Art Opera

Ann Denise

Coral crepe Crown
Pamela Huntington
Parlour Fairy ShadowBox

Ruth Rae

Fused Jewelry

Joan Kettel

Victorian Book

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Art Opera is almost upon me!!!

I had my doubts whether I could / would even be able to go.

My sweet endearing Grandmother passed away.

Thank you for the prayer requests.

I am dealing the best I can.

I really was thankful to have Art Opera as something to look forward to.

Then I had 2 different roommates to help with lodging & both have canceled due to unforseen circumstances.

I would never have been able to afford the hotel by myself.

Now my awesome Mom has saved me by being ever encouraging, & driving me there plus sharing the lodging!

Understand my Mom is not into Art!

I know that she will have a blast though - she is taking 2 classes & neither are any I'm in!

I can't wait to see what she does.

I am taking a total of 5 classes & think they will only help give me some new techniques!

The pics above are of the instructors & project demo's.

So I'll be off to Red Banks, N.J. from Wed. 6th to Sun. 11th!

Phew if ever a get-away "calgon" moment was needed it's now!

I'll be sure to show you what I make when I get back.

JILL

Suze Weinberg's

Ball of Wax

Grandma Martha

Prayer request

for my sweet Gram

Gram is 92 & currently in the hospital with multiple masses of cancer. She is on hospice & we are so hoping for her to pass with as little pain & time as possible. The past few days have been very rough for her & I. She has been such a dear to me all my life & it will be very hard without her but I want her to go on & be well & at peace. thank you

JILL

I am an Artist!

Irish Blessing:

May your neighbors respect you,

Troubles neglect you,

The angels protect you,

and Heaven accept you.

Last Saturday I had an interview with a art gallery in Columbus, OH to become an exhibitor.

So after work the family & I headed an hour & 45 min. to the "big city" to see what they'd say.

I am so very excited, humbled & just plain pleased to say that I am an ARTIST.

I have been accepted into the Mac Worthington Gallery & will have my first piece in the July show! I will be featured on the website year round & will also be in two other shows this year.

Wow - huh? The director decided that I should also think a bit larger & do some bigger scaled pieces soooo I am up for the challenge. It appears that my Altered Art technique will offer a different take that they are excited to launch for me.

I will of course keep you posted & you may certainly check it out via the web. I will be adding pieces to the webite hopefully this weekend, stay tuned for more breaking news & here's hoping that spring may find us soon!

Hugs,

JILL

www.macworthington.com

A smile

Happy 13th Adam
Domino pendants in process

Latest fun find: Barbie Tee

Belle & Jack

"A smile is the beginning of peace."

Mother Theresa

I'm slowly coming out of my "funk" of sadness since losing Jack I know it's crazy but I really am a terrible sucker for animals.

I miss my fur baby & have begun looking for a new one.

On the plus side my kids are good & Adam is doing Baseball.

Adam also graduated from "tween to teen" (his words) as in big 13! yep it hardly seems real that I now have 2 teenagers - yikes! Survived his sleepover party with 3 other boys.

Fun find of the week my new Barbie retro Tee came it's from Avon. I'm an Avon rep so if you need one let me know I'll see if I can't get you one. Notice the umbrella & boots too.

I worked some more on the domino pendants just not feeling all that creative or anything else much, but moving along I'm trying to find peace & smile.

JILL

My dear Jack

This was my sweet boy or as I would call him "Baby J"

Jack my dear 4 yr. old Shih Tzu

Jack was born with kidney disease & succumbed to it last night, unfortunately & thus has left me broken hearted.

Jack never new he wasn't healthy & had the best disposition of any dog I've ever known.

He was a darling among dogs.

I know everyone that loses one feels it, but honestly Jack never growled, never new a stranger, & was the most friendliest fur beast ever.

Jack was in love with our guinea pig & always wanted to play with him.

He was our Miniature Schnauzer Belle's puppy or so they each thought.

He enjoyed keeping your toes warm or laying calmly on your lap. And with a basket of toys only played with one (squeaky shoe), heaven forbid it get stuck under the couch. Although he loved a chew on his bone.

When he would get chilled he enjoyed his t-shirts & would even reach his paws up to put it on.

Jack wasn't into tricks but he knew the word t-r-e-a-t.

He never misbehaved other than the shred of an occasional tissue. It's almost hard to believe he could be so perfect, he did seem like a furry little angel.

Rest in peace Jack without sickness for you are already sorely missed.

And so this Jill is without her Jack.

Fun Finds

Sketchers Roadies - Expressway

Faux cupcakes

Gourmet candle collection

Who doesn't enjoy fun finds?

I recently found these adorable "Bambi" boots on http://www.shoebuy.com/ & they were too cute to pass up? If you love shoes they really are very reasonable & shipping was FREE.

I was shopping at my local fav T.J. Maxx & found this domed plate stand & of course had to have it! How cute is it with my faux cupcakes?

Next is my FAV candle's made by http://www.swancreek.com/ they have the best scents (as I luv the baked food yummy smells) There candles are made of soy & burn clean. The last local store to carry them sadly went out of business so I either will order online or road trip!

I decided to make some domino & scrabble pendants today so I'm enjoying my candle scent & listening to Lady AnteBellum's newest album "Need You Now"

I'll post my finished pieces soon.

JILL

Art Opera

www.artoperanj.com

ART OPERA
I'll be there!
I can not copy & paste all the info. on this but you can link to it & check all of the fabulous workshops offered.
I can't tell you how fun & empowering it is to attend these things with like minded, talented people. I'm so looking forward to it!

Lisa Kettell is the hostess with the mostest & this is trully her baby she will not dissapoint. She has assembled a bevy of super talented woman for instructors & it is hard to choose from. I've been fortunate enough to meet a few of them & they are just Fabulous!

I'll post more later on which classes I'm taking.

If interested please look into it you won't be sorry.
hugs, JILL

Happy Valentines Sweets

Valentine Faux CupcakeButterscotch Choc. Chip Faux Cupcakes

Mini Cake Plate

Caramel Choc. Cherry Faux Cupcake

Happy 17th Mr. Matt

Hope everyone is having a nice Valentines weekend.

I got dinner & a movie last night with friends, very nice time.

We are off to celebrate Matt's birthday tonight his choice of restaraunt.

I recently listed a few new things on Etsy some are pictured above.

hugs. JILL

Hellooooo

ATC's from workshopmini cake plate sold on Etsy
Dogwood cake plate on Etsy

various cake plates

hello my little dear blog friends I'am no longer M.I.A.

sorry for my absence - I've missed it here.

First I gave up art yes I heard that gasp - it wasn't because I wanted to but because I turned full focus in the fall on studying for a state board exam.

Next followed the holidays, & now the new year brought a family illness where I spent 2 weeks when not at work, up at the hospital.

All in all I'm a lucky girl I have to say. I'm back in the saddle again though as far as Art.

I just yesterday attended at my local scrapbook store an ATC class.

Shock among shock that anyone in my town even knew what that was.

There were 6 gals besides myself. The instructor Aimee was a lot of fun & can be found at www.aimeeinohio.blogspot.com

The cake plates were the only other creative thing I've even remotely been up to, however I sold 3 on Etsy along with 2 orders of my faux cupcakes this year so far. Woo-hoo!

Well kids I'm off to bed & hoping this finds you all well.

Truth of Spoof Giveaway

http://mizmollye.blogspot.com/2009/08/lets-play-giveaway-game.html?showComment=1251045023639#c6146623565746536240

It's good to be back to blogging, the kids are back in school. I've gotten used to the old routine, I've not been making any art recently, but that will all change as I've got my "Big show" coming up next Saturday the 19th. It's a local even called Laurel Oaks Craft & Hobby Festival. I'm looking forward to it!

Now on to the Truth of Spoof Giveaway goodness. Recently while visiting fellow talent MizMollye's blog she had the cutest darned giveaway ever! She graciously said I could copy it & extend it my way - woo hoo - what fun.

Now you simply must pop over to her blog she's a most interesting gal & very talented artist.

The give-away is one of my faux cupcakes as pictured above in case you wondered what in the world the pic was. LOL

per Mollye: "I will list 15 jobs I've held (well actually 14) for various lengths of time during my life & ONE will be a spoof.

All you have to do is read my list & comment on it telling me which job you think I'm spoofing about.

The game begins Now & will be open until the end of the day next Saturday Sept. 19th. I will randomly choose a winner & post it Monday Sept. 21st.

And the best part you do not have to guess the right answer to Win!!

So here we go & good luck!

1.) Newspaper Asst. Editor

2.) Graphic Artist

3.) Clown

4.) Waitress

5.) Medical Asst.

6.) Costume Character

7.) Art Teacher

8.) Animal Tech.

9.) Optician

10.) Dog Groomer

11.) Secretary

12.) Candystriper

13.) Restaraunt Asst. Mgr.

14.) Game attendant

15.) Photographer

heehee I have quite a list I know & I've worked for the past 36 yrs. so have fun guessing & once again best of luck!

JILL

My challenge

Jack's collage
Kay's collage

Sibling collages
Recently I was commisioned to do something very fun with free reign on creativity.
The challenge: to create 2 pieces of art for a sister & brother, using ephemera contained in her mother-in-law's vintage "button box"
Now this button box was mine to keep - yep I know what you're thinking how lucky! But I had to use the front & back of 2 postcards on each piece. I requested a photo of them as children to tie it together more.
So I did embrace this challenge & the box of buttons with vintage post cards, & keys & ran with it!
The pics were taken with my phone & are not very good but the collages turned out pretty well. Here's how it played out:
Step 1: paint background using walnut ink onto a sheet of canvas.
Step 2: choose my ephemera, including postcards, buttons, keys, pic of the 2 recipients
Step 3: begin gluing into place
Step 4: Matte medium over entire piece
Step 5: frame
Simple & fun for me & the smile was worth it~
She was surprising her brother with it & I'm eager to hear how he liked it.
JILL

Rook

Did you read yesterday that Aesop's Fable may have been true?

Turns out that these clever birds "Rooks" have been studied & are in fact quite smart. They figured out that by dropping pebbles in a tube it would elevate the water level thus in turn raising up a worm as well. It was pretty interesting. Read about it here; http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/dpg_aesops_fable_may_be_true_lwf_080709_2892416

I've always liked that crows love things that are shiny & pretty. Trully a girly bird at heart wouldn't you say? Plus one of my favorite movies is "The Crow." They also happen to be the perfect bird for Halloween which I so love.

I think a pet Rook would be rather fun.

JILL