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

Sleeping Gypsy Corsage

I am so enjoying making my ribbon and fabric corsages. Not to mention my hand sculpted face beads that I am making to go with them. I just love combining two different art forms. Don't you?

This one is called "Sleeping Gypsy". I used a multi-colored silk ribbon to make the main flower. It had such lovely hues of blues, greens and purples. Colors that just scream gypsy!!! The leaves are made from simple cotton fabrics in two different shades of green. The tiny peony flower is made from a tan silk ribbon with glass seed beads added. The faux stick pin is of course made from one of my hand sculpted face beads which has been detailed using acrylic paints. Her hair is made from a vintage piece of fringe lace. Her head piece is made from vintage tiny pearls and crystals. The stick pin has vintage pearls and crystals along with silver beads. A tiny silver angel charm is attached to the bottom. I thought the angel was a nice touch. Who wouldn't want an angel watching over them while they slept!!

Being one that loves to wear earrings I just couldn't resist the urge to make a pair to match the corsage. They are made from the same vintage pearls and crystals as the corsage, along with tiny silver angel charms. I like making my dangles long but still not touching your shoulder...that drives me wild. ^_^  Makes me feel as though someone keeps tapping my shoulder. These hang from your pierced ear hole at about 3 inches.

I will be putting these in my Etsy shoppe along with my other gypsy corsages. Now ya'll know I just have to put a plug in here....these would make great Mother's Day gift....don't ya think?

On to the next ooaks....until next time.....

Hugs,
Regi

Arggg.I'm getting OLD!!!

I know that I haven't been posting as much as I usually do and the only excuse I have for it......is....that........I am feeling the old age bug. Yep...that old age bug has bitten down and hard. Arggggg....I hate it...ok wait a sec, we aren't suppose to hate so let me rephrase...I really, really, REALLY dislike it. This nasty little fellow has been laying dormant for awhile and I'm hoping after his short (very short) stay this time that he will be gone for another 10+ years or so. So I'm sure your asking what kind of nasty lil critter this bug is....ri iight?

I have had issues with one of my eyes for years..so far back I can't remember not having them BUT (and I stress BUT) I haven't had such a flair up in years. I don't like it...it keeps me from designing and I really DO NOT like that at all. I guess I could still try but OMGOSH talk about coming out with some whimsies for sure.....hummmm maybe I should try it. ^_^

I have been attempting to work on some of my flower/ribbon corsages and although this one I have been doing over the past week...I finally completed it. YEAH ME!!!! See there ya nasty bug..I can still SEE to work....so...HA!!!! With this one I used my mermaid clay face bead. I have been collecting some vintage ribbon in blues and purples and they were just screaming to be used....so they were. A friend a few years ago sent me a few beautiful sea glass beads that she had tumbled so one of those was used as well. What better way to use a sea glass bead than with a mermaid. Also used were some of the vintage pearls from the 80 year old wedding veil, along with some glass, silver and crystal beads. Some natural sea shells too.

I added some tiny barely 1 inch dangly earrings too. Tiny silver, vintage pearl, glass beads and crystals were used. Just the perfect little accent to go along with the pin. I think she turned out swimmingly...get it....swimmingly...mermaid...HAHAHAHAHA.  She can be found in my Etsy shoppe.

I have a few other pins I am working on. Those that saw last Wednesday's post will know which clay face beads I am using.  I also am working on a design for a gallery event down here too. I will post some WIP photos as I go with it.....perhaps they will help someone else in their clay endeavors. This little nasty critter may slow me down BUT he won't stop me.

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

Wednesday WIP-clay beads

Until next time.....Hugs, Regi

Have you tried Beadbacking yet?? WOW

Everyone that knows me....knows that I love to sit under the old Southern Ooaks tree and design my clay whimsy characters.

I also love to dance around the old tree...bringing out my gypsy, bohemian soul that resides inside me. That soul is the one that designs my jewelry pieces.

 I have been going crazy designing new corsage pins and I was getting a bit worried about how I was doing the backing. I have been using felt. Plain simple felt. I LOVE felt but it wasn't really strong enough to support the weight of the fabric roses and the clay beads I have been making to go in them. I was placing all the work on one piece of felt and then placing a piece of cardboard in between another piece of felt to give it strength and just thought..."THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY...WAHHHHH". Then I remembered my dear friend, Nicole, over at Beadwright and had one of my V8 moments. Yeah..yeah..I do have them every once in awhile..hehe!!!!

Nicole is one awesome, fantastic bead artist AND she sells beading supplies. One of her items she sells is called "Beadbacking" and it is one of the best products....well..I think so!!  What is beadbacking...ya may be asking? Well....let me tell ya....it has a thickness just perfect for what I needed. Strong yet perfect for sewing my fabric roses and clay beads straight onto it. You can even glue ribbon, lace or floss onto it. It's perfect for flat bead work too....and applique'.....and gluing on cabochons....and glass beads....and stones and even my pretty little shells we find on our Sunday afternoon beach walks. OK...I think ya understand just how great this product is. I can go on if ya like...^_^  If you bead or make any kind of jewelry then you really need to add some of Nicole's BeadBacking to your supplies.

Beadbacking used on one of my fabric corsages

Nicole sells her beadbacking in 12 x 9 sheets as well as 9 x 6 sheets. So many pretty colors too. She also has the perfect sample kit you can purchase. That's what I'm using and LOVING it. It contains 15 assorted colors in assorted sizes although most of them are cut in 3 x 3 size. I'm telling you....no beading or fabric jewelry designer/artist should be without this amazing product. 

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

Disclaimer: I was in no way paid to do this post...I just simply love this product and wanted to share it with you. To me in our artist community we are "Hearts and Hands" and should always take the time to promote and share for each other. PEACE!!!

One World One Heart...the Final Year!!

(Click here to learn all about this amazing event)

Five years ago a wonderful journey was introduced by Lisa Swifka, who has an amazing blog called "A Whimsical Bohemian. Her magical journey each year would take the participants to places that otherwise most would never have known existed. I discovered this fantastic event last year and am so happy that I did. I made some amazing and awesome friends that I still...to this day...keep in touch with. Thank you Lisa!! Thank you..thank you...thank you!!!  This will however be the final year to fly with Lisa's OWOH so I hope that YOU will fly with us and discover just what all the rest of us have learned. There are so many others out there...all over the world...that we share common bonds with and all we have to do is reach out!!!

Lisa started this as a way for us to learn about one another....to show who is behind the blog and all the post that you read when you visit. So with that being said let me tell you a bit about this quirky artist sitting under the Southern Ooaks tree. My grandfather use to tell me that I was born with a crayon in one hand and a gift of sight to see what others failed to see or didn't want to see. Yes..of course...my grandfather was one of the quirky ones too and I'm so blessed that his artistic genes were passed down to me. I have always loved to design and bring the characters in my head out into the open. I refer to this as "letting my muse whisper to me" although sometimes she YELLS the ideas at me.....the whispering would be just fine by me though. I'm not hard of hearing...well...actually I am a wee bit. Hummmm...think it was because of my muse...well harumph!! I don't have one certain art that I like more than the other because that would be limiting myself. NOT that that's a bad thing....for some....but it's just not how my brain is wired...LOL  I have passions for drawing, writing, needle felting and jewelry designing. My biggest artistic passion however is my love of designing clay sculpts. My characters are those that walk on the whimsical side....the ones I see in my imagination. AND OMGOSH..yes..that is one very vivid imagination. I can be sitting and reading and look down at the rug and suddenly see a faerie or wizard looking up at me. ^_^

Of course the quirky artist is not my only role in life....although it is what makes me who I am with others. A free spirit...a soft spoken person...a wanderer...a beachcomer.....a treasurer seeker.  I am a wife, a sister, an aunt, a GREAT aunt (gulp), a Godmother, a best friend, and a late in life mom. Some said eight years ago, I either a.) was the bravest woman in the world or b.) went temporarily insane....I think maybe a tiny bit of both but I am so blessed that God granted me the ability to be able to have one more child at age 44. Yes...I said one more because I have three grown sons (29-25-23) out in the world doing their own thing. My youngest  was also born with a crayon in one hand and a muse that has been singing to him since he was a wee tot. Yet another quirky artist in our household....the poor, poor hubbikins!!!

Where I live is a coastal town in Alabama. It's not a big place but it is the perfect place to raise our son, call HOME and find so much inspiration for my art. Much of that inspiration is found on our beach walks. Let me show you.

I don't know what the Chazman would have done if he had caught up with the bird..LOL

God's world is a canvas and even  he spills his paints now and then!!!

A beautiful morning is awaking and the seagulls are enjoying a hardy breakfast.

Now that I have told you a bit about ME....let me tell ya'll about what you might receive for just stopping by for this visit. A big hug and thank you gift. Isn't that wonderful? Well....YES....of course it is!!! Who doesn't like to go visit someone and receive a great big HUG and a "thank you for stopping by".  My "thank you" is one of my fabric rose corsages.

It will look so pretty on a sweater..shirt..scarf..hat...jacket or even attached to a cloth purse. That's what I love to do with them. I even put them in my hair when I wear a ponytail. Pin her right to the scrunchy. Then I wonder why someone is following me and wants to know "Where did you get that?" ^_^  If you would like to read more about this piece just go HERE and see just what all was involved in making it. I hope that you will explore many of my past post while here.....I know you aren't here just for the gift. Ri iight? I know..I know..so many places to go and see. I do hope that you will come visit and often after our amazing journey is over. My door is always open and I always have a big pitcher of sweet tea in the frig.

I'm so looking forward to having my guest come to visit and for me to fly on the wings of my OWOH muse and go visiting too.  I would like to go over some things with you so that everyone will have the most awesomeness (yes that's a word because I said so and ya'll know how us Southerners love to make up our own words...LOL) journey. So here they are:

1. Although you do not have to participate in the event, you MUST have a blog to be eligible for the giveaway- otherwise this event is open to anyone, anywhere in the world.

2.My giveaway is a way of saying thank you for stopping by- All you need do is leave a comment and a way for me to get back to you should you win- please don't forget to include your email in your comment if it is not on your blogger profile!

3.Comments will close at 10 am on February 17-I will be using the Chazman bowl again this year to determine the winner. If you aren't familiar with the Chazman's bowl then let me explain. As each comment is posted...I print it off...fold it up and place it in a glass bowl. On the 17th..the Chazman (my 8yr old) will pull one of the folded pieces of paper out and Tahdah....a winner!!!

4. I will notify the winners via e-mail. Important: if your profile page doesn't contain your e-mail address, or you are not an active blogger, please include your e-mail address in your comment.

5. Since we must mail our gifts out within three days after the event, once I have notified you, you will have 48 hours to respond with your mailing address. That means I must hear from you no later than the 19th. 

Now let's go and take our last adventures and amazing journey through a OWOH door. This is going to be a fantastic year. I just feel it. I hope that everyone has the time to visit each and every blog that is participating. Best of luck to each and everyone on the "gifts" too. Depending on the amount of wonderful folks that come by to visit with me I may add another prize or two along this journey. To me though...I win not matter what because I always seem to find someone as quirky as me to call a friend.

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

Added 2-4-11: WOW..I can not believe that I have had so many comments in just a few days. I LOVE IT!! Ya'll please keep coming to visit. With all the new friends and old friends..well.... not calling YOU old but that I know you already..hehe..coming to visit I thought that I would add another "Thank you" for a second winner.  To keep it fair when the Chazman pulls from the bowl the first person pulled will get to choose which gift they want.

This is Shibee (pronouced Shy-be) He is one of my weebies...which if you don't know what that is let me tell you. It's one of my tiny desk sitters. He is just under 3" tall or would that be short....well let's just say tiny!!! He is fully hand sculpted (clay) and then washed with several different colors of acrylic paints. His eyes (pupils) are tiny glass beads. His heart is also sculpted out of clay and he is sitting on a pretty black feather.  I have put "OWOH 2011" on his heart so he can be a OWOH keepsake.

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