Mermaid Dreams

Hello Sweet Friends!

 I can't tell you how excited I am to have you along with me....over 100 followers (not that size matters, right :P) is just a humbling and incredible feat!  I thank you all so much for finding enough in me to spark your interest....and in a lot of cases, earn your friendship!  I truly am so tickled to have you here!

Well, that being said....and it NEEDED to be said....

I wanted to give you a look at some new Hair Clips I made from those wonderful sea glass bits I collected last Summer......(and some new art if you can wait til the end...heehee!)

Do you think a Mermaid might dream of this?  Well, hopefully a few of the land-dwelling kind do :)

I love that this one reminds me of Mermaid scales, all shimmering and shiny, washed ashore for me to find....

I tried something new with the freshwater pearls perched atop the sea glass....I just really enjoyed the punches of color and interest it gave....

I really like the hodge podge ones that incorporate bits of everything in them....this one features, sea glass, pitted shell and sea tumbled pottery.....

Most of you who've visited here know that we just bought a house....well, while we were on vacation we were waiting to hear about whether our offer would be accepted, and we were trying not to get our spirits up too high just in case it didn't go our way.....

Well, as I sifted thru the sand in search of lovely bits (every year they are getting harder and harder to find) this appeared!

Can you see that little house on that tumbled piece of pottery?!  Amazing to have this gem fall into my possession at a time of wonder and unease.... I took it as a sign!  It wasn't but 3 months later we were moving into our very own abode!

I'm thinking there's something special about this little green cottage :)

...and don't you just love those wonderfully crackled pieces flanking it?!  All natural!  I haven't altered these babies one little bit ;)

...And what brought all this Sea Stuff to mind anyways?

This new painting.....

"Among Friends" 8 x 10 inch mixed media acrylic on canvas....

I used a page from an old dictionary for her tail....

Doilies made perfect seashells for her top.....

I love the way she turned out....all except this!

Can you see that smudge in her hair?  Aaargggh!  I used watercolor pencil on parts of her hair, and when I brushed the sealer on....it smudged!  Oh well....it's definately a mistake I won't repeat!  At least it's an underwater scene.  I'll just try to pretend it's the motion of the water instead of letting it bug me...

Well, thanks again, my Blog Buddies for checking out what I've been up to....it makes me feel like one of the popular people for once....haha :)

Smiles,
Cam

Endless Possibilities - One World One Heart

Welcome Friends....both Dear and New :)

This post is in celebration of the final One World One Heart Event. If you are unfamiliar with this 2 week Blog Hop of meeting, greeting, giveaways and fun times....please click the above button to see a list of participants and enjoy all that they have prepared for this magnificent soiree'....

As for me, in thinking about this special post and what I would write....I thought it best to introduce to first-time visitors (and re-affirm to my treasured return guests) what resonates with me....

Would it be my love of creating and painting and expressing? Well, sure....that is at my core...

(from a mural I volunteered to paint at my Daughter's preschool)

Is it my love for my family.....those that are patient with my latest hobbies and infatuations? Those amazing individuals that help give my Life meaning and are the essence of all that is good in it?

They are with me in all that I do, yes....

Is it our First Home...which we just now acquired after 11 years of marriage? A place to raise our daughter, to call a safe haven and to inspire great projects in determination and togetherness? Maybe a little.....

I thought long and hard about how lucky I am to even have my list be this long!

But, what kept surfacing....what seemed to be my truth....

Is belief in the Magic all around us in this beautiful, wondrous world!

The Magic that makes it possible for me to have that list above!!

So, how does one go about documenting this....magic? ....and exactly what does it look like?

That's what is so incredible about this concept....and why it is so important to me. I'm sure it is defined differently by as many people that are asked.

Now, where some may find my account contrived and simplistic.....I hope the majority of you will agree that Magic comes when you are open to it.....sometimes, you create it for yourself, and sometimes, it's about seeing it, plain as day right in front of your eyes!

Here's a bit from today :)

I love that an ordinary breakfast can be something fun instead.....

That any open space, no matter where it is, just seems to be made for spontaneous dancing!

(I was dancing, too...behind the camera....heehee)

I love that someone thought a plain wall just wasn't good enough....and made it enchanting!

I'm tickled to live in a world where a neglected sea of dandelions....

....is a dense jungle for an imaginative big cat using "tamo fwahj" She still has trouble with c's and l's :)

....and provides enough blooms for a lovely Fairy Crown.

Where else can a bath towel cape, paper towel roll telescope and plastic bird be all you need for adventure on the high seas?

Or a colander be the perfect pith helmet?

This magic helps Llamas find you!

....and changes old moving boxes into kennels for recuperating pets.

I love that in this world.....words can easily become Love Letters XO

That all it takes to make something extraordinary, is to use real plates and crazy straws :)

I am so thankful to be able to be a part of this Magic...to let the mundane responsibilities of everyday living and the carefree days of childhood cohabit, hobnob and pal around :)

When you live in this kind of world....the possibilities truly are endless!

I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for stopping by today! I count Blogging as one of my absolute favorites...and, well...the people I've met here are the reason why!


Isn't it nice to live in a world where strangers can find kindred spirits and pour out their desires and thoughts...and become strangers no longer....but friends! That is powerful Magic, indeed :)

And, in the nature of things playful and introspective...I want to gift 2 visitors with a hand-embellished journal....from me to you!

This one says, "She was so ridiculous." in the text.

I hope you share and recognize the Magic that is yours...and I look forward to reading all about what your own truths are.....

Thank you to Lisa, a true Whimsical Bohemian, for hosting this grand event! I"m so honored to be a part of it!

Hugs, smiles, and a sprinkling of fairy dust,
Cameron

Love and Devotion

Hello Dear Bloggy Buddies!

I just wanted to give you a peek at what I did with those canvases my daughter prepared for me the other day!

I'm sorry that this will be a short post....It's my turn to be the Class Mom tomorrow, so I won't be able to do my post when she's at school, like I usually try to do :)  Besides, the One World, One Heart event is coming up at the end of the week!  I gotta get started on that!

Anyhoo, back to the task at hand.....

This is "Beautiful Love" Mixed Media 6x6 inches on canvas

This is "Heartfelt Devotion" Mixed Media 6x6 inches on canvas

There's a bit of this, a bit of that....crackle medium.....rub-ons.....ink....

...colored pencil....oil pastel......acrylic...dictionary pages....

Even decorated the edges with cute little scallops around all 4 sides :)

They could easily stand alone or be hung together as companion pieces!

Just wanted to do something fun...and a little different from my norm :)

Hope you like them!  I'll be placing them in my shop soon!
Thanks for stopping by....I'm wishing all a Magical week!

XO,
Cam

A Jewel of a Day!

Hello All!  Thank you so much for stopping by.  Hope things have been going well for you :)

As far as we're concerned, we've been good.

Tuesday in particular was soooo nice!

Y'see, I've started up some little Pre-K classes for my daughter thru the city, so 2 days a week we get up early, I pack her lunch and feed her breakfast, etc....to get her to a class that is just 3 hours long!

Now, I love how much she looks forward to singing songs and being with other kids....and that's why I do it, but 3 hours just doesn't seem worth the trouble of nagging her to eat, nagging her to get dressed, nagging her to hurry up...lol :D Especially since Monday was a Holiday here in the States...

I haven't lost you yet, have I?  I promise I have something really cool to show you at the end!  Now your curiousity is kicking in, isn't it?  Now you have to stay (insert evil laugh here!)

Anyhoo, in the interest of brevity...kid had runny nose....kept her home from school....did inner dance of joy (not that she was sick...what kind of Mother do you think I am? haha!)....leisurely sipped coffee whilst looking out our patio door...

Notice the sea of weeds out there...they reach mid-shin!  But, at least they're my weeds...and hey, they're green :)

Maggie and I spent the whole day doing fun things. Oh, and she worked on her "site" for a bit (which consists of me putting on a Word Doc & her typing furiously away....really quite cute)  One of my favorite things about this house is that she can work on the computer here (might I point out the strategic placement of toilet roll so shirt can escape snot duty...I can dream, anyway)

And I can work on artsy things here....in the same room!

After her "work", Maggie helped me prep canvasses.

I don't think I've ever explained my process for prepping them before. I'm not sure if everyone or no one does them this way....but I find the whole thing quite relaxing (and it helps to use up my shockingly huge supply of scrapbook paper!)....so here goes.

I take a white, back-stapled canvas and paint it with a variety of colors...including the sides.

Sorry, I forgot to take a pic of this 1st step...

After it's dry, I Mod Podge torn paper pieces all over making sure to overlap the sides from time to time.

After this dries, I then paint it again, deciding whether to allow a lot of the underlying paper to show thru or not....and then sometimes add patterns with saran wrap, bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, etc....

When this dries...it's ready to use!

Here are the ones Maggie made for me yesterday :)

Okay, now that I've made you stick with me....here's my something cool...

Drumroll please....

This is:

"The Jewel of the Forest"

8 x 10 inches

Mixed Media / Acrylic

I'm sorry for the crappy pic :( 

I literally just finished it, like 15 minutes ago....and it is near Midnight now.

I will have better photos of it in the morning when I list it in my shoppe.

By the way, I've just decided to put a few things in my Etsy Shoppe as an experiment to compare it with my Artfire one...nothing you haven't seen already, but if any of you have tried both and have a preference, I'd love to hear what you've learned :)

*****Edited (here are the better pics!)******

 

Thanks again for coming back here, My Friends....

Having this space be one that you like to visit over and over again makes me wanna do an outer dance of joy...heehee...

I'm one Lucky Gal :P

Hugs,

Cam

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