Painted Lady

Isn't it strange... and unexpected...

how an idea for a new project can come from just about anywhere?!

This antique french bronze bust sits on a desk in my bedroom, I see her every single day.

A few weeks ago she spoke to me as I passed by...

I used her lovely face to create a single use mold. Poured putty into it and out she popped!

I think she came out slightly different than the actual bust but I love the way she looks.

She has more depth and character than the original piece, side by side they look like a younger and older version of the same woman.

An innocent teenaged girl and a wiser, more mature woman, past and present, make believe. I do tend to get lost in my work...

I placed the cast and painted face onto a hinged wooden box

within which I keep special treasures hidden.

As a last touch I added an antique carved ox bone rosette to her hair... I believe it was once a brooch, its a piece I've had tucked away for years in my junk drawer waiting for "just the right spot" for it to go!

Pet Jewels!

I want to share a special find with you.

As you all know ETSY is an amazing place to shop,

there are wonderful handmade items you just can't get anywhere else in the world!

A few months ago I found these gorgeous dog collars made of supple leather and bezel set brilliant sparkling Swarovski crystals, each stone is about the size

of a two carat diamond! When they sit in a sunny spot colorful rainbow prisms are thrown off in all directions!

You can have them custom created in any color you wish, I chose matte silver to compliment my two fur babies coats.

They are super high quality with nickel plated buckles and wonderful details like three smaller stones on the tip end of the collar.

I really think my two little monkeys look adorable in them! The ETSY shop is called JUST FOR BELLA and you can visit it by clicking here!

Shabby Chic's Rachel Ashwell

Be sure not to miss the Autumn issue of WHERE WOMEN CREATE. One of the amazing women featured will be Shabby Chic's Rachel Ashwell! We all love her design aesthetic, now you have the opportunity to see her personal work space! This issue is sure to be a real stunner!

18 years ago......

A bit of nostalgia... 18 years ago I met my Dutch boy!!

My Secret Garden

I spent most of this Spring outside creating a quiet little garden, It tends to get really hot here in this part of Texas and I studied up on just the right "natives" to plant. One of my choices was Cuban Oregano... smells amazing, and Sedum Ogon with its bright Chartreuse color and chubby round leaves... My absolute favorite plant is the very smallest one, Corsican mint, the leaves are no bigger than a pins head... it is gently creeping onto the statues base... so beautiful it almost hurts! I think this German thyme wishes it got a bit more sun but its doing well anyway. The Holly fern has really shot up and to keep him company on long summer nights spotted nettle bearing teeny white blossoms curl around beneath. The Southern wood fern had a slow start but now unfurls a new leaf nearly daily! Lots of chalky grey Goodwin Creek lavender stand tall and straight, nestled next to what looks to be dinosaur eggs but are really rocks from Baja, California... they came from a place I used to surf called K-39. I found a nearby landscape company that trucks them freshly plucked from the cliffs. Giant Lamb's ears and cat mint share a shady bed tucked in on top of lots and lots of pine needles which help to balance out our soil conditions. Around the corner a path of Mexican slate embedded with fossils leads to Star and Carolina jasmine which bloom outside my studio window. Coral vine, Mealy Cup sage and spicy scented Autumn sage are a sweet smelling party all on their own! I love the deep red purple color of this Verbena who's fuzzy leaves meet with Peppermint, Spearmint and Doublemint too, I know they take over but I will happily surrender to them! In the center of it all is my pride and joy, a wonderful three tiered fountain that sings to me while I toil away the hours with all my little plant people. It is surrounded by three feet tall Moss Verbena that just keeps spreading out its slender green arms. New additions this year were two small Texas Red Bud trees with pretty heart shaped leaves. A dark green Desert Willow blooms wine colored orchid type flowers that the butterflies really enjoy! Pink jasmine is busy working its way tightly around a pair of concrete Pan herm's that stand vigilant guard over all. Keep your eyes open Mr... cuz those sneaky little Opossum's wander in and steal my flowers!

StAmPiNgToN & CoMpAnY BlOg!

Just in case you haven't discovered the magnificent new Stampington & Company blog...

Be sure to pop on over and check it out!

You can get the complete info on exactly how to make my Baroque Chain Paper dolls.

They have lots of interesting projects for you to create, a fabulous array of highly detailed magazines

from which to choose and a wonderful assortment of unique crafting materials... everything you need to help you be CrEaTiVe! Click here to be instantly transported there...

Wattled!

Our trees needed trimming this year so I decided to recycle the left over branches, I just couldn't see letting all of that beautiful material go to waste.

There are two small bare spots just outside of the french doors that lead to our backyard.

I planted some thyme and sweet potato vines and needed to create a boarder to keep my little monkeys out.

And since I like to try my hand at a bit of everything I gathered together a few tools...

and began to trim a whole bunch of limbs, stripping all of the smaller inner branches off.

Then cut the larger ends down to a size that would fit the idea I had in mind and set aside the long willowy pieces for later.

I hammered about three inches of these stakes into the ground so that my little fence would be secure.

The trick I discovered is trying to keep them fairly evenly spaced out, I always learn by trial and error.

I started at one end and began to slowly weave the longer pieces in,

making sure to tuck them down tightly. I had some help from Julliette... well she was really just inspecting my work I think!

As I went along things began taking shape.

Did I mention I had help?!

Building up layer by layer,

till my little fence reached the perfect height.

It was so much fun building this,

it felt very satisfying to sit back and take a look at my work!

The opposite side was a shorter area

and the construction went much quicker.

Wolfgang had to put his two cents worth in too!

I'm happy I could use this "free" material...

and put it to good use!