Painted Ladies

Last night I put the finishing touches on a rather gorgeous group of ladies. The dolls. Here they are:

I'd like to introduce you to Sadie Mae, Eudora, and Mabel June. They are so sweet! And Eudora and Mabel June are now in my shop.

I started to make arms for them last night but when I went to put them on....I didn't like it. It somehow didnt work. I like them better this way. Someone mentioned that they look like stacking dolls and I love it--- I have a few Russian stacking dolls myself. I love the look.

For these ladies they are all gussied up, but also distressed. I LOVE how the crackle effect took on its own personality for each girl:

Each girl is definitely her own little doll. Its amazing the different looks you can get from the same basic pattern, the same fabric...I even gave them each their own little handmade vintage doily to wear to the tea party they are most likely going to. They seem to be very southern ladies. I can almost hear them laughing, can't you?

Of Angels and Santas

Hello this Monday Afternoon~

Thought I'd share with you a couple more of my Christmasy paintings. And yes, I said Christmas! I'm doing my best to keep with my goal of having a good holiday inventory for show season come this fall--- and I also plan on doing one of my biggest shows yet--- a 3 day affair. Details soon ;).....

I love how this santa turned out. He's feeding a pair of little blue birds in his hands, can you see? I seem to have a lot of 'feed the birds in winter' themed art in my collection. I'm sure this wont be the last, I love little birdies. Especially Cardinals and Blue Birds and Chickadees.
This is the first Christmas Angel of the season though, and she's doing another thing I love to paint-- carrying a small fir tree. Both these paintings are done in very dark muted tones. Sort of a 'candle light' effect that I love. I don't like things too bright and busy. Gotta dirty it up.
In other adventures, I'm working on a couple of new dollies. I decided to name the first one I made Sadie Mae. What do you think? And thanks for all the suggestions! I love all the names you came up with!~

Back to the painting table for now....

~H

Dabbling in Dollies

Every so often I dabble in doll making. They aren't so much real dolls as they are doll-shaped paintings ;) I've made one so far (well, she still needs arms, but I'm not known for my patience) and I love her. I dosed her with some crackle and oh....

It made all the difference! I love her crackled little face. The doll is just made of cloth and acrylic paint. I did slather the face/neck area with gesso to give it a nice starched canvas quality before I started painting. I think that really made a big difference. So now I've got the doll making bug...

Or....doll shaped paintings ;) or art dolls. Whatever you call them. This was the proto-type, the 'first pancake' as I call them ;) the piece you make where you discover all the things you did wrong the first time. But I gotta say....sometimes the first one is a keeper :)

What shall we name her?

~H

The White Pumpkin

So it's June 23 and I am already sick of summer. I think it has been offically summer all of what, two days? Yesterday the heat index was around 105. Going outside is like swimming through humidity. So it should come as no surprise that I've sequestered myself in my little air conditioned studio painting fall art and santas.

One of these little paintings is this one, called "The White Pumpkin":

This is a shot of the painting about half done, but after I'd passed the point where I was in complete despair about the whole painting, thinking it was looking really bad and not doing what I wanted. That feeling makes me really antsy. I fixed dinner, moped about for a little bit, then went back into the studio wielding my brushes and a fresh water jar and told it "you listen here, folk art painting!!!" And it did ;)
So I am pleased to share with you the painting that gave me fits, but turned out well in the end. It's "The White Pumpkin!" I think it will make a good post card, don't you? And perhaps a print. I love the little white pumpkins you can get in the autumn. They're so cute.

I did this painting in very dark old timey tones, but these girls aren't necessarily old-timey. The oldest girl has a barrett in her hair. Maybe they're sort of 1940s-ish. Very "Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" looking. Who knows, perhaps you can see a story here~

Well....looks like another blazing day. I'm crossing my fingers for a sudden thunderstorm. Those are always the best. Need to run to the store and that usually leads to just peeking into the antique mall. I am so addicted to the antique mall lately. Even Audrey asks to go ;) She's going to grow up thinking all kids go with their mothers to sift through old junk to find gems.

Oh....and in Bunny Pemberley news....Lizzie and Darcy have been behaving in a most audacious fashion that I'm quite sure never appeared in the original Austen "Pride and Prejudice." Oh my...we need to fast track this bunny wedding! Lizzie has even been practicing her nest making skills with her hay and bits of paper used to line the hutch. But these events really come as no surprise ;)

Well, that's all the news I have for now! I'll share with you some of my Christmasy paintings very soon :)

~H

Dear Sally....and a family history

I freely admit that I'm a history nut. I love a good historical novel, a biography, real life adventure. Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. I love stories that are real, that seem like they're a part of who we are.

That is probably why I have such an interest in geneaology. Because in a round-about-way, we were there in those stories from long ago. I mean think about it....each and every one of us are here because someone managed to survive a plague, a war, a perilous ship crossing, an adventure into the unknown, and life itself. We are all here because for thousands of years the thread of life managed to stay connected through all the crazy things that have gone down through history.

Lol....I am off to a deep start this morning, aren't I? ;)

Recently I was given this paper on one of my long-ago family members. Mansfield Edward Bingham, my great-grandpa Lanny Mansfield Bingham's grandpa. Doesn't he look like a tough ol' dude? He was evidently an upstanding guy, his parents from Kentucky and Tennessee (maybe neighbor's with Laura's people? hehehe....) Known as "Ed", he was born in Arkansas but spent the majority of his life in rural Missouri, jointed the Union Army as a private in 1864, raised 6 sons in a log cabin, served as Justice of the Peace, farmed and preached. He was busy.

There's a story in the paper (from a book about the founders of Laclede County, Mo.) about how he was approached by a young couple coming to his cabin to have him marry him, but he was in a hurry to get to church. With evidently little time to spare, he just married them right there on their horses, having them clasp hands on horseback. Now that is a wedding on a budget ;)

His parents were Harmon Bingham and a girl named Sally Mitchell, from Tennessee. I thought Sally Mitchell was a great early American name so I named the woman in my latest painting Sally Mitchell. Here is "Sally Mitchell and her Children":
I imagine Sally Mitchell was a pioneering sort of gal. Born in Tennessee, then going off to the wilds of Arkansas and Missouri, probably around 1830. She had several children with her husband, Harmon, who is the oldest relative I've been able to find so far. A vague family rumor states that perhaps these Binghams went to the area with the Binghams who went on to be founding members of the Mormon church in the Salt Lake area in the late 1840s. Who knows if its true...but evidently my Binghams thought they were better suited to rural green mountains and said "We're staying right here."
I am also happy to report that I finally found a name of someone who did the crossing to America--- old Ed was supposed to be the decendant of a Thomas Bingham who came from England to Norwich, CT. in 1659. Ahh, I knew there was a New Englander in my some where! ;)

Ah...but I really really digress. We're talking about Sally. And in history, it seems the men get all the credit and remembrance. I'm very sure that Sally must have been a courageous and spirited lady. Look at the son she raised-- with a staunch faith and strong sense of right and wrong. Looks like this mama did good.

And I hope that you like the painting...I wanted to try a true Americana folk style painting. Like you'd find this in the attic of some old rickety salt box house. Brush the cobwebs off and hang it on the wall.....

For more on Sally, she's listed HERE.

Now...time to start the day. Hope all is well with you!~

H

Flora & Fauna

I'm tickled that my little bunnies, Miss Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, have acquired their own following here on the little blog ;) I often get comments and emails asking about them, so I thought I'd give them some blog love:

I have to admit, they're so cute it hurts sometimes. Those coffee brown eyes...twitchy little noses...personalities that always make me laugh. They are getting bigger each day-- although they will only grow to be about 4 lbs. each. When I got them, they were 6 weeks old. Soon they will be young adult bunnies. Perhaps we should hold a wedding? Its only proper, especially with babies probably in their future ;)

Lizzie has shown herself to be an amazing escape artist, and so has to be watched well when she's out and about in their little bunny yard. She can jump straight up from a sitting position, get a footing in the wire mesh fence, and then catapult herself over! it's quite amazing. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, is quite content to just sit and eat the grass and mint that grows in his little yard....maybe try a little excavation project if the mood hits. These two never fail to crack me up.

I'm thinking by autumn they'll be ready to start their family and perhaps by Christmas we'll have an adorable nest of little ones to cuddle and love on. Awww.....

And not to be outdone by the local critters, my flower bed is also in full swing and I am always amazed at how fast things grow....
We edged the beds with rock this spring and it made a world of difference. now my rambling mass has a proper english cottage garden look. I love a chaotic blooming bramble. We even got 'yard of the month' in the neighborhood and I admit...I'm a little bit puffed up like a fluffy footed chicken about it ;)

The shrub on the far left is a gigantic hibiscus that is packed with little green buds at the moment, but in a few weeks will bloom big pink flowers the size of dinner plates. Its the 'epic finish' of the summer garden, haha, those huge flowers. I can't wait.

Anyhow....I've got a new painting to show you soon. A very traditional style folk painting that I think you might like. I've also got some little paintings in the works (more santas, of course!) and dreaming big dreams.

Happy Father's Day weekend!~

~H

Oh! PS! Chrissie Grace did a little interview with me about my art. She's the author of the book I am so pleased to be a part of, which comes out this fall. You can read the interview HERE.

Note:

I decided to do an 'about me' post that will be linked forever and ever in my side bar, and this is the post below ;) Just in case you thought it was odd that I was suddenly introducing myself to you, hahaha.....

have a lovely day~! Its already hot as blazes here.....

About Me~

Welcome to my little 'about me.' So...about me. I'm Heather, and Audrey Eclectic is my little folk art business that began oh-so-innocently at my kitchen table in late 2007. I dubbed my art business "Audrey Eclectic" after my daughter, Audrey-- who continues to be the prettiest thing I ever made.

I started painting mixed media folk art as a lark--- perhaps in attempt to avoid doing laundry or dishes--- when I left my job as a newspaper writer/editor/photographer to stay home with my little gal, who was 8 months old at the time.

Little by little, I started exploring the world of mixed media, getting involved in my local indie craft show scene, doing local gallery events and selling online. A few years later, I am proud to say that I have done both solo and group gallery shows, made amazing crafty and artsy friends, and sold my little paintings all over the world!
Audrey Eclectic continues to be an ever-evolving business as I myself evolve. It is driven by what inspires me--- such as my prairie home, my love of history, books, folk tales, ghost stories, nature, faith, family, and the beauty of the world.

I myself am a nature lover; an old timey girl; a book nerd; a sometimes flabbergasted mother; wife to one lovely bearded man; a prairie dweller; a folk art lover; and student of the past and present.

Thank you for coming to visit me, and know that I appreciate every time you come by my little corner of this artsy blogging world. Perhaps I'll see you at a craft show....do come and say hello! But if we are far-away friends, you are always welcome here and also at my little SHOP.

For any additional questions or information on commissions, do visit my website.

Til next time!~

H

New Prints in the Shop

In the last few weeks I've worked up some new little paintings that I am (if i say so myself) very pleased with. Trying new things sometimes opens a door in your mind, and I hope that's what has happened in my case. I feel like the paintings I've been doing lately are better than what I've previously made, and can be even better still.

But in celebration of all the painting that has been going on here at this very little house on this very hot and muggy prairie, I've decided to list a grand total of SIX new prints! Once of which is this little painting that prints up so nicely, called "Lamb of God":

This was my first painted little sheepie :) I'm having a painting love affair with sheep at the moment. I've always loved to throw them into my pastoral scenes because sheep at a distance are so easy to paint (white blob! black face! Black legs! All done!) but the more I've actually studied sheep, and have gotten to see actual sheep farms and shepherding and all that goes into it...I love the little guys even more.

So, very fittingly, the original painting is now for sale at the gift shop at Shepherd's Cross in Claremore, Okla. Along with various other pieces and some prints. But if you cant make it out, don't fret--- I've got prints!

I've also got prints available of these little paintings, plus a few more!:

I'd love it if you stopped by the SHOP and checked out all the new doo-dads, or some of the other pieces as well. I've got ONE bookmark left, plus some originals and lots more prints. Oh, and postcards too...can't forget those!

Thanks to all of you who come visit me and love my art enough to buy it and put it in your home. It means a lot and I appreciate it! Just wanted you to know.....

~H

Starry Santa....in stages

Happy Tuesday from the little studio on the prairie! After a weekend visiting my favorite town in the Ozarks, I am inspired and motivated and ready to knock-out a craft show's worth of fine handmade art :)

I've got my eye on a late season show and know I'll need lots of holiday items. So what am I painting on a steaming summer's day? Why, santa of course!

I thought last night it would be fun to photograph this in stages. Here is my santa at about 50% (when the idea hit, haha) Just filling in his coat and trim and painted his face. I love santas because they're mostly beard, haha. And you know how much I like to paint bearded fellows...

And here's santa a little more filled in, just needed to do the detail work of his toy-filled pack and the sky. I suppose it would have looked fine if I'd left the sky black, but I wanted to make the stars really pop. When I was done, Audrey dubbed this "Ho Ho and Pocket". Haha, I guess his pack is a pocket ;) Here's the finished result:

I don't know why blogger is refusing to cooperate with me and is making these photos so ever-lovin' tiny. You can click on them to see the larger images. I think this santa might make a good print too. Anyone in the mood for a santa print? hehehe....

One santa down.....50 to go? ;)

In need of a sign

So I decided that my 2010 craft show booth needed a fancier sign. If I remember right, the sign I had last year bit it. Ah well....this one is wood, very solid, and very folksy. What do you think?

I created it as a traditional folk art design that will go pretty well with whatever painting mood I find myself in before the show ;) I'm really getting anxious to start the season, i guess I had a good rest! I honestly was feeling a little burnt out from shows and preparing for them at the end of last year. But I think I will pace myself better and schedule myself better. I don't want to be frantically working on show things when I want to be working on my family's Christmas. So I guess I better start now ;)

Here's a better shot of the painting without the camera flash. Now all it needs is a hook on the back and it will be all set to go! Look for this at a craftshow near you ;)

Art + Courage

Sometimes it’s really simple and really complicated to think about why I paint. Why do you paint? There are so many reasons, so many motivations. Over the years I’ve come to realize that I paint because I need to paint. I’m not even sure why. But I am grateful for the chance to paint, and to have stumbled upon a life and a family that allows me to do this and supports me. I am blessed.

My first mixed media collage, 2007

And although I am enamored of the past….I realize that the unique situation I have of being an artist and a mother and a wife is possible because of these modern times we live in. I mean….Thank God I don’t have to spend my entire day with a wash board and a cauldron of boiling clothes ;) And Thank God every piece of modern trappings that I enjoy affords me a quiet afternoon of painting or a still evening where its just me, some coffee, and a table full of paints. No getting up at dawn to milk the cows for me! Just a couple of rabbits and a pup and girl who are more than willing to let me feed them at my leisure ;) (well, more or less!)

Realizing all this, I also realize that we are living in an exciting time as creative people. We are able to communicate with each other instantly. To encourage and inspire. I also have the perhaps naïve belief that if there will always be artists, writers, creative people…then why can’t I be one of them? And why can’t you? It’s not just talent that gets you on the journey, it’s the gumption to say “I can do that.”

One of my latest paintings....evolved from just a few years ago!

And while it’s nice to succeed, there will also be failures. And yes, I’ve had my share! The email to the gallery that never gets returned….the over-critical shop owner who thinks its their job to pick my art to pieces when I bring it to them in good faith….the mysteriously lost items at a consignment shop…these are all some bitter pills I’ve swallowed. If you try, the truth is sometimes you will fail. But if you try enough, you can’t help but succeed, even if in some small way.

I’m sorry if I am rambling at the moment, but I just felt the need. Sometimes you have to give yourself a Stuart Smalley moment and say “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dog gone it, people LIKE ME!”

And with that in mind, I’m challenging myself to try new things. If I try enough, I may fail at some spectularly….but then again, I just might succeed. My challenge to you is to try something new for yourself. No matter how large or how small. Tell me what your goal is…because sometimes if you write it, it makes it more real.

And so with that, I am off to paint a bit more while the night is young. All my best to you and your endeavors….

New Painting: Bo Peep

Hello to you on this dark and stormy morning! I love a good thundery and rainy morning, don't you? The girl and pup and I are cuddled up in my studio, listening to the rain. She's playing 'very gently' with some of my old dolls, and I am listing this painting, new to the shop:

"Bo Peep"

This is a little painting, just perfect to tuck into a bookshelf or on a mantle. She's in a color palette I don't usually use--- light and sweet pastels. I'm also enjoying trying my hand at painting some little critters-- I've always considered animals to be a weakness for me as an artist. But I like this little lamb, he's got personality!

You can look up Bo Peep HERE in my shop, and perhaps want her for your own?

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In other news.....its a sleepy day. I've got some new boards prepped and ready to go. I keep thinking about craft shows, and scheming up what my fall schedule will be. I really want to try some new things. I need to be brave. Its so easy to get in a pattern and just do what you've always done. But that's really no way to grow.

In anticipation of the fall season, I'm going to paint like a mad woman. I will share my creations with you here, but probably hide them away for the shows...however, if you ever see a piece that you love that I don't list right away, do not hesitate to email me about it! Unless I'm doing a special gallery event, I am usually more than happy to list a painting for you to buy, even if I don't immediately have it in the shop. Never hurts to ask!

And so....a fresh pot of coffee is calling me. The thunder rumblings seem to be getting softer and farther away. It seems like its time to start the day. Hope you have a lovely one~

~H

Thanks all for the bookmark love :) I'm glad you like them! I made a few more, and stashed them in the shop. I know I will make some more.....I'm thinking these will be good items to take to shows!

Oh, and I wanted to share with you my kitchen project! If you visited me over on Mama Says Vintage, you probably saw my very vanilla walls and the process of my stenciling. I've been collecting and arranging, and finally am getting together a very colonial-chic kitchen, if I say so myself ;)
All of the decor on the walls I either got at the antique mall, got from my mom, or had around the house. The wooden shelf was a good find--- it was sloppily painted a minty green and was already peeling. I sanded that sucker down and put a brown glaze over it (same paint as the walls) and voila! My old timey shelf was created ;)

The two small samplers were made by my own mama. And I bought the one on the right today. I heart samplers in a bad way. I love the look of embroidery...I've tried my hand at it...but I don't have the patience. If you make samplers, oh, the trading we could make ;)

I think it's becoming apparent that my favorite colors seems to be cream, brown and red. Thank goodness my husband doesn't mind living in a house that is a continual art project. That's one of the many things I love about him :)

Well, back to painting for me! Have a good weekend everyone!~

h

Art for Bookworms

I don't know about you, but I'm sort of a bookworm. I can't get enough of them. Especially thrifty books....rescued on the cheap. Or library books. Books written by friends. Books written before I was born. Obscure books. Classic books.

And what goes more perfectly with books than bookmarks? I decided yesterday that its high-time I combine two of my big loves, art and books. And so I decided to hand make some little art bookmarks using prints of my own paintings made on cloth. Here is my first batch:

Made out of sumptuous old velvets, homespun check, regal toille, ribbons and lace...each one of these little bookmarks is decidedly different. They fit nicely into a book and bring a little art to a hobby that I know many of you and I share :)
I photographed these bookmarks with a copy of "Hitty: Her First Hundred Years" by Rachel Field, one of my most beloved books. It was the first chapter book I ever read. And yes, I remember this clearly. I was 7 and I was in love. It combined old dolls, history, and adventure. Pretty much all the books I've loved since have had these themes ;) it's amazing how the things we read as children influence us as adults!

I've listed these three bookmarks in my little online shop. They're very sweet, come see! Visit the shop HERE.

A Pirate at Heart....original painting~

Fresh to the shop! The original of "A Pirate at Heart" is looking for a home! She's a pretty one, I have her as a print and as a postcard as well :) You can purchase this darling HERE.

It's a lovely sunny day outside... Went trolling the antique malls and little stores this morning and found some pretty treasures, including a tattered green jewelry box that I got for all of $2! Can't beat that. I love antique stores, but there's something to the thrill of the hunt when you're looking through clutter and kitch to find the perfect thing.

I'm also thinking about craft shows lately....for those of you in the area, a new show called Alliday is coming up at the end of June! I plan to go and shop :)

Trying to decide on what my fall line-up will be. Wondering if I should stretch myself and try something new, or stay with the shows I am comfortable and familiar with. Its exciting to think about. But you can count on me to be there at Indie Emporium! If you want to read my take on why artists should do craft shows, you'll enjoy This Post.

Til then, I plan on painting, reading old magazines (I cant stand to throw them out....) enjoying some water time, and new books. By the way, a NEW NOVEL by Laura Frantz is just out. I've already ordered my copy. I think you should too!

Happy summertime!~

h