Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirates Life For Me

This is where it all began. Once he had on his outfit he never wanted to be anything but a Pirate.

I made this pull toy for him on his last birthday.

It has been three years now since my grandson started liking pirates. He dresses up as a pirate most days and plays out  scenes from a day in the life of a pirate. We have to walk the plank or swab the decks. It is so much fun to hear him do his Arrrr! me mateys. Here are some of my favorite photos of him dressed up. He wanted a pirate birthday party (of course) So my daughter and I made this bean bag toss game for him and his mateys to play at the party. Pirate treasure can be won by all if you can blow up the ship with the skeleton bean bags. We love him so much he is the real treasure

Headboard and Bed Crown

I have finished the bed crown and today I found this room divider for only $29 at the antique store. I think it makes a great headboard. The colors are not right in this picture but it looks really good. I am very pleased with the way it turned out. Now I have to make some pillow covers to add to the bed.

Bedside tables and bed crown

I have been busy making these side tables from an old broken table that my Daughter was given. It started life out as one square table. I am decorating a guest bedroom and I needed two bedside tables. As I only had four legs to work with I made two half circle tables. I also wanted a bed crown for that room but they are so expensive. I had a mold of little leaves so I made some using water putty. I glued them on to a box that I made from scrap wood and painted it in black. I dry brushed the crown and tables with silver. As soon as they are dry I will install them. I think I saved a few hundred dollars by doing it myself. I didn't have to spend a penny on them as I had the scrap wood and paint. I will post pictures of the room when it's all done.

Spot the impostor Puppy

Can you spot the impostor. My new puppy Cookie is on the right. The dog on the left is a mohair puppy my daughter bought for my birthday a few years ago. Cookie is a Cavapoo (in other words an expensive mutt) A king Charles Cavalier and a Poodle mix. Very very smart and a little rascal. Just three months old and already house broke and sits on command and can fetch. A gift from my husband because he knows I can't stand having an empty nest, bless him.

Folk Art Doll

These are some of the things I have in the works. This is my first attempt at making a ethnic doll. She was supposed to be holding the bundt cake but it's not the right scale. I will have to make a bigger doll for my cake. She will be carrying her bible instead of a cake. My next doll is going to be a bride with a twist so stay tuned.

Lemonade out of lemons

Have you ever had one of those days when nothing goes right? I had one of them yesterday. I have been designing some veggie dolls and was attempting to make a pattern for a watermelon head. It came out completely the wrong shape and I was so frustrated. As I sat there looking at my mistake I saw a grumpy face in the folds of the fabric. I used sharpie pens to define his features and turned him into a sort of frog like creature.This is the result. I call him Flukell as it was a fluke that he came into being. I love him and intend to make some more similar to him for sale. He will stay with me in my studio to remind me that when life gives you lemons you can make lemonade (even if it is a bit sour) I love his grumpy little face.

Spring Chicky

I have been playing around with water color pencils and the computer. I haven't decided what to do with this one yet. I still need to work on it a bit more

Halloween Doll In Progress

I am working on my newest doll. I am in a creating frenzy as you can see from my studio. This doll is being difficult. I don't have a finished picture in my head like I normally do. She is leaning a little Goth I think, we shall see. I had to hang her upside down to dry. I don't think she minds one bit. I wanted her to be done by the weekend but it doesn't look like that is going to happen now. I like to sit and draw my dolls on paper first and decide what kind of clothes they will have and a theme but this one is being made totally from a blank canvas. Sometimes it is a disaster but then again some of my best ideas have come on the fly. Stay tuned for the end results.

Theres a whole lot of shakin going on

I am sure you have heard about the 7.2 earthquake we just had in Southern California. It was quite a ride. We lost about 2 inches of water out of the pool from it sloshing about. My light fixtures were swinging at least a foot back and forth. No damage thanks be to God. I felt a bit sea sick because it was a rolling motion not a jolt. Anyway my family is safe that's the main thing. I am busy in my studio after weeks of not being able to get in there to work (house remodel) I am working on two dolls at the moment and should have them done by the weekend in time to list on eBay Sunday. I will post pictures later this week.

Alice In Wonderland In Imax 3D

The movie is a delight to the eye. I have to say I enjoyed this movie more than any other fantasy that I have seen EVER. It takes you to another world. The scenes are spectacular. I have to see it again it was that good. Johnny Depp's character was a bit scary with some violent undertones but he did a great job at being as mad as a hatter. It was a bit dark and not very child friendly. It has sparked my imagination so I need to get working on something soon.

Alice In Wonderland

Well I am finely going to see the movie today. I am exhausted and really need to sit a while and let Tim Burton and Jonny Depp take me away for a couple of hours. I am so burned out with painting the bathroom I need a break for sure.

TWO Bathroom remodels

I am having a hard time getting to my art as I am in the middle of a remodel of TWO bathrooms. My dear husband decided that since we have all the tools out we might as well do them both at the same time. He had taken a hammer to the counter top of the guest bathroom before I could get to him. Anyway I will be absent for a week or two but I will post pictures here from time to time to show my progress. This is the awful before. We are doing all the work ourselves so it will take us a while.

Alice In Wonderland Challange

After seeing the movie I was inspired to do these two pieces of art. I will be putting them up for auction soon

Primitive folk art

For all of the people that have emailed me asking if there’s any new items for sale. I just want to let you know that I am working on lots of goodies. I had the flu then we had a new baby grand daughter born on Ground hogs day, Jasmine 7lbs 6oz. So cute I can't stand it. I am also in the middle of a bathroom remodel. We are doing all the work ourselves so very exhausting. But as you can see from my studio I am also very busy creating. I am trying to get something finished for next week.

Edgar Allan Poe Valentine Card

VALENTINE DOLL

SOLD

Cirque Du Soleil - Kooza

We are going to see Kooza tonight in Irvine. I can't wait to see all the wonderful costumes. I am sure they are going to inspire my imagination for future dolls. We try to get to all the shows.

Albert Einstein Humpty Dumpty

 For sale, please email me about this item

SOLD

Happy New Year

Well another year gone. The trimmings are all down and put away. I decided to rearrange my studio to make it more efficient and get rid of some things that have been lurking on shelves for years. I am a craft hoarder I think. Very hard to let things go because I think I might use it one day. This year is going to be more streamlined and organized. I have some really exciting ideas for 2010. I have been busy sketching and working out how to incorporate my ideas into my dolls. I wish you all a Happy New Year. I hope we can turn a corner this year and get out of this funk we are in. In with the new and out with the old.

Christmas Greetings

I want to wish all my customers and my artist buddies a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope and pray that next year we will all see great improvement in our lives and our country. We all need to be Americans and not separated by silly parties or by the color of our skin or religion. Lets all stick together. What a great country this is and what sacrifice people have made to make it great and sacrificed to come here. I am so proud to be an American (naturalized) I was born in England and have very fond memories growing up there but this is now my home and I am so happy to be here. It makes me so sad to see people divided by politics because we should all want the same thing, freedom from government in our lives and freedom to practice our religion and the pursuit of happiness. God bless our soldiers overseas and at home. God bless the poor and helpless. May God bless this country and help it get back on track.
Join me in this prayer.
Kaz

Art Dolls

I sat up until 1 am this morning working on my stuff. I get in these manic artistic moods and all I can think about is making things. Some of my best work comes out of these sessions so I go with the flow. I feel like a mad scientist in my laboratory. I try all kinds of things, use things in a way they were not meant to be used. Sometimes I have what I like to call happy accidents. Something goes terribly wrong and Presto! I discover a new technique. That's what happened last night to my Santa that I am working on. My workroom looks like a tornado went through it so its time to do some clean up this morning and start the whole process again.

SOLD

Folk Art Santa Ornament

He looks better with some paint on. Can't decide what to make his hat out of yet but he is coming along.

My folk art Santa Ornament just going into the oven to bake. Don't know how I am going to finish him yet but I am thinking of flocking his beard. He will be going on eBay next week.

$49.oo plus $12 shipping

SOLD

Pug Christmas Card

I felt like drawing today but as I am looking after my grand kids that are 4,3 and terrible two I didn't know if I should chance it. As some artists know you have to go with the feeling because you know there's something trying to get out. Anyway I did this cute pug today. I took a great chance as my little Shay (Shayzilla as we call her) is inclined to make soup (as she calls it) with almost anything. She made "soup" with a full bottle of shampoo, toothpaste and toilet paper in my toilet. She was so proud of her soup she looked on with pride, as I stood there in shock. She did this all in the blink of an eye. She moves around the house like greased lightening without making a sound, truly and incredible child. What will she be able to do when she is four or eight? Yikes!! I will be older too. I won't stand a chance.

Looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

Old Fashioned Santa

For Sale On eBay

SOLD

Primitive Folk Art Christmas Angel Ornament

SOLD