Itty Bitty Paper Doll Book

Here is another amazing Itty Bitty Book. A big thanks to all and to Mary Ann for all of her hard work and for making these fab slide shows!

My Art is My Solitude

I'm in a funk at the moment. My husband has another test tomorrow on his foot/leg, my oldest has a test with a language specialist this week before we meet with the doctor to discuss her ADHD, my Mom is worried about her current swelling and that her cancer may come back and I am very depressed. Ok, maybe too much info, but for those of you that really know me, I'm sure that you have noticed that I have not been myself lately. I've been having bloggers writer's block, haven't been as active with my art groups and haven't visited my favorite friends/blogs enough. I know things could always be worse. There are people in the world living through absolute horror, and I know my life's problems are nothing compared to theirs. I thank God for all of the wonderful in my life. I'm just in a funk. It will pass, I will be the old Rhonda one of these days, but until then I am so glad that I have my art and my deadlines. It is my escape and a way to clear my head. I enjoy it as well though and it brings me happiness.

So now that I have gotten all of that off of my chest, this is the cover of my Marie Antoinette round robin book that I am doing. I will show you inside as soon as I find the folder that my dh put the pictures in - lol. There are, I think, ten of us doing this swap. We do two pages in each book and I just finished my second book (including my own). We have a long way to go, but I know it will be an amazing trip.

I love using vintage jewelry on my work. It just makes it so much more appealing to the eye. I really need to share more pics of the travel round robin I am doing with some of my beautiful friends (Val, Priscilla, Maria, and Nancy). We did another book as well with a Valentine theme that was amazing. I am blessed to work with these fabulous gals again and to have the wonderful Nancy joining us. So, more to come soon. Please keep my family in your prayers and have a fantastic week! May you not get into a funk! xoxo

The Start of My Eiffel Tower

I admit it. I was very overwhelmed when I took this puzzle out of it's package and looked at all of the little pieces staring up at me. But once I took a minute to just look at it, I realized how easy it was to put together. Plus my oldest helped a bit as well. I think her little ADHD brain makes it easier for her to figure out puzzles. I kid you not. I think announcing it on my blog that I was going to achieve this task forced me to stay with it as well.

The first thing I did was to semi put each section together. Once I figured out each sections placement, I glued the section itself together. Next, I glued all of the sections together attaching other small pieces that had a necessary placement in attaching the sections together. Gee, did that make any sense?




So, here is the finished and securely glued Eiffel tower, ready for silver spray paint.

No, this picture is not upside down. It was taken to show you just how secure it is.

Despite the occasional breeze, this was really easy to spray paint. It only took one good coat.

So, now we are ready to add some silver glass glitter. I can't wait to see the finished product and display it in my studio. And of course, I will share that moment with you as well. Have a great day!

Oh How I Love Those Itty Bitty Books

Hope that everyone is doing well! I have been busy, busy, busy. Mostly, my Mommy cap has been on a lot more then usual. But that's okay. I'm blessed! I have been in a funk lately though with everything that is on my plate at the moment and haven't felt my creative blogging spark. I haven't been visiting my favorite blogs much either and that really needs to change. My blogging friends feed my soul. Here is something that makes my soul happy. I've been finishing up on some more Itty Bitty Book pages. I can't even tell you how addicted I am to this group. The creator, Mary Ann from Follow Your Bliss, and her sister Jo from Labor of Love are so amazing. I can't even begin to tell you how much joy they have added to my life, my girls and my Moms. They are two very special gals with huge hearts. They even got some of the group together to make me a cheer up book. I can't even tell you how much it touched me and it gave me many happy tears. It is something I do want to share with you when I get the chance.

This is a recent Itty Bitty that I thought I would share with you. Mary Ann has been making these slide shows of the finished books and I think this one, The Itty Bitty Green Book, is one of my all time favs. I can't wait to hold it in my hands and see it up close. The group is coming up on it's one year anniversary. I think we just finished our thirteenth book. Itty bitty blue, house (shaped like a house), Christmas, Halloween, Marie Antoinette, pink, winter, prom dress, spring, Valentine (shaped like a heart), green, birthday, and paper doll. I think I got them all. I have them all displayed in one spot in my studio and the girls and I love to look through them. They are very inspiring too when I am having a creative block. Our next book is the Itty Bitty tea cup, shaped like a tea cup. Just love them!

Have a great week and I hope to post again soon. I have lots to share, I've just been a busy Mommy.

An Ordinary Cigar Box

Finally, pictures of the Marie Antoinette paper theatre that I made for another swap on the amazing Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group. It's the perfect group for me, seeing how I love all things french! When I first began, and saw Tristan's amazing theatre which I posted about earlier, I thought, "What have I gotten myself into?" I was very nervous about this task and whether or not I could pull it off. But you know what? That's what challenges are all about and we grow and become better at what we do. I am so proud of my theatre and it was so hard to give away. But there will be more because this project was just too wonderful to not do it again.

My oldest may have ADHD, but she sure can concentrate when it comes to her art and her journals. She loves to create at her desk in my studio. I was amazed with the way she picked up on how I mounted Marie and her chair.

I can't even begin to tell you how many layers of paper I used. I wanted it to be as three-dimensional as possible.

I painted some old wooden spools and wrapped them in this ribbon that seemed to be made to go with this theatre.

I love the curtain that falls behind this paper chair that is decorated with vintage glass bead flowers. I also used several layers of cording on the stage. It has to be over the top, in my opinion, to be Marie.

I made this medallion by using Crystal Effects by Stampin' Up. I love this stuff! It makes your paper design appear as if behind glass.

Here is my daughter's box when it is closed. She spent a lot of time adding all of her layers as well. If she keeps this up, who knows what greatness she will create as an adult.

I had no idea she had made the Queen and her chair until she told me to open it up. I was just so proud!

And guess what... just when you thought I was done with Marie, there's more. I am currently working on a Marie Antoinette round robin book. Talk about bling! I will also share more of my round robin travel book. Hope you are all having beautiful spring days. We had snow one day and open windows the next. Cheers!

Marie Antoinette Altered Shoe

I am really loving the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group that I have joined. I have been so inspired by the amazing artists I have seen and the swaps are challenges in art I have never attempted before. I love trying new things and I especially love it when everything comes together.

This is the shoe that I created for the Marie Antoinette Altered Shoe Swap.




It took a few days to create the many different layers of paper, gesso, mod podge and lots of embellishments. I mean really, it couldn't be Marie inspired without lots of embellishments.

I love using vintage jewelry in my art. It just adds this wonderful quality of eye candy to view. I always look at the old pieces that I have acquired and wonder about the person that wore them and what their life was like. And what the world was like when they were alive.

I love this fan that I made using layers of gold paper and vintage french book pages. It came together so well.

I love using Crystal Effects from Stampin' Up. It makes ordinary paper look three dimensional.

These rhinestones came from an old pearl necklace. It was the clasp on the pearls that I used on the top of the shoe.

And this is what the shoe looked like before I started on it. Lucky for me I have the other shoe as well so that I can try and reproduce this piece for myself. I hope that I have inspired you to try something new. Next I will show the paper Marie theatre that I made. Off to get my copy of the new Somerset Marie magazine. I FINALLY found a copy of it and they have put it on hold for me. Yippee!

I hope that all of you are having a great week. I am still anxiously trying to find a copy of the new Somerset Marie issue. I can't find it anywhere. Good thing that you can learn all sorts of wonderful things about the real Marie Antoinette at CupidsCharm. She has done a wonderful job sharing all sorts of great info and pictures and will be doing so all week. If you love Marie, then pay her a visit!

Speaking of magazines, I also received my order of copies of the new Stamper's Sampler. I am thrilled and proud to be published in this edition. It is a dream come true and I will be sharing more about that on another day.

I am way behind on my blog and posting pictures of all of the wonderful things I have been up to. This has been a bad week though. I am very stressed and have had migraines, pretty much, every day. I found out on Monday that my oldest does have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and I am really crushed over this. The Dr. told me that because she also has Apraxia of speech it might be good to put her on medication. I think I shocked him as I began to ball my eyes out. It just isn't an option for me. I don't want to put any type of crap in her body and change who she is. I really think her father and I are the same way and it is just something you have to learn to deal with.

Of course I am going to research more, but as a former teacher and one who did a focus study on student's with ADHD while I was getting my Masters, it is just so freakin' weird that all of this is happening to me. The school system sucks (excuse the term) and I can't believe that more Americans don't see it. I know the teachers do. I cried my eyes out to my parents and said, "I guess that is why God made me a teacher, so I can teach my own child". I used to have such an attitude about the whole home schooling thing, but it might just be the best choice for my bright little eager learner who isn't getting what she currently needs in the classroom. I know God will take care of us, but I still worry.

So, sorry for all of the personal info. If you know of anyone with ADHD or know some about any of these topics I would be happy to hear from you. For the moment, my blog has gone back to a source of "therapy" by "getting it all out". I wanted my followers to know what is up because I don't want to loose any of you.

This too shall pass, tomorrow is a new day. Have a great weekend and I promise I will be showing you some awesome pictures of some of my latest work and my published article as well. Thanks for stopping by!