Creative Spirit Challenge Prize and Paris Box

Hi Everyone--
My Creative Spirit Challenge for November will be on Nov. 8-15...This mixed media piece that comes on its own easel will be the prize for Miss Creative Spirit November. To participate, simply link up your blog with something you've made...It can be art, photography, a recipe, a poem, decorating--you name it, we just want to see your creative spirit coming through!!! (No need to make something new--you can link an old post.) Also, I will not hold a Creative Spirit Challenge for December as the holidays will keep us all busy--AND I will start up again in January!

I am linking this to The Graphics Fairy as the angel image came from Karen!!!



And I have some exciting news--My work is going to be featured in a fabulous art gallery and I just made this piece, an embellished cigar box entitled "Paris" to be on display! I will post more pictures next week so you can see what I've been up to!

I am linking this to Frenchy's challenge at Chateau des Fleurs! If you would like to participate too, just click here.

I am also linking this up to Rednesday!!!

Happy Rednesday Day, Everyone!

Love,
Cindy

A Halloween Treat

Hi Everyone--
I have a cute little surprise for you today as a Halloween celebration! My daughter Jenny went as Frida Kahlo one year for Halloween. Here is Jenny when she is not in costume.




And here she is as Frida.



When I was typing to my friend Marfi one day, I realized that her 2 daughters went as Frida for Halloween too. So, the two of us decided to post our daughters together on our blogs to show you how cute they looked! Marfi’s blog is at: Incipient Wings!



This is Gabriella, Marfi’s oldest daughter.



And this is Helena, Marfi’s youngest daughter.
When Marfi tried to put flowers in her hair, she couldn't keep them in because Helena kept trying to eat them! How cute is that?

How cute are our “Frida’s?” Pure fun!

Winner of the CSN Giveaway!

Hi Everyone--
I am proud to announce the WINNER of the CSN GIVEAWAY--It is the person who left the very last message on here--can you believe it? It is Trudi from 2 Dresses Studio!! Congratulations Trudi! And THANK YOU to everyone who entered!

But, I've got more to tell you everyone...My butterflies for The Butterfly Project just arrived at Trudi's studio in Canada and they arrived with Linda Adams' butterflies--so, if you'd like to go take a look they are here. I hope you'll join us and make a butterfly!

CSN Giveaway--It is now closed!

Hi Everyone--
I am happy to announce a contest on my blog for $35 from CSN stores. All you have to do to be entered to win is leave a comment under this post with your email address so that someone from the store can contact you if you are the winner. I will announce the winner on Saturday on my blog! Please come back to see if your name is picked! CSN has everything from a dining room table to gorgeous Baker’s racks to carpets. Here are a few of my favorite items.


Love this adorable set in this outdoor setting.



Aren't woven rugs the best?



I fell in love with this Baker's rack...I think it's positively dreamy!

Good luck with the contest!



And speaking of winning, look what I just won from Frenchy at Le Chateau des Fleurs!! This lovely necklace and
handcrafted pin. Tres magnifique!!! THANK YOU Frenchy!!!

If you would like to visit Frenchy's blog and say "hi," it is here.
Frenchy has amazing style and is "the hostess with the mostest!"

Have an amazing day, everyone!!!
XO
Cindy

Party Hats

Hi Everyone--

Halloween is coming and it’s time to get your party hats on. This little girl found hers right inside of her jack-o-lantern! The theme for The Three Muses Challenge is “hats.” I decided to have some fun with it...

Images are from my friends Gail at Shabby Cottage Studio (including a
fabulous background she designed) and Karen at The Graphics Fairy!!!

Wishing you a happy day!

XO
Cindy

Featured in the Etsy Treasury!

Hi Everyone:

I love bird's nests, so you can imagine how I felt when I received the news that my mixed media piece, "Nesting" was featured on Etsy! (Hmmm, if I was a kid, I'd be doing cartwheels!)

I also wanted to share this piece of digital art that I created...It is entitled "I Wish You Roses." So, Happy Rednesday!!!
I wish you all roses!!!



Sending hugs from me,
Cindy

Her Finest Day

A fairytale wedding comes to life in this 8” X 10” art reproduction
of my original mixed media work with embroidery that was recently
on exhibit. I created it from classic art, vintage images and dried flowers
from my garden. Truly, a bride’s wedding is, indeed, “her finest day”
filled with memories.

Often, people ask me how long my mixed media pieces take...This
particular one took about 100 hours...I know, hard to believe, but
there's lots of detail. The print is now in my Etsy shop!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful day!
XO
Cindy

Featured on Etsy!

Memories Original Mixed Media Painting




Journey Original Mixed Media Painting

Hi Everyone--
These are 2 of my original mixed media paintings that I wanted to share with you..."Memories" was chosen by an
Etsy curator to be featured in a "Treasury" of art...I was very excited!

I am linking this up to the Boardwalk Bragfest!


I hope that all of you are doing great!

XO
Cindy

"With Bells on Their Toes" and "Rose of My Heart"

These newly-created “Victorian Christmas” art tags feature miniature bells, lace, cheese cloth, and numerous embellishments
to adorn the house for the holidays!


I have created them as a “gift with purchase” for the first 3 people who order something from my Etsy shop. So, when an order is placed, they will each receive one of these tags with their order.

OOPS!! IT IS OCT. 28 AND THE TAGS ARE NOW UNAVAILABLE AS THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN AWAY WITH THE ORDERS--
THAT WAS FAST!!!


And here is my latest creation--Mixed media wearable art,
a bezeled bracelet entitled "Rose of My Heart." It is a virtual
rose garden with images from Madame Tussaud's London Collection.




It has just landed in my Etsy shop.

I hope all is going great with all of you....
Thank you so much for visiting my blog!!
I always love to hear from you!

And oh my gosh, I reached 300 followers! I'm all excited!!

I am linking this to the Graphics Fairy!

It Feels Like an Art Party at My House!

Hi Everyone--
This week was indeed, a week of "Surprises!"
I received this beautiful altered art piece by Marfi of Incipient Wings--I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the box that had been left by the postman on my doorstep. This large piece with rose petal trim stands over a foot tall! It is titled "Sugar Sugarplum Hat!" How adorable is that? Marfi is an awesome friend and talented artist and I was so excited to receive one of her one-of-a-kind pieces of mixed media art. Every time I see it, I think of the song, "Let's Get This Party Started" and it brings joy to my heart!



Then, my precious friend Roselle of Seaside Rose Creations sent me a package filled with creative surprises...Vintage book pages, sheet music, lace, and all the imaginings that an artist revels in when working in Mixed Media--I was in "Creative Heaven" when this arrived!

Thank you, Marfi and Roselle for your amazing generosity, talent, and love. You make the world a better place by your kind spirits and beautiful hearts.

If you would like to see pure whimsy, I'd encourage you to take a look at their blogs...They are just the BEST!

Hugs to you all and hope you're having a great weekend!!!

Meet the "Sewing Girls!"

Hi Everyone--

I have just completed these brand-new tags that I couldn’t wait to show you! Why? Because it is now almost 11:30 at night and I started them at 2 this afternoon...I know, way too long, but I’m a perfectionist! (And no, I didn’t eat dinner, but that’s a good thing because Dr. Atkins, may he rest in peace, would be proud that I’ve stuck to this low-carb, or I should say “no-carb” diet!)

So, here are my “Sewing Girls!”


"Queen of Sewing"



"Queen of Sewing" Close-Up



"Sew" Special Tag


"Sew" Special Tag Close-Up

Linking this to the NEW Tag Tuesday!

"P" is for Paris

I love roses, burlap, and anything "Paris," so I created
this tag to feature all the things I adore. I love Paris "chic,"
because to me, it never goes out of style and adds romance
to any setting. There's just something about burlap
that captures my heart, so I thought, "Why not
a burlap rose?" A dark brown button sewn
in the middle of it adds contrast. Creating
this tag was pure fun!



I just put it in my Etsy shop, so I hope you'll take a look.

XO

The Whimsical Fairies Have Arrived!

Welcome to my "Wish Garden" where fairies abound!
These endearing Victorian fairies from the estate of
Cicely Mary Barker arrived and landed on these
handcrafted tags--not really, but it feels that way!

This exclusive collection of tags was created
using commercial images from the Barker Estate
in England.


The fairies are so happy that you came to visit--
and so am I!


I hope you'll visit them in my Etsy shop!

Linked to The Three Muses Challenge!!!

Also, I hope you'll scroll down and see my brand-new Torso Tags...I had to post everything on the same day because Blogger will be disabled for awhile due to maintenance...so, I had to get everything done in time to show it all to you!

XO
Cindy

My Holiday Display--For Rednesday

Hi Everyone--

I have a tradition in my home...Every Christmas, I make
something special for my neighbors, hang it on my
birdcage and have them come over for a little "Surprise Time!"
I make other gifts as well, but I like to have a focal point....
This year, I have made Torso Tags and decorated each
one with commercial embellishments, including brads,
flowers, fibers, etc.



If you would like to make your own tags, you can purchase the
torso images at Shabby Cottage Studio! I think they're wonderful
and so fun to work with! They are listed on their left sidebar under Collage Sheets.



I hope you have fun making them too and starting your
own tradition!!!

As you can see, a couple of them have the color red, so I am linking this to Rednesday!


XO
Cindy

Dezinaworld Challenge

Hi Everyone--
Here is my entry for the Dezinaworld Challenge--the subject is "Masculine/Feminine," so I thought I would digitally alter this image of a woman in the early 1900s from an automobile advertisement. I am linking this to: Dezinaworld

Hugs to June and everyone!!!

New Tag Just Released and Perfect Packaging for Your Holiday Gift-Giving

This vintage-inspired pink tag is chock-full of charm from the graphic of the woman poised at her sewing machine to the mulberry paper pink rose to the miniature spool that is sure to steal your heart. Coffee-stained vintage lace adorns the top, while black tulle fabric is attached to the black and beige gingham ribbon. Nestled in the cheese cloth, the pale pink rose and spool give this creation a finished look that is purely vintage and ultra feminine!


This just sold in my Etsy shop today, Oct. 19, 2010.



I just purchased a few of these adorable mini-Christmas stockings. I intended to have them as a "gift with purchase" for people who come to my blog (they aren't listed in the store as they are a gift.)

They take the fuss and muss out of gift wrapping! So, what better way to let people know you care than to give them 2 gifts in one? It is photographed here in cellophane as I wanted to keep it in perfect condition and leave it packaged.

Oops, sorry but they are all gone now (Oct. 19, 2010)...didn't know they'd go so fast!

Love,
Cindy

"A Day at the Beach" and "Miss Creative Spirit" for October!!!

Today my husband and I went to Dauphin Island in Alabama.



I should tell you that I love the beach!



And I especially love this man--my husband!


While I was there I wanted all of you to know that I was
thinking about you, so I wrote my blog name in the sand...
It was my way of saying "hi" from the island!





And last but not least, here's me and I'm going to announce
the winner of the Creative Spirit Challenge and it is Nancy
of The Trinket Collector who is Miss Creative Spirit for October--
Congratulations Nancy! And thank you to everyone
who played along--it was awesome seeing all of your work!!
(What I do at the end of the challenge is to gather all the names
and pick one at random, so that's how the winner is chosen.)

An Amazing Project

New Butterfly Added!



There is a poignant on-going project called The Butterfly Project for the Holocaust Museum in Houston. The museum is planning an exhibit for 2013 to show 1.5 million handmade butterflies from people all over the world. Six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. The butterflies are to commemorate the 1.5 million children who were among them. I have made 3 butterflies for the exhibit which I will be sending to Trudi in Canada. To read more about the project and join in, please go to: http://twodressesstudion.blogspot.com



My butterflies were created with images from the Graphics Fairy, which were digitally altered, printed, and backed with grungeboard. From there, the process began to take shape using distress ink, soy silk painted on with gel medium, a glass bottle with a cork and beads labeled "soar," round mirrors, fibers, and various embellishments.

The Jewish prayer, The Shema, is printed in Hebrew on the blue butterfly. It also carries with it a baby butterfly (on the right.) Bird feathers on the orange butterfly were used to replicate Mardi Gras masks common in New Orleans, to represent where this butterfly was created.

The graphics for the pink rose butterfly are from Shabby Cottage Studio and let me just say, I'm in love with the graphic and the pink rose made out of mulberry paper! The entire butterfly has been mod podged and then edged with gesso in a pattern (white) for a lacy effect.



I am linking this up to Brag Monday! And please scroll down to see my second entry for Brag Monday which is my Marie Antoinette tag!

"Very Sassy Marie"

Melange's "Spooky" Challenge



With Halloween coming, it was the perfect time to create a Marie Antoinette tag for a little bit of spooky whimsy that would add some color to a formal home. This mixed media piece was created from my original digital artwork (above.) The Gothic Architecture from my original photograph was blended with a graphic of Marie Antoinette, as well as the image of a gate from the Graphics Fairy.





A raven sits atop Marie’s shoulder while the queen herself dons a witch’s hat. Of course, the sentiment is a twist on her notorious, “Let them eat cake!” statement. The background is made from commercial black and cream flocked damask paper and curly seam binding adorns this 3 X 5 tag. The hand-crafted, French-inspired paper rose adds to its delicate quality.



I am linking this to Tag Tuesday!

I am also linking this up to Dezinaworld--Honestly, I didn't realize it was Thursday!!!

This is also being linked up to the Melange team. This was just added to my Etsy shop!

And I am linking this up French Country Cottage! If you are an admirer of anything French or cottage or both, please scroll down to see my Paris Rose Tag and other creations.