"Blossom"
You can see my rambling in all its glory here.
So at the moment I'm in a 1940s mood. Also been listening to a lot of Neko Case, which isn't surprising because she's totally my favorite singer. Her songs are so gritty but what amazing storytelling. 
I love how this one turned out. She looks like the portraits of friends my grandma has in her old photo albums, so sweet and immaculate and demure. And then, what a pretty tattoo! Love the contrast in that. I have something for tattooed angels obviously!
Last week I finished up a fun commission that resulted in the painting above, called "Miss Ella." I was contacted a while back by Lori Brighton, who has written her first romance novel that is slated to be published in November of this year. To celebrate this happy event, we worked together to create this portrait of her main character Ella Finch.***********************************************
In home news, we are quietly awaiting the arrival of an ice storm that is predicted to blow in on us at any moment. Already made my post office and grocery store runs so that we can cuddle up in the little house with no worries to what may go on outside. Poor Henry, he will have to wear his little doggy sweater on his potty breaks--- he insists he's no cold weather dog.
This weekend I attended the first meeting of the Disciples of Etsy group-- a group of Oklahom etsy sellers. I ended up winning some delicious cupcakes from the most adorable little place I've been to in a long time-- Cuppies and Joe. It's a little coffee shop that also serves the most amazing cup cakes (hence, the cuppies) and is in a redone bungalow on 23rd street in OKC. So darn adorable. I would totally move in. And not just for the cupcakes ;)
Other than camping out inside, I plan on doing some new plank paintings for the etsy store and hope to get them done really soon! I'm feeling a 1940s vibe....
Also messing around with fabric and painting. Maybe I'll have something completely new to show you soon? Only time will tell..................
Til then!~
H
So thurday I got to work on Audrey's little doll from the Alicia Paulson book, Stitched In Time. As you've read--- my sewing machine and I are approaching eachother very cautiously, but for the most part, there were no big disasters. I finished up the doll on Friday evening, just in time for bedtime. And I'm happy to report that Matilda was a big success!
Audrey seems to think Matilda is very wonderful! She croons "ohhh, piddy!" at her and hugs her tight. She also knows "Mama make" which is good! This doll was obviously a 'mama make' project...do not pay close attention to the seems that don't match up right or the weird hand stitching I had to do on the limbs. But over all, Im happy with how she came out and think Audrey is too.
Next I think I will make a memory quilt out of some of Audrey's old baby clothes that she can't wear any more. Goodness, it is so emotional to clean out a baby's closet! Almost impossible to remember her so little....did she really fit in these things? Also found some newborn size diapers....they are so tiny! It's like she grows an inch and learns a new word every day! She's getting impossibly grown up....
My little one looking elegant at the coffee shop
For the most part, Audrey was very well behaved, mostly because I let her have a drink of my peppermint mocha (see exhibit B) and here's hoping that she inherited her mother's tolerance for caffeine (it doesnt effect me) I'll let you know when nap time comes and goes...
Grandpa Reuben, a few decades after his long walk to D.C. 
A Halo of Red
The second painting contains my offical first representation of a hamster. Mr. Nibbles, I hope I did you justice!
Yesterday I turned around to find that Miss Audrey had made herself quite at home at my art desk, waving paint brushes as if she were conducting a symphony. Until this moment, I had never seen her climb on a chair, so of course now it is her most favorite thing.1) My favorite color now is red. When I was younger, it was purple. I wonder what that says about me?
2) When I start a painting, I always draw the head first and go from there.
3) The best book I read in 2008 was The Lace Reader.
4) Currently my CD changer is filled with Neko Case, Johnny Cash, The Frames and er, some kid music ;)
5) I am always the leader of my own personal parade ;) where ever I go I am toddled after by a girl and her puppy.
6) I love getting mail. I wish people still wrote old fashioned letters. But I don't like texting.
7) I just bought a bottle of turquoise and a bottle of eggplant shaded paint. These colors will be new in my paintings! It's good to try new things ;)
8) I am the shortest person in my family, aside from my grandma...who incidentally we all call 'little granny.'
9) I've decided that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are the sweetest, prettiest, and best dogs ever. Henry is my child that minds ;)
10) I want to collect original artwork from all you talents artists out there. I want to make my studio a gallery of inspiration!
11) I was born 100 years too late.
12) I am attending a wedding this weekend in which I am the Maid of Honor and my husband is the Best Man.
13) Working for 4 years in a garden center made me passionate about gardening. I am still trying to grow a glorious cottage garden.
14) My family are all artistically inclined. My dad and brother are both great guitarists and singers. My mom was the original crafter in the family.
15) If I could choose another career path, I would have loved to have been a ballet dancer or a pair skater. Too bad these are all careers you must choose by the time you're 10 to be any good at them ;)
16) I want to be an artist for the rest of my life, and am so thankful to my sweetheart who's made this a possibility!
So there you go....16 random things! And if you think you're up to it--- consider yourself tagged!
And lastly, I just received this award from Micki:
Here's the rules:
To pick up the award, (1) comment at this blog (2) clip and paste the Award logo and attach it to your own blog (3) list your own ten favorite blogs (4) comment on their blogs, to advise them (5) link back to me in appreciation.
You can be tagged on this one too ;)
Happy Wednesday!
H
So now, more than ever, I am making myself take a big deep breath. I am still on the search for something simple. I need to take the advice I am often given, which is relax. I never much considered myself a type A, but I think, in a sense, I am. I am no neat-freak, but I am always on time. And I hate the thought of disapointing people. And if I say I'll do it then damn it, I'll do it, no matter if I said yes to 10 things too many.
I think these two books could really kick-start some fun things for my family, especially for me and Audrey. Because I want to be that mom that takes her on cool excursions, for walks and adventures and teaches her to paint and dance and lets her be whoever she wants to be (even if that is Scarlett O'Hara) I just need to be pointed in the right direction.
So this is my latest girl, Coraline. She is very much inspired by a recent book purchase of mine at a civil war battlefield museum, you know, your average shopping adventure ;) I couldnt resist the book section and found this little gem called "The Way They Were: Dressed in 1860-1865" by Donna J. Abraham. It is packed full of such beautiful photos it would just break your heart-- tiny girls in their tiny dresses with tiny dolls, little boys (in their dresses too!) young women, young men, old crones and crusty old foggies. For Coraline, though, these little sweethearts were my inspiration:
The girl in the top right corner was especially inspiring. Such sweet young faces....they are long gone. Where did they live? Were they Rebel or Yankee? Did they even understand what was happening? Did they live long and happy lives? Oh, I hope so...
You dont get more original than this crazy creature that used to sit at a highway junction in rural Arkansas.
I've noticed on a few blogs this New Year that some artists are coming up with specific words to capture what mood or goal they'd like to achieve in the upcoming 12 months. I find the thought intriguing-- one word-- what would mine be?
And in true Heather fashion, I found I am just too wordy for one word so I picked two. My phrase is: Be True.
I suppose if there had been one word for 2008-- or phrase, I guess-- it would have been 'be brave.' Shy as I may be in real life, I just signed up for things and didnt let thoughts like "am I good enough? Who am I to do this? Will people get my work?" get the better of me. I just put on a brave face, signed up and showed up. And funny enough, it worked beautifully!
However, I have found that success comes from being true. From creating what you are inspired to do, what you love, what draws you in. Not what you see as a top seller on Ebay or in the magazines. Because guess what? Someone else is already doing that. It is someone else's truth, someone else's muse.
I gotta be honest, it breaks my heart a little and makes me kinda (ok, a lot) angry when I see people trying to pass someone else's style and work off as their own. Because lets be honest, there is only one Kelly Rae, Tascha or Jane DesRosier out there, and it is not only unfair to them to have their work plagarized, but it also unfair to the people buying these knock-offs thinking they're getting something original.
Of course, I know a lot of these big artists have books and tutorials now, and I'm not talking about posting work that you're doing guided by them. I'm talking about purposely taking their work and copying it down to the color scheme and then loading it on Etsy for profit.
The sad thing is, many of these knock-off artists have talent, and they have a muse, if only they'd listen to it. We each have a little voice inside ourselves that is genuine. No one else in this world is you, has seen exactly what you have or lived exactly what you've lived. Use that-- use your passions-- and I promise inspiration will come.
And in 2009, it is my goal to try to be true to my own little voice, however odd and distracted she may be! It's easy to get caught up in 'what's selling? What do people want?' and try to cater to that. Not long ago I did a poll on here about what kind of paintings people would like to see me do in the new year. Know what won? "Try something new." Haha, talk about free reign, people!
So I will try to continue on the bravery front and I will try to fill my well of creativity with experiences and inspirations that are mine to share with you.
To tell you the truth, I always felt like my interests were a bit odd for someone my age. I collect vintage photos (my passion at the moment is wedding portraits) love folk art, halloween, ghost stories, french musicals with happy endings, flappers, old colonial dolls, and all sorts of random stuff. But it seems....you guys sorta dig this stuff too and that's fabulous!
I can't tell you how good it feels to share your true voice and have it accepted and even admired. Sometimes I wish I could give all you commenters a big hug for the sweet things you say. Truely.
And so I wish this ability to be true for myself-- and for you-- this 2009.
You'll never regret it. Now let's get inspired.
EDIT: I'd like to add that there's nothing wrong with being inspired by someone's work. If you see a painting you love and it triggers something in you, makes you want to try something different or branch out, that is awesome. And that's the point of sharing! We all find inspiration in others. What I mentioned above is pure copying a specific painting and then passing it off as something that jumped out of your own little brain...that's just ick!
PS: for those of you who might be wondering about the rabbit photo, it was taken in Gateway, Arkansas at a little diner that sat at the 3-way junction of a couple of highways. Sadly, a year or so later the diner closed and the rabbit was MIA-- I was heartbroken, but glad I'd managed to snag a picture with him while he was there. Happily, he was moved just a mile or two up the road into someone's front yard. You see him on the way to Eureka. Kitchy but cool. He's sort of scary and loveable all at once! Sorta like my art sometimes, haha.
"Devotion"
I'm sure I dont need to explain these pieces, and one of the best thing to me about painting is that people tend to put their own backstory to them, images speak in different ways to different people. And hopefully they'll speak to someone at their upcoming show!
I purchased that beautiful canvas print in Arkansas during our recent visit. I love the color and the darkness of it, such a rich piece! I'm sure it will inspire some paintings of my own...
This Saturday it was so warm that we flung open all the windows and let the southern winds blow right through the little house. I love that weather, a tease of spring. A few of my poor bulbs were tricked and started peaking through the dirt. But they've more than got the hint now, with the winds changed back to frigid northern breezes that make your teeth chatter and your nose turn red.
January can easily feel so blah after the holidays lights have gone out. I'm often left feeling like spring should directly follow Christmas, because all this unfestive coldness seems like a waste ;) however, I am going to try to be more patient this year, and appreciate each part of the seasons. It's not a resolution....but as close as I'll get. I suppose if I have made a resolution, it is a tiny one-- and it is to try my best to make this blog not only interesting to read (If you're into rambling that is) but a more beautiful read. I want to make my photos more interesting and lovely. I want to make my house a lovely place to live and work.
As for what I am up to now, I am finishing up my two paintings that will appear in the LOVE show (see sidebar for show info) and will then turn my attention to a tentative list of commissions. I realized after my last post of commissions that I had forgotten to show the two paintings I did for Emily of her children. Each painting was for a set of grandparents that are each living in England. One set is English, the other American. For the English grandparents, I did a country folkart scene, where the girls are holding a string of hearts. For the Americans-in-Britain Grandparents, I did a little 'homage to their homeland' painting, very American patriotic and subtle flag references.
Dear Carrie,
To me, the Holy Grail of an antiques or flea market find would be to find a filled vintage photo album. I'd heard they existed, but alas, never found one of my own. They had always long ago been ripped of their treasures. Yesterday, however, my luck changed. I came across this plush blue velvet album on its own antique white stand while out scavenging and nearly shrieked with joy. Nearly every page is filled with photos from the turn of the century--- family portraits with crusty old bearded patriachs and their sober-faced wives, young girls is ethereal white gowns, gentlemen in fine suits with saucy expressions and of course the darling babies in long Christening gowns. I had to have it, the photos alone would fetch the asking price, let alone the large album and matching stand.
So, ofcourse you see, it is now home safe with me. And so the treasure hunt began. I took out every photo and postcard and soon found that nearly all the photos were taken in Wolcott, New York at a Smith photography studio. Postcards I found were addressed to a Mrs. (William) Carrie Fink. I can only assume then, that this was Carrie's album.
I am astonished by the beauty of the photos in this album and even more amazed that I managed to have it in my possession. The love in the family is evident in their postcards--- cards home to 'bro and sister' on Christmas Eve, and many photos of Carrie's (I'm sure) beloved brother at every age as he grew into a very striking young man. How on earth did this album make its way from its loving home out into this lonely world? I'm sure I'll never know...but I am happy to atleast give it a new home. And perhaps give Carrie and her friends and family a happy new life in my artwork (through scans of course, I cant stand to hurt originals)
I will never know all their names, or all their stories, but they look like they had a fine and happy life, don't they?
And of course, a treasure within a treasure...I found this little very faded photo tucked in the album. I was struck by how the girl looked as if she were posing for a playbill, and when I took the photo out, it was labled "Baby Millie Beland." Of course I had to google her right away, and found almost no information on her aside from a Millie Beland that was in a couple of broadway plays in the early 1920s. However, I am pretty sure that flapper actress and this little girl are one in the same. Perhaps this photo was from a childhood spent in vaudeville or the theater? I will have to search farther....Carrie must have been taken with her though, to save Millie's photo in her treasured family album.
