my etsy store

Well, friends have been urging me to do this for years and I finally decided to give it a try.  My bread and butter item are small tin paintings/collages that sell for $20.  I thought these would be perfect for an etsy store.  My little paintings are all original and so fun for me to create.  I decided to call my shop Saddle Up Sunshine after the painting from my last post.  It feels like a good fit. See what you think- click here.  Feedback welcome- it's a learning experience.
Happy Day to you all-

Saddle Up Sunshine

When my daughter, Camille, saw this new painting she titled it "Saddle Up Sunshine."  That made me smile and I think it's a perfect, happy, title for a piece I love, but don't understand yet.

3rd Annual Valentines for Empty Bowls

For the past 3 years I have teamed up with BookWorks to offer a fundraiser for the parent organization that facilitates Empty Bowls.  Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger and was created by The Imagine Render Group.  I call my fundraiser Valentines All Around- I donate my time, BookWorks donates the space, everyone who attends donates $25 and we spend a day making Valentines to send to our families and friends.  All money collected goes directly to The Imagine Render Group.   From the fun of creating a special Valentine to the fun of receiving a handmade Valentine in your mailbox- it's Valentines All Around!

Here are a few photos from our day Feb 1.

It's been too long.

My friend Clara reminded me yesterday that sometimes a picture is enough.  Just get back on that horse.  A blog is one of those things that the longer you go without posting the harder it is to post.  It's been over 2 months, but I'm getting back in the saddle.  So, here's a picture from my journal last week.

                 moving on down the road.......................................................

New Tin Paintings

I'm getting ready for the River Arts Studio Stroll next weekend- Nov 10 & 11.  Here are a few of the tin paintings I've been working on.  They are milk paint and acrylic on galvanized tin.  To finish them I will add a coating of polycrylic for protection and a linen cord as a hanger.

 6.5 x 8.5 in   

 6.5 x 8.5 in   

 6 x 7 in   

 3.5 x 5 in 

3.5 x 5 in

Penland Gallery

Last week I delivered new work to Penland Gallery.  Included were 5 paper mache birds, a paper mache dog and these 3 small paintings shown below.  The frames are embellished so that they become integrated with the painting rather than just being a "holder" for the image.

8 x 10 inches

acrylic, graphite, ink on panel

$300

8 x 10 inches

acrylic and graphite on panel

$300

8 x 10 inches

acrylic, graphite, ink on panel

$300

Cloth Books at Cloth

Last weekend I taught a one day Cloth Books workshop at Cloth Fiber Workshop.  What a good time we had sewing, laughing and creating together.  Several of the participants were experienced quilters and had their sewing machines humming away right off the bat.  It was a fast paced day, but everybody went home with at least one finished book.  Each time I teach I am reminded that to be a teacher is to be a student also.  I always learn from the people in my workshops- techniques or ways of looking at the world.  I am grateful for each new idea.

Check out the other workshops offered by Cloth- clothfiberworkshop.com