Seahorse Vase

Celebrating summer at the seashore with another hand built clay vase.

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Layering seashells on top of seashells and the seahorse as the focal point, 

and adding a little luster glaze for interest.

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Seashore Assemblage

Created using a small 5" square canvas as the backdrop

and adding a bit of turquoise paint 

haphazardly for the background,

a ripped piece of paper decoupaged at the base for texture

then rummage through the studio for small treasures 

to continue the creative venture.

Beginning with gluing on the sand dollar and seahorse

the rest just called out to be added in 

and just seemed to fall into place.

Ceramic seashells, pearls, bits of sea glass 

and the charming heart with the crown

became my favorite.

a little creative fun while at the seashore

Little works in progress...

working in my little sketch book

on new designs

 

doodleliciousness

and then playing with the designs on a bisque vase

just a little weekend fun!

To be continued...

HERE

Seashore Winter Wonderland

I finally have a day off!

I sleep in, and later while savoring my favorite breakfast, dark chocolate, I take time to listen to the ideas that have been percolating in my imagination for some time now.

I choose to ignore the stacks of paperwork and invoicing that is overtaking the breakfast room table and take myself off to my studio to gather all the bits and pieces that are calling my attention to be part of the seashore themed holiday table decoration.

The little tree below was found @ TJ Maxx $3.50

and perfect to begin with.

Then miscellaneous silver toned foliage is gathered

and fun finds from a local shop in town.

The sea fan and shells are sprayed with silver metallic paint

and lovely glass treasures collected in Venice, Italy are pulled to include

with more seashells

and a some of my own ceramic creations

and a few more bits and bobs that may want to be included

are all gathered and artfully piled on a simple white dish 

and the picture that has been in my imagination

slowly comes to fruition before my eyes,

and then is captured under a glass cloche.

I LoVe when that happens!

The photo above is of the back side.

And a couple close ups for your viewing pleasure.

Happy Thanksgiving dear friends,

I am grateful to share the fun and creativity!

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My Favorite Summer Tote

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My Favorite Summer Tote

For the past several years the amazingly talented needle crafter Linda Nelson and her husband Ron make the long drive all the way from Michigan to Laguna Beach, California and have wintered in the guest house at Summerland Cottage.

The fist year as a thank you parting gift I gave them a little framed rendering I did of one of the paths in Heisler Park, our local park along the oceans edge that they they would walk their sweet dog Sammy through on their way into town.

The next year when they returned, Linda surprised me with a gift of a beautiful tea towel with a cross stitch flower border she had done in colors to coordinate with my kitchen curtains.

I was thrilled with it and when the towel began to wear I removed and saved the beautiful trim. Since then we have begun a friendly exchange of hand crafted gifts.

You can imagine how thrilled I was this year to receive the charming seahorse she had beautifully appliqued in my favorite ocean theme colors. Her husband Ron, the computer whiz, shrank the original pattern ( found @ cotton-picking.com) from a 24" x 36" wall hanging to the size you see here.

It was the perfect size for a pillow or small wall hanging but I chose to show it off around town by sewing it to the front of a simple canvas tote and adding vintage buttons to the bubbles as accents. Then scraps of ribbons were added down each side to accent the colors and sewn in place with a little latch added to the top to attach the house keys to. Not having a fabric store in town I was thrilled to find an over sized blouse for $5.49 at a thrift shop in the perfect color way and cut it up to use as border trim along the top of the tote, and to create a pocket on the inside to hold a cell phone and cover the handles with.

Coral wreath design

Unexpected sweet little find at Big Lots,

coral colored beaded wreath and small seashell pics,

are assembled and attached together

with some of my own ceramic lustered creations included

for added pleasure and sparkle.