Sylvia Anderson

New Year and New Site!

2012-01-25T19:47:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012! Wow...it's been a long time since I have updated...too long really! What's new and exciting you ask? Some new sterling and cabochon pieces are in the works and I have re-vamped my website and you can now purchase directly from my site, which is great for those that don't like to shop on Etsy. I am really excited about the change and will continue adding new pieces as time allows. You can check it out here...

I have also designed a new logo as seen on the new banner here on my blog, website and on Etsy...putting my Photoshop skills to the test. I enjoy pushing myself to learn new techniques with Photoshop, and since I was long overdue for a banner make-over I decided to jump in and see what I could come up with. I am happy with the results and will probably keep this one around for a while.

I'll be back soon with some sneak peeks of upcoming new work...

What I'm Working On....

2011-07-25T16:16:00.001-07:00

It's been far too long since I've updated my blog, so I thought it would be great to jump back in with a post about things I'm currently working on here in my studio, and since it was also selected as this month Aspiring Metalsmith's Blog roll theme, it was perfect timing! I always have many projects going at once...sometimes certain ones will be put on the "back burner" while I work on new idea that comes up, or because I have customer orders to fill, or just because I am not inspired to sit and finish them. The picture above shows a pretty Sillimanite faceted bead and a sterling silver ring, which will eventually become a hammered hoop necklace. I started on this one piece back in April.

This picture below is my sketch of the next stone set piece I'll be working on, featuring two cabs cut by Laura of Cabbing Rough. They are so pretty together, and will be blooming into a pretty flower themed necklace! You can see the sketch next to it, which I did for the finished necklace that's in my shop currently....you can see how it turned out here. I always do up a couple of sketches when deciding how I was to set a cabochon. I find it helps a lot to have something to refer back to, and I make changes as I go. This is the first rough sketch for this piece.
This next picture shows a simple set of three sterling rings, which still need to be textured and polished, and will be listed in my shop soon. I use my old Looney Tunes mouse pad under my bench block so I don't scratch my table....I love the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes! Whose your favorite character? Mine is a toss up between Michigan J. Frog and Gossamer....
And lastly are these sweet kitty and baby whale pendants still waiting to be sawed out and finished. I sketched these out over two years ago, and these poor creatures have been waiting to come to life for far too long. One of these days I'll get around to them.... I hope anyway! :)
And that's what I'm working on here.....to see what my fellow team mates are working on in their studios, please check out the links below.

Loving My Rocks!!

2011-02-23T10:10:00.000-08:00

I have become quite the stone collector in the last year....I've always been a collector of things...all of my life....it's in my blood. My passion for rocks started last year when I realized that I could actually incorporate them into my art, and share their beauty with others. How exciting it is, to take something from the earth, that in some cases is millions of years old, and turn it into a piece of wearable art that can be enjoyed for years to come!

Their allure is undeniable....the sparkle of druzy entices me....
The beauty and mystery of tiny transparent windows tingles my imagination...
The power of stunning turquoise calls to my soul....
And I can't resist the sparkling crystals that catch my eye, and make me stare with wonderment and awe....
Such things of tiny beauty....so amazing....so interesting....some may say they are just rocks, stones, just hardened hunks of earth....but really they are so much more.....
I love looking at my rock collection...and really, I do hope to make some jewelry with them, to share with others....really I do...but, some are just so pretty, just so amazing, that I may not be able to part with them....they may have to stay here with me just a little while longer.....
I'm sure you'll understand....right? I mean, we all have our vices....and some of these recently acquired stones, I just couldn't bear to part with....they are just so stunning!
Please take a peek at my fellow Aspiring Metalsmith's blog posts, to see their rock collections. Maybe you'll be enticed to start a new collection yourself! :)

Autumn Bradley - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com/
Clarity @ Scrollwork Designs - http://thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com/
Stacy Low - http://www.formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com
Chrissi Lynn Designs - http://www.chrissilynn.blogspot.com
Sylvia Anderson - http://www.sylviaanderson.blogspot.com/
Jessica @ Abella Blue - http://www.abellablue.com/blog
Contemporary Jewelry by Beatriz Fortes - http://cjbf.blogspot.com/
Esmeralda - http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/
Steph Stargell - http://www.stephstargell.com
Pennee - http://allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Silver Pearl Jewelry and Metalworks - http://silverpearlmetalworks.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/show-us-your-stones/#more-4
ArtistiKat - http://artistikat-scratchingpost.blogspot.com/
Claire - brightstar109.blogspot.com/

My Humble Metalsmithing Journey....

2011-01-24T21:16:00.000-08:00

This months Aspiring Metalsmiths group blogroll theme is to show the first piece of jewelry that we made and talk about where we started. Well, I don't think I have a picture of the actual first piece of jewelry that I made, due to my computer crashing last year, but I was able to dig up a photo of some pieces made shortly after, and that were pretty much along the same lines. I have always loved jewelry, and bought a few books with projects that seemed right up my alley, and then started playing....

These collage charm pendants were made a few years ago, using glass, copper foil tape, decorative papers and vintage images. I soldered them closed using silver based soft-solder, flux and a soldering iron....much like working with stained glass.

From there I bought a few more books, and taught myself to do some basic wire wrapping, and started working with gemstone beads, and sterling silver...here is one of the first necklaces that I made utilizing those techniques.

After making many charm necklaces, and wire wrapped necklaces and earrings, I felt I was ready to push my skills to the next level, and signed up for a four day intensive beginning silversmithing class at my local lapidary shop. I was hooked! Here is the first completed metalsmithed piece that came out of that class...I hand sawed out the pieces, forged the metal, soldered the bail, oxidized and polished it. I used several different tools and equipment...and learned a lot along the way.

I started putting my new found skills to work by adding simple soldered pieces like this sterling floral bangle to my jewelry portfolio. I have made many of these over the last year, and they helped improve my techniques and finishing skills.
So all of these little steps...working with new materials, trying new techniques, reading and learning...pushing myself to that next step, brings me to where I am today, and where I hope to go. These are two pieces that I have completed in the last two weeks...I think they are good examples of where I am headed on this journey. I hope you'll stay along for the ride. :)

Please take some time to stop by my fellow Aspiring Metalsmither's and read about their humble beginnings by clicking the links below.

Jessica - www.abellablue.com/blog
Clarity - www.thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com
Claire - http://brightstar109.blogspot.com
Stacy - http://formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com/
Pennee - http://allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Brandy - http://thefrogspond.wordpress.com
Gloria - http://gloria-hemlockhollow.blogspot.com/
Joy - http://www.joypeckjoy.blogspot.com/
Autumn - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com
Gayle - http://www.thisartistsjourney.blogspot.com
Esmeralda - http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/

Happy 2011!!!

2011-01-09T09:36:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I am a bit late with my first post of the new year, but I wanted to wait until I had something interesting to post about. I finally finished my first new piece of the year and listed it in my Etsy shop yesterday. This is a one of a kind champagne quartz heart necklace....Valentine's Day is around the corner, and I wanted to get a jump start on it!

I love how this necklace turned out, and I hope that it will make someone very happy this year.

I entered it into a contest as well....The Handmade Gift Guide is running a Valentine's Day themed contest, and the winner will get a free spot in the showcase. If you'd like to vote for my necklace you can do that here.....mine is at the very bottom...number 32. The contest runs for three more days...thanks in advance for sharing your love! :)

In other news, I am on an early Spring cleaning spree, throwing out the old, and organizing as I go. My studio is in a bit of a shambles after the holiday's so I am starting there, and working my way through the house. I hope to get that finished up in the next week. Having a clean space helps my creativity I think, or at least I don't feel guilty thinking I should be doing something else while I'm working in my studio!

I been amassing a collection of gorgeous new cabochons and beads in the last year, and will be introducing a new line of jewelry soon. I am excited, and can't wait to share it with everyone, but I have to finish a few pieces first to get things rolling! Stay tuned for some sneak peaks....

I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011!

I'm Baaaaaaccckkkk!!

2010-11-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

Many of you have asked...what happened? Where have you been? Why haven't you updated your blog? I guess I must have experienced "blog burnout" or something of the like. I can't explain it other than to say that the last year, and yes, it's been over a year since I last updated...has been a full one for me and for my family! Too many things have happened to give a quick update about, but the biggest one was that we moved, and after being in our last house for over 8 years, that was really an undertaking for us. After we finally got the last load brought over to the new house, I vowed to stop being a pack rat, and have come to live by the mantra "clean and clutter-free"! Of course one place that is very difficult for me to follow those words is in my studio....where I spend the most time of course. Which brings me to why I am finally posting after a so long....

I am a member of a wonderful group of very talented artists called The Aspiring Metalsmiths. This month the topic for us to write about on our blogs was to "Show us your Work Space" and I thought, what a fabulous way to kick start myself into keeping my blog updated and to jump in and get writing again! So without further ado, here are pictures of my studio in the new house.

So this first picture is a shot of part of my bookcase which is on the left wall as you come into the room. I didn't show the lower shelves, because there really wasn't much interesting on those.

Then on the wall opposite from the doorway, is my large painting table, where I create mixed media designs. I love this huge table and drawers that I got at Ikea this year!!!

And this shot shows the other side of my painting table..

And as we continue around the room, we get to my other Ikea table which is where I do my wire wrapping and jewelry assembly at. This is where I spend a lot of time at, and so it's a bit messier. And next to my jewelry table is my workbench, where I solder and finish all of my jewelry at. My workbench is the dirtiest place in my studio due to the nature of metalsmithing work. The soldering process is very messy, and polishing is even worse. That's why my bench is in front of my only window, so that I can get plenty of ventilation while working! I always wear a particle mask while working as well as safety goggles...because you never know when a piece of metal might take flight, not to mention the toxic fumes and dust that happens while working with metal and compounds.

On my bench above, you can see that I use firebrick to protect my bench, plus my flex shaft which I would be lost without, and several tools and supplies that I use daily. My tanks are secured below, and I protect the carpet using a heavy plastic chair mat that I got from an office supply store. Here is a close up picture of my soldering station....

You can really see how dirty soldering can get! The black things are pieces of my charcoal block which have disintegrated. They are still usable though, and I will continue using the bits and pieces until they are much smaller. The dust around is from polishing and finishing work.

The last picture is of my desk and computer, which is to the right of my bench. I spend far too much time here! :)

Thank you for taking a tour of my studio. If you enjoy seeing where artists create, I encourage you to take a peek my teammates blogs, where they are also sharing their work spaces this month. :)

All Wired Up Jewelry Designs – http://allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Brandy, The Frogs Pond – http://thefrogspond.wordpress.com/
Carole Axium – http://www.caroleaxiumdesigns.com/journal/
Clarity, Scrollwork Designs – http://www.thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com
Esmeralda, SilverBlueberry – http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/
Golden Water Creations – http://www.goldenwatercreations.blogspot.com
Heather, Misty Ridge Designs – http://mistyridgedesigns.blogspot.com/
Jessica Lopour – http://www.abellablue.com/blog
Joy – http://joypeckjoy.blogspot.com/
Nancy Creations – http://nancysjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Stacy (Form and Funktion) – http://formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com/

Lisa, Sandy Toes Jewelry - http://sandytoesjewelry.blogspot.com/

Gloria, Hemlock Hollow - http://gloria-hemlockhollow.blogspot.com/

Julie A. Mauerer, JAMauerer - http://jamauerer.blogspot.com/2010/11/i-just-remembered-i-have-blog.html

Fall is Here!

2009-09-30T04:32:00.000-07:00

My good friend Iva has been politely reminding me that I haven't made a new blog post in quite some time...and she's right of course! I have really been neglecting my poor blog, so I am finally here to post a small update before I head off on a plane to Portland today to attend the Art & Soul retreat. I was very busy in August and September preparing for the fabulous Tinsel & Treasures show, which was even better than last years show! Thanks to Iva and Colleen for going all out to make the artists feel welcomed and to put on such an amazing event. I didn't really take any pictures at the show, so please do stop by Iva's show blog to see examples of some amazing art from the show.

The pictures above are some of the new things I have been working on this year....fun Halloween paintings, and whimsical birds are available in my mixed media Etsy shop, and new jewelry designs are available in my other Etsy shop.

For those of you that will be in Portland this week, I look forward to seeing you and saying "hi" and meeting some of you for the very first time! I will try to be back soon with pictures from this fabulous art retreat. :)

Tinsel & Treasures Update!

2009-07-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

Show of Friends
I can't wait for the Second Annual Tinsel and Treasures Show , Sept. 12, in our new location in Alamo, CA. I call many of these talented women friends and can't wait to meet the new faces who have been added this year! But the big news is that a new blog for the show was unveiled today!

TinselandTreasures.typepad.com features two of the show artists, Susan Bartolucci of Tinsel and Whimsy and Sally Case . You'll learn more about them and even find a few pictures of the talented craftsmanship that goes into their unique art. After you read a little about them, visit their blogs to see the latest news coming from their studios.

You'll also find the show line up on the new Tinsel and Treasures blog. And while you're there, don't forget to sign up for the blog e-newsletter in the left column. Every week until the show, two more artists will be featured, complete with photos and interesting tidbits. Plus, you may even get a sneak peek at some of the art that will be available for purchase that day. Plan to be there early too to get the best selection!

Look forward to seeing you Sept. 12, 9 am - 2 pm, at the Alamo Women's Club in Alamo, CA!

Dreaming....

2009-06-17T21:44:00.001-07:00

Of a time when imagination sparks, and wings give you flight....to go on a journey to magical lands! Oh what fun we will have! This is a beeswax collage project that I have the pleasure of teaching to a small group this coming Saturday afternoon. I will share photo's of their finished collages so you can see the journey that their imaginations lead them on. Working with old papers, photo's and tidbit's is always so enjoyable for me, and as I work, I sit and wonder who might have held these old items, and I ponder about the lives those children might have led.

I have always loved the original H.G. Wells The Time Machine movie, and how I dreamed of being able to go back in time someday! Another of my favorites was Somewhere in Time, with Christopher Reeve...what an amazing love story. Mostly, I just thought it would be very cool to have my own personal time machine so that I could visit the past, and the future too. And the design they came up with for the original time machine pictured above is pretty neat!

Of course we can't forget about the magic of the Back to the Future movies...and that DeLorean is a really sweet ride too! The problem I think lies in the fact that both of these times machines had some mechanical failures and flaws, so maybe it's time for someone to invent the perfect time machine....one that is stylin' and works like clockwork, with no breakdowns or goof up's with the time travel part. I know that I'd buy one for sure! :)

A Friend's Fabulous Giveaway!

2009-05-29T19:56:00.001-07:00

Hurry, and run over to my friend Johanna Parker's blog to enter her giveaway for this fabulous piece of Halloween folk art! What a generous gesture to host this giveaway, and I can tell you from personal experience that her creations are truly unique and amazing! The attention to detail, and her wonderful faces make each piece special, and a joy to own. :) Good luck to you!

Etsy Item of the Day!

2009-05-26T06:14:00.001-07:00

I am proud to have one of my items selected as the "Etsy item of the day" on this fabulous website! They chose my tea spoon curio necklace "Nostalgie" available in my Etsy shop for purchase. This necklace features an antique tintype of a sweet girl mounted in an old spoon and I have added vintage watch parts to hang from the bottom. A very unique piece! Check out this wonderful site, as they feature something new each day!

It's Been a Busy Spring!

2009-05-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

I realized today that it's been far too long since my last blog post...more than a month! Where does the time go? It seems that ever since I turned 40 this year, time is flying by faster than I would like. I have taken on the opinion that I am not going to let it bother me, but I have to admit, that some days it does, and I wish I could slow the world down and enjoy it a bit more. My spring has been filled with spending a lot of quality time with my family...birthday parties, outdoor activities, school functions, and sneaking in a bit of time to produce new jewelry designs...my newest creative interest! Scroll down for pictures. :)

A year has gone by since my grandpa Joe left this world for someplace better, and I know he is always smiling down at us...but I still miss him terribly, and wish he were here.Simon is almost finished with Kindergarten, and just turned 6 a few weeks ago! My little guy is getting to be almost as tall as me!I hope your Spring has been as lovely as mine and even though it's officially not Summer yet, it sure feels like it here in California where we've had 100 degree plus days for the last three days. Swimsuits and back yard BBQ's, here we come! :) Here are some new pieces that have been listed in my Etsy shop.

New Etsy Shop Open

2009-04-04T13:16:00.001-07:00

I have decided it is time to separate my jewelry from my other artistic endeavors, so I have opened a new Etsy shop that will house my one of a kind paper mache items, vintage goodies, collage, mixed media, and anything else that I create! You can still find my jewelry creations in my original Etsy shop, and I will be adding more interesting items to my new Etsy shop later this week. Stop by and take a peek! :)

Hop into Spring Sale!

2009-03-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

I am welcoming in the beginning of Spring by having a 20% off sale in my Etsy shop this Saturday and Sunday March 21st and 22nd. Plus, every purchase will get your name entered into a drawing for a surprise gift worth $15! The drawing will be held on Monday morning, and the gift will be shipped at no extra charge with the winner's purchase. Stop on by this weekend and Happy Spring to you! :)

Local Fundraising Auction

2009-02-24T11:15:00.001-08:00

I am participating in a fundraiser for our local co-op preschool, and there are some great items being offered! Some of the items are local for those living in Sacramento, and others are goods that can be shipped to you. I have donated the necklace pictured above, as well as, a $25 gift certificate for my Etsy shop, or any special order item. Here is the link where you can see and bid on some great things, and help out the kids at a wonderful school! The auction runs through March 30th and they are accepting cash donations too. :) Thanks for looking!

Saturday Night Special Sale in my Etsy Shop Tonight!

2009-02-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Stop by my Etsy shop tonight from 5pm EST through tomorrow morning February 22 at 6am EST. Everything is on sale! :)

New Items On Etsy and Upcoming Class

2009-02-15T17:40:00.001-08:00

I have added a few new items to my Etsy shop....a Magical Man in the Moon.....
Stormy Seas in Blue and Grey~ wire wrapped labradorite earrings....
And April showers bring May Flowers~ A sweet little field mouse under a pretty flower! In addition to these new items, I have been doing some "spring cleaning" in my shop, and marked down most of last years pieces to make way for new in 2009 items. I am working on several new designs, most of which will be in sterling silver....my new passion. I will still have sculpted pieces in paper mache and clay, as well as collage and mixed media works, but I have recently taken a silversmithing class, and am enjoying working with metal these days.

I am please to have been accepted to teach at the 2009 Art & Soul Retreat in Portland OR.! You can get all of the details on my class here. If you have never been to an A&S retreat you are missing out! This is an incredible experience for all who attend...bonding with fellow artists, laughing, learning, shopping, eating, and just an all around great time. I am happy to answer any questions about my Tea Spoon Curio Pendant class that you may have, and I encourage to check out the line up of all the amazing instructors that will be teaching at this event. I hope to see you there! :)

Coraline: First Look

2009-02-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen this movie yet, but after watching these two behind the scene's making of Coraline, I sure want to!! Take a few minutes to watch these...they are so interesting, and the steps they go through are amazing!

Coraline First Look Part 1

Coraline First Look Part 2

Saturday Night Special Sale in my Etsy Shop Tonight!

2009-02-07T17:26:00.000-08:00

Please stop by to save 20% off of any item in my Etsy shop today February 7th through tomorrow morning February 8th at 6am EST. Just enter SNS in the comments section when checking out, and I will send you an updated invoice with the correct total showing the 20% savings. I am doing some spring cleaning in my shop to make room for new items being added later this month. You can visit my Etsy shop here.

I have been absent from my blog for too long, spending time with family, and taking a much need break. :) I hope to be back into the swing of things now, and will be posting updates more regularly, including news of upcoming events, and previews of my new line of sterling silver jewelry designs. Thanks to the nagging of many friends, I decided to come out of hiding today, and wish you all a happy and prosperous 2009!

Holiday Santa on Etsy

2008-11-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....and this jolly fellow is available in my Etsy shop today! Click here to see more pictures and to purchase. Happy Holidays! :)

Winter Snowgirl with Vintage Trimmings in my Etsy shop

2008-11-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

This piece is available today in my Etsy shop. She is part of Etsy's Co-Op AD in the new issue of Home Companion magazine on sale now. She is all bundled up for winter and would make a wonderful addition to your Holiday decor!
Winter is just around the corner, and we are just feeling the first signs of it here in Sacramento California....it has been raining since yesterday, and I just love the rain! I hope you are all enjoying the weather in your neck of the woods, as I am here today. :)

Winter is in the air....

2008-10-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

If you receive Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine, you will see a full page AD showcasing many of the wonderful things that you can buy on Etsy.com! I was lucky enough to secure a spot in this Co-Op AD, and featured the piece above to represent my work. This feminine snowgal will be available for purchase in my Etsy shop this Saturday November 1st by noon Pacific time. So please check back then if you are interested!

If you live in Northern California you mustn't miss American Harvest's open house this Saturday and Sunday November 1st and 2nd! This will be a wonderful kick off to the holiday season where you will find fabulous artwork by many local artists including myself, and my good friend's Iva Wilcox, and Donna O'Brien. The open house runs from 10a to 5p on Saturday and 11a to 5p on Sunday, and people always line up early in anticipation for all of the new one of a kind delights that will be there. Below are just a few of the pieces that I have made especially for their open house, and if you are not able to attend in person, you can always contact the store by phone as they are able to ship items directly to their customers!

In addition to whipping some new holiday goodies, I was able to sneak in some fun family time at the Exploratorium. This is a fabulous learning museum with tons of hands on activities for children and adults of all ages. It was one of my favorite places to go when I was young, and so it was a joy to take my son Simon there for his first visit. Here he is making large bubbles....

And with dad watching gravity pull the metal marbles down into the funnel.
I also had the one of the most amazing experiences attending the Art & Soul retreat in Portland at the beginning of October with my good friend Teresa. Here we are out shopping after a day of classes...gotta get my shopping fix in! :)
I was only able to take pictures during one of my classes, and that was a class I took from Michael DeMeng. He is an amazing teacher, and I learned a tremendous amount of tips and techniques in his class! Here are a few pictures of his work...he was kind enough to let me shoot them. If you are not familiar with his work, please take some time to check out his book...it's fabulous!

Teresa and I stopped into a fun little shop called Paperdoll in Portland one night after class. This shop is filled to the brim with rubber stamps and supplies...I was in heaven!! If you are ever in the Portland area, take some time to visit this shop...the owner is a sweetie, and you won't be disappointed in their unique selection! Here are a few pics I shot of her shop....

I love this front window display!!
During my time in Portland, I spied a rainbow as Teresa and I were headed out to lunch. I shot this picture through the window, so it's hard to tell, but it was a vibrant and amazing rainbow! A treat for the eyes, and that was how my entire trip was...a creative treat for my soul. I am already looking forward to next year! I have more pictures to post from trip and will be back soon to share those with you. :)

New Fall Folk Art & Jewelry!

2008-09-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

Please take a peek at my Etsy shop today to see new one of a kind fall Folk Art creations in paper mache, and fun new jewelry pieces including vintage charm bracelets, two sided old postcard image necklaces, and the unique Steampunk necklace pictured above. Happy Fall!

A Fabulous Show filled with Fantabulous Folk Art & Friends!

2008-09-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

It was an amazing day for all that participated and came to enjoy it! I met several new friends, and was able to visit and catch up with old friends too. We laughed and had a wonderful time, and the best part was being able to see all of the incredible art by my fellow artists! Please enjoy the pictures, and accept my apologizes in advance....my camera was giving me some problems shooting indoors yesterday, and many of my pictures did not come out good. Also, I was not able to take a picture of Connie's wonderful table of treasures, but I encourage you to pop over to Donna's blog where you can see much better pictures of the show, including one of Connie's table. Above is Iva's table....she outdid herself putting this show together, and still found time to make some amazing works of art! Below is a smaller table that Iva set up showcasing the latest issue of Somerset Studio magazine where she has a featured piece! Thank you Iva for all of the hard work and effort you put into Tinsel and Treasures....it was a huge success! :) Please click on these pictures....they all enlarge!

Here are some of Colleen's festive Holiday dolls and decorations! I just love her pumpkin gal in white with vintage orange trim!

Here is Colleen's other table....breathtaking!

More of Colleen's pumpkin head shakers and this amazing doll on top of a vintage pumpkin lantern! Too cool!!

These lovelies were jaw dropping...vintage trims, the tiniest details, and hand work all make these one of a kind dolls a must have work of art! My picture just does not do them justice.

Here is a shot of Donna's table...these pictures speak for themselves...delightful! It was hard to pick a favorite piece on her table...they were all amazing!

Her incredible crowns fit for a queen....they were all sold out as quick as you could blink an eye! I know all of the ladies out there will enjoy them.... :)

One of Donna's theaters....love the tiny details and trims on this one!

Some more beautiful pieces.....the wee silver boots are charming!

I love this piece too....wonderful colors and trims!

Here is sweet Ulla's display....I love her pumpkin headed mannequin, and the skeleton gal all dressed up was a creative touch!

Here are some of Ulla's reliquaries....each a lovely and unique work of art! Stop by Ulla's blog to see more of her one of a kind jewelry creations!

Here is Gina's table, and I am so sorry that I wasn't able to get better pictures of her work! Her girls are so fun and each has it's own personality....just lovely! Stop by her website to see more pictures of her art.

And last but not least, is my table display below. :) I still have a few new one of a kind pieces available for purchase and will be showcasing them for sale next Saturday September 20th at noon pacific time, in my Etsy shop, so please stop in and see what's new for Fall!

Thank you again to Iva, and to Colleen for helping to make this a special day for all of us! :) I am already looking forward to next year's show!

My New Friends Are Getting All Dressed Up...

2008-09-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

And bringing all of their goodies along too...Tinsel and Treasures is almost here! I hope you can join us for the big event! :)

6 Days and Counting.....

2008-09-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

Before my new Fall Friends make their debut at the Tinsel & Treasures Show in Danville Ca. on Saturday September 13, 2008. Magic and mystery await you!

Tinsel and Treasures!

2008-08-26T20:09:00.001-07:00

I am taking a short hiatus as I finish new items for the upcoming Tinsel and Treasures show on Saturday September 13th. For those of you in California, this show will be a fabulous kick off for fall, with wonderful sculpted folk art, one of a kind jewelry creations, mixed-media collage, whimsical crowns, and beautifully dressed dolls! There will be a mix of both Fall/Halloween and Christmas, as well as items that can be enjoyed year round. Please check out the website for all of the details by clicking the link above. This is a "must see" show so mark your calendars! :)

Spooky Sparkle & Wax.....

2008-08-09T22:04:00.001-07:00

Stop by PFATT Marketplace tonight and see what's new for August....I am getting a jump start on fall...and things are a little spooky! :)

Summertime....

2008-07-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

Wait a minute...snowman in summertime!??? Is something wrong with this picture? Nope...it's Holly Jolly July over at PFATT Marketplace right now, and the snowman guy above is a new collage piece I created just for this event! I was also lucky enough to be chosen as the featured artist for the month of July, so you can read all about how I got started on my artistic journey, and what inspires me. You can check it out here.
This looks a little more like summer! I only had one chance to snap this pic of a pretty butterfly feeding in my front yard before it flew away....
Here are some of my recent summertime flea market finds....love the vintage ballet slippers!!
Part of our fourth of July celebration included a stop in Santa Cruz for some fun in the sun at the beach.....
And at the boardwalk! It felt great to dip our toes in the ocean, and we had a blast on all of the rides!

Here's a recent steampunk necklace I created using antique glass beads, watch parts, and a tintype photograph. I just love how this one turned out!

Try to stay cool this summer, and I hope you are able to have a lot of summertime fun of your own!

New Antique Optical Mini Collage Charm Pendants

2008-06-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

I finished up a few last minute Americana pendants and I just had to throw in a fun little piggy and a frog prince! These are all one of a kind new original designs for 2008. If you are interested in any of these you can find them in my Etsy Shop. I can ship them out to you so that you will have them in time for your 4th of July festivities! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. :)

Pfreaky PFATT Pfright in June.....BOO!

2008-06-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

The piece above is available this month on PFATT Marketplace. I designed it especially for the annual Halloween in June celebration that we have...it's always a lot of fun! Be sure to stop by and throw your name in the hat for the wonderful door prizes that we are giving away too.

My very talented friend Colleen Moody created the lovely doll pictured above....isn't she stunning! Colleen has tagged me to list 6 Unimportant Things about myself. Thanks Colleen! ;) OK here goes....I hope this doesn't bore you all....

1. I love the ocean. Someday I hope that I'll be able to retire there with my husband...buy a little house on or near the beach and be able to enjoy it every day.

2. I have a HUGE sweet tooth! I especially love ice cream, and cheesecake..anything chocolate..YUM!

3. I only get my hair cut about twice a year. My hair grows pretty fast, but I hate having to go and get it cut, so I always put it off until I just can't stand it anymore.

4. I secretly enjoy playing video games with my son Simon. We have fun playing together, but sometimes I find myself enjoying it more than him, LOL!

5. I sleep in whenever I can, which isn't very often, but I try just the same. I love not having to wake up to an alarm clock, and usually only set one if I absolutely have to.

6. My favorite vegetables are green...artichokes, zucchini, broccoli, and green beans. In fact, I like the color green a lot I guess, as it shows up a lot in my house, and my art!

Here are the rules of the Tag;

1.Link back to the person that tagged you.
2.Post these rules on your blog.
3.Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4.Tag six people at the end of your entry.

So Tag "You're It!".....here are my six participants;

Jamie of Peach Street's Blog
Lorraine PieCake Primitive's
Elaine of Artful Spirit
Sue of Tinsell and Whimsy
Michelle of The Blackberry Briar
Lone Pierett~ Dollmaker Extraordinaire!

Below are new pictures of the mural...still in progress. We had hoped to have it finished up by the end of May, but things were very busy for everyone in May, so we are still working on it.

I am almost finished with Thomas and Sir Topham Hat!
Doo, doo, doo, da, doo...Inspector Gadget......

And here's how it looks so far.....
This is a picture that I snapped on one of my recent trips to the flea market. I just love these vintage finds mounted under the domes...so interesting!
Thank you again to all that wrote and left comments after my grandfather passed away last month. It has been a slow healing process for myself and my family, and I appreciate so much all of the kindness that you shared from your hearts. :) Thank you.

In Loving Memory of my Grandpa Joe

2008-05-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

Joseph Henry Matthews was born on June 9th, 1929 and lived a long and full life. He was a loving husband of almost 60 years to my grandmother Karen.....

A wonderful father of 4, grandfather of 9, and great-grandfather of 11. Here he is holding me when I was about three or four in this fun family portrait I call "The Matthews Bunch"
He was blessed with the gift of musical talent.....
And shared that gift through the teaching of many students for over 37 years.....
Including myself, although I must admit I wasn't a very good student, as I never did learn to play that clarinet....
He had an adventurous spirit, and loved the outdoors....
And he had a great sense of humor! :)He aways made time to share the important moments of my life, and the lives of all that he cared for....
And I will always remember the good times and special moments that we shared together....
Thank you for all that you were, and all that you did.....I love you Grandpa Joe, and I miss you.

June 9th, 1929 - May 15th, 2008

A Pirate's Tale Continues.....

2008-05-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

BOOM! A pirate ship's cannon fires a warning blast. The explosion rocks a nearby merchant ship. Musket balls fly. Grenades explode. A wounded helmsman staggers. He lets go of the ship's wheel, and the ship swings around crazily. Flames flicker everywhere. Pistols fire. Pirates, screaming threats, board the merchant ship, swinging axes and cutlasses.

Hissing through his teeth, Blackbeard—one of the most dreaded pirates who ever lived—jumps to the deck. He stands tall and lean. Pieces of rope burn like fuses among coils of his black hair. Sashes stuffed with pistols and daggers crisscross his huge chest. Black ribbons flap from the braids in his beard. Terrified sailors flee. Blackbeard and his fierce crew have pirated The Bonnee Lass, and taken our regal Queen of the Soirée, the lovely Miss Donna!!

I rush over to Captain Jack, Adam, and Jerry (The Puffy Shirt) Seinfeld...."Will one of ye be man enough to rescue our Queen and save the ship from Blackbeard and his crew?" I ask?

Adam Ant draws his guns and starts to come forward….

But, Cap'n Jack (AKA Johnny) steps up and pushes Adam back.... "I will save the fair maiden....but may I have a spot of rum before I leave?" he asks.

Me thinks he has already partaken of the ale....

Will Captain Jack rescue Queen Donna? Will he free the ship from Blackbeard and his crew? Who shall be named the new Queen of the Soirée? And what of the "Puffy Shirt"? To Be Continued....

In honor of Donna’s Swashbuckler Soiree, I have created Blackbeard’s Necklace which will be available for purchase in my Etsy shop today. Thank you Donna for hosting this fun and exciting event, and for taking us all along with you on this magical journey!

Thank you also to Lisa at Heart of the Nest for providing the fun picture of Donna in all her finery! Part of "A Pirate's Tale Continues" was taken from Blackbeard~Pirate Terror at Sea as written on the National Geographic website.

Pictures, Pictures, and You Guessed it, More Pictures!

2008-04-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...so I have included a lot of pictures in this post, and few words....I think you'll all get the gist....this is what I have been up to in the month of April. First up, more lovely photo's from my day with the Pfattie's~

I was sneaky and snapped a pic of Iva and Colleen when they weren't looking ....shhhhhhh don't tell! :) They both found some fabulous treasures that day!

And here they are...the Pfattie's!
My little guy isn't so little anymore...Simon turned 5 on Monday the 28th....Happy Birthday Simon! :) Oh, and if you're wondering why there are more than 5 candle's on the cake, it's because we celebrated my mom's birthday too, which was on the 26th.
Roller coaster fun with Dad.....
Hangin' with Spongebob at Great America!
Being silly with Mom.....
Updated mural pictures....

This painting represents the preschool that Simon attends....it's a work in progress, designed by one of his classmates, a talented 5 year old girl named Jamie
Here is the start of my Thomas the Tank painting..Simon Loves Thomas!
This is the school district logo...we painted it on a separate board and then mounted it to the wall
Here's how it looks currently~

Aye Mateys~ don't miss the Swashbuckler Soiree this Saturday May 3rd, or ye be walkin' the plank!
I am working on some new pieces for Donna's Soiree this Saturday, so please drop by and join in on the fun!

Busy as a Bumble Bee!!

2008-04-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

That's how I've felt for the past several weeks...constantly running from one place to another, trying to complete several projects at once, and never catching up! Below are several pictures of the progress we have made on the mural in the last two weeks. I will be painting again all day tomorrow, and will have more pictures to post this weekend, so please stay tuned!

The lovely and talented Miss Donna O'Brien is hosting a smashing Swashbuckler Soiree ....oh what fun!! Don't miss the excitement....rush over to her blog now to join in on the upcoming festivities!
Here are several pictures of the mural in progress...and a couple of the high school students that are helping us complete it.

And here is what it looks like today. More pictures coming soon!
About a week and a half ago, I had the pleasure of catching up with the Pfatties at PFATT PFEST 2008, in Alameda at the monthly flea market. What a fun day we had, and it was wonderful getting to meet all of the ladies that had traveled from all over the US! Many of these gals I have known from online groups for several years, so it was so nice to finally put a face to their names. :) I shot several photos that day, and will share them with you in a separate post soon, but I wanted to show you the goodies that I purchased that day....some wonderful vintage finds to use in my art....

Here is one of the pictures that I shot in a dealers booth...I just love the old bear, and the pretty birds nest under the glass dome! I will share more eye candy pics with you in the next couple of days, so check back soon.

Mural Progress & New Gocco Art Cards!

2008-04-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

I LOVE my new Gocco!! It arrived from Japan a week ago, but I was so busy working on the mural that I didn't have time to play with it right away. I wanted to try it out using some imagery that everyone loves, Alice in Wonderland. I burned my screens and printed the note cards above in classic black ink on cream. I love how they turned out, and each one has slight variations due to the nature of screen printing by hand. If you are interested in purchasing these, they are available in my Etsy Shop now.

Here are a couple of pictures on the progress we've made in the last week on the mural. We got all of the grid, letters and numbers transferred up onto the wall, and started painting the base coat colors behind each letter. The letters and numbers, and the border around it will be painted in black, and the Center Unified logo will be a separate large circle of wood that will be mounted in the center of the banner. The high school students are doing a great job helping out with this, and I will have more pictures to show you next week!

A new Giveaway~~~Hurry over to Doreen's blog to sign up for her 100th post giveaway! You have until the 10th to sign up for some wonderful primitive goodies. Congratulations Doreen!

Are you a "Pink" girl? In the past I would have said no....preferring blues and greens to pink. But when it was time to upgrade my cell phone, which one caught me eye??? The pink one! I just love it!! It has little pink crystals and pink numbers that light up on the keypad, and it slides up to open...how fun is that? So I guess I am a "Pink" girl now!

A GIANT Blank Canvas....

2008-04-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

This is by far the largest "blank canvas" that I have ever worked on. This is a 90 foot long exterior wall that I am helping to paint a mural on. I was asked by my son's preschool to help them design and paint a mural to beautify this large wall which faces the main road that everyone travels. It will be a mural celebrating the state of California's second official school district Center Unified, which was started in 1858 and is now 150 years old! There has been a school house on this site for 150 years, starting with a small wooden, single room building back in 1858 where all grades were taught together by one teacher. Today there are several buildings on the site, and it is a combination high school, and a co-op inclusion preschool. The mural that I helped to design will span the distance between the two sets of windows, and will be a large banner that reads "150 Years Of Excellence In Education 1858-2008" with the district's official logo in the center. Each letter and number will have it's own mini mural around it, designed and painted by some of the high school students and volunteer's....sort of a mural within a mural...and will give the overall effect of a mosaic. I have spent several hours working on this project over the past month, and will post pictures as we progress. The shots above are before pictures, and the two below were taken on the day we primered and painted the base coat. We had several parent volunteer's that came and helped paint that day which made it go a lot faster!We have started to paint the base coats of the spaces behind each letter and number, and I will post more pictures in just a few days so you can see it taking shape.

I've received several emails from friends asking if I am OK and where I've been, and this is where a lot of my time as of late has been spent. Thank you for your kind emails and posts, and please know that I will do my best to keep everyone updated, but that I will be a bit "scarce" until this project is completed, hopefully by the end of May. Wish me luck! :)

Easter Greetings!

2008-03-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

I wish you all a happy and joyous Easter Holiday! :)

Springtime......

2008-03-09T13:10:00.001-07:00

I love Spring....the flowers blooming, the nice weather, and everything seems clean and fresh again! Spring is a chance for me to plan events for the rest of the year, get some cleaning and organizing done, and gather my ideas on things I would like to make, and new techniques I would like to try. Spring is a happy time of year for me. I borrowed the lovely photo above from a good friend of mine, Lana Manis of Honeysuckle Lane. She takes the most beautiful photographs and they always bring a smile to my face. Thank you Lana! :) Stop by her blog to see more of her photography and art.....you're in for a treat!

Since Easter is early this year, I only found time to make one Easter themed piece, which will debut on PFATT Marketplace tonight around midnight Pacific time. Here is a peek at my Easter Bunny Egg Theater....
A couple of weeks ago, Annie of Annie Beez Folk Art, a great gal & a very talented artist, tagged me to list six random things about myself...
Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Here are my six random facts...
1. I am a night owl....and often stay up late at night to watch a movie, or read a good book!
2. Speaking of good books...my absolute favorite author is Dean Koontz! I have read all of his books, and always pick up the new ones as they come out in hard back.
3. I am a gum chewer...I chew several pieces a day, sugarless of course! I carry a pack on me at all times.
4. My least favorite chore around the house is cleaning the bathrooms...yuck.
5. I get motion sickness very easily, and have to either drive or ride in the front seat on road trips, can't ride in boats for very long, and I don't do roller coasters.
6. I love cereal....we always have several kinds in the house, as I never know what I'll have a craving for. sometimes I'll even have a bowl at night as a treat...yum!

Here are the six people I am tagging;
Steph of Once Upon A Notion
Jamie of Peach Street's Blog
La Donna Welter
Tonya of Back Porch Pickin's
Nikki of Kaniki's
BJ of Daughternature Primitive Folkart
Thanks for the fun Annie! I'm looking forward to reading your six random things ladies, and thanks for being good sports! :)

I have also been given an award from two very nice women who are both amazing artists to boot...
Nancy Malay & Lone Pierette.....thank you both, you also make my day! :)
I would like to pass this award onto Elaine of Artful-Spirit, Lana of Honeysuckle Lane, Annie of Chickadee Primitives, and Sandy of Sam I Am Creations....their blogs inspire me, and are always a joy to read!

I hope you all are having nice Spring weather and can spend a few minutes this week taking a peek outside to see what might be blooming in your yard.

Collage Fun & More Giveaway's!

2008-02-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

This is a new one of a kind collage piece that is available on PFATT this month. I really enjoy doing mixed media and collage work in addition to my sculpted works, as it gives me a chance to incorporate antique and vintage imagery into my art. Speaking of collage...I recently had the pleasure of attending a class with two dear friends, Colleen and Iva! We had a wonderful time making an altered book with a secret drawer to hide something special in. Here is a picture of Colleen and Iva, and of some the books that were made that day by the attendee's. As you can see, we used the same elements, but they all came out very different.

It seems that giveaway fever has spread throughout blogland....so many are holding their own this month! Please stop by these wonderful blogs to throw your name in the hat for some fabulous prizes!

Lorraine of PieCake primitives, April of April's Folkart, and Colleen of Merry Wishes and Vintage Dreams. I hope that I haven't forgotten anyone, but if I have, please let me know and I will update with your giveaway info too.

I was tagged a while back by April and Sarah to list 5 random things about myself....so here goes!

1. I am a huge Dr. Seuss fan! I grew up learning to read with Dr. Seuss, and I am helping to teach my son to read with all of my favorites too! That might help to explain my quirky sense of humor about life. :)

2. I hate coffee....including anything coffee flavored like candy, cake, mocha drinks, etc. I can't stand the smell of it brewing either....churns my stomach. I know most people like coffee and will probably think that's strange, but too me it smells just awful.

3. I am a clutter-holic.....piles seem to multiply in my home, which is why you'll rarely see photographs of my house, LOL! I live in a small house, and have a hard time throwing things away, so stuff accumulates. Now, I am not as bad as the ones you see on TV where there are only paths going through each room, but I do have to say that I have more "stuff" than I really have room for, and should really get rid of a bunch of it!

4. When I was in high school, my group of friends loved the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and we used to go every Friday night, and would dress up as characters from the movie. I had very short hair back then, and so I was a perfect Columbia for those of you that are framiliar with the movie. I had the whole costume, including the top hat and tap shoes, and I'm sure our parents thought we were crazy, but we sure had fun!

5. I am always cold at home, and like to turn the heater up....hubby is always hot, and has to turn it down. And so the thermostat wars go on...day after day....year after year....with neither one of us winning. I know some of you can relate! :)

Drum Roll Please!!!

2008-02-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

Here is the box full with everyone's entries......over 150!!!
And the shuffling begins.... And more shuffling.....
And I have my name on the winning entry....it is........

Pea Picker!! Wooohooooo Congratulations!! :) Here is what Pea will receive.....

A one of a kind sculpted Queen of Hearts in an old child's shoe, three hand glittered heart ornie's, some wonderful chocolate's, and a vintage Valentine!

And now for winner of the second drawing....a thank you gift for those that posted on their blogs about my giveaway.....

Congratulations to Lynda of Scallywags Scribbles!!! You will have your choice of a Valentine's charm necklace or a custom charm necklace of your choice.

Thank you again to all that entered, and I will be in touch with the winner's shortly via email. This was so much fun!! :)

There's Still Time....

2008-01-31T09:54:00.000-08:00

To enter my Valentine's Giveaway! I will be accepting entries up until tonight at Midnight Pacific Standard time. Just leave me a comment on the "giveaway" thread below, or sign up to receive my blog updates by email at the left. I have everyone's names in the hat so far, and thank you again to all that have stopped by to enter, and have mentioned it on your blogs!! The response has been tremendous, and I am looking forward to drawing the names tomorrow! I will be posting the winner's name on my blog Friday February 1st at 2pm Pacific Time, with pictures of the giveaway prize, so please check back tomorrow afternoon. I was going to do a sneak peak, but decided that I didn't want to spoil the surprise, so....you'll have to wait just one more day! :)

New Charms!

2008-01-20T19:47:00.000-08:00

I just finished these new mini collage charm pendants. They are all one of a kind miniature collages (not photo copies!) that I make by hand cutting the various paper elements, inking the edges, and layering them onto decorative papers. The backs are finished off with a coordinating paper and have been signed and dated. I use 100% lead free solder, and they come with your choice of a 24" ball chain or a ribbon with a toggle enclosure. They are pictured in the silver finish, but I can change it to a black patina as well. The square pendants measure 1.5" by 1.5" and the rectangle pendants are 1" by 3". They are $26 each which includes shipping anywhere in the USA....please email me for international shipping charges. Please feel free to email me with any questions! sylvia@sylviaanderson.com

Here are some of the goodies I found recently while attending my local flea market and the Postcard & Paper show. You'll see these used in my upcoming art & collage work later this year.

This is one of the photo's I picked up.....a beautiful woman named Emily, born on January 14th 1918. It would have been her 90th birthday on the day I purchased this lovely photo of her. Her daughter sold me the photo, as she had a larger copy that she kept at home. Emily was the queen of a Catholic celebration....how regal she looks with her incredible gown, crown and scepter! I am looking forward to honoring Emily in a special collage piece or two.

There's still time to throw your name in the hat for my Valentine's giveaway! Just post a comment on the "giveaway" post below......also, for those of you that mention my upcoming giveaway on your blog, I am holding a separate drawing for a thank you gift. Just drop me a line to let me know that you posted about it and I will throw your name in that hat too. :)

Stay tuned for a sneak peek at the giveaway prize later this week!

Oh No, I'm Late!

2008-01-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to have some new charm pendant's available here today for purchase, but it seems life has thrown me a curve ball, and given my son and I, another cold virus. My new mini collage pendants are almost finished up, and I am so sorry that I am late in posting them. For those of you that emailed to inquire about them...my hope is to have them up by tomorrow afternoon for you to see, so please check back then.

Thank you for the tremendous response to all that have entered my Valentine's Day giveaway! There's still plenty of time, so please spread the word, and let people know that they can enter by leaving a comment on my previous post, or by signing up to receive my blog updates via email. I will be accepting names for the giveaway up until January 31st at Midnight.

I am also following Lana's lead, and for those of you that post about my giveaway on your blogs, I will hold a separate drawing for a thank you gift! Please let me know that you posted about it on your blog by leaving another comment or by emailing me at Sylvia@SylviaAnderson.com

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and stay tuned for a sneak peek in the upcoming week! :)

Sneak Peek & Valentine's Givaway!

2008-01-09T15:29:00.000-08:00

Of my new Valentine's offering on PFATT for January. This is my first new piece for 2008....a one of a kind! You'll be able to see the the rest of it tonight when PFATT is updated at Midnight Pacific Standard time.

NEWS!!! I have decided to hold a Valentine's Day giveaway to kick off the new year! It will be a goody package all done in a Valentine's day theme, and I won't spoil the surprise, but I will tell you that among the goodies will be a one of a kind piece especially designed just for this! You can enter for the giveaway by leaving me a comment on this post, or by signing up to be notified for my future blog updates in the upper left corner. Please be sure that you have your email or a link back to your blog or website listed, so that I will be able to contact you if you are the winner. I will accept names until January 31st, and will be drawing the winner's name on February 1st so that they'll receive it in plenty of time to enjoy it for the Holiday. My good friend Lana of Honeysuckle Lane's Simple Joy's is hosting her own giveaway this month, and she inspired me to do the same. Please be sure to pop over to her blog too and enter your name for her upcoming giveaway of wonderful creations. Update...for those of you that post about my giveaway on your blog, I will be holding a separate drawing for a thank you gift! Please email me to let me know that you posted about it on yours and I will throw your name in the hat.

Here are some fun little mushroom's that sprouted up in my yard today....I just love mushrooms! There is something magical about them I think.....and they remind me of gnomes, trolls and fairy's.....and hidden places deep in the forest.

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T20:10:00.001-08:00

I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2008! :)

I hope you all had a Merry Holiday!

2007-12-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

Finally I have a moment to post, and catch up with everyone! It seems the last several weeks have been a blur of activity...from participating in shows, to spending time with family, and seeing old friends....and getting my home ready for the Holiday's. The last month has flown by, and I can't believe that Christmas was here and gone so quickly!

It was a pleasure to meet some new friends at my last few shows of the year, and see so many familiar faces too. Here are a couple of pictures from the last of my 2007 shows for those of you that were not able to attend..... Here are a few special moments from our Holiday this year.....Simon decorating cookies & cakes with his cousins....

Simon hanging ornaments on our tree......

Placing little bulbs on Grandma's ceramic tree with his cousin....

His first time ice skating....

Visiting with Santa on the Christmas Train ride......

My grandma "Meme" and my great-grandma Nina....there are 5 generations of us still smiling! Nina is the oldest at 94 years young, and Simon is the youngest at 4.

Simon opening his first present on Christmas eve....

My hubby Ryan (on the right) goofing around with cousin Art on Christmas eve.....we do a "silly gift" exchange, and Ryan picked a package of fake moustaches....

I managed to squeeze in some time to hit the local monthly antique faire here in Sacramento looking for a present for my father, as well as a few goodies for myself. Here are the treasures I came home with just for me.....a lovely little doll size crazy quilt, some trinkets for my art, and an antique pair of leather & velvet baby shoes with pretty blue buttons.....

I have all sorts of new ideas running around in my head of things that I would like to make, but first I have to get some early spring cleaning and organizing done around the house. Are any of you feeling that early spring "itch"?

HollyDaze & Vine

2007-11-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

It was a wonderful show, just the thing to kick off off the Holiday's! Everyone's tables were packed full of goodies, and there was a nice variety of styles and mediums available. It was great to see old friends and catch up, and we always have a lot of fun at his show! Thank you to those of you that stopped by and took home a treasure for your collection.....I hope you enjoy them! Here are some pictures from the show...a few of my table....And here are some of the other lovely tables at the show.... first is Christy's and her delightful cloth folk...
And here is Ginny with her TroutCreek gang...Kitty with her creations....Here is Sharon's Table...I LOVE her new gnome designs!!And I met a new friend at the show....Cheri Williams...here is her fabulous table of paper whimsies...
Wendy and her incredible chocolate molds! I love the giant ones...so neat!The eclectic offerings of Edgar & Edgar....Some wonderful glass art by Charles Hall...Arbutus Hunter and her fun, retro inspired things....And a few close up pictures of some of my offerings that sold at the show.....See you at my next show..... the Holiday Art & Craft Festival sponsored by the Crocker Art Museum on Thanksgiving weekend. This three day show will have 80 artists in a wide range of styles and mediums. Please stop by and say "Hi" it will be a fabulous show!

Memories Of Summer....

2007-11-03T11:22:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! I've been away....spending time with family, working at my son Simon's preschool, making things for my upcoming shows, and enjoying all that Fall has to offer! Here are a few of my favorites memories from summer....Simon at Disney's California AdventureThe whole family posing with the "Cars" gang....that's my mom on the left, myself, and hubby Ryan, with Simon in the middle.....
Fun times at Knott's Berry Farm....
A day at the California State Fair.....wonderful dancers in beautiful costumes....
A race at the boating safety exhibit....
Will Simon's boat finish first?
The home stretch!!
Nope....his was the one on the far right...it went over to the side at the end, but we still had fun just the same. :)Aren't these miniature antique motor's cute!The art of Dr. Seuss at the ToyTopia exhibit....The tower of toys.....The giant slide......
A Day Out With Thomas The Tank Engine....
Riding on the Thomas train....Simon & Sir Topham Hatt.....As you can see, I love spending time with my family....and enjoying activities that bring a smile to my son's face! Thanks you for taking a walk down memory lane with me. :)

I have an upcoming show in Petaluma California on Saturday November 10th from 9am to 3pm. It's the HollyDaze & Vine show, and it's a wonderful folk art show where you can see a variety of art encompassing all of the Holiday's between Halloween and New Year's. I hope some of you can stop by to see my newest Holiday art, and say "Hi".

I plan to post updates more often, but things are a bit hectic for me this time of the year so please bear with me. I will be shooting to post an update a couple of times this month as time allows...thank you for your patience! :)

Here is one more picture of my little guy all dressed up and ready to go Trick Or Treating last week. He is Remy from Disney's Ratatouille.......which, by the way, will be released on DVD this Tuesday. Pick of a copy of this delightful film....I think it is one of the best animated movies I've seen this year!

Happy Fall Update!

2007-10-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

It'd been too long since my last post....I have been super busy.....catching up from our vacation to Disneyland, finishing up fall goodies, and starting on winter ones...participating in my son's preschool....and working on some home improvement projects that were overdue! I have some new charm pendants available.....the crow has been sold, but the others are still available. I can leave them in the silver finish (as pictured), or give them a black patina finish. They are $26 each which includes US shipping, and come with your choice of a ball chain or a ribbon. Please email me with any questions or if you are interested in purchasing one! Sylvia@SylviaAnderson.com I have two new pieces on The Primitive Gathering site this month pictured below......please take a peek!
I am working on my last Halloween piece of the year.....it will make it's debut on PFATT Marketplace on October 10th, so please stay tuned!

Here are a couple of pictures from A Cottage Boutique show. Kitty Forseth and her lovely table of folk art...And Jenny Hernandez with her table of fanciful creations! It was a pleasure meeting her for the first time, and seeing her work in person!

Here is a picture of the table that I shared with my good friend Elaine Thomas....I have more pictures to post from my family's summer activities, and more eye candy too! I will post again soon....thank you for your patience, and for all of the nice comments you have left the last couple of weeks! :)

Meanwhile....please take some time to visit a friend's new website....she is an incredible sculptor, and a wonderful person too! Her name is Katherine Webber and I guarantee that you won't be disappointed if you are a Halloween folk art lover!

Happy Fall Everyone!

Halloween is almost here!

2007-09-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

I will be at A Cottage Boutique show tomorrow from 9am to 2pm. Come and see this guy and more new pieces at the show!

There is one day left in the benefit auction for little Ava Grace. Please take a peek at all of the wonderful offerings and bid generously to help out the family cover Ava's rising medical expenses. Thank you to those that have already placed bids! The auction ends tomorrow evening at 6pm Pacific time.

I promised more pictures from the State Fair, and I will post again soon with those, and pictures from my family's trip to Disneyland last week. We had a magical time!

Art from the California State Fair

2007-09-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

It's hard for me to pick what my favorite thing to eat at the State Fair is, but it's not hard for me to pick what my favorite thing to do at the State Fair is....look at all of the art exhibits! I enjoy this every year, as there is always something new and interesting to see. There are three main buildings of art exhibits, and a couple of others that are dedicated to architecture, food, and animals. Here are some wonderful works of art that caught my eye while going through the young artist's building.....all of these works were created by children & young adults, and they are amazing! This building of art is my favorite of all....the talent that these young artists have is incredible. I encourage you all to visit your local County and State Fair, and see the wonderful art that will be on display there....you will be in for a treat!

Up Right Platitude by Joon Park

How About Outtatuff! by Lucas Yetter
Scratch Board Figure by Simon ChinivizyanThree Dimensional Plates by Courtnie MezaThree Dimensional Pottery by Caitlin Fjeldstad & Kayla ParkerMiniature Treehouse by Matthew DittmerEntomology Collection by Joshua DinsmoreArt The Circuit Board Skater by Ashton MattoxUntitled Drawing by Kristen AdachiJazzelle's Cinturons by Zaneta Brown-PorterGorgeous George by Kyle SnowdonMiniature Treehouse by Jacob HallUntitled Drawing by Martha McClureI apologise for some of the lighting issues and glare....I had to shoot a lot of these photo's through plexiglas and needed to use my flash. I hope that you enjoyed the young artist's art....and I will be back with "part two" from my day at the California State Fair.

New Collage Charm Necklaces!

2007-09-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

I have several new collage charm necklaces available now for purchase. They are shown here below.....In the first picture, the two gals in costume on the far left, have had glass glitter accents added to the collage....
These are all original mini collages, not copies, and each contains layered images on papers that have been inked, placed between glass, and soldered using 100% lead free solder! They have been given a black patina finish for a wonderful antique look, and come with your choice of a black patina 24" ball chain or a black sheer ribbon. Either can easily be trimmed to suit your desired length. The square pendants measure 1.5" by 1.5" and the long pendants are 1" by 3". The backs are finished with a coordinating paper and have been signed and dated Sylvia Anderson 2007. Each charm pendant is $26 which includes first class shipping to anywhere in the continental US. Please email me for international shipping rates. If you would like to see additional close up pictures, or have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line at sylviaanderson@surewest.net

In addition to those pictured above, I have some charm pendants and two new baby shoe pin keeps available this month on The Primitive Gathering site. This is my first month on this site, and it is an amazing group of artists that do wonderful work, so please be sure to have a look around! Below are my offerings on The Primitive Gathering.....I am accepting a limited number of special orders for initial pendants, as represented by the letter "S" pendant pictured above. If you are interested in one, please email me for more information.

I will be back soon with pictures from the California State fair that we are headed to on Sunday! I wish you all a happy Labor Day weekend!

PGKS Autumn Launch on eBay this week!

2007-08-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

I belong to a wonderful group of gals called the Primitive Gathering of Kindred Spirits on eBay and we are doing a fall launch this week listing fall and Halloween items for sale to kick off the fall season! I have three new mini collage charm necklaces offered, and there are many other fantastic pieces from the other members of the group. Click here to see the complete list of items. Here are my three necklaces....
Speaking of charm necklaces...I just finished several new ones, and will be offering them for sale here on my blog, and I will also have a few special ones for sale on the Primitive Gathering site on Saturday September 1st....so stay tuned!

I have been nominated to participate in a name game by my two friends Elaine and Lorraine. It goes like this....I am suppose to use the letters from my middle name to describe my characteristics....well gals, I do not have a middle name! So, Elaine said that I should pick one that I would have liked my name to be. Honestly I can't imagine what my middle name would have been, so I will just list a few words to describe myself. :)

Creative
Organized
Thoughtful
Smart
Dependable

It doesn't seem like those letters make up a name that I know, but what the heck....thanks just the same ladies! Here are my nominee's;

Steph
Lana
Wendy

Thanks for participating in the fun!

I Love The Mail!

2007-08-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

I admit it....I am one of those people that looks forward to the mail! I can hear the mail truck drive by my house each day as I am working in my studio....the truck has a very distinctive sounding motor. I peek through my blinds and spy, and I wait until my mailman has finished placing the mail into each persons box (we have a large community box on the corner) and then I go out to retrieve my mail. Many days it's loaded with junk mail and bills...but every now and then, I receive a special treat in the mail...and yesterday was one of those days! :) I received an enveloped marked air mail from South Africa. It was from Lynda, and I had recently won a drawing she held on her new blog Wednesday's Wanderings. The envelope contained a wonderful set of postcards with images from the town of Howick taken in the early 1900's. I just love old photo's and the history that they share with us. Thank you again Lynda!

Here's a sneak peek of what I have been working on for The Primitive Gathering site. I will have these items and more available for purchase on September first, so please check back soon.

We had a great time at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom last weekend, and here are few pictures from that day....This butterfly was HUGE!!! Bigger than my palm spread apart....just amazing! Notice how his colors seem to blend in with the surrounding tree?

Simon had fun feeding the giraffe's......

Memories.....

2007-08-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

I recently spent a day in my hometown of Chico, California. We went for a celebration honoring my good friend Nikki and her partner Brad. They were renewing their commitments to each other in a lovely service held at the local park. It is always nice to visit my hometown, and catch up with friends from my childhood. Many things have changed over the years, but many have also stayed the same. I wouldn't want to live there again, but it is a nice place to visit once or twice a year, and I always take a stroll down memory lane while I'm there. Here are some pictures from that day....

These were taken at the children's area of the park where Simon had fun running around afterwards. I just love the mosaic work done on this dragon!

A sigh of relief....

2007-08-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

I finished my new Holiday designs that I have been working on for ESC Trading Company Inc. last night, and I breathed a sigh of relief, as I dropped them off at FedEx this afternoon....finally finished, and on their way! These new designs have several elements, and were a little more time consuming for me to make, so it was a nice feeling of accomplishment, and now I can move on and start all of the new fall and Halloween designs floating around in my head. Here is a sneak peek of my new designs for ESC....they should be available next June, 2008.

Speaking of new Halloween....you must go over and take a peek at Colleen's incredible new fall creations! They are selling quickly, so hurry over and email her if you see something that pulls on your heart strings. Her attention to detail is superb, and her new little theaters are so festive....just perfect for a Halloween display! AND....miss Colleen is gracing the cover of both the new issue of Art Doll Quarterly and Somerset Studio! Congratulations Colleen....you deserve it!! :) Here is one of her wonderful new pieces....

I am headed to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom tomorrow. We are taking our son and my mom, and it should be a fun day in the sun. I'll be sure to share some pictures with all of you upon my return. :)

I've Been Nominated....

2007-08-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

By a really "Nice Matters" gal, and a great friend Annie! *UPDATE* I was also nominated by Tonya of Back Porch Pickins...thanks to you too Tonya! :) What a lovely award to receive, and I am honored that she thought of me as one of the nicest people she knows online......thanks Annie! :)So I have to nominate 5 people to receive this wonderful award, and my 5 are;

1. Lana of Honeysuckle Lane

2. Stephanie of Once Upon a Notion

3. Colleen of Merry Wishes & Vintage Dreams

4. Elaine of Artful-Spirit

5. Bonnie of Studio of Bonnie Jones

You are all really nice people, and I am privileged to call you my friends. Thank you!

James Christensen's Art

2007-08-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be fun to showcase some of my favorite artists. Ones that I admire, and that whom I gain inspiration from. I will start with my vary favorite of all, James Christensen. I am lucky enough to own a few of his prints, and I absolutely love his work! For those of you who are not familiar with his work, I encourage you to click on the link below that will take you to his publisher where you can see all of the work they have produced over the years. I could not locate a personal website or blog for James, but if any of you are aware of such a site, please share it with me. Below are some pictures of his work that I own.

This next image is one of my favorites that he has done, but it has been sold out for many years, and if you can find a copy available to purchase, it goes for a lot of money. I still love looking at it, and someday hope to purchase a copy of my own. It's called Once upon a Time ......

Here is a link to James Christensen's publisher where you can view more of his work. Click the "more" button at the top right corner to take you through all of the pages.

I will be back soon to showcase another one of my favorite artists!

What's New?

2007-08-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

August is here, and we've been having beautiful weather here in Sacramento! It's been cooler than normal for this time of the year...almost feels like fall. Speaking of fall...it's my favorite time of year! I love the fall weather, the colors, and tastes of the season....not to mention all of the fabulous fall themed folk art. I have a wonderful collection of Halloween and fall themed folk art by several amazing folk artists, and when I unpack it all this year, I will be sure to post pictures for you all to enjoy. Here is a sneak peek of a painting I just finished this week for PFATT that will be available on the 10th. It's my first painting on canvas in many years, so it was a fun change of pace for me.

I have been enjoying summer's fruits and one of my favorites is watermelon! Mmmmmm it's cool and refreshing, and satisfies my sweet tooth! Here is one that my family and I enjoyed this week.

We have also been on a smoothie kick, with all of the wonderful fresh berries this year. I make them up in the blender and they are a tasty way to start the morning. Here is my recipe.

1-2 cups of fresh strawberries, raspberries or a combination cleaned and sliced
1.5 cups of crushed ice
1 cup of low fat milk or orange juice
1 banana
1 cup of raspberry low fat sherbet
a bit of sugar or honey to taste
Blend it all up and enjoy! Warning!!! Not necessarily a low calorie food! :)

I am excited for my good friend Colleen whose lovely doll is gracing the current issue of Art Doll Quarterly! Please pick up a copy and read about her wonderful dolls. She will also be in the next issue of Somerset Studio coming out soon, with more of her amazing dolls. Be on the lookout for that one too!

I will be back soon with more new Halloween folk art, and more charm pendants. In the meantime, please check my PFATT offerings this Friday, and enjoy a smoothie or two!

Last post of July.....

2007-07-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

Where did the month go? It flew by so quickly, I am sitting here thinking what did I accomplish this month, and I can't believe that it's almost August already! I am always running behind, ever the procrastinator, and this month was no different. It's always one of my yearly resolutions, to be more organized, and manage my time better so that I can be more productive, but as with a lot of resolutions, I don't always stick with it. I am a lot better than I was years ago, so maybe my small incremental improvements are helping. I am looking forward to August, and hoping to be a LOT more productive than I was in July! We'll see.... :)

If you get a chance, please stop by Lynda's blog as she is having a give-away of some lovely postcards! Post a comment, and you will be entered in her drawing on August 1st. Also, please take a peek at Suzanne's blog, as she has some exciting news about her new website that she is launching on August 1st! She is a marvelous painter, and I just love her "painter of the week" posts. Very fascinating!

I am working on some new winter designs for my licensing company ESC Trading Company Inc. and when those are completed, I will be starting new Fall and Halloween items that will be offered for sale. I'll be back soon with some "works in progress" pictures for you! Please email me if you would like to be added to my mailing list, as I will be sending out an email when I have my new items finished.

It's Friday.....and It's Hot!

2007-07-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have been slowly catching up this week....finishing up with the Angels for Brianna auction, starting some new sculpted pieces, having fun with Simon and getting my home back in order. The days are long this time of year, and seem to last forever. I spend the cool mornings with the doors and windows open...enjoying the sounds of birds chirping nearby, children playing, and the rustle of leaves as the light breeze goes by. When the afternoon heat sets in, usually by about 2 pm, but lately it's been by noon, it's time to close the house up tight and run the AC. I'd prefer not to run the AC, but the heat in Northern California can be unbearable in July and August. The afternoons are when I sit and work on new pieces, and ideas for future ones. Planning what I'll work on next keeps my creativity flowing, and keeps me on pace to finish any current work that is on my table. I always have my "to do" list near by, and a note pad that I sketch ideas on. You never know when a great idea will come to you, so I have note pads all over my home for just such an creative moment! My sketch's probably wouldn't make much sense to anyone else, but they convey enough of an idea to me, that I can go back months later and remember the thought that I had when I put the pen down on paper.

Here is Simon and I staying cool in my grandparents pool. He is just learning how to swim, so he has on all of his gear to stay safe while learning. He loves the little boat with the built in water gun. He sprayed us all that day...aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins...even mom and dad! :)

I hope you all are staying cool, and enjoying your summer. There is nothing better than taking time to enjoy some laughter and fun times with family and friends. I also wanted to say thank you again to all that participated in the auction last week. It was a huge success, and we far surpassed our original goal of $10,000 almost doubling it! From all the wonderful art that was donated by the many talented artists, to all of the bidders....thank you from the bottom of my heart.....you are all angels.

Tomorrow is the Final Day of the Auction!

2007-07-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

Please be sure to stop by and place any final bids tomorrow by 6:30 pm Pacific time! It will be your last chance to add one of the many beautiful angels to your collection. We will be updating bids every hour for the last three hours, starting at 3:30 pm. There are still some wonderful works of art well under $100, and we would love to see them go higher! Thank you again to everyone that has participated and made this possible....from the artists, to the bidders....you are all angels! :) Click here to visit the auction now!

Angels for Brianna Auction starts tomorrow!

2007-07-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

I wanted to remind everyone to please stop by the auction site by clicking on the banner above, at 10 am Pacific time tomorrow morning to see all of the lovely offerings from the many generous and talented artists that are participating! We will have about 70 angel themed pieces of art for purchase, and we hope that you will open up your hearts and bid high, to add an angel to your home. :) Below is a sneak peek of my angel. You'll be able to see the entire piece tomorrow. Thank you again to all of the wonderful artists who are participating in this event!! You are all the real angels, and without you this auction wouldn't have become a reality!

Happy Independence Day!

2007-07-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

I wish you all a glorious day filled with family, fun, fireworks & friends!

Ecclectic Finds from the Flea Market!

2007-07-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

I spent a wonderful day yesterday at the Alameda Antiques by the Bay flea market. I met Colleen and her friend Shelly, and we walked, and walked, and walked around some more....up and down the isles of fabulous treasures to behold! Everything that you could probably imagine was there, and I have never been to an antique show that was so large. I skipped a few isles just to take a break and have lunch.... a simply delicious crepe made by a talented french cook, filled with egg, cheese, green onion and sauteed mushrooms.....mmmmmm tasty! It was beautiful weather, and I should have taken pictures to share with you, but I was so busy looking at all of the wonderful things offered for sale that I completely forgot. Next time I will for sure. :) Below are a couple of pictures of what I was lucky enough to find, and all, I might say, for great prices too. The second pictures shows pages from two old books that I picked up there....both from the 1800's. They will be a valuable resource for my altered art designs.

I thought I would have my new charm pendant necklaces done last weekend, but I was so busy that I wasn't able to finish them up, so please check back soon, and if you are interested in something particular, please drop me a line and let me know. Until next time...I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Show pics, hooked rugs and more!

2007-06-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to post some pictures of my first show of the year. It was on Sunday June 10th, and it was a beautiful day, perfect weather, and we all had a wonderful time! The turnout for the show was down from last year, but I believe it was due to it being such a fabulous day to spend outdoors with family and friends. Here is a picture of my table, and the items I had for sale. I wasn't able to finish as many things as I would have liked for the show due to some health issues, so my table this year was a bit "light" compared to previous shows.
Here are some pictures of my friend Kathy's hand hooked rugs. She does beautiful work, and most of the rugs are her own designs. We shared a space together at the show, and had such a fun time chatting the day away!

Here are a couple of pictures of some antique rugs available for sale at the show. Aren't these fabulous! My favorite is the sheep one....so detailed!

Here is a picture of a charm pendant that I made as a special order for one of my customers this week....I just love cats, and I wanted to give him a festive look by placing him on a background of polka dots, and wearing a paper music crown. I am working on some new charm pendant necklaces, in bird and everyday themes per several requests, and hope to have them posted here this weekend for you to see, so please check back soon if you are interested.
I leave you today with a picture of one of my kitties...her name is Samantha. Her favorite place to sleep is up on top of my antique hat boxes. She spends much of her time up there! Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful week. :)

New Charm Necklaces!

2007-06-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

I have recently finished a few new charm necklaces and thought I would share them with you! These are mini collages that I have mounted in old optical lens's and finished off with a clear resin on the back to protect them. If you are interested in purchasing any of these charm necklaces, please email me at sylvia@sylviaanderson.com for more information.
I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend filled with laughter, family and friends! I am recuperating from surgery that I had two days ago to have my gall bladder removed, so I am taking it easy for a few days, and catching up with some old friends in the way of favorite movies, and magazines of inspiration! My three kitties are keeping me company, and my mom is here entertaining my son Simon. I'm on the road to feeling good again soon, and can't wait to be able to enjoy some of my favorite foods again. :)We are finalizing all of the details for the upcoming Angel's for Brianna benefit auction, and I want to personally thank all of you again that are participating and donating an angel! Those of you who were not able to donate, I hope that you will find an angel that you'd like to bid on, and help out a family who has suffered so much with the loss of their beautiful and talented daughter. Stop by Iva's blog and read her lovely eulogy to her daughter...it moved me to tears, and I'm sure it will you as well.That's it for now.....the couch is calling my name today! Thank you again, and please stop in again soon.

A Wonderful New Online Shop!

2007-06-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

I came across Delila's blog today, from Deborah's blog, and I just love it and wanted to share it with you all! Her blog is filled with beautiful photo's and artwork, so please stop by and take a peek. Delila has also just opened a new online shop called Sepia Art Studio filled with wonderful goodies to add to your collections and also to make enchanting art with! I highly recommend stopping by, and savoring all of the wonderful things she has to offer.

Brianna is gone....

2007-06-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

I am sure that many of you have already heard the sad news, that Brianna is no loner with us. Words can not describe the loss of a child, and my heart goes out to Iva and her family. Brianna will be missed by so many, but she will not be forgotten. Colleen Moody, Kitty Forseth and myself have put together a benefit auction to help raise funds for the family. It's called "Angel's for Brianna" and will be a fabulous auction of artwork done in an angel theme, all donated by several artists working in a variety of styles and mediums. Please check back here, or on Kitty's and Colleen's blogs for more details....we hope to start the auction in about two weeks time, and are asking everyone we know to help spread the word, and bid on your favorite pieces!

Thank you all again for your prayers and support for the family. It meant so much to Iva and her family knowing that so many care, and have followed their journey.

Halloween in June & Americana!

2007-06-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I finished up the pieces that you saw in progress last week, and wanted to share some pictures of them. Here is the Americana Monkey........
I think he may need a little hat though after looking at him for a couple of days, so I will be adding that before he is listed on the AFA site. Here is a close up of his face and his hand holding the old silver cup. I searched and searched at my local monthly antique faire for just the perfect sized cup, and finally found it at the end of the day! It is engraved with the word Petersburg, and has a lovely ornate little carved handle. Here is the little piece you saw mounted to the old child's block.... I named it Spirit of 1776 and it went to a new home on Sunday.This piece is the one I made for PFATT'S Halloween in June party....and she too is on her way to a new home. Don't forget to stop by if you haven't already, and enter your name in the drawing while you're there! There are some wonderful prizes donated by the artists, and you could be a lucky winner!This is the last piece that you saw in progress last week.....I call him "Hooray" Moon. I really love the way he turned out! He will be available for purchase on AFA soon. Speaking of AFA, we will be having an Americana theme update on June 25th, so check the site at noon that day to see all of the wonderful Americana folk art available for purchase!

I am asking you all to please keep Brianna in your thoughts and prayers today. There were some complications last night, and she is fighting right now, and she and her family could use all of the positive thoughts and prayers they can get. If you do not know of her story, please read Iva's blog and leave a comment of support. Thank you!

I will be back soon with pictures from my first show of 2007 which was on this past Sunday. We had a wonderful time and the weather was beautiful!
Until next time, I wish you all a wonderful week! :)

Happy June!

2007-06-04T09:11:00.001-07:00

Summer is here, and the 4th of July Holiday is right around the corner, so I am working on Americana pieces, and some Halloween pieces for PFATT'S Halloween in June party that opens on June 10th! Please remember to stop by and see all of the wonderful Halloween art being offered, and you will also have the chance to win door prizes, so make sure to sign up for that! I have donated a Halloween Optical Lens pendant as a door prize, and you will be able to see a picture of it, and all of the door prizes available on the PFATT website in just a few days.

These are pictures of things I'm working on for PFATT and my first show of the year coming up this Sunday. One of these pieces is already finished, but I wanted to show you all what my pieces look like while they are in process....these are hands and feet....can you guess who they belong too? These are some wonderful old shoes I'll be filling.....I just love antique high button shoes ! They all have a story to tell. Here are some heads that I have sculpted....they are waiting for paint and crackle!
Here is an Americana piece that I am in the middle of. I bought a few antique children's blocks, and this one was just perfect for a patriotic piece!
And here is the head and torso of a piece......his little hands and feet were pictured above. If you guessed monkey, you were right!

I will be back later with pictures of these completed pieces. If any of you are in California please come by the show this Sunday June 10th at the Hillview Community Center in Los Altos. We will be set up in the courtyard next to the museum from 9am to 4pm. This folk art show runs in conjunction with the California Country Show, the best antique Americana show on the west coast! You can find more details on the show by visiting the events page on my website.

Here is one last picture for you today....my girl Carrie! She is always right next to me while I'm working. Here she is sitting on my chair....silly kitty, she thinks it's her chair!

I've Been Tagged.....

2007-05-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Suzanne to list seven random things about myself. So below is my list of seven....thank you to Suzanne for being so patient...I was suppose to post this list a couple of weeks ago, and have been so busy! When you get a chance, stop by her blog to see her lovely paintings.....she does beautiful work.

1. I'm a vegetarian.....and have been since 1990. At first it was something that I decided to try, and now it's become a way of life for me. I'm not sure that I could ever eat meat again....it would be very strange I think. Although a smoking BBQ sure gets my taste buds going!

2. Some of you may not like me for this one, but I hate country music. I am a rock gal.....and I like all era's of rock, but no country for me!

3. I'm a homebody.....and prefer not to go out of the house unless I have to. I put off errands and try to do them all one day a week, so I can stay home and create, and spend time with my family.

4. I'm an avid reader, and usually have a book going at all times. I mostly read fiction....horror. The scarier the better! My favorite author is Dean Koontz, along with Stephen King, John Saul, Mary Higgins Clark, and Michael Crichton.

5. I'm a HUGE cat lover. I live by the motto "One can never have too many cats" although my husband doesn't share the same philosophy, so we only have three. :) I have always had cats since I was a little girl, and used to do volunteer work at the local humane society taking care of the stray cats and dogs. I loved them all. Here's a picture of my three girls.....Carrie, Samantha, and Miranda. They are all one year old now.

6. I used to have a huge fear of flying, but was able to overcome it after being determined to get past it. I forced myself to fly a couple of long flights, and found that it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. I still get a bit nervous on take off, but that's all. Now if I can just get over my fear of the dentist....

7. My favorite movie of all time is Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. It became my favorite movie when I was 13, and I started collecting things related to it, and made a scrap book. I still have my scrap book, and all of the things I collected way back then. The highlight was being able to see the original mansion used in the filming of the movies, at Universal Studios Hollywood! At right is a famous picture from the film...the late Anthony Perkins standing on the steps leading up to the infamous house.

OK, so now that I've posted my list of seven random things, I am tagging Stephanie. Thanks for being such a good sport Steph!

May Update

2007-05-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

I had wanted to post more pictures a couple of weeks ago, but time has flown by and I can't believe that May is almost gone! Where did it go? Here are a few more pictures that I took at the Tim Holtz class that I attended.....these are pictures of actual pieces that Tim created, and were other projects that he was teaching during his stay in Sacramento that week.
I just love his creations! I'll be back with more updates later this week Have a wonderful Sunday. :)

Tim Holtz Class

2007-04-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

The class on Friday was so much fun! There were about 25 of us, and Tim was not only a good teacher, but funny as well. He had samples that he had made of pins and necklaces for use to look at as inspiration for the project. Here are the three that he brought.

Carol, to the right, was across from me at my table. She made three very nice looking pieces, and has taken several classes from Tim in the past. The pins & necklaces are made using heavy chipboard, paints, distress inks, and old and rusty ephemera. They go together quite quickly, and I think anyone would have fun making these!

Here is a picture of Tim and I taken during class. I highly recommend taking a class from him should the opportunity ever arise for you...it was a great learning experience, and I made some new friends.

Back with more soon!

Welcome to my world!

2007-04-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

I have decided to give blogging a try, and join the many other artists who are sharing their work with the world this way. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts and meanderings!

This picture you see to the right is a piece I designed for a new magazine that will hit newsstands next week called GiftMaker. It's a keepsake box with a sculpted bird on top, and decoupage birds on all sides. Please check it out....you will find all sorts of projects to make as gifts for yourself or loved ones, and they are done in a variety of mediums. I am also working on another project for the upcoming October issue. I will post more on that when I am finished with it.

This week is hectic planning for my son Simon's 4th birthday party on Saturday, along with a class that I am taking on Friday taught by a fabulous artist, Tim Holtz. I am so excited to take this class and meet him in person! I love his line of products, and his style is fabulous. Here is a link to his site.... www.timholtz.com The class is called "Industrial" and we will be making metal assemblage jewelry. I think it will be fun to learn his techniques, and see how the creative process works for him.

Spring is in full bloom here in Sacramento California, and so are my allergies! I love the weather, but my allergies are driving me crazy. It was actually hot enough that I had to run the AC for a while. It's supposed to stay nice thru the weekend, so that will be great for Simon's party. We are having a Thomas the Tank themed party for him, and the Thomas cake that I ordered is too cool! It's a 3 dimensional cake that looks just like Thomas himself! I'm sure Simon will be so excited to see it.

That's it for now...I'll post pictures from the class and Simon's party later. TTYS!