Paint Myself Pretty

Blind Giraffes - Lesson 2

2012-02-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the giraffes aren't really blind in Lesson 2, but instead, are blind contour drawings...

To jog your memory of what a blind contour drawing is....you spend your time looking only at your subject and not at your paper while slowly moving your pencil/pen in unison with your eyes. You are supposed to use one continuous line to draw your subject.

It was hard to fight the urge to look down and "correct" myself....but it's a cool feeling to have your drawing be revealed to you in all it's wiggly, askew and sometimes scary glory and think "Hey, that's not half bad " :)

The book author does say it's okay to lift your pencil to begin the interior details...which I did for the eyes above.....but, I didn't look while I was drawing them....I swear! That head on the top left is my favorite.

I started enjoying the transformations...so I tried a couple more.

I cranked up the contrast on this so the lines would stand out a bit more.

Barn Owl

Penguin Chicks

Squirrel

Every time I see that squirrel drawing I hear Gollum in my head saying, "My Precioussss"....haha!!

I told you they sometimes turn out scary :)

But I hope you give this Lesson a try. I learned to slow down my pace, to really take the time to notice all the curves and details (even if they didn't register on the drawings) and to be open to the end result without expecting too much from it. This allowed me to be pleasantly surprised rather than miserably disappointed :)

Please link up here to share your adventures in blind contour drawing!

Can't wait to see what your blind animals look like :)

Hugs,

Cameron

Favorite Things

2012-02-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Bloggy Babes!!
It is a beautiful sunny day here today....
...a perfect day to think about what some of my favorite things are....and squeak in just in time to join Butterfly Effect :)

I hope I get repetitive when I tell you that sharing my Life and my Art here in Blogland is one of my most favorite things of all....because of you!! I had never imagined finding a place that offers so much support and inspiration, friendships and talent....I love it here! I am in awe of you all and enjoy being here on a common journey :)

One of my favorite things to engage in with you is SWAPS! I can't turn down an invitation to trade a little handmade goodness! It's a compulsion....an addiction....and so darn much fun! Haha!!
Here are just some of the wonderful works I've been fortunate enough to acquire through swaps....

From L clockwise art by Lauren Startzman of Fair Rosamund, Deedra of Foxy Blue (blog removed), TheresaMacNaughton of Faerie Moon Creations and Joyce van der Lely of Joyce's Art

From L clockwise, art by Amy McDonald of Amy., Micki Wilde of The Secret Hermit, Natasha May of NatshaMay Art World, , Karen of I am Rushmore, and Mindy Lacefield of Tim's Sally

Cool, huh?! Remember I did say these are just some of the lovely art pieces I've received. Rest assured if yours isn't shown here....it's because I was rushing around like a mad woman trying to gather them quickly to get this post up....not because I don't LOVE them!

I treasure and adore everything I'm sent, so please don't feel left out...Sheree, Michele, Heather, Allison, Kathy...to name a few I've not featured here....thank you, too! I have the best Blog Buddies ever!

Other favorite things include:

Rainy days with nowhere to go

Staying in PJ's all day

DESSERTS! Isn't it funny that stressed spelled backwards is Desserts :)

Hearing birds singing when my windows are open

Blaring dance music with naughty lyrics in the car when I'm alone ;P

Looking up at the night sky in remote locations & seeing a thousand stars

Picking homegrown fruits & veggies

These 2 together

My morning cup of coffee

Pedicures with extra massage time added.....ahhhhh

Having a dedicated Art Room!

Big commanding moons

This was ours last night...a horrible picture of what was the biggest,

yellowest, lowest in the sky moon I'd ever seen!

Eating scones with all the fixins at a lovely Tea House

Catching my Husband's gaze when I least expect it

Strolling around quaint shops and craft shows

SKYPE

Creating!!

Here's my latest:

"Daydream" 8 1/2 inches square Mixed Media on torn Kids' book cover.

This is the completed project from Amy's magazine paintover class I did on Jan 20th. I told you I'd show it to you when I finished it. Hope you like it. It's in the shop if you really like it...heehee ;)

A few more faves:

Halloween

the color green

Foggy mornings

Blooper Reels on DVDs

Drumstick ice cream cones with the caramel center

Thin Mints cookies kept in the freezer

Okay, I better go....can you tell I'm hungry?! Haha!

Thank you for visiting my little space here....

Have a fantastic weekend....hope it's filled with some of your favorite tthings!

Hugs and other sweet stuff,

Cameron

P.S. If you are participating in the Drawing Lab Lessons, you can link up by clicking the Lesson 1 Link at the top of my sidebar or simply scroll down to the previous post! Happy to have you join in!

Cats, But Not in Bed - Lesson #1

2012-02-08T01:11:00.000-08:00

Helloooo Bloggy Friends!!

I had mentioned last post that I was going to try to tackle this book.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that so many of you accepted my invitation to dive in and play along!

My intention is to have this be an ongoing project that anyone can join and link their lessons up to.

I need to figure out how to do it (Mr Linky and adding categories is new to me), but I want to have this on my sidebar so we can keep track of everyone's progress :)

So, thank you so much for the great excuse to learn a few new tricks in the real world and the Bloggy one!

Lesson one is all about drawing cats. You're supposed to draw them while lying in bed....I didn't do that part....cuz once I get in bed, I sleep....I wouldn't be able to keep my eyes open, let alone hold a pencil....haha!

They are supposed to be out of your imagination....and the instructions say to make your lines "simple and expressive". I told you I had trouble with letting go of details. These were the first 3 attempts.

Then I did these.

I started looking at her examples and applying that feeling to my drawings a bit more....

Then, I realized I was supposed to be using a pen....oops...

....promptly switch utensils...aaaaand....

This page came about.

I was numbering them to keep track of how they were flowing. Maggie wanted to write the numbers for me...and after that got boring, she did her own cats...

These just make me smile!

She even numbered hers, too :)

I finished up with one last cat....in alien superhero colors...

....just to try to loosen up and be ridiculous...

I've got a long way to go....haha!

Please link up your posts as you complete the lessons!

This will be for Lesson 1.

I'm going to shoot for a lesson a week.

I'm hoping you can still link if these are accessed from the sidebar *crossing fingers*

We shall soon see!

Can't wait to see what you do with this book!

Remember Me?

2012-02-01T23:22:00.000-08:00

So, I try to get back here often....I really do!
I always feel so good when I have a new post under my belt. I'll be sailing on wonderful visits and delightful comments for a few days.....then a few more days will pass....and I'll keep saying that I need to put a new post up....then a few more days go by....and I start feeling stressed and rushed....it couldn't have been a whole week already, I never finished (fill in the blank) to share!

Well, that's just the way it goes ;P
I don't have as much as I'd like to show you, but, things start to get even busier starting tomorrow....so I hope it will suffice until next week.

It's been pretty warm around here for Winter.....has me thinking of vacation, which gets me excited about Glass Beach....which, in turn, makes me realize I need to make more hair clips :)

It's almost therapeutic sifting and searching through all my found bits of glass and shell....putting them together to make little pieces of wearable art.

I say "almost therapeutic" because while it is relaxing to my brain, my neck protests ;)

Being able to find the perfect way to use those extra special finds is gratifying, though. I've hoarded them long enough...haha! That mussel shell above is gorgeous in person.

These are among my favorite colors to find on the beach.....like solidified water droplets.....they almost glow in the sunlight...

See, only 4 new clips....not much.....but, it's something. I'm working on other things, really! Like my submissions for Stampington....getting close to done on that whole process....

...and....Lisa from the Wright Stuff and I have decided to do the lessons from this book together every week or so....

Haven't started yet....

Soon, very soon!

Do you have this book, too?

Do you wanna join us?

It looks really fun....loose and playful....

I get so hung up on details and have trouble being loose like this. I think it will be good for me...for us...

C'mon....play along if you can :D

Oh, and if you are on Skype, let's totally set up some crafty Playdates!!

Hope your February is already starting out wonderfully!

Hugs to you all,

Cam

Humpty Dumpty Returns!

2012-01-24T23:24:00.000-08:00

....at least the last 3 pages of his book are!
I acquired his tired and torn pages from my daughter's school, if you remember...

You can refresh your memory, if need be, at this post here to see how I prepared the pages and what not...

I decided to finish out the book with little paintings done with the same feel.
Since the last one was for coffee lovers, I decided to dedicate one to all the tea drinkers out there :)

This one is obviously called "Cuppa Love".

It features real string for the tea tag that is adhered only to the rim of the cup so it dangles free :)

I love that some of the original illustration shows through on the other side.

The last 2 pages reflect a bit of a cupcake craze I went on recently. Here's that post in case you don't believe me...

They just seemed like such a simple, happy thing to depict....and we all need a little happy sometimes, right?

A cupcake can do no wrong.......I know, I know, tell that to my thighs....

At least a painting of one is innocent enough ;)

Excuse my fingers in the picture! It was a really windy day today...haha!

As you can see, manicures are just not in my budget....lol!

But, that's okay....because.....

I used Glossy Accents across the entire top of this one....and liberally applied glitter!

It's so neat how that glossy stuff looks when it dries....the glitter just seems to "float" above the painting :)

I wish there were more than just 4 of these pages. The interesting shape was so fun to work with....

Cuppa is finding a home across the pond, but the Cupcakes are available in ye olde Shoppe :)

Thanks for taking the time to stop in today.....and I accept no blame for any bakery treats consumed after reading this post :D

Sweet thoughts and mugs full of smiles,

Cam

Ode to Nature

2012-01-19T12:41:00.000-08:00

This week on Butterfly Effect, the theme is A Poem or A Quote.

Here is what I painted in response.

There were so many quotes about Nature that inspired this painting....

"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair"

-Kahlil Gibran

I fully intended to pick one and write the words onto the painting....

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."

-Chief Seattle

But I didn't want to cover up anything once she was done.

So I wrote my chosen quote on the back instead.

"Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty

if only we have the eyes to see them."

-John Ruskin

The Beauty of Nature

Mixed Media on Chipboard (from an old scrapbook kit I'd never otherwise use)

7 x 8 3/4 inches

Please visit Butterfly Effect to see what other poems or quotes have made for good art :)

While you're there....go to Amy's site and find out when her next LIVE class is.

I was finally able to attend....woohoo!

I'll have to finish up what we made and show it to you later.

Hope your weekend is abundant with the beauty of Nature!

Biggest Hugs,

Cam

Corny, Cheesey and Cozy

2012-01-12T23:48:00.000-08:00

I'm so sorry!
I told you I'd be back.....I just had no idea it would take me this long to get here!

So, I mentioned previously some new stuff I've been working on...
Been in a felty mood again!

Made some more coffee cozies...

I thought these would make cute Valentine's presents for Coffee/Tea lovers.

(or, more honestly, was spending a lot of my week catching up with the TV Series "Fringe" and needed to make something while I sat there so I didn't feel so guilty :D)

They could accompany some cheesy little saying like,

"Our love just keeps growing"

"Owl always love you"

"My heart is in your hands"

...and I made more keychains, as well...

A guy could totally put his Sweetheart's car keys on it with a little note....

"You 'drive' me wild"

Or perhaps...

"You carry my heart with you wherever you go"

What about for a friend...

"Friendship blooms with love"

I'm all about the thoughtful gift with the corny sentiment!

That's why I bought a pack of my Hubby's favorite snacks....pistachios....

so I can tell him I'm nuts about him!

A small LED flashlight for his keys...

beacause he "lights up" my life...

...and a screwdriver...

Get your minds out of the gutter! Haha!

(you know who you are)

...it is because my Life would be "screwed up" without him!

What's your favorite cheeseball Valentine's line?

Have a great weekend, My Friends!!

In all silliness,

Cameron

A Green Mustache and A Feline Napkin

2012-01-07T22:46:00.000-08:00

Wow! Hard to believe a week has gone by already! Thanks to everyone for your support of my Blog Post over at Butterfly Effect. I appreciate your lovely comments, for popping over there to read it....and a hug to those of you who had the time to create something for it :)

During the week, Maggie and I started making Green Smoothies at breakfast. I can see why so many of you swear by them!

We've been putting in a handful of spinach, and either celery or cucumbers, maybe a smattering of cherry tomatoes, a frozen banana, frozen fruits (such as mangoes, pineapple, or berries), 2 scoops NanoGreens powder, unsweetened Coconut milk from Trader Joe's, a dash of whatever 100% juice we have ( like OJ or pomegranate) and some cinnamon...

I thought the color would disuade her from drinking it....but she LOVES these things! I love that I can give her one of these with her toast and eggs before school and she'll have a full balanced meal at the start of her day! She goes back to school again on Monday, so we'll see how easy it is to keep up with this :)

Look at that chunky green mustache...haha!

Our kitten, Sally, is such a people cat.....always wanting to know what we're doing, where we're going, what we're eating. She'll follow us around the house and join us on the couch for TV time. She even sits and waits on the bathmat while Maggie bathes...

This morning, we all snuggled up on the couch,. We just had our smoothies...and Maggie was sporting another green mustache. Why do kids never use napkins?

Who knew cats enjoy their greens, too!

Feline Napkin from Cameron Reutzel on Vimeo.

Our Little tuxedo girl has quite a personality. We took her to the Vet and when he inserted the thermometer to take her temperature, she bit him! He had to ask the Nurse to hold her still....all 2 pounds of her...haha!

Have a great week ahead! I look forward to sharing some new things with you soon!

Hugs, green mustaches, and kitten kisses to you all,

Cam

Starting 2012 with Wood

2012-01-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, Everyone!!!

I'm starting mine out with a bang....
...my very first Guest Post ever over at Butterfly Effect!!!

My chosen theme is IN THE WOODS.

I love the Forest!

The post is up right now......

So, please pop over there when you have a chance, maybe create some
art to link up

and have some fun :-D

Biggest Redwood-sized Hugs,

Cam

On the Agenda

2011-12-29T17:08:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year....to sum up what we've done in the last 12 months.
To decide there are some things that can be improved, others that can be strived for....and put on our list, yet again, those things that we still want, but have eluded us thus far...

The thing that most needs improvement in my Life, is my health...

Resolution # 1 Get Healthy

Since we moved and I stopped working as a Massage Therapist, I've done zero physical activity. Do you remember the muscle pull while swatting flies incident?

I've been noticing aches and cramps that weren't there before....and a noticeable loss of flexibility....

I'm only 38.

I spend way too much time sitting in front of the computer.

My Dad has heart issues.

I had borderline high cholesterol 3 years ago (the last time I had it checked).

Um....does anyone else see the red flags here...ding ding!! Time to make some changes.

So, I need to drop Maggie off at school and...

Those red things are bike shorts....does anyone still wear those things? Haha!

This is for illustrative purposes only. I wouldn't be caught dead in a pair of shorts in public :)

I just need to get my physical activity done in the morning, before email and blog checks, before excuses and obligations...I need to just start my day on a positive.

Be more regular about taking my vitamins...

...and eat more veggies. I actually enjoy vegetables, but, I find I eat the same ones all the time. I'd like to mix it up some kale and eggplant with my usual tomatoes and broccoli. I can become so predictable.

Perhaps I'll try Green Shakes like so many of you do. If you have any advice or recipes to share I'd love to hear them! :)

My second Resolution stems from something else extremely important to me. I've always longed to make a living as an Artist.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here.

My Husband would love for me to contribute more financially and has politely suggested that I may be able to find a job when Maggie goes to school fulltime in 1st grade....

....but, it would be a dream come true to be able to make Art my profession, and have Chief Paint Slinger be my title :)

I think we established above, with all that health talk, just how short Life is...I want to live mine doing what I love most.

I figured I'd make it my goal to get published in a magazine. If an Art Mag takes your work seriously, than the rest of the world will too, right?! Well, maybe not....but it's something to strive for anyways :)

Besides, it would make my Mom and Dad so proud :)

...and show Maggie that all dreams are within reach...

So, I'll create...

mail in....

...and keep my fingers crossed again and again...

Until, one day...I may be able to...

Celebrate....and you'll all be invited to party with me...heehee!

My 3rd Resolution is the one that keeps eluding me. On the surface, it seems like a non-issue.

I mean, how could someone who doesn't have to work (yet...haha!), doesn't exercise and doesn't eat veggies not be having fun..haha! Well, I don't have nearly as much as I should :)

I want to live in my heart more...and less in my mind....

While I have no problem laughing at myself sometimes, I have trouble in stressful situations relaxing and going with the flow. Getting uptight and tense isn't going to help anything. Maybe just laughing at the whole thing would put me more at ease :)

I don't say yes enough to her. She's only a kid once....and one day, she'll stop asking.

Lazy is just way too easy for me... I believe there is definately room to do better. To try harder.

I can put the clothes away as soon as I pull them out of the dryer (instead of letting them sit in the basket for a week).

I can write a love letter to my Hubby once a month instead of once a year.

I can cook a meal every now and then, rather than heat up a frozen dinner.

I can look in the mirror....and look past my crow's feet and gray hair....and not mourn over what I used to be. But, appreciate who I am now and just how special she is :)

Maybe I'll finally do a self-portrait?

Well, probably not....haha! Maybe in 2013....

I'm linking this up to Butterfly Effect, where they want to know what your resolutions are! So, spill the beans....what are you going to strive for next year?

Happy New Year, Blog Friends!

Let's make it a great one!!

Big hugs,

Cameron

P.S. Did I forget to mention I have a Guest Post there next week?! heehee!!!

Warm Holiday Wishes!!

2011-12-23T13:22:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to write a quick post to wish all My Beloved Blog Buddies, far and near,

a most Magical Holiday!

I'm looking forward to a New Year filled with shared inspirations, fun discoveries and amazing projects with all of you! Let's laugh til our sides ache and enjoy all the goodness

a brand new year will bring!

Big hugs from my family to yours!

Cam

Just for Giggles

2011-12-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

With the stress and busyness of the Holidays....I sure have felt the need to decompress in the studio for some much needed play time. How about you?
I didn't want to start any lengthy projects (I have enough of those still unfinished...haha!) and I didn't want to have to think too hard about shading and facial features like when doing a portrait...

So, the answer came to me...
Cupcakes!

Aren't they always the answer?! :-D

In one of Amy's classes, she showed us how to sew fabric onto watercolor paper and use that to paint on....
I had prepared some extras and knew that's what I wanted to use.
The paint bleeds a little and gets a nice wash-y kinda effect (I know, very technical...haha!) that I really like.

I saw this saying...and thought it was perfect!

I added some ruffle from a vintage pillowcase, polka dot ribbon, a fancy brad...and some ribbon to hang it with. A cute little reminder to turn a sour day into a sweet one :)

This next one is definately for the kid in us all...

"Sprinkles make me Smile"

Do you get all giddy when you get to eat something with sprinkles, too?

These were a lot of fun to make...and a lot less fattening than the real thing :)

They are in my Shop now.

Now, I have to start making a coffee cozy for my daughter's teacher!

Yay! A good excuse to catch up on some TV...heehee!

Hope you get to have a cupcake kinda day soon...

Did you know your comments and visits are my sprinkles?

You never cease to make me smile,

Cameron

BaBy NeWs!!!

2011-12-10T22:44:00.000-08:00

Please help us welcome the arrival of a 1 lb 4 oz bundle of furry joy!

This is Sally (named after the character from Nightmare Before Christmas) :D

As all you lovely Bloggy Friends already know, my daughter, Maggie, just adores cats! When we taught her sign language as a baby....it was the first word she communicated with us....if I wanted to get a good picture of a real, genuine smile on her face....one of our cats just had to be in the room...

You already know about her Kitty themed Birthday party and room re-do...

She has always loved cats!

We decided this was the year to get her one of her very own...

Sally came home with us last night.

Though she is a Christmas present, we got her early so there is plenty of time to spend with her over Maggie's 3 week Winter Break starting soon.

She's staying in Maggie's room in the eves until she and our other cats grow accustomed to eachother.

I went in to check on them both....and saw this :)

Isn't that the cutest thing! My heart just melted....

We took her to the Vet this morning where she got a clean bill of health.

She is so sweet and loves to be with people....Maggie loves to read to her.

See...Sally even looks at the pictures....haha!

Maggie is just in Kitten Heaven!

Just so exciting to have the scamper of little paws around here again!

Hope you are all having as wonderful a weekend as we are!

Can't help but smile,

Cameron

Sketchy Post

2011-12-07T23:19:00.000-08:00

My Dearest Bloggy Buddies!
Please forgive my absence...
Shall I just use the Holidays as an excuse and be done explaining myself? I imagine everyone nodding in understanding right now :P
Thank you...

I do have a wee something to share with you today.
I know I have mentioned the free courses over at Amy's before....it really is a lot of fun to try something new...and chat and laugh with the other girls taking the class....
I highly recommend you joining in if you haven't already!

Today's class was taught by Jay at Moon-Light Creations. He chose some photo references for us to work off of and gave us tips for shading, gridding and drawing the human form.
I have to admit, I'm not a sketcher.....at least not for the sake of just sketching alone. If it is to map out a painting or grander scale work, I'll quickly put pencil to paper or canvas and plug in the basics.....but, I'm more of a dive right in kinda girl...

I usually avoid complicated body angles and full length views, too, cuz I'm a lazy kinda girl also!
It is exactly these types of photos, of course, that he happened to choose....
Naturally....haha!

He had us do some very quick ones....just getting the main idea and posture of the pic....
I darkened the lines for you so it would show up better here, but otherwise, made no more additions to it after class was thru.

I chose scrapbook paper to draw on thinking it would make things more interesting....instead, it's a bit distracting....oops :)

I don't measure or grid anything when I draw. I just "eyeball" things...so some of the proportions are off.

Here's another quickie sketch...

I'm generally pretty pleased with these. Since I don't speed sketch often, I wasn't sure how they'd turn out... I love that I have to try new things in these classes....because the teacher says so ;)

The most challenging was the one where he gave us time to really work on shading and hair (which I'm not good at) and experiment with varying lead hardnesses.

I haven't spend this much time drawing in ages!

And it felt really good to just focus on making marks on paper...almost zen-like....except for the school-girl banter going on in the text box....that I just couldn't stop giggling at!

You really should join the next class! ;P

I hope to be back with lots of new stuff...soon....

....very soon!

Thank you for taking time out of your hectic Holiday schedules to check in with me!

I just love you guys!!

Big Hugs,

Cameron

Making and Baking

2011-11-29T13:09:00.000-08:00

It's been over a week since my last post....and I feel like I have nothing to show for it...

I haven't been "making" anything in the last week. With Thanksgiving festivities...which included multiple stops on multiple days and Maggie being out of school all of last week...there hasn't been much time for making stuff...

But there has been plenty of excitement for the upcoming Holiday...and I realize we've been "Making Merry" :)
Which counts....or at least is the excuse I'm using for my absence...heehee!

Here's a peek at what we've been up to....

The wreath My Hubs made for his parents over a decade ago hangs on our front door...

A cute little easel displays some Seasonal colors and a Happy Snowman....

Our front room was supposed to become our Formal Diningroom...but the piano my Hubby doesn't play but won't part with is in there...and it's not a huge room......sooooo, I put up a little place in the corner that I can dress up and satisfy my "Oh what a lovely table" urges ;P

...and of course, there's our tree...

Fake this year....a pre-lit one we got as a hand-me-down from my MIL who is Christmas obsessed. I wound in 1 long strand of colored lights thru the entire tree which gives little hints of twinkling blues and purples and reds here and there. I like the effect :)

The one thing I made over the weekend that I enjoyed the most is this....

That's right! Homemade Dutch Apple Pie! This was the last piece....and I ate 5 out of the 6 pieces we cut it into. Low carb diet? What's that?! Haha!

Trust me...I don't eat all fancy like this everyday.....I had to remember to slip it off the paper plate I dished it up on to take the picture. I thought I'd better prove I actually do cook before all the evidence was gone :-D

I hope you and your families are enjoying eachother....and the Holidays you celebrate together :)

Biggest Hugs and Candy Cane Kisses,

Cam

Elixir of the Gods!

2011-11-21T16:37:00.000-08:00

....or what we, in my household, otherwise call COFFEE :)
Who am I kidding?
I'm the only one who drinks the stuff....the one who panics when the cream gets low...the one who doesn't care how loud the whirring of the bean grinder is on the weekends.....the one who devotes an entire cabinet to the storage and display of coffee and tea, mugs, sugar, filters....everything I need in one spot perched above the coffeemaker....

I LOVE coffee!!!
It is the one ritual that defines my mornings...
....even when it's 100 degrees outside...
...even when camping (I make it in a French press)...
I have to, want to, look forward to having a cup...every morning!

So when my suggestion for a theme was chosen over at Butterfly Effect this week....
You guessed it! Coffee or Tea.
I couldn't wait to create something...
Now, I've made art about my love of Joe before...

You can read that post here...

But that was before I learned all the nifty mixed media techniques I know now....so I wanted to make something specifically for it ;0)

Betty over at Pinkglitterfae Art gave me the idea to alter a board book...

You see, Maggie's school has been saving their damaged books for me. I witnessed them throwing them away once and just had to come to the rescue.

Humpty Dumpty, true to his story, couldn't be put back together again...

So I used his pages as my substrate....

First sanding....

Then gessoing....

Does anyone else uses this gesso? It is a serious upper body workout trying to squeeze this stuff out, it's soooo thick!

After it dried, I thought the shape was perfect for this!

Does it make you want a cup? Makes me wish I had an actual cup like that!

If you want this one, it's in the shop :)

While looking for something to write on this piece, I came across some great coffee related sayings.

I might need to make more just to use them...haha!

"Coffee: Creative Lighter Fluid"

"A morning without coffee is like sleep"

"Forever....the time it takes that first pot of coffee to brew in the morning"

"Coffee smells like freshly ground Heaven"

...and my favorite by Josephine Baker,

"He was my cream, and I was his coffee -and when you poured us together it was something"

Hopefully you'll be able to link up and play along, too!

Here's wishing all my Buddies in the States have a fantastic Thanksgiving...

Have lots of pie....

...and coffee to go with it!

Hugs to all my Bloggy Friends everywhere!

Cam

Ring a Ding Ding

2011-11-16T02:04:00.000-08:00

Hello All!!

Hope you've been having a great week!
I'm just dropping in real quick to show you something new....

I don't know if you remember these gorgeous beach stones I found while on vacation?

Well, I wanted to create something with them that was special enough to showcase just how unique and special they are..

Something simple that would highlight their individual beauty...

Something like this....

They are so smooth, so pretty....

This one looks like I polished it. But, nope, it was the sea that created that sheen, not me :)

Each one truly is unlike the other....

That's not a chip on this one. It is completely smooth, no rough edge....just showing the white quartz inclusion within it ;)

I liked these so much, I looked for some sea glass to mount, as well...

Stunning olive green...

Cloudy milk white...

...and a most unusual pitted piece of milk glass....like a brain or what I like to call...

The Cauliflour Ring...haha!

Isn't it bizarrely cool?!

And since I was in the mood to try new things, I decided to fill some bezel frames with bits of sea glass....like this....

This....

....and these....

Oh....and since I still can't get enough owls....I made this....

Might these make someone a perfect gift?

They're in the shop, if so :)

Always fun to try something new!

Speaking of new things...I'll be doing a Guest Post over at Butterfly Effect in December! It's very exciting for me...I've never Guest Posted anywhere before....heehee!

Until that happens, check them out and link up your Goddess Themed stuff this week.

Next week's theme is Coffee or Tea :)

Thanks for ringing my bell and stopping by!

All my best,

Cameron

Cheeky!

2011-11-11T23:24:00.000-08:00

Hello my Sweethearts!

I wanted to give you all a giant hug and thank you for all the kind words about my coffee cozies.....and for the wonderful support you have shown me and my humble endeavors! I always get so excited to see messages in my Inbox! I love it when you come by :)

Today I was lucky enough to make it to another free class! The wonderful Manon hosted this time around and showed us how she draws her little girlies...

She was demonstrating her girls in markers and in pastels.....

I don't have markers....so I opted for Prismacolor Pencils for the first one, instead.

I just love the cheeks on her drawings...so full...and so pink....haha!

Not something I'm used to doing....

So, again, it was a great exercise in going with the flow :)

I dug out my chalk pastels for this next one.

I forgot how much I really enjoy the soft way these blend....almost forcing you to relinquish control :)

So very fun!

If you want to try these little dolls, too....the recording is here.

Info about future classes is on Amy's site here :)

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Relinquish control and go with the flow.....be cheeky....haha!

Biggest of big hugs,

Cam

That Cozy Feeling

2011-11-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

Hello Everybody!

I apologize in advance for the short post....between my kid having the next 2 days off and trying furiously to stock my shop with new fun things....
....I was afraid I wouldn't have another moment to pop in...

Okay, so that said, the first thing I wanted to tell you is that I'm offering FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING to you, my Dear Bloggy Buddies, on everything in my store!
I've only invited you and my past customers to enjoy this discount...so I hope you know just how special you are ;D
....and, of course, I was hoping to entice you....maybe even if just a tiny bit......to peruse my wares when searching for that perfect little something this Holiday :)

Coupon Code at Checkout is SHIPFREE2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay....shameless plug over....back to our regularly scheduled blog :P

The newest things that have taken up my time are these little reusable coffee/tea cup cozies.
I used a cardboard sleeve from the local coffeeshop as a template...

This sleepy guy is wondering when the coffee will be done...hehe....an owl after my own heart ;P

I don't use patterns or even sketch out the shapes I want to cut, I just take scissors right to felt and snip away....makes each one absolutely one-of-a-kind....

I handstitch every little piece on...which makes them terribly time consuming!

I was supposed to have 8 of these done by now....

I picked 8 as a random number simply because I made 8 of these cute cup giftcard holders to include with them :)

I've managed to make 3 in 3 days....yes, it takes me about 3 hours to make one of these coffee cozies....I wouldn't usually waste so much time on a project of this nature....

...but, I've been able to stitch and catch up on TV shows on Hulu...

I'm now up to date on Grimm and Once Upon a Time...haha!

So, if anyone would like a specific theme or animal, let me know...I'd be more than happy to make a cute cozy for ya'...

Besides, I'm sure I could find another TV show to become addicted to :P

The theme over at Butterfly Effect this week is cats....so I was sure to make one!

...And, speaking of Amy (she is the founder of the buttery fun, in case you didn't know), I took another of her FREE workshops on the weekend.

Here is what I made:

Face is watercolor and ink...and some nail polish!

I tried to do a gel transfer which ended up pulling my paper away instead of leaving the image behind...but no biggie....I just added a bunch of stuff to her hair to cover it up...and it looks like it was all so planned...haha!

But more than trying things I've never done before, which is a fun part of these classes, is the comraderie of being in a Live class environment....just chatting and creating all at the same time :)

I like it so much, I'm looking into webcams now...so watch out...I may be invading your screens soon....hahaha!!!

Have a wonderful rest of your week!

Much love,

Cam

Class-ic

2011-11-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

HI there Bloggy Darlings!!

I'm super excited to be blogging again so soon....with new fun things to share!
Yesterday was a good day.
A really good day....and I'll tell you why...

I know I've mention Amy before. She is just a really cool person, spreading art love everywhere she goes, coming up with great ideas for collaborative projects, and is offering LIVE online classes......for FREE! Absolutely free....she invites everyone to attend.....click here to read about them!

Anyhoo...yesterday was the first time my schedule allowed me to sit in...
It was a lot of fun! More on what we did in a sec....

Yesterday was also a good day, because Geri nominated me for this award:

You are supposed to share 7 things about yourself that you don't think your Blog Friends know...

Hmmm...okay...let's DO this!!

So for the class, Amy showed us how to attach fabric to paper using a sewing machine.

I used muslin fabric, watercolor paper underneath and black thread...because that's what was in there already. Here's the back of my piece to show you the randomness of my stitches.

That leads me to my first thing...

1. I'm lazy...I don't like to put too much effort into certain things, like my appearance (jeans and a t-shirt EVERYDAY....splash my face with water and now that my hair is short...a few finger rakes...and I'm fine).

...or having my home be spotless...I'll clean like a fiend when company comes over, but push the mess aside otherwise.

....or in this case, changing thread colors....I'm going to just say, I thought black would look cool instead of that I hate winding those bobbin thingys and figuring out how to rethread my needle ;P

2. An exception to the above is a bit of craziness in me that makes me empty out every box in the garage or hunt the aisles of a million stores.... just to find and create some vision in my head. I don't understand where that drive comes from....but it is exhausting, and sometimes, just not worth it in the end. Here's an example:

I was looking for something to use in my Mad Sea Party Post

Nothing I already had would do...

...went to 5 stores looking for just the right thing

...found this mermaid

...put her in a dozen places til I settled on this candleholder perch

...took the picture

...and returned her the next day.

Why?

Craziness, I tell you...

She's not even that cute.

Back to the class, so after we did the sewing, we started drawing....she was showing us how she paints her cats. They are more simplistic...more stylized...I have trouble with that.

I started to sketch this guy out.

I sewed two 5 x 7 inch pieces....so thought, to be fair to her teachings, I would try to do something looser...and not be so serious :)

3. I find it funny, that even though I like to paint fantasy and whimsy, I have such a hard time letting loose. I tend to lose the playful quality I want to convey...and instead, get hung up on details and minutia...

So I drew out another cat...and started applying the paint until I got this little guy...

Can you see the wonderful texture of the fabric? Amy was right...it is really, really cool! I'm sorry these pics are a bit blurry. It's actually raining today! I love the rain....but, it makes the lighting not so good for photo taking :)

4. I never use an umbrella. I don't like trying to hold them steady when the wind catches them, I don't like the fuss of having to angle it just right or walking slower so others can share it. I think I get just as wet trying to close the thing up as I do just going where I need to go. Besides I don't mind a little water on my face...I don't have to worry about running mascara or messing up my hair...haha! ;P

At first, I picked browns and creams....cuz that what colors cats are, right?! Sheesh, I'm just so darn literal! So when Amy made hers blue...I went and grabbed some, too...and some fuschia for good measure.

Fabric really soaks up the paint, so I learned that I could use a ton of water to move the paint around. If I used plain water on my brush, I could almost erase parts of it and add subtle highlights.

I mixed fuschia and cream for the background and enjoyed how it gave me a mottled effect :)

This class was soooo much fun! The girls across the pond were sipping wine...and I was jonesing for one myself, but it was noon here, and I had to drive to pick up my daughter from school not long after.

5. I am a total light weight when it comes to drinking now. When I do drink wine, I use one of those small juice glasses..and only fill it half way. This is enough to make me "happy"....heehee.

I used to be able to drink all my dates under the table *sigh* good times...haha!

6. I like being good at stuff. Not that drinking is something one should excel at....but I like surprising people by being able to do/be more than what they expect. I'm pretty unassuming when you look at me....so I guess I leave room for lots of surprises!

I had to miss the part where she showed us how to cover it all in beeswax :(

I've seen her do it before though, she has a tutorial here...

Besides, I don't have wax or a warmer anyways..

7. I'm a boring artist. I use the same short list of supplies all the time. Of course, now that I'm not working, I can't afford new ones....but, even if I had the money, probably wouldn't get anything new. It takes me a while to venture out of my bubble and do what the other kids are doing.

Which is why I'm so glad I could be a part of this class! I woulda never tried or even have thought of this on my own. So thank you, Amy, for helping me to branch out a bit :D

Thanks, to Geri, too...for the award :) I'm supposed to nominate 15 other Bloggers now...but, I'm lazy, remember, so I'm going to break the rules. But, feel free to grab the button and share 7 things abut you if you like!

...And, of course, thank all of you for making this creative journey of mine so much more worthwhile....it is always more fun to travel with friends!

Just, as I'm finishing this, the rain has stopped...and the clouds are parting...

That's California for ya'....see, no need to get the umbrellas out ;P

Hope your weekend is a great one!

Much paint covered love,

Cameron

Getting my Lazy Glass Moving!

2011-11-02T02:28:00.000-07:00

Well, Dear Blog Buddies,

All the shrieks and rattling chains of Halloween are being replaced with Christmas carols and jingling bells now. November is upon us, and with it, thoughts of Christmas being right around the corner and the list of loved ones we need presents for...

I try to make as many gifts as I can...in fact, I'm trying to get an early start...heehee!

I've dipped into my sea glass stash again. Though it can be tedious sorting through piece after piece after piece....there's nothing like the satisfaction of finally fitting all my glass puzzle bits together in a pleasing arrangement...
Allow me to show you what I've been up to :)

I find all my sea glass while vacationing in Northern California. It's a smelly, seaweed filled beach, but the thrill of hunting for treasures like these is more overpowering than the odor..haha! That piece just off center is Jadeite glass...so pretty :)

Sometimes you get really lucky and find a bit of blue glass or PINK glass!

Yes, pink glass is very rare....blue can be found, but usually in much smaller pieces. I spent the whole day on that beach...and this is all the blue I found. This clip is just 1 1/2 inches (roughly 4cm) long, if that gives you an indication of its scarcity!

I don't alter my found treasures in any way. I use them in the condition I find them :)

Can you see the heart there in the middle? A sea tumbled pebble treasure!

Glass and stones aren't the only amazing things I acquire....look at these wonderfully seaworn pieces of china and pottery. Blue and cream...perfect for jeans or gypsy wear :)

...and then there are shells! These are special because they all have some shine and shimmer to them....very elegant!

And sometimes I like to change the vibe of a piece....from the more feminine styles above to a chunky, modern look for the bolder set. This one is a 3 1/4 inch (approx 10cm) barrette...so those glass bits are pretty big...wrapped in black wire...super fun :)

These have been my newest creations, but there are quite a few still sitting on my store shelves if you are looking for something with someone in mind...

Maybe something like these?

Or possibly this?

Okay, so I'll stop trying to tempt you....heehee!

But now it's your turn.

What are you making in preparation for the Holidays....and do you sell whatever it is cuz I want to see them! Please leave me a link so I can take a looksie :D

I hope your week is going well! I'm always glad when I get to spend part of mine with you!

Biggest Hugs,

Cameron

Nightmares Come True!

2011-10-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

Halloween is around the corner, My Friends...
And this has been a big one for us!

Getting my daughter's costume together this year made me nostalgic and I started to remember fondly all the anticipation of the Big Night. We'd wait for it to get dark enough, while my Mom would transform us all from ordinary...to otherworldly!
She would sit us down in the kitchen and make us into whatever we decided to be that year. She wasn't a professional make-up artist or anything....but, in my mind, she was magical in her abilities....
She was up for trying anything....from Rockstars...

My Aunt Shana as a member of KISS

To Vampires....

My Uncle Corey circa 1981 or so

To Hobo Clowns....

Yep, that's my Mom on the left...you can't see in this picture, but she stuffed her bra like Dolly Parton for this, her "Rhinestone Cowgirl" costume ;P

A Bunch of Balloons.....

My Aunt Nan

...and Skeletons....

Aunt Shana again

...And Japanese Geisha Girls....

That's me :)

My parents made Halloween such a fun holiday...and still do! They love to dress up, even now, and thrill the grandkids (and big kids, too) with their playfulness and willingness to join in the adventures!

Dad 2009....

...and Maggie, Me and Mom same year

Thanks Mom and Dad, I love you!

So, Maggie's previous year's costumes haven't been too demanding...

When your kids are very young, you get to pick their costumes....dressing them up to your whim...

Maybe using a hand-me-down costume or getting a cute idea from somewhere :)

For Maggie's first year Trick or Treating back in 2008 (she was 2 1/2) I found a little leopard costume at the local Thrift Store. It was lightweight, one piece and had a tail attached. All she needed was some ears and a bit of make-up...

For 2009, you saw our matching Witch costumes above. I found them at the same Thrift Store (it is closed now....and boy, I missed that place this year!) And I knew I might not get away with wearing matching costumes in the future...haha!

Last year she requested to be a puppy....

No other specifics...which made it nice. I found a bunch of white clothes and painted spots all over them....pretty easy!

....and Daddy was the Dogcatcher...haha!

This year, though....

She wanted to be a specific character....

She asked to be made into Sally from the Nightmare Before Christmas...

I started with a black dress from, where else....a Thrift Store....and rummaged in my fabric stash til I found pieces that were close enough...

I dyed a shirt and a pair of tights blue, found stripey socks, put on some blue make-up, stitches and a wig....

Here's my little Sally :D

I had so much trouble finding a straight red wig...this was the best we could do....but she LOVED it!

I was so proud and happy with the way it turned out and how much she enjoyed being transformed!

We went to Disneyland and just had to get her picture in front of the Haunted Mansion, which is a Nightmare Before Christmas attraction this time of year!

It was perfect!

Now I know how my Mom must've felt all those years....

I made her Halloween ~~dreams~~ nightmares come true :D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND NOW.....to announce the winner of my Halloween Party Treat!

All your names were written on slips of paper...

...and dropped in the pot....

They were stirred and mixed.....

...then a winner was picked...

...and this is who we got!

Congrats to

Little Miss Hungry!

A certain little crow will be flying to you soon!

Thank you all so much for walking with me down memory lane....and being one of the reasons this year's Halloween is so awesome!

Much love...and sweets to you and your families,

Cam

A Halloween Tale ~ with a Treat!

2011-10-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Dreaming in our little beds...
A crow's call "Caw, caw" in our heads...

We wake with a start, aroused from slumber,

get out of bed and nearly stumble....

The ground all around is littered with bones,

....in the distance, there are creaks and moans...

A chill runs through us, we're not at home...

We are in a garden where only tombstones grow.

Each skull seemingly peering...

into our very souls...

And inside the tombs is an eerie glow...

We hurry swiftly, quickly trying to find

a place to hide til this nightmare subsides...

Up ahead, there is a light.

A lantern on the porch of a crickety old shack

beckons us to approach...

Though a tingle says stay back.

A lump forms in your throat...

Better to go...

Then wait for him to attack!

The door opens without effort...

We peek cautiously inside...

One wall is ablaze with flickering candlelight.

A piano before us

looks like it never plays...

A broom leaned on its side...

Books and photos displayed.

A black cat sits upon the floor

near a chair and a cauldron

we swear wasn't bubbling before...

...and on a tray near the brew

are jars filled with a slew

of ingredients most bizarre,

Items like decay and spider eggs...and things grosser, by far...

Another room down the hall

to the the right

Holds even more peculiar sights...

Jewelry and candles..

pictures of a beau?

Edgar Allen Poe!

A hat stand for a Crone's cone...

And are those eyes we spy

in that ornate jar?

Plucked fresh, the tag describes

when beauty was ripe within these eyes...

Nevermore.

....and hanging on the door

Witch's tights!

Have we found her boo-doir?

What could be next,

we wonder as we step

into the livingroom we go to inspect...

The fireplace mantle is shrouded and dressed...

...and someone is trying to escape the chest...

A boneyard atrium with a warning to beware..

we dare not let out spirits locked in there...

The table is hospitably set...

with tea and chocolates just waiting for guests.

Wait! Is that an insect?!

We find ourselves relaxing

even if just a bit...

...and I giggle to myself

as I tell you my secret.

I'm the one who brought you here,

My Dear,

to have tea with me!

Every year

Near Halloween

I prepare for company.

I empty out my pantry shelf

I cast a spell...to make a switch.

I close my eyes and make a wish....

And transform to my Witchy self!

Heeeheeheeeheeee!

Thank you so for joining me...and to the Lovely Vanessa Valencia for hosting this chance at spooky mayhem and revelry!!

Don't leave just yet, I have a Treat,

That one of you soon may receive...

Please leave a comment down below

and a way to reach you in case I don't know.

A guest will be chosen on October 29th

...and this crow will find a new place to reside :)

Okay, ryhming's over...phew!

Does anyone remember where I left my broom?

(sorry)

Heeeheeeheeehee!

Cameron

Flights of Fancy

2011-10-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

Hello My Bloggy Dears!

I'm here today to show you a painting I did specifically to link up at Butterfly Effect 's weekly themed challenge....This week is Masks...
Not to be confused with The Butterfly Effect project that represents the lost children of the Holocaust with handmade butterflies. I had a friend tell me she was thrown off by the name....this is a different site.

Amy did a tutorial there in her quirky personal style...she makes me laugh :)

Anyhoo....
I decided to do a paint-over collage this time. I selected an image from a magazine and adhered some paperback pages to the canvas. I don't use this technique all the time, but I learned it from the wonderfully talented Tamara Laporte of Willowing...and it really is amazing how the underlying image completely transforms....

Sorry about the glare...I barely remembered to snap a pic for you.

Here's an in progress shot.

....I knew I wanted to make her wearing an owl mask....as you know, I'm sorta into them right now :)

I decided to make her feathers all snowy and ethereal.

"Dreaming of Feathers"

8 x 10 Mixed Media on canvas

With a crisp contrasting background and dreamy, party pastel colors....

With lots of irridescent shimmer!

...and as always, my favorite part, piercing eyes...

I purposely left her hair more undefined so as to keep the focus on the mask....

Hope you enjoyed her.

She is in my Shop if you find her dreamy, too....and I am still offering 20% off everything til the end of October! The coupon code is THANKS2U.

I appreciate you visiting with me today...

I invite you to please stop in on Saturday for A Halloween Party Extravaganza....mwuhahahaha!!!

I am happily joining the festivities this year! So please join me for some frights and delights...and a Giveaway, too...heehee!

Phew...I don't think I've used so many links before...haha! I'll see you on Saturday!
Looking forward to it,
Cameron

Night Owl

2011-10-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

I have always been one......
Feeling inspiration in the wee hours......
Being content to dabble in anything, but sleep....

Funny then, that this little guy was painted this morning after dropping my daughter off at school :D

I recycled this canvas from an old work I no longer liked...

So this......

became this....

"He liked the Night"

5 x 5 inches on canvas

in the shop

(*SOLD* Thanks, Diane!)

You can't see it in the photos, but the moon and stars sparkle with fine glitter art paint.

As a great big Thank You to all of you, my Dear Blog Friends and biggest fans, I'm offering you a coupon code to use in my shop worth 20 % off anything in the store!

Just type in THANKS2U in the coupon code box at checkout :)

Because thanks to all of you, I am inspired and cheered...

...and not afraid to call myself an Artist any longer!

...and with any luck, I will someday be able to earn a living as one...haha!

Biggest Hugs!

Cameron

Btw, I'm linking this up to The Butterfly Effect again...this week's theme is Wings....next week's is Masks. Wanna play?

Bringing the Dead to Life

2011-10-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hello all my Wonderful Bloggy Buddies!

I'm so happy to be able to post here twice in one week! It's all this cool weather...it just perks me right up :D

With Halloween looming in the air, I was enjoying some wonderful images of skeletons and spooky decor online, when I came across photos of Dia de los Muertos....sugar skulls, bright painted faces, colorful flowers.....a reminder to recognize and celebrate our loved ones past and present.

I was overcome to try Day of the Dead inspired art of my own....and...

I even rembered to take a few in progress shots :)
I started with some quick notes of what characterizes the style....

So, I chose 2 prepared 5 x 7 inch canvases and sketched faces on them...

First with pastel, then more detailed with pencil.

Once I refined their faces, I painted them white and sketched on the patterns they would have adorn their faces.

It's so amazing to me how I can just freehand a face shape, eyes, nose, etc, not purposely trying to make them alike or different........but end up with them having distinct faces from eachother...

I was laughing a bit here that they resembled those masks the wrestlers wear on tv :D

All finished up...

Flowers in their hair...

"Dulce" has such soft eyes and a gentle expression....perhaps missing a cherished one she lost?

From the side...

....and this is "Rosa".

Her more rounded eyes have a direct gaze....

She just plucked that rose from her Abuela's garden before joining the festivities. A rose as pretty as her name....

I enjoyed this so much! It was so much fun to dress these girls up....almost like I was playing in make-up in front of the mirror...heehee!

I hope you like them, too! If you like them A LOT...they are in my Etsy shop ;P

Hold the memories of your loved ones close...and hold your living ones closer. Tell them how much they mean to you. Say "I love you" at a time when they least expect it. Life is for the living...

and for Loving (imagine a heart icon here since I don't know how to do that...haha)

I love you guys,

Cameron

Guess I am a Little Lost

2011-10-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

I'm getting all buttered up linking to the Butterfly Effect today!
The theme this week is Portraits...

So, I have this old picture of Killian that I've long wanted to use for a painting....

Now, let me back up for a sec....seeing how most of you are newer friends, I'll give a quick history.
Killian is the daughter of an old coworker of mine. I used to do photoshoots with her where I'd dress her up in some of my costume stuff, plunk her down in various settings and snap away....
She got to play dress up and get a few neat pictures out of it....and I would get great fodder for future paintings.

I've used her likeness or pose for quite a few of my pieces...
Such as:

And...

And most recently...

So, now that we covered who she is and what I'm doing with a photo of her, I'm pleased to show you a painting I literally just finished this afternoon....loosely based on the picture I showed you above. :)

"Not Lost" 8x10 inches Mixed Media on canvas

The writing says "All who wander Are not lost"

....and after I finished it....and was feeling so proud of myself...

...I realized I wrote the quote down wrong...oops!

It should say "Not all who wander are lost"

Oh well, I'm hoping the message still comes thru...

I just think she looks really cool! I sketched her in sharpie pen and added lots of layers of paper, stamping, paint, colored pencils and oil pastels....

I'll have her up on Etsy later (* she's on there now*) cuz no matter how cool I think something is...I never want to keep it for myself...haha! Always been that way ;P

Thank you for the visit!

If you'd like to join in the The Butterfly Effect, too...you have all week to link

up. Anything goes :)

Gotta run!

My best,

Cameron

Meowy and Bright

2011-09-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

This is a post I have long been promising to not only my daughter...but a few artist friends, as well....So I'm pleased to finally be able to show you a small (albeit important :D) part of our house!

When we did our final walk thru last October before being able to call this house our own....the room that would be Maggie's looked like this...

Yes, it was blue...which just happens to be Maggie's favorite color...but with that long hallway and dark walls...it felt so cave-like.

The one window in the room was covered in blinds...which blocked light and her pretty view. And I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I absolutely hate cleaning the dust that accumulates on those things!

So after some pondering on Maggie's part about what kind of room she wanted (it was either going to be an undersea/dolphin theme or cats) she chose the latter...which also was her birthday theme this year....go figure :)

And the project began!

It all started, if you remember, with this fabric...

Maggie did picked it out herself :)

We painted the walls a buttery yellow to match, took off the blinds and let some light in!

We used her Birthday sign on her door....and I painted a square of magnetic paint on her closet doors to provide a fun area to display her art and other treasures....

That cute kitty on the right is by a talented friend Shayla Fish. She made it for Maggie specifically...so sweet! It matches the room so perfectly, too :)

The area to the left now serves as a great art gallery wall. She has quite a collection of original art in this little room...

The white cat is "A Little Birdie Told Me" by a wonderful artist named Carole at Ladybug Art Studio. She loves cats and nature and has just the right shop to find affordable originals. She's a really nice person, too....and agreed to trade this and another piece for some owl stuffies I made :)

The black framed art are some little watercolor and ink cats I painted long ago...

That painting of the 2 cats is a favorite of Maggie's. It is a portrait of our own 2 feline girls done by the incredible Lauren of Fair Rosamund. Her shop is filled with beautiful art, too.

I have been lucky enough to trade with Lauren a couple of times...she made this for us in exchange for this pink cottage I did for her.

Any hoo....back to the room ;P

Oh, and I LOVE these shelves from Ikea. We got them on sale for $20 bucks a piece!

They hold her aquarium and various collections. My friend, Marty, gifted us that sleeping kitty figurine she scored during one of her many flea market excursions :)

We got Maggie a new bed at Ikea while we were there, too....a full! Definately larger than what I originally envisioned, but....when you find something at a great price (the frame was $49 dollars!) you gotta jump! Now there is room for everyone on the bed, me, Daddy and Mags...when we read at night :)

The rug is so fun, I couldn't pass it up....from Kohl's.

That banner is made from calendar pages that I got at the dollar store.....another leftover from her birthday party. The tuxedo cat painting, "Waiting" is also by Carole. I made the pillow to match the curtains....the felt cat was taken off the shirt I made for her birthday outfit...

I think I made them a bit too long....but I'm too lazy to take them off and start again.

There are 2 more cat paintings on this wall...

I did these....definately not my usual style....but I was trying to match the colors of the room and fill up some space. Maggie likes that one is looking up and one is looking down :)

Sugar...

...and Spice.

Beacause we know that is what all little girls are made of ;D

Now, on to the undersea/dolphin themed bathroom!

Thanks for taking this little tour with me....and a big hugs to all the artists who helped make my Pumpkin Noodle's room a happy place to be a kid!

All my best,

Cameron

Claythings

2011-09-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

There's been a strange, new development in my studio lately....
I go to bed with a new Paperclay package set out for the next day...
and when I wake up......a figurine is standing on my desk next to an empty wrapper....
Those clay elves must be at it again!

Ahhhh, if only that were true!
I bought a large amount of the stuff back in January and just now started to try my hand at it.

It's not easy......

But I quickly became addicted!
Now, in addition to the usual paint smears on my clothes and skin, you can now find clay bits under my nails and gesso in my hair :)

What do you think of this guy?

I call him Bug~a~Boo because of his buggy eyed expression....
He's actually a functioning box for.....wait for it....

......creepsakes...haha!

Move over Martha Boowart!
Here is the Hostess with the Grossest!
She comes with accessories like these Black Widow cookies....Devil's Food, of course!

All these fun, spooky things....

This grinning witch really turned into a labor of love....I kept adding more and more to her....I had to completely repaint her dress 3 times!

But I think she's frightfully delightful now!

She stands almost 10 inches (24 cm) high!

Did those cookies make you hungry? I have just the thing for you!

Btw, do you like the neat filters I'm using on some of the photos? I got them here!

Creepy Crawly Confections, anyone?

Just something fun for staging a witchy tea party scene ;P

And then, there is Smudge...

With book in hand, he keeps secrets and sorts spells....a cute little Witch's Apprentice!

Have Magic, will travel ;P

I had to add the pumkin to make him balance....look at that tail...haha!

And, not to leave out my Christmas loving friends....

Jingles is my very first snowman...

I gave him actual twig arms...just like a real snowman!

All these creations are in my shop ready to find new homes :)

What will the clay elves make next?

Heeheehee!

Biggest hugs!

Cam

Friendship Lights the Way

2011-09-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

A little witch emerged from the darkness, illuminated by her magic star, the full moon and the glow of friendship :)

I sat down to paint...to create something special for a Halloween loving friend....
...and little Lucia appeared.

Lucia means Light....

(click HERE to zoom in close)

Like the warmth of the hearth on a crisp Autumn night...

Like the candle that makes shadows dance happily on the wall....

Like the smile that brightens someone's day...

Her pumpkin crew a lovely reminder....

....of her special gift....

***I hope you like her, Marfi!***

Thank you all for continuing to brighten my days with your sweet words, My Friends!

I just love you guys :)

My very best witches,
Cam

Stocking the Pantry

2011-09-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Greetings, My Pretties!
There is a change in the air...a shift occuring...
The clouds above me...and the welcome crispness of the morning's first touch upon my skin, whisper a promise of rustling leaves, gatherings and nighttime haunts ahead...

To prepare, Lovelies, I am ensuring my cupboard is not bare.....brimming with jars of homemade goodies to keep my cauldron bubbling all season long....hee hee hee hee! I am, afterall, at my most cunning this time of year *rubs palms together* Heeheeheehee!

I do have some extremely rare specimens in my pantry this year....

One of my favorites is this sample of Werewolf Dander. *the sound of her babbling becomes fainter*

~~~Shhhh! It's really me, Cameron...just popping in to let you know that I'll put the 'human made ingredients' after these little squiggly marks so that your inner Witch can ramble on and on about her new pantry items, too ;P ~~~

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(It occurred to me while drafting this post that perhaps not everyone would find it as light-hearted and fun as I do. Please know that I am in no way trying to mock or belittle anyone's beliefs or practices with this post. This little story is purely fictional and intended for entertainment only. I am creating it in good humor and with a happy heart, excited for my most favorite Holiday of the Year :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*in a loud voice*

Ahem....have you been listening?

I just informed you that the dander is perfect for spells of transformation. The bottle is, indeed, small...but, you must know how difficult it is to even collect that much!

~~quick cook oatmeal~~

One item I wish were more rare. But alas, is becoming more common, are the thieving fingers of those who desire to procure my wares without due payment.

Should I start collecting deaf ears, too....hmmmmmm?

Anyhow, they soon get a quick economy lesson in supply and demand....

I demand, they supply. I collect handfuls of them every year...hee hee hee!

Those I can't use, I toss into the compost heap of my local Cemetary.

They have the foulest, most prutrid Graveyard Dirt! A pinch is neccesary for a potent sleep potion... ~~potting soil & a storebought bone~~

I always try to combine my errands so I'm not needlessly flying from place to place!

The centipedes I find there, too, are the plumpest and juiciest around...

A wonderfully wicked excuse to brew a batch of Centipede Cider!

~~rubber centipedes in water in a colored wine bottle~~

The Deadly Nightshade grows wild there, as well....

Seasons the stew just right every time...heehee...

~~ominous looking silk leaves and berries~~

Oh...and my Dear Sister, Helga, surprised me with a jar of Moss and Fungi from the Enchanted Forest ! ~~dried moss, fake green moss balls from Dollar tree, twigs and a feather~~

She is so much more patient than I am....waiting until the moss is awash in moonlight before picking.

Mother always said "the Magic is in the details!"....

Or, maybe, it was "the dagger is in the entrails"?...

...oh, nevermind.....

Oh, my stripey socks, I almost forgot! Apparently a band of Trolls tried to stop Helga from crossing the bridge at the Old Elm...

Well, needless to say, I now have lovely souvenirs of their meeting...heeheehee!

~~slivered almonds~~

....And speaking of smelly, cantankerous sorts.....

I can't seem to eat just one!

~~jar of button mushrooms~~

I do tend to get sluggish if I ogre-indulge...hahaha!

Though, it's nothing a little Slug Slime can't remedy!

~~aloe vera gel with 2 drops of food coloring mixed in~~

Helps one stay focused, it does....as well as, lubricates the workings...heehee!

Do any of you take pride in growing your own food?

I've been so fortunate to have had excellent clutches of eggs this year...

~~small portion of store bought webbing, 1 plastic spider & kids nontoxic molding compound called Gazz It from Dollar Store~~

First from Charlotte. Why yes, she is named after that character from the little farm book...where the coniving she-spider saves a pig from the Farmer's axe...

...only to wrap him up for herself and devour him slowly...feasting like a Queen...you remember?

Oh, so your version is a bit different, is it? Pity.....

Where was I? Why, eggs...yes, yes....of course....

These are a kick! When dehydrated and shriveled, as such, they may be grated over any food to add fire and hotness....Oh, how I do love spicy cuisine!

++Side effects include heartburn, smoking from the ears, gastro-intestinal discomfort, bleeding from the mucus membranes and scaly skin....oh, well, you can read the fine print later....

~~seed pods from my Siberian Iris plant~~

I kept pestering the Bait and Cackle Shop around the corner about my order of Horesefly Maggots. They finally arrived!

I like to jar these little fellows up as favors when I host Coven meetings....

~~store-bought stretchy maggots from Halloween store~~

No pantry is ever complete without Bat Wings! They facilitate swift night flight....

~~wings cut off of rubber bats~~

My newest acquisition is a vintage potion from a Chantiquities Dealer! It was hard to find, but good to the last drop...heehee!

Only for use in extreme cases, of course! I'm not one to spread Plagues around all willy nilly......usually...heehee!

~~plastic rats with a small layer of water poured in then the rest topped with oil~~

Sometimes, when the moon is so bright, you can collect some of it by crystalizing its glowing reflection. These particles are called Moon Dust.

~~2 types of glitter put in a jar swabbed first w/ a tiny amount of alcohol~~

You can do it with stars, too...though it will take you longer and you won't get quite as much.

I have saved the worst for last to share with you....because these are truly wretched creatures....slippery and scaley....sneaky and elusive....

...And seeing as how I avoid being near water (for obvious reasons), this sample is all the more precious...just a tiny snippit of these golden tresses can unlock deep secrets that may have been kept from you. Follicus Sirensis can make one able to hold their breath for an unusual amount of time, as well!

....plus, it salts the brew nicely, too...heeheehee!

~~cutting of wig hair, plastic greenery, shells, sea glass, driftwood and/ or sand~~

Well, I do admit that I enjoyed your visit immensely!

Though, I must insist we not make habit of it... Lest, I start collecting ears, afterall, as punishment for not listening...hahahahaha! I'm jesting....mostly.

But I will leave you with this advice:

Keep your warty chins up.

Cackle loud and often.

....and always remember to see the cauldron as half-full.

Ta!

~~Thanks for peeking into my Witch's Kitchen! I had such a blast making these jars, that I just couldn't stop myself from making lots...and lots....of labels! I've put them in Ye Olde Shoppe, if this has inspired you to start a pantry of your own. Maggie was so excited to help put these together! I don't know if I mentioned already how much I love Halloween! ;P ~~

...and you, too!

XO,

Cam

My First "Listing"

2011-09-05T01:42:00.000-07:00

Hello my Dear Blog Friends!

Do any of you know Amy? She has a thing with writing lists that I just love...well, truth be told, she is utterly hilarious, too...so raw, unapologetic, unique...and FUNNY...I know I said this already, but she is....that you can't help but instantly like her. She makes some really cool art, too.....

But this post is not about art today...it's about lists....
I'm going to do one. Just for the heck of it.
A List of Randomness...yeah, I like that.... ;-P

If you have an attached garage, don't store fertilizer in there during the hottest months of the year. Your house will smell like poop!

Oh, and if you have a hole in the garage door for your dumb cats to get to their litterbox, but they refused to go in there with the little flap covering it, so you had to take it off for them....you will get flies in your house! Dozens upon dozens of yucky, buzzing flies!!

I will ooh and ahh over spiders....save crickets from bathtubs....

...try not to step on pill bugs on the sidewalk and rescue worms that have washed onto the concrete after a rain....but I hate flies in my house....

And cockroaches....well, ants, too....guess I'm not the creepy crawly saint afterall...

I pulled a muscle while swatting flies...

.....a testament to how many flies we actually had....and a wake-up call to just how out of shape I am...haha!

I don't care about shoes.

I'm jealous of my friend's contact lens collection! She has a pair to match every outfit. I had a pair once....

I felt friggin' cool that Halloween...though I couldn't see anything. Your pupil gets wider as it gets darker and starts to get overlapped by the white coloring of the lens.

This makes everything blurry. It's okay, they were itchy, too...so I threw them away.

Which leads me to 6.

I like to be comfortable!

This not only goes for shoes and clothes, but situations, as well.... I don't like crowds and will go out of my way to avoid them.

I tried on 2 occasions to dress with "personality"....once in Jr. High I wore 2 different colored neon socks (this was the 80's) and I was teased all day about how I must've gotten dressed in the dark. Needless to say I didn't try to be unique again....until High School...Freshman year.

My Mom bought me a gorgeous black velvet skirt and vest at a vintage store after I begged and begged her for it. The skirt was full without being ruffly and had a satin bow with one rhinestone button in the center around the waist. The vest had the same buttons down one side. I wore a crisp white shirt underneath and felt like a million bucks!

Then I walked into school....

Oh well, now I reserve my flair for funky, unique things for occasions where you get stared at in a good way :)

Ren Faire with my Dad...

...and Mom.

Though, you'll find me in jeans and a t-shirt all other days.

I care way too much about what others think of me....always have. Wish I didn't.

10.

Being in Nature relaxes and inspires me.

11.

I love animals!

12.

I am not a vegetarian.

13.

My daughter's goldfish took 3 days to die. I think I cried more than she did. This was the first time she dealt with the death of someone close to her. It made me so sad to see her struggle with loss and come to the understanding that every living thing grows old and dies. She took an active interest in seeing what happens next...so we buried him in our planter where she could see orange flowers and think of him. And we made sure to say some nice things about him, too.

Made me think of my own mortality.....

14.

I really need to start working out again ;)

15.

Isn't it neat when you find a sign out somewhere that speaks to you!

16.

Did you know the name Cameron is of Scottish origin and means Crooked Nose?

17.

I was adopted and came with the name....I have no idea why it was chosen :)

18.

My daughter and I visit the shelter regularly just to give the dogs and cats some good scratches and kind words.

No, we haven't brought anyone home.....yet.....

19.

Pansies are my favorite flower!

20.

I'm surprised I got this far....(and that you are still here!)

This was a fun little experiment...doing this list....

Now, at least, I can cross it off mine.....haha!

1. Love you guys!

2. I'll have new stuff to share here again soon...

3. Thank you for getting to know me a bit better....and still wanting to come back :D

XO,

Cam

Pumpkin Batch

2011-08-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hello My Friends!

We finally have A/C! I know I didn't mention that it wasn't working....but, it wasn't....we were roasting in our 2 story oven ....dreaming of cooler days...

But now! Now, I can crank up the cool, forget about the soaring temps outside and prepare for my very favorite time of year.....Autumn & Halloween!
Hooray!

So, I've been playing in my felt stash.....planting ideas and growing some little cuties to usher in thoughts of sweet treats and falling leaves....heehee!

(Sorry about the photo quality! Couldn't find my camera so I had to use my daughter's old hand-me-down one....amazing what a difference 5 years makes in the technological world!)

Jack~o~Lantern Jasper

...and his friend Edgar.

Pumpkin Patch Pete....

.....and Little Pip

...And I finally finished up the fun Haunted House Pillow I shared in a previous post.

Just hang...and voila!

Easy Halloween decorating!

Now in the shop :)

Thanks for reading about my latest crop of creations!
I'm sure I'll have more to show you very soon...especially now that I won't be melting in my studio!

Candy corn kisses and apple cider hugs,
Cam

Happy and Sad

2011-08-23T22:52:00.000-07:00

Hiya Blog Buddies!

Okay, so on the heels of my Unfinished Projects rant...I'm thrilled (the Happy part of the Blog Title) to be able to cross an old one off the list.....a painting started in one media and finished in a bevy of others. Just 1 year and 5 months in the making....haha!

So I'm going to ask you to do something I rarely do....please, if you don't mind *bats eyelashes*

I really can't start this post properly without a little background first...and to do that, I'd like you to read a post from March 2010.....

I promise it will make the reveal that much grander...or so I hope :P
Okay, so go here....pretty please....and come right back!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yay! Now that you're back,
I can explain that I took that painting and cut the girl and the cat away from the background....and adhered her to an 11 x 14 inch canvas.

I re-worked all the watermedia in acrylics and after months of it lying around in that state...

I sat her down in front of me last night. All was going well, when I added those big gothilicious eyelashes to her....and she instantly looked sad to me....
I was drawn now into a more personal moment than just a girl and her cat....

It was then that I added the tears....that was also when the background demanded them too.
(The sad part of the Blog Title)

I'm not sure why she is crying....but the powerful witch she is, made the sky weep with her.

The thing that really makes this piece look amazing is that I used clear glossy accents to her lashes, the cat's eyes and the streams down her face. It gives such a neat quality to the otherwise matte finish of it....

Now how about help with a name?

Usually this is the part I love most, but I haven't been able to come up with anything that conveys the feeling I'm going for.....

~Y'know, like the feeling of having your world crumbling around you, but there is that one special being that can immediately make things better......

~A knowing that "this too shall pass"......

~That feeling as a kid of telling your pets your innermost secrets and believing that they were the only ones who really understood you...

Anyone have a title that says all that?! Haha! Love to hear your ideas :)

~~Update~~ Thanks to you all for your suggestions....I think I'll call her:

"Eyes to the Soul"

I'm sooooo ready for Autumn...and pumpkins and more black cats!

Thanks so much for sticking with me to the end!

*secret handshake*

Cameron

Suffering from Unfinished Project Syndrome!

2011-08-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

How does time go by so fast?
One minute, I'm having a wonderful Summer....reading an actual book (haven't had time for one of those in ages!) and sightseeing with my family....

The next, I'm ushering my child out the door, arms flailing out like a rubber octopus grabbing for keys, sunglasses, purse, lunch, backpack, sunscreen, that thing I needed to return at the store....etc!

I'm nagging my poor Husband to get up on the roof and wield a brush in one hand and paint can in the other while balancing on our sloped tiles (We got notice from our HOA before we left for vacation to repaint our shutters...and he won't let me do it).

I'm looking at a stack of fabric that no matter how much I wish, won't turn itself into a set of curtains and cute, little pillows...

I'm busy.....like...always doing something...busy....
But, nothing seems to be getting done.
I have grand plans to unveil dazzling "after" photos of all our efforts around here.
Truly...

Like, our yard.

I've started planting some pots....but, I can't put them where I want them to go until we get the rest of the yard done (including grass....we got notice for that, too)....

That dirt under the pot is my lawn :)

Halloween is on it's way! I got an early start this year.....

With this cute door hanger...

That needs to be sewn shut and have it's ribbon hanger added with ghost button accents.

....and I'm attempting a felt monster for the first time.

Though, right now he has no arms, legs or filling....haha!

I have been spending my free time recently getting ready for my SIL's Baby Shower this weekend.

It is monkey themed...these are the prize bags.

I wanted each to be slightly different. I did these all with just circle punches (and a hand drawn oval template).

I think they turned out nicely :)

I still consider this an unfinished project, though....lots of tags, favors, decorating and table signs still to make.....busy, busy!

There are more incomplete wonders here....many, many more.....but, if I keep dwelling on them, nothing will ever get done...haha!

What's been keeping you busy?

Until later, My Pretties...

Cameron

Owl in the Family

2011-08-11T23:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Shiny Happy People!

So excited to show you a new painting!

Commissioned by my lovely Blog Buddy, Kathy, I've created this little owlet to celebrate the birth of a sweet baby girl!

I'll be adding her name and birthdate to this piece, which is why I left some room at the top. I've had this little hatchling on my mind all vacation long....so, I am truly relieved and ecstatic to be in the final stages!

"New Arrival"

8 x 10 inches

Mixed Media on Canvas

Click for a closer look if you like :)

Available as a print here.

I hope the Mother and Baby both enjoy it for years and years....

I've been doing some tidying in my Etsy Store and have added a new Studio Clearout SALE section where you can find jewelry, hair clips and Original Art all reduced to sell (hopefully...haha)!

Take a peeksy.....maybe your favorite piece is in there?

I have started another owl painting (can't get enough of them...heehee) and hope to share it with you all soon. I'm linking this post up with Paint Party Friday. Please visit the other talented artists and perhaps participate, too?

It's so wonderful to be back home, with a brush in my hand, paint in my hair....and Blog Friends like you to keep me inspired!

Thanks :)

Big Hugs,

Cameron

Our Travels (Part 2)

2011-08-08T03:27:00.000-07:00

A great big thank you for the warm welcomes back home! I have to admit that returning to a stack of bills and unfinished business had me a bit stressed at first.....but as I tackle things little by little, I'm loosening up and enjoying being home.

Most of all, I'm enjoying catching up with all of you..heehee!
I did mention how much I missed you, right?! Haha!

A few of you were just as amazed as I was about Maggie's sewing skills from last post....
I thought I'd share a pic of the finished product :)

I fastened it to her new backpack. I can't believe she starts Kindergarten this Wednesday!

Okay, so I left off with us in Ferndale....
Where we went next blew my mind!

Have any of you heard of Agate Beach? We've passed it many times in our travels, but have never stopped before....

You walk down a long steep path to the beach....and when you look down....you see this instead of sand!

Stones of every color polished to perfection by the sea...so smooth, so round...they feel amazing!

After the thrill of Glass Beach, this was an unexpected treat....because if you search hard enough, you'll see why this beach gets it's name.

Agates...shiny, ultra smooth, with a bit of transluscence formed in lava rock where bubbles once hardened...created thru layer after layer of minerals washed within it. The rock erodes, and these little beauties fall out and make their way to the sea to be tumbled with the other stones....

They look like candy rocks or jellybeans to me...makes me want to eat them :D

Don't worry, I'll find a craftier way to use these...heehee....

Making our way up north, we stopped to take in the views of the ocean whenever we could....the fog would roll in so suddenly and change the whole feel....a vulture in a tree helped, too...

Settling down in one of our most favorite campgrounds ever, we breathed deeply and felt any remaining cares drop away. The Redwood National Forest is breathtakingly beautiful! There is a place called Fern Canyon where you are surrounded by walls of greenery....

....the sound of rushing water in your ears as you walk over a clear cool stream....

A fairy lover's paradise....

A gorgeous place to feel renewed and grateful for all that is good....

As if that isn't enough...between the beach and the mountain that makes the canyon, theres is a marsh where the stream water pools....

The Roosevelt Elk love to gather here to eat the tender plants. These elk are huge, 2nd only to moose!

When you wade thru the marsh, you reach the beach.

Thankfully, her Daddy can put up with the cold, cold water better than I. Maggie is unfazed by it...even when her lips turn purple and she's shivering...she wants to go in some more...brrr!

We crossed over into Oregon and stopped for more pictures....

It doesn't matter how many times I see these formations....I'm in awe :)

One of our other favorite places to visit is The Westcoast Game Park in Bandon, Oregon....

Not only do you get to appreciate animals from afar (and not too far, at that)....but pet....

....hold....

...and feed some incredible creatures....

I had no idea how hot antlers with velvet on them feel....all those blood vessels bringing heat up to them....

We set up camp in a town called Florence, which just happened to be close enough to arrange to meet a good Blog Friend of mine! Marty recently relocated to Oregon just in time for our lives to intersect!

Maggie and I had a lovely time getting to know her and her adorable children better. We hit a few thrift stores and had an all around wonderful time! The dork that I am, I forgot my camera, but she did a post about our visit here...

Thank you so much, Marty, for your hospitality, your charm and welcoming smile! So glad I finally got to meet you! (...and thanks for letting me raid your Thrift store stash of goodies...heehee!)

We continued our vacation with more trips to the beach...

Playing with the driftwood...

Jim got his shadow in there to make sure he was still part of the picture :)

Here's my windswept Darling in the driftwood teepee behind us....

We ended up going almost all the way to the top of Oregon, but somehow don't have many pictures...(not too dissappointed, are you...hehe?)

But on the way back down, we stopped at a viewpoint near Big Sur....

A house once stood at this location, built in the '40's....

The master bedroom looked out on this....

Can you imagine? The water was just gorgeous. I don't think I've ever seen it look that clear or that blue-green in California....ever!

I hope most of you are still awake...heehee!

That was a lot of pictures, I know. Thanks for stopping in to see them...

I'll leave you with just 2 more...the hair clips that I've made so far.

In the shop now :)

I'm making my rounds, I apologize if I haven't gotten to you yet....trying to check in between loads of laundry and re-organizing. You are all so important to me. Wish I could travel and meet each and every one of you!

Have a fantastic week ahead!

Hugs and a pucker...Mwah!

Cam

The Travelers are Home! (Part 1)

2011-08-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hello and big hugs to all! We're back! Yay!
I can't wait to catch up with you again!
I've missed you all dearly! How have you been?

It's amazing how quickly a month goes by...
...and yet, it is incredible how much can be squeezed into it!

I think it best to break this post up into 2 parts. I have over 40 pictures to share with you...and I'd like you to still be awake at the end of them...haha!
Let's begin, shall we?

We started our trip in beautiful Santa Barbara. Nothing like the feeling of the first days of vacation....all the worry of travel arrangements and packing, bills and mundane life behind you....all the thrill of adventure and promise of relaxation ahead...
I love to not only look around me, but up, as well...to soak in every bit of delightfulness. I remember snapping this picture, taking in a deep breath....and being filled with such contentment :)

Maggie is the main focus of our journeys, so we try to plan lots of things that she'll enjoy...

The Santa Barbara Zoo had this great hill for the kids to slide down...

I love taking photos of animals and nature...so catching the gorgeous eye of this Hornbill was really neat for me...

We also visited a few Aquariums on our trip. These were taken at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium near San Francisco.

Our little Wildlife Defender...haha!

We spent some of our time in the camp doing some crafts...

I was so impressed by Maggie's concentration! Look at these stitches!

5 years old....and she only stuck herself once :)

The critters in this campground were very bold...coming extremely close searching the grounds for scraps. We were ultra careful to keep everything locked away....

But even the car wasn't safe at this campground! That was an unopened package of Nutter Butter cookies that some little creature nibbled. We still don't know how the rascal got in and out of the car...

Maggie had made a cornhusk doll at a children's museum and decided to leave it in the nook of a tree right by our campsite for some other little girl to find... A curious Banana Slug came by to check out his new neighbor.

....and you just can't take a coastal trip without visiting lots of beaches! Here's the start of a Sandcastle Fort in Santa Cruz...

We continued up the coast to visit a spot I've been excited to get back to! Glass Beach in Fort Bragg...

This is where I collect all the sea glass I use for my handmade hair accessories.

Maggie played with seaweed and splashed around while Jim and I scoured the sand for treasure...

Here's what wet glass shimmering in the sun looks like close up....

As you can see, most of what you'll find are clear/white pieces, with brown being 2nd...greens are a distant 3rd with soft blue-green being scarcer.

Pink and blue glass (the blue you see in this pic is mussel shell) are the rarest of all here, and I actually managed to find a few pieces :) Intermingled with these are broken pottery, the occasional milk glass or jadeite glass pieces and shiny shells. I've started a few new hair clips, I promise to show you soon!

When we were back at camp, we'd take walks and explore the woods around us....

I'd look for places with what I like to call "fairy holes" in the trees....where fairies (and children) might like to play...

....and appreciate the beauty we found everywhere....

Flora and Fauna alike....

We stopped at a little town called Ferndale.... a favorite place to see charming houses...

...and be awed by one of the most beautiful cemetaries I've ever seen....

Maggie had never been to one and asked us if we could go in. She wanted us to read the names as we passed each marker.... I think we all felt a little closer, a little humbler while walking hand in hand through this serene place to the top of the hill...

...and as we took in the view from the top, we held eachother a little tighter....

Life is truly a journey...and an amazing gift...

I'm so lucky to be here with a family that I love beyond measure....and to be able to share a part of my life here with you...

Kindred spirits....

I'll leave you now to absorb....

Then pounce on you again with more pictures...heehee...haahaa!

So glad to be back,

Cam

Ta Ta for Now!

2011-07-05T01:44:00.000-07:00

My Dear Bloggy Friends!

How I will miss you! We leave for our vacation tomorrow morning...
A month of this....

....a lot of packing and unpacking....long stretches of driving and longer treks to the porto-pots ;-P

...but a lifetime of memories for one adventurous Little Girl :)

We'll be back before you know it....with 100's of vacation photos to share...heehee!

Just warning you now!

Hope your July is filled with family, fun and laughter...

I'll be talking to you soon :D

The forest beckons,

Cam

Mad Sea Party Winner!

2011-07-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hello My Favorite Blog Friends!!!

I want to thank everyone for their kind compliments regarding our Summer Haircuts and well-wishes for a wonderful vacation!!! You are truly sweet...and so special to me!

Well, on to the business at hand....heehee!
I told you I would try to come up with some entertaining way to choose my winner....

...it all starts with tiny little orbs of rubber....

...filled to capacity with cold water....

....74 numbers placed randomly on the hard concrete....

...and a little girl...

You see where we're headed here, right...haha?!

The plan was to have her throw the balloon, it would hit the ground, splash on a number.....done!

Well.....

After quite a few throws like this.....

Who knew they would bounce so much?!

.....lots of balloon pieces to pick up off the dirt....

8 more balloons filled...

...and all attempts to stay dry on my part failing due to back spray, popping while filling and other hose mishaps....

We finally....

Got our winner!

There was water everywhere....so we picked the one that the balloon piece landed in!

#70

That's Sarah

@ Hyacinths for the Souls!

Congrats!

I'll contact you to get this clip sent out to you right away :)

I appreciate you all so much! Thank you for entering my little giveaways and for joining me on my Bloggy Adventure! You're the best...really...makes me want to hit you all with water balloons!

Well, you know what I mean...haha!

Sending some Fun in the Sun your way,

Cameron (and Maggie)

Ch-Ch-Changes!

2011-06-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Blog Friends!

I'm breezing in today on the winds of change...

First....no more Artfire Store! Don't worry if you didn't notice its departure from my sidebar....no one did....haha! I just decided that 1 store is enough.....and chose Etsy instead :)

On that note....just a quick reminder that the last day of my Jewelry Sale is tomorrow...y'know...just in case you were waiting to stock up or something...haha!

The biggest thing going on around here right now is preparations for a month long camping trip!
I don't mean RV camping either....my Hubby's a purist (and a little conservative in the money department...heehee) so it's tent camping for the 3 of us. Up the coast to Northern Oregon and back down again. We did a shorter trip last year...you can see the highlights here :)

We leave next week! I'm going to miss you guys like crazy!!!!
*sniff*

....but back to the changes.....
The most drastic change that happened today was Summer haircuts for us girls...

Maggie is growing out her bangs, so we didn't want to go too short...

But, the back often got tangly and always needed to be put up for Karate class because her neck gets so sweaty....

Now, it's cool and stylish :)

As for me, the long hair I wanted "because it was easier"...started to wear out its welcome. I love how long hair has versatility to put up or down, braid or curl.....but, all I ever did was put it in a ponytail and go.

...and can you see all that gray?! I thought having long hair made me look younger. Kinda hard to pull off when you let your roots grow out that much cuz having that much hair makes it a pain to color!

So...snippety snip...and....

Voila!

I'll leave this one at Medium size...haha!
I'm loving it! I can't stop fluffing it in the back...and feeling so cute in the process :D

Other changes include a room makeover project which I'm very excited about...but will have to revealed later....sorry, I can't wait to show you, though!

I'll be back on Friday with the results of the Mad Sea Party Giveaway. Micki mentioned on her blog that I always select my winners in such interesting ways....that said, the pressure's on to make sure I don't dissappoint...haha! I'll see what I can do ;-P

I'll be back sooner than soon.....with hair not in a ponytail!

Many hugs and more smiles,

Cameron