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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

p r i n t M A N I A

                                              

my new book

My sweet husband bought me this great book by Lotta Jansdotter for Christmas! Lotta Prints: How to Print With Anything From Potatoes to Linoleum. I  read it the other night and actually finished it! Now I'm having a blast cutting potatoes and printing on paper, canvas and my bedroom curtains!

prints on canvas

detail of curtains
practicing on paper

first page in my new sketchbook

Now can you see how easy it is for me to get distracted in a day? Sooo much to do and so little time!

Monday, December 27, 2010

chatter

cotton rose (c) samos 2010
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Now that the anticipation has come and gone I'm feeling that sense of ...what should I do now? I want to start some resolutions early like:
  •  start doing yoga again regularly
  •  take more walks
  •  read more books
  • try new recipes
  • plant those bulbs (if it's not too late)
  • rearrange the art studio
  • finish remodeling the living room
The list goes on and on as I'm sure yours does too. But I am also feeling a sense of ease, if that's the word I'm looking for. It's this feeling of taking my time and not rushing into anything. It seems like we're always in a hurry to do this and that. Why? Is it so important that we let our lives pass us by without taking time to smell the roses, even if they are made of cotton?

daisy (c) samos 2010


Thursday, December 23, 2010

handmade vs store bought

I don't know about you, but I love making gifts. I read something the other day that said one of the top ten worst gift ideas was something handmade. I couldn't believe this! With so many creative and talented people in the world, you would think that the ones that don't take part in their creative side would appreciate a handmade gift from a friend or loved one. I know I do, but that's just me. 

 I made gifts for most of my family. There were just a couple that I bought for. And if I were to buy some more, these would be my choices.


betsygrace
 
carriedawaybags

paperplanet

So what do you like? Handmade or store bought? I'd love to hear what you like.

 Until next time... Have a wonderful day!

Monday, December 20, 2010

f r o s t


morning gifts (c) samos 2010
 I've always been a morning person and one of the benefits is that you get to see early morning frost on cold wintry days.

frost

Also called hoarfrost or white frost, a covering of minute ice needles, formed from the atmosphere at night upon the ground and exposed objects when they have cooled by radiation below the dew point, and when the dew point is below the freezing point.


frost (c) samos 2010


pine frost (c) samos 2010
 

Friday, December 17, 2010

happy friday from the cool gang


If only they knew what I was really doing with their pictures...don't we have the coolest dogs ever? I just love them so much! Somedays Lexi and I like to play dress up, but she's thankful that I was in the mood to play digitally today.

venezia (c) samos 2010

Here is a new mixed media painting that I finished this morning. Venezia is part of the travel series I'm workin on. I took one of my old photographs of some gondolas, did a photo transfer, painted, stamped and collaged the canvas. It didn't quite turn out the way I had envisioned, but I guess I could always do another one. I have plenty of pictures to work with. Although I believe Amsterdam will be next. I've been thinking about that one for awhile and have the image picked out already. Do you have pictures of your travels that you'd like as a keepsake on canvas? I'd love to paint one for you!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Monday, December 13, 2010

The Perfect Christmas Tree



David and I went hunting for a Christmas tree with my dad up Bear Creek this weekend. I haven't been up there since I was a little girl! It is so beautiful. Anyways, the weather was perfect, sunny and calm. We went traipsing through the woods, each tree looking better than the next. I wanted a smaller tree than we normally get since our living room seems to be getting crowded with furniture and our new stove. David found the perfect tree! And of course the one my dad picked was a beauty too. It was a lot of fun, even crossing over the beaver dam.



The ornament exchange has come to an end, but not without the joy of collecting ten new ornaments! I made three different ornaments: a Xmas tree, a joy bell, and a heart snowflake. I sent one to each person on the list. In return, women from all over sent me beautiful, handmade ornaments that now have a home on our gorgeous little Christmas tree.
I just LOVE it!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

European Travels


prague (c) samos 2010

The other day I mentioned that I was taking a walk down memory lane and thinking about all the places I have been so fortunate to visit in my travels. Then I was thinking about all the new paintings I could do in honor of these memories that I don't ever want to lose. And that's just what I did! Well, I started anyways. Sienna and Prague are the first two and there will be more to come!

sienna (c) samos 2010



green teapot

Here's my second teapot too! Green as in "greenware", not the color, although that might not be a bad idea!

Monday, December 6, 2010

short and stout

this is my first teapot and it's definitely short and stout...
the past few days i've been thinking about all the places i've traveled to and the memories that are so easily forgotten if you don't recognize them every once in awhile. so with that in mind, i have a few new ideas for some paintings that will be created in the next day or two. i can hardly wait to show you on wednesday!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Sew, Sew, and Dreams of Kissing Under the Mistletoe


I love making Christmas presents! Especially for my nieces and nephew. In this day and age where materialism has consumed almost everyone, I like to bring the simpler joys in life to our young ones. (Even if they really don't "get it"). I have been waiting for it to snow since that is my favorite time to sew. But since it's already the first week of December and no snow at our place, I decided to give in and break out the sewing machine anyway. I have two pillows done, two to go and then a couple of stuffed bears to make.

Last month I signed up for an ornament exchange that Jennifer at the JRU Studios hosted. So far I have received five of the most beautiful, unique ornaments I've ever seen! I love them! It's such a treat to get a little piece of art in the mail!

peace by jill metz

1.joy tree by anita kropf
2. christmas bird by diana mulder
3. quiet strength angel by cindy fort

Tomorrow is the Holiday Show at the 3rd Street Gallery in Westcliffe. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by the opening. It's from 5-8pm. I have six pieces of pottery on display.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! See you back on Monday!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Bright Lights, Big City


bright lights big city (c) samos 2010

Next month I'm going to enter a juried show where buildings and cities are the theme. I've been toying with some new ideas. But the one that I really have stuck in my head involves a large masonite board that could turn into a mixed media painting. We'll have to wait and see...


Here are a couple photo transfers I did last night.


twin cities (c) samos 2010

its looking up (c) samos 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010

Holiday Show and CYBER Monday


WoW! That was a long weekend, but I had a ton of fun! It started on Wednesday night, setting up for the show. I was lucky enough to get a wall space right next to a door, so I had plenty of room. Since this was the second show I've ever attended, I don't have a very good display. But I did some research and found something that would work in a pinch. I took an old ladder that I use in my garden and borrowed one from my dad. Placed them next to each other and made shelves out of them! It worked perfectly! I made some sales, one commission, and many contacts. I would say it was pretty successful and the hardest part was sitting still! Plus I made some new friends too! Can't beat that!

I couldn't have done this without all the help from my parents. They were amazing!Mom, Dad, thank you SO much! I love you!

...on a different note, today is Cyber Monday! Head on over to MuddyPotts for a 20% off discount on any item! Just enter the coupon code: CYBERDAY and it will be calculated for you at checkout.

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving and a fun weekend!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

tutto quello che amo

everything i love
I am the queen of procrastination. I am supposed to be finishing up my pendants, but I found this canvas just calling my name. I thought to myself, " I don't have time to paint today, but I could make a MuddyPotts sign for my booth!" So what was supposed to be a sign for my upcoming show turned into a mixed media painting called "everything i love".
Tutto quello che amo is the Italian translation. I thought since I love Italy, the language, the food, etc. I could say just that!
Okay, I'm off to load the car and head out to set up my booth!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
peace love & joy to you all

Sunday, November 21, 2010

painting again, YES

I'm not sure if the painting I finished this last week was the beginning of something new, but whatever is the cause for getting the brushes back into my hand, I am eternally grateful. I have been so happy these last few days with new ideas flowing like water. What was once lost has now been found: the desire to paint.

Isis was inspired by an email that I received from my girlfriend. She is a published poet and was sending out an invitation to her reading at the Hotel Lenado in Aspen this coming Sunday. We have done some collaboration work together but it has been a long time since we've done one. After reading her email I went into my archives and found Isis, one of her poems.

Isis
Swimming through the nectar
Of a tawny afternoon,
Her black dress falls away.
And the sun drapes her flesh
In the skin of the gods;
Coating her body in that golden light
And the heat at the end of the day –
As she steps toward him.

-Suzanne Bronson



I went to church today and as always I come home happy, full of love, and refreshed.Inspired comes from what God has given me, a life. I have always been in love with His creation and grateful to enjoy each day we have.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Love Birds

love birds
I started a new series of paintings called Love Birds. Remember the photo transfer I did last week? Well, I had so much fun with it that I thought "why not do some paintings?" And that's where we are right now. This is an 11x 14 canvas board mixed media. It isn't in my etsy shop yet, but it will be soon. Stay tuned for their debut...
xmas tree

The first batch of Christmas ornaments came out of the kiln this morning! I love how they turned out! There is another batch already to be glazed. Perhaps I can get those done while watching some movies tonight...


Monday, November 15, 2010

xmas trees, joy bells, and heart snowflakes


The days are getting shorter and so is my window of opportunity to get things wrapped up for my upcoming holiday show. Eleven more days, but whose counting? Last week I made ornaments for the ornament exchange that I'm doing with eleven other artists. Once they came out of the kiln, I decided I didn't like them and to make some different ones. Here's a peak at what the new ones look like...

heart snowflake

joy bell

xmas tree

I love these little ornaments so much that I am going to include a FREE one with every purchase from MuddyPotts until December 24th.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Bijou's Whimsy November Giveaway


So two weeks in a row I've missed my personal deadline of posting on Friday, but who's keeping track? Besides, I did it on purpose so I could announce an awesome giveaway from Mandy of Bijou's Whimsy. You definitely need to hop on over to her blog right now and enter! She is an amazing artist and I know you would love to have "Live in the Light" in your home.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

something new


The other day I was learning about photo transferring. It's something that I've been interested in for awhile now and decided to try it. I used watercolor paper, a gel medium and colored photocopies along with one in black and white.

sunflower

pansies

poppies

So what do you think? I was actually amazed at how easy it is! I have so many photos that I want to play with now!

Monday, November 8, 2010

a new look


December 8th will be the two year mark for muddypotts, one of my etsy shops. I woke up this morning thinking about my banner and how blah it was. Definitely time for a change. SO go check out my shop, the new banner and see buy yourself a present for just being you!

peace and love
samos

Sunday, November 7, 2010

clay candy

pendant tree

Here is a sneak at what I've been working on for the upcoming Holiday Art and Craft Show. I will have pendants, magnets and all sorts of cool pottery to show in the next two weeks. I'm getting excited! Can you tell? The kiln has been going non stop for the past week, and so have I! Actually I took a little break today. Well, after I a little work this morning...
I went for a fun ride on Neo and then spent a great day with my folks. After a delicious lunch we went into Westcliffe to see if the 3rd Street Gallery was open. Low and behold, it was! I have a painting in the Small Town Living Show and hadn't had a chance to check it out yet.
What a great show!


lotus orange peel pendant

cappuccino swirly pendant

lotus swirly pendant

cappuccino orange peel pendant

Thanks Dad for the super cool tree display! I love it!

xxoo