something different

It is a mosaic bowling ball.
This my first attempt at mosaic - I learned a lot!

One thing I learned is that you will need twice the amount of stone/tiles than you have.

I ran out of the black stones and of course the store was out of them when I went to buy more.

So, my pattern became a bit more random than I wanted.
I used grey grout because I wanted it to look like cement but the white and mirrored pieces don't show like I thought they would.

I have had this bowling ball in my garage for a year
I looked at it everyday and thought -oh yeah -I was going to......

Now I can look outside and say - oh yeah- I did that!
I did mosaic a 9 in the design so I would remember the year it was done.

Andrew and Reagan made stepping stones

This one is Andrew's He is going to put it in the flower bed at his new house. We have been busy moving them the last two days.

This one is Reagan's. She is going to put hers next to the one she made in Girl Scouts.

I found it interesting that one is very random and the other is very symmetrical -is that a boy/girl thing, an age thing, or

nothing at all?

studio time vs summertime

So far, Summertime is winning over Studio time but I did manage to put this necklace together. There are matching earrings not in the photo.

I love summer! I love being outside. I don't care if it is blazing hot and humid - I love being in nature. I love the long hours of daylight. I love the feel of the sun on my skin. I love the fragrance of flowers in my garden. I love the smell of summer rain. I love playing with or watching the grandkids. I love cooking and eating outside.

In spite of these loves - I hate camping! Indoor plumbing wins hands down when it come to camping!

lie, laugh, love

I have these words mingled in my flower bed. Yes, I know.... last year it was live, laugh, love. But, a Mourning Dove sat on the V (bending it to the ground)changing everything.
We had a wonderful 4th of July in spite of the 2 inches of rain in the morning. The sun came out making things steamy. We grilled, the kids enjoyed the pool and later we watched the fireworks. It is illegal to put off fireworks in the city limits. The funny thing is everyone totally ignores this law - even law enforcement. It sounded like a war zone! Unbelievable! It is always good for my soul to have everyone together - I cherish each moment!

my favorite shoes

My Grandchildren painted my shoes!
Reagan did the left, Andrew did the right
and Scottie did the strap on both.
The only restriction I put on the artists
was the choice of colors. I love the attention
they stir. The kids and I are very proud of
my favorite shoes!

where have I been?

Outside! I have been working in the yard - when it hasn't been raining. It seems to rain every other day. I have been planting and transplanting a lot of things. I don't have much yard but I do have many flower beds and container plantings. I have Tomatoes and pumpkins in 3 of my large flower pots. I hope to have better luck with the pumpkins this year.

Let Summer begin!

Well, I said I would let you know how the Art Festival went. It was not 'Great' but it was 'ok'. I was very close to the main stage and the music was very loud. Enough about that!
I thought I would show you some jewelry I just made - all of my favorite colors. They scream summer to me.
I know in my very first post I said I wouldn't use this space to show off my Grand kids but I have a new one and I am so proud of all of them.
From Left to right:
Scottie-3 he is so proud of his new sister Addison-3wks. Reagan-7 will be entering the 2nd grade- (the picture was taken at her birthday party) and Andrew-6 will be entering the 1st grade. He is getting a new sibling in October.
The pool is open, the water is warming,my flowers are blooming, Come on over!

oh my!

I have been absent for awhile - power washing the patio- planting flowers- digging in the dirt - you get the picture - outside! I should have been in my studio. I have a booth at an Art Festival this weekend (Saturday 12:00-6:00pm). The festival is in the Crestwood Mall(St. Louis) The mall is almost void of retail but many of the spaces have been occupied by Artist Guilds, working artist and Art Councils. I did this show last year -it was held at a school, outside, it rained. We moved our tables indoors and actually did very well. I will let you know how it goes.

Earth DAY

The wings are etched copper - the body is a breath stripe tin filled with resin.

The dragonflies won't be visiting my yard until summer so this will have to do until then.

Earth Week

Nature -nickel etched, patinae , color pencil

I actually scheduled myself studio time this afternoon - Last week is a blur - Easter, The Circus, first grade school trip to the Zoo - I love spending time with my grandchildren. I will drop everything if I am needed to help out. I will even miss yoga class if need be - and I do stress need.

The weather is showing promise of warm days and cool nights. The ground is sooo wet but the flowers are thriving. I need to dig in the dirt, plant flowers, pull weeds - after all it is Earth Week When did Earth Day change to Earth Week? I don't have a problem with it - I think everyday should be Earth Day. We need to maintain our homes so why do so many neglect to maintain the Earth?

I miss you....

I am missing a lot lately:

my studio ( I haven't been in my studio for a week), my computer(was sick and in the shop but now is home and fixed), the feel of Spring in the air ( it is cold and spitting snow today), but most of all I miss my dear neighbor Beulah!
Beulah was a beautiful lady, 96 years old, and has lived by herself for the last 30 years. She died Saturday morning of pneumonia. She was a joy to know and love. She liked to watch me work in my flower beds because she knew I would work on hers next. She enjoyed every flower that bloomed - especially the yellow rose. Her daughter-in-law (who lives in CA but visits twice a year) and I have become very good friends. When she would visit I would steal her away to my studio to play as often as possible. We share a love of creating and have taught one another many techniques through the years. Beulah loved my grandchildren and they loved her right back. She lived an amazing life - I will miss her deeply.

I will try to get back here more often.

Mastodon Art and Science Regional Fair

This is said to be the largest Art/Science Fair in the world. I have been an art judge for 13 years. I have judged 5th and 6th grade art for most of those years. I love young art - it is so real, so free, and so brave. This year my granddaughter , Reagan- 6 years old, entered a piece of Cave Art . I am so proud ! Good Job, Rea!!!!!

Books

Books, I love books- novels, art, children's, journals, dictionaries, soft cover, hard cover, spiral bound, hand bound - But... I hate paperbacks! The small ones. I read in bed before falling to sleep at night. Paperbacks are so hard to hold and the type seems to be getting smaller! ( That could just be my eyesight diminishing) I also love looking a shelf loaded with books, stacks of books, being in a book store surrounded with books. I think you get the picture.

Now my dilemma, I am think about getting a Kindel. Have you seen them? If not, go to Amazon and do a search. They are awesome! Thin, lightweight, so cool! You can download hundreds of books and read them when ever, where ever because this thing would fit in most any purse.

Paula, a friend of mine got one for Christmas. I really didn't think I would like it but she had it with her on our Ski trip - which by the way, was a very good trip! Now every time I pick up a book to read I think ohhhh, I think I would like a Kindel. Do any of you have one?

Charming...

Sally Jean I will never be, but these are so much fun! If you like soldering , Sally Jean Alexander has a fabulous book - Pretty Little Things.

I am looking forward to a Wonderful Ski trip to CO.

Will this be the year for a really wonderful trip?

Last year an ice storm arrived the morning of departure. We were knocked into the median of the interstate on the way to the airport. The jeep was badly scarred, rear fender was flapping but still drivable - on to the airport. Our flight was cancelled and rescheduled twice before we arrived - the day continued in the same manner. By 5:00pm the airport is completely shut down and we were on a flight the following morning. After several phone calls we found some hotel rooms at Harrah's. (We live 50 miles from the airport and we have a group of 8)

Before 10:00 pm our flight has been cancelled and rescheduled for not the next day but the day after next! We canceled this time and came home and put my jeep in the body shop.

This year we are taking Mike's truck to the airport.

I have many, many ski stories - Blizzards that forced us off the highway only to sit at a rest stop for 7 hours with 6 children and 5 adults (we used to drive from MO to CO 18 hours - straight through), Flat tires. Multiple ER visits, and oh, so many other things.

This year I am not skiing - I am going to read, shop, knit , and read some more.

It will be a wonderful ski trip!

I will let you know next week.

a bird and a house ...not a birdhouse

Some days I go to my studio fully intending to make something fabulous.
Some days that happens and some days it doesn't.
I like to keep small projects on hand for the days that I just want to be busy creating.
I just bought these cute little kits last week at www.smallstudioproductions.com
Ginny Smallenburg does a great job of keeping her offerings interesting, fresh and fun.
She also ships quickly. I have her blog listed - check it out.
The picture in the house is my Mother at age 2.
The egg in the bird is a small plastic egg I cut in half .
Now go to Ginny's 'Small Studio' and shop!

Happy Birthday!

Today is a very special Lady's birthday!

This is the necklace and earrings(not shown) I made for her using some charms she had given me from her stash of broken but 'dear to her' jewelry.

This is a blurred picture but I decided to post it anyway.

beads in a pod

Resin- book page-copper frame

copper bead pod

The weather has been nasty here but the sleet / snow is melting and the brown of winter is showing through now. The sun is shining and that is the best I can hope for during the month of February. February is my least favorite month of the year. I actually count off days in February - it also has the weirdest spelling! anyway, I made these copper pods - tough on the hands - I doubt I make anymore.

I also played with resin and pages from an old German book . I will do more of this technique.

little bird

I am very pleased with the outcome of this piece - the assorted wires were woven and hammered then sandwiched between an etched nickle background and a copper etched frame.
This is' little bird'. A small necklace version of the birds in the earlier post.
I do sell my jewelry. All of my jewelry is 'one of a kind'. I rarely do special orders.
But if you see something you like, you can email me pjdutton93@yahoo.com . Please put stuff pj made in the subject line to inquire about availability and price.

For the Birds

First you need to know -I am afraid of birds - the sound of their wings fluttering freaks me out. I love to feed and watch them. I like to use bird images in art work. And in spite of my fear(or maybe this feeds my fear) I watch the movie The Birds every time it is on TV. That being said , I also enjoy making birds - these birds. The Nov./Dec. 2007 issue of Somerset Studio had a featured article written by Jeanette Jansen http://www.carolinaartist.com/ about the 'Garage Birds' she makes and sells. To date I have make 15 or so of these birds. Take a look.

Momma's Party

Tomorrow is my Mother's birthday. Today we had a party for her - just family - but our family has a way of filling up the house. There were only 11 of us. My sister Susan , my nephew Dustin and our daughter Meg (plus husband and son) all live out of state.

We ate, she opened gifts, we played ping pong - I even hula hooped with the grand kids. They have all gone now and the house is quiet.

I am posting more jewelry pieces. The copper I use in my jewelry is reclaimed from the valleys of my roof. We had a new roof put on a couple of years ago and I split the bounty with the roofer.

New Stuff

These pieces were inspired by a wonderful book by Mary Hettmansperger- Wrap, Stitch, Fold and Rivet. I love this book - I have always leaned toward straight, balanced and symmetrical - so these pieces have taken me out of my comfort zone. I am enjoying the freeing ,' just let it happen' techniques I have learned from this book.

You can right click on the pictures for a closer look.

It is a beginning

I am not sure about this.
I won't make any promises to post every day because some days I just don't have anything to say.
I will promise to learn how to post pictures of my artwork and jewelry.
I will also promise to learn how to post an occasional video.
I also will promise not to bore everyone with my Grand Children - no matter how wonderful, smart and cute they happen to be.
So, for now, this is it. I am headed to my Studo to make something to show you.