Cordelia....Mermaid in the Bathtub.

The skies had been grey and stormy for quite some time and the pounding waves on a sand bar far off the shore uncovered an ancient shipwreck. A wooden hulled beauty at one time for sure and surrounding her after the storm were many treasures that made you want to learn more about this long lost sailing vessel. No human would ever find this wreck since it was far off from the beautiful Irish shores but one tiny mermaid did happen upon it and ohh the treasures Cordelia discovered.

Among the items laying close to the wreck was a strange object. One that was still beautiful after being submerged for so long and one that apparently still held water inside it's hollowed out shell. Water that had been warmed by the sun and was just tempting Cordelia to sit in.  She slowly slide herself inside and stretched out her tail as far as it would allow. How wonderful the warmed water felt against her...so much so that she started to giggle and wiggle. Sitting next to this strange but amazing container was a metal box. Cordelia leaned over and opened it. Inside she found a beautiful pink, plush towel and a wash cloth. She knew about humans and some of the items they had for she loved sitting on the rocks and watching them from afar as they enjoyed the shores and the marvelous sea she called home. She pulled out a tiny glass vial that she didn't know what in the world it could be and all of a sudden it slipped from her hands and the stopper popped out and the contents landed in her warm water. For some reason this made her giggle and wiggle again but this time something spectacular happened. Bubbles...tons and tons of bubbles began forming all around Cordelia.

Cordelia is one of my Southern ooaks in my mermaid series. Since she is from the waters off Ireland's coast then I felt it befitting to give her a true Celtic name....Cordelia..meaning "of the Sea". She has a strong wire armature underneath a fully sculpted clay body. She sits at just 4 1/2 inches and is 7 inches long. (from the tip of her head to the tip of her tail) Her face was detailed using acrylic paints...her eyes hand painted on bone beads. Her tail was detailed with tiny scales and then covered in several hues of green, purple and blue MICA powders before baking. The baking process gave it a beautiful mermaid tail cast. Her tail in several places has German glass to give it a wet look. Her crown is made from clay and covered in MICA powders and her hair is dyed pulled wool yarn. Her treasure she discovered that holds water warmed by the sun is a vintage glass claw foot tub. Vintage pearls, faux pearls and crystals make up the bubbles. Vintage cloth made the perfect towel and wash cloth. (The wash cloth is made from the same material as the towel...I just clipped the fringe)

Cordelia has already been adopted and is going to be living in Germany with her new family. I hope they put her in a place that it's alright if water spills because I'm sure she will keep giggling and wiggling to make more bubbles for a very long time.

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

Back to routine again...

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend. Last week and the weekend seemed to go by to fast. I love having my Chazman at home with me and well...it's back to a routine again.

Those that have been following along here under the old Southern ooaks tree know that starting in the spring and all the way through to the end of summer, we clean condos and beach houses. I rather enjoy this part time job. I mean where else can you open up a sliding glass door and hear the ocean lapping onto the shore, or smell the salt air and even get to hear the seagulls "LAUGHING".  Oh yes...I'm sure they are laughing at us. Listen to them the next time you are walking on the beach. ^_^

Even with cleaning..we still found time to take one of our beach walkabouts. We actually took two this weekend. Saturday was a day just to walk and look for shells. Some very pretty ones found too like auger shells, moon shells, scallops (fan) shells, whelks and olives.  Since Sunday was Easter and we still had a house to clean we thought it would be nice to enjoy the afternoon sitting on the beach and watching all the crazy *ahem* people getting into the water. However, I never figured my son would be one of THOSE people...HAHA!! He tried to talk me into getting in...which most the time I do. (I'm such a water person) but there was no way once my feet got wet. Good Golly Miss Molly...that water was soooo COLD my heart actually skipped a beat. Chaz said that I would get use to it. Ohhh nooo I wouldn't!! I made it in as far as my knees and that was it. That was it mostly because my feet were frozen and wouldn't move. ^_^  So I stood were I was and watched him have a blast falling into the waves. My muse decided to take the opportunity of a captive audience and whisper in my eat. She had as I told you on an earlier visit found a small glass tub in my art stash. That's all it took....her to remind me of that and for me to feel just how cold the ocean was this time of year. Wouldn't a salt water WARM bath feel so good....even to a mermaid???

This is what I'm working on now. A mermaid and her bath!! This one will take a bit longer to complete than my tea cup faeres as I'm thinking that I'm going to use some of my vintage pearls as bubbles in her bath with parts of her underwater (so to speak). I think this little gal is going to love her bath so much that I might not ever get her out of the tub and back into the ocean..hehe

Until next time.............Hugs,
Regi

Oopsie..Santa got caught by Li'l Miss LuLu

Merry Christmas A B C 

A is for Apple that

hangs on the tree

B is for Bells that

chime out in glee

C is for Candy to

please boys and girls

Please Li'l LuLu fall back to sleep...for I still have more promises to keep. Yes...you caught me, I know and that's why I'm still here but after this story it's your bedtime my dear. Now listen and shhhhh and go back to sleep and in the morning all the gifts you can keep.

Poor Santa.....finally after all these years he was caught coming down the chimney by a small and tiny 3 year old that goes by the name of LuLu. She meant no harm but she just had to see the jolly olde elf himself for her to "BELIEVE". Ohhhh and she does believe now and always will for this will be a wonderful memory taken throughout the years. 

Thank goodness Santa had a new book for LuLu in his magical bag. He loves reading himself and loves to encourage children at an early age to learn how important reading can be. Now LuLu can learn her ABC's before next Christmas and Santa can bring her more storybooks...hopefully though he won't be the one reading them to her. He has to admit that this big old chair sure is comfy and being able to put his feet up, well that's a treat on this busiest of nights. Next year LuLu might have to be his last stop just so he can read to her again.

It seems that it took F O R E V E R to finish this piece but I have to admit that a good bit of work went into designing and making it. Making the PawPaw chair, quilting the tiny blanket, making the ottoman, Li'l Miss LuLu and Santa. Like I said....a good bit of work!! I'm going to be putting this one in my Etsy shop and if you are interested in adopting Santa and LuLu AND do it by Friday the 7th then you can get FREE shipping.

Just use the code CHAZMAN and shipping will be free. My thank you for becoming one of my collector's!!

(thinking positive for YOU...I do actually have a few that have purchased several of my pieces)

So....it's on to the next Santa. Santa and the antique toys. Please come back to visit to see some WIP photos as I work on this piece. I love when YOU visit and LOVE when you let me know that you have.

Until next time..........HUGS,

Regi

Vintage toys for Santa

Remember these guys from the other day's posting? I have been switching back and forth working on Santa and then painting these clay vintage toys. I have the elephant, tiger and the Elf in the box painted so I thought I would show them to you. Ready? Here comes the toys............

Al....the elephant pull toy. 

Aubie...the tiger pull toy

These little guys will be either peeking out of Santa's bag or sitting in front of him....my muse hasn't told me which yet. ^_^  Don't ya like their names? Can't imagine where I came up with them from..hehe!!!

Elsie.....Elf in a Box

This cutie is Elsie. She is a "Elf in a Box". Santa will be holding Elsie in his hand, ready to put her under the tree for that good little boy or girl. I mean, who doesn't like a jack elf in a box!!!

Any one ready for some cookies....yummy chocolate chip, peanut butter or Hershey's kiss?  If the answer was yes,then go bake us all some, will ya?  HEHE..sorry, just couldn't resist. My muse made me do it.

These NOM NOM's are going with another Santa I'm working on. He will be holding his plate of cookies in one hand and a cookie in the other.  I have had this little china plate for almost 30 years and decided now would be a perfect time to use it. OK OK....I had it put up in a box and had totally forgotten about it until I found it looking for something else. It is perfect for the piece though. Santa and cookies just go together like peanut butter and jelly!!

I guess it's back to working or playing or both actually. Such a grand life it is....being an artist...that gets to relive her childhood playing with clay and dressing up characters. 

Until next time..........Hugs,

Regi

Oh yes.....I have been trying to post to my Etsy shop and it just ain't happening so if anyone is interested in any of the Santa's I have made so far and would like to purchase, please send me an email and we will discuss travel arrangements. ^_^  That is until Wednesday afternoon....they are all going to the gallery and can be purchased there. HUGS

Santa's going North!!

Good Morning or Good Afternoon...depending on what time it is when you are visiting ^_^.  Here, it's morning so GOOD MORNING and Happy Hump Day!!!

Today I'm going to be working on "Santa and the Polar Bear". The Polar bear I have ready..well..not really..that's not true...I have to make his riding blanket and harness. THEN he will be ready. I sculpted Santa's noggin (that's his head for those that don't know..hehe) yesterday and am planning on getting it baked up and detailed this morning.

YIKES....it's zombie Santa!! Nahhhh...he always looks so creepy until I get him baked, his eyes painted and his beard on. The Chazman will turn him completely around when he comes in the studio to play a game on the computer. He REALLY creeps him out!! I guess with it being Halloween month I decided that I would be tricking the Chazman. Last night he was playing his game and naturally Santa gets turned around. Chazman had to get up and go to the ummmm library...yeah yeah..the library (code for bathroom) and while he was gone, I got up and ran on quiet little mouse feet...hehe...and I turned Santa back around and actually sat him looking right at the computer screen. OMGOSH....talk about a "HEY MOM" when the Chazman came back in the studio. You see...I had quietly snuck back into the family room and was reading my book when he came out of the library so he had no idea I had been back there. I walked in and asked him what was up and he was just sitting WAYYYYY back from the desk and pointing. I'm not very good at lying and well...I busted out laughing and told him I did it. He didn't talk to me for awhile after that...imagine that ^_^

My muse is whispering that she wants him to have nice warm mittens on instead of just doing his hands like I normally do. She reminded me that he is riding in the cold....on a Polar bear...in the snow!! I guess the mittens might be best. (plus it will keep her out of my ear and buzzing around)

Until next time..........Hugs,
Regi

It's a rather blustery day" said Pooh Bear!!

It is rather a blustery day here. It was overcast and rainy about an hour ago and now it's blue skies with a few clouds and winds that are making the trees whip and twirl. Some CRAZY weather, I must say!!!  We are feeling a bit better today about the weather but we will see how those feeling are tomorrow when the worse comes a knockin. We did put up the storm shutters yesterday when the hubbikins got home from work. If anything else, they will hopefully keep any tree branches or flying debre from breaking the windows.
I have to admit that it looks weird..kinda feel like I'm in a dark dungeon. HA..see the curtains open. I thought it would help.

I promised WIP photos on the Santa I am currently working on. Remember these are WIP (work in progress) photos which means Santa still needs to see the barber to trim up his beard and OH YEAH, he needs a body.

I have his hands completed with the exception of polishing his nails. His feet are complete and YES I know I didn't give him any toes. Ahhhwww....Mrs. Claus won't be able to play "little piggies"..hehe!! I am going to make boots for him so his toes would have been covered so no need for toes. His base (with my name stamped on it...love my little stamper) will be covered with some of my snow mixture. I won't cover my name though...what would have been the point of stamping it. HA!!

Still have a good bit of work to do and hopefully I can get some of it done this afternoon. Thank you for stopping by to visit. LOVE your visits and comments too.

Until next time...........HUGS,
Regi

Hummm...now that I have talked about it, perhaps I should have given him toes....OH WELL!!!! ^_^

BOO.....Did we scare YOU????

OMGOSH...OMGOSH...OMGOSH!!!

 I have bats,witches,cats,skeletons and spell books all flying around the room.

 What's a gal to do?

 Where's my fishing net? 

I'll catch us one or two!!

I had so much fun designing these Li'l Halloween ornies. I hope that they don't SCARE you to much. Let's see just who might come out and say BOO!!!

One of the witches of Southern Ooaks. She is the biggest of the ornies. Well, I had to make one of them bigger so she could keep all the others in line. A gal can only be snucked (yea...one of those Southern words hehe) up on so many times and and hear BOO!!!  From her ruffled collar to the tip of her hat she is right at 3 1/2 inches. (the others range from just under 1 inch to just a tad over 2 inches but shhhhh don't tell them..they think they are just as big as witchie poo. Don't want anyone having any issues ya know. The beaded holder on most is right at 2 inches. Perfect for hanging on your Halloween tree or even putting them on a black ribbon to wear. 

Close up of Witchie Poo..she's watching YOU

Can't forget the witches most powerful item. Her spell book. Wouldn't it be nice to have a spell book? One where you could make the broom and mop work on their own. Oh WAIT....didn't someone else do that and it didn't turn out so well. ^_^

I made the book to look like.....well....a book. It's hard to get pictures of tiny things ya know but I tried. The clay pages actually are split to look just like paper in a book. Witchie Poo even has her favorite spell marked with her magical bookmark.

Sebastin is Witchie Poo's familiar and believe me there are some times that he so wishes he wasn't. Like the time that she turned him into a dog. What self respecting cat would EVER want to be a flea bitten mutt?

Hootie is Witchie Poo's messenger owl. It seems as though his message for today has left him in quite a shock. Just look at those feathers!!! NO wonder he has to wear a owl breastplate. Ya know the saying "Please don't shoot hit the messenger". 

Look at that open mouth would ya!! Hmmmmm..wonder just what the message was. 

Man in the Moon just couldn't resist peeking in to see just what the old hag witch was up to. It seems that he asked a few friends to come along too.

Jack the Jackolantern...and NOO he isn't mean. He was just made that way. Bahahahahahahaha!!!!

Ruffles, Witchie Poo's first familar. She WAS a dog!!!

The Count had to tag along too. Have no fears though. He won't bite your neck BUT he will eat all of your candy corn.

Even Witchie Poo's boyfriend came along, Capt. Skellie. Poor soul.....someone really should have warned him about PMS and not antagonizing the witch at such a time!! Perhaps I should make her tshirt to wear during those nasty times. One that says "I have PMS and a hand gun...any further questions?" I guess Capt. asked one to many questions one day, huh? 

These are the wacky, whimsical BOOcreatures that are haunting my studio at the moment. Please..won't you help me and my sanity and take a few home with YOU!!! Remember to use my coupon code "2HOTDAYS" until August 31st to receive 15% off any item in my Etsy shoppe.

Until next time........................HUGS!!

Wordless (Mermaid Bases) WIP Wednesday

Little Bunny FooFoo

I have been watching a few fellow artist that make clay sculpts and then add flocking to them. They look so darn cute. I have flocked a few times in the past and really enjoyed it but "Man Oh Man"  had I ever forgotten just why it has been such a long time since I have done it. It has nothing to do with the fact that it is time consuming. I have tons of patience...so that wasn't the problem. I don't mind taking the time to cut up the yarn I use to flock with. Nooooo....the problem was I forgot just how much trouble I get myself into when I have glue on my fingers and tiny pieces of yarn. OMGOSH...what a sight. Really!!! It got so sticky in the studio that I just started laughing. Everything I touched ended up with tiny pieces of yarn on it. My hair may never be the same again.

I have got to practice with doing it again because it is something that truly can't be rushed to make the lil critters look right. So with no laughing on your end (and yes I can hear you...no, really I can) and no, I am not showing photos of a sticky me either...LOL...here is my lil flocked critter. Little Bunny FooFoo!!!

All of FooFoo is flocked with the exception of his big bunny ears. Those are wire with yarn wrapped around them. (like I do with my dust bunnies...gives them more strength and makes them bendable) For not having done this in awhile I think he turned out pretty darn cute. Ri iight??

I may attempt a few more....a cat....a dog....or even perhaps a llama (I do have some real llama hair that I have been wanting to use.) I want to do a few larger pieces and flock or apply hair/fur to them to use with my Santa or Faerie characters. Lots more practice though....LOTS MORE!!!  I even thought about doing a tutorial...if anyone would be interested. I promise to keep the sticky fingers at a minimum.

Until next time.....HUGS,
Regi

Wordless WIP Wednesday!!!

Spring Break is over!!!!

WOW...what a fun week with the Chazman!! It went by wayyyy to fast though so we are counting down til summer break is here. YEA!! I just love having my lil guy at home with me but I am so happy that he loves going to school too. He was looking forward to getting back I think...he has made some really good friends and he was ready to find out what they did over the past week as well as tell them what he did. Ohhh to be young again.

Yesterday was a BLAST!!! We met up with my sister and her family for the Easter brunch over at The Hang Out. What's "The Hang Out"....you ask? Well, it's probably one of the oldest establishments here on the coast. Been around since the 50's (yes that almost makes it antique but we so won't go there..ri iight??)     It of course has been updated over the years and is a really cool place to go eat and play. Yeppers, I said play. They have games outside, a HUGE sand pile, a small bungee jump (one that let's the kiddos jump up and go higher and higher) a bubble maker and for the adults an awesome stage and sound system to hear some really awesome bands play. Of course since it was Easter...there was a surprise visit from the Easter bunny himself and a HUGE egg hunt. Our group of kiddos had a blast....take a peek

Now that the break is over.....it's time to get back in the studio and get some work done....or play done...depends on who I'm talking to and who's asking...hehe!! I have so many whisperings from my muse since she apparently  had taken a break too. Don't ya just hate when that happens. I know I do, she is a constant chatter bug for a week or two after. Mermaids and babies seem to be her favorite topic....perhaps merbabies even. I know I have been collecting some beautiful shells on our beach walks of late and I think it's time to start using them. What do you see when you look at them?

 I did finish up another gypsy corsage this weekend. I love finding inspiration in the things that surround me, especially our town. Foley has some beautiful gardens and landscaping scattered all around the Uptown area and a few weeks ago in the flower beds on the corners they had some awesome looking plants. I grew up with them in my great grandmother's and grandmother's gardens so I knew what they were. Do you know what these are called?

They are called "Hens and chickens" and aren't they pretty and so so unique. The botanical name is Echeveria. One of the simplest plants to care for because they don't need care. Just water them once a day, once a week, it doesn't matter because they will thrive no matter what. I wanted to capture them in a corsage with a Southern Ooaks twist of course. Here is my "Hen and chick" corsage.

Mine even has mother hens face in the middle....LOL!!! It has such a Springtime look to it and like all my corsages it won't fade or wilt....ever!!!!

So I  guess it's time to push away from this computer and get some work ummmm playtime in today. I hope that you have a wonderful Monday and until next time..........

Hugs,
Regi