Petal Cones and Altars

For months now I have been working on my rendition of mixed-media works of art and have been having a wonderful time. This is the very first petal cone I ever made. I named it after the Currier & Ives painting The Little Sisters. Long ago I copied that painting, but of course, did it in my own simple style. I certainly much prefer the original by Currier & Ives. Nonetheless, I am glad that she who bought my painting doesn't mind that I have in my archives pictures of it, and therefore enjoy doing this and that with it.

I have used a bit of an Edgar Allen Poe poem in this piece. These little girls are a tiny bit haunting. I love a haunting feeling whether it's an old house or pictures of people long gone, or just good old stuff. I like that slightly eerie feeling. 

‘Twas noontide of summer, And mid-time of night;

And stars, in their orbits,Shone pale, thro’ the light.’

Edgar Allen Poe

Paper Whimsy is a wonderful website where I find many beautiful images for my recent interests. Gale Blair is the owner of this delightful realm, and her works simply resonate with me.

Below is a small altar that I created using elements found at Paper Whimsy. I love the sweet little "fancy shapes" she calls Alterables. These are the bones of my altars.


Little Petal of My Heart is what I call the following one with a sweet little girl looking out the window surrounded by butterflies, birds and bees.

The next wee alter I'm sharing is one I call Shadows Luminous. A beautiful praying young woman gazes out her window amidst the midnight shadows.

 And there you have it for now. I have many little pieces done, but not yet photographed. I have not been to this blog since January, so I think it's time I add something to it. May first is day after tomorrow and I am very happy about that. Living in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon has been beautiful pretty much all spring so far, and I have been busy in the garden, in my art room and enjoying day jaunts about our area. I hope that you have enjoyed your visit here, and I thank you so very much for it.

Peace and love to each and every one of you.

Christine

More Vicki's

I cannot stress enough that my very favorite style of architecture stems primarily from the Victorian world all the way up into the Edwardian era. There is something romantically eerie about these houses when they are abandoned. Perhaps to me they are like a blank canvas waiting for me to fill in according to my delight. Of course, I also love the totally completed ones as there are among these. I am in heaven when gazing upon these beauties. I gleaned these pictures from Victorian Tumblr posts. I did not do research as to where they are. Just like to look at them. 

Enjoy!

Many Stories Here

This lovely Victorian house clearly has three stories, but if it has a basement, that does make it five. I so adore a haunted Victorian.

I gleaned this picture off of the Internet wherein there are so very many lovely old houses. The link I got it from doesn't tell where it is. I will be sharing many, many more inspiring architectural beauties as the days go by. Here is that link, in case you would like to go see all of the choices from which to engage in a rather haunting feeling.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from My House to Yours!

Christmas Gifts for My Dear Old Grade School Chums

In the 1960's I attended All Saints Grade School in Portland, Oregon from where I managed to stay in contact with some of my dear old chums permanently. For a number of years a group of us  have gathered from all over the map during the Christmas Season, and we exchange gifts at these beautiful luncheons.

Today was a beautiful Christmas luncheon indeed at the home of dear, old friend, Beth Brewer Warner. The gifts that I gave were home made fancy tags of pretty ladies, all done in a mixed media method. For these delightful designs I gleaned much of my style from amazing Terri Heinz of Artful Affirmations. Terri resides in beautiful North Carolina. The actual pictures of the beautiful ladies came from an incredible source of beautiful images, Paper Whimsy. Gale Blair is the owner of this enchanting company, and she resides in beautiful Indiana.

In this picture below I used a punched out circle onto which I stamped an image in some VersaMark stamp ink, which is clear and very sticky, and then I went over the stamped image with Pan Pastel chalks, thereby showing what was stamped onto the paper. Magically it comes to life. 

The rectangular image was merely cut out after I had stamped and used the Pan Pastel red.

As you can see, I signed my tags on the circle.

Below is the design I created for Beth, and I used a Paper Whimsy word, benevolent to describe Beth, for she is very giving and helpful in this world of ours.

Using the same beautiful image as Beth's, for friend Betty Reynolds, I used the word Graceful to emphasize her incredible grace and elegance as she has magically done wonders in our world via her political endeavors and accomplishments, especially in the field of education.

Jan (Janet Vilhauer) Hoag is a talented performer who resides in good old Hollywood, California and makes her living in film. Google Jan to see her IMDB and then seek her out to enjoy the many roles she has brought to life. She sparkles with talent and charm, and that is why this word defines her beautifully.

Wonderful, and beautiful, Lonna Bjarko Liddell is a truly harmonious being who never fails to charm me with her loving and accepting persona, as she so very responsibly inspects every aspect of life with care.

Dear and delightful Mary Anne (Manske) McNeil, the perfect wife, as well as mother and grandmother to all of her loved ones, tends diligently to them as well as to her beautiful home and gardens. Mary Anne is a truly glorious spirit in her love of her God and her religion. She is a very blessed soul.

The very name Susy says it all for our truly incandescent friend, Susy Wagner. Elegant, loving and beautiful is gentle Susy who virtually glides through life in very apparent joy and kindness towards all.
Susy simply glows.

Yes, I am so fortunate to have such a group of amazing and loving friends and for that I am deeply thankful.

Practical Magic House on Whidby, Island, WA

I love a beautiful, haunting, Victorian house. I love earlier ones too of course. This one was built specifically for the film Practical Magic in a small town called Coupeville, on Whidby Island, Washington. I do love witch stories too, especially ones that are about good witches. The film was a fun one for me. All of the performers were wonderful and it was simply fun! Enjoy these pictures that I gleaned from somewhere online.