Embellishing with daisy chains

Just a simple daisy chain vintage lace embellishment 

added to a simple t-shirt for girly fun.

                                                    .        
                                                             .Super quick and easy peasy.

Daisy chains and wet clay designs

I am always curious 

and enjoy experimenting and creating new designs.

 I've been playing with vintage lace 

pressed into wet clay dish shapes

just because I can.

I especially like the tiny detail created on the edge of the leaves 

with a seam tracing wheel typically used for sewing.

Pretty cool, right?

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Beach time...

A mini vacation, just across the street from the cottage, 

and down a few steps...

Some days it is just the lifeguard, seashells, 

large stretches of blue sky, warm sand and the sparkling sea.

I usually bring my tattered sketchbook along with me.

And my favorite pencil, a fat stump for shading and an eraser.

On this day the straw bag and flipflops were more interesting than my pink painted toes.

Surprisingly, Sunday afternoon I seemed to have my favorite little cove all to myself.

Other days I have unsuspecting subject matter all about.

 I had just begun sketching 

when this guy jumped up and ran after his toddler.

So I spy someone else and begin again.

I am hidden under a large straw hat with dark glasses 

with the sketch book in my lap.

Most people have no idea what I am up to.

This gal made it so much easier, she was dozing and not moving about.

Mostly it is just for fun and practice 

but every once in a while I like a piece well enough to frame.

This one ended up in the guest house at Summerland Cottage.

This guy was so engrossed in his Clive Cussler novel 

that he made a perfect model.

(Reminder to self, do this more often!)

Butterfly bowls in sherbet colors

I was playing with a lace butterfly appliqué and clay,

and created these charming ceramic bowls in sherbet colors.

This pale turquoise color is my favorite!

Perfect for serving summertime fresh fruits and desserts.

Gate and Garden Tour

I was thrilled to be included in the 

Laguna Beach Gate and Garden Tour this year!

(The photo above is from the souvenir book for this years tour.)

This is my largest ever, creative endeavor. 

Here are a few close ups of my higgledy piggledy

vintage brick wall with ceramic seashells.

    . T Here is a before photo, 

As you can see, there was zero curb appeal when I purchased the property.

It's a good thing I was gifted with this amazing imagination and could visualize 

how charming this would become over time with some creativity. 

I hired a contractor to attach metal screen to the unattractive gunite

 for a base to work off of and to mix the cement.

Then we worked together building a mosaic style facade with

 vintage bricks pulled up from the over grown pathways in the back yard.

 I created ceramic seashells to embellish with along with river rocks

 collected about the property.

(It is an ongoing project as there is another 100 feet to go.)

It's been fun sharing the transformation with the neighborhood.

For a peek at what is on the other side of the wall click here.

And I am sincerely honored to receive the Award of Merit 

from the Laguna Beach Beautification Council

for an outstanding contribution to beautifying Laguna Beach 

with my creative wall.

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Inspired by Anthropologies new ceramic dish designs,

       shown here...

I pull out a piece of bisque and some glazes to create

my own version in a turquoise color scheme.

I begin with a quick pencil sketch then begin mixing

 and layering colors and use a darker blue for the outline

 on the fish before putting it in for the final firing.

My fish has his own little personality and was fun to create! 

How cool is that to make your own dishware?

...and the creative roll continues!

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Doily collection

This post came about as my dear friend Meryl and I were talking about her upcoming issue of Romantic Homes, featuring flea markets.

We were discussing how her readers display their treasured collections, and I shared with her some of my ideas and a simple project that I had done using my vintage doily collection that is super easy and fun!

This is what you will need...

a collection of miscellaneous sized doilies 

a solid colored table cloth

thread to match the doily color

sewing needle (optional)

scissors

Instructions...

Dress your table with a freshly ironed table cloth.

Beginning in the center and working your way out to each 

end of the table, lay your doilies out so that their edges are just touching.

This is much like working on a jigsaw puzzle.

For this look, you want it to be long and narrow.

When you have them laid out to your satisfaction,

using a needle and thread tie them together with a simple 

double knot.

 

This keeps them from moving about.

Continue adding until you are satisfied with the result.

I like it, just spilling off the tables edge.

This doily runner could be laid down the center of a solid 

colored  bedspread for added interest, 

when not in use on the dining room table.

Happy Mother's Day!


And for another vintage doily tablecloth idea click here.

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Creative furniture makeover

I've been working on a fun makeover for 

LOCA's fun funky furnishings fundraiser

being held next Sunday, May 4th, here in Laguna Beach.

My girlfriend Trudy had this dresser she was willing to donate to 

the cause and she even offered to prime and paint it white.

Then she dropped it off for me to play with!

I created new ceramic seashell drawer pulls for it,

and went with an ombré effect using a Tiffany blue color scheme 

on the drawers.

I chose to edge the drawers with a white border and add 

a trim of the Tiffany blue along the bottom wavy edge 

to show off the detail and a small border along the top 

to accent, the little hand-painted sea creatures,

that will be embellishing the top of the dresser.

If you're in the area try to make it by, and bring your friends,

 it's for a great cause, so bid generously!

(hand-painted detail on the top)

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Happy Easter Greetings

with a few of my latest lovelies out of firing...

a ceramic lace covered bunny,

a yellow striped bowl,

a tiny bunny box 

and my favorite,

a yellow lustered flower frog with vintage doily embellishment!

Blue bird of happiness

Creating with a watercolor effect on bisque 

 and inspired by my surroundings...

In the 1908 play by Belgian author Maurice Maeterlinck,

the children of a woodcutter are sent to look for the Bluebird 

of happiness aided by the good fairy Berylune.

The children search through out different lands

until they find the bird in its cage.

The moral of the story,

true happiness can be found close to home.

Garden inspiration

I love spring !

New growth, new beginnings...

lovely surprises to find popping their heads up in the garden!

I am in awe of natures beauty,

and enjoy capturing it with my art.

"Just living is not enough...
One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."
Hans Christian Andersen

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Celebrating Teatime

with my latest crochet lace doily and clay creation....

Beginning with a basic teapot and teacup shape in clay,

then cutting, draping, dipping in slip 

and shaping the doily over the teapot

and creating a vintage button look handle for the lid.

Lastly, glazing it all in white, then putting it in to be fired.

I'm happy with the end result,

and I like using the doily on top the teapot instead of under it.

A very romantic look,

both beautiful and useful!

Come and share a pot of tea,

my home is warm and my friendship's free.

Emilie Barnes