Flowering broccoli...

'Tis not really the time of year to be talking about flowering broccoli, but that's what happens here in Florida if you don't harvest your broccoli before it "bolts." Part of me regrets not getting my brocco superfresh from the garden, but the other part of me loves the tiny yellow flowers all over the crown. It's also feeding the bees, which are few and far in between (it seems.) If you look closely toward the top of the flower, you'll see the bee.

We've had a very warm December. Hopefully we had our winter in November..., but there's still January to get through. Can you tell I love hot weather...?

I have eggplant going in the garden and my windowsill is full of green tomatoes, that will eventually turn red. I brought them inside when we had a cold snap.

Creative-wise? Have been slacking somewhat, but I sold four bracelets and a handbag last Saturday, and I also got a pretty nice consignment check! The year is going out with a nice bang.

On that note HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you, and may 2009 be a happy and prosperous year!

Last Saturday at the Purple Moon...

I was working at the Purple Moon last Saturday and I got a picture of one of my handbags on the wall there. This one is wildly pomegranety, lemony, orangey, plumish, and pink grapefruit-ish. Ahh, all those fruity flavors.... my mouth is watering. I also got a picture of one of the regular customers and friend, Bill, eating a big slice of red velvet cake. (Don't you just love the name of that cake?) There's live entertainment on weekends, so here's a picture of Jayne Kelli from St. Petersburg. Isn't she gorgeous? She has a voice to match!

I'm seeing stars...

Did another star mirror with polymer clay tiles, and this one proclaims that You Are A Star! We all are, one way or the other. I've been busy doing anything BUT art lately. I did knit another handbag, this one in reds and yellows. Will post a picture soon.

I had a leak under my washer and it destroyed the subfloor, so now there's a smelly mess in the laundry area... aargh! Not fun, but things happen.

Treasure Box class in Palm Harbor...

Yesterday I taught a class at Oak Trail Books in Palm Harbor, Florida. The ladies attending learned how to put together a polymer clay tile embellished "Treasure Box." We had so much fun! I took some pictures, but my camera died. Bummer! :( I got a couple though. If you ever visit Palm Harbor located just a few miles north of Clearwater, make sure you visit Oak Trail Books. It's in the Historical district on Florida Ave. The coffee shop next door is called the "Witches Brew," and the decor inside is adorable! Based on the Wizard of Oz decor. I'll take some pictures and post later! You can check out the bookstore at http://www.oaktrailbooks.com/.

Lesley and Stacey picking out tiles to paint...

Gladys also picking through a table full of tiles...

Paula arranging tiles on her box.

It was very interesting to see how everyone's box came out so different even though they had basically the same raw materials.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...

To all of you, Happy Thanksgiving! I'm eating "not turkey" since I'm a vegetarian, and lots of tasty veggies! I've been exploring the raw diet for two years, eating about 2 raw meals a day, ane one cooked. It makes you feel like a MILLION DOLLARS. Yay! If you're interested in more info, check out Alissa Cohen, David Wolfe, Paul Nison, Gabriel Cousens, and many more gurus in the raw food health movement. Lots of invaluable information. They all have websites and classes, and materials to purchase. These people are way ahead of their time.

xoxo

Maria

Do you love sweet things?

Maybe a dumb question to any female readers of this blog... Anyway, people are raving about the sweet goodies in this etsy shop: http://www.redpoppybakery.etsy.com Check it out. The Holidays are coming. Why not wow 'em with sweet decadence....?

xoxo
M

The Sands of Time...

This collage, mixed media piece may or may not be done, but it is for now. :) The sands of time reminds me of generations, and how we women evolve. Our ancestors "bleed through" to the current time as the paper collage in the back suggests. I love doing collages, but I never know where the piece will end up. For the most part I don't have any plans, I just go along as the moment seizes me. Some collages don't work out at all... but hey, you can always gesso over it, and have a fresh canvas with interesting texture. I just LOVE ART!!! Woo-hoo...

Steampunk bracelet...

Mata Hari's Secret is the name of my latest charm bracelet creation. A secret lover is sending her a message in the hidden locket, and the charms remind her of the all too brief times they spent together. Lots of charms, vintage beads, and Swarowski crystal for that element of bling. This bracelet is for sale on etsy, so if you get a hankering, visit my store! :)

Busy, busy, busy making Christmas presents for friends and customers. 'Tis the Season... Ho, ho, ho.

Arabian Nights...

As opulent as any palace mirror comes my purple and pink mosaic mirror. I like over the top colors and mosaics, could you guess? Sorry about the pictures, but the full picture is not good.

I've been busy researching print making of my originals, and it's interesting. I haven't really found any print that has come out just the way I want it, but I keep trying... If you have any great sources for prints let me know.

Got a Morning Glory picture finally!

I've been trying for weeks to get a blue morning glory picture, and I finally got one. I know it's not perfect, but I absolutely love the color! It had started to wilt and the purple color on one edge is fabulous!

Then I took a picture of the ONE red leaf I found in the yard. Here in FL the leaves kind of dry and fall off, no colors to speak of.

I'm waiting for my second crop of tomatoes. They are green now, and I have some cucumbers coming.

Yummy!

Creative ideas taking flight...

Got myself into a collage last night, and it was FUN! I was going to paint, but I had this collage that had been partially finished sitting around. I got the idea on how to finish it, so I went for it. Sometimes it takes time to get a piece just the way you like it.

Morning walk...

On my morning walk I saw some cool things (all in my backyard.)

This is the leaf of the potato vine, a very invasive vine that smothers everything around here, but isn't the leaf so very pretty? Like a heart.





This is some sort of fungi. The ground is full of them, and they look really cool. There's an ants' nest in the middle. This is a good view of FL soil, SAND, SAND, and more SAND. I live 6 miles from the sea...

Bailey goes with me on my walks, sometimes somewhat hump-backed to protect his underbelly from the "stick tights" that are abounding. Some kind of seed that sticks to everything. One time I got the bottom of my pants covered with them, so instead of picking them off I decided to wash the pants, but the stickies were still there after the wash!

This is Beautyberry. Aren't these brightly magenty berries gorgeous? Every fall there are clusters and clusters of them, but I never see any birds eat them. Maybe they are just for beauty, as the name suggests..




Cheerios and Chex mix until the next time!

You have star quality...

I've been somewhat busy, but not really. I made a star mirror these last couple of nights... You have star quality! All of my friends are stars, all shiny and good! :) Some are even cosmic...

The image in the mirror is the underside of the overhanging tin roof at the shop where I paint furniture. It protects my paint booth from rain, though there are some rust spot holes.

Weather is cooling off, in the forties last night. Brrrr. My tomatos are really going brrrr. They don't like temperatures under 50. They will wear sheets tonight.

Shabby chic mosaic table

Here's a table I made some time ago, and that I would love to sell. I used blue and pink Willow pattern china and yellow-and-white china in this piece, and it's a square vintage pedestal table. The top measures 18x18" and it's 26" high.

I might put it on etsy...

Spider alert!

I don't mind spiders at all, and here in FL we have lots and lots, small, medium and large. Then there is the extra large. Here a picture of the lovely Banana spider, which is 2 inches from back toe to front toe. It's harmless and weaves the most beautiful shimmering, layers and cone shaped webs that are really strong.

According to Native American legend, the spider is the "story teller" so if a spider shows up in your life, maybe it's time to tell some stories, or write them down!? Mother Nature is the most incredible artist, isn't she? The very best!

I have been lazy...

This blog is a good way to stay motivated. Usually I don't lack motivation for making art, but I only made two mosaic tile boxes this and last week. I've got a foster cat that I'll be taking care of for 3 months, so that has been an adjustment in the home. Fortunately Bailey likes her, but there's still some skirmishing going on, and some growling, mostly over my lap, or over food! She's a very sweet cat though, Tabby. I call her Tabby-too (don't ask me why...) She's a fearless, self-confident female, a great role model!

My doodling journal...

I have been doooing a lot of dooodling lately in my sketchbook/journal. Sometimes doodles offer the best new ideas! Doodles are pretty much "wild" though I sometimes see themes of symbols, like spirals or stars. Doodling while talking on the phone can bring out some really pretty vines of flowers or leaves, or strange faces. Maybe the subconscious is set free while the conscious mind is concentrating on the phone? The angel bird started on this page, but I haven't finished the painting. I like to write inspiring words to myself as well as they come. Sometimes a picture will offer the words.

Tired of the same ole same ole...

Got wild last week and knitted a handbag. I've been inspired looking at pictures of gorgeous bags, so I collected the yarn on sale and got myself a-knitting. It is addictive. I learned knitting overseas when I was a kid and it's kind of like bicycling, you never forget. Haven't touched knitting needles in years, but I used to knit these really cool socks. Hmm, Christmas is coming, though FL is not wool sock kind of a state....

Anyway, tried my hand at felting for the first time, and this is the result. There are other threads in the mix that don't felt, but it's a sturdy little thing, and so soft it's like a pet in my lap! :)

Project underway....

I started a collage, couldn't get anywhere with it so I painted over it with these "angel wing" birds. In my art journal I had doodled an angel whose wing morphed into a bird. Then I thought I'd try it on a larger surface with more birds, and this is what I came up with so far. It isn't finished, but it's fun to see the progress, though I admit it's another weird painting....

Old memories...

I spent some time going through my picture collection and found the "Grandma Moses style-era" of my evolution. I had a lot of fun, and I've actually sold most of those originals. Here are a couple of pictures from that time.

It's interesting to see how we change as artists. I'm sure I could sit down and paint another one, but I'm not drawn to the style any longer. I'm more into mixed media these days as there are so many possibilities for exploration. My collage supplies and do-dads are taking over my studio space like an alien invasion!

Are you C-R-E-A-T-I-N-G?? If not, what the heck are you waiting for? ;)

Maria

Bailey is in the bag...

Bailey in the bag going nuts with a knitted ball. Bailey out of the bag is marshalling the felt pumpkins on my porch. He thinks the small ones are fun to bat around. Sometimes I find them in the flower bed below, but at least he hasn't been CHEWING on them. Next, my fall wreath of silk chrysantimums in yellow, orange, and dark red, will come out of its storage bag, or maybe I'll go wild and make a NEW one. What a novelty idea...
Fall is coming even though we're still in the 90s here in Florida during the day, but the mornings are dewy and actully somewhat cool. Yay!
I've got my garden going for the second time this year. Will post some pictures of that later once the plants get a little bigger.
Keep on creating!

Maria

Did decide on a collage...

I went for a collage inside the frame. Used some ripped paper that I painted with a wash and then glued a polymer clay heart onto it. I liked it better than a mirror. The inspiration factor appeals to me, but I don't know that inspirational words inspire anyone. Sometimes, maybe? I keep doing those themes. Now for some pictures:

Live Your Dreams--what else is there to do? Life is short!

Mirror or collage insert?

The opening in this frame is 3.5" square, and I'm debating whether to put a mirror there, or do a collage?

The frame already reads "follow your dreams."

I've been making more colorful tiles lately, and I;'ve found more objects to use as stamps. I also embed pieces like mini keys into the clay. This piece doesn't have that, but I'll post some other pictures.

Just do it! (create that is.)

Maria

Another birthday....

It was that time of year again...another birthday! But I have to say I was very well celebrated by all! Here are some pictures that Leah, my friend and coworker took. She's a great artist, by the way.

Us hugging (me on the left.)

The fabuloso cake that Leah made for me. It was raw, nothing unhealthy about it! I ate the rest for lunch the next day. The picture was pretty cosmic what with the aluminum bench as a backdrop.

Blowing out my one candle... I had to wear a tiara and a sash that said "birthday girl" on it. I made my wish of course...

My bosses, the owners of the Purple Moon, Sherry and Roger, and myself.
I have a garden and they supplied the plants to grow my winter garden this year. Yay!! Happy, happy...

Rachel, my sweet friend and coworker, refused to have her picture taken so I snuck one.

Excited with tissue paper

Art supplies!!!! Is there a better gift for an artist?

There were lots of other people singing and hugging later in the evening, but we started the party before the crowds rushed in for their lattes.

Keep on creating....

Maria

Tiles and more tiles....

I've been making loads of polymer clay tiles lately. Here are some pictures of the process after the clay has been rolled out, stamped, and cut out. I can't seem to get the hang of using a pasta machine, so I'm using my trusty vintage wooden rolling pin... works great!

White tiles ready for the oven.

semi-finished painted tiles














finished painted tiles

WEIRD is now MOON GODDESS...

From Weird to Moon Goddess...

That's a big jump in titles, but the painting had a life of its own. It's finished! Woo-hoo! I had such a good time painting it. Women power and all that. Love, not war. Intuition, listening, not rash acts.

Cheerio,

Maria

"WEIRD" is almost finished...

Yessirre, I'm almost finished with "Weird" and truly weird it is. I'll be posting a picture of it shortly. I have two areas to cover with weirdness still, but I do like the colors (if I may say so myself.) I worked on it for 6 hours straight last night, and was so wired from all the creative output that I couldn't sleep until LATE.
Toward the end of my toils, I squirted out a glob of violet paint from a tube, and it went all over Bailey's paws. The canvas is so large it covers the chair where he usually sleeps. He didn't react even though I took a super wet paper towel to his paws. He just let me rub the paint away, but his yellow stripes now have a violet tint... Bailey, the punk cat. That should put the fear of God into his rival, the black stray tom with no tail.

Sunny here so far. Everyone is waiting breathlessly for Fay to land. I have to keep my rain flip flops handy...

Maria

Boxes up the wazoo...

I've been making lots of mosaic boxes and I'm very grateful that they are selling here locally. Sometimes there gets to be a few too many polymer clay tiles, though. They are EVERYWHERE! I step on them, sit on them, my cat sits on them. They underhandedly sneak into my basket of paper ephemera that lives under my table. And then I can't find some of the lettering. I was looking everywhere for a polymer bar with "heart's desire" stamped into it--actually I was looking for "heart's" and could only find "heart" pieces until I discovered that "heart's desire" resided on one single polymer bar. The word "your" had to be put on extra. Gets complicated, doesn't it? (The picture is a different heart box.)

At some inspired moment I stamped the words like "Life is singing" on a tile. When in the world am I going to use THAT??! It might be singing, but I don't think it'll go on a box any time soon. I also have startling words like "Secrets!" and "Forever" lying around for future projects. Forever is a good Valentine's Day word, isn't it? I could do a "Secrets!' box for someone working at the CIA. Maybe I should make a box with all the left over letters across the lid. That would surely sell...yeah right. So, I'm going letter crazy. :)

It has been driving rain all day and gusting winds, so maybe I can blame it on that.

Cheerio,

Maria

FAMOUS!

I am now famous! I was interviewed on another blog. Please check it out. There are other artists on there too, all really cool artists. There are some felted bags I'm drooling over... Good thing it's only a picture, or the drool...
http://creativevoices1.blogspot.com/

TIME FLIES...WHERE DID THE LAST WEEK GO?

Time really does fly, doesn't it? I've been moderately creative in the last week, mostly painting polymer clay tiles. I've made two smallish mirrors, and here's a picture of one: It has many of my preferred colors: blue, turquoise, purple, silver, bronze, gold. Gaudy, well, duh! I like gaudy (on mirrors.) :)

I made some new cool tiles by blending several colors of clay, but I don't have a picture of that yet.

It's been raining like crazy here in FL, so I'm happily looking at the weather from my cozy studio rather than to be drenched. It does happen at times, though. Got my rubber flip flops for those times when I have to wade through 5" of water...

Ciao!

MY NEIGHBOR FINALLY MOWED THE LAWN...

Yeah, my neighbor got a new lawnmower and mowed the lawn. It was like walking in a green ballroom in the back of the property this morning with Bailey. We like to make a ten minute round to check on the Florida live oaks, maples, saw palmettos, and various hardy flowers that survive the degrees in the 90s that we're having right now. Before it was like walking in a knee high forest, which has its charm too as the weeds were actually blooming. Very pretty! Didn't walk into a spiderweb either. I catch a lot of inspiration from nature, and it's also a stress reliever after a long day at work.
Made some polymer clay tiles last night and they came out nice. They are going on a small mirror shortly. Maybe tonight...
Check out my friend Leah's blog, which she just started. She's an awesomely talented artist, and now she's getting into T-shirt designs. Sign me up for one, Leah!
www.leahreneeart.blogspot.com

Maria

What's YOUR heart's desire?

So, what is your heart's desire? I have asked that many times of myself, and I always come back to the same answer--live a creative life. That can include many things. Life is truly an art, and art is LIFE. Exploring creativety takes one into uncharted waters and it can be both scary and fun. Everyone is creative in some way, and it's important to find that thread of creativity because it really makes a difference. One feels connected to the greater good, and creative ideas are pure genius.

Einstein wasn't a painter (maybe he was?) be he was full of creative energy. Inspiration is what fuels that heart's desire, and inspiration will lead to that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Maria

WHILE I WAS GOING CRAZY OVER THE WEEKEND...

Bailey, my best friend, was in a frisky mood. He has his own chair in the studio or he will try to sit in my lap while I'm working. The one filled with cat hair is his... Anyway, he RULES. Loves to push my pens onto the floor. Unfortunately, I've never been able to get a picture right in the act as it's too fast for the camera. This was right before he did his paw exercise, and I got my back exercise getting down to pick the pen up. Needless to say, I don't for the most part, keep any pens at paw distance, but he got me this time. He looked very smug afterwards, as he always does... He now has a girlfriend, the cat next door, Tabby. She takes no garbage from ANYBODY. I've never met a cat with more self-confidence. Check out the pretty tiger chick.