The Blackberry Briar

May Humble Arts

I simply cannot believe that it will be May in a Day!  :0)   Great news comes with new months and here we are.   The Humble Arts will be updated tomorrow and again on Tuesday the First.   My offering for the Month is this Tiny Izannah Walker Pom Pom Doll.  I know that I showed this to you when she was in the beginning stages.  She is now complete and ready to be adopted! 

She would make a beautiful Mother's Day Gift or a wonderful gift to yourself! ;0)    My friends and family who have been here an seen her are in Love.

I made her PinCushion which is a Dimensional Square and I adorned it with a cross stitched flower that I made which is attached with Head Pins and Rusty Safety Pins.   My favorite part is the Vintage Reproduction Hat Pin that I stuck in the top of the cushion.

Peek a Boo!  That little Teddy just wanted his picture taken so badly!!!  He isn't quite ready yet, but he will be for an upcoming show that I am doing Friday May 4th.  It is going to be a LOT of fun.  I can't wait.  I just need to really keep moving and making more things. 

Here is a couple of the things that I have been hard at work on.  Wish me luck that I can find the time to get more done!!!  As you can tell, I wait till the last minute for just about everything!!

Have a Great Evening and upcoming Week!!!  Don't forget to check out The Humble Arts there are so many talented artists featuring top of the line Handmade Items!!!   

Is Spring Really Here?

Could it be?  Is Spring really here for good?   

We had a wonderful weekend here with temp's soaring into the 80's!!!!  It is wonderful to hear the birds chirping and wake up to them singing.   Slept with the windows open last night!!!  Yippeeee!

Last Friday, my daughter had an event at her Preschool called "The Spring Sing and Art Show".   It was the cutest thing ever watching all those little ones sing and dance.   

Of course you have categories of children at these events...LOL   Some Sing and Dance there little hearts out ready to be the next Idol.   Then you have those that are somewhere in between singing, forgetting the words until the chorus and yawning during all of it.   The ones that I feel bad for are the poor kids that look like Deer in Headlights.  They are scared stiff going through the motions anxiously awaiting the whole thing to be over so that they can go out for Ice Cream!  :0)

There were also art stations that the kids created based on their study of the famous artists.   My daughter's class studied Monet.  Here is their display...

Here are some of the other "artists" displays from the other classes....

Picasso

Alexander Caulder (who invented the Mobile..which I had no clue until that night)

and various others...

What an impressive evening.  Hats off to the Teachers for putting all this wonderful art together.  I am so pleased with my daughters preschool education.   

Her class is also expecting Chicks soon!!!  Here is a pic of my son with the incubator and eggs...

With all that said.....I am hoping and begging for some inspiration to create.  I am in a bit of a slump.  I don't know why....maybe I just need to pick up a brush and start painting or get my collage out and start doing.    I have two events coming up that I NEED to start making for.   I will be sharing some of my sisters Penny Rug Photos with you shortly.  You will be amazed at her talent and her patience to create these beautiful works of art!  Have a Wonderful Day!  :0)

So Much to Talk About!

Gosh, I have sooo much to talk about, so you might be hearing from me often in the next few days. 

I know that you all want this painting!!  Mrs. Dixie Redmond from NorthDixieDesigns painted it.   I was lucky enough to win it on Ebay about a month ago.  I have been trying to find the perfect spot for such an incredible piece of art in my home.   I think that anyplace is perfect, because I have had several of my friends, some artistic and some not come into my home and just stare it this painting.  It truly is marvelous!!!  If you have a chance to purchase a piece of Dixie's art please run and do so now!  This painting will be a treasure of mine for years to come.

Up next will be something about a VERY special customer of mine who I am lucky enough to call a friend.  Barbara you are an angel sent to me in my life.   

Barbara has purchased many of my art pieces and she herself is also an artist.  I went to my Mailbox the other day and found the most beautiful envelope that she collaged on.  I RAN into the house to open it and was I ever surprised at ALL the wonderful goodies inside!   Here are a couple pics for me to share with you. 

Thank you so much Barbara!  It is just what the Dr. ordered!!  An envelope FULL of Muse.  I need to get it together and create now!

More to come...I went to my Sisters House to talk about a Breast Cancer Charity Event that she is having on May 19th.  I will share what we are going to be doing for that....Also, my daughter had a Spring Sing and Art Fair last night!  I can't wait to share some photos from that! 

A Doll Lovers Heaven

A week ago Yesterday I entered a Doll Lovers Heaven!  I drove into the City to my parents house and dropped off the children for a few hours out.   I left their house and scurried anxiously to  Gigi's Dolls which is about 10 minutes away from there.  The 10 minutes always seems like days away when I anxiously driving to get there.  I am like a little child at Christmas and when I arrive, I become overwhelmed with Happiness!   Gigi and her daughter Sherry are the owners and truly the two nicest shop owners that I have met.  They are so sweet and exciting to talk to about the dolls.  Being surrounded by them on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis might make one think that they would at some point become bored with them, but this isn't the case.   They are just as excited as I am to talk one on one about dolls and their Love for them!

I took several photos to share with you and will be posting them while talking about my day there.   I only spent a couple of hours, but didn't nearly get to even 1/3 of the store.  They have old dolls and new dolls.  Antique Doll Clothing.  New doll shoes and wigs.  They are also a doll hospital.   Several Cabinets with antique Steiff Teddies and stuffies.   They have a whole cabinet that is called The Doll Museum.  It is filled with dolls that are not for sale.

Can you imagine the chit chat that goes on once the doors are closed and locked for the evening?  A movie could be made on the fun that must go on during the "closed" hours in the store!!  Imagine the history and the stories these dolls could tell if they could whisper to us.   I know that some have whispered to Sherry and Gigi.  They could write a book about all the wonderful things that are unexplainable in the shop amongst the Pretties.

If you are in the area and are able to visit Gigi's Dolls please don't miss out on the Chance of a Lifetime!  I am soooo lucky to be near enough to them that I am able to take a "Field Trip" whenever the urge strikes.  I could go there every day for a week straight and still not see everything there is to see.  :0)   If you aren't able to visit the store, please be sure to visit the Online Store.  There are a couple dolls that are included in these shared photos that are for sale on the site.

Now, for my personal Favorites.  First there is the most beautiful Brown eyed China doll that is a Covered Wagon Style.  I couldn't take my eyes off this beauty.  She is on a leather body...probably not original to her, but one never knows.  The body is more common to a Bisque doll, however it makes NO difference to me since I LOVE the body and how well it is preserved.

Here is another Favorite of Mine.  The papier mache head is clearly Muller and Strasburger, M and S as is usually labeled Superior 2015. See the little dashes under her eyes? Those are also characteristics of m and S dolls. Muller made dolls from very early in the century until late, and is perhaps the most productive of all the companies.  She may date 1870 to 1875. some say 1860 to 1875, because she has the civil way era hair style.   Edyth O'Neill from Red Cape Rugs helped me identify this beauty. 

I hope that you enjoyed my "Virtual Tour" of Gigi's Dolls.  Please take the time to visit yourself and drop them a line that I sent you.  You will not be disappointed guaranteed!

Spark of Creativity

Some of you may be wondering where I have been.  In between Birthday Parties and my Daughters spring break and helping a friend in need, I have just been to exhausted to do much of anything.  I think it might also be the change of weather.  Although it is good, it is an adjustment.   We have been outside for the past couple of days enjoying the Sunshine and warmer weather.

I was so inspired to create a Pom Pom Creature after viewing the Martha Stewart Episode featuring Jennifer Murphey.  She is one of my favorite Bear Artists and I was lucky enough to be able to view the episode on the Computer after it aired.   I have created my own version of the Pom Pom Creature using her techniques shown on the show!  I am still working on her, but here is my version of an Izannah Walker Pom Pom Creature.   I am still ironing out some of the details, but you get the idea.....I also made that sqaure pincushion using some really awesome fabric that is classic and looks vintage to me.

Maybe I should stick to dolls instead of Pom Pom creatures....What do you think?

My Friend from Holland Desiree from Daisy in lala Land has also made some ADORABLE Pom Pom Creatures!!  Her Blog is delightful and I know that she would love it if you dropped by and left her a note!   I can't wait for her to set up her Etsy Shop so that I can snag one of her adorable creatures!!!  My favorites are a toss up between Puffy the Dog and Her Little Black Chick that looks like he is singing!

I also have a couple other things in the works that I have to complete.  I have two shows coming up and I need to get it together and start working!!! 

A special thanks to all of you that visit and leave Comments!  It makes me feel really good to know that someone is reading!  Thank you for all your support!  :0)

Thank You Randi!!

A Long Overdue THANK YOU goes out to a Randi from Tattered Saints!!   I entered a contest on her blog and was floored that I won!!!  Randi's blog is filled with inspiration!  I enjoy visiting and reading about what she has going on with her art and her life.   She is very talented and is always trying something new with success!  Please visit and leave her a comment if you get a chance!

Thanks so much Randi for the BEAUTIFUL sachet!  It is soOOOO pretty in person.  I LOVE the fabric selection you chose and the vintage trims and brooch are just the perfect finishing touches!!  Not to mention....It smells WONDERFUL!!!  Even my daughter adores it!  When my studio is finished, it will hang in there proudly.  Truly, truly inspiring!

3 Years Ago Today

My Second Child and First Baby Boy was Born.  It is amazing and so sad at the same time, how quickly children grow and time flies.   I would be lying if I didn't say that I wish I could keep them little.  As a Mom, I try my hardest to spend everyday so that I will never regret not taking in every moment. 

Change happens right before our eyes everyday.  Children grow out of their Newborn Clothes with the snap of a finger (some never fit in them to begin with).  They give up their pacifiers and there bottles.  Even the way they smell changes as they grow.  I would give anything today to get a whiff of the Newborn Baby Smell and to hear those little coos and grunts.  The way that they first look at you and just know you are there to Love them.   I know that I can't ever have that again and it is so bittersweet.  I would take back ever sleepless night for just a moment back in time.

Happy Birthday My Most Precious Baby Boy.  You will always be my Baby and forever my Little "Muggle".  I Love you More than Words can Say.

Portrait of Me in Dough

I hope that you all had a wonderful Holiday!  Mine was such a nice one!!!  I spent it with my Family and some Close Friends enjoying a wonderful meal and of course enjoying every bit of the kids and their Easter fun!

The Easter Bunny brought the kids some Play Dough amongst SEVERAL other fun and yummy things!!!  My daughter surprised me this morning with this beautiful Portrait of me in Dough!   I even have the honor of wearing Glass Slippers!  :0)  I just know that she has the creative bug in her and I am one proud Mama!!  Here is a picture of the after math on Easter Morning.   This year we smartened up and hid their buckets in the play room.  That way the mess stayed in there among the rest of the mess.  (which we spent the whole day before cleaning....Can't you tell)?  :0) 

Tomorrow we are going into the city and I just might be visiting my MOST favorite doll shop again!!!  I will be sure to bring my camera to share with you.  Until then.....Have a restful evening!

A Day of Reflection

Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? 

John 11: 25-26

Dear Lord,

Thank you for letting me know you and worship you.  I know that I have sinned and I am grateful that you are sacraficing your own Son today to guarantee my forgiveness and the forgiveness of others.   Please continue to allow me to live a Christian Life and for me to Praise you in a way that others will want to Praise you as well.  I ask you to forgive me of my many sins, for I am truly regretful of them. 

Lord, I ask that you would Bless me Indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from Evil.

In Your Name I Pray.  Amen

Passion to Feed Your Soul

I am in need of some TLC for some reason.  I feel very fragile and overtired.  I am chalking it up to the weather and hopefully once the warm days stay, I will be back to normal.

When I am stressed or overwhelmed, the best therapy that I can find is to create.  More specifically to Sculpt.  Sculpting is more relaxing to me than any other thing I know.  It is an inner passion that comes out and allows me to release and create.   I could literally sit for hours and days making a little doll come alive in my hands.   So, this is what I have been focusing on the last couple of days when the kids are asleep at night.  So far, this is what I have come up with.  I am trying to do an Izannah Walker type doll, but these dollies don't often cooperate, so we shall see once she comes alive with paint.

I mentioned the word Passion which is the topic of the week on a group that I belong to.  My thoughts on Passion are that it is something very Pure and Instinctive.  It cannot be forced.  It has to come from within.  It is the individual person that needs to decide what they are passionate about in life.  Sometimes it may take many years before we are able to know what we truly are passionate about.  For me it was 28 years before I knew I was passionate about art. Dolls in Art to be more specific, but not limited to just dolls.   It now consumes my life and I can't imagine life without it.  I am constantly looking for something new to experiment with, wanting to grow with skills.   I now know what I want to be when I grow up!  That is the BEST feeling!!!  I am also very passionate about my Children and of course My Sweet Husband. 

What drives you?   What makes you passionate?  Have you been lucky enough to find out yet, or are you still searching?