Creating Frenzy...

I'm not sure whether that means I'm creating a frenzy, or in a frenzy of creation. Either way works. My basement? It looks like arts and crafts threw up all over... my kitchen counter has a soldering station, my piano bench has a jewelry display, the floor by my "work" table is covered in scraps, receipts and bags from the local crafts stores, the other side on my hubby's weight bench I have my paper trimming station, along with inks, glues and some glitter. By the couch I have a table full of dominoes waiting for decor, and on the floor are 2 canvases drying, and several glittered letters also drying waiting to be turned into "JOY" canvases. In the corner is the beeswax pot where I melt the wax to coat my altered art/assemblage bottles. I have a small wooden box full of vintage flowers turned into hair clips and corsages waiting for the sale, along with some leftover memory boxes and bags of buttons. It's a LOT O' STUFF! I mean... art... HA!

And all this? It's for the 3rd Annual Art & Soul Artisans and Crafters Fair, Saturday, November 19 from 10-3 at Chapman's. Wow... run on sentence anyone? Um yeah... of course there are no new photos because I've used all my AA batteries and need some more for camera purposes. So, stay tuned. I may actually whet your whistle for the craft show with some photos. I may also show the mess and see if anyone volunteers for clean up.Or to pay for me to attend "Crafters Anonymous." Just kidding. Kind of. I would take free clean up help.

Actually, I'm quite excited for this year's show. There will be a number of other crafters and LOTS of goodies to buy for gifts for that special someone on your list.

So, I hope you all will join me. And, watch here for photos in the next 4 days... I hope.
Love, Kim

How about a sale?

Hey Dear Readers...

I'm thinking about selling off some of my crafted items, and in honor of a great Art & Soul, I'll be offering these items at a discount. First item, normal price; second item 10 % off, third item 15% off. If you buy four or more items I'll discount your entire cost by 15%. I'm thinking that's a pretty great deal.

I'll show some items and prices here, and will list more as i get the pictures taken.

 Beautiful buttons: antique buttons and modern lampwork beads on a "bronze style" chain.

$25

Lampwork Earrings: lampwork beads on gold tone ear wires

$15

"Put your tears in my bottle"

monochromatic wall assemblage speaking of life

$65

 The Harvest

encaustic wax altered bottle... part of "Fairy Tales in Glass" series

$20

"The Dreamer"

another of the "Fairy Tales in Glass" series

$20

Fairy Princess

one of the first "Fairy Tales in Glass"

$12

Twilight Music

this is not only one of my favorites, but the bottle itself is amazing

$18

"Knowing Faith"

one of a series of two... In Faith... bottles

encaustic wax. vintage linens, vintage book snippets, beadwork, wire, word charms

$25

"Best Birthday Wishes" memory box

inside the lid is a birthday fairy]

box is lined with glittered felt

$13

Golden Swirls

rose gold plated ear wires, swirls and beads, along with jade beads and glass beads

$20

"Bird in Flight"

multiple dangles from a blue glass disc sporting a swallow charm

all on a waxed linen necklace

$20

Flower Fields

multiple dangles from an amber toned glass disc sporting an antique metal button

hung on a bronze tone chain

$25

Stunning Sterling

Necklace: $35

Earrings: $20

Glossy Black

bracelet: $35

and not pictured, matching earrings with the black and blue button: $25

Winter Wonderland

another in my encaustic bottle series

enhanced with a vintage rhinestone shoe clip, antique book snippets, rhinestone jewelry, beadwork, ribbon and a bronze toned word tag reading "Wander"

This piece is hard to sell, so grab it quick before I change I my mind!

~SOLD~ (LA)$35

Other items not yet photographed:

~5 domino necklaces

$10 each

~several A Bit of charms: some on plain rose gold chains, some on rose gold chains along with buttons and beads and quite a few on copper ball chains

prices range from $15 - $30

4 beaded bottles

2 vintage green and 2 vintage amber

$10 each

2 more memory boxes

$13 each

"For to such belongs the kingdom of God"

11X20 canvas collage/assemblage

blues and pinks, vintage doll dress, laces, millinery, buttons, photo, etc.

$65

various framed quilt pieces

$6 for the 2 smaller

$15 for the larger

2 altered notebooks, both small

$4 and $6  (I think)

keep watching for these items to show up.

If you're interested you may contact me at:

whimsy and the word. blogspot .com (minus the spaces)

Shipping and taxes will be figured depending on your order.

And, don't forget... the more you buy the cheaper it gets!

Seasons of Creating

A friend and I were recently talking a lot about what we wanted from our art, what our hopes and dreams were, why we created, etc. It seems both of us hit a "slump" or a slow-down at the same moment. As I began with The Artistic Mothers group my creative juices were in high gear and doing art for 30 minutes a day was an easily attained goal.

Then a new "season" arrived... in my life it's not just spring, summer, winter, fall. When I think of seasons of creating I actually think of the different ways that creating or art looks at different times.

• From the gut ~  a project "makes itself" in my head and I literally get no rest till the project is completed

• From the heart ~ a project is born in my head, but may take months or longer to evolve into a finished piece. It may start one way, then morph a bit, then get worked on, then laid aside to view and mull over and then worked a bit more

• For a need ~ someone's birthday or special event comes along and I know I want to make something for that person and start pulling out "stuff".... lace, ribbons, folios, postcards, buttons and seeing what happens. Funny story. When showers come along in our church, generally bridal showers, I guess there are a few who expect (Not sure that's the correct word.), or hope, I'll make a card. I think that's fun, but it also makes me nervous. I don't want to let pride become the reason I create.

• Art Show ~ so I've only done three shows, but when I find myself making art to fill space on a table I wonder if it's art or if it's craft... Anyone know the difference? I'd love to hear about it.
• Because what I'm doing is what God wants me to do ~ this is the place I want to be all the time. ALL THE TIME!

While I know that I "can" create things that people enjoy or that people will even buy I want to create because that's where God wants me RIGHT NOW. So, some days I don't do my thirty minutes a day. Or, I do it, but others wouldn't recognize it as art.

The other day I spent hours helping to create something... a family... as I was their doula and assisted them during their delivery. To me that is art in pure form. Art is creating to serve God... I was creating moments for them, pictures of the delivery, helping a new family to begin. So, my season right now is "Expectation"...waiting to see what God wants of me. I have tasks... three necklace orders, finishing a banner I started, finishing a collage which has been a "From the heart" project and hopefully I will get back to TAM.

But, the actual season of spring also means creating beauty out of doors, finishing up another year of homeschooling and simply praising God for the beauty He has created all around me.

What are your seasons of art?

Blessings!
Kim

p.s. Don't forget the giveaway! See the post below, or click on the link on the upper sidebar.

~New listings!~

As promised I'll be posting new listings here. And, don't forget, if you see something you like but want it "tweaked" just a little bit (you know, a special order), please don't hestitate to ask. I love a creating challenge!

"Lilies of the Field" a tote

Art Fire

$15      

A sweet canvas tote embellished with one of my very own photos. Across the top is printed a verse from Matthew 25 about the lilies of the field. Embellishing the upper edges you'll find a cheery ribbon and co-ordinating ric rac. Grouped at each corner are vintage buttons and lovely paper flowers adorn the center. Please spot clean only!

"Cherish" a birthday memory box

Art Fire

$11.00

(other variations also found at "Lola Rue" downtown Bloomington)

I love to say this is perfect for those who want a way to easily save memories from a special day without having to worry about scrapbooking. The outside of this vintage cigar box is covered with a cheery red heavy duty scrapbook paper, trimmed in vintage ribbon and centered around a gorgeous vintage postcard from early 1900s. Inside when you open the lid you'll see a sweet birthday fairy collaged on the inner lid and the base is lined with felt and sprinkeld with fairy dust. What a sweet way to savor those birthday pictures, cards, candles, flower petals or other small trinkets

~Faith Bottles~

"All That Leads a Heart to Knowing"

Art Fire

$ 30.00

Quantity: 1

A vintage bottle is carefully adorned with a mix of fibers, some simple and some ornate. The closer we get to the heart the simpler things become. All fibers are affixed with layers of encaustic wax medium. Added on are vintage scraps reflecting upon what leads a heart to knowing... further embellished with a brass word tag reading "inspire" topped off with some simple, yet elegant, beadwork.

Inspiration / Story behind this Product:

When I opened up the box of bottles I won at auction I discovered this little bottle with a heart already affixed. No matter what I tried I could not remove the heart. While looking and thinking I realized this is much like faith... our heart must be rooted and grounded. However, even the most stalwart human heart is not forever fixed, only one heart is that strong. That heart lay within humble "wrappings" but the heart itself was the heart most worth knowing.

 

 

"King of Kings"

Art Fire

$ 30.00
Quantity: 1


A lovely vintage bottle layered with cloth and encaustic wax medium. Embellishments include scraps from a vintage book of poetry, crushed silk ribbon, a vintage crown brooch, word tag, and lovely glass bead.

Inspiration / Story behind this Product:

Upon bringing home a lot of jewerly purchased at auction I found the crown brooch used on this piece. I knew something special had to be created and set it aside waiting for inspiration. After purchasing cloth for another project I dumped it all in a pile and saw the possibilty of a royal setting... the only king I know deserving of such is the King of Heaven.

Hope you enjoy these latest listings!
Blessings, Kim