My 'DIY' Success and Zombie Elephants

I paint. I am a painter. 

Once in a while though, I get this crazy desire to go find a do-it-yourself project. My growing pin boards on Pinterst are partly mostly to blame.

 

I decided I was going to make a 'Do-it-Myself' jewelery holder for a sweet teenager I know who turned 16 this month.

I had planned on using a large picture frame for the base of this project. My mom recently hit a junk-shop-jackpot when she paid $5 for a large box of old frames. There were a few unique antique ones and she promised to share.

 However, I found something even better at my grandparent's house when we were checking out their fire pit. 

In the wood pile I found a frame of sorts. My dad said it was probably something left over from an appliance shipping crate.

 

 

I brought it in and gave it a quick sanding.

My dad caulked the cracks for me. 

I went through my box of ribbon and rick-rack and found all of the pink and black that I could (to match the bedroom it would be for). My great aunt gave me all of these goodies, most of it is antique. It's funny how rich a shoebox full of rick-rack can make me feel!

I had a little left over paint from a project earlier this year.

I painted some bright flowers and then painted self leveling clear gel over them so they had a nice glossy finish.

 I played around with the lay out of ribbon and rick-rack until I was happy with it.

Then  I did a quick press job to get the years of folds and wrinkles out.

David's staple gun came in handy.

I added a couple of hooks to the bottom.

The black with sequins was a scarf of mine that had a rip in it.

 The drilled spots in the frame worked perfectly for this project!

 

The hooks are perfect for necklaces.

I was very happy with how it turned out! 

It was a  Halloween/birthday celebration

I took these Severed Finger Cookies 

 and tossed in some chocolate eyeballs for a nice balance.

Halloween made it into my sketchbook as well... 

Zombie Elephants. 

Why not? 

I can only imagine the damage they could do to the produce section of your favorite grocery store...

I hope you have had a fabulous October! 

Are you ready for all of the upcoming holidays?

I'm in denial and refuse to look at the calendar.

I do it all last moment.

I've been known to be one of THOSE poor souls out grabbing the last few things Christmas Eve morning. 

(And it's really bad because we open presents Christmas Eve Night!!) 

Much love,

~jess

Interviewed, from Bute

I have been taking Kelly Rae Roberts e-course

Flying Lessons 

 we are in week three, I am having a fabulous time and am on total information overload. 

I have been meeting tons of beautifully, talented women.

Ruth Slater and I have connected 

(over blog badges that were just giving us a fit!)

and three weeks of communications have me wanting to make a trek to Bute (Scotland- yess) to hug her neck!

When she asked if I would do an interview... I was completely flattered and agreed BEFORE I knew whether it was by Skype or a written interview... Thankfully and much to my relief she was talking about written!

Ruth is a treasure, be sure when you pop over to see the interview that you look around on her blog a bit- and become a follower- she is a fabulous mama-artist, and the photos of where she lives are quite a treat themselves!

READ IT HERE!

I will leave you with today's photo of the day.

This little guy danced was showing off for me, he flew up and posed, lit on my phone - almost right over the camera lens- twice! 

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!

~Jess 

Hello October!

October is here,

I am looking forward to cooler weather and open windows!

I am completely in love with my iPhone 5

The kids have been been super great sports with all the photo taking and silly face making. 

I painted these silly little piggy banks ... 

A couple of my friends and I are planning a girls weekend out and I thought this would be a cute reminder for us to be stashing some cash so that we can have as much fun as possible during our time away.

 

 

Friday night three of us girls went to dinner and a movie. 

It has been years (if ever) since we had been out carefree and without a curfew. 2am just isn't what it used to be... it feels different when you aren't able to sleep till 11 the next morning.

I remembered why I don't wear heels of insane heights out without my husband to catch me when I ... inevitably find the pot hole ...

 That isn't a tattoo on my right foot... that was a spot of paint. I got a shower earlier in the day. After getting creative with the boys I tried to scrub all the paint and marker off ... surprised this was the only spot I missed!

 

 I am totally loving the fluid acrylics and inks I recently purchased. 

A little too much even.

This poor painting never had a chance...

 

I worked and over worked until I was pulling layers of paint off and revealing the bare canvas again. It was paint soup. 

I had so much fun. I let myself keep going, unconcerned about the end result. I have blank canvas stacked in my closet. 

It wasn't without purpose-

I have a large commission I am working on and I want to get all that wild and antsy energy out, so that I can connect with what I want the commission to become.

 

 That pencil sharpener is the Merl Norman make-up pencil sharpener I've had since I started wearing make-up at 13. It gets used way more in my art bag than it ever did in my make-up bag!

 

 This commission is 36" x 36" 

I think I have fallen in love with the unhindered feeling of a large paint space.

I might just need an easel- I rigged this set up last paint session. My ironing board in front of my entertainment center.. I just took off the cover and replaced it with a drip cloth (the understanding husband might not understand acrylic being ironed into his work shirts). Speaking of his shirts, I snagged one headed for Goodwill to paint in. It has been saving *some* of my clothes. 

I may end up needing coveralls like mechanics use.

How about you, What new projects have you got going on??

 Any new favorite supplies? 

Hope you are enjoying the change of seasons,

it always seems to breath life into creativity for me.

Much love,

jess