Art studio has become a BATTLEFIELD!!!

First off I want to "WELCOME" my new friends. So happy that you came to visit and decided to stay!!!
Keep coming to visit, as this year I'm going to be giving away some of my art...at least once a month.  No do this or do that....all that will be required is to simply post a comment. I will pick a post and then say which comment will receive the gift. Pick as in what number comment...like "the 5th person to comment on this post will receive a gift." This is my way of saying thank you for visiting and a way to share my art!!  ^_^

Now....let's talk about my title, shall we?  HAHA  Yesterday you will recall that it was my mermaid soul and faerie soul that decided to have it out. (my souls are my muses...I was cursed blessed with several) What a ruckus those two caused too. Remember ya'll left me with clay balls being thrown at me....not good..so not good. I wouldn't leave you!! Well....ok....I wouldn't leave but I have to admit I probably would be laughing so hard that....ummmm...yes...ok...I would help you!! Now while those two were battling it out and being distracted, my gypsy soul decided to take advantage and come out. She reminded me that she loves Valentine's day and wanted to add her flair to my art. I think her addition was quiet lovely...............

Bronze wire was used to make the heart and then attached with silver wire one of my 80 year old vintage red glass beads and a tiny glass message bottle. There is a handwritten note inside the bottle that simply states "I LOVE YOU".  The fish hook earring wire is bronze and they have bronze stoppers on the back so that you won't loose them.

The next pair are two hearts attached. (two hearts together make one heart in love) Bronze wire was used to make the hearts as well as to attach them together.  Then I used some more of the vintage red glass beads and a tiny silver glass bead. The fish hook earrings are bronze with the stoppers attached. I love bronze...it goes with both gold and silver....or at least I think so.

The last set is one simple heart with the vintage red beads and tiny silver glass bead attached. Perfect for Valentine's...ri iight? Oh who am I kidding...these would be perfect anytime. ^_^

Now...my mermaid soul has wandered in and is looking around and I do believe before she can get anything started that I am going to work on my little sea dragon.

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

Totally Terrific Thursday...YEAH BABY!!!

Can ya believe it's Thursday already? It is Thursday, ri iight? HA  Time is going by way to fast for all the things I need to get done. Ya'll know how bossy my muse can be and....well.....time is something that doesn't effect her like me so she won't let me use that for an excuse. I tell her "It's not an excuse...it's THE reason". ^_^

I'm working on several things today. One is the Santa and the antique toys piece. Here's a WIP (work in progress) photo. Be warned....it's just a head, hands and feet laying about BUT no Santa's are ever harmed during the process..hehe  HEY...I don't want to be put on his naughty list!!

The other thing I'm going to do (while taking a break from working on Santa) is making some of my jewelry pieces. I actually started some of my gypsy/mermaid bracelets yesterday afternoon when I finished with Santa and LuLu. I'm going to be making some earrings today too. Well....that's the plan at this moment!!

I love working in my little space but last night the hubbikins wanted me to watch TV with him so I took some of my work in the family room. Have to please the hubbikins even though he always falls asleep on the sofa and so doesn't know if I'm in the room..HA!! That is unless I reach for the remote...then he's awake. Is there a button on males that is connected to the remote? I wander ^_^  Now...I don't mind working anywhere, it makes me happy to be using my hands to make things. The problem is that if I am sitting down, Ms Peaches thinks that I am her personal sitting cushion. FOR REALS...every time I sit down she is right there. I think I might have solved that problem for a bit. She jumped up there last night and would not stop batting at my macrame ....so......I put a Santa hat on her that I had been sewing. HAHA...so cute but I don't think she thought so. What do YOU think?

Until next time........HUGS,
Regi (and Ms Peaches, old grump..hehe)

Still Here!!!!

 I do apologize for my absence as of late. It seems that "LIFE" is just getting in the way a bit as well as my muse has decided to go on a hiatus of some sort. Those that know me, know that I normally work on one thing at a time but here of late I have my fingers in several different ones at once. That could end up being very dangerous or at least some what interesting...ri iight? I guess as artist we all go through these times.....times where we doubt ourselves...times where it seems we have no support...times where our muse has just simply up and gone "POOF". I need my muse whispering in my ear...really I do.

I can prove that I have been working on a few things, as you can see from my messy work station. No comments about the mess either. I know some that keep theirs even messier....not pointing any fingers..hehe
I am working on several tiny mermaid sculpts plus some new gypsy jewelry designs.

I have finally gotten a nice collection of leather and fabric belts so that I can start working on some of my wrist cuff designs. A few of the fabric ones will have bead work on them....some of the leather will have some of my clay beads and or medallions on them as well as both probably having some micro macrame'.

Of course it's getting close to Christmas time too so that means several new Santa ooaks in the works. I'm really excited because I'm finally going to do two that I have been waiting to do. I needed the perfect props to go with them and I finally found them this past weekend. Not going to say what they will be but here are the props.....

Well perhaps my muse did leave me enough inspiration after all...that is before she took off to where ever it is that she goes from time to time. I want to thank all my friends that have not forgotten me and continue to come to visit here under the old Southern Oak tree. I love your visits and your comments. I promise to be here to greet you....always!!!

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

Regi

PS....one of my friends, Laurie over at Kottage Kreations, after reading my post here invited me to join in a Wednesday blog hop called "What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday over at Stamping Ground. I had never heard of it before this but am so happy that I know about it now. Why don't you go and check it out? I have to admit...it's fun seeing what other's are working on and "ahem" seeing that my desk is not the only messy one. Just click on Stamping Ground above and perhaps you will join in the fun too.

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

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

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