Just Playing Around

The other day on a FB quilling group I belong to, someone asked 'what do you do with your quilled projects?'

I make mine to keep my hands busy and, of course, to sell. I have found that my ornaments and cards sell pretty well but the question got me thinking. What else can I make that might sell too?

I decided to scale down a few of my regular ornaments and make 'ornaments for houseplants'. So far I have one pattern for a hummingbird, two patterns for butterflies and one for dragonflies. They are made with 1/8" paper and sealed with a heavy coat of gloss medium. The wire is threaded through before sealing so it is pretty sturdy.

I find I have to pick unnatural colours so that the ornaments show up against the green of the plants. I mean really,  a mauve and pink hummingbird? Any way, I think they are cute and that they will make a nice addition to any houseplant or artificial arrangement. I hope others think the same - lol

Here is a comparison photo of the dragonflies although I really should have  a coin in the picture to give a really good idea of sizes. I will be making more of these designs and I think I will have to come up with a bee pattern too!

I enjoy reading your comments so please leave one! Thanks for visiting.

Half Way Through

It is hard to believe that we are half way through the summer - where has July gone?

I look back and don't feel that I have accomplished much this month. I feel that I have been very busy although I am not sure with what! I have spent a fair bit of time taking care of my flowers because it has been so hot. I have also been busy with the Saturday Afternoon Summer Art Market; planning what to take, organizing other artists and artisans and trying to promote the venture.

I have painted a few more turkey feathers and figured out a couple of ways they can be displayed. And, here is a picture of one of the visitors who leaves feathers behind for me to paint.

The framed feather and the one in the stand are examples of how people can display the feathers - I think both look good.

I also managed to get a quilled piece done and was lucky enough to get a request for it the first day I posted it on Facebook. It will soon be making its way to Australia to a cousin-in-law.

#1045 - Pastel Hummingbird

The warm weather has really increased the fire hazard in our province and there are a number of fires burning although nothing too close to us. However, the smoke from fires hundreds of miles away still makes it way to our area. That, plus the threat of fire has, I believe, kept tourism down. I am keeping my fingers crossed that August will be a better month with more visitors and more sales - and cooler weather.

I would love to see your comments and how is your summer going?

2016 Day 13

I am really happy with today's piece. Once again it is not a traditional painting but a quilled paper piece. I have seen this type of quilling a few times - on YouTube, Pinterest and on Facebook and thought I would try it myself.

Quilled Paper Seahorse

I mostly used my own painted papers and an expanded design from my Quilled Critters. This piece is made with 1/4 inch paper on a painted paper background. It is approximately 7.5" x 3.75" and will be mounted on an 8 x 10 or 9 x 12 mat.

Quilled Critter Seahorse

I am sure that I will be doing more of these - I just have to come up with some designs that work well with quilling patterns.

The Year's Review

I keep a record of all the art I create and at the end of every year I update my file on the computer. This gives me a good overview of what I have accomplished and it gives me an idea of my income for the year.

I started the year with a 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and used the time to improve my skill at Oriental Brush Painting.

I switched gears and, after taking a card making class featuring flowers, I started making cards. I taught myself quilling (thanks Youtube) using my own painted papers and added that and some of my own drawings to the cards I made. I even put together some 'Color Me' cards to sell.

As well as learning new things (and, I have to be honest, playing), I was also busy organizing some art displays as a volunteer with the local Arts Council.

Art in the Chamber

Creston is lucky to have two great venues where artists can display and sell their work. For 2016 we will have four 3 month long displays instead of six 2 month displays as we have had in the past.

From January until October I am also busy with my garden flowers; starting bedding plants, transplanting, watering and pruning, planting out, watering and dead-heading, harvesting seed and finally clearing everything up before winter. And, of course, continuing to create.

The Protector

I did a color painting challenge in the spring and followed that with the September 30 paintings challenge, this time focusing on doing pen & ink cards.

Lighthouse card

I used many of the cards in lieu of Christmas cards this year adding one of my crocheted ornaments as a nod to the season.

Altogether I painted around 75 pieces this year plus the cards (around 50), plus the quilled critters (about 80).

Quilled Critter

 I have opened a store at Handmade at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/handmade/Mellowood-Studio?ref=hnd_dp_smp
I have displayed my art in a number of shows and venues, participated in a self-guided art tour, and taught art to some beginner artists. All in all it has been a busy and moderately successful year. While I will not likely ever make enough money with my art to do much more than pay for my supplies, I will continue to ply my brushes and other tools, learning and playing as each new year unfolds.

Happy New Year everyone and thanks for checking in!

Something New

I have found a new creative outlet! Quilled Critters and Other Things!

quilled paper Ant

This is my first 'critter' and he has already been sold!

When I started making my critters, I hoped they would sell but I was surprised that a number of them sold the first time I really displayed them.

Stationwagon & Caravan

I have been having fun making my own patterns and developing those found on the internet. I am using 1/4" and 1/8" paper for my creations.  As I am too impatient to wait for my order of quilling paper to arrive I have been painting and cutting my own paper or just using stock paper that I have on hand.

Blue Bull (sold)

I have a number of different animals that I plan to make; everything from raccoons to butterflies. I hope to have a whole ark of critters ready for the Wynndel Christmas Craft Fair on December 5. I think most of my quilled pieces would make fun ornaments, either for the Christmas tree or hanging in a child's room. People could even put a few of them together and make a mobile or they can mount and frame them.

Going on Holiday

Just for fun, I took a photo of the car and trailer with one of my watercolor paintings in the background. From an angle the whole thing looks like fun but straight on - not so much.

This way the quilled pieces look pretty ghostly so I think they will do better on a plain background.

Anyway, I will continue to play with strips of paper and glue and let my other creative media take a backseat for a while. As always I will probably go overboard and make too many things, but I figure that as long as I am having fun it doesn't matter.