Oh Dear...

Have six months really flown by? Yep, there they go! I really should catch you all up on what I've created over the past several months... which isn't much! I guess sometimes an artist needs space to regroup, time to fill up the cup again so that it can be poured into new projects. I was an empty cup! But now I feel filled to the brim again :) I'd like to share a few Victorian Angels I made (you may remember I made a quartet of them last year). As always, my art is deeply influenced by my love of nature. The first angel has a wintery companion. She is the Reindeer Guardian. The second angel is what a white poinsettia looks like when it goes to a Christmas party ;)


Both designs are available at my cafe press shop as ceramic ornaments. I also added some stockings to my shop with angels on them! I love doing collage work like this. I used to cut up magazines but now, I cut down on the mess and use photoshop, hehe.

Let's go back in time a little while to Halloween, shall we? Here are some poison bottles that I made:

No, I don't have a messy craft table, why do you ask? eheheh :) One is for "Resurrection Lilly", a plant that will bring you back from the dead as a vampire! Really! And the other is "Poison Monk's Cowl" a plant with a deadly flower that resembles an alchemist's hood... And here is the strange cat-beast that I transformed into that night...

Okay, back to merry, bright December :)
Hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season!
Allison

It's been so long!

And so many new things to share! I can't believe it's been months since I posted! Actually, I can because Christmas was such a wonderful time but full of busy busy busy!!!
Here is one of the many gifts I worked on. I gave a few to loved ones and a few to me! My favorite part is the paper from "A Wrinkle in Time." I also had fun trying different shades of gold and bronze on the walnut shell. I was inspired by the pic below which I found online. I wish I knew who made it! Please let me know if it was you or if you know where this was originally posted :)

Most of the things I created in December were ornaments. I used the paper rosette technique to great effect, creating sets of three matching ornaments for each recipient. I wish I had taken some pics! Hehehehe! But there just wasn't time. Maybe next year, I'll be able to get pics of them on people's trees.
I also had some fun creating collages with Photoshop. I was inspired by Victorian style this holiday season (more than usual? ;) I found vintage Victorian ladies in lovely finery and made them into holiday fairies! At first I just posted them on Polyvore.com and Facebook but then they used their magic fairy dust on me and I was struck with inspiration! I added them to my Cafepress shop as ornaments! Of course, where else would they want to be besides the Christmas tree? Please click on these and get a bigger view at Cafepress because there are so many fun little details you'd miss otherwise.

Since the end of the whirlwind Yuletide, I've been in a kind of creative slump. Not surprising considering how much I produced! I also collected lots of inspiration photos from the internet for next year. Still, I have sat down at my craft table several times throughout January and ended up organizing instead of creating. Honestly, it was starting to get on my nerves! Then, I got a new job!!! Hurray! Now, not only am I somewhat stumped, I am very tired after work, not really in a crafty mood. Just when I thought nothing would strike my fancy I found this on etsy.com by The Little Prints! How cute it this!?!? It is a felt brooch and that fabric on the bottom is from a NECKTIE!! I can see me at the thrift store now, snatching up colorful, printed ties!

The only thing is, I can't wait to get to the thrift store... I've already started one.... hehehe! Pics to come!
The signs of spring are already popping up, enjoy!
Allison

Vintage and Coffee

Hello! I know I said I was working on Halloween stuff (and I am) but I wanted to show you a sign I finally finished a while back. I've mentioned before that I have a somewhat protracted creative process. I may begin something and not look at it for weeks! Sometimes the finished product (or a version of it) exists in my head, sometimes not. Everyone has a different creative style and it really helps to notice and accept your own style. In my case, it helps me to remain calm when I see a forgotten project on my table. I know I'll get to it when the right muse comes along. Also, being aware of my own style means that I can challenge myself to do things differently. So, this piece began with two definite inspirations: my love of vintage photos and my love of COFFEE (or should I say addiction...) Before Coffee... After Coffee!

Your results may vary but coffee makes my heart so happy! I go from plain Jane to fabulous lady in minutes! I also like the idea of this sign being a warning to the unwary, typically before the noon hour... hehehe!
Alrighty, as promised, there will be something with a Samhain twist very soon. Oh, what is Samhain you say? You can google it or check back soon!

Crafty and Green

Everyone's talking about recycling, especially crafters! I've always been interested in reusing and reinventing when I craft, mainly as a way to save money. The added bonus is keeping stuff out of the landfills :) Today I'd like to show you some pill bottles I altered even though, technically, pill bottles can be recycled because they're plastic... anyway! They are much prettier this way! hehe :) I used scrap papers, fabric, ribbons and beads. The art on the bottles came from Dragon Magazine, which is another great way to recycle. I love love love cutting pictures from magazines and using them in collage! Catalogs are a great source, too. Just remember, I cannot then mass produce such a work because I don't have a license to the art for that. As artists, we need to know our rights and respect the rights of our fellow artists. Okay, enough of that, heh. Have a lovely summer-turning-into-autumn everyone. And YES, I'm already cooking up Halloween ideas...!

A New Year!

Hopefully this will be a year of more frequent posting! But I don't make resolutions so, we'll just have to hope for the best ;) Today the weather is gorgeous and that really gets my creative mind whirling. I want to do a few things in the near future: highlight a design from Crafty Curios and show you some idea for future artwork. Also, I may post another collage from Polyvore. I've been hugely inspired by their theme wedding collage groups! Okay, buckle up, here we go!

This design was inspired by the idea that, throughout our lives, we go through many changes. This life journey has often been symbolized by the butterfly whose own metamorphosis is dramatic and, in the end, has beautiful results. We all hope that our own changes will leave us in such a graceful state, blessed with wings to fly above our troubles, lovely on the inside and the outside. The problem may be that changes are often beyond our control. We feel buffeted by winds that our new wings may not be strong enough to handle. Throughout history, cultures have had the idea that certain people can change shape at will (or when the moon is full ;) Is this an attempt to meet the challenges of life head on? Transforming into a shape that might be stronger or wiser or more flexible? We all need to adapt. If the form we are currently in does not meet the needs of our life, it is said that it is much easier to change ourselves than the circumstances. I also like the idea of shifting shape, as in, temporarily taking on whatever shape is needed. We can use masks or personas to get us through, without being false because ultimately, they are all different sides of ourselves. I find this design very appropriate for young people. They are in a constant state of flux on so many levels. Also, the idea of a pregnant woman being a shape shifter is exciting to me! She is working magick by transforming herself and the child inside her. I hope to experience this magick for myself one day.

That's it for now :) I hope you are happily cutting Valentine's hearts for those you love!
Allison

Quirky Collage!

I've been having a lot of fun creating digitally since my craft desk is a mess! Still recovering from my Christmas crafts, lots of glitter everywhere! So here's a few collages I made with Polyvore. It's so much fun! I find that my favorite part is gathering images to use. It reminds me of the days when I used to play Sims and spent hours looking for new home decor and fashions for my sims ;) Well, hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve!
Allison

Vamp Moderne by ajr51594

Gothic Bride by ajr51594