Holiday Santa on Etsy

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....and this jolly fellow is available in my Etsy shop today! Click here to see more pictures and to purchase. Happy Holidays! :)

Winter Snowgirl with Vintage Trimmings in my Etsy shop

This piece is available today in my Etsy shop. She is part of Etsy's Co-Op AD in the new issue of Home Companion magazine on sale now. She is all bundled up for winter and would make a wonderful addition to your Holiday decor!
Winter is just around the corner, and we are just feeling the first signs of it here in Sacramento California....it has been raining since yesterday, and I just love the rain! I hope you are all enjoying the weather in your neck of the woods, as I am here today. :)

Winter is in the air....

If you receive Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine, you will see a full page AD showcasing many of the wonderful things that you can buy on Etsy.com! I was lucky enough to secure a spot in this Co-Op AD, and featured the piece above to represent my work. This feminine snowgal will be available for purchase in my Etsy shop this Saturday November 1st by noon Pacific time. So please check back then if you are interested!

If you live in Northern California you mustn't miss American Harvest's open house this Saturday and Sunday November 1st and 2nd! This will be a wonderful kick off to the holiday season where you will find fabulous artwork by many local artists including myself, and my good friend's Iva Wilcox, and Donna O'Brien. The open house runs from 10a to 5p on Saturday and 11a to 5p on Sunday, and people always line up early in anticipation for all of the new one of a kind delights that will be there. Below are just a few of the pieces that I have made especially for their open house, and if you are not able to attend in person, you can always contact the store by phone as they are able to ship items directly to their customers!





In addition to whipping some new holiday goodies, I was able to sneak in some fun family time at the Exploratorium. This is a fabulous learning museum with tons of hands on activities for children and adults of all ages. It was one of my favorite places to go when I was young, and so it was a joy to take my son Simon there for his first visit. Here he is making large bubbles....

And with dad watching gravity pull the metal marbles down into the funnel.
I also had the one of the most amazing experiences attending the Art & Soul retreat in Portland at the beginning of October with my good friend Teresa. Here we are out shopping after a day of classes...gotta get my shopping fix in! :)
I was only able to take pictures during one of my classes, and that was a class I took from Michael DeMeng. He is an amazing teacher, and I learned a tremendous amount of tips and techniques in his class! Here are a few pictures of his work...he was kind enough to let me shoot them. If you are not familiar with his work, please take some time to check out his book...it's fabulous!


Teresa and I stopped into a fun little shop called Paperdoll in Portland one night after class. This shop is filled to the brim with rubber stamps and supplies...I was in heaven!! If you are ever in the Portland area, take some time to visit this shop...the owner is a sweetie, and you won't be disappointed in their unique selection! Here are a few pics I shot of her shop....


I love this front window display!!
During my time in Portland, I spied a rainbow as Teresa and I were headed out to lunch. I shot this picture through the window, so it's hard to tell, but it was a vibrant and amazing rainbow! A treat for the eyes, and that was how my entire trip was...a creative treat for my soul. I am already looking forward to next year! I have more pictures to post from trip and will be back soon to share those with you. :)

New Fall Folk Art & Jewelry!

Please take a peek at my Etsy shop today to see new one of a kind fall Folk Art creations in paper mache, and fun new jewelry pieces including vintage charm bracelets, two sided old postcard image necklaces, and the unique Steampunk necklace pictured above. Happy Fall!

A Fabulous Show filled with Fantabulous Folk Art & Friends!

It was an amazing day for all that participated and came to enjoy it! I met several new friends, and was able to visit and catch up with old friends too. We laughed and had a wonderful time, and the best part was being able to see all of the incredible art by my fellow artists! Please enjoy the pictures, and accept my apologizes in advance....my camera was giving me some problems shooting indoors yesterday, and many of my pictures did not come out good. Also, I was not able to take a picture of Connie's wonderful table of treasures, but I encourage you to pop over to Donna's blog where you can see much better pictures of the show, including one of Connie's table. Above is Iva's table....she outdid herself putting this show together, and still found time to make some amazing works of art! Below is a smaller table that Iva set up showcasing the latest issue of Somerset Studio magazine where she has a featured piece! Thank you Iva for all of the hard work and effort you put into Tinsel and Treasures....it was a huge success! :) Please click on these pictures....they all enlarge!

Here are some of Colleen's festive Holiday dolls and decorations! I just love her pumpkin gal in white with vintage orange trim!

Here is Colleen's other table....breathtaking!

More of Colleen's pumpkin head shakers and this amazing doll on top of a vintage pumpkin lantern! Too cool!!

These lovelies were jaw dropping...vintage trims, the tiniest details, and hand work all make these one of a kind dolls a must have work of art! My picture just does not do them justice.

Here is a shot of Donna's table...these pictures speak for themselves...delightful! It was hard to pick a favorite piece on her table...they were all amazing!

Her incredible crowns fit for a queen....they were all sold out as quick as you could blink an eye! I know all of the ladies out there will enjoy them.... :)

One of Donna's theaters....love the tiny details and trims on this one!

Some more beautiful pieces.....the wee silver boots are charming!

I love this piece too....wonderful colors and trims!

Here is sweet Ulla's display....I love her pumpkin headed mannequin, and the skeleton gal all dressed up was a creative touch!

Here are some of Ulla's reliquaries....each a lovely and unique work of art! Stop by Ulla's blog to see more of her one of a kind jewelry creations!

Here is Gina's table, and I am so sorry that I wasn't able to get better pictures of her work! Her girls are so fun and each has it's own personality....just lovely! Stop by her website to see more pictures of her art.

And last but not least, is my table display below. :) I still have a few new one of a kind pieces available for purchase and will be showcasing them for sale next Saturday September 20th at noon pacific time, in my Etsy shop, so please stop in and see what's new for Fall!

Thank you again to Iva, and to Colleen for helping to make this a special day for all of us! :) I am already looking forward to next year's show!

My New Friends Are Getting All Dressed Up...

And bringing all of their goodies along too...Tinsel and Treasures is almost here! I hope you can join us for the big event! :)

6 Days and Counting.....

Before my new Fall Friends make their debut at the Tinsel & Treasures Show in Danville Ca. on Saturday September 13, 2008. Magic and mystery await you!

Tinsel and Treasures!

I am taking a short hiatus as I finish new items for the upcoming Tinsel and Treasures show on Saturday September 13th. For those of you in California, this show will be a fabulous kick off for fall, with wonderful sculpted folk art, one of a kind jewelry creations, mixed-media collage, whimsical crowns, and beautifully dressed dolls! There will be a mix of both Fall/Halloween and Christmas, as well as items that can be enjoyed year round. Please check out the website for all of the details by clicking the link above. This is a "must see" show so mark your calendars! :)

Spooky Sparkle & Wax.....

Stop by PFATT Marketplace tonight and see what's new for August....I am getting a jump start on fall...and things are a little spooky! :)

Summertime....

Wait a minute...snowman in summertime!??? Is something wrong with this picture? Nope...it's Holly Jolly July over at PFATT Marketplace right now, and the snowman guy above is a new collage piece I created just for this event! I was also lucky enough to be chosen as the featured artist for the month of July, so you can read all about how I got started on my artistic journey, and what inspires me. You can check it out here.
This looks a little more like summer! I only had one chance to snap this pic of a pretty butterfly feeding in my front yard before it flew away....
Here are some of my recent summertime flea market finds....love the vintage ballet slippers!!
Part of our fourth of July celebration included a stop in Santa Cruz for some fun in the sun at the beach.....
And at the boardwalk! It felt great to dip our toes in the ocean, and we had a blast on all of the rides!


Here's a recent steampunk necklace I created using antique glass beads, watch parts, and a tintype photograph. I just love how this one turned out!

Try to stay cool this summer, and I hope you are able to have a lot of summertime fun of your own!