New Custom Made Circus tees and tanks!

I thought it'd be fun to offer something in addition to my mixed media pieces and here they are. Choose from any of these titles and I will make your tank top or tshirt to suit just you. Each circus name is printed on 100% cotton and is handstitched with grey thread along the top edges. Homemade Circus logo is sewn vertically near the bottom right front edge.

Click on this link for more info or to buy in my Etsy shop.

Titles to choose from: Circus Freak, Clown, The Big Top, Sword Swallower, Trapeze Artist, World's Largest Man, Liontamer,Ringmaster,Bearded Lady (sizes available-S, M, L, XL) Free shipping to the U.S.

Let There Be....

Lights! I've created two new pieces that are hanging lamps. They are each approximately 16" high by 13" diameter. They are both made from wire, fabric, paperclay birds, and paint. It's easy to change the small light bulbs if needed also. Hope you enjoy these...I'd love feedback if anyone has any opinions! These will be in my booth at Art and Air this weekend in St. Louis, MO.

My First Blog Award

Okay I haven't won much in my life but today I had an award bestowed on me by the lovely and very gifted Mandy at Maygreen Fairies-- It means alot to me as I've not been blogging long and I still can't get over how cool it is to meet someone online from all parts of the world and become pals...if I'd only known Mandy before I went to the UK last year, we could have met in person...maybe next time. Now it's time for me to pass this award on to someone I highly admire-Cheryl Kuhn of Small Stories Studio. She's an inspiration to me and a great person as well. I'm sure you've heard her name or seen her work as she's getting more and more well known, but if not, please check out her blog.

Happy Dance!!!

I just found out that I was accepted into this year's Plaza Art Fair, which I've had my fingers crossed for for what seems like ages! It's held here in KCMO, it's listed as one of the top 5 Art Fairs in the nation and it's right down the hill from where I live-another big plus.

Great news on a Friday before a holiday weekend--everyone have a safe and blissful holiday!

Still Life with Stripes

Here's what I've been working on lately--some new cages in some new shapes! A before and after view. This time I've painted some found wooden squares as bases for the larger cages. Do you like the addition of the wood? I'm trying a bit more solid and substantial look. 

You can click here to purchase or get more info on Etsy.

Oh and also a short story about the found wood--my 13 year old son Murphy and I were in the car one day and drove by a house that had a pile of discarded wood laying by their driveway. I stopped to pick it up (who wouldn't) and as I'm getting the wood Murphy started laying on the horn--he was trying to rattle me, but the people who lived there looked out and saw me and just went back to what they were doing....I told him I don't get embarrassed by picking through other people's trash. He didn't understand. I think we may get embarrassed by different things.

New Orleans

We just got back from a trip to New Orleans for the Jazz and Heritage Festival. New Orleans is such a visually rich and wonderful town-here's some photos I'd like to share of an alligator in the bayou, the Mardi Gras Indians, New Orleans homes, a terrific zydeco band, and of course, the French Quarter.

Enjoy!

and the birds bear witness...

This is one of my new large pieces that I just built recently. I've been working on it for a few weeks. It tells the story of a coaster called the Serpentine that was skimmed by a twister in a small Kansas town long ago. The ticket booth and games tent are the only buildings left standing and the coaster has only three cars left, one of which is teetering on the end of the track. It measures 21" wide by 11.5" deep and 21" high. For more info or to purchase click here.

Little Birds are back on Etsy

I've been focusing on making larger pieces lately but a flock of my small clay birds will be for sale on Etsy again! Click on this link to take you there-I will be adding more tonight.

New Work:Circus/WIld West Stages

Well yesterday's Art On The Hill show was slower than I wish it had been but I still believe that this economy will turn around sometime(hopefully soon!)  Until then I'm going to just keep swimming, and making things that make me happy in hopes it will do the same for somebody else. On that note, here are 3 new pieces on found wood "stages". They can hang on the wall or sit on a flat surface. They're constructed of custom printed fabric, wire, found wood, paperclay, metal and tissue paper. They will also be in my Etsy shop-just click here for more info or to purchase.

Art On The Hill show-coming up soon!

Hope some of you locals can make it to this show-should be a fantastic time! Just click on the invite to make it larger or to print it out.

Now on Etsy

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I now have some of my newest pieces in my Etsy shop.

There are both 2D and 3D wall mixed media pieces and sculptures.

I will be adding more pieces every few days so check back if you don't see what you want!

A new home for my artwork

Alot of my pieces are now in a  wonderfully cool shop in Roundtop, TX called Lizzie Lou's. I have a pic of the owner Mary Lou below in an earlier post.

Here are the pieces in their new home--she has surrounded them with lots of her other finds-do you like them in this setting?

Roundtop Photo Album-Day two

Three prom queens at the Junk Gypsy Prom!

Sundie in her prom dress best!

A lovely little lady at the Junk Gypsy prom

This is a group of....what else--one night stands!

the Junk Gypsies of Gypsyville

a lovely lady from the Rambler's Cafe at the Gypsyville website

Sundie and Brad of Vintage Sculpture

Robin of Magnolia Pearl

The Junk Gypsy prom in Warrenton is the most fun night of this whole weekend--here's some photos of the prom and other shots of some people I met today-some are artists, some are just plain cool folks-and I have added their links/sites below-

a quick list:

Magnolia Pearl

Sundie and Brad Ruppert of Vintage Sculpture

the Junk Gypsies

Roundtop Photo Album-Day one

Well we finally got here, a bit later than we planned but no matter. The hall we're in is really nice as are all the people. It's no lie about Texas hospitality--everyone here is so accommodating and helpful. Here's two beautiful Texas women that I've had the pleasure to meet so far-the first is Emma Lee Turney, the grande dame of the Roundtop Folk Art Fair and Creative Market for the last....oh about 30 odd years.

The second is Mary Lou Marks, a wonderful woman who owns a funky shop named Lizzie Lou's right on the main drag in Roundtop. Aren't they lovely?

Next to Lizzie's is a fun place called Royer's...it's the local hot spot for all the vendors and some of the visitors too.

Yeehaw! Roundup in Roundtop

Before I leave for Texas, I thought I'd post a few images of various pieces I've made for the show along with one photo of my empty studio...it really feels strange to not have ANY artwork in it at all. I will try to post some photos of the show and the town while we're there if I can...if not, this may be the last post for a week or so...Happy Trails!