Working Girl.....

So I thought I would just let you 

see the progress on this piece I am working on....

It is evolving into something that 

I am pleasantly surprised with. 

for some odd reason 

I was always under the impression that 

I could not or rather should not work with clay....

 I have always loved sculptures.. 

well, maybe envy is a better word.

Well, the ladies and I had recently 
talked about doing a more 3D show.

While that scared me in all honesty,
 I really did want to challenge myself.

(or rather prove to myself that i could do this)

I mean after all, 
I love love love Asian ball jointed dolls.

Have  for a looonnng time. 
Don't have one because they are so very expensive.

So why not give sculpture a go?

So, you can see here 

I am having lots of fun! 

It just goes to show that you 

shouldn't be afraid of trying new mediums!

Now, this is actually turning out the way I want....
 but Tanna and Amber will tell you 
that the first face I made 
looked a bit like Abe Lincoln... 

the second was better but a 
little more 'Beetlejuice' than I was hoping for.

And here she is getting all 
primed up and ready to play with...

I have to tell you.... this is the most fun.... 
almost like giving a friend a makeover! 

She is almost done.... 

she is not going to be a doll but 

rather look like she is growing into or out of something.....

I will post more when she is done.

I cant wait to see her come together!

wish me luck...

xo

Carrie Lee

Let the autumn days begin....

Enjoying the relaxing sound of my kids NOT arguing.... They started back at school.... Ahhhhhhhh



Picked some pretty flowers....







Working on my first ball jointed doll... Been wanting to do this for awhile!!! Hopefully it will turn out..

Just me sayin hi... How are you?




Xxoo
Carrie Lee

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Calliope and Jack

Protectors of the Forest

Here she is! Calliope and her friend Jack the Jackalope.






She is the jointed paper doll I have been working on! (oooof.... Wiping sweat from brow)
She was a challenge, her being the first. But worth it! I went to the antique store to find vintage sewing patterns to get ideas for her clothing. Then made a prototype of a working jointed doll.





Getting the proportions and joints just right was what took me the longest. Of course... She took her sweet time letting me know her story and who her animal friend would be. And finally she is here!

Meet Calliope and Jack at my Etsy store! Yes, I have reopened my Etsy (go ahead press the button!). It is about time. I know. I will be adding more to my shop steadily as I make new pieces, instead of everything at once. It will be easier for me and give you something to look forward to.





She comes with three sheets and a packet of small brads. Two sheets to cut out and one sheet that tells you her story and gives you instructions.

The cutout pages look like this.....




I am offering 15 % this week on Calliope and Jack, just use the coupon code Calliope2010. (use the code when you check out!) I am doing this partly because it is cyber Monday and partly because I will still be out of town this week and won't be able to mail anything until this weekend. So I want to thank you for your patience.

Hope you like her! And yes... I will be doing more. I loved it!

Xo
Carrie

In Fields of Clover

I am not one for Holidays..... Buuuuuttttt 

I can't help but be reminded of my Irish heritage this time of year. 

I have been dreaming of Ireland since I was just a little girl... imaging myself with flowing red hair and lying in a field of clover talking to the local fairies and such. I still adore red hair.. but have grown quite fond of my naturally curly dark locks. Even more so when I found out that my name means dark haired in Irish.... and there is a place called the Ring of Kerry that has been beckoning me to come for  a nice long visit. 

Ahhhhhh. One day. I will go. 

I might even get to have tea with someone special I know. ;)

XO,

Carrie

*pardon the picture it was horrible lighting.... tis sad but true.

AND A LITTLE MOO

     

Well, I love to be a silly girl and

 don't take my self very seriously. 

Most of the time.

Probably one of the reasons I have never been 

very good about having a 'Bus-i- ness' card.

They are these random little cards that can come across rather useless and can be very look at me .. I am important. How very  not humble these cards can seem. But, as a matter of fact, I do have some..... My very best friend in the world made them for me about a year ago. And well, I have run out. I was told I needed to make more to put at Gallery 4. Also,  I should really have some to put with my art pieces as they travel here and there. So off I went looking for something I wouldn't mind giving away. And I stumbled upon a sweet little online shop called moo.com! Oh they are clever! I went ahead and ordered one pack... which you can customize with all your own images/artwork (and as many as you want... not just one design you are stuck with). Then I went to their blog and found this adorable idea.......

A SWEET LITTLE BOOKMARK!!!

Here is what you need to do to make your own...

step one... supplies

step two....

punch hole and cut ribbon

step three...

fold ribbon in half & slip through hole

step four...

slipknot a.k.a  pull tail through hole

step five...

pull gently.. but get it tight.

FINISHED!

Now you have a demure little card that is useful and professional.

How about that? Finally I can love a business card!

xo

Carrie

P.S. And the back is as sweet as the front.... you can click on the first image to see more closely. ;)

Swine flu hanky...

 

 

Okay so I had this little idea. You know how I am, once I get some crazy.. silly notion... I have to see if I can make it! I have a sick sense of humor, what can I say! While I would love to make tons and sell them at the gallery, I know you have asked... I just have to much else to do. Besides I don't really embroider, HA! But I will sell packets with the pattern and instructions, they will be in the gallery next week. Kisses... big squeeze.
Carrie

*swine flu not included. ;P

Every girl should know how to make a princess crown!

We had a princess party. We had good reason to celebrate. With my grandma out of danger and on the road to recovery, I felt like we could once again, dance and sing. So Cassidy had a slumber party ... we made Princess crowns and watched chick flicks and ate popcorn. They have now voted me mom of the year.
I think everyone should know how to make a princess crown... we can all wear our crowns whenever we need to feel a little extra special. Okay?I know those little girls had the time of there lives glittering and glueing... it was simple and fun!

Here is how to make a princess crown :
Step 1 ~ pretty paper, I liked using scrapbooking paper.. gorgeous and sturdy.
Step 2 ~ draw a template on back of paper.... can be a scallopped design or just zizag.
Step 3 ~ be careful with the scissors, and cut out!
Step 4 ~ find a few little princesses to decorate with tissue, stickers, glitter, ect.
Step 5 ~ punch a hole in each side and loop through some ribbon an tie on their crown... hooray!

We dedicate our celebration to the queen of my heart, Grandma Poulas.

XOXOX

Love you Grandma!

A little bit of this, a little bit of that.

These are some of the things I did the last couple days... today I put some paint on the girls.
I left my camera in the house. OOPS! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Mark Your Calendars!

I have been busy in the studio.... plus being a mom and a wife!
Making lots of neat pretty things and art for you all!
XOXOX
Carrie

What Next?

Do you ever have those days when you are at a loss as to what you should do next? Or you feel like you're rarin' to go and all you do is spin your wheels? This is me today... I was at a loss as to what to do..... and I have plenty to do.... a long list of the 'to do's' ... believe me! But I just didn't know where to go, so I just thought I should create something that explains how I feel... to at least keep the creative juices flowing. Here is a girl who is on the stage.... everyone is waiting...... she has a plan...... but oops.... she forgets...... What to do NEXT! AAAARRRGG. Inspiration is definately messing with me... or is it procrastination?

Girl with a heart of gold!

Little painting I did yesterday...
XOXOX
Carrie

DANCE, dance every chance!

'Hello tiny dancer.... come teach me to sway,
to sing and dance together we can play.
We'll prance and twirl, who cares what people say!
If anyone is bothered - in the studio we'll stay.'

I have a little friend as you can see.... I wanted the window to make me feel as if I were at some little European theatre. And since I am always jamming and dancing up there......
I cut out an image of a dancer that I had enlarged.... just some royalty free clip art from the web..... Then hung it on the inside of the sheer curtain I got at the thrift for a buck..... now the family knows if she is dancing in the window I am in the studio! I love silhouettes! I think I may be using more in upcoming projects!

Well.... I bet you are wondering what all these neat little books are huh?
They are a small vintage magazine called the Workbasket... recipes, knitting, crochet, domesticity, etc.
I have been collecting them and other old books and magazines for a long while now. I had some, then my wonderful grandma sent me a whole bunch! I also, every now and then, would see one and snatch it up. I am thinking of using them in a collage... you see I love them soooooo, but feel sad that they are continually neglected... I will not paint over them, they will be seen as they are. I am excited, I will finally have them around to inspire me every day. It will also give me a chance to look into my favorites and maybe be inspired to use some of the patterns or other ideas in them.

Love you all! XOXOX
Carrie

P.S. I am going to try and step up my artful blogging... I am getting close to being finished with the studio, but I am getting a little burnt out. So I will try to do some art as a break in between the overhauling!
P.S.S. I also wanted to say thank you to the inspiration helpers... I love and miss you guys soooo much. xxooXXOO
P.S.S.S. Yes, mom, I am feeling a better... just trying to push through this cold, I have to much to do to be sick!

Recycle cont'd...

Last Few Days...

Had a girls day(.. my toes look so pretty), went to church, had friends over for snacks & bonfire, kids had their cousins sleep over, I drew a version of cinderella for Monday Artday, and I wrote a story I am really happy with called Beautiful Girl.... I think it will be my next children's book ( so I am very excited!). So again we were busy, but fun busy! Jere made me a couple new frames, to stretch some canvas onto, so now I have to get cracken! I will be happy to work on more new stuff this week, yippy!

XOXOX

Carrie

P.S. on a side note... MOM... you need a new cell phone service! We keep getting cut off,rrrggg!

How is Everybody?

Well, just wondering how all my peeps are....

I am good, and busy. Last couple days I have been trying to burn the little movie I made about WomanSong to DVD.... fun fun fun.

I also uploaded it onto google video for all to see... here is the link

Again, my program has a few glitches in the titles (it doesn't want to spell?), and it is really pixalated on the uploaded version. If you want to see it better, let me know so I can send you a copy of the real thing, but for now here is the clip...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1881799188632290125&hl=en

Also been working on my doodles and my collages ( put a couple more layers on) and I also made a new hat! I am going to make more... they are fun to do, I have always had a thing for making hats.... here are some pics of what I am up to this week.... Later peeps!