Wanderings

I just got home from the Florida Art Educators conference in Orlando this afternoon. I had a great time and went to some really wonderful, informative workshops. I can wait to bring back some of these lesson to my kids. The convention was at the Florida Hotel at the Florida Mall so inbetween classes there was lots of shopping going on. Not only did I buy things for me, I got some super deals on art supplies for my classroom. On Thursday night they had an artist bazaar where you could set up a booth and sell your wares. Meet "Bad Kitty", he was gone soon after I put him on the table, along with "Otis Ogre" and some of my "Little Jacks". I wish had made more ornaments. There was not problem selling them.

I didn't take Beatrice along for the trip. I left her at home to watch over my house while I was gone. Beatrice was made for the Halloween Mini Monthly challenge at Art Dolls Only. She has a paper mache body and polymer clay head and arms. Her dress is dyed gauze. Her purple hair is wool roving. Beatrice is a wandering witch, always on the search for new spells to cast. She follows the moon on her adventures.

I haven't been good at posting lately as I am sure you have noticed. I have been really busy at school. I have finally met three important deadlines there and hope to get back to creating my dolls and being more faithful here. Let's hope it works!

Black Cats in Halloween Hats

Be sure to visit http://darklingwoods.blogspot.com/ for a Halloween give a way of "Soot" painted on a paper mache box. Hurry, hurry...the winner will be chosen on October 10.

Thirty Days and Counting

I am in the holiday spirit. I can't stop making those crazy thing for Halloween, my favorite holiday. I have always loved to dress up and to make costumes. Today I made two Halloween paintings. Jack and Jill O Lantern and Mr. Skelly. I have a friend who works for a palette company and she brought me a stack of end pieces from the wood they use to make the palettes so I am recycling also. Both of the paintings measure 12 x 16. I added a little glitter and some rhinestones to give them a little sparkle when the light hits them. I think that first nip of cool air this morning really got me in the spirit. I can't wait for the weekend when all the creepy little critters and wonderful witches invade my house for the Halloween season.

Otis Ogre

Otis Ogre mean and green
Roams the streets on Halloween
Scaring little girls and boys
Making a frightful, dreadful noise.
Stealing candy from their bags
Dancing with the witchy hags
Up and down the windy streets
Laughing, roaring
Trick or Treat

Otis Ogre is ready to hang on your Halloween tree. He is a funny scary little fellow and was fun to make. He is four by three and a half inches tall and five and a half inches when you include the hanger. Otis is the first in a series of my Halloween ornaments.

Introducing "Henri"

Henri is finally finished. He is my challenge piece for the ADO Mini Monthly Challenge. I am not a big fan of clowns, but I like Henri. He has a sweet, happy face, not at all like the last creepy clown I created. Henri was fun to make. He is nine inches tall and six inches wide, hand sculpted from polymer clay. His movable arms are attached with old buttons. He wears a beaded felt vest and an old lace ruffle around his neck. Henri would be considered a white face clown.

I have not made many dolls since I have been working on my house this summer. I finally got my artroom cleared out this weekend and hope to get to work real soon. It's time for ghosties, goblins, and things that go bump in the night.

Little Jacks

I felt the first nip of fall in the air last night. It was wonderful. I love winter clothes even though I don't like the cold that much. That nip in the air makes me start thinking of my favorite time of year and of course Halloween. I have loved Halloween since I was a child and it is still my favorite holiday. I can't wait to start pulling out the decorations and burning spicy candles. I have already sent the Halloween costumes to my girls in Kentucky. I have made their costumes since they were babies. My grandson hasn't told me what he wants to be yet. He always finds something he wants me to buy, like Star Wars, so he is not as hard to please, and not half as much fun, when it comes to creating the costumes. I love witches and my house is full of them from the first October weekend until that spooky time of year is over. I am working on two Halloween dolls at the present time. One for the ADO quarterly challenge and one for Zan Asha's swap. My clown is just about finished, but in the mean time I made these crazy little pins. I call them "Little Jacks". They are made from polymer clay, paint, shells, beads, and Swarovski Crystals. They were fun to make. Which personality are you....crazy, jolly, or grumpy. I fit all of those catagories from time to time. I'm still working on my house. I decided to plaster the walls in my family room. I'm using a technique I saw on "Color Splash". They are really looking good but it has been a long time consuming process. I know I will love the end result, but right now I want to just finish. Maybe I'll go light one of those candle tonight and forget about walls until tomorrow.

ADO Monthly Challenge- Clowns

This is my work in progress for the ADO monthly challenge. He is nothing like the first clown that I made. He doesn't look as evil as that one. You can see him as he was chosen to make one of the badges advertising this challenge. I have never been a big fan of clowns. They always were a little scary and creepy to me. I hope this one turns out to be happy...he does have a goofy expression on his face. I haven't named him yet. The name usually comes to me when he is near completion. I wonder if he needs balloons?