Button Jewellery Swap

Oh delight! I found this posted on Button Floozies and could not resist. If you are interested, go take a peek. I am going to give it a go............ http://incywincytogs.blogspot.com/2009/08/button-jewellery-swap-sign-up.html

Seller on Etsy!

I woke up this morning to a "sold" notice on my e-mail from an Etsy account I opened last night! I am happy to offer some vintage items, as well as some of my art work. Here is the item sold..... a hand held purse with drawstrings to close. I love it, but have no use for it. I am happy someone else found it interesting!

work card of wooden buttons

Here they are.... according to the classifications in the "blue book" for competition. The entire card will look much better when completed. Click on the image to enlarge.

hot hot hot!

Today was a great day because Jasmine stayed overnight! We had so much fun and today; we went swimming at my brother's pool. We had the pool and large deck with an umbrella table all to ourselves. I cannot remember when the last time was that I went swimming for 2 and 1/2 hours at a time and had so much fun.... and with my (almost) 6 year old godchild. She is so fun and has a great sense of humor. An ice cream cone from McDonald's on the way home was a happy ending before bringing her back home to her family. I only wish that I had brought my camera, as her smiling face was so beautiful with each laugh ~ guess I will have to carry it in my mind's eye forevermore!

perfect design

I opened the front door at least 3 times before taking this photo! I couldn't resist, as it is so perfectly balanced and designed. It stayed there all day, moving slowly across the doorway. I wish it safe travel wherever it goes.

Porcelain Buttons

Pictured above are the buttons that I made at a porcelain clay button workshop a few Sundays ago. I had fun and will work again with porcelain clay to make more buttons. I sold three of the buttons at my button club meeting last night, where I gave a presentation on wooden buttons. It was received so well, I was asked to present at the state button meeting next September. Wooden buttons are so neglected, and there are some really beautiful wood buttons to be found. I will post the wooden button work card (the first step in creating a nicely mounted card for competition) in a future post. But, for now, take a look at the first porcelain buttons I made.

Playing with Inspiration

I like the idea of thinking about how one plays with inspiration. It seems that I am always looking for something to inspire me, and I often do find that something sometimes. I found it a lot easier to shut out the outside world after I acquired my own art space. It is such a respite for me, and I thank God every day for it, and my husband Bob too, as he made it for me. He knows how much I love that room, stopping in every once in a while to say hello. I do have plants in my art space: a Christmas cactus and a large heart shaped ivy plant that I have had for so long, I can't remember how long. I love plants, and have always had them in my office wherever I worked. They truly do add something special to one's environment, and I happen to love the color green. I am currently painting flowers (5 different canvas paintings) which I find peaceful and inspiring. I used to write my ideas down immediately; however, have not done so in a while. Maybe it is because I have not had so many ideas as of late. I do know that playing with kids is so freeing and lends to vast creative moments - synchronistically - and so fun and exciting. I remember (years ago) when a kindergarten art teacher friend of mine said that when some of her kids threw their work away in the trash basket, she would take it out after class and keep it for inspiration! I have found out that my work doesn't have to be perfect, and that spontaneity is much more fun and exciting and surprising. I have also learned that through teaching, I have learned a great deal. Sometimes it was a confirmation of something that I needed to hear myself tell my student(s). I can truly say that working outside, in Nature, is one of the most inspiring things I can do. Everything goes away and there is nothing but art supplies, subject matter, and me -- in the "zone". Looking through magazines and at other blogs is inspiring and motivating for me as well. I love portrait painting, and pictures of children inspire me and challenge me too. That feeling of being inspired is one that I cannot explain with words, It is a quickening of the heart and touching base with spirit, then the rush to get it all down as quickly as possible, then stopping to catch my breath when it feels right.

the magnificent desk

I am doin' the "happy dance" over my junk store find on Friday! I couldn't believe it when I saw it: 3 drawers on EACH side (six total) and sides that extend to the right and to the left (either/or) to work on. Oh, I said to myself, this is just what I need to make more space in my studio, and to put things away in drawers that I currently have in cardboard boxes around the room that add to the cluttered look. Sure enough, I made a deal--purchased for $25.00. I took it home and spent approximately 3 hours on Saturday cleaning it with Murphy's Oil Soap (twice over, inside and out!) Doesn't it look great.... and, I took out the large round table that took up a lot of room. Now, to dispose of the large Lazy Boy Recliner that my husband does not want to let go of. It won't last much longer in my space, as the street is having a tag sale this fall. I hate to see it go, but there just isn't any place for it. I also included a shot of my ATC working space, having added a light with a magnifying glass. Getting old and the eyesight is lacking. Boy, what a difference it makes, I am sad to say. I cleared out a lot of supplies from my studio space that I do not need in it any longer: children's games, books and art supplies, and the large doll house with all of its furniture. It will all go downstairs where I will make a little play area for my godchild, Jasmine, and other little people who visit. No more clients... just me and my muse. Creativity, take me away.

Blogging for Bliss

Welcome and thank you for visiting today! An invitation from http://www.artsymama.com/ was issued to all who cared to participate in her blog party today, August 4th, and I am happy to respond. Sharing how my blog came about and its evolution to where I am currently will be my focus. I began my blog to fulfill a criteria of having to have a blog in order to be a part of "Art in a Carton", led by Susan J. Letham, which no longer exists. It was a really fun art swap using decorated milk cartons filled with handmade art sent to those living in different areas of the world. I hesitated to join, as I did not feel confident in creating a blog. I decided to take a risk and push myself to give it a go. It was a little anxiety provoking at first, but I succeeded even though I became a little too confident and lost (I thought) all of my posts after becoming a little bold and wanting to change the format a bit. The joke was on me, as I did not realize that I changed my posts color to white; thereby losing (I thought) all of my posts! With the help of other bloggers, I was led to go back and change the color of the type, and lo and behold, all was well. I felt so foolish, but that was only a little bit of the learning curve. I have learned so much since then. It has been a year on June 14, 2009, that I began my blog. I cannot believe how fast time has flown by. Also, blogging has given me a wonderful opportunity to meet other bloggers and to benefit from their writings and creativity.... another way to be motivated and join in the universal spirit of expression - thus the name of my blog "basia - spiritspace" (Basia is my name for Barbara in Polish). If you click on my "past posts", they will lead you to my very first posting of June 14, 2008. I had just moved into my art space around that time, which my husband remodeled for me from a summer porch in the back of our garage, attached to our house. So much has evolved for me since that time regarding my artwork and work with clients, on-line art groups, and making cyber-space friends. Although I no longer am working with clients and am retired, I can savor the time spent sharing my art studio, and I am continuing to savor my studio more and more each and every day. I use my blog to chat with others and to share my art and thoughts a well. What a glorious opportunity! I am grateful for all. Go to http://www.artsymama.com/artsymama.com/ to join in the party!

faux mail art stamps

art therapy

I really took yesterday off to do nothing but play in my art studio. My favorite art group, 14 Secrets for a Happy Artist's Life, has a lot of activity currently. I joined a new swap (making faux art mail stamps) and was so motivated and inspired, that I made them all in one day - yesterday! They are all complete and in the mailing envelope; however, I will not mail them out for another 2 weeks, as they are not due until then. Here are a few of some extras... I kept some that did not work as well as others, but on the whole, I love them all! We are currently in the process of painting our living room/dining room area and I will be very very happy when that is over. The paint fumes are nasty and it has been quite humid these past few days. The air conditioning is on and the fans are swirling so that helps. I am not a wall painter (except for murals) and it took me 2 hours to paint one wall. Needless to say, my husband had to go over it with a roller (which took him no time at all) for the wall to look good. It seems I experienced "flashing", which is when my wet brush went over dry paint. THAT is because it was so darned hot, the paint dried too fast, and I am a slow painter!!! That is why I paint on canvas and not walls. I don't have that problem painting murals though. It will be all worth it when completed, as we have not done any redecorating in many years. Seems strange to have the trim done all in white and complete. My husband is a contractor and never has time to work on our house. My kitchen floor is another story. I have the tiles in a box in the cellar for at least 6 years now. I have threatened to tear the old floor up, but I am not strong enough. Oh dear. I am grateful for all I have and retreat to my art space, very grateful.

JK Wedding Entrance Dance

I saw this video on Susanna's blog and fell in love with it! Enjoy. Thank you Susanna.

ITKUPILLI Blog Angel

I found ITKUPILLI's blog via Lani Puppetmaker's blog. ITKUPILLI offers help on how to make changes in one's blog graphics, etc. and how to alter digitally. I heartily suggest a visit to her site. She has much to offer, and.... lots of interesting items to purchase. Click on her logo (located on my sidebar) to get to her blog.

Award from Lani

When I visited Lani's Blogs today, I saw that I was one of several recipients of a "Your Blog Makes Me Smile" award. What a great surprise! A big Thank You and art hugs to you Lani. Before I make a list of blogs that make me smile, I would like to say a bit about Lani's blogs. Both are filled with wonderment and magical graphics created by Lani, as well as being a wealth of information about art, people, places, things, and ideas. Links to other places and sources are abundant, and the tone is so positive, you will leave totally refreshed and filled with motivation. So, here are the links to both of Lani's blogs:

http://lanipuppetmaker.blogspot.com/ and http://14secretsforahappyartistslife.blogspot.com/

I would also suggest the following blogs that make me smile:

http://Suskasmusings.blogspot.com
http://wispofwill.blogspot.com/
http://unshelvedwords08.blogspot.com/
http://buttonfloozies.blogspot.com/
http://artaweek.blogspot.com/

Happy days to you...............