Collaboration at it's best!

THIS is
Collaboration!

This is what happens when you throw
ego aside and work freely
with others
just to see what magic can happen!

Artist Andrew Odum
is a fabulous copper artist,
(as well as all around nice guy)
from Peoria, Illinois.
(We are designing a hero cape for him now,
but don't tell cause it's a secret. Shshshssssshhhhhh!)

Andy designed the base
and I cut and painted
a top to go on it.
Then we worked together
to design the details
around the base
(Although actually Andrew did all the actual work!)

I chose a celestial green instead of a
traditional blue background because
of the beautiful colors
found in the copper itself.
I love how Andrew wove the details
inside the larger copper spiral
so that no one would catch
toes or clothes
on the table.
Brilliant!

The table is painted with and assortment
of metallic finishes and topped
with a high gloss, durable varnish
finish that will take a lot of spills
and be easily washable.

The table is tall and was designed as
a social bar table where friends
could stand around and jaw about
their latest successes.

The subconscious messages through
subtle art images and design
are found throughout the table top.
Dream, Wish and Shine
along with the basic
necessities of life,
Eat, Drink and just BE,
are randomly mixed
together
with images of
celestial peace, growth and balance.

I'd love to hear about what you see in this art
and how you feel about
my photos of it or
composition or
choice of colors....
Express yourself and
Enjoy!

They're bbaaaaccckkkkk

To a visual artist,
pictures are just about the most important thing
and when 5000 of them get accidentally trashed it can be
life changing.
When praying desperately that they would come back
I heard my mother's voice say (again)
Be careful what you wish for....
Somehow we got 10,271 pictures back!
(Am I a good pray-er or what!?)
They are not in any particular order and all
albums and sense of order is gone...
(Be specific, be specific, be specific)
so...
As I sift through the
thousands and thousands of pictures
I will randomly post art of interest
just so we will have a record of my work
and you can begin to see all the pictures
I meant to post all these months and years ago and never got around to.
They all have a story of some kind that I'm sure
you will be looking forward to:)
Here's a warm up.

I just loved these.
Here's my bird phase.
10x10 canvas over wood.

Did I mentioned that I was wanted by the FBI?
I met this gentleman at the 724 Reserve send off party while I
was painting faces.
He works for the FBI and has a non-profit organization
of his own he wanted a logo from me to use on his site.
My father was in the FBI before becoming a probation officer
here in Peoria so of course we bonded.

My step brother was sent off to Iraq last year
with unit 724 and just got back.
I was there face painting to show support for our troops
and Brian Mackoway, my step bro.

I really do ya know....
Love you all to the Moon and Back again.
Thanks for watching.
Come back soon!

Where Have I Been?

Many of you have noticed that I've been MIA for a while.
There has been a LOT of A while I was gone!!!
This is a quick run down
but I promise to add
pictures and details soon!

I left the end of May
to help bring my new grandson, Isaac,
into this world
and bond with my older grandson, Alex,
who just turned 3, while I was in Texas for the month of June.
(Yes, I am a grandma and you'll just have to put up with seeing these corny pictures.)
(You can get all the glorious details on earlier blog posts).


Then back for a few days then off to
Chicago Gift Show
where we met and bought from some great designers
in the
Beckman's Handmade section of the show
as well as
some FAB designers in the permanent show rooms.
Then back for a couple days and off to
CHA Show in Rosemont
with a great designer and artist
Pam Miller who works at Michael's
here in Peoria, IL.

Now you may think that sounds like a full summer but
in the middle of all that
I was still painting orders
for Moon Dancer
where my Something Unique Studios
is located (for right now),
meeting new designers and working with new companies!
DecoArt
is an amazing art supply and painting company
that has recently invited me to participate in there
HELPING ARTISTS PROGRAM,
where I am designing
fun new projects
for creative people
to learn to use their products.

Viking Woodcrafts
has also been generous enough to
share samples of their great wood crafts
for me to create new patterns on
and I'm having so much fun.

Now throw in birthday parties, anniversaries &
wedding showers and you can see
why I haven't had time to blog lately.

Check back soon to actually
SEE the art and people
and hear about a
brand new adventure
that I am
working on
that will change the face of
Peoria
and the
entire
Art World!
(Yes! Truly, it's gonna be THAT BIG!)

It's everywhere, it's everywhere!

~Opportunity~
is everywhere.

Here is a table I recreated for a new
friend and now client I met
while shopping at
Michael's in Dallas Texas.

It has a vintage feel because
of the way I layered several colors of paint,
then I sanded, antiqued, then waxed it.
I don't usually like to work with
Flat Paint
but for this project I think it gave
an earthiness, almost a stone like quality to it,
that I love.
The gold added a richness and sophistication
and the wax made the aging more honest and real
and protects the finish
without shine or chalkiness
(although I did use a matte spray varnish before
waxing because this table expects to get
a lot of use).

You will notice a lapse in time from my last post.
That would be because I have been in Texas for the last 6 weeks
playing Granny B to the most amazing grandchildren.
YES! Grand-children!
My daughter Sarah
just had our second grandboy
and he is beautiful and wonderful...
but that's another story.
While I was there getting ready for the
birth and birthday and birth Day
of these fine lads,
I of course had to get my
weekly dose of
Michael's.
While pondering over which colors from
DecoArt
www.decoart.com.

I was going to buy for my next
art adventure
(yes, another story)
a fun, beautiful woman named
Robin Gregory
asked me
if I knew anything about paints
since I had an arm full of them.
I answered...well, as a matter of fact...
One question turned into two, three, four
and pretty soon we were
discussing, lamps, patio furniture, candles
and shoes!
THIS was my kind of gal!!!
Through our discussion she found out
that I was an artist and she was
an Interior Designer!!!
Okay, Now I know what you are thinking,
because, yes,
everyone and their brother thinks
they are Interior Designers now
because they've watched a couple of
TV shows and decorated
their own livingrooms.

Since my daughter Sarah
actually has her Masters from
Drexel University
in Interior Design,
a few questions made it clear
that this gal knew what
she was doing and her home
is over the top,
breathtakingly gorgeous.

By the time we ended our conversation,
(which was interrupted by a million
phone calls from both of us)
we had exchanged info
with promises to keep in touch.
She called that next day to ask
me to faux finish this table
in time for the big soiree she
was throwing the next week.
She also took me to all of her
favorite designer haunts and introduced
me around like I was a celebrity!
What a wonderful time we had!

Now, my husband can not for the life of him,
can not understand how I can run in to pick up
a $2 paint bottle and come out an hour later
with a new friend and painting project.
I am hoping to get pictures of
Robin Gregory's
AMAZING HOME
for you all to enjoy very soon.

You'll notice the lack of pictures here.
I squeezed this table project in
the week I drove home to pick up
my husband to turn around and
drive BACK to TX that week!

The point is-
If you love what you do
and it shows
you will be a magnet
to like minded passionate people.

Enjoy!

Because they said so...

I spend most of my days filling special orders my customers request in hopes that I make enough money to afford enough time to be able to spend a day or two actually painting what I imagine.

Here are some of the fun wonderful projects I've been filling my days creating for sweet wonderful inspiring families.

This plaque was designed to coordinate with the
baby announcement and other
colors, details & inspirations from the room.
The circle is cut separate and glittered to
the max to make it extra girly.
The pink and green ribbon is
cut out of wood as well to add
some fun dimension.

This canvas is also designed
from a baby announcement
that coordinates with Carson's room.
Carson was born on Earth day which
is why you see the earth in the O of his name.
This is a 16 x20 canvas with a
wooden banner.

This canvas banner is custom sewn to the perfect size
with a willow stick dowel to hang the ribbon from.
The spirals and butterflies glitter brightly
under the light.Now, I don't want you to think all I do
is baby banners!!

I faux finished the walls of this room
by washing a color over textured
walls to make the room
feel much warmer than it
originally did.
This little vintage chair had been in
her family for a long time
and she wanted it to "fit in" without
being over done.
These colors and pattern coordinate
with the rug and accessories
that will go back into the room.
Boy, I wish I would have taken
better pictures of this
cool potting table.
It's rustic and fun and the perfect
height for actually working
on projects!


I love how the flower dangles underneath
like it's suspended in air!
These words are there
to help PEOPLE grow!
It will be the display for our garden window
but it's still going to be for sale
so come check it out.

Now here is a life changing piece.
As I was agonizing over what
direction to go while creating
this mirror,
a good friend came in and asked
what I was going to do with it.
As I moaned about my indecision,
her eyes lit up!
She knew exactly what
she wanted HER mirror to say!
The saying came from her heart but
it spoke to mine.
In a twinkling of an eye...
WE KNOW.The eyes glitter with a turquoise blue/green
and have twinkle glitter highlights.
The silver stars also glitter of course.

This moon man is gentle and knowing
and watches over you as you ponder.
He started out as a broken stool seat
and the stars were wood used in
Tae Kwon Do Tournaments
so they hold the positive
energy and focus to get things done!
Anything you put your mind to...
you can do.
This vintage post office letter box was
just a plain brown stain.
I painted it to go with but
not match
the table I made that
also works with the
cabinet that the
owner already had.


The gal that brought me this wonderful
window knew just what she wanted
and even brought me the wall paint sample
chip and curtain fabric!
The wall color will come through
the glass to become part
of the art!

These are just a few of the samples that I've done recently
for my clients.
I would love to hear your ideas or see your projects!
Next maybe I'll post
what's NOT ALREADY SOLD!

ETSY

So, since I am going to be a lot more mobile these days,
going to Texas for the birth
of my next Grandboy, Isaac,
I decided I needed to take my art
on the road, so to speak.
I have jumped (or been pushed)
into the cyber selling world of ETSY.

In a former life I started wholesaling by selling
my brass handmade jewelry at big industry gift markets
like Chicago Gift Market.


Now times have changed
and the way to meet
millions of potential buyers I'm told is to
Twitter and Facebook
my way into their
hearts and pocketbooks by computer.

So far-not nearly as much fun-
and
I have a feeling the opinions of the
youth and geniuses of this generation
are getting their information only from
THEIR experience or lack there of.
(It's a little like having a skinny young girl
who has never eaten a pot roast seared
in fat with hand rubbed seasoning messaged
into its soul by loving hands telling me how
easy it is to have "portion control" as they
nibble on bits of grass covered in chemicals).

BUT- I am determined to give it a try

because the billions of people using these
services tell me it's like
refusing to learn
to use a telephone
because it's a new fangled contraption.
So...
My jewelry is light weight, easy to ship,
actual vintage pieces since I've had them
myself since the early 80's and handmade by me.

Brass jewelry is back in fashion big time now,
so I am assuming the universe is making it
as easy as possible for me to jump into this world.

What am I missing?
People.
Where are you? Where are they?
I miss chatting with the person considering
adopting one of my works of art to make
sure their intentions are to enjoy and
share the love....
I am told every click on the "views" is
a little love pat.

They say it takes time.
I'm not sure.... am I going to be around
long enough to feel the love?
Do you like me? Do you really REALLY like me?

Please please follow me on Twitter,
http://twitter.com/momboe
Friend me on Facebook,
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=1643277645
comment here on my blog
so I know what you think!

This is what Diggers Do

Sorry to all who do not have a fascination
with construction equipment
but this one is for
Alex,
my grandson,
who totally digs diggers!
This all started with a basement
that has leaked for 26 years.
Our house, we just found out
is only 100 years old.
We thought it was built in 1903
probably because the neighbors was or something.

We were hand digging a hole for a sump pump down in our basement in hopes of slowing or stopping the water problem. That started plumbing discussions which lead to the fact that our water pressure has slowly...well, slowed down through the years.




Now we have the city and plumbers and workers and and and marching through the house to the basement to the alley to the... to get us service!
What an adventure.

Let's see if we can strike it rich with water!
The good news is...
Alex gets these great pictures.