My backyard mermaid

I love being in our backyard when the weather is nice.  After being cooped up during the cold, dreary winter months, I try to spend as much time as possible out there.  I paint out there, read out there, nap in the hammock out there, and of course play with the pups.  We dont have tons of land but we are fortunate enough to have a nice privacy fence to ward off the nosy neighbors-if only there was a  way to make it soundproof!-and also let the pups run free in a safe environment.  I've been trying to add little touches back there to make the space even more enjoyable.  This past summer, I made a mermaid to hang on the back of the garage.  She is visible from almost the entire backyard.

I sketched out a basic shape on some fairly thin plywood, and then cut out the shape.  Yes, I cut it out by myself, that's why she's got some wonky spaces.  I then started painting her.  I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to finish her so I painted the fin with scales and just basically thought over different ideas for her.  

I started gluing seashells and little glass marbles onto her tail.  I used quick-set epoxy to attach them.  I gave her fins a more patterned placement of the shells.  I also added more glass baubles around her waistline.  I like how that looked, so then I had to decide what to do with her body and hair.  

I had a terrible time painting her boobs, so I decided she needed a shell bra.  I affixed two of the larger, better matched shells on her torso to cover my awful paint job.  I then went in search of hair material.

I decided that branches would give her a fun, funky 'do and I began epoxying them in a crazy hairstyle.  When everything was attached and dry, She was sealed up since she'd be hanging outside and then, with the hubby's help, we screwed her onto the back of the garage.  I love how she turned out.  I know have a funky, unexpected surprise to make me smile and enjoy the backyard even more!  

Now I just gotta wait for the warm weather to return!  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Vacation!!

I'm officially on vacation for 2 weeks!  No students, no church services, no choir rehearsals.

Instead, we're hopping on a plane Tuesday and heading to Key West to enjoy Fantasy Fest!

I am beyond excited.

I have been making costumes for a month in preperation for this trip.

6 costumes.

3 for me.

3 for C.

I'm not revealing full, but can't resist a sneak peak. 

 Costume no. 1 is an underwater scene filled with glittery seaweed and sparkly fish.

Costume No. 2 is a goldfish!

And costume No. 3 is a mermaid

No, no preview of the mermaid outfit yet!

I used the same pair of shoes and made decorative clips to match each outfit to accomodate the airline baggage costs and restrictions. 

Craig's costumes are "swamp thing" to match my "underwater scene" although he refused to let me glitter his, A light-up jellyfish (did I forget to mention that my underwater scene has twinkle lights in it?!) to match my goldfish costume, and King Poseidon to match my mermaid. 

I had a blast working out each costume, using my imagination and just playing.  My dining room table is now clean again (except for the glitter that I'll still be finding til after Christmas!) and its kinda sad to be done with the costumes.

I am sure this vacation will be an unforgettable one and I'll return recharged and ready to take on the holidays and all the extra things that entails with my jobs. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'll try to be back soon!

My neice's mermaid

Here is the box I made for my neice. I gave it to her as her birthday gift and I think she likes it. I didn't woodburn the quote and words on this one like I did the first. Decided just to paint them on and I think it made for neater wording.

I was able to spend some time in the Art Palace this afternoon and feel refreshed and relaxed. Here's to being able to spend time doing what you love.

A love affair with boxes

I have always, for as long as I can remember, had a fascination with pretty boxes. Any shape, any size, any material. It's almost an obsession and it runs in my family as my grandmother and my sister are the same. One of the projects in SuziBlu's La Sirena class was to woodburn a box. Can you imagine my excitement to start this project?! It turned out just as I had pictured in my head. I love it when a project falls into place like that. I glued on sea glass, used lots of glass bead gel, and embelished away with glitter. It was so much fun, I made another for my niece. I was going to give her this one because when I found the quote I just really wanted to share it with her. But then I found my brain and realized that I had painted her topless-which I usually do for mermaids-and my brother would not approve. So anyways, I'll show you the other box on another day.

I still haven't figured out what to stow in my box, but she's sitting in a place of honor in the art palace and I smile everytime I see it!

Still here

Just a quickie post before I head out for another long training walk. I wanted to let everyone know that I'm still around and doing well. I just cant seem to get in the blogging groove enough to be consistent with it. I'm sorry for that.

I've been working hard in Suzi Blu's La Sirene class. This is the cover I made for my mermaid journal. I used various yarns to make seaweed and have crystals hidden in to give an occasional sparkle. I needed something to place to her side and I adore sea turtles so worked one in to the piece. I love how the background turned out with all the "bubbles and swirls". You can't really see them well in the picture, but they're there and they make me smile.

Sorry to cut this short, but I really want to get my 11 miles done before it gets to hot. Have a wonderful day!

Another Sunday

I made this mermaid a while ago, but she never got posted. It was nice to have something to show as I've got lots in the works, but nothing finished. She is done with acrylics over a watercolor background. She's got a polymer clay face (from a mold) and some outrageous art yarn hair. The face is off in color from the body, but in real life it doesn't look quite so drastic. I like how her tail hangs over the 5x7 base. I'm not sure what I'll do with her but for now she is sitting on my mantel.

I purchased a spirit doll from Groggy Froggy Lisa last weekend. She arrived a few days ago and she is even more amazing than her pictures were. The colors are so vibrant. She is a definetly a wild woman and I love her.

The young adults of my church have started a new fellowship between services and they are having members share things on a voluntary basis. Today a physician started things off by talking about how even the most educated among us dont know so many things. In particular he focused on the phrase "Beyond Human Comprehension". It is "Beyond Human Comprehension" how vast the universe is. We only see what our eyes allow and to be told that beyond that furthest start there is still an endless universe is simply not understandable. It is "Beyond Human Comprehension" how one person gets sick while doing everything right yet another can do many abuses to their body and remain physically stable. While our human nature cannot explain many things I know there is a greater force in charge. I may not understand why God allows for bad things to happen, but I do know that he is there. I feel his presence always, but especially in the little things like the first shoots coming up in the spring or a squeeze of a hand from a loved one. When things get difficult cling to those little things.

I have many of you in my prayers and hope you feel goodness and love coming your way.