Little Devil Girl

Last fall I designed a rug with 6 characters for a delightful lady in my Star of Texas class in Tyler. She loved my Halloween characters but wanted the rug to have the phrase "trick or treat smell my feet or give me something good to eat". So in order to get the phrase on the pattern (the pattern is long) I had to create some new characters. Count Dracula was one and this little Devil Girl is another. While I just can't seem to find the time to hook all the designs I have created, I can collage them fairly quickly.

Here is what the gal looked like after painting.....

But the real fun and magic starts during the collage phase. I just love how these characters take on such personality when the collaging begins...

Some of my painted paper ready for collaging.

More paper....

Whenever I paint, I put down wax paper to protect my counters and I just love what I looks like when I'm done. But I'm thinking if I put paper down instead, I could use the paper vs wax paper for collaging. Ah something to think about.

Here is what my paint palette looked like during the underpainting stage.

We just recently returned from Florida and I finished this gal while on the plane. I'll upload the finished piece for you to see as well as some new pieces tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by....Maria

Finished Tulip Heart Collage

I've had a few requests to see the finished Tulip Heart collage but I've had a dickens of a time capturing a good photo of it.  The photos are not the best but you'll at least get an idea of what it looks like. Here are three pictures of the collage.  It is now available as a pattern for $30. 

Today I'm finishing an order fora collage of my Count Dracula and prepping for a class that I'll be teaching on collaging. Some friends are enamored with this craft as much as I am and wanted to learn so add collaging onto the resume!   Hopefully, I'll finish the sample for the class today and share it with you tomorrow.  Oh, and the Count Dracula in the hooked version is almost complete and I can't wait to show you how cute he is hooked!   Stay tuned.  Maria

Here is my latest project, Tulip Heart.  I’m so hoping that the collaging will tone down the colors a tad as this one is even a little bright for me.   I already have the wools picked out for this pattern (new wool that has arrived in the last few days) and am anxious to start hooking it.

I'm crazy about color so I snapped some pictures of my work area while painting.  These colors just make me happy. 

Since the first of the year, I have been diligently trying to purge items that I no longer need.  A blog post (can’t remember the blog) suggested getting rid of 10 items a day and at the end of the month you will have purge 400 items.  I have been doing this faithfully for the last 18 days and have made many trips to Salvation Army.  My family has even joined in on the fun, yeah right….fun being the operative word.   While I have purged a lot of stuff, I think the point of the exercise is to also organize as you go which I haven’t done.  It is a challenge some days to find the time to ditch 10 items.

So you are probably wondering why I am writing about this 10 items a day purge….Well, I've gotten to the point where I have items I want to purge as they don’t fit my décor any longer but don’t really want to take them to a thrift store as I don’t believe they will be appreciated as much as they should.  Lori Rippey sold items recently on her blog at bottom bargain prices to clean out her stash but insure that the items were going to someone who really wanted them and would appreciate them.  Over the next week, I plan to do the same.  I’ll probably do 3 to 4 items at a time and see how it goes. 

My first two items are dolls made by Cheryl Kuhn and let me tell you her handwork is pretty awesome. She is a part of the Earth Angel crew and her blog is Small Stories.  I don’t believe she makes dolls anymore and I purchased these both in 2001.  The first doll is just as sweet as she can be.  She measures and has a weighted bottom for positioning in a seated position.  I’m asking $30 plus shipping for her.

The second doll is more primitive in nature. Her asking price is $20 plus shipping. (sorry about the blurry photo)

I also have three fabric covered books in varying sizes.  I’m asking $7 plus shipping for all three.

UPDATE ~ SOLD

If interested in any of the items just email me at davemariab@sbcglobal.net Thanks for stopping by, Maria 

As promised

Here is a sneak peak of Count Dracula during the collage process.

  I still  need to finish the pumpkin and his pants but the pictures give you an idea of where I am headed with this guy. Up next, maybe tomorrow, is the Curious Goat.

I really wanted to start hooking Sweet Bea tonight but my darn printer has been giving me fits and I wasted an hour half playing around with it.  Stay tuned for more collage and hooking projects.  Maria

What's on my art table today

Yeah I have some fancy art table....it's called my kitchen island!  I keep trying to convince my husband to build me a nice big art room where I can have all my vices supplies but it hasn't happened and not likely to in the future. So I'll continue to plod away on the kitchen Island.
Meet the next two pieces of art (if you can call it that) to be papered.  Mister Goat and Count Dracula. I've already started hooking Count Dracula but he seemed like a fun piece to paper collage. I have to finish up some loose ends on a project I need to photo but hope to find some time tonight to collage.  The tricky part for Mister Goat is trying to capture the right perspective.  He is supposed to be peeking his head out of the barn.  Do you all see that?   My husband is dubious whether I can pull it off.  Oh just give me a challenge.   If I make blog worthy progress, I'll post some pictures tonight. Have a great weekend. Maria

Remember this sheep?

Someone asked about the status of my sheep and as usual I was not happy with it and when I'm not happy with something I put it aside. And that my friends is why I have so many darn unfinished projects. If the project is not humming along all hunky dorry, often I start something else like... Sweet Bea. When someone asked me about the sheep, I decided to pull it out and work on it again tonight. My main frustration, and believe me there are many things that frustrate me, but the main one is the bright colors. It is very bright and while that normally doesn't bother me, it does this time. Also I'm not an artist so it is a little frustrating trying to figure out perspective, shading just to name a few. But I am determined to become better and am going to make time to draw or paint everyday.
Here is what the photo looks like tonight after I worked on it for a couple of hours.

This is what the sheep looked like after painting.  It is not as bright in the painting.

Here is what it looked like when I put it aside.

It looks a little better but I'm still dealing with those bright colors. I played around with textures in the sheep and think I am happy with it.  It is kind of amazing what you can do with simple things like paper.

Thanks for the nudge to work on this project again.  While I am not entirely happy with it, I did try a few new techniques and learned how to do a few new things. Thanks for stopping by, Maria

Every so often I get the urge to play around with different mediums as I mentioned in my previous post. Lately, the desire to create art with little itty pieces of paper has intrigued me and I can't stop ripping paper. This is the fourth piece I've made and I wanted to share it with you. Originally, I had this little gal drawn (that I call "Sweet Bea") on linen and was going to hook her but I thought she would make a sweet little collage so the urge to play with paper won out.
Let me take you through the process. First, I painted Sweet Bee.

Next, I started covering the canvas with little itty pieces of paper starting with the background

Generally, I start with the background and move to the body and the rest of the design.

Here is a closeup of the collage....

Aren't all the different papers and textures neat?

Does anyone besides me like to play around with different mediums?

Before anyone asks, not to worry, I am still hooking rugs and "Sweet Bea" is being offered as a rug hooking pattern. Size is 10 x 18 and the pattern's cost is $32. 

I'm off to start painting her with wool. Thanks for stopping by, Maria