Life

Just stopping by to tell you that I am thinking of you this fine, beautiful day.  Busy with class proposals, class samples and tutorials for 2012.  So, I haven't had much time to spend here on my blog.  But know you are being thought of and are very appreciated.  

Hugs

Diana

HEARTBOXES

A little birdie told me that a few of you were interested in purchasing one of my heart boxes.  FYI....I just listed two of them in my Etsy store.  These pieces will be featured in Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine some time this year and a "how-to" tutorial will be available soon.  Hope you likey.

Happy New Year!

Holiday Greetings!

Just stopping by to wish you all a wonderful Christmas holiday!!  I hope that during this season of HOPE you experience the LOVE of your family and friends, the WONDER of what life can bring each and every day, GRATITUDE for your countless blessings, and PEACE in your heart !  

I so appreciate all of you who have dropped by during this past year, left kind words, have attended my classes, purchased my jewelry and supported me on my creative journey.  Thank you!!

For those of you still working on your "Wish List" for Santa..... there are still spots left in Riki and my "Charming Romance" class in February.  We would love to have you join us as we explore the magic of fine silver clay, etching, cold connections and wire wrapping.  See the class flyer in my "Class" section.

Well.....I must be off to work on my "To Do" list for today.  I am excitedly getting prepared for my boys to arrive tomorrow evening...can't wait.  We will be celebrating Christmas on Monday with all of our children and grandchildren.  So, I have baking to do and meal preparation, gifts to wrap, house to clean....where are those Christmas elves when I need them.

LOVE YOU!!!

Meet Marpessa

I would like you all to meet my little spokesmodel, Marpessa, (created by the talented Rebecca McMeen). Marpessa will be assisting me in announcing and promoting my up and coming events in 2012.  Whenever she makes her appearance on my blog in her flamboyant finery, you will know to expect a new class (either in person or on line), new tutorial, or new kits.  I am excited about the new ventures on the horizon...stay tuned. 

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The holidays are here, days filled with to do's, expected arrivals of family and friends, cards to be addressed and sealed with a kiss, and those gifts lovingly created for all of those special people in our lives.  As you ponder the perfect gift for the giving keep in mind:

Not all gifts have to be obtained by the giving of coin --

"On the first day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of my Undivided Attention

On the second day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Enthusiasm

On the third day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Creative Energy

On the fourth day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Simple Seasonal Pleasures

On the fifth day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The Gift of Tenderness

On the sixth day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Good Cheer

On the seventh day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Beauty

On the eighth day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Communication

On the ninth day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Surprise

On the tenth day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Wonder

On the eleventh day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Peaceful Surroundings

On the twelfth day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Joy

Be ready at all times to give those you love the simply abundant gifts of Spirit.  If you do, they'll give you Christmas gifts you'll never forget:  happy smiles and contented hearts.  And you won't want to exchange them." ~Simple Abundance

Know that I may not be making my appearance too often during the holidays as many different projects are keeping me busy in my studio and I am spending time with family and friends.

May you be blessed during this season of HOPE and may it fill your hearts all year through. 

GRATEFUL THANKS

"AN OPEN HOME, AN OPEN HEART, HERE GROWS A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST." ~JUDY HAND

Soon loved ones will gather at the table to rejoice in our bounty of blessings, and with us lift up their hearts in thanksgiving.  This is a good thing.  I have so much to be thankful for, so much to smile about.....and you, my friends, are counted among my many blessings.  Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving week.....and may you be filled with a grateful heart and embrace this holiday season with joy.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Wanted you to be the first to know that Riki Schumacher and I have been asked to teach our A Charming Romance class once again.  The dates are set for February 18 & 19, 2012.  We are taking reservations now.  Please see the flyer below for details.  Reservations can be made by contacting me via email.    I write this as I dash out to set up for our Bezelicious class this weekend.....so excuse my briefness.    Wishing you all a spooktacular weekend!  I have my costume picked out.....do you.  Happy Halloween!!!

PLAY DATE

Welcome to my friend, Jeri's, art studio.  Jeri's studio is utterly amazing...she has been collecting art supplies and tools for years....and has just about everything a mixed media artist could ever want complete with two pure white guardian kitties.  I had the pleasure of being invited to join this awesome group of women from the Orange County Art League for a play date.  One of their members, Carolyn Waitt, chose the project for the day and sent everyone supply lists.  Our project was going to be creating art dolls from old tins.....well I didn't have to think hard about whether I was going to go or not with my new found love of making art dolls.  I chose a small sterling silver tea pot for my doll.

Everyone worked at their own pace, shared whatever they brought with one another and shared techniques and helped out in brainstorming.  The culminated talent in this group was amazing.  And speaking of talent, meet Cindy, above.  Cindy is a fabulous mixed media artist and loves working with fabric.  She started out with a tin box, took off the lid and created a dimensional doll.  The crows wings and heart are all hand stitched and beaded.  I love the contrast between tin and fabric.  Love it Cindy!

This is Carolyn, the person responsible for this great project.  She really came prepared and with lots of ideas as she worked on four different dolls at once.  Love her use of those old metal curlers for arms on one of her dolls and the handles of antique silver spoons for another.  Tiny light bulbs, electrical components, bottle caps and faucet handles all found a place on one of Carolyn's dolls.  Just proves the point of don't throw anything away...and be creative in repurposing.

Linda's little retro doll is complete with a hand sewn felt purse.  Her crown is a plastic shampoo bottle top treated with a rusting solution.....so clever Linda.

Now Debbie had a different take on her doll.  She formed her doll's nest out of Spanish Moss hanging from the trees right outside the studio door.  I would like to see what her little talcum powder tin doll turns out to be like.  Beautiful smile Debbie!

Kim started with a Harlequin doll which she took all apart and hand painted her face in kind of a day-of-the-dead fashion.  Her doll's body is an old cigar box.  Love what she did with the legs.

I didn't get pictures of everyone...so sorry to those of you who are not included here.

This sweetie was created by Barbara.  The accordion pleated paper collar amazed me...loved it!

This is my little girl, Cosette, sitting next to my latest purchase from Julie Haymaker Thompson.  They just seem to go together don't you think?   Her little legs were my first attempt at using paper clay and some of the painting techniques I learned from JoAnnA Pierotti at Art Is You last month.  Another new product I incorporated into Cosette in attaching her head to the tea pot was Apoxy Clay.....great stuff....thank you Michael DeMeng for introducing me to this.

The Orange County Art League gals get together once a month to make art, kindle friendships, share, support and grow.  Do you have an art group you are a member of?  Or perhaps you have wanted to get a group together but haven't yet.  Now's the time...don't wait.  Getting together with like-minded friends is so very nurturing and rewarding.