Hidden Faces

Ever since I was a child I have always found faces in things. Faces in tree bark, the sides of mountains, etc. It used  to be something that I did naturally, then it became a game that I would play and now it's back to being something that I do subconsciously. Perhaps it's the Brian Froud in me. He often illustrates goblin faces in rocks, trees, etc.

I follow the amazing talent of Carne Griffiths on DeviantArt.com and recently saw a hidden face in his piece entitled "New Light"  As Mr. Griffiths couldn't see the hidden face that I had found, I decided to circle the face and post it here. Can anyone else see what I am talking about? It's a man/goblin/gnome with his eyes closed and a rather long nose.

I love finding things like this in works of art. If you do too, then definitely check out Al Hirschfeld's work as he always incorporated at least one NINA in his pieces. (The name of his daughter)

New Pieces Finished and In Progress.

I've been feeling sort of down in-the-dumps. My artwork hasn't really been going anywhere lately and it's difficult sometimes to find the necessary drive and passion to continue on. Slowly I feel the shadowy curtain lifting and I know that I'll get back to my old self eventually, but it's been a rough few weeks.

I received a call from my mom last night telling me that my great uncle, Paul, has passed away. I didn't know him too well, but somehow his death has affected me more than I would have thought. My grandmother passed away late last year and Paul was the last of her surviving siblings.For some reason I feel as if I've lost my grandmother all over again. I suppose that I always saw him as someone I could visit so that I could hear stories of my grandmother's youth.  I would also like to mention my sadness that Diana Wynne Jones has passed away. She was one of my favorite fantasy authors and she will be sorely missed. My edition of Howl's Moving Castle is falling apart at the binding I've read it so many times! If you haven't read it, do it ASAP. If you aren't the reading type, you can get a slight feel for her creative genius by watching Howl's Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki. (who is a genius in his own right )

We often mourn the dead but really it's the people left behind who do the suffering.

On a more upbeat and happy note, I have been working on several projects that I thought I would share with you. I decided to turn my Princess and the Bluebird pendant into a necklace. I think that I was a bit too anal when beading it. It took a lot longer than it should have. I always want the necklace to be the perfect combination of color, size and texture for the pendant that it is framing. I am pretty happy with the end result. Not so happy with the photos right now, but the weather has been pretty dismal lately.

 

I have also created another fairy brooch. I am really liking the look of this one and should be able to finish it pretty soon. I want to create a drop for it as well as a matching necklace so that you can hook the brooch onto the necklace ends and create a necklace if you want.

I also did a sketch of a water nymph or naiad that I'm pretty fond of. I like her "come hither" look. I can easily see her luring some young man or sailor to a watery grave. Something innocent and yet dangerous about her...

I have some prints available as well as a really cool iphone skin available here.

A Biker Chic with a Penchant for Jewelry

I am currently sick and feeling like crap so it's the perfect time for me to update my blog. :) I wanted to introduce TamsJewelry to you. Here is a lovely lady from Texas who creates handmade beaded and wire wrapped pieces of jewelry. When not creating, she's either out riding her motorcycle or being a good wife and mother. She has a wonderful blog where she talks about her life, her creations and the works of other artists that she admires. Her  work can also be found on artfire, etsy and zibbet.

Here are a few of my favorites

She has recently added some wire wrapped rings to her shop and I really love the look of them. They make quite a nice statement don't you think?

Prayers for Japan

I had meant to write this journal entry yesterday, but something stopped me. I think that it was just too soon after the shock. I just can't believe the amount of devastation that we have witnessed in the past 7 years! Indonesia, Haiti and now Japan to just name a few. It's so sickening to think of the love ones that have been lost and the families left behind whose lives will never be the same.

Here is my prayer for Japan. That those who have suffered losses will be given hope, strength and peace. That those hurt will recover and be healed. That those missing will be found safe and sound. That the nuclear situation will be gotten under control so that no more suffering occurs.. and that Japan will find help wherever and whenever they need it.

All my love goes out to you Japan.

For those of us blessed enough to be safe one more day, let us learn from this. We never know what lies around the corner so we mustn't sweat the small stuff, be grateful for everyday that we are alive, treat others with kindness, compassion and generosity and live our lives to the fullest each and every day.

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