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

The Craft Cupboard Cronicles

Most of the boxes have been unpacked,
and our cottage is beginning to feel more like home.

I have even had some spare time to fluff my little nook of a finishing studio.
Due to the nature of the medium I work in (paper mache) which is so dusty when sanded
I need two separate work areas.
One for messy work and one for finish work.

So here are some pics of my little nook on the first floor
and the re-purposed old pine armoire.

(CLICK ON PHOTOS TO VIEW LARGER)

This is the view from the door way.
We built the window seat ages ago but I just added the skirt.
Great for storage and it adds a nice finishing touch.
Now truth be told I don't sew....the skirt is made from two store bought curtains
attached with a ribbon that is strung across the wood seat
under the cushion.

I just put the ribbon through the rod pocket on the curtains
and slid them back towards the back of the seat until it was the right length.
Works for me!





These little chairs are just the right size for this room,
but way out of proportion with the giant armoire/craft cupboard.

I don't care their just to cute!
I found them about a year ago at an antique mall in Ohio.
I had them in my old studio and just could not part with them.

I drafted a design and handed them over to my seamstress,
I think she did a beautiful job.

The fronts or face of the top portion of the slip covers
are made from two place mats I had in my stash.

They have a pattern stitched into them reminiscent of crewel work, so yummy.


I was going to paint them but I think I will wait and see how the rest of the room shapes up.
I still want to paint a small floor cloth and that will add color.

So now on to the craft cupboard....


Almost...

Lowering the work top....



ta da!
Here is what I have done so far;

I have added an upholstered board to the inside backboard using a quilted cream fabric.
I will also be attaching painted chicken wire over the fabric
to create a display/memo surface to this area.


I covered the work surface in a floral mini print in cream and white,
and then topped that with a piece of clear vinyl for easy clean up.


Organized all my stuff,


and added some fun string lights for twinkle.

I did not care for the green electrical cord the lights came on,
so I wrapped it in fabric strips.


I filled it with some of my favorite finds and keepsakes,
like this vintage bunny vase that holds my late Nana's paint brushes.
My Nana was such an amazing artist and person, she was so inspiring. I am so thankful
to have these brushes. I have many treasures from her estate but these will always be my prize
possession. My Nana brought her beautiful dreams to life with these simple tools.
They remind me to start simple and dream big.


And some friendly faces to cheer me along as I work,

Oh, and one more thing a sneak peak at my newest creation.
Twinkle Toes Tilly The Bunnarina.
She is hiding behind the garden gate because she does not have her tutu yet.
She said, "no respectable Bunnarina would have a picture taken of them in just a leotard."

Wow I just finished making her yesterday and she is already a Diva!

As soon as I finish Tilly's tutu I will share some pics,
that is, if it's ok with her. Tee hee:)

Ta ta my lovies!
Thanks for letting me share,
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

Mr. and Mrs. Flake are finally finished!

FLAKES
Originally uploaded by Blooming Ideas

Well, here is the happy couple huddled against the winter chill.
Mrs. Flake in her pink and powder blue snowflake scarf and her her hubby Francis in his straw hat with blue sash and sprig of holly for a festive touch.

It took some work to get the molding process down for these two snow people sweeties but well worth the effort I think.

These pieces are first sculpted by hand in paper mache and paper clay, from there we make a mold of the originals. Then the new pieces are cast in a paper pulp mix. Once dry the finishing process begins. Sanding,priming,painting,varnish and then embellishing.

I am so pleased with the results we are definitely adding these to our new product line.

let me know what you think we love to get feed back.

Thanks for stopping by the studio,
Mary

Blooming New Ideas In The New Year

"Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your business grow?"

"Like a garden." I've always said.

To me, the cycles in business are a lot like the seasons in a growing garden.
First come the seeds of inspiration or ideas which you plant in a fertile environment.
You cultivate and nurture this environment(in this case with advertising).
You water it a lot, with your own sweat and tears!

Then you wait, watch and pray and pray....... and pray a little more.
Then one day you start to see growth; those seeds begin to take root!
Soon beautiful blooms appear and you begin to attract others to your garden.

Seasons pass and those few seedlings are now many. The garden is lush and beautiful.
You have mastered growing and caring for these blooms, yet those seeds of inspiration keep coming and coming.

Pretty soon the garden is more like a wild jungle that needs taming!

Like any good gardener I know it is time to prune my garden.

So with a lump in my throat and an ache in my heart I bid farewell to the past seasons in my business and prepare for a new season of growth; a season of branching out and venturing down new paths. Painful, yes, but necessary if I want my business to continue blooming, and thats who we are and what we do.

We bloom ideas...hence the name Blooming Ideas LLC.

We, my husband Guy and I, have been carefully planning and cultivating our new product line for some time. Some of our new ideas have begun to bud while others are still just seeds of inspiration, but I know our dedication and enthusiasm will produce a bounty of whimsical gifts and home decor.
Being an artist, naturally I am a very visual person and when I am embarking on a new venture
instead of making a task list, I think out loud through sketches. For me this adds dimension to the abstract, making it more tangible and real.

Here is a sketch of my vision for our new garden of goodies, these are just my first ideas.




I am sure it will change over time but this visual will help make it less overwhelming.
I hope.

The first order of business is to temporarily close the garden gate (our website) while we
prune the product line to make room for the new. Once the new ideas have formed into blossoms we will reopen our garden of goodies.

In the meantime I will be periodically posting and boasting about our new designs.
Your feed back and thoughts on these new products would be most appreciated.
So please comment!

We are preparing this new line for our first trade show this summer.
It is called Beckman's Handcraft www.beckmans.com it is held twice a year once in January and then again in July.

I have attended this show many times as a buyer, but now that the shoe is on the other foot it feels very strange. I guess I can chalk it up to growing pains,
and like the old saying goes "no pain no gain."

Well thats all for now from my little corner of the world.
Take care and thanks for stopping in.

Mary