Zombies are Coming!! Run....

....to my Shop to get them....heehee!

I never thought I'd put the words cute and zombie together in the same sentence before....but, I must admit....these little guys have quite the infectious personalities!

I had a blast deciding what type of (cute) blood and (cute) gore to add to these brain-craving dudes...

This one has a nasty gash on his head!

This one is agony...over losing his hair....just one tuft left....haha!

This little guy has blood shot eyes and exposed ribs....his putrid green color is....well, perfect...don't you think?

....and this guy is just a mess....literally! 

I thought it would be cute to package them up with biohazard warnings on them....especially this guy, oozing as he is ;P

Be warned....more zombies may be coming!

Keep your wits about you....and be aware of where your brain is at all times....

....unless you're a Mom, then, the whereabouts of said brain can be elusive, at best :D

Love ya to bits!

Cameron

A Magical Giveaway!

"You are unrepeatable.
There is a magic about you that is all your own. "

Do you feel it?  A tug, a jolt, a hum, a warmth, a whisper, a longing, a light?  What is your magic?  Have you always known it was there?  Or are you still searching for it?

I have always known, and it has always been a compulsion....a longing, and absolute need to create with my hands.  The process itself seems to be what fuels me, since I love thinking of and completing new projects, but rarely keep anything for myself.

 I did try attending Art School, but failed miserably at being responsible in my years after high school....I'm glad I didn't continue, or I wouldn't have become a Bartender (again using my hands) where I ended up in an Embassy Suites alongside a cute Room Service guy working his way thru college ( my Hubby :D)

"Magic All Your Own" 8 x 10 Mixed Media on canvas

available here

Exchanging intangible thoughts for actual images, trading neurological impulses for strokes of a paintbrush......holding true to a belief that what lies in my heart and hands is more profound then my will to supress it....this is my Magic....that I can care too much in every other regard what people think of me....and yet, create and share, without hesitating says to me that this is my path.

What is yours?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With gratitude overflowing,
Cameron

Doodle Doodle Do

Hello, My Friends!

I wanted to pop in and share some doodles with you from my assignment for the next 21 Secrets Workshop I'm taking.  It's called "Draw Happy" by Jane Davenport.  She is incredibly talented.  I think you'd be doing your eyes a favor by checking out her work :)

Anyhoo, the very first thing she showed us was her little formula for the way she doodles faces.  After watching the video, I immediately grabbed the closest piece of paper I could find...and drew this...
The face is based on her method...the rest is mine...

She asks us to embrace the mess, not be afraid of mistakes....and just keep drawing....

Because the Muse, she claims, only finds us while in the midst of creating!

I love that :D

So, I found a piece of bristol paper (since I don't own a journal...haha!) and decided I'd try a few more faces and see what else decided to show up...

Well, I didn't have trouble filling the page...haha! 

I forgot how freeing it can be to just sit and draw for drawing's sake....like when you were a child.  You weren't thinking about selling stuff or what others might think of it...you did it just for you!

It was interesting, though....I thought it was all random at first....and then realized that what was coming out was a bit deeper...

You see, today is my birthday.  I've been wrestling with nagging thoughts about my future...

Aging... I'm quite certain I'll be dressing up in silly costumes til I'm 90...though I might not fit into the same ones :D

My purpose....will it ever be fully realized?

The feeling of losing my vitality... (What happened to the Sex Kitten and....Oh no, who let all the sparkles out of the box so soon?!)

Saying goodbye to my Youth, when being dark and brooding was cool....

...And just feeling kinda blah, in general....I usually LOVE my birthday....look forward to it!

This was the first time ever, that while walking downstairs, thinking about what I was going to pack for Maggie's lunch...I saw a note from my Husband wishing me a Happy Day... that I remembered it was my birthday!! 

Yep, I knew it was coming, but it didn't even cross my mind....then again, I knew today was Trash Day, too...and I totally forgot to put that out, too...haha!

My Hubby wanted to take me out for a nice dinner, I asked to go to Del Taco instead and use the rest of the money to get art supplies...heehee!  It really is the gift that keeps on giving :)

Thanks for taking a peek!

I'll be back with more soon...

Luv ya' and...thanks for the kind ear,

Cam



Believing

Hello Fellow Blog Friends!

The word of my trading ways has been spreading, it seems....this time to beautiful New Zealand!

I was introduced to dear Joyce van der Lely during the OWOH event...funny that we've never met before, since we've now seen how many mutual circles we travel in...haha!  Lucky for me, she invited me to do a swap with her...

She named a few favorite pieces of mine...saying that Jewel of the Forest (the uni on the sidebar), was by far the leader....since he has gone to live in the UK and settling in quite nicely there, I might add....I decided to paint something special...just for her :o)

I don't usually spend a lot of time sketching in advance, but this being just my 2nd unicorn, I wanted to practice a bit...

I chose a prepared canvas (when I say prepared, I mean that I paint the canvas, then layer with patterned papers, then paint again...to obtain my working surface) and sketched out my design.  Something new I tried this time was outlining in prismacolor pencil before painting...I usually just use pencil lines as a guide.

I stamped the background and tried the "drip" method...both new techniques to me, as well!

I layered acrylics and prismacolors and oil pastels to create him....

...and used irridescent medium on his magical horn...

I decided to make his eyes blue.  I'm so glad I did! They are my absolute favorite part of the painting!!

I've named this piece "Believe"
8x10 on canvas

I'm just so pleased with this elegant creature...I truly hope you love him, Joyce!  Thank you for letting me introduce him to you, and everyone else, right here...right now...heehee!

I've put him in the Print Shop just in case his eyes have captured you too :) 

All my best,

Cameron

A Quick Check-In

I can't tell you all how much I've been missing you!  How much I've been longing for some normalcy ....and of course, what an adjustment moving to this house has meant for us....

We are all sharing a bathroom because the Master Bath needs a bit of work, we've replaced the garbage disposal, and the dishwasher and have dug up 3 Palm Trees in our yard :)

We are still without TV and Internet!!!

Therefore, I'm doing this post from my parent's house....wanting to let you all know that I am alive and ticking....and hope to return to Blogging soon!

I'm hoping the Holidays have been wonderful for you and your families...and I thank you for so much for your well wishes and patience!

Through all the unpacking and organizing, the thing that has been last on the list was the room that would be known as my ART Studio....

...until 2 days ago :)

I finally got my supplies out of their boxes and within easy reach of creativity :) I used my old plate hanger as shelves to keep my glitters and other fun stuff out and available...

It feels so good to have all my artsy stuff out and my fingers are itching to get dirty again!

I am really excited about having all this space!  Mine, mine...all mine (insert evil laugh here)

My daughter has her own table with her supplies, as well! (So, now I don't have to put all my stuff away to let her have room to create....heehee)

My Hubby has promised that he'll be making a decision soon about an Internet provider......in the meantime, I'll be trying to make new things to share with you, and I will most definately continue to think of you fondly!

I apologize in advance for not being able to respond to your replies or emails immediately.

Please know that I appreciate your friendship and I

can't wait to catch up with the new things in your lives, too!

My Best,

Cameron

My New Neighborhood!

Hello to all you Lovely Friends!  Hope your weekend was a good one!

I stayed up a little late on Saturday to paint, among other things...and was able to finish this! 

Welcome to "Cozy Street" :) 11x14 inch Mixed Media on Canvas.

This was soooo much fun to do!  I really enjoyed decorating the 4 little houses, playing around with each one to give them a personality of their own :)  I can definately see more of these "neighborhoods" in my future!

 I incorporated more crackle glaze into the mix (which I really like the look of)!

...And this time, I added a few more personal touches... These 2 little kitties in front are modeled after my own fluffy duo....1 black and 1 calico :) 

I did an old post about them here.

I used a page from an old dictionary for this door and one roof...the definition of Home...

Can you see, also, I used beads as the doorknobs.  I like the dimension and inviting feeling the little knobs give....like there would be tiny furniture and the smell of cinnamon coffee cake wafting thru the house if only you could just turn that little knob and go in :)

....And this house is number 502...the same address of my childhood home...where all cozy memories begin!  My Dad's parents first resided in the home, and my parents still live there today.  It is the hub where everyone meets and chats and mingles, where cousins, nieces, nephews, etc. run around and play...

I felt it necessary to pay homage to my true "first home" while on the cusp of moving into our own :)

Love ya' Mom & Dad!!!

I have put this piece in my shop, fyi ;oD

...And this, my Friends....is my new acquisition!! Isn't she so pretty!

My talented Blog Buddy, Theresa MacNaughton at Fairie Moon Creations

knew I was drooling over her and offered to do a trade (I just love trades....everybody wins!) She makes gorgeous jewelry and does wonders with yarn, by the way....you might want to check her out if you're not lucky enough to know her already :)

I sent her Mushroom Cap Cottage, and I received this beautiful piece entitled, "Every Girl is a Princess".  I adore that title, too! Thanks, Theresa!  I will treasure her :oD

I hope to be back soon, but I fear my posts will begin to slow as we gear up to start the moving process....

You won't forget about me, right?!  Okay, good.... :)

Hugs all around,

Cameron

House Painting

Hello, My friends!  Thanks again for coming back to visit!

 It seems in light of the new home prospect, houses are finding their way into my creations, too!

This is my latest Mixed Media piece....do you like it?

8x10 inches on canvas.....kinda cute...kinda cozy :)

I love all the texture and pattern I get with this style...gives a lot of fun visual interest.

That's an actual button for the doorknob....just makes you want to go in, huh?

Mushroom Cap Cottage is in my shop waiting for a new neighborhood to move to :)

On my art table sits more little houses in the works....

Which reminds me....did I forget to show you guys this?!  Shame on me!!

Isn't it adorable!  This is the piece I received from Micki Wilde at The Secret Hermit in exchange for the frog and squirrel stuffies I made a few months back! 

I have it hanging near my art desk....

I love that she used pages from Goldilocks and the 3 Bears to make it! So cute!!

Nice to have talented friends!  I'm always up for a trade if anyone is interested!

Anyway...just a quick post today to give you a looksie at what's been on my mind....heehee!

Hugs to you all!

Cam

Autumn Inspired

It's cooled down a bit here....and it's making me so happy!  I'm so ready for Autumn to come!

In the spirit of preparing for the Magic and Macabre of the Season, I thought I'd indulge in some projects to get me in the mood!

These are a pair of earrings I've decided to call "Exotic Spice"....

Lush with freshwater pearls, swarovski crystals and semi-precious stones in colors of cinnamon, pumpkin and spice!

I entered an Autumn Bookmark swap (I'm having so much fun making these little things!) and made this using watercolors, stamps and gold embossing powder.

Speaking of handmade bookmarks, this is what I received for the Woodland Themed Bookmark swap...

Isn't it cute! Cindy Brown read that I love dragonflies and ladyslipper orchids....so, she made this just for me :)

Up next is a project I started 5 years ago!  It has been "almost done" all this time....so, last night, I just decided to finally take it out, put on the finishing touches....and finally call it DONE!

This is "The Goblin Queen" 10x13 inches watercolor and ink...

Surrounded by her minions and sinister pets, she reigns the Dark Forest dressed in her rich gown of Ghoul Green and Phantom Violet :)

Bring on the Fall!  What are you up to that's Autumn Inspired?

Happy Creating!
Cameron

From the Archives

Hello All!

I've got a rare treat for you today!  A little looksie into the Archives of my old Handmade Card Biz I owned a decade (WOW, a decade!) ago :) I didn't even know (or just plain forgot) these existed!

You see....as most of you already know.....I've been running Bare Bones computer-wise for a few months now....no access to Desktop, External Hardrives, USB Port, Scanner, Printer.....Nuttin....not even sound!  While this makes sharing and uploading pics of new work challenging, it hasn't been impossible.  I type all the content of my posts here at home, snap the photos, etc. then I take them to my Parents' house.  My Dad puts them on his computer for me, and I transfer them to the post from there.  It works....but I don't get to manipulate my photos, so my camera skills have been tested, too!

Anyways....while I was there yesterday, I was looking for copies of my work in his files to use on another website...when....lo and behold.....

I stumbled across these! What a blast from the past! Thank goodness parents think all their kid's stuff is worth keeping...haha!

I handwrote all that Japanese in the background! No, I don't know how to speak it.....I copied it. But my Grandmother was Japanese...my Middle name is Shizuko, which was her name. Just a little tidbit about me :)

I started making handmade cards 11 years ago at my kitchen table. I was working as a waitress back then, and I'd load the cards up into a basket and show my regular customers my creations....

I called my biz Art 2 Heart.

I've always loved sets of things......separate pieces that belong together.

Here is my first Shell Set painted in watercolor. My gosh, how could I forget these!

These Swan Cards blew me away! I vaguely remember doing these...but, if my Dad hadn't insisted  on scanning every piece I've ever done....then these would have still been lost in the dark recesses of that peanut I call a brain, too...lol!

This next one is my favorite in this set <3

And here's 2 more for fun!

Oh, and matching envelopes! I think they make such a nice statement that can make the Receiver smile even before it's opened...and ties everything together :)

Hope you enjoyed these...I know I did.  A trip down crafting memory lane has been a nice way to gain new ideas from old projects...and takes the pressure off not having anything more recent to share...haha!

Of course...it can make one feel a little OLD, uggh...

What's lying around in your archives?

Smiles :)

Cam