Holiday Snow! Leslie Brier - snowed-in artist!

It's just beautiful here in Virginia. We had a blizzard that blew in Friday night, and left us with about two feet of snow on the ground by Saturday afternoon. It felt so good to know that we were all safe and sound and had nowhere to go!

Bordeaux loves being outside. She doesn't mind that the snow is up to her shoulders. Everytime she comes in, she is just covered in snow. Merlot prefers to be inside, like me.

This is the Christmas Tree I did for the Festival of Trees. This is an annual event held to benefit Hope House, a women's and children's shelter that helps them to break the cycle of homelessness.

I found some cardinal light covers at a thrift store about a year ago, and decided on a cardinal theme for my tree.

I looked for cardinal ornaments all year. In the beginning, I didn't have much luck. In August, I found a cardinal and poinsetta tree skirt (unused!) at a yard sale. Things started picking up from there. About a week before the tree was due, I hit the mother lode and was able to complete my tree.

My tree was called "Winter in Virginia". Had I known how snowy it was going to be this year, there would have been a lot more white on the tree!

I don't know who bought my tree, but I want to thank that person and everyone who bid on it for their contribution to Hope House. And thank you to the judges for awarding it "Best Small Tree"

Happy Holidays!

FCCA Annual Member's Show

The Annual Members Show at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts is going on now, and runs through January 8. The downstairs gallery is filled to the brim with an amazing variety of small works, including paintings, photography, jewelry and mixed media









This is "Seed Sower", one of the pieces that I submitted. It is a mixed media art quilt, in a three-dimensional frame. Can you guess what the frame is made of?

The bottom of the quilt is made from an antique seed sack that was attached to a machine called the Cyclone Seed Sower. I would like to do another piece called "Cyclone" that features a boy penny doll.

Here is a closeup of the top. I finally decided to use two of my bakelite bird buttons. I've had them for several years, but hadn't found the right piece to put them in until now.

This is "The Queen". Her face is an antique watch and her body is a ruler. (Get it, ruler?)

This beaded rivoli necklace is also at FCCA. I love making the beaded bezels for the rivoli. It's so satisfying when you have the rivoli snugged in its setting.



I beaded the necklace part, too and finished it with an antique steel-cut button. I am being very brave about digging into my button stash these days.

I apologize for the spacing issues. If anyone wants to let me know how to lay out my pictures and text so that they align properly, I'd be grateful.

Thank you! Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the opening at the University Cafe on Friday night. It was so great to see everybody! And it was fun to spend time with the other members of the Mixed Media Experience, too. I am always amazed at how well our work goes together once a show is hung.

This is my Electrolux Baby. I found the vintage canister vaccuum at a thrift store, or course, and just had to have it. I took out the motor inside (and the wasp nest) and cleaned it all up with soap and a toothbrush.

Then I started adding my own touches to it. I didn't want to do too much to it, because I love the clean lines. The sled runners are original to the vaccuum. Interesting, hmmm?

I cut into the canister with my dremel tool and was able to fit a vintage French-fry maker down inside. At this point in a project, I am usually wondering what wholesome activities the other mothers are engaged in. Baking cookies? Reading stories to their children? I also wonder what the neighbor children say about what Mrs. Brier was doing while they were visiting.

After auditioning a few drivers from my collection, I decided that Sammy would be the new Electrolux Baby! He seems very happy in his new vehicle, don't you think?

Clara was the driver I chose for my rescue vehicle. Her fire engine rig was originally built for the top of the Electrolux piece, but it was a little too unweildy. It fit on top of the roller skate like it was made for it. I love it when a project comes together!


Little Clara was naked when I got her, so I decided she had to have some clothing for her big debut on the fire truck. I found a vintage handkerchief with a holly embroidered on it and went to town. Deck the dolls with altered hankies, fa la la la la la la la la. (Isn't that how it goes?)

It's Christmastime at the University Cafe

It's just the beginning of the season, but I already feel so Christmas-y! I've been working in my workshop just like one of Santa's elves, getting ready for the Mixed Media Experience show at the University Cafe. I have created a steampunk Christmas scene for the front window.

This piece is called Little Red Wagon. It is made from an antique seed broadcaster an old toy wagon, and some cool vintage tin litho wheels.

Sammy is the driver of the Little Red Wagon. He is an antique compositon baby from the 1930's or 40's.

Next to Sammy is one of my vintage Christmas tin creations. It is made from a vintage baking tin. The holes are not quite as deep as a cupcake pan, and are just big enough to hold vintage Chrismtas treasures.

I am off for a day of pre-holiday junking, so I will post more photos tomorrow!

Salt Shaker Pendants - Now available at LibertyTown!

My salt shaker pendants are now available at the LibertyTown Emporium. They are made from repurposed individual salt shakers, pearls, crystals and vintage jewelry. The bottom unscrews so that you may store a little message or a tiny treasure inside.

This one has a sewing theme, for the quilter, seamstress or fabric artist in your life.

This one features a rhinestone lizard and emerald green Swarovski crystals.

This is a piece of my tiny tea jewelry. The tablecloth is a tiny piece of tatted lace, which I added seed beads and crystals to. The tea table is a vintage sterling silver individual salt shaker. The charms at the bottom are forks, knives and spoons surrounding a little cream pitcher. The overall size is just under 3 inches. Perfect for a pendant, or an ornament. The small round doilies that I bought on Sunday will become tablecloths.

Sunday Yard Sale Bounty

I had the good fortune to drive past a sign advertising a Sunday Yard Sale at a time when I didn't have any family members in the car with me to moan and groan about having to stop. This is what I found:

This is an announcement about two women attorneys joining a Washington, D.C. law firm. They are the Misses Emma E. Harris and Alice M. Perazzi. I would love to know what year this was. The photo below was in the same envelope. I wonder if this could be Miss Emma or Miss Alice, or if they just happened to live in the same envelope together. The woman who sold them to me didn't know.

I also found all of this gorgeous tatted lace. The smallest round doilies will be used to make some of my tiny tea jewelry. The tiny perfume bottles will be individually wrapped and tucked into my daughter's Christmas stocking. She loves tiny things as much as I do.

Now this is the part that will make you wish you had been with me: I got everything for $7. I've already had seven dollars' worth of fun photographing it!

CD Packaging Design, Leslie Brier, Brier Design

Okay, part of the reason that I posted the poochables last week is because I've been so busy with graphic design that I haven't spent much time in the studio.

Actually, I've spent a little time in the studio, but nothing is quite finshed yet. I'm almost there on three different pieces, so I'll post those soon.

In the meantime, I'd like to introduce you to Anthony Ashur, recording artist. He just completed his fifth piano solo cd, titled "In God We Trust". This one features patriotic music including "America the Beautiful", "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "By Dawn's Early Light", a musical paraphrase of the Star Spangled Banner written by Tony.

I've been honored to design all five of his piano solo cd packages. This is the newest cover:

The recording will be available for sale next week. I can't wait for my copy to come! If you'd like to find out more about Tony and his music, visit www.Mirrormorning.com.