The Studio House

I will be leading a virtual, build-your-own fairy garden program at my local library this summer. I was so happy when they asked me to do this program because 1. I love miniatures and 2. I love making art with objects found in nature. Whenever I go on a walk outside, my eyes are fixed upon the ground picking up anything that peaks my interest. This fall, the acorns were in high supply so after each hike, I returned with every pocket filled to the brim. I can’t help myself, it’s like foraging for free art supplies. My other favorite things to pick are rocks, especially ocean tumbled rocks. I could spend a full day walking up and down the shore picking smooth, beautiful rocks.

This program will be virtual so instead of leading a class in the library, my tutorial will be available to watch on YouTube. Participants will pick-up a goody bag of supplies at the library and also forage in their backyard, local park or woods to find other materials. I have been collecting objects for the past 5 months and will put together the bags.

Materials: fairy house-cut section of cardboard packaging tube covered in moss, pebbles and birch bark, roof-plastic $1 store coconut cup covered in pine cone scales. Other materials: plastic tray, sod, shells, buttons, pebbles, milkweed pod, cotton ball, fabric scraps, cut up wood chunks, fake miniature insects, miniature mushrooms, acorn caps, fairy lights. I am so thankful for my family who hand picked pebbles for me from the shores of Lake Ontario-some of the best smooth rocks I have found around! They were used for the garden walkway.

pockets full of acorns after a hike in the park

Here is my latest mini creation. ❤

“Blaze and Cinnamon” base approximately 5.5″x 3.5″ materials: wood (hemlock, maple, oak, black walnut) fabric, polymer clay, acrylic paint, cord

Art has a way of helping in times of trouble. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with the treatment of animals around the world. So I’ll make some art and hope that in some way, even small, it helps.

While at home, I would love the opportunity to continue to work on this meaningful project and maybe share a smile across a few miles with the members of my community.

Our rescue dog Penelope has always brought us joy, laughs and smiles and especially now during these difficult times. Just by being themselves, animals can reduce anxiety, stress and depression and ease loneliness. How cool is that?

I was recently given the opportunity to run two different art programs at the library during Teen Time. My previous experience running programs for large groups had only been with elementary aged children. It was definitely different! After contemplating my experiences, I found that both smalls and talls challenge me in different ways and also bring me so much joy!

Elementary aged children are usually so excited to start an art project, you can see it in their faces. They approach the table with anticipation and want to touch everything. Their enthusiasm is contagious! Once they begin, many of them need encouragement and help. I’m always busy and on the move. When they complete their piece they are so proud of their accomplishment and some can’t even believe they did it! They can’t wait to show me what they made. By the end, I am physically and emotionally drained but filled with a sense of overwhelming happiness.

Teens and tweens are pretty self sufficient. After I give a demo, they just go to it. I may get one or two questions along the way but can pretty much sit back watch them create. When they finish, they usually continue to socialize with friends or pick up their cell phones. At the end of the program I still have energy and do not feel drained. It’s harder to tell if they enjoyed the project so I have to ask them. So far, the response has been YES! I love to see what they come up with.

There are many things to love about working with both elementary and middle school aged students. The ones that take the time to personally say “thank you.” The ones who still show excitement even in middle school. The ones who help each other. The ones who inspire me. The ones who were unknowingly signed up by their mother to be in one of my art programs and appear to not care. They are the ones who challenge me to bring out their creative side, to pay attention, to challenge themselves and to not give up.

Teen Time, nail and string art, I just love the cheese doodle in the bottom row, middle. That made me laugh.

more nail and string art from Teen Time

Teen Time, mini books

Teen Time, nail and string art

(adjective) so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy; unique

similar: special, distinctive, individual, rare, supreme, quirky

Inimitable, a word that I do not think I had ever seen or heard of until it caught my attention twice in one day, on two separate occasions, while reading two different books with my children. The next day my sister, who also had never heard of it, reminded me of the double occurrence when she texted me the definition. It quickly became one of my favorite words. It describes the objects at an estate sale or consignment store that I pick up and spectacles in nature that draw my attention, what I strive for in my art projects for kids and adults, my home, and my own art.

Here are just a few inimitable things…

very cool tree designs that formed in the ice

pieces of my Aunt’s pottery

vintage wallpaper found at an antique store…must go in a dollhouse

sea glass, beach glass, especially rare finds like a marble or uranium glass

vintage handmade blankets

skulls

little ladders to secret hideouts my dad placed at their house to quietly sit and watch nature

smooth pebbles

glowing owls

some of my beach stones

old lamps

an organizer that once hung in my husband’s grandfather’s garage, original hardware in place with the addition of a few new items…a piece that sparks interest

small little lint balls that formed over time in the fins of our dryer we found while cleaning it, they are small, about the size of quarters, nickels and dimes

November and December were both creativity packed months, full of inventing and making. There were so many projects that I made and gave away without remembering to take photos! I also taught several art classes and programs at the school, library and home. It was all very inspiring!

We hosted Christmas Eve at our home and in keeping with tradition, I set up a craft table. This year we made these little people ornaments. I love how they are all unique!

I did a nail and string art class in my studio with my art students. They LOVED it! I have an upcoming program at the library doing the same thing!

Reflecting on the past two months, I am especially thankful for my suppliers and my designers. I’ve mentioned the cool, one-of-a-kind projects I am able make and teach because of my husband’s design and wood working expertise, but I haven’t mentioned one of my suppliers…A.K.A. my wood guy, A.K.A. I know a guy, A.K.A. my father in law, the guy with a hobby sawmill. There is something special and unique about having a father in law whom I can go to for all my wood working needs. Most of the wood I use is scrap from various home projects. I love making art with locally sourced, natural resources!

The projects that I come up with for gifts and art classes are so cool because of my resources, the people in my life with skills and gifts that are unique.                                       ❤

The last several weeks of my life have been enriched with pompoms and that’s a good thing because making them is a therapeutic activity for me. I’ve been making pompoms for a while now and they are definitely one of my favorite creative activities. It’s the fun of choosing colors, the surprise of seeing the design unfold after cutting the yarn, the precise trimming to make it round, the feel of a little yarn puff in your hands when it’s done. They are cute, warm, unassuming, simple and easy to make…a one ingredient craft, what’s not to like? Please enjoy a few photos of the past pompom month.

Mothers’ art gathering: I love inviting local moms over to my house to create over coffee, baked goods and inspiring conversation (it’s not a closed group by any means and dads are welcome too-all are welcome). I thought of making pompoms with the suggestion that they could be turned into garland. As we got going, everybody’s gears started turning and new ideas sprouted…pompoms for gift wrap, curtain tie backs, hats, toys, and even just placed in a bowl on the coffee table. It was agreed, they all loved making these little gems over great conversation. I cherish these gatherings, I love these moms. Art brings people together, and that’s exactly what our world needs right now. ❤

This was the table after we were working. The coffee definitely had a layer of fuzz!

this is the table before we started

We used theses plastic pompom makers seen in this photo. You can get them at most craft stores.

my array of pompoms

I had the idea to stuff the pompom trimmings into a clear bulb ornament so that no scraps were wasted

The Wizard of Oz: I happily volunteered to help out with the costumes for our middle school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. I love working on costumes for drama because of the people (creative, funny, awesome people) I meet and the pure energy that theater brings. One of my jobs was making pompoms for all the munchkins to wear around their wrists or ankles attached with a piece of elastic. I think I made around 70…it was fun!

I now have enough pompoms in my possession to decorate our Christmas tree! 🙂

My kids are so creative. My daughter found this little white pompom and made it into a little fuzzy seal. She’s 8! It’s so cute!

Wrap, cut, tie, trim, smile and repeat 🙂

I ripped out and replaced the second floor about an inch lower so there would be more playable room upstairs. It looks a lot better and more proportioned to the rest of the house.

upstairs room with added cute cat

just playing around with some furnishings

What can I do with this house when it’s finished? That’s what I think about while I work. I don’t want to keep it although my daughter may disagree since she has been playing and decorating inside. We already have a big dollhouse in our house and I’m sure the novelty of a newly renovated dollhouse will ware off. Sell it? That would be awesome to find someone who wanted to buy it. Although my thoughts tend to lean more towards the path of donation where the money raised could benefit a cause I am passionate about. For me, it’s always been animals. At the moment, these are all just thoughts that I am putting out there.

Here are a few changes in the dollhouse makeover…I ripped out the second floor, removed the trim, painted some of the rooms and added wallpaper to what I imagine will be some kind of bedroom for the kids or adults. I also made a seat for the bay window area and started the wood floors. I think the large room will be an open kitchen/living room space and the bathroom will be upstairs with another bedroom. Click here to see a before picture.

This is a beach house so I’m not sure that birch wallpaper works. Actually I am sure it doesn’t work because I already changed it to something else. 🙂

Stay tuned for more progress!

I recently found this dollhouse at an estate sale. While wandering around the house full of overpriced antiques and furniture, (that were not my style) I decided to check out the basement and found this little house. A fixer upper for sure. $15 dickered down from $20. SOLD.

I thought it had a unique shape, worth fixing up!

This is exactly what it looked like when I found it. Once loved but neglected over the years.

It was full of cobwebs, dirt, dust and dried up spiders.

A look inside…there were some cool miniatures inside that I may be able to reuse.

After visiting Anna Maria Island on the west coast of Florida this summer, I was thinking my next dollhouse makeover would have to be a beach house owned by a family who love manatees. After dusting and cleaning, I started to paint the outside and also added wood flooring on the outside. I think what really sold me on this dollhouse was the roof porch. As I mentioned before, lofts and second floor porches were always my favorite as a kid. I love driving around beach towns and seeing all the decks built up on roof tops so people can get a glimpse of the ocean from their homes.

Here is my progress so far. I’m not really sure how the rooms will lay out in the end but will find out soon enough!