Snow and a Show

Well I guess I can start talking about Christmas now
because it snowed here the other day (just a little)
and I had my first holiday show yesterday.

The show was hosted by my friend Kathy Vantreese
the talented artist and owner of Cold Nose Productions

and her crazy sidekick the ever elegant yet odd Madame Stella.
Stella arrived late and by the looks of it I think she had already been dipping into the eggnog
a bit earlier.
Oh Stella!


Kathy is currently working on her new website
and I have been trying to get her blogging, we'll have to wait and see.
So until she does I will share some photos of her work and provide her email,
coldnose@charter.net just in case you see something you must have for the holidays.
She salvages wool blankets and sweaters,
felts them and turns them into fun and festive creations.
Such as:
Embellished gloves, patched pockets for sunglasses or cell phones,
decorative pillows,


and these super fun felted garlands, that sold like crazy:)!
She also makes rag rugs, felted stuffties and Christmas trees.
Her work is happy and homey with a touch of nostalgia,
truly a delight.

The sweet little plaid flower brooches are the handy work of my talented friend Mary Kushner.
Are these not the cutest, I just love plaid!

Here is a close up.

If you want one or a "bunch":) let me know and I will put you in touch with Mary.

Kathy had me set up my display in the front of the shop with the window as my backdrop.
It was a lovely bright day and my ornaments glistened in the sunshine.
The Perfect setting to introduce some of my new pieces...
A new garland in a Scottie dog theme
New mitten ornaments,


and new wall tiles, take a close look at the ribbon.
Hand made out of a muslin strip embellished with paint and word stamps!

I love how this turned out I think this would be so sweet for a child's first Christmas or an adorable addition to a nursery.


And cottagie fish in fun colors.




The show was a great success and so much fun!
Just what I needed to get me in holiday motion.
My next show is the day after Thanksgiving at our high school in Indian River.
So the next few weeks are going to be a paper mache marathon!


I have more new pieces to share but I have to get some house projects done and packages ready for the mail so that's all for now my dears:)
I can't wait to settle in with a cup of tea later tonight and visit with all of you via blogland.
xoxo,
Mary

Gathering the Goodness of Fall

I love to capture real life moments with words and paper mache.

The other day I was sitting on the window seat in my studio,
working on my to do list for the day when a squirrel caught my eye.
He sat on the branch of our big old oak tree munching away.
His tail curled along his back like a blanket.


I let my eyes fall down the moss covered trunk to my flower bed below.
The flowers had begun to bow to the autumn chill
while still clinging to their faded blossoms aged by wind and rain.



Such a beautiful pallet of browns, pinks, purples and greens.

The blue sky was alive with flocks of birds
that moved with effortless grace like choreographed dancers.
I was so inspired by this moment
I was moved to create a piece that would capture this beautiful scene.



Sometimes when I make a new piece or a painting,
a story starts to emerge and sometimes just a few short lines.
I love incorporating words into my work.
To me this adds one more dimension or layer to the piece.
Drawing the viewer in an enveloping them into that moment.

As I looked out the window I was reminded of the old saying " birds of a feather flock together"
and decided to incorporate this into the work.
This piece has a an excerpt from the poem below which I wrote in free verse form.


The wind whips and the trees dance. Leaves swirl to the ground like bits of confetti. Sun kissed clouds blush a pale pink against a forever sky. While the squirrels and birds of a feather flock together gathering the goodness of fall.


The excerpt on the tag reads,
"Birds of a feather flock together, gathering the goodness of fall."


This birds on this piece are made with a liquid paper mache mix
which my husband and I have perfected over time.
We pour the mix into a mold that we make out of silicone.
Any molds I use in the making of my pieces are my molds
we have made from my original sculptures.
The original birds where sculpted using paper clay.
Most of my pieces are a compilation of my original castings and hand sculpted components.
Some of my pieces are sculpted all by hand, it just depends on what I am making.


Once the bird castings are dry they are sanded, primed with gesso and then hand painted.
I also seal my pieces with two coats of varnish.

The flowers and small acorn on this garland are made by hand in paper clay.

And as always bits of yarn, ribbon and tattered fabric embellish the piece.

This Garland of Goodness will be available in my Etsy shop on
Wednesday.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bloomingideas


We have had a lovely season for fall this year in northern Michigan.
I am sad to see it go...
The winds have turned colder and the colors are beginning to fade
as the stage is being set for winter.
So as a fond farewell to fall and all it's splendor I leave you with
my Michigan Moments in Autumn.


A country road some where near Mackinaw city.





A trip to Just A plain Farm for pumpkins



In the woods
Apples harvested from my brothers farm

The views out our front window,
across the bay.Spiced pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting,
and warm apple cider.
I hope you have a had a fabulous fall
filled with pumpkin kisses and apple cider wishes.
xoxo,
Mary

Another Trip To the Land Of Glee

We had plans this weekend to go to a local cider mill,

but the weather had other ideas.
It was cold wet and miserable,
so I decided to go to a place where I know the weather is always beautiful.
The Land of Glee.
Such a lovely place is the Land of Glee,
that I just had to bring some of it back with me to share with you.

Okay all silliness aside.
Because of the weather I stayed tucked away in the studio all weekend.
Longing for the colors of fall I decided to make
more trees from the Land Of Glee.

I just put them in my Etsy shop today.


So if your weather is yucky I hope this little trip to the Land of Glee
helped brighten your world.
xoxo,
Mary

Sping Bugs

Ah, spring the season for blooms, bugs and allergies.

I have seasonal allergies and usually they don't bother me too much... but after a week of sneezing, coughing, and congestion I gave in and went to see a doctor. Well, what started as allergies is now a full blown sinus infection, with a side dish of migraines. Oh joy!

I am sick of being sick!
Guy (the hubby) won't let me get up to do anything...
I am going crazy!
So yesterday when he went to the store,
I slinked into the studio to finish up a few projects
and snap a couple of pictures of some work in progress to share...shh!




This is a little paper clay sculpture of my Ollie baby,
I still need to add her base with some sort of saying.

I love how she turned out,
so now I need to make one of her sister Otter baby.
I think it would be fun to offer custom mini pet sculptures like this, as one of our products.
What do you ladies think?
So many ideas never enough time...sigh!

And a sneak peak at the Trees of Glee.
These trees are made of paper pulp and paper clay with wood trunks wrapped in fabric.
They will be mounted to a decorative base.


I am really excited about these and hope to have a few finished by Sunday.

I feel so behind, I hope I have more energy soon!

Take care and don't let the Spring Bug get you too!

Ahchoo...
Mary

I Wish....

I wish I were here.....

But sadly I am here,

This was the view outside our studio yesterday.

Still pretty snowy here in northern Michigan,
and there is not a lot I can do about it.

Except create art that reminds me of warmer days.
In My last post which was oh so long ago... ( I have been sick in bed with acute bronchitis for two weeks for the second time this winter!!!!)

I said I would be tackling a mirror sculpture and so I have.
I am very pleased with the image and overall scene especially the beach chairs and umbrella.
I was very hesitant to try and sculpt Adirondack style chairs
but I think they turned out pretty good.

( This might make a really cute print or greeting card...hmmm.)


I had some difficulty
with the armature I chose to sculpt on.

Medium density fiberboard also known as (mdf).

As it tends to warp as the pulp shrinks and drys; I was concerned this might happen
so to try and prevent it I sealed the mdf with varnish first,
to repel the water that would leach from the pulp.
I must have missed a spot or two...oops live and learn, oh well it will look cute in my guest room.

Now that I am finally feeling better and have had a couple of days
back to work I have a few other new pieces to share.

Another Bodda Bloom...

in yummy shades of pink, vanilla and brown.
Makes me think of cake and ice cream!
But come to think of it lots of things make me think of cake and ice cream, hee hee.

Our signature Cocoa Cottage in Buttercup yellow,
mounted to a scalloped wood plaque that is painted in fun colors, so sweet.




And some spring Birdie Sugar Cookie ornaments just in time for Easter.









All this fun springy stuff will be headed to our Etsy shop in a couple of days,
I will keep you posted.

I hope it's getting springy in your world!

Cheers,
Mary