On the last day of January.....

I've been tagged by Shashi at Sewing with Moonbeams to go into my photo files and choose the 6th file and then the 6th photo in that file, and share that photo with you all.  

So here it is.......a photo of a gathering of little Maryhoonie creatures.  It looks like they have a secret to tell or maybe they are giggling at being presented to the bloglandia.  

They want me to tell you that I offer a simple online class in how to create these little guys at That Creative Place.

It's fun to see Maryhoonie cousins popping up all over the world.  They told me once that they were determined to see their clan grow....and so it is.  :)

I'm now happy to report that my shadow has found me again.  It took a couple of days for her to figure out that I'd left Calif....but this morning, there she was....strong and present.

I'm feeling much more complete.

I met an artist who just moved to Bali.....and she gifted me these boxes of her paints and brushes!

I'm a bit overwhelmed by this!  Painting is not a territory with which I am familiar, nor comfortable....and here these boxes sit as an invitation and even a demand... to step out into the unfamiliar.  Yikes!

Off to the studio.......

Heaven is being back in my studio.......

I have a couple of projects that bring me back into my studio....

I'm putting together an online class in creating how to make a Jeweled Headdress.  That should be fun.  I love head pieces and they're fun to make.  Also, Fire Mountain Beads has asked me to create a piece that they can use in one of their ads.  So I have piles of their wonderful beads to use to put together a piece.  

I'm thinking of creating a goddess/wave piece....not sure how it will come out.  Right now it's just an impression....a blurry vision of blues and beads.... cream color pearls as foam....and a figure worked into the crest of the wave.  

Flying thru the clouds...home to Hawaii

"Tribute"

I have finished my Shrine piece to help raise money to educate the street children of Oaxaca. 

Here is the link to tell you more about this event.  This shrine will be part of an online auction, happening in March 2009. 

The rules were:  

"One cigar box, a willing heart, favorite art supplies, and an afternoon changing the life of a child".

So here is the cigar box that I began with....

I took a brass "Lady of Guadaloupe" from my treasure stash, found in the magical town of San Miguel de Allende.  I embellished her with antique beading, brass wings, abalone shards and rhinestones.  And placed her inside of a Shrine created with abalone shards, tiny sea shells, antique netting and rhinetones....

Here is a link to the Cigar Box Shrine Gallery so you can see other Shrines that will be auctioned for this event.

Whimsical paintings of YOUR child....

I had such fun creating these paintings for my daughter's Children's Store, called Teapot.  

They also have a fun blog.... check it out when you have a minute.

I wanted to come up with something that would be affordable and very special, for their store to carry.... and I'm really happy with these paintings.  They are so fun to create! 

I take a photo of a child ( a photo of YOUR child, for you or grandparents ) and then I paint a whimsical character using oil pastels, and I incorporate the photo and the character in relationship, together.  A chance to capture your child in the Wonderland of his or her imagination...forever.

As a introductory special, I am offering:

A personalized 5 x 7 original, decorated, signed and matted painting for only $35.00 !

The 8 x 10  original, signed and decorated matte painting for only $55.

And I certainly could do a larger more involved painting too.  I love creating these painting collages!

If you're interested in having your child or grandchild immortalized in a whimsical painting, please contact me at ikons@hawaii.rr.com or Teapot at info@teapotparties.com

YES WE CAN!

One World One Heart Begins!

The comment area is now closed.  

I will announce the winner on Feb 12th.

Thank you all for visiting my blog and please do return.  

Tout droit....Marilyn :)

One World One Heart begins.....

and I am so excited and thrilled to be on board this gypsy caravan......

Thanks for stopping by my campsite!

To understand this more, and to see the list of all who are particpating, please read Lisa's comments on her blog.

In order to be in my drawing,  add a comment, only on this post, with a way for me to contact you.  I will do a random drawing on Feb. 12th and anyone that is actively blogging is eligible.

My gift includes all of the items shown in the photos....

* a page from a French journal, dated 1883, found at a Paris fleamarket  8" x  5-3/4"

* an antique rusted key, tied with a bit of antique gold netting  2"

* a face I sculpted and covered with antique gold netting, signed and hanging on a thin polka dot ribbon, with beaded wire embellishment

* a medallion from a antique rosary, with a bit of chain attached. 3/4"

* a iridescent glass butterfly bead, measuring 1-3/4" x 1" wide

* a piece of antique beaded netting, measuring 5" x  2-1/2" wide

Pieces of my heart......from me to you.....

Yet another winter's day over flowing with spring time...

This weather won't last long, so while it's here....back up to the hilltop I go....

It started with an incredible sunrise....

Magic was in the air....
and with the gift of another "spring" day here, off we went for a drive to the small, charming town of St. Helena, nestled in the wine country of Napa Valley.
It's such a cute town, dating from the early 1800's and the stores have the flair of french style and design.

One of my most favorite stores has a big M on the front window....meaning of course...
My store...for Me...Marilyn's place. :)






Everything in this store/gallery amazes me. The way things are placed...
the juxtaposition of texture, form, and design.
I LOVE this store!
























Here is my deep concern....I absolutely LOVE these pieces of art shown in the photos below.
They thrill me in their bizarreness...in their "out of the boxness"...in their simplicity. I LOVE the bone and skeletal look. The texture...the starkness.
Why then...does my art look so tame...so predictable...so...sweet?!
There appears to be a great distance between what lifts me up, personally, into inspiration and what I express through my fingers. This is of great concern to me!








Look at these great windows....I felt like I was in France....
so inspiring!





















On our way out of town, in the darkening sky, we passed an old cemetary and had to get out and walk around, with the just passing full moon rising to light our way.....













I was surprised....and delighted....that my Shadow revealed herself...finally, at the end of the day....in a most unlikely of places. Or is it?