So, where do I begin.  It has been years since I have visited this blog, let alone, write in it.  Life happens....I still dabble in Art, will forever dabble in art.  I still had the dream of working full time on my  passion when the unthinkable happened.  I received a call at 11:29, Nov. 2, 2020 from my daughter-in-law telling me that my son was unresponsive, and that the paramedics were trying to bring him back.  He had suffered with seizures for the previous three years--this time, when he had the seizure, he didn't come come out of it.  We lost him.  And, with that loss, the fire, passion and inspiration in me died.  I lost the light of my life.  For months, I couldn't pick up a brush, pencil or pen.  I was in a trance.  Slowly I began to move through the haze of despair, but it has been a long battle.  An uphill climb, that has, in time, seemed insurmountable.  I am not the original version of myself any longer.  Sometimes, I do not recognize who I have become.  I still have the need, the desire, to create but the passion is gone.  Producing art was what I lived and  breathed for. It's not the same.  But, I am finally beginning to see the spark that was once an all consuming fire.  I really don't believe that I will ever be the person that I was.  Grief changes you, it morphs you into someone else.  Paul was my oldest  of two sons. When he was young, we were inseparable and have always had a bond-an almost tangible thread, that held us together.  It is easier than it was before, but it is not the same, because I am not the same.  There is a hollowness in the core of me. One that used to be filled with love for him.  That love is still there, will always be there--but there is difference. There is a change that I cannot put my finger on. I can still see him, in his videos and his pictures and it feels like ages since I have seen him last, and then it feels like yesterday at the same time. So, I will continue to put one foot forward and make the motions of a normal life and hope that one day, it will not require that effort, that it will be natural.

Oh my goodness, where do I start.  It has been over a year since I have posted.  I should be ASHAMED of myself.  Where to start.............

I have pretty much given up the Art shows.  I am still doing the art, but I found myself working overtime to get projects out for the shows and I wasn't enjoying it anymore.  I felt like I was making "factory art"--no feeling going into it, just trying to get out another piece.  So, I still paint and make jewelry but I do it when I WANT to do it, not just to build up inventory.

I have started making soap, lip balm, lotions, and perfume and have really enjoyed this endeavor.  I made most of the family soap and lotions for Christmas and that was very time consuming.

    

These are some photos of some of the soap that I made.  It smells so awesome.  I will post some recipes for soap soon. 

Goodies from a recent haul @ goodwill.

I have been doing a little shopping--a few finds that I got at Willies on a recent trip.  I think I am a collector of sorts. The more stuff, the better.

Back Again...........Finally

I have found my way back, once more--to the land of the Blog.  I really don't know what happens with my posting.  I have all good intentions: Visit regularly  and post at least weekly.  So, here it about 6 months later and I have found my way back.  I guess Life happens and we become consumed by our daily routines and rituals.  I have spent a little time with family, spent some time in the studio--though not enough, and spent alot of time gardening.  My garden totally dictated my summer.  We have 2 very large gardens, and 1 small garden and it took so much of my time just keeping up. I canned a phenomenal amount and froze a little too.  My flower gardens are another great time consumer but I love it so--I have really expanded my bedding areas this year.  Of all the new flowers and bushes that I put in--I have to tell you, the Moon Flower is my favorite.  It has a divine scent and a massive creamy white flower that opens from dusk 'til dawn.  I am hoping that I get a good seed crop from it so that I can grow more next year.  They are a sister to the morning glory but to me, much more spectacular.  Their scent needs to be bottled.  We have spent some time up at the Quartz mine (Ron Coleman's) in Arkansas.  I adore digging crystals.  I find digging in the earth to be so therapeutic. Mind you--you need to wear old clothes for that one.  The digging is done in a red clay and it sticks to everything.  My niece and I made jewelry from some of the crystals.  Well, it is nearly show time again.  I have three shows lined up for November.  Not ready--but really, I never am ready or never think that I am ready.  I do love the shows but they are a tremendous amount of work.

This was one of the shows that I did last year.  It was a nice little festival.  I have cut most of the small shows out though.  My art just doesn't fly at the small conventional festivals.

This was a picture taken on our last job--now we are starting a new one.  Luckily only working 20 minutes from home and a 2 1/2 year project.

This is a piece that I made for my brother-in-law.  He saves me beer caps, so I made him a beer cap armadillo.

Until next time....
And hopefully it won't be Months!!

F.

Forever and a day

It has been forever and ten days since I have written on this blog—I have been terribly remiss.  Life seems to be in fast forward—the spring months just fly by, with the shows, the garden, the planting of new plants………..whew!! When do you catch up??  First off—I have missed you guys! Have been trying to get to blogger but just haven’t had the chance.  The spring planting has been a priority.  I have planted many annuals in pots around the house, erected trellises, planted bulbs…..and, last but not least a huge vegetable garden.  I jumped the gun on the vegetable garden, planted it too early and had to replant most of it.  I have gotten a pretty good show from the last planting and it looks like I have a good start.  Of course, the squirrels out here are another problem that has been on going for years.  They steal.  Yes, they do.  We have a terrible time with keeping tomatoes.  Guess that is one of their favorite foods. 
I have had two of my three spring shows and they have turned out to be great.
Next Weekend I have the Fleur De Les show in Natchitoches, La. and I am done for the summer!!! Yes!!
I love the shows but they are a lot of work.  It takes months to build up your inventory.  But, I see the light at the end of the tunnel now.
Last weekend a friend and I went on a dig for Quartz Crystals at a mine in Arkansas.  We had a great weekend and found some wonderful Crystals. I wanna go again!!
These are a few of the rocks that we got, but I have some beautiful crystals that I will take a picture of after I get them all cleaned up.  It was so therapeutic digging in the dirt.  The weather was beautiful.  It was just a great day.  I am going to take my niece digging when she comes down.  I think she will love it!!
And, finally, here are a few pictures of my babies.



Hopefully, I will get back here soon!
F.

 

This award was given to me by Janelle at Janelle's Color Journey , Thank you Janelle!! Janelle always has such great projects going on.  Please visit her blog and have a look around.

ABOUT THE AWARD 

This award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion. Once you've been nominated, you award it to five blogs that you like that have fewer than 200 followers, to encourage new visitors to visit these blogs. 

RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE 

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award onto your blog. Give the award to five bloggers who you appreciate that have fewer than 200 followers. Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award!

Pay It Forward

 Heather atBlue Eyed Dragon Fly . She makes beautiful art and is very inspiring.

Kathy at Life is a Spectacular Mess  She has such beautiful jewelry.

Lynn atLynns Homespun and Country Design~ She has wonderful rag quilts and signs.

 Neiley Harris

Karen : Alaska Blue Moose Makes beautiful mixed-media art

Thank you again and check out these blogs.

Faye

Boudica

The weather here has turned wet and warm as of late.  Not to complain, especially after the past two years of drought.  I have always loved the rain, though taking care of the critters in it is a challenge.

Finished my picture of Boudica, and am get ready to begin Marie Laveau.  I have a pretty good idea of what I want her to look like--just have to get it down on canvas.

 

This is a steampunk skull that I created. 

 

It is a resin skull.  I added the components.

This was a foam skull that I added embellishents to.  I have a few other projects under way.  Just trying to get them done before the shows. I only have two weeks left until they begin.

Hope y'all have a great, creative day!
F.

Life............

I know that I have been an awful blogger here lately.  Life just gets in the way :).  It is spring time and the garden is waiting to be worked, I have been working in the flower beds and trying to get ready for several upcoming shows.  The picture above is my neighbor holding a baby rabbit.  We were out at my hubby's shop and Lenore, my border collie, decided to explore under the truck.  Baby rabbits went in all directions.  This is one that my husband rustled up.  He had gotten far way from his siblings, so we caught him and returned him safely to his family.  I had read that the mother would still take them back if you touch them.  I haven't seen them since--that was about a week ago.

This is a picture of a horse that I just finished (except for the hanger) It is on a piece of plywood with spackle applied for texture and about 3 layers of tar gel.

 

Friday morning, after Lewis had left for work, I decided to lay down for another hour or so.  About 8:30 I heard noises on the porch.  At first, I though Lewis had come back home because of the rain, but he never came in.  I continued to hear the noise, and upon investigation this is what I found. 

 

It was an opposum.  He came right up to the screen door and looked in................I think it was a female and she was either pregnant or had babies in her pouch.

This is my latest painting.  It is not finished yet, but getting closer.  I call it Bouddicca.  She was a warrior woman who fought the Romans in 400 AD. 

Hope that you all have a creative week.
F.

The finished Joplin.....

I finally finished the Joplin piece--I have to varnish it and frame it--I usually take the pictures of my art before I do either--it is hard to get a good picture after you varnish it--to many reflections and it is hard to center the shot up once it's framed.

I didn't usse my traditional face colors for her--she was flambouyant and phsycodelic and I wanted her colors to match her personality. 

I have another piece in the works and getting ready to start my
"Witch of November" I have to sketch it out first..........

The shows begin next month and between working, getting ready for them, the gardening ( I have planted lots of new bushes and trees this year), trying to lure in the butterflies and hummingbirds, and the critters, I have been busy.

Hope that you all have a great, creative week.
F.

Plants for the garden.

Here are the pictures of the plants that I bought for the garden this weekend at Tractor Supply.  Hopefully, I have a little success with them.  I love the hummingbirds and butterflies in the garden, hopefully, these will do the job and attract them!!

 

 

Janis Joplin-The beginning.......

I had a great weekend.  Stayed busy in the studio both Saturday and Sunday. I did finally finish (well almost) the paiting above.  I just have to varnish it and put the saw tooth hanger on it.

And........I finsihed my bird painting (almost).  I still have to put the hanger on the back. I love the layered effect.  I ended up putting two layers of tar gel on it.  If you have never tried it and you are a fan of mixed media, you should.  It is a "Golden" product.  I love it.

 

I finished this one also.  This is not a good picture of it.  It is a little blurry.  I ended up framing it in a a gold frame--still gotta put the hanger o this one also....

This is the second bird picture that I have done.  It is in the preliminary stages.  I covered the piece of wood with sheetrock mud, I marked up the sheetrock mud with a nail and other assorted sharp objects.  I put a light wash of acrylic paint on it --assorted colors.  Then I sanded it, repainted it with another wash, let it dry and cover with a gel medium to seal it.  Then, painted the bird.  I have added assorted ephemera on it, but it is not shown in this picture.

I will cover it with tar gel and continue layering........

This is the beginning of my Janis Joplin.  I still have alot of work to do on it, but I did get a good start on it.......

I decided to use unconventional colors for her face, I thought it fit.....

still have to work on the arms, bangels, rings, and touch up the feathers on her head,

I went to Tractor Supply this weekend and found some plants thats I think will go great in my garden.
I bought some Asparagus and rhubarb.  I have tried to plant it before but it didn't make it.  When I lived in England I grew rhubarb and gooseberries.  I had a great old lady living next to me.  Her name was Stella.  I could give her rhubarb and gooseberries and I would get a pie in return.  How great was that?  I also bought several vines and bushes- 2 Sweet Shrub, 1 hummingbird vine, and one Weigela.  They are all supposed to attact butterflies and hummingbirds.  I took pictures of them, I will post them.

Hope that you all have a creative week!
F.