I am so ready to get back into the studio and make some art! The  Amazing Alice is coming this week to help me get  my studio organized. Again.

I did it on my own last year, but I didn't keep up with it. I guess I enjoy having a certain amount of disarray around me when I work. It feels like I'm actually doing something. Of course, when I spend twenty minutes searching for sa tool that should be right at hand, I get really frustrated. Hopefully the Amazing Alice will be able to help me balance my two sides.

In the meantime, I have been playing around with some Photoshop filters and doing a little junkin'.The results of both are in the photo above. (That's the poster edges filter. I love the texture that it adds.)

I fell in love with this piece when I saw it. It's a Victorian-era sweetheart pin. A coin was smoothed out on one side, and engraved with the name "Annie". There are two little holes at the bottom of the coin. I'm thinking of draping a chain between the two holes. The pin back isn't functional, so I'll probably add a top hole and incorporate it into a necklace at some point.

In the meantime, I'll daydream about Annie, and how thrilled she must have been to recieve such a beautiful gift.

I'm very excited to use these. They are number stamps in a really old wooden box. Each number is about 1/2" tall. I've never seen them this large before. I'm tempted to use the stamps themselves in a piece. I think they're just gorgeous.

Here is a closeup of some of the other bits that I found. These little things make me so happy!

Warning: creepy baby alert! Scroll no further if you don't want to see a closeup of my new baby.

Oh, I'm glad you decided to look at her. She's very sweet, really. She doesn't have the scary little teeth that some of the babies have. I use most of my composition dolls in my art pieces, but this little doll was a birthday gift, and so she isn't in danger of being put in precarious positions, like most of my other compo babies. Take a look at the Bates numbering machine next to her, too. My heart skipped a beat when I found this thing.
I'm already wondering where the homes should be for these objects, so I'll be able to find them when I'm ready for them. Hopefully the Amazing Alice has some of the answers!

It's a Spring Thing

 I am still in "glitter mode" but I've shifted seasons. When I put away my Christmas art supplies, I decided to take a peek into the "spring" bin. I found a project that I started last year, but never had time to finish. I made paper clay forms using chocolate candy molds. This is fairly easy to do. Just be sure to dust the mold with some cornstarch to make removal of the form easier.

I used tiny little tacks and brads for the eyes and noses on my figures. Then, I painted them with Claudine Hellmuth's paints diluted with water. After that dried, I added a coating of clear irisdescent glitter. Aren't they sweet? I am going to work on some Valentine-themed ones as soon a I get a chance. Also, it keeps my mind off of the snow falling outside. Spring is coming!