Three little Mermaids!!

I don't believe it....I mean...I REALLY.....don't believe it!! Really....can YOU believe it? Can you? Huh Huh??Ohhhh, I guess I had better tell you what I can't believe. I'm sure you aren't going to believe it either though. I finished my niece's Christmas gifts today. I know....it's hard to believe, ri iight?? Those that know me....know that normally I am burning the WAY past midnight oil whenever I am working on gifts. What am I going to do with myself now? I already feel lost from not having to be busy at trying to get something done. WOW...is this what it actually feels like? To not be rushed? I LIKE IT!!!

Like....a word that we all want to hear when we make something for someone special to us. Well....LOVE would be better but with two of my nieces being teenagers...I will take...I like it!!! My youngest niece turned 7 this year and is such a little woman...really..she is. I sometimes forget when I'm talking to her that she is only a youngin but then she goes and does something completely silly and just like a normal 7 year old would do and I remember...LOL!! Since she is a young lady now...along with her sisters, I decided to make them each a jewelry box. Something to hold their precious treasures in. To guard their treasures there is none better than a true keeper of treasures...even if they are land ones and not from the sea. Each box is hand painted with one of my mermaids.

This one is for my oldest niece. She is a HUGE LSU fan and I do mean HUGE. One of those that probably bleeds purple and yellow. I wouldn't know because I run for the hills whenever I see blood. Ewww!! But I bet a dollar that she does. Since she is such a HUGE fan I painted her mermaid with a (yep, ya guessed) a purple and yellow scaled tail. She also has brown eyes and dark hair just like my niece. I also made the gift tag to go along with it.

This one is for my next to oldest niece. I know that I could have said middle niece but we don't say that. Have you ever heard about the middle child syndrome? She hasn't because we say next to oldest and that's the way we want to keep it..LOL!!  She is a HUGE, ummmmm......that other university from Alabama...you know the one. I don't know what happened to her mom...she is one of THOSE too. We were raised that ________ was a bad word so I just don't know what happened. OMGOSH...alright...I will say it......auburn.  There...are you happy now?? hehe.  Since she does love Auburn so much I painted her mermaid with a orange and blue scaled tail. Her eyes are blue and her hair is red with golden highlights....yep...just like my adorable next to oldest niece. Here is her gift tag too.

Finally...last but by no means least, is the mermaid for my Li'l lady of a niece. She just loves everyone and everything so her mermaid I painted a purple tail with light green scales. She has light brown eyes and golden brown locks...yes...just like my little sweetie pie. Li'l miss was actually a mermaid last year....ohh yes she was. In the ballet "Peter Pan". She was, of course, adorable and nothing like her very shy aunt. She loves a crowd.
Her keepsake box has a gift tag too.

Now.....I hope to hear "I LOVE IT" but I will be just as happy with "I LIKE IT".  We are looking forward to spending some time with them on Saturday night. The kiddos will get their gifts...then we will be eating some delicious red beans and rice (my BIL is a true Cajun and owww weeeeee one heck of a cook) then eat some yummy sweet goodies and probably watch a movie together or play a game. Family...is what makes this time of year special.

Now....what can I start working on now.....................................

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

Boo Hoo!!

Boo Hoo...Boo Hoo, what a sad sad day

It seems this artist has run outa of clay

My muse is whispering for me not to fret

She has an idea that is a sure sure bet

Some paper, a pencil and hearing my muse

it seems I have drawn a critter to use

I love to sculpt with my clay, as anyone that knows me, knows that to be true but it's not the only thing that I can do. OMGOSH...I'm still rhyming....sorry!! ^_^  Let me shake it off. (standing up....shaking my head all around) OUCH...ok enough of that.Now I'm dizzier than normal. HEY...no comment on that subject. I heard that!!  It is true that I have used all of my clay and since the Hubbikins seems to be actually cleaning his pockets out before he puts his pants in the washer. Dang it So nice of him. My pickle jar is a tad bit low. (pickle jar...where I hide put any and all loose change I find...which use to be in the Hubbikins pants pockets that he forgot about) 

Being an artist is what I am...and it's also how I keep myself grounded....as in...it makes for a great "THERAPY" session. Keeps me sane...most of the time. In thinking about some of my past sessions work, I remembered some of the fabric critters I use to enjoy designing, sewing and painting. In moving it seems I have lost my pattern folder so I just sat down and started doodling some new ones. I use the term "doodling" as I don't really think of myself as the kind of artist that can draw...just stating a fact!! Anyways, here are some of my doodlings so far.................

This one will be a monkey. I keep my designs simple....very very simple. Can ya tell? HeHe  I'm thinking that I might even make a banana to go with him...attach it to a string to one of his arms. I mean..a monkey has to eat or he could go APE!! 

This of course is a FROG. I love frogs and being the mom of a true ALL AMERICAN boy..it's a very good thing that I do!! Can't ya just hear him saying "Ribbet"? Thinking of frogs...I use to make small clay ones and give them as inspirational gifts to friends that were feeling blue. Now....I know what you are probably thinking. "Perhaps Regi has gone insane...what do frogs have to do with inspiration?" Well, let me tell you. On the bottom of each frog I would write the word FROG and I would attach a tag that explained why I was giving them a frog. Here is what the tag would say.....

Fully Rely on God

                                                                           

                                                                             

This smiling fella is a cat. I bet the body pattern looks funny to ya, huh? Well...it does on paper but once sewed up...it looks kinda cute. Kinda like this......

 I have to get him or her all painted up and then I will show just what my fabric critters really look like. I really like this body design and I thought of another creature that would look cute with it. Can ya guess what it might be? 

 Why...it's PUFF the magic dragon of course. I think he will look so cute with this body...like he is laying around just waiting for some mischief magic to get into. 

These make such cute gifts to give. You can paint them and leave them just painted. Perfect for a little boy to have a playmate for all those monster battles. You can paint them and then make cute clothes for them. Perfect for those little girls and their afternoon tea parties. Also, one of the things that I have done with them in the past is to let them become Tooth Faery helpers. Paint them and then make 2 small bags to go with them. Each bag is painted alike with a tooth. You place one of the bags around the critters neck with the lost tooth in it. They hold the tooth in the bag to keep it safe until the Tooth Faery comes to collect it. Then the Tooth Faery (that's you by the way) replaces the bag with the tooth in it with the extra bag with money inside. Just a hint too....a quarter won't cut it these days....believe me...I know...the Chazman expected at least a dollar..LOL!!!

I'm so happy that my muse sings so many different ideas to me......I would so hate to go completely insane and mistakenly squish her due to post traumatic artist syndrome. How do YOU keep sane?

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

Custom Signature Stamp

Have you ever pondered over something regarding your craft and out of the clear blue sky the answer just comes to you...falls right into your lap? That happened to me recently....well...alright.....it might not have just come to me on my own but it sure came out of the clear blue. I had been fretting over how to put my artist signature on my ooaks. Not that my name "Regi" is a long drawn out one or one that would take up much space but I still couldn't decide on a good way to place it on the sculpt so that I knew it would stay. So far my pen signature has lasted but I wanted something a bit more permanent....something that I knew would stay on the sculpt for as long as the sculpt was around and that is what I'm hoping will be a very, VERY long time.

My friend Julee, over at Mommy's Memorandum discovered that the Charm Factory  was looking for clay artist to test one of their new products. Of course, I immediately sent them an email asking if I could be one of their testers and can you guess what the product was? Yes...you guessed....it was for a new Custom Signature Stamp they have. WOW...was I ever so excited when I was chosen to be one of the testers. I was able to choose what I wanted on the stamp, as in my name and even had three different fonts to chose from. They even offered to let me send in a photo of my logo or actual signature and see if they could set it up for me. I chose just my little artist signature name and one of their fonts. They even sent me a proof of how my name turned out and what it would look like stamped in the clay. Can we say "HAPPY..HAPPY"? 

After receiving Angie's email with my signature proof and then me saying it looked "AWESOME", I patiently (well...as patient as I could be) waited for it to arrive. I know that my poor mailman must think I am a complete looney tunes as he brought my little package to my door and I started giggling and dancing with excitement. He was kind and just handed it to me and then quickly (very quickly) walked back to his truck. Upon opening my envelope this is what I found.....

The most perfect little stamper in the world. Look....it has it's own key chain holder which makes it perfect to hang on a little hook close to my work desk. Even has the web link right on the handle so you can reference it for future ordering. Like one with my Southern Ooaks logo and one with the Chazman's name and well...I think you get the idea.

It is a great size to handle....right at 2". The handle is made from lead free pewter right there at the factory. The stamp itself is 1/2" wide x 3/8" tall. The depth is 1/32"....just perfect for the letters to extrude to make a wonderful imprint. The stamp itself is laser engraved on Delrin which is a stronger substance than your normal rubber stamps. Which means it will last longer....YEAH...and who doesn't like our supplies lasting longer. If you need the stamp area smaller then they might be able to accommodate you on that...they just can't make it any bigger.

This is my first ooaks that I stamped using my new signature stamper. It worked like a charm (ohhhh a funny...worked like a CHARM and it came from the CHARM Factory...ok ok so I'm still so excited about this signature stamper.) It is very easy to use. I would perhaps practice a few times with it just to make sure you know how much pressure to apply. It worked best for me by making sure I was holding it completely upright and pressing downwards in the clay. Clean up is a breeze too. Just some warm water. If you like to use colored clay then you can even use mild liquid soap if more than the warm water is needed. Since I love making my small sculpts I thought one of my TED E BEAR weebies would be perfect for the test run. (OMGOSH...another funny....test run...tesing out the stamper..OK OK I'm still excited...doesn't take much....does it?) Remember these are my tiny 2" characters. The signature is perfect. Don't you think? I know that it will last as long as the ooaks will...no more worries!!

 I'm so happy with this product and with the Charm Factory. If you need something to put your mark on your clay pieces or your precious metal clay pieces then please consider the Charm Factory. This stamp sells for $44.99 and there are NO...yes I said NO set up fees, quote fees or any additional fees. Plus you get Free...yes I said FREE shipping. What a deal with no matter what the content...any text, signature or logo...the stamp is only $44.99 and FREE shipping.

The Charm Factory is a great place for the jewelry artist as well. So many beautiful charms to choose from. Silver charms, sterling silver charms and they can even make your custom jewelry tags. Please take the time to go and check them out and tell them Regi sent you....not that I get anything for you doing that....but it sure will make me feel important...LOL!!!

Charm Factory...Made in the USA...Free Shipping in the U.S. for orders over $25.00

www.charmfactory.com

866-867-5266

sales@charmfactory.com

PO Box 91625

Albuquerque, NM 87199

Facebook.com/charmfactory

Twitter.com/charm_factory

Until Next time.....Hugs, Regi

                    

I will not receive nor did I receive any money for promoting the Charm Factory in this blog post. I did however get to be a tester for the stamper and therefore do get to keep it. HEY...it has my name on it ^_^

Fabric Roses with Hat Pin

I know that I already posted once today but it was a wordless one so I figured I'm entitled to one with words now. Ri iight? Right...so here goes AND thank you for indulging me another post. ^_^

I finished working on one of the fabric rose pins that includes one of my fairy face hat pins. I'm not as happy as I would like to be with it but practice makes perfect. BOY...I should really be good at somethings with all the practice I have had......but ummmmm that's a whole nuther story. (nuther...one of those Southern twang words or it's just my heavy accent that makes me hear it that way...ya know...spell it the way ya hear it)
I do like her...just need to do some tweaking on the eyes I think. I LOVE how the feathers turned out as her hair. Feathers were very popular back in the Victorian days and that's what I want my pins to look like. Peacock feathers were the most popular. BUT until I can locate a peacock that will stand still long enough for me to borrow a few tail feathers so I can use them.....my black feathers will just have to do.

I made a small necklace out of silver beads, two black glass beads and three crystal beads. At the top of the hat pin are two silver spacer beads with a large silver/black bead...then the faery face. After the face bead then I placed another silver spacer bead and a small black bead. I threaded the pin through the roses and finished off the pin with a twisted end and then attached a silver spacer bead...a larger silver/black bead...another spacer bead and then a larger crystal bead (like the one on the necklace) to balance out the piece. The roses are some of my fabric wrapped or twisted ones. Along with some fabric leaves. All of it sewn to a felt backing with a tiny pin attached. You could wear it on a sweater....shirt....scarf.....hat...jacket or even attach it to a cloth purse.

I LOVE making these roses. I'm planning on making more as single pins.....barrettes.....bookmarks and well....there are just so many more possibilities being whispered to me. I am going to be placing some in my Etsy shoppe. If you have something special you would like made with these just email and let me know...I will be more than pleased to design it....just for you.

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

Little of this..little of that

Ms. Peaches is feeling much better today. It seems as though we have a junk food junkie cat on our hands. The Chazman informed me yesterday that he and Ms. Peaches sat and watched TV and eat Doritos together on Sunday and Ms. Peaches turned into Ms. Piggie. Guess that would give any being a tummy ache....LOL!!!

I did manage to get a few things done yesterday with all of her howling and wanting to go in and out all day long.

A lil HOOT owl with a big heart. I have to paint and detail him but I think he is cute just in his non painted state.

Another in the TED E BEAR weebie series. This time he has a big fat hive full of honey and he is even sharing with the bees.

These two lil lovelies are something new I'm working on. I have fallen in love with doing my fabric roses and flowers again. I hadn't made any in years until I made the pin for one of my nieces for Christmas and now the bug has bitten and bitten HARD. I want to have mine stand out a bit from everyone else's so my muse started whispering to me. What was something that all Victorian ladies had with them on their journey to visit another for tea....or their walks in the gardens? They had their beautiful hats that were attached with even more lovely hat pins. Hopefully, if my design works out then these two beauties will become hat pins for my fabric roses. I will be sure to keep you posted as they progress.

Until next time.....HUGS, Regi

Making a Paper Box

I have been busy working in my studio so that I can reopen my Etsy shoppe with new items. It seems that the Foley Performing Arts Gallery wants to keep my ooaks for awhile longer. Apparently my lil wee ones did some whispering during the Christmas event to the folks that visited and Ms. Bonnie, the curator, believes those folks will be back to adopt them. I think with the hope that will happen, I can let them visit there for awhile. I do miss them though. A part of me goes into making my ooaks and that makes them hard to part with. BUT....I get over it and am just happy when they find another forever "Believe in them" home.

Now...what were we talking about? Just like me to forget...Ohhhh yes...working in my studio. I have been working on designing some Valentine's faeries. Sometimes the sculpts come first but sometimes the props come first. One prop I'm working on is a pretty little box that one faerie is going to sit upon. I think I enjoy making the props as much as the sculpting and especially when I can upcycle an item. My item for my box was some paper scraps I had laying around. Yes...I said paper scraps. It didn't really matter what was on the paper because I knew that I was going to cover the box in fabric. (with hearts on it...it is for a Valentine's faerie ^_^) I thought that perhaps some of you might like to know how to make your own box. It can be made to any size that you want. All you have to keep in mind is that you need to start out with a square shape. Now..go look through all those beautiful scrap papers you have, grab a pair of scissors and a pen and let's get started:

Supplies Needed:

Paper (scraps or perhaps a pretty print one)

Scissors

Pen

Take your square and pull one corner up into the other so that you have made a triangle. Gently crease fold.

Now open it up and turn it facing you where it looks like a diamond (or a kite...that's what the Chazman thought it looked like) Fold the bottom corner up to the top one, like you did for the first fold and then gently crease it.

This is how it should look so far. Got it? Good...let's move on. ^_^

Take a corner and fold it up to the center and then gently crease. Do this to each remaining corner.

Now take a corner and fold it up to the top cease across from it. Do this to each remaining corner. Isn't it fun folding paper? Relaxing!!!

Up to this point, this is what your paper should look like. A quilt pattern. Now take a corner and fold it up to the closest fold. Do the remaining corners the same way and remember to gently crease your folds.

Hold your paper up so it looks like a diamond. Do you see the four little blocks that make a square in the center? Good...that is the size your box is going to be and the guide to making your cuts. If you look closely you can see where I made my marks to cut.

 You want to cut up the sides to the square in the center...remember don't cut past the corners of your square. Do this on the opposite side as well. Just the two sides across from each other. Do not cut the other two opposite sides...ppplease!!

This is what you should have....oh yes...turn the paper around so that the arrow is pointing to you. That was another observation made by the Chazman..hehe!!

Now take the paper and fold it up to the square box in the middle. Then take the next fold and fold it over the top of the first fold. The tiny fold at the point will be inside the bottom of your box.

This is what it should look like at this point.

Take the pieces sticking out and fold them to the inside of the square. This is how it should look. Do the opposite side the same way. Then take the short sides and fold them over to the center the same way.

This is what it should look like after the first short side is folded in.

                      Ta-Da...you made a box..well the top of one and I'm so soo proud of you.                                                                                  

The folds will hold themselves in but if you want you can take your pin and turn the box on it's side and crease the folds a bit more.

To make the bottom of your box you follow the same steps with this one exception. You need to make it a bit smaller than the top so they will fit together. Take your square and fold one corner into the opposite but instead of meeting them corner to corner you will need to pull it back a few centimeters, then crease fold.

Now take and cut off the overlaying sides of the triangle and follow the steps you did to make the top of your box.

Here is your box...all completely put together.

(Purple and Blue papers..I see a Mardi Gras faerie)

 

Now you can embellish your new little box however you want to. I hope this tutorial was simple and easy to follow. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask away. ^_^ Remember in the beginning I told you that I used scrap paper for my box because I was going to cover it in fabric. Well, here is my little box.

Keep in mind if you do plan on covering yours in fabric to take into consideration that the bottom will have to be a bit smaller so that it will open and close easily with the extra bulk of the fabric. Now back to work on my Valentine's faeries.

Until next time.....HUGS, Regi

The List-Item #3

Bohemian Bag with felt rose pin attached

Leather & Lace Wristlett with velvet Roses and a Yarn/Ribbon Scarf

Felt Purse with Mermaid Pin

Large Cuddler Monster

Bag full of Felt/fur Monsters

Bag full of felt/fur animal babies

Cloth sock monkey

Large Rabbit Cuddler

2 year old Keepsake

OMGOSH and YEAH!!! I finished with item #3 on my list. I can take a deep breath....ahhhhh haaaaa (that was me taking a deep breath ^_^) I still have the others to do but those won't be delivered until after the first of the year. I think that _______ will be very happy with her mermaid bag. Let's just hope that it makes it until next year....you know how a 5 year old can be...plus they have a new puppy in the house....YIKES...but she asked for one and I just had to make her one. 

I had sooo much fun needle felting this one. I only stuck my finger one time and didn't even need a band aide. YEAH ME!!! This mermaid just took on the roll of a DIVA and that was kinda funny because that's what my sister and I call Ms. Savannah. (I think it's alright to post her name...I don't think she will be pulling my blog up anytime soon..hehe...althooooough she might....nahhhhh...she can't...can she?)

She is a full needle felt with a hand painted face. Green eyes like the sea she comes from and the eyelashes...well...that's her DIVA sign..HA!! She has a small pink quartz on her top and a pearl in her belly button. Her hair is cashmere wool.

The bag I made from felt squares and then placed a crepe lining in it. WOW....I had forgotten how much crepe likes to creep when you sew with it. I definitely had to remember what time of year it was....didn't want to end up on Santa's naughty list for my mouth and I sure don't like the taste of soap...YUCK!!!  I managed to get it placed inside the bag. YEAH ME again!!  The handle is some of my macrame knots using fringe yarn. Not an easy thing to do...I think I gained more fingers than I had starting out...or at least it felt like it. ^_^

On the front panel of the bag I stitched up a seahorse out of a piece of suede.....attached some of the fringe yarn that I made the handle out of, some purple fluffy yarn and a shell we found on one of our beach walks this past summer.

On to the next item...the large cuddle monster. The monster won't be to big but big enough to hold and it's going to have long arms so it can give the "Bestest" of hugs. This gift is for Josh, he was born with severe congenital hydrocephalus, brain damage, muscular dystrophy and is on the level of a two year old. They told my sister in law that he would not live past the age of 5, if she was lucky. Josh turned 24 this year. He is bound to a wheelchair and doesn't talk much or walk but he is the sweetest lil man in the world. He always lets folks know that he is happy to see them and will even throw you a smoochie or two and pat the sofa wanting you to come and sit with him. I am one of the few in the family that he can say my name...it's Gina to Josh and that is just fine.

Until next time....Merry Christmas Hugs, "Gina"

The List Item #2

Bohemian Bag with felt rose pin attached

Leather & Lace Wristlett with velveteen roses & Earrings

Felt Purse with Mermaid Pin

Large Cuddler Monster

Bag full of Felt/fur Monsters

Bag full of felt/fur animal babies

Cloth sock monkey

Large Rabbit Cuddler

2 year old Keepsake

The leather and lace wristlett is complete and I think it turned out so pretty. I must have my gypsy muse whispering to me because this piece looks and feels the part. I scrunched up a vintage piece of lace that I had on hand and to that I sewed on some pretty purple hued yarn, string and ribbon. Added some glass and silver beading's, velvet handmade roses with pearls and a pretty butterfly charm. Once the lace top piece was complete then I sewed it to a piece of soft black leather. Put sterling silver findings on each end with tiny glass black beads, some links and a closure finding. Attached to one of the closure pieces is a charm I made from tiny crystals beads, silver beads, piece of mother of pearl, tiny peace sign and a tiny sterling silver dragonfly.

I put a few extra links on it, just in case I need to take some off or even extend it some. I couldn't say "Hey ________ (oops..almost said who this gift was for...bad me..hehe) measure your wrist for me, will ya?" LOL She knows that she is getting a handmade gift from her Aunt but I always leave them wondering what in the world it's going to be and with me they have learned that can mean ANYTHING!!  I changed one thing on this gift. I was going to do her some dangling earrings and she does wear earrings...sometimes. Since the keyword about earrings is sometimes I decided to do something that went along with the gypsy feel of the wristlett. I made her a yarn & ribbon scarf or belt...which ever way she wants to wear it.

Now....on to the next gift. Until then....Hugs, Regi