get yer art here!

A while back I created some art for Paper Coterie. You can now purchase these two works as either a 12X12 wrapped canvas or as a 16X6 poster.

Paper Coterie is meticulous about the work they send out so you can be sure it will look great on your wall.

Right now they are offering some really cute Halloween free printables. Check out their selection of cards and calendars too. I think they have some really great products.

what a few old papers can do...

The Sugar Daddy had some wood left over from a project he had been working on so I asked him to cut me some squares.

I have been wanting to do this collage project for some time and I finally had the perfect canvas for it.

I'm a little bit of an ephemera nut. I mean I really like old paper.  I find fun stuff all over the place. I'm not above pulling old wrappers out of the trash or picking them up off the ground.  I also have a few sources I buy from that carry really great old items.

I have built up quite a collection and I wanted to share some with those of you who like this sort of stuff as well. It's great for ATC cards, scrap booking, canvas art and package embellishing.

Here are some ephemera elements for you to download and use in your art.

Download the JPG here.

Download the PNG here.

I have created more block collages and hopefully they will be available commercially soon.

I will try to scan and share some of my collection every now and then so check back often!

for the love of maps

I've been busy. Really busy.

The littles are keeping me running. All. The. Time.

My house is a mess.

My yard is a jungle.

But I'm happy. Busy is good, even if you look like the hillbillies of the neighborhood.

I've been trying to keep up, and at the same time squeeze in studio time.  Sometimes when my life is at it's craziest, my creativity sky rockets. Not sure why. Just happens.

My current artistic obsession? Maps. I have always loved maps (all old paper ephemera really) and used them in my art, but lately I just can't get enough.

I recently found the work of Elizbeth Lecourt.  I'm besotted. Simply, over-the-top gaga.

Oh how I would love to make Birdie that last dress! I did find this map fabric that might work.

Hummmm. Another project?

the farfar project: part deux

First off, I'd really like to say thank you for all your kind comments regarding The Farfar Project. I have had such a great response, and it has made the whole process even that much more enjoyable.

I have fallen in love with these men. I have been thinking that maybe for my next project, I will write down the stories I have created for each of them. But I'm not sure. They are near and dear to me. And a little bit silly.

I am currently working on having the portraits made into cards, prints and calendars. The calendar won't be available until next January.

If you are interested in buying a set of cards (12) or individual prints, please contact me, (secondsisterjewelry@yahoo.com) and I'll put you on the list for when they become available. Now, without much ado, I give you part deux...

K. G. Persson- Worker (Occupation Unknown)

Karl August Andersson- Carpenter

Ollas Per Persson- Yeoman

Olof Nilsson- Master Painter

Wilhelm Magnusson- Worker (Occupation Unknown)

G. V. Gustafsson- Crofter

sparky spark spark 2010

It's almost here. Can you feel it?

Autumn means back to school, schedules, crisper mornings, great fashion and SPARK.  Are you coming? Are you excited?

I am. I can't wait to meet everyone.  I can't wait to spark my own creativity.

The tag above is from last year. This year the girls have outdone themselves.  The decor is going to be amazing. The food is going to be delish. And the company, well the company is going to rock. After all, I'm going.  And I'm going to personally make sure everyone has a blast.  There's no wall flowers at Spark, only wild flowers.

Okay girls. Here it is. The big reveal.  Ta da! My class for Spark!

If you haven't done collage before you are going to love it.  We are using stretched canvases and doilies as a base for funky silhouettes.  Come ready to get your fingers in paint and make a mess.

Most of the supplies for my class will be provided with the exception of:

*     a foam brush (if you have manicured nails you might want to bring a couple extra)

*     your own silhouette if you don't want to use those provided (needs to be roughly 4X4")

*     any ephemera you would like to use other than what we provide

*     markers are optional but super fun

*     a fine paint brush 

*     a loose, ready to groove attitude (mandatory)

*     Oh and scissors.

I'm calling my class Journey.  Collage is a practice in letting go of perfectionism and following the twists and turns that happen on your canvas.

I hope you are coming. The best way to make a new friend is to take a journey together.

rush hour

The boy is away at art camp this week. I thought I would love having him gone. Really I did.

But I'm missing him and feeling all anxious and funky.

The house was so quiet today with him gone. The baby was sleeping. My chores were done. It was too hot to work out at my bench doing jewelry. So I busted out the paints. I had my own little art camp right there in the kitchen.

I call my creation "Rush Hour". You can buy it here if you are so inclined.

girly stuff

Here is my most recent painting. It's called Weber Sleepers. I grew up in Weber County, Utah. It holds a soft spot in my heart. I built this piece over a map of Utah. It is for sale here.

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There are a few little items that I've been needing. Sometimes, when I blog in the evenings, I am distracted by the conversations going on in the other room. When I hear the boys discussing plans to collect spiders in my good jelly jars, I find it distracting.

I can't stand when I have a really juicy line of thought going and poof! its gone because I heard Ben tell Thom to run into my bathroom and bring him my tweezers.

I've come up with a solution. Ear plugs. But I, of course, don't want just any old ugly ear plugs. I want Holly Golightly ear plugs. And I'll be damned if I didn't find some! Fancy ears, here I come.

The other item I'm in dire need of is tea towels. We go through tea towels around here like, well, paper towels. I simply can't abide a dirty tea towel in my kitchen. And I'm looking for unique and funky. Anyone out there got suggestions for me?

I'm lovin' these from Atlier LZC, but I'm not about to pay $20 for one.

Tomorrow we will discuss more of my many many needs. Like lipstick in the perfect shade of pink and monogramed stationary.

the results

Finders Keepers

Ahhhhh. Good art day. I was inspired by recent events.

Available for purchase here.

happy happy me

I've learned something about myself over the last few months. In order for me to be truly happy, I must have three things in my life.

1. My Family

2. Something fun to look forward to

3. Art

There is a fourth small variable of having a clean house, but I am working to let that one go a little. Life is too short to be cleaning all the time.

If I've got the three big ones goin on, I'm as happy as a clam and last weekend I hit all three spot on. I had the girls in my family over for a big fun day of art. We broke out all our fun papers and paint and made a huge mess in my kitchen. We cut and ripped and pasted. We all love art so much that at some point each of us actually squealed with excitement. The boy sat at the counter with his own paints and I was almost overcome with all the creativity in the room.

I loved the way my little prince bird turned out. I think I will hang him in my kitchen.

Just a note regarding Friday's giveaway. In order to be entered into the drawing, you must post the Suaviloquy graphic on you site with a link. Please leave address to the blog where you have posted. Thanks.

audrey eclectic

"A Mother's Prayer"
Leave a comment and win this Audrey Eclectic Print!

The haunting season is upon us and I find that now is the perfect time to introduce you to an artist whose work I find mesmerizing, beautiful and haunting!

Heather is a wife, mother and folk artist living in northeastern Oklahoma. She has been painting and creating in some form or another since she was a little girl, but it wasn't until she had her own daughter that she felt truly inspired to start her own business, Audrey Eclectic, so named after her little muse.

One of the things that I really like about Heather's work is that it is green. Here's what she had to say about her eco friendly process:

Becoming a mother has also made me more conscious of what kind of world I want to leave my daughter, so I am happy to recycle through my art whenever I can: many of my paintings start their lives as boards at construction sites, with the scraps in the trash pile coming home to me. I wash them, sand them, paint them and voila: a beautiful painting where once there was nothing but scrap.

Take a moment to browse her shop. Her art is surprisingly affordable and would make a great Christmas gift. She has several pieces that would look lovely on my walls at Christmas. You can also see more of her work on her blog.

A winner will be randomly selected on Thursday morning. Please check back to see if you are the lucky duck that day. I will need you to send me your shipping information. Good luck!

Oh, and I want to wish my most favorite sister-in-law of all time, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE!