Fickle Pickle

My life is a constant cycle of ever-evolving organized chaos. I'm forever rearranging the furniture,changing my mind like the wind blows. Some days I paint.  Some days I prefer the therapeutic hammering of the spoon and lighting up the torch.  So, I'm finding it difficult to be content with a good logo for Gus and Pantine and the Etsy shop.  Through trial and error,countless interrupted photoshop fails, and changing my fickle mind back and forth, I think I'm gonna call it.  This will have to do.  I'm actually pretty happy with it.  (Remind me to NEVER get a tattoo.)

Triple Crown

Gotta love it when an idea hits you in the face. Not really in the face.  FaceBOOK.  Here's yer Triple Crown miss Sara. (love your design idea!) 

Can't wait to show you another cute one, where (someone...can't reveal yet) helped their son design a first year dating anniversary pendant.  It turned out quite fancy; made me smile. Pretty sure his little Miss will smile too.

Recent Makerie

www.etsy.com/shop/gusandpatine

Craft Possessed

Howdy Do!

It appears as though I'm never going to quit.  Since way back in my earliest memories I've tried, or seems like i've tried it all.  Thank the craft fairies in my hallucinatory brain, it appears as though the end is not in site.  The supply of inventive artistic notions is everlasting.  This realization makes me happy and crazy all at the same time.  I'm pretty sure there is some kind of name for whatever disease I have.  Whatever it is, I was born this way, so I guess we can blame my parents.  ANYWHO... this is just a teeny example of what I've been up to up till now:

(annie sloan chalk paint, vintage book page flower/wire sculpture)

( a "little" painting with a quote from one of my favorite authors)

(burlap boo bunting embellished with crepe paper flowers, AND vintage orange pom pom trim which, btw, was an oh so happy flea market find)

AND last but not least:

(hand carved stamps just because I was bored.  The sound of sports on the tele makes me restless.)

What to do next week?

Happy Day!

Micah

My Junk Huntin', Angel makin' Daddy

My dad has always been a sweet source of inspiration for me. I grew up fascinated with his talent, making art from beautiful hunks of wood.  He made me an angel similar to this one about 20 years ago.  :) It was made from the barnwood of an old family homestead. She now spends her days tooting her horn over my fireplace.  (It measures close to 5' in length.)  Now that he and mom are retired, they enjoy treasure hunting as often as they possibly can.  Mom finds the goods and dad makes something of them.  I am pleased as punch to report that he is back to creating his angels again.  He's actually made several and I plan to hijack one or two to display for sale at the studio

In honor of dad, and his angels... today, once again I find myself doodling my own silly version of them.  

and then putting her down in paint.

Think I'll have him make me a sweet frame outta some of that great reclaimed wood.... :)

happy day!

Micah

"Satellite" Studio Space

I've been a little frustrated about time management lately.  If I'm not at work, I'm running Miss Priss' taxi service or (trying) to stay on top of all the many other required home exec. duties. There is no time left to make any art.  Sometimes, it's as if I'm going to explode if I don't get some things out... know what I mean?  
So... with my sweet eldest "baby" boy all grown and off to Youth Challenge for 6 months and feeling a bit lonely for him, I've decided NOT obsess over staying on top of things at the house.  I signed up for a class (Pages and Paint w/ Sarah Bellamare Ahearn)
I grabbed a few basics from the studio and set up a little painting spot in the house.  The painting above was not actually part of the class BUT it was part of an "AHA" moment unknowingly given to me by Sarah.  I'm loving the class and already sad to see it on its way out the door.  Like a fried who has traveled from afar to visit with me and I'm sitting here watching her pack her bags to leave.  I'll sure miss our visits.  


These are a couple of the assignments from Pages and Paint:

happy day!

Micah

Letter Whimsy 2.0

I can't pass up a good Lettering e-workshop, and this one is no exception.  Teresa Mcfayden shares her talents in several great classes that are both enjoyable and easy to follow.  

Check them out here:

Crossing Over

I guess I'm due a post or two.  Yes, it's been a while, and yes, I've been neglecting blogger but what's new.  Lately, it's been more fun peeping in on all the much more well kept versions of all the serious bloggers in the land... of blogging.

So... in honor of my absence, and in hopes of a revival, here's a peek at my latest shenanigans:


As of late I feel as though I'm becoming a cross-over artist of sorts.  Crossing over one passion into the other.  Maybe it's more "carry-over".  

SPINACH

Yep, I'm painting a series on Plant Foods.  (You may think I'm weird but I'm good with that because weird is the new cool.)  

ASPARAGUS

Who knows where this plant food crossing over fiasco will go next.  There is no shortage of all inspiring veggies, fruits and grains in this world to recreate in one way or the other.  

Moral of the story:  Feed your passion!  or paint it; either way

Finding Treasures

I love this photo of my grandmother (center) with her sisters and friends.



My imagination just ran wild when I discovered it. I decided not to ask her to tell me about it until after I added my own little 'story' to it. Once it was finished she shared with me the story behind the picture. I loved watching her wheels turning as she put names with the faces. Her face lit up as she recalled the memories of days gone by. I don't think I could ever hear enough about the seemingly far away past as if it were really just yesterday. I'm starting to realize as I roll along creating the story of my life, the past starts to mesh with the present. I can already see myself sitting with my granddaughter, telling the stories of my old photos, recalling sweet times. Nonnie's birthday is next month. I think I know what she's getting from me. :)
Happy Day!

It always sneaks up on me

Not gonna let it happen this year.  In fact, we are participating in the festivities at Second Saturday Studio.

original oil by Betsy Ridout

available for purchase

 Getting in the mood yet? 

Check out this and other original art and handcrafted fancies during Searcy's Holiday Open House on (this) Sunday, Nov.6

1-5

see you there!

etsy SCORE!

Hello, I am Micah Leigh and I am an Etsy-aholic.  Yap.  Tis true. (Pinterest-aholic post coming soon) 

You can find the BEST stuff on there. For those of you in the dark, Etsy is an online world of handmade goodies and supplies to make them.  yes, there are some left in the world who have not been properly introduced.  Go there.  wait, not yet...

 All those so called 'wasted' hours spent mindlessly scanning and window shopping finally paid off.  Much to the dismay of my co-workers who were seemingly let down when I ripped open the package at work,(for some reason,they think I'm a little wierd), THIS TREASURE is what I...(eh-hem) acquired

  It's a printer set from 1932!  Holy grail of vintage stamp crafty goodness.  You would've thought I was a 5 year old waiting on the prophesied coming of Santa on Christmas Eve while it was in route from Etsy to me.

I can't imagine how Lisa (seller)was able to let this go??? :) but she sure is a gem for allowing me the honors. 

This museum quality piece will be on display at the studio from Oct.31 till whenever.  Come see it for yourself! 

no, really.  I'm serious!

happy day! 

Incredible Inspiration

Giraffe's are magnificent miracles of God's design.  Speaking of miracle's....watch this:

(new in studio)

happy day!

p.s. stay tuned for the SKETCHBOOK PROJECT...

It's Been Such a Long Time

Hello Again

I can't believe it's been.... months...since my last post.  Let me assure you, this has NOTHING to do with my procrastination issues OR my problems with attention.   (lie)  No, really.  

I had high hopes for the summer.  My plan was to spend tons of all the free time I was to have, painting and creating at the studio.  While I can tell you that playing at the studio is exactly what I NEVER GOT TO DO, I cannot tell you just exactly what I did do.  Can't think of one thing I accomplished.  Guess that was one lazy summer gone by. 

I'd had about enough of that by the time school started and, at the last minute,(which is just the time I seem to do anything),

I decided to....(drumroll here) HOMESCHOOL.  Yep, ME.  I feel it necessary to add that my SUPER mom is helping with Geometry and Biology.  Anyone who knows me would be scared for the poor child if they thought I was teaching him those 2 subjects. 

SO, once we were all underway and had some sort of routine, we decided to field trip-it out to the studio. 

Why not?  

I'm finally back.  A painting sat waiting that had been on pause since spring.  The poor neglected project had the old spring color palette, which was now all wrong.  Fall was calling my name.

Cherie (one of my sa-weet studio girlies) mentioned getting art out to a little outdoor venue last minute and I jumped on the bandwagon.  

It just occurred to me that I was never really invited.  I don't think she minded...

This was just what I needed to get back into the swing of things.  Here are a few pics 'o the day:

 

















 I drool over Cherie's creations (above).  Vintage tins that have seen better days are reborn into vibrant works of art.  
Magnifique Cherie!

We were packed like a sardines so there was no room for a camera. (or i forgot) Hence the poor iphone pics.

Here are a few pieces in my repertoire of masterpieces. I never took French but somehow I picked up on a bit. :)

Most of these have been hanging around.  The Giraffe is my latest little ditty.  He inspired me to keep going as of late.  OH, and Cherie played a pretty big part too.  Thanks friend!!

that's all for now.  
be back soon.

happy day!

School's Out for Summer... (almost)

I am always ready for the kids to have a break from the routine and pressure of school. 

(I have NO doubt they feel the same way)

Ahhh, the last full week of school.  Piano recitals, awards assemblies, and camp preparations.  All the hubbub reminds me of the holidays... hopefully we'll keep it all straight for once!

That means I have 2 more Monday studio days before school is out (so I'd better get crackin').

"Family portraits" on 6x6 squares.  Just a couple more peeps and 

1 border collie to make this a complete set.

  

Peace out

happy day!

 

16 Candles

Where did the time go?

  How in the world did we get here so fast?

It can't have been 16 years already! 

Happy Birthday to my favorite boy young man

(Ford and his sweet girlfriend Alison)

 Love YOU Poopsie Ford!