Sundaes in Las Vegas

Just got back from Vegas and had an amazing time! Just when you think things are the way they are in your little corner of the world little coincidences and surprises give you some insight into your life. This trip was full of those little moments. I had the opportunity to try some new things like asparagus...yummy! Heard some really bad jokes...gross. Got caught in a rainstorm (loved it). Saw a fun show. Had the best time people watching and wandering with my favorite mischief maker ever! At one point my partner in crime pointed out a rather sad and sickly looking man, who was sitting by himself enjoying an ice cream sundae. My partner in crime mentioned how sad this man looked and I was struck with how you can be completely surrounded by people and be so alone. There was slight comfort seeing how much he was enjoying his sundae. It was clearly the highlight of this man's day. It made me even more grateful that I had an accomplice in all things mischief. Well, just as this little man scraped his last bite from the sides of his cup, he was struck by the inevitable brain freeze that follows a delicious sundae. This poor man just squoze his hands to his head and placed his head on the table and waited out the pain. You almost wanted to pat him on the back and let him know it would all be okay. It was hard to watch. In my world he would have skipped away on a quest to find the greatest ice cream shop in all of Las Vegas and along the way he would have discovered someone to skip down the boulevard with him.

Fables and Foxes Flip Doll

So I finally finished up this little owl art doll! She's actually two dolls in one. Her dress reverses to reveal another doll! You can see additional pics here on my Fables and Foxes Blog.

More Fables and Foxes Related Fun!

I spent a majority of this weekend working on this new folk art doll or whimsical sculpture. I still need to finish up some of the final details but it's coming together nicely! I just realized how stern fox looks! You'd almost think she was for a mug shot!

Unfold Illustration Friday and Fables and Foxes Shop

So I did this illustration for my other shop: Fables and Foxes but I figured I'd share it here for my gumball readers as well :) She calls out to be sculpted.

First Little Gumball Grenade Art Doll

Here is his. He's little but cute! Sculpted with polymer and hand painted. He measures 3 and 3/4 inch from top to bottom of base. He's currently available my Gumball Grenade shop! here

First Gumball Grenade Face Sculpture!

Here is the face I've come up with for my Gumball Grenade sculptures and art dolls. It had to be innocent and sweet. Hopefully he is! The star on his cap still needs to be added but he doesn't mind being photographed without it.

Folk Art Doll Face

Last night while I was waiting for paint to dry on my lion, I decided to sculpt a little folk art doll face and put a dress together. I still need to add the body, legs, and paint. I actually had to sculpt and paint her face prior to sculpting her head and hair. Weird but it helped me visualize her a bit more clearly.

Also, for those who collect my Gumball Grenade prints, there are some whimsical sculptures brewing! You see in my illustrations I rarely show a face. Most of my illustrations are shared in little bedrooms and baby nurseries. They are designed for magical thinkers only! I like for the viewer to place themselves into the viewpoint of my little souls, gazing up to the sky and remembering when, or thinking and dreaming "If!" So I was a bit stagnant when it came to sculpting because I had to find the right face to finally show! I sculpted a little face last night, but haven't had a chance to see it with paint yet. I'll paint it today and share a peek at it later! I hope to have several Gumball Grenade sculptures to offer this upcoming Holiday season! I'm so excited!

A Guardian Folk Art Doll

Last night I couldn't resist making this sweet fox. She's holding a red cardinal in a protective way. Don't worry she doesn't intend to eat it! She guarding it from other dangers. She's keeping it safe from other dangers she knows too much of.

She's just as high as my bear and I must say they look like they walked out of the same forest when standing side by side. Here she is.

Bear Folk Art Doll Sculpture

So as you can see I've had sweet little bears on the mind and maybe a little bit of Little Red Riding Hood as well! You see a while ago I signed up for a cloth and clay doll workshop taught by the extremely talented Jane DeRosier. I have such a love for folk art dolls and thought that it would be a great way to get started. Well I'm more than embarrassed to admit that even with a mom who teaches and sells sewing machines I still have not had the time to learn how to sew! But today I just felt the need to make some kind of folk art doll so I ran downstairs to find my paper clay and get started. I was set on making a doll even if I had to hand sew every little stitch. Well you know how it goes, when you need something you can't find it. I ran downstairs to take advantage of my time and began rummaging through the various piles, corners, and drawers. I couldn't find it! Determined to complete the mission I settled and grabbed my box of old polymer clay. Either it will work or it won't I thought to myself.

Well here's the end result! Her name is "Sorrow" in conjunction with the theme over at Cloth and Clay Dolls. Can you believe that she is the first sculpture I've done in over a year! I couldn't believe how she turned out! When I compare her to some previous paper clay dolls I made I am shocked with the difference. I'm glad I followed this nagging need to sculpt and took the time to do it. Creating her has definitely encouraged me to keep sculpting and add more of these folk art dolls / sculptures to my Fables and Foxes etsy shop.

Oh I should mention her details: She's sculpted out of polymer clay and painted using acrylic paints. She stands just slightly under 7 inches tall and has been antiqued and distressed to give her that folk art feel.

I also thought I'd add in this photo so you could see her prior to painting:

Don't Forget!

To add a bit of color today!

Craving Illustration Friday

It's been far too long since I last participated! I couldn't resist so here is my submission for this weeks Illustration Friday! I've had coffee, tea, honey and cakes on the mind lately. Some cravings however, can be quite dangerous. This illustration is a pencil sketch that has been digitally colored.

Saturday Sings Sweetly to Me!

So a while back a lovely person shared this song with me and asked if it influenced my work. Unfortunately I had never heard the song before. It's a very melodic and sweet song called "Boats and Birds" by Gregory and the Hawk. I don't think this you tube video was created by Gregory and the Hawk but it's pleasant to watch and let's me share the song with you! So here's a sweet song for you this springly Saturday morning.

Two New Illustrations Added to Gumball Grenade

So here are two of my latest illustrations added to the Gumball Grenade Etsy shop yesterday evening! The top one is titled "Things Left Behind" the second is "Stay the Course." There is a third one that will be posted soon as well! Oh and I did get a minute to add a listing to Ebay as well! Click here

Ankle Case and Neko Case

I've been a bit remiss in my blogging lately. I went in for my second set of x rays on my ankle and it was determined that it was fractured (broken). They want me to go see an orthopedic doctor and they'll determine how much longer I have to wear the large black brace or if I need a cast! Oh I hope I don't need a cast! I have a trip planned to go to Vegas with some girlfriends and can't imagine going to sweltering Vegas entombed in a cast! So fingers crossed until Monday.

A side story on the black brace...I went on a very sweet date to an outdoor concert performed by Neko Case last Sunday! It was wonderful. I played hookie from wearing my brace. I just figured that walking around with it would be uncomfortable, and sitting on the garden lawn would be even more uncomfortable! It gets quite crammed with open outdoor seating. Well as I was people watching I saw another concert attendee wearing the same brace on the opposite leg. Instant guilt set in over not wearing mine, but I didn't want to be shackled on such a nice night! Anyway the night was perfect and I don't think skipping the brace had too much of an impact on the healing process.

Alright enough about my ankle issues... here's an update on more uplifting topics! I have some art boxes left over from a recent show that I'm probably going to list on Ebay tonight. Those will go up along with some miniature originals (also called ACEO's) seen in the photo above! I'm hoping to get them all listed tonight! Until then enjoy the pics!

Also, on the first I sent over my illustration to Jen at InidieFixx.com for her wonderful Feed Your Soul art project. Such an amazing project to have been invited to participate in! It will be available for download for FREE in July! Yay for free art in a down economy! By then I'll have some new prints to go along with it listed in my shop: Gumball Grenade