~Mermaid Swap Goodies Show and Tell~

Hello my wonderful and fabulous Bloggy Friends!!

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while!  Though I was warned against it, I started a studio re-organize thinking it couldn't possibly take so long....well....2 weeks and a few projects behind, I finally have a clean space to create in.  I now have a dedicated shipping area so I don't have to move what I'm working on aside to package up orders!  Loving it so far!

Anyways...on to why we are really here. To see some Mermaids!!
This proved to be an awesome swap, and though I am still waiting on one last Mermie girl from Heidi (she was sick, so I gave her an extension.....that's the nice thing about making up your own swap....you can bend the rules, too...haha!) I knew this was going to be a photo and link heavy post. 

I'll be sure to show you what Heidi sends on my next post.

You might want to go get something to drink...and maybe a notebook to jot down some newfound blogs.  I know I not only got to swap with some of my favorite artists and friends here in Blogland....but, I got the pleasure of meeting some new ones, as well :)

...Oh, and before I get started, I wanted to thank everyone for all the extras that were included in my packages!  I loved recieving each and every piece of mail and am just tickled that you all wanted to participate to begin with!
But, in the interest of keeping the pictures to a minimum, I am just showing the main/mermaid related art/goody for each participant :)

Okay....these are posted in no particular order....get your diving caps on...and let's go swimming!

 

Art by Marfi of Incipient Wings

 

 

Art by Sherry Gadel

 

 

Art by Debi at Puddleduck Grange

 

My first Mer-Crow art by Stacy at Magic Love Crow

 

 

Embroidered pillowcases by Heather at Ramblings from the Animal House

 

 

Art by Lynn at Sunny Room Art

 

 

Art by Lisa at The Wright Stuff

 

 

Art by Manon at Manon Popjes Art

 

 

Siren Paper Doll by Erin at The Mucha Cafe

 

 

Digital Art by Wini at Art, Love & Joy

 

 

Art by Joyce at Joyce's Art Blog

 

 

Painted Rock by Andrea at Falling Ladies

She said she tried to think of what a painted rock for a mermaid would look like :)

 

 

Art by Pen at Rosa Lily

 

 

Art by Frances at We Three 3

 

 

Art by Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle

 

 

Art by Heather at Little Red Henry

 

 

Zippered Pouch by Amy at Salamander Dreams

 

 

Mermaid Paper Doll by Rachel at Wonderings

 

 

Art by Devon at Monkeying Around

 

 

Art by Natasha May at Natasha May Art World

 

 

Art by Trish Lovato

 

 

Art by Micki at The Secret Hermit

 

Great stuff, huh?!

I am one lucky mermaid lovin' lady right now...heehee!

 

Thanks, again to everyone who created a little mermie something for me!

And to you all for stopping by for a visit!  I just adore it when you do :)

 

Saltwater kisses and sandy hugs,

Cameron

Mermaid Art Swap!!

Hello my pretties!

I can't express how happy I am to write this post!  You see, earlier this year my good friend, Micki at The Secret Hermit did a mail art swap....it was fantastic....her art is awesome...and I knew it was an idea I would steal, er...I mean borrow for my own little swappy poo!!

The difference is that this will be a swap of Mermaid Art!
Now, I'm not talking monumental masterpieces here...unless, of course, that's what you love to make and want to send...
But, as far as I'm concerned, if you created it, it made you happy to do so and it has a mermaid on it....please send it!  Can be any medium. :)

As for what I'm offering, I took a huge piece of currogated cardboard and cut it into rectangles approximately 5 x 7 inches in size.  Some are larger, some are smaller.
I simply sketched right on them with pencil and started painting them, coloring with colored pencils and detailing with black ink...

Here's what I've made to swap so far...

This swap will be active from Monday, August 27th to Friday, September 21st 2012.

Here's how it will work (again, thanks to Micki for figuring all this out and letting me mooch the parameters off her....heehee) :

If you would like to participate in this swap, please email me and let me know.  Send me a link to your blog (I want to share what I get from everyone and have a linky for you) and include your address, please....  I am so bad at reading return addresses on mail.

My email address is : paintmyselfpretty(at)yahoo(dot)com

I will confirm your email and send you my address, too....and we can virtually hold hands and jump up and down with anticipation of doing such a fun swap together :D

Then, just send in your mermaid art within the designated dates.  Postmarks must be between those dates.  I'm giving everyone 2 1/2 weeks to prepare and 4 whole weeks to get their art here.  Don't worry my International Friends, as long as your art is postmarked by Sept. 21st, it can take as long as it wants to get here.  I will mail your art out to you after yours is received :)

I will be prepackaging these sirens up ahead of time, so I won't know who will be getting what...adds an element of surprise to the whole thing!!

Did I cover everything?

If I have left out any details, please feel free to ask away!

Hope to "sea" your name in my inbox....corny, yes....but I'm just so excited...heehee!!

Splash,

Cameron

Two Revealing *UPDATED*

Sometimes I think I'm so clever with my silly, punny post titles....haha!
I'm referring to the big reveal of the WIP I sneak peeked to you on Friday.
Remember this?

Well, I actually have 2 paintings to share with you.....
Hence the title....
Okay, so maybe what I think is clever is only slightly amusing.....
Let me distract you with some art so it won't matter how lame my sense of humor is :)
But before I do, let me tell you how these pieces came about.

My super sweet and lovely Bloggy Buddy Carmen and I are doing an art trade.  Her only criteria was that it should have a crow in it (her fave) and feature some words of wisdom to ponder and nod one's head in agreement to....

This is the above girly all finished.

It is inspired by this Roald Dahl quote:

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

Mixed Media on 8x10 inch Canvas panel

I decided to do 2 at one time, using the same criteria, the same color palette....like sisters born of the same spark.
I want Carmen to pick her favorite.  The other will then be put in my Etsy Store.
I'll let you know which one she chooses :)

Here's the second.....

The words say:

"Everything in the Universe is within you. Ask all from yourself." - Rumi

Her crow guide brings her the key to unlock her heart and to rediscover all the wonders within :)

I think I know which one she'll pick....I'm curious to see if I'm right...heehee!  Which would you choose?


UPDATE
***Carmen chose "Watch with Glittering Eyes" and "Within You" is now SOLD Thank You, Lisa! ***


Oh, and I'd like to mention another Giveaway to you, Dear Readers, offered by Jenn at Broomsticks and Lace.  She is part gypsy, part fairy princess and part witchy-poo all rolled into the most delightful being!
But, hurry, she announces the winner this Sunday!

Blogland is inhabited by some of the bestest peoples :D

Hope your days are full of everyday magic...and that the transitioning Seasons are revealing their beauty to you.
Love you guys,
Cameron

Favorite Things

Hello Bloggy Babes!!
It is a beautiful sunny day here today....
...a perfect day to think about what some of my favorite things are....and squeak in just in time to join Butterfly Effect :)

I hope I get repetitive when I tell you that sharing my Life and my Art here in Blogland is one of my most favorite things of all....because of you!!  I had never imagined finding a place that offers so much support and inspiration, friendships and talent....I love it here!  I am in awe of you all and enjoy being here on a common journey :)

One of my favorite things to engage in with you is SWAPS!   I can't turn down an invitation to trade a little handmade goodness!  It's a compulsion....an addiction....and so darn much fun! Haha!!
Here are just some of the wonderful works I've been fortunate enough to acquire through swaps....

From L clockwise art by Lauren Startzman of Fair Rosamund, Deedra of Foxy Blue (blog removed), TheresaMacNaughton of Faerie Moon Creations and Joyce van der Lely of Joyce's Art

From L clockwise, art by Amy McDonald of Amy., Micki Wilde of The Secret Hermit, Natasha May of NatshaMay Art World, ,  Karen of I am Rushmore, and Mindy Lacefield of Tim's Sally

Cool, huh?!  Remember I did say these are just some of the lovely art pieces I've received.  Rest assured if yours isn't shown here....it's because I was rushing around like a mad woman trying to gather them quickly to get this post up....not because I don't LOVE them!

I treasure and adore everything I'm sent, so please don't feel left out...Sheree, Michele, Heather, Allison, Kathy...to name a few I've not featured here....thank you, too!   I have the best  Blog Buddies ever! 

Other favorite things include:

Rainy days with nowhere to go

Staying in PJ's all day

DESSERTS!  Isn't it funny that stressed spelled backwards is Desserts :)

Hearing birds singing when my windows are open

Blaring dance music with naughty lyrics in the car when I'm alone ;P

Looking up at the night sky in remote locations & seeing a thousand stars

Picking homegrown fruits & veggies

These 2 together

My morning cup of coffee

Pedicures with extra massage time added.....ahhhhh

Having a dedicated Art Room!

Big commanding moons

This was ours last night...a horrible picture of what was the biggest,

yellowest, lowest in the sky moon I'd ever seen!

Eating scones with all the fixins at a lovely Tea House

Catching my Husband's gaze when I least expect it

Strolling around quaint shops and craft shows

SKYPE

Creating!!

Here's my latest:

"Daydream" 8 1/2 inches square Mixed Media on torn Kids' book cover.

This is the completed project from Amy's magazine paintover class I did on Jan 20th.  I told you I'd show it to you when I finished it.  Hope you like it.   It's in the shop if you really like it...heehee ;)

A few more faves:

Halloween

the color green

Foggy mornings

Blooper Reels on DVDs

Drumstick ice cream cones with the caramel center

Thin Mints cookies kept in the freezer

Okay, I better go....can you tell I'm hungry?! Haha!

Thank you for visiting my little space here....

Have a fantastic weekend....hope it's filled with some of your favorite tthings!

Hugs and other sweet stuff,

Cameron

P.S. If you are participating in the Drawing Lab Lessons, you can link up by clicking the Lesson 1 Link at the top of my sidebar or simply scroll down to the previous post!  Happy to have you join in!