New and Improved Pesky Piskie Photos

Thanks to the sunshine (and the realization that my macro setting was somehow turned off) I have some improved pictures of the captured Cornish Piskie!

 

Here she is, sitting still for just a moment. Piskies do not sit still for long. If you happen to capture one, you must act quickly and be very patient in order to get a good photograph.

It was quite dangerous of me to remove the lid, I could have lost a finger! Thanks to BLiSsAngELs for the suggestion that a nibble of cake might appease her for a short while, I was only nipped twice. 

How big is she? Well her box measures just 5" tall, and don't worry, the lid, once again, is firmly in place.

Ode to Stash Joy Shrine

So there's this sad little box that has been in my stash for ages. At some point I had painted it black, gave it glittery yellow interior and some sparkly red trim but it sat in my 'to do' drawer for about 3 years untouched. That is until yesterday when I got a bit 'stuck'. When I get stuck I try to get myself going again by cleaning up my mess. When doing so yesterday, I came across the little black box. I thought that it might be a nice little project to get the mess making juices going again...

 

I just began gluing things down and eventually it became a shrine to the all of the little bits in my stash that never get used. You know, all those beads and sequins and things that sit around and rarely get used and you think "I can't get rid of those! What if I need 10,000 star sequins one day?"

 

Anyway I rather like it. It feels lovely and heavy in your hands. It's a bit of a mess... but a hot mess... and I think it's rather joyous in it's sparkly goodness.

I'm thinking I'll make a larger one next time and REALLY go to town using those old stashy things that have gone far too long without attention.

Sneaky peeky at a pesky piskie

I worked on this piece today. A captured Cornish Piskie.

I was pretty darned pleased until I tried to photograph her. Grrrr. She was pulling all sorts of horrible faces, moving around so that the pictures were blurry, and hiding in the shadows. Here's hoping a good night sleep will do her good and she'll be more photogenic in the sunshine tomorrow.

Fingers crossed she doesn't escape before then!

A goat named Nymeria

I finished up another painting inspired by Missing Willow Farm last night. This one is much smaller than the last at 8" x 6"

I dropped the lamb painting off at Impresario Artisan Market on Sunday and Rebecca commented on the sort of dabby, smooshy kind of painting I do. I didn't always do that. I used to paint like this...

Those studies are pretty darned accurate, but reproducing something is a skill and is only one part of the act of  making. I eventually came to a point where it became more important to enjoy the painting process, to celebrate the little strokes and ticks of colour than to get hung up on perfect rendering.

Now, if you'll pardon me, I think I'll got and get dabby with some oils ;)

Pixie Box

You may recognize the pixie from this piece. She was the gal on the Valentines Day cards I made this year. I'm pleased to say she now has a permanent home in this piece.

It measures 10" tall, the outside painted like the night sky with a few sparkles and stars too boot.

She's already made her way to Impresario Artisan Market in Cobourg. Hopefully she'll find a nice home quickly. If not I'll have to sneak her back and adopt her out myself ;)


AND... If you're living in the Great White North, HAPPY FAMILY DAY! No idea what I'm talking about? Family Day is a new holiday here, smack dab in the middle of the winter blahs. Some people belly ache over it, saying it's a silly made up holiday, but I say anything promoting a day with the family is a good thing. The Pixie family plans? ROCKBAND! The hardest decision I plan on making today is drums or vocals.

Exploding carousel box

I've been working really hard the past few days. As usual there are three million works in progress in my studio but I was determined to get at least one or two done this week. So I've worked my fingers to the bone and managed to complete a number of projects.

One of the items completed this week (which is a little bit of a fib because it'll get a few more finishing touches still) is this exploding carousel box from alphastamps.com. Laura over at Artfully Musing created a Valentine masterpiece with the same box and even has a tutorial.

 When the lid is lifted, the sides fall open and reveal another compartment inside.

(I really like that this lid comes off completely.)

There's gorgeous paper flowers and a little house in there.

Really, the possibilities with this box are endless...

... but I am partial to butterflies and moss ;)

Favourite products?

  

Gardenias - Mixed Pink: Absolutely scrummy. So good it's the type of thing you're tempted to hoard and save.

Olde Curiosity Shoppe Butterfly Specifics Scrapbook Paper  I adore this paper and use those lovely butterflies at every opportunity.

Little Lamb Painting

One of my favourite crafty peeps is Connie at Missing Willow Farm.

If you haven't visited her blog, YOU MUST GO NOW!

At this very moment there are posts galore of gorgeous baby animals. I'm pretty sure if I lived there I'd be making a right fool of myself baby-talking and cooing over all the little lambs and kids.

Connie was kind enough to let me use her photos as reference for a painting or two. Here's the first completed.

He's far from perfect, I know, but he's rather sweet and a nice size at around 31" x 21".

This one was done with acrylic and I think I might try the next in oils. I'm sure I'll regret that decision after about three minutes.

P.S. Just 2 days left to bid on a personalized 'Borrower's Box' The auction is currently at just $11.50 so get over there and START BIDDING!