What's on my Work Desk?

Wow!  In 3 years of Blogging, this will be the first time I've participated in Stamping Ground's cool little Link up!  It's fun to see what other people's work spaces look like...and since I actually have something in progress on it, I thought I'd join in :)

Now, I know that I said I was going to do something Halloweeny....being that I was weary of painting Mermaids and all...but, when I sat down to paint, there was not a witch or pumpkin in sight...haha!

 

In fact, I started pulling out some already started projects that I've been storing.  I had 2 chunky canvases with papers already layered on them....so, I chose my palette, added more backgrounds, and sketched out my subjects....first in pencil, then in ink.... 

 

 

This is the one still in progress...

 

This is the one I finished this morning.

 

 

I love how the fox will be red/orange and the background green...and this one is the opposite. 

Last night, I was able to finish this piece that I sketched out last summer.

 

 

If I had 2 kids, I'd keep this one...haha! 

I know there is an owl-lovin' Mama somewhere with 2 kids that will click with this piece!  I'm hoping they will find eachother one day :)

 

Well, thanks so much for coming by to see what I've been up to!  I know I'll be having a date with a Fox tonight...and not my Hubby, either...heehee!

(Anyone else get such enjoyment out of silly little puns and sayings as I do?...it's childish, I know, but I refuse to grow up!)

 

Have a looksie at the other workdesks today and see what magic is in the middle of being made :D

 

Warm regards (cuz it's friggin' hot here today...oh, and because I like you so much, of course!),

Cameron

Doodle Who?

Hi Guys!
Just finished this an hour ago to join fellow Butterfliers in this week's theme of Doodles.
It's a great theme....an easy theme...and yet, I'm here again at the last minute!

So, without further ado.....here is my offering:

Sharpie and watercolor pencils with a touch of white gel pen and acrylic spots.  I really think something like these would make such pretty bookmarks :)

Fun stuff :)

Y'know, I've been using Sharpies quite a bit lately....to outline details (like in her hair) in the Daydream piece I shared with you a couple posts ago.

...and to make my lines more visible for painting over...like in this work in progress...

I hope to have her done this weekend to share with you early next week!

Also, I'll be putting up Lesson #3 in Carla Sonheim's Drawing Lab next week which just so happens to be titled "My Pet Project" and has you doing quick gesture drawings of your pets.  Perfectly coincides with Butterfly Effect's theme of Pets!  

What a nice co-inky-dink ;P

One last thing!  My friend, Heather, just opened a new Etsy store and is having a little giveaway to celebrate!

It would be grand if you could pop in and wish her luck :)

Have the bestest weekend everyone!

Hugs all around,

Cameron

Corny, Cheesey and Cozy

I'm so sorry!
I told you I'd be back.....I just had no idea it would take me this long to get here!

So, I mentioned previously some new stuff I've been working on...
Been in a felty mood again!

Made some more coffee cozies...

I thought these would make cute Valentine's presents for Coffee/Tea lovers.

(or, more honestly, was spending a lot of my week catching up with the TV Series "Fringe" and needed to make something while I sat there so I didn't feel so guilty :D)

They could accompany some cheesy little saying like,

"Our love just keeps growing"

"Owl always love you"

"My heart is in your hands"

...and I made more keychains, as well...

A guy could totally put his Sweetheart's car keys on it with a little note....

"You 'drive' me wild"

Or perhaps...

"You carry my heart with you wherever you go"

What about for a friend...

"Friendship blooms with love"

I'm all about the thoughtful gift with the corny sentiment!

That's why I bought a pack of my Hubby's favorite snacks....pistachios....

so I can tell him I'm nuts about him!

A small LED flashlight for his keys...

beacause he "lights up" my life...

...and a screwdriver...

Get your minds out of the gutter! Haha!

(you know who you are)

...it is because my Life would be "screwed up" without him!

What's your favorite cheeseball Valentine's line?

Have a great weekend, My Friends!!

In all silliness,

Cameron

Flights of Fancy

Hello My Bloggy Dears!

I'm here today to show you a painting I did specifically to link up at Butterfly Effect 's weekly themed challenge....This week is Masks...

I decided to do a paint-over collage this time.  I selected an image from a magazine and adhered some paperback pages to the canvas.  I don't use this technique all the time, but I learned it from the wonderfully talented Tamara Laporte of Willowing...and it really is amazing how the underlying image completely transforms....

Sorry about the glare...I barely remembered to snap a pic for you.

Here's an in progress shot.

....I knew I wanted to make her wearing an owl mask....as you know, I'm sorta into them right now :)

I decided to make her feathers all snowy and ethereal.

"Dreaming of Feathers"

8 x 10 Mixed Media on canvas

With a crisp contrasting background and dreamy, party pastel colors....

With lots of irridescent shimmer!

...and as always, my favorite part, piercing eyes...

I purposely left her hair more undefined so as to keep the focus on the mask....

Hope you enjoyed her.

She is in my Shop if you find her dreamy, too....and I am still offering 20% off everything til the end of October!  The coupon code is THANKS2U.

I appreciate you visiting with me today...

I invite you to please stop in on Saturday for A Halloween Party Extravaganza....mwuhahahaha!!!



I am happily joining the festivities this year!  So please join me for some frights and delights...and a Giveaway, too...heehee!

Phew...I don't think I've used so many links before...haha!  I'll see you on Saturday!
Looking forward to it,
Cameron

Night Owl

I have always been one......
Feeling inspiration in the wee hours......
Being content to dabble in anything, but sleep....

Funny then, that this little guy was painted this morning after dropping my daughter off at school :D

I recycled this canvas from an old work I no longer liked...

So this......

became this....

"He liked the Night"

5 x 5 inches on canvas

in the shop

(*SOLD* Thanks, Diane!)

You can't see it in the photos, but the moon and stars sparkle with fine glitter art paint.

Because thanks to all of you, I am inspired and cheered...

...and not afraid to call myself an Artist any longer!

...and with any luck, I will someday be able to earn a living as one...haha!

Biggest Hugs!

Cameron

Sew Grateful!

This is Jacque...I'd have to say, that next to my Husband, she's my very best friend :)

She's the kinda crafty, supportive, easy to laugh with, liked by everybody, dependable friend that we all wish to find in Life.

I was lucky to meet her when our girls were just turning 1....taking Gymboree classes together....over 4 years ago now!  My Mom signed me up for these classes to get me out of the house (Thanks Mom!)
I was slowly going insane being at home all day with a new baby....not knowing any "Mommy Friends" to hang out with.

Jacque and Jenna have rescued Me and Maggie from boredom ever since :)

Jenna and Maggie are as different as day and night...Jenna loving to dress up and play with Princess dolls....Maggie loving to pretend to be an animal or get dirty....but they can be so cute together!

here they are at age 2

They have spent so much time together and are learning to compromise when it comes to the games they play.  There is usually at least one episode of pouting on my daughter's part for the 2 of them failing to agree on something.....but, they bounce back and enjoy eachother's company again.

The point of all this being.......having good friends is awesome! Now that we've moved and don't live 10 minutes away from eachother anymore, we really miss being near them *sniff*

So, to change the subject a bit....but stay with me....if you recall some bits and pieces Sheree sent me to make a doll out of.....

Part of the criteria was that we were to give the finished doll away.  Initially, I had no idea who I was going to give it to.  I didn't even know if I could pull the dollmaking part off...haha!

But, I gave it a go....and created this....

I didn't use a pattern, just sketched right on the fabric and cut it out.

I tried to use every single different thing Sheree sent....from the buttons, to the pretty purple doily, to the sheer fuschia sari fabric....and that lovely, lovely face! 

I had to figure out how to put hair on her....something I probably won't do again anytime soon...haha!

What a learning experience this project turned out to be.  It really pushed me to try new things and to get more comfortable with my sewing machine! 

While visiting last week, I told Jacque that I had made a mermaid doll.  Jenna overheard and showed me a picture of a mermaid doll she had lost....and still missed.  It was then that I knew that this doll was supposed to belong to Jenna!  I put the hair on the next day and added the rainbow yarn just for her.  She adores rainbows :)

This is a pic Jacque took for me just after Jenna unwrapped it.  I'm still waiting to hear what she named it!

She and her mom have made our lives so much more fun, so much...well, just.... more! ....and I love them for it!!!

Maggie wasn't interested in having the Mermaid...but was a little concerned about me making something for Jenna and not for her...I laughingly mentioned I could make her a dolphin (1 of her top 3 favorite animals) and they could play together with their dolls...

I say laughingly cuz half the time she forgets or never says anything about all the things she wants me to make her...and I just let the idea float away....

But, I wanted to make sure I followed thru this time...not only because I love her, but because I wanted Jenna to cross her mind when she played with it....

Here's what I made....she named him Jumpers. I made sure he was blue, her favorite color...

Again, I didn't use a pattern....but I probably should have. I had to rip a few seams out here and there.

I'm really proud that I actually made something that looks like a dolphin...haha! 

So how cool is it, that one of my best blog friends gives me an assignment that helps me to honor my very best friend.....that, in turn, celebrates the friendship of 2 special little girls in the process!  So very cool!!
So a great big hug to Jacque, for being the wonderful person, friend, woman she is....

A huge thank you to Sheree for being so clever and pushing the limits of my creativity...

A giant smile of appreciation to you for coming back here to read my ramblings...I'm amazed you have stuck with me this far...haha!

....and a wish on a star...for 2 little girls....

That the childhood memories of their friendship will always be fond....and kept dear in their hearts forever....*sniff again*

Go hug your best friend today :)

If they look at you strangely....you can blame it on me ;P

XO,

Cam

Tricks and Treats

Hello All!  Hope your weekend was filled with laughter and Spooky fun!

Ours was superb, also, thank you for asking!

Come take a look!

We waited a little late this year to carve our Pumpkin....but, it was a nice way to keep little hands occupied while waiting for darkness to set in!

This was her first time carving a pumpkin....and she loved it....inside and out!

We gave it a test run with a glow stick and a dark hallway! He was frightfully friendly all aglow.

As night approached, costumes and make-up were donned....

....and the perfect "begging puppy" face was practiced!

....and look who decided to show up for some Halloween adventure.....

The Dog Catcher! (Daddy)

Our puppy was just too fast for him :)  She didn't know he was going to dress up....it was such a nice surprise!  Her squeals of delight were music to my ears as she ran around avoiding The Net!

....and Hoo else decided to join in on the festivities?

2 more Owls flew in just in time for the fun......

--Althea

...and

--Pixie

I'm afraid they couldn't stay long....they used my place as a stopover whilst journeying to their new homes :)

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead....with kindness in your hearts and smiles on your faces!

I'll be thinking of you and sending out extra good cheer your way!

My best,

Cameron