Off to the Show

Sebastian went off to the Graeagle Art show along with a handful of domino pendants. My woodland Faerie is still in progress and rather than rush her I chose to put her aside until after the show. She deserves to be spectacular so I am trying to be patient with her.

If you have ever created a figure, out of fabric, clay or any other medium you know that sometimes, regardless of what you had in mind, their personalities come through and if you don't follow their lead then everything tends to bog down. That is what is happening with my sweet little Fae. Here is what she looks like right now

Here clothing just isn't working for her. The tiara is not hers, she will be getting one in golds, browns, greens and purples, she does seem to like rich fall colors. Her hair still needs to be styled, her dress needs to be finished and her tiara needs to be finished. Hopefully she likes what I have in mind next.

Sebastian is having a great time in California. He loves being out and about. I'll post a picture of the booth once I get one.

Check back soon for some other projects that are in the works and for more information on the re-opening of the Sunflower House Art Etsy shop.

Woodland Elf



This is my latest creation. His name is Sebastian and he is a woodland elf. I am currently working on his counterpart, a woodland fairy.  Below is her current state of completion.

She will be finished this week sometime, hopefully in time to join Sebastian at the Graeagle, California Fine Art Fair Thanksgiving weekend. 

Stay tuned for more!

Sunflower House Update

I have been busy this past couple of years, finishing projects, starting new ones and generally getting things exactly where they needed to be for me to start working in the studio again.

I am happy to report that I am back in the studio and creating again and will be reopening my Sunflower House Art Etsy shop after the holidays.

You'll find hand sculpted creations, creatures, pendants and more.

This week I'll be updating the blog with some pictures of my woodland elf. He'll be attending the Graeagle CA fine art fair Thanksgiving weekend.

Check back soon to see what I am working on.

Debbie

Dark Horizon Arts update

I have been working hard on some interesting things and am happy to report that Dark Horizon Arts will be debuting soon both here and on Etsy. I have just a few more projects to complete and then I will unveil this new, fun project I have been working on. I am pretty happy with the way it is coming along. I hope you like it as much as I do!

D

2011 Resolutions

Remember, I warned you that these were coming. As I reviewed my priorities for last year, yes I actually said priorities not resolutions, I found that while my life took a horrible turn I still managed to do some things on that list. I did sculpt more and I really tried to take better care of me. All of that flew out the window for the middle part of the year but as 2010 ended I was able to slowly work on those things again.
 
So here is my list of 11 (I don't know why 11, it just seems like a good number) Resolutions for 2011.

1) Purge - art supplies that I no longer use, clothing that no longer fits, kitchen items that I have lots of.... I have started this task and it feels GREAT already!
2) Spend time with my family and friends - Time is the one commodity that we NEVER get back, this year I hope to spend it wisely on the people in my life who mean the most to me!
3) Live healthier
4) Journal - this has been an important part of regaining my creativity!
5) Explore - the museum, the river, the city I live in... just explore
6) Create - whatever strikes me whether it is sculpted, embroidered, sewn, written or baked.
7) Imagine - imagination is the key to MY creativity, I need to keep it working.
8) Be Frugal - this is a trend that I have already noticed in my life and I like it!
9) Reconnect with Nature - another important part of my life that I have neglected... look out garden, here I come!
10) Enjoy more and stress less - need I say more ;0)
11) Allow my spiritual side to shine through - this has been slowly happening, now I want it to be intentional.

As you can see, my resolutions are not tasks that set me up for failure, they are more like guidelines that I hope to live by, things I hope to bring into my life, things that will make it a richer, more rewarding life to live.

Here is a quote I found that I feel everyone should embrace:

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman

Have a wonderful New Year!

D

2010 Remembered

Greetings,

Looking back over the past year has been an interesting process, I am usually rather introspective during the last week of the year and this year is no different. The last year of my life has taught me a great deal about the people I knew, or thought I knew, the people I love and especially about myself. Some things were good, some horrible, but all of the lessons I have learned will make me stronger and happier in the years to come. I wouldn't wish my last year on anyone! It was truly, truly bad!! But the knowledge I gained was priceless and worth my little walk through hell.

This year, I learned not only who my friends really were but what I valued most in a friend. I learned that true friendship is not as rare as people seem to think, you just have to know what you really want in a friend and how to really be a friend. I lost a couple of people that I thought were friends. When it happened, I was devastated! Then as I slowly healed and was able to step out of the wreckage that was my life, I realized that I had good, true friends standing all around me. True, honest, got your back, real friends. Most were not the people I expected to be there, some live 1000's of miles away from me, some I have only known a couple of years, some I only get to see occasionally, but when the dust settled, I was humbled by the people that were in my life. These people have been with me at my worst and will be with me at my best. They are the very definition of friend, they are loving and kind, caring and supportive, and will kick you in the ass when you need it. They are honest even when you don't want them to be and supportive when you don't realize you need it. They are funny, creative, calming and living life. They don't judge even if they don't understand or approve, they stand steady and strong - not only at my back when I need it, but at my side. They support me when I need them and lean on me when they need my strength.  As I sit here in my pretty little studio reflecting on the carnage that was my 2010 I realize that, all in all, I am a very lucky girl! I am blessed to have these amazing women (and even a couple of really great men) in my life and know that in 2011 I will do everything I can to be the friend that they deserve. I no longer mourn the friends who are gone from my life because life must be lived in the present. It was a hard, eye opening year but I have come through it whole and am actively working on Healthy and Happy! So as I ring out 2010 and ring in 2011 I will be focusing on the wonderful people in my life and the lessons I have learned!

WOW, what a ride it has been. Whom ever said "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" was right, it isn't a fun ride but in the end, if you survive it - so totally worth it!

And now for some less serious, fun news :-)

The past month has been quite productive. I have finished several gifts, cleaned up some projects that needed to be done and out the door and have organized my studio so that the limited time I currently have to create is used wisely.


This month I have created Voodoo dolls (see below), a pretty paper covered cigar box, some embroidered Thumb Wars puppets, a covered journal, a scrapbook, some embroidered kitchen towels and an embroidered chair cushion - some just for fun, some as gifts, all with love. Most of these items have been sent off to their new homes and now I get to start working on my personal fun things! I haven't sculpted much or finished my sculpted projects but I am going to work on some of that today.

Life is sort of slowing down and my creativity is finally flowing again! Who knew that the darkest times of my life could yield such amazing insight into what I really want and need. I am still wading through some pretty nasty things but slowly life is starting to balance out. The time I am spending with my young son has certainly helped. He has managed to put lots of things into perspective with his hilarious take on the world. Sometimes all I need to do is listen to him rambling on, usually to himself, to realize that not only is life worth living, it is also worth enjoying!

Here are the Voodoo dolls that I made. I found this adorable machine embroidery pattern at my new favorite embroidery site called UrbanThreads.com. They have the coolest machine embroidery patterns I have ever seen!

Please note, I am a firm believer in Karma! All of the Voodoo dolls that I create are meant to help the person they are gifted to NOT hurt the person they represent. There is enough negativity in the world, I don't want to add to it! If you are interested in the how and why of these cute little guys send me an email and I'll send you the poem that goes with them. Send the email to  debbielynn.w@gmail.com to be sure I get it.

To those of you who have been with me through this past year, I thank you, to those of you just reading my saga, welcome and I hope to get to know you.

2011 Resolutions coming soon... yes, of course I have to =D

D

Never Apologize for Your ART

Whomever said that an Artist had to suffer to produce good ART needs to get a clue! Suffering, while it may be good for the soul, is not conducive to creativity. At least it isn't conducive to MY creativity! I have had a very trying year and while I have been working sporadically on my various creative endeavors it hasn't been until very recently have I been able to enjoy the process of creating and the things I am creating... well they are a'changing ;-) My take on that old adage is that while an Artist need not suffer to produce amazing art, suffering does indeed change an Artist's perspective and often times their vision and work.

I have found the darker side to my creative journey. Some of it is a natural interweaving of my love of everything Halloween with my sculpting, some of it is the by-product of the circumstances that were my life this past year, and the rest...well lets just say that my true personality is starting to shine through into my art. I hope to share those darker things with you in the very near future. They will have their own place to live in Cyberspace, check back for a link to Dark Horizon Arts soon.

I am finishing up a couple of projects that I posted here before my life took a hard left turn, my Goblin is finally going to have some clothes (he is thrilled), the Goddess is actually an Egyptian Queen (who knew??) and Jordan's fairy will be getting her wings. Once those projects are complete I will introduce you to 2 recent characters that I have sculpted. One is a holiday Elf that I plan to deck out in red and green finery with bells, holly and what ever else I can find while the other is a marvelous horned jester who will be dressed in lush rich colors, think Mardi Gras - plum, emerald, gold... we shall see. That is my plan but as the Queen and the Goblin will tell you... they get final say!

For now, thanks for checking up on me.

Ciao