I swap with Swap-bot!

Are you a swap-bot swapper? Do you love sharpies??? This is a group swap for the Sharpie Artists Unite group. If you're so inclined please join us in swapping fun and our love of magical sharpies. 

more photos on etsy!

Since I'm hosting the giveaway on Aquariann's blog I've started listing a lot more of my photos. Don't forget to stop by and put in for your chance to win two photo prints and a custom fairy from me!

 I'm slowly rounding out my offerings with both  artfully edited,watercolor effect, images, and regular photo images.. It's been fun weeding through my archives and finding little lost treasures.  I'll be soon offering images not printed on metallic papers. I just love the depth and color saturation on the metallic. I realize however it's not for everyone.

I've also been working my fingers raw  on a large order of sheep for a customer. I was thrilled to get such a great order and have been working to fulfill it in record time. They're slowly coming together. I'll be offering new color options for my sheep soon. I'll be offering baby pinks and blues. They're so cute! So watch for that upcoming listing.

Giveaway information! I'm a'hostin'

Hi there! I'm hosting another giveaway via Aquariann's Blog  

This is your opportunity to put in for your chance to win: Two matted photos of your choice from my Etsy Shop as well as your very own custom fairy.  Just follow the link to Aquariann's blog and follow the rafflecopter prompts to get your entries in for your chance to WIN!

Fairies fairies fairies..

So many fairies this year. Lots of custom orders, which I absolutely love.  This was the last one placed before my Christmas cut off. She turned out soooo cute! A gift for a little girl who was an iris for halloween.  She had added sparkles to her dress and her hair was a mixture of light browns and stripes of purple throughout.
         I'm slowly working on stocking up on sheep for Easter and listings. My sheep bag is filling up with body parts and legs, now it's just a matter of finding the time to stitch the bits together and make actual sheep.  I did a special request sheep a few months ago...a  nice little Frenchy sheep.  Ooo la, la, Tres Magnifique.  I love when people issue me a challenge.

Custom fairies flying out the door!

There's been a lot of fairy making going on around here. These are the most current 3 that have received flying papers and have set off across country to their new homes.

TUTUS! That's right, I said TUTUS ....

I've been going a bit tutu crazy lately. I found a great source for tulle and waistbands and now I just can't stop. Perhaps it's the fact that I want a tutu for myself...or always wanted a tutu for myself...

So this is my little tutu storage rack. Looks pretty stinking cute with all the colors all lumped together.

I'll be listing all these as seen above in my Viridian Muse Etsy Shop I can also do custom tutus, but need 3 to 4 week lead time on special orders. I'd love to create a beautiful little tutu for your birthday Princess or dress up fanatic.

Purple Echinacea Cone Flower Print

I love cone flower. It's one of my favorites. This image is of my own crop of coneflower...they've been slow growing the past few years, but I still love to see the blooms when they pop!

This print is now available in my etsy shop. The prints are done on a glossy, metallic photo stock. It really makes the colors pop off the page. If you were looking for regular prints, not on metallic papers, I can do that as well.

Lily Photographic Print Launch

I've put up one of my lily prints in my etsy shop. I love this one! A little Asiatic lily kissed by the rain. I did a really subtle watercolor effect on this print to pop those colors and the depth of the center. I'm loving the prints I received from my new processor. LOVE THEM! I can't wait to get into the really creative stuff with them. They do gallery blocks, and prints on metal..oo I can't wait to try that!

I'll be posting more of my floral photography in the next few days and weeks.

I LOVE EWE

My new painting. I've learned 2 things with this painting. I need to not be so impatient and let layers dry before I move on to the next... and I really love watercolor, and need to source more colors than just my landscape pallet.

More of my photography

I've been playing a bit with my camera as I've got a wedding shoot coming up in the very near future! (Hi C&C...)  Since I've switched over to digital, I've not had a lot of time to play with my creative settings on the new set up. It's a bit new-fangled and cornfusin'. That being said, my camera can take awesome shots all on it's own, without much programming from me. That does take a bit away from the creativity aspect of it all. 

Anyway, I figured it was time to show yet another shot that I've been playing around with. This has yet to be listed in my shop, but it'll make it there some day. It just seems like such a great shot for boys room decor. A bit of the "face the world and be fearless"

I love the dreamy effect it has. His little clenched fists and all.

Well it's late, I should be in bed. Heck I should have been in bed hours ago. Night world..See you tomorrow.

NEARLY A MONTH?!?!

I've left my blog, nearly a month? That's nearly impossible to believe.. but there it is. I've been busy on little man projects with my boy. Oh so many cute little kid projects, and not much spare time to create on my own. I spent the first year of his life burning the candle at both ends, and refuse to do it unless absolutely necessary these days.

I've got up coming work however, soon to be displayed on my etsy shop and this blog. I've finally made the decision to break out some of my photo pieces for sale and display. I've been playing around a bit with digital manipulations, but think I will also offer the original versions as well..especially ones like my lilac piece:

I love this shot, both ways, digitally altered for a "watercolor" effect, and as the straight shoot. Lilacs are one of my favorites.

Lots of new fairies, silk tie floral pins, and ornaments are being made in prep for my two shows mid October and the first weekend in November!
          

                  previews coming shortly :)

Mini sheepies are so cute!

So, I was asked today if I could create a mini version of  my sheep. YERP! I sure can! They're a little fiddly, but so darn cute! This mini guy measures 3x3x2. I'm not keen on the white around the eyes, but I was requested to do black head and legs. Black eyes on black face, never really works out well. I think the white takes away from the cute innocent look of the face of my sheep. This one looks a bit scared or shocked. Now I just have to figure out what to do with them!

Win a kindle fire from ereader1

Check it out! eReader 1 US is one of the best e-reader facebook pages out there. If you're not currently following them, I suggest you high tail it over there and them out. You'll find a great resource for awesome free books and fun tips and tricks. They're currently running a giveaway to win yourself your very own shiny spanking new Kindle Fire! You can put your entries in on the side bar of this blog!

artistic photo editing.

I've been playing around editing images I took. I'm really having fun punching up the "arty" quality of them. I took these lovely pictures of my sister at the lake and have manipulated them to look a bit painterly. This one is currently available via my ViridianMuse ETSY shop as well as some of my painterly florals. I'm working on getting more listed, but haven't had time to sit down and get them into listing mode.

I love taking floral iamges. I haven't had much of a chance to do any floral photography this year, or last for that matter. Dragging a toddler and camera equipment out for a hike to find good images is not an ideal , nor creative trip. I can just envision broken camera/lenses.

This is one of my favorite florals so far. This bunch of white lilacs are so stunning. I'm thinking of getting this image blown up to at least a 16 x 18 or whatever that large of a size would amount to. I think framing it in a nice simple black frame would look really elegant. I've got far more colorful images to upload, but this one just speaks to me for some reason.

I'll be working on more silk tie pins in the coming week. I think Tuesday I'll be taking a trip around to see if I can find any ties I can't live without. The ones I have currently are in shades of gold, gun metal grey, a black white and purple print, and an orange paisley print. They're time consuming to make, but I enjoy the process greatly! Be on the lookout for more pins to join this one!

I'm back! It's taken me awhile...but I'm finally back. I've been working on getting photographs of my ribbon rosette pins. I've got some great ones coming up. I'll also be listing my first etsy listing for my silk tie florals. I've been trying to perfect my technique and had a few I just wasn't ready to give to the world.  Now that I've figured out a few different ways I want to do them, I'll be listing them on etsy as I get them made.

Here's my first pin listing from the weekend:  This one turned out so cute!  It's a lovely bubblegum pink color with little orange polka dots. In the center is a stardust style dark purple button with gold edging. So cute! Keep your eyes peeled! More things coming soon!

Down after dental extraction

I've been under the weather as of late. I had my wisdom teeth removed last week and was doing well on the mend. Now, NOT so much.  So art has been put on hold as I recover and get myself back to working order. I think perhaps I've over extended myself with too much physical activity, however there's not much I could do with a 2 year old running amok in the house. Thankfully my dear husband has been doing the every day duties such as baths (can't hang my head over the tub to play with the kiddo..) and those typically mundane tasks.

So hopefully I'll be back up to production on things in a few days. I've got a giant batch of fairies in the works. They're sitting half dressed, or sans beautiful coiffure, or fully dressed with hair perfectly in place minus all the extra trimmings. I'm itching to get back to them, but sitting with my head hung over them isn't any good either. So for now, I lean back on the couch with my heating pad tucked under my chin.

This time around there will be more pin fairies launched. I've been lacking pins for a long while now, but I have at least 10, that just need fairy fine trimmings. I have been able to sketch out ideas for other artwork as I lounge about. Little snips and shreds of sketches always fly in my wake. The sketching has become obsessive once again. I'm not sure why, but whenever there is a pen in hand, it's usually sketching like mad.

I'll also be launching some new photographic art on my etsy site. I've got magical altered photos with a painterly quality to them that I'll be slowly making available in my shop. Currently I've got some cute little fairy prints offered as well as one handsome toad. The coming photos are a mix of beautiful florals, landscapes, and what I like to call dream imagery. You know those types of images that just lure your brain into creating this fantastical world of a story behind them.

Crows are making another round through my art as well as squirrels. Needless to say, if I only had the million and one hours of free time needed to create all the things I'd want to, there would be no stopping me.

Good Night All! Have a pleasant tomorrow!

Giveaway LAST DAY!

Today is the last day to get your entries in to win the cutely custom flower fairy dolls and the small watercolor painting! This is the rough draft of the watercolor painting.I had to darken it quite considerably to show off the image. I'll be painting her tonight in lovely spring shades. She'll have a golden crown on her head too! So be sure to run over to The Art and Tree Chatter of Aquariann and follow the instructions to put your entries in!

Cupcake Original Art " Will You Be Mine?"

Cupcake lovers unite! Features a cute yellow icing cupcake with the saying: Cupcake Will You Be Mine? This adorable piece would be a wonderful proposal to that special someone, or perhaps the perfect wall art for your little cupcake's room!

This piece is watercolor and marker on #110 Bristol. It measures 6x6 inches square with the art sized at 4.5 inches x 4.5 inches square.

I've been inspired recently to make "love" art. It first started with the "My Love For You Is As Big As A Whale" piece.

I've got some owl pieces coming up, and an adorable winter couple in an eskimo kiss.

Don't forget! There's only one more day left to get your entries in for the Custom Fairy Set Giveaway!

Only 4 more days to ENTER!!

You only have 4 more days to enter the giveaway on Aquariann's Blog Be sure you get your chance to win! It's not often you'll find my fairies as part of a giveaway! Here's a few shots of fairies from past orders!!

KAIA Flower Fairy Pin!

Meet Kaia! She's the new fairy pin listed in my etsy shop. She's a star flight fairy or SSF. It's her job to maintain all the stars' sparkle. She loves being in charge of the last check and final polish before they hit the skies each night.