas for "performance art" around the winter months. I don't know if I could actually do it but I was just trying it out...with different songs...different ideas. Anyhow I liked this lullaby song (#6) by NIN for the Ghosts album...and then when I heard THIS (all the Nirvana ones but especially this one) I started thinking again. This song is creepy...and effective...hmm.....

Thinking about a new Blog......

Hi friends! How's the start of your week going? Mine is ok. Today is International Women's Day (and as I know many of my readers are female)...I say YAY YAY YAY today in honor of you and our past ladies who've paved quite a road for us. :)

So I have a question for YOUs...I'm thinking about starting a new blog. I did want to try to keep this Blog strictly for ART (mainly mine) and my random chatterings (word?...idk!). But lately I've gone to a few THRIFT stores and I've picked up some of the coolest finds...and would like to share their coolness & weirdness with you. Anyone interested in a blog like that? I wouldn't post too much (I mean I could spend forever browsing through places like that....there's so many cute & strange things).....but I do have several finds I'd like to show you soon (if you're interested).

Some of these things include: an awesome antique looking mirror/candle holder to hang on the wall, antique looking corner shelves, and odd little knick knacks. So another thing...cuz I'm terrible with names....any suggestions for names of my new Blog...???...that is IF it happens. In return to the person with the name I like the most, I will give them something artsy...some artist trading cards...or something along those lines.

OK, gotta run.....but let me know what you think about *possible* thrift/resale (and maybe even some clearance thrown in there) Blog. Sooo....I'll chat with you soon.

Take care~

OK, now it's done! The Birthday Girl, that is...

The Birthday Girl (my art piece) is finally finished, hooray!!!

But first some background on my art process lately and my process in the past as well...

I've noticed something with how I make art for the past several weeks. Well, that is art for my (soon-to-be) Etsy shop (and Sorry, Diane I don't know when I'll open shop-I don't have a set date at the moment-But have no fear, I will be shouting from the mountain tops when I do OPEN it!). Ok, I feel that if people are going to purchase something from me I want it to be as good as I can possibly make it. I know that sounds like a simple statement but it's not. Atleast for me it's complicated. (But I think it makes YOU...well for ME, think more.)

What I mean is some of the things I've posted about my updates were things (for example the hand mirror & the other hand mirror with no mirror-Pill Face it was called)...that literally sat around in my ArtSpace for a while (and I considered them 'finished'). Pill Face I made wayyyy back...then I changed it...simply because I thought it needed that extra something. That extra something was just metallic paint. Same kinda thing with the other hand mirror-I completed it, thought it looked good, and then ___ time goes by and I say "Hm, I'm gonna make it better!" And I think it did come out better in the end.

As I've heard from many people (and yes Diane, thanks for reminding me too!), LESS is sometimes more when it comes to art. But in some cases, I just feel like a piece is missing....something. The piece below called "The Birthday Girl" was never a themed piece. Then the more I worked on it, the more it became something of its own. And I do really enjoy 'themed' art...but usually don't do it because it takes a lot of thought. When I started to paint (semi-seriously) back in 1999, I was making paintings/mixed media like it was going out of style...and this continued on & off for years. Usually I'd take a BIG break, then start whippin' 'em out again.

But then I look back at those pieces (which I took pictures of some), and say "Hm, I could've done so much more with it!" But maybe it was just my thing then. Because it never took me long to complete a piece...a day or two at the most. And they all kinda looked the same. I had ONE BIG theme back then-faces...but very very abstract faces. My first & only art show was even title "Faces in Disguise"-yay, I came up with the name too (it was a group show with a few friends)! {I'm actually going to be getting ALL the art I have at my parents house very soon-which is A LOT...so it'll be interesting to see things I've completely forgotten about. And to see how my 'style' has changed/evolved. I will more than likely post pics of some of those pieces...but of course!}

OK, so with the pieces I'm working on for ETSY, I'm trying my hardest to make them the best that they can be. And I'm trying to make them (kinda thinking, especially with Birthday Girl) that someone will see it and want to get it as a gift for a family member, friend, etc.... So I have to say THIS (below) is the first piece that I feel is READY for ETSY. And I think it is more like a piece you'd see and say "Oh, maybe ___ would like that for her birthday." (Or whatever else...but I'm thinking birthday...but an unbirthday will work too!)

Sooo, the piece below is Birthday Girl before I added that one little extra something-to finish it. I thought it looked good...but a sticker in the top left corner was not sticking well, and hm, by 5pm, the darn thing fell off. So I was thinking it needs "Something." So here it is pre-5 ish...

And this picture (sorry, it's wayyyy below) is post-5 pm. I just thought it needed that extra SOMETHING, ya know!?? Do you know what it is? But of course YOU do! And now I feel completely satisfied with it. And I don't plan on touching it again. I was telling Mike earlier when he was at work today "Hm, I think I need to add more to it." And he's funny because he just said "Be careful." Which is true. I mean if it looks pretty good, why mess with it!?? But hey, I'm a pro (well, not really but I can pretend, right!??)...and I would've figured out something else, even if it took some time. And time is OK sometimes. :}

So I hope you can understand what I'm trying to get at with this POST (especially you artistic ones!). And that is I just think art should take some time, thought, and a lil' blood, sweat, or tears involved in it too. AND don't forget about PAIN (did I mention I have some "thing" in my foot? I think it's a teeny tiny piece of a mirror...cuz I didn't clean up all the mirror-dust when I broke a couple mirrors-a while back-in the basement aka: my art area. It feels a bit better now but it REALLY hurt a few days back.). But no pain, no gain, right!?! My ArtSpace/Area is a deadly place to go...you MUST always wear shoes for one! ^_^

And I guess I'm feeling a lil' bit of pressure knowing someone might buy my art so that is kinda good...kinda is bad, ya know? And then the attachment to the piece also...but that's a whole other story (and YOU artists know exactly what I mean with getting attached to something), that I won't get into. Alright...Birthday Girl w/that special something is pictured below...

And my finishing touch (which I hope I can put on all of my pieces but I'll see how it goes), is the "Handmade By" stamper...which I would've got the "Hand-altered By" if they had it. ;} And the key stamp cuz I just love keys....especially old keys like that one to the right. And that sticker that fell off the frame actually came into use on the back of the piece, The Best Birthday Ever sticker. I may have to tape it if it doesn't stick, which is fine. I definitely didn't want to tape it to the front of the frame-mainly cuz none of the other stickers needed tape to stay. And that wouldn't have looked right. I think the flower was much more fitting. And yes DIANE, I will name drop you one last time, you are SO right-there are NO accidents in art. OK, do I get something for name dropping YOU the most in one post!???! ^_^

Darn. And can you believe I did not plan to do this gigantic of a post! Well I never actually plan to write long or short, I just write. 9 times out of 10 I don't have things pre-written...which I'm assuming most blog authors don't do either...guess it depends. I REALLY came on to write on my personal (secret) blog...and here I go on about this piece & ART in general. Don't worry though I won't be doing this for EVERY piece I make! Yikes, that would be a bit mad! So would any of you artists like to explain your process and views about selling art (if you have or haven't yet)?

At my art show (back in the day aka: a billion years ago), I did sell a mixed media painting & I have to say that it was ONE of the greatest feelings I've ever had. It was pretty cool. So again, whatever you'd like to say about your art & experiences, please dish! You know me, I'm always curious. ;}

OK, it's almost midnight...OK, now it's past 12 AM since Mike interrupted me. So I should head off. Gotta work tomorrow, blahhh. But it MUST be done...that is until I am a rich & famous artist living in the country side of France, and don't need to have my job anymore. Oooo la la, what an amazing life that would be!

Alright, be chatting with you all soon.~

Ideas bouncing around & Cellphone pics @ JoAnn's

Hi curious ones. Lately I've been having lots & lots of ideas running through my mind with the possibility of 'opening' an Etsy shop for my art. I've been thinking of making other things that I'm not very familiar with. One of the main things I've been thinking about making is (well, they are already made)...make that getting small to large trinket boxes from craft places and then painting 'em/adding pendants or other things to 'em.
Another thing I've been thinking about is doing something with mirrors. I bought one mirror (w/a wooden frame around it) and would like to make my own looking-glasses, with their own special touches of course.

Now remember Alice In Wonderland is NOT going to be my ONLY theme if I do open this shop. But I can't help to think of mirrors...and other Alice things as well. Some of you know that I like to use mirrors in my art. But they were broken pieces of 'em in the past. I actually bought some already shaped small mirrors (squares & circles).

That means I may not be using a hammer to smash the mirrors much anymore. Which is actually a lot of FUN! But it is dangerous (the tiniest piece of dusty glass can kill if it gets in contact with your skin)...and it can be quite complicated to put on the odd-shaped shards too. Yeah, and the burning HOT glue touching your skin (sometimes) makes you just wanna SCREAM! That's another thing I may be stepping away from because it's a pain in the @ss. I bought regular kinds of glue today-it'll be a whole new experience.

So anyways lots o' ideas have been bouncing around. And so I've been checking out BOTH a Michaels and a JoAnn's...which are also very close to my house. Can be good...and can be very bad too & you know why. $$$$>_<$$$$

Oh & there's really no books/magazines for us peeps who do different kinds of arts/crafts all together (I would say for my bloggin' buds Diane & Dracenea too). I mean atleast I can't find any at the moment. That could be helpful but I also like learning on my own too. And I'm not using the WWW for some of the things I'd like to do/am already doing either....yet.

O.k. so what lays below is some of my window shopping while at JOANN's this week. I can SWEAR to you I didn't want to go back (just ask Dracenea!)...I had to return things, twice! I tried using these stamp pads that don't want to cooperate with me. So more reasons for me to 'window shop' there right? Well, I'm done with trying to get those stamp pads (they are gold & silver ones)...and just using a regular (non-metallic) color one. SOOO, I won't go back til....hm, the urge hits me. Here's some of my wandering finds...

Oh & ALWAYS remember if you CLICK on a picture, it'll show the images bigger & better. Just a friendly FYI if ya didn't know. :)

I always see something reminding me of my blogging friend Sullivan (when I window shop), but I LOVE piggies too so here's some you can paint.
Some really BIG ones...

And little ones too.

BAA! I'm a Sheep. And OINK! I'm a Pig. Cuz I like sheep too...and if you hit the plastic piggie or sheep, he'll make a Baaaa or Oink noise.

I can't do these. I don't think I'd have the patience...but it's a pretty sweet design.

LOOKIE, it's my jewelry line! Just kidding, I wish. (But ooo, my colors-black & purple!) I'm starting to get interested in jewelry, charms, pendants, etc...for these ideas. And the NOIR stuff was very pretty but....pricey. So very classy looking...ooo la la!

I really like these ones. Especially the top LEFT one-a purple starfish.
And the bottom RIGHT one-a rocking chair...or some kinda chair.

This brand has really nice ones. I actually bought the pendant they have on their sign a few days back. Very lovely.

MANOR HOUSE also has some really good ones.

SCARY/CREEPY plushies with creatures in...
their stomachs!
They are called Belly Bunch.
And they cost 19.99-that's a little much!
Is it just me or are they really really...
ODD!!??!!

I think that this Koala is the creepiest.
He has a spider & a crocodile...and stuff like that in his belly.
I just can't imagine a kid saying "MOM, I want a ___ Belly Bunch!"

I love this piece. I think you're supposed to put him outside. He's supposed to be a tree stump. Well, if you look on the top of his head you can see the tree better. He wasn't very heavy though...and for 34.99, I would expect it to stay down on your lawn/porch well!

This concludes my Joann's window shopping & wandering.
Take care.~