A tool can be helpful, but all the self-improvement hoopla we get bombarded with online can become tedious. BUT if you have one visual tool, the long-term effect can be felt even if it’s subtle. Life improves with time. Improvement happens where you focus. FOCUS is the key.
I have been into Spirit Dolls for a long time. It’s not something new. Indigenous tribes have used talismans throughout the centuries. They made poppets from nature’s bounty, twigs, rocks, and grasses.
I know that intention-setting is a great tool, and it can be applied while making a Spirit Doll. When you make a doll that carries intentions, you support yourself with positivity.
I have made the polymer clay painted faces forever and sold them in my Etsy shop as one item, but then I decided to put all the parts together into a kit. Each doll is unique: a single painted face, different fabric, polyfill, talismans, and twigs.
The best part: It’s almost NO SEW. You can put it together in an hour. There are detailed printed instructions included with lots of pictures, and back in the day, I made a YouTube video about it. How To Make A Spirit Doll From Scrap Fabric.
A tool / doll that won’t give you a headache (like Ikea stuff 🙂
The way to give this doll “life” is to fill her with your written intentions. Anything you want to improve, write it down and stick it into the doll. When you look at her, you are reminded. She will be your special doll because you made her!
There will be more dolls to choose from in the near future. I have also been busy in my other Etsy shop, Virtual Stationer. It’s getting some traction, which is often tough for a new-ish shop.
I sell all kinds of ephemera for art and junk journaling. I’ve been playing with a Gelli plate, and it’s so much fun! I also have a massive stash of ephemera that I have collected over time. I don’t art journal that much now, but I sure love ephemera / fodder. Take a peek at the goodies.
That’s all for July, my friends. I will you lots of fun and creativity!
How do you feel when you’re walking into your living room?
In spring, we often like to deep-clean our home and add something new and fresh, like a piece of art that speaks to you of joy or emotional support, or one that gives you motivation. Whether we think about it or not, art affects us on many levels. Think of public murals and subway art walls. They affect you as you walk by, either as mood enhancers or as they make you think about the message of the art.
BUT WE ARE OFTEN AFRAID TO TAKE RISKS
Changing home décor can be risky, especially if we have a set idea of what art consists of and how it’s supposed to look. We often look to others for advice. We are afraid of showing a different face (via our home) to the world. But, in fact, that risk is exciting; show them your new style!
Splurging on one new piece of art that you really love, and building the rest around it, can be an act of self-care. If you decide to take the step of a makeover, half of the battle is won.
MAKE A BOLD DECISION
Maybe you find that large colorful painting for the space above the sofa, and decorate the whole room around it, but smaller art can also have a big effect on your mood. Take action once you’ve found that focal point– art for change. Use what you already have that fits your new style. Rearrange your furniture, maybe paint the walls. You don’t have to make it into a massive production. Just start with one thing, and the rest will follow.
WHAT COLORS DO YOU LOVE?
We don’t need to follow trends, which some people feel is a must. Think about what colors make you feel good, and go from there. Color is the major thing that affects our mood. There are the sunny warm colors like yellow and red, or the deep cool colors of blue and purple. If you love ALL the colors, the decision will be easy!
HUNTING FOR ART
Where to find new art? For the budget-savvy, there’s eBay and poster printing companies. Michael’s, and Fine Art America. While big-box stores are great for basics, choosing a piece from an independent artist adds a layer of soul and story to your home that a mass-produced print simply can’t match. For a truly unique piece, but more costly, visit local art galleries, or check out the artists on Etsy. You can purchase several paintings that you can rearrange as the mood strikes you.
Say you have that one blank wall to decorate with art, but nothing has worked so far, and original art is usually very expensive. First, think of the style you like: a riot of colors, sweet pastels to put you in a mellow mood, funky black and white geometrics, or traditional landscapes and portraits? Affordable art is available for everyone if you know where to look.
THRIFT STORES
1. Thrift stores usually have a large selection of art, some original, some print, but they also have frames, which would save you a bundle of money. You could put some art you like in a thrift store frame. If you’re lucky, you’ll fall in love with the art in the frame, so one problem solved.
AFFORDABLE POSTERS
2, You can purchase affordable posters from many online outlets like Etsy, Red Bubble, and eBay. If you’re a fan of the old Masters, there are prints of every painting you love. You can also purchase prints directly from the artist, saving a bundle. They are often numbered in a limited edition, which is almost as good as the original painting, and a smaller investment. Another venue is garage sales, where you can find art for a pittance. It’s hit or miss, but worth investigating.
MAKE YOUR OWN ART
3. Get bold and make your own art! Make a collage from junk mail on an old canvas (from a thrift store), or paint over an old painting with the colors you like. If you don’t enjoy drawing, you can use the popular method of pouring paint into colorful abstracts.
Stores like Michael’s have special pouring paint and also offer sales on canvases. You might buy one of their bargain bundles of canvases, and make a series of poured paint art and arrange them as a vignette on the wall.
BRIGHT COLORS
4. If you’re a lover of colorful wall art, you know how uplifting and fun it can be to look at the art every day. Sweet motifs like florals and pets bring you that feeling of spring and joy.
If you’re looking for that perfect focal piece to complete your new gallery wall without breaking the bank,click here to see my ‘Spring Florals’ collectionat EarthandFaery. Let’s find a piece that brings that feeling of spring into your home today!
Make a cute monster doll using this picture tutorial. You’ll need fabric scraps, yarn or string, buttons, polyfill, and any other embellishments at your disposal.
I used some coffee-dyed muslin for the face. All the other fabrics are cotton or cotton blend.
I cut a random pattern of a head, wanting a flat head and some funky ears.
I sewed the pieces together on my sewing machine, but the doll can be sewn by hand or glued together with fabric glue.
I turned the head inside out and got “horn-like” ears on the side, which I stuffed with polyfill tightly. I made sure to stuff the head well, too, before I put detailed features on the face.
I cut out the features and used fabric glue to gently attach them to the face, staying away from the edges since it’s hard to sew through glue.
Using embroidery thread, I sewed details to the head. I also used acrylic paint to brush on partial features that I then enhanced with thread.
Monster doll face emerging
You never know how she will look until you have the features of the face down. Creepy or cute? This one is cuter than creepy.
For hair, I used hemp cord that I tied to the fabric, and then separated the twisted cord to look more like hair strands.
I used two rectangular pieces of fabric to make a “sack dress” with some trim at the bottom. I pulled a string through at the top and then pulled it closed around the doll’s neck. Easy peasy neckline!
I stuck a kebab skewer up the body and head after filling with polyfill. That helps the head from tilting back or forward.
Next came the legs. I cut out a pair from random fabric and stuffed them with polyfill. Tip: Use an old horse hair artist brush to push fill into narrow spaces. The horse hair pushes the polyfill through easily.
I did the same to the arms and attached them with buttons at the shoulders. Don’t overfill the top parts, or the arms will stick straight out.
The same goes for the legs if you want the doll to sit down. This doll can be hung on the wall. I attached a ring on the back of the head for easy attachment.
Monster fun!
Add embellishments. I sewed on some lace and buttons, but embroidery would look good as well, or attached patches of fabric. The doll could hold something, a bag, or a baby monster. The choices are endless. The black satin trim around her neck was store-bought.
The doll measures 12″ tall, and I love her cheeky expression!
How to paint intuitively is something worth pursuing. In this post, I’m talking about a couple of wonderful artist / writers who forged the path of using intuition in art.
The below post is for my email subscribers I sent out today.
I hope you had a great May, and happy belated Memorial Day. 🙂 Summer is here!
I was racking my brain for a YouTube video this month and came up empty, which is okay. I was thinking back on my evolution as an artist, remembering the books that got me started on intuitive painting back in the 90s. I will talk about them in a minute.
I was pondering how we conform even in art. I often jump on Pinterest to check out various styles, and they are pretty much all the same. Have you noticed how all the cars on the road kind of look the same? A BMW looks like a Honda. The cars in the 1950s had great style, and if you could afford an expensive vehicle, there was no mistaking the status of the car. Where did this conformity start? We’re told what is “in” by advertising, of course. Brainwashing…
Selling on etsy, I think about what might sell, rather than just “going for it” and see what happens. I love my quirky clay characters that evolved from painting and polymer clay mosaics. It’s easy to see what sells the most; the items that conform to the accepted styles (as per Pinterest). It’s hard to explain. I have many items that don’t conform, and they don’t sell well. I loved (still do) making polymer clay mosaic boxes and plaques, and they sold, but then one day, they stopped selling. Abruptly.
I tell myself the Universe is saying, “stretch your wings; try something new and different. I do, and sometimes I’m surprised. This fun character is my latest effort.
Every day I ask myself, “What will make me feel inspired?” If it’s a character, I will make one, but it could be painting or art journaling. Sometimes I crochet or write (fiction). I don’t force anything, and intuition is about doing what makes me feel good.
If it’s hyper-realistic oil portraits or childlike paintings you love, go for it!! Art is a lifelong pursuit, and there’s no way of knowing where the muse will take you. Just create something.
Children never wonder if their art will sell, they live in the moment and enjoy slapping paint on paper without thought to outcome.
Back in the 90s, I came across this book: (I took the pictures from Amazon, so they’re not very good.) Click on the pictures for the link.)
Painting from the Source, by Aviva Gold. This is how the description starts: Imagine yourself painting with no hesitations, no conflicts. Your brush dips into pots of vibrantly colored paint; inner inspiration guides your hand into lines and shapes that find their perfect places on the paper.
I was sooo inspired by this book that I began painting like that. I made huge paintings that don’t look like anything I paint today. Here’s an old picture of a painting on paper. It hangs in my bedroom now, and I feel happy when I look at it.
The women appeared in all the layers, and I was stunned as everything took form. No plans, only one brush stroke after another. Sooo freeing! That kind of art has depth.
Another writer / artist I admire is Michele Cassou. I think she’s the founder of all contemporary intuitive painting. She passed away last year, but left a great legacy.
With eloquence and simplicity, the authors encourage the reader to journey inward toward his or her authentic self and discover the unique intuition awaiting there. It is this intuition that provides all the tools the reader needs to crumble the barrier between the innermost self and its uncensored manifestation.
Follow the extraordinary life journey of passionate painter Michele Cassou, who discovered a revolutionary approach to intuitive painting that opens doorways into the mystery of existence and its spiritual dimensions.From her childhood in the midst of World War ll France to her profound experiences there, in Canada, and in the United States, Michele exposes the ins and outs of an intense life of creativity- the hidden, the forgotten, and the sacred- in this moving, poetic collection of stories.
You won’t think about art the same way if you read these books. There are used copies on Amazon to buy, and I recommend the paperbacks.
It’s easy but not easy to paint that way. You start on a painting and get stuck in the middle. The mind says this is bad, but when you persevere and stick with it, the art will reveal itself. Judgment is always going to lurk, but ask yourself, “What is my next brush stroke,” and go from there (even if you don’t want to.)
Welcome to a new year! It feels good to start fresh while intending to have some great new ideas art-wise. I have had a busy month so far, and I like the pace and excitement of creativity. Not only did I make a lot of art, I finished a project that began in the 90s with another writer, and we spent the last six months finishing it. It’s a police mystery / thriller story. See the description below:
Buffalo, 1980s
Detectives Mike McNally and Bill “Turk” Matursky are resolving a tense jumper scenario at a highrise in one of the seedier parts of Buffalo, New York when they hear about the gruesome murder of a Catholic priest. As an esteemed older priest is murdered three days later, the detectives are assigned to the special task force to help solve the vicious crimes.
There’s only a single clue to go on, and Mike turns to his long-time friend, Father Mark, to help with their investigation. He offers what he can, but the Church is stone-walling the law at every turn. The detectives have to appeal to the city’s underbelly for leads. Through many twists and turns, they discover that the suicide of a fellow cop and a tied-up hooker hold surprising clues.
Meanwhile, Turk is going through a personal crisis. He won’t explain why to Mike who gets more frustrated every time Turk’s rash actions might endanger their lives.
Mike struggles to get past his divorce, but every overture toward a new relationship backfires.
Despite the seriousness of their criminal investigation, they find time to share comical cop stories, and their penny-pinching superior, Captain Burke, has an endless supply.
Can you blend murder with humor? Maybe it’s the only way cops can cope with the horrors of their work.
I had a good month creating art, and here’s a gallery view of my latest projects:
These items are all available in my etsy shop EarthandFaery.
The paper birds were a lot of fun to make and I love painting mandalas on wooden boxes.
I have more writing projects coming up soon so I travel between my computer and my studio to get everything done. Focus and intention help to keep my schedule straight and sheer doggedness gets me through the rough spots.
And there’s more…
I also created two PDF patterns:
They are easy to make! Click on the picture for the link.
Almost done… here’s the latest video I made for my YouTube channel: A fairy door diorama. Check it out HERE.
And here’s a praying angel for you. I wish you all the best and lots of creativity! xo
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