Where to begin?........

I have learned so much in the past couple days and i will pass it on to you ......Grab a pen and paper and if you get a grand idea while your writing by all means write it down!!!
I've created some pretty cool things last night. One being a teeny tiny faerie in a teeny bottle! she's about an inch tall! I had to make her living environment with a tweezers! I will be adding pics in a bit to show you! The faerie is 3D she has a front and a back and her wings stick out of her back! she's adorable.... Her name you ask? I have to think about that and in time she will let me know the name she wishes to be called!
I then created a faerie Orb... my safe place when i get scared is in a lavender bubble kinda irridecent with pinks, blues .... imagine....... So my magic mind went to work and i gathered my materials i would need ..
a glass ball ornament
some alcohol inks
glue (my fav is crafters pick The ultimate) and super glue
fishing line
scotch tape
some fun fur fibers to add to the top
printed images of a fairy or yu could put wings on one of your favorite people, just make sure they will fit in the ball with room above and under the fairy .
some book pages (i used photo copied vintage book pages copied on cardstock)
A seed bead or other small holed bead to use as the stopper when tieing the fishing line off.

First i took the image of the fairy and glued her to the wrong side of the book print. I cut her out and laid her aside.
next i inked the ball, with the exception of the front which i left an oval blank spot and go lite on the ink for a dreamy effect.
I then set the glass ball on a cup to dry while i took and added some glitter on the fairys wings and where you think you'd like it. let dry or MAKE it dry by using a heat gun from a distance you dont want to burn the glitter or the paper! Sometimes i turn my oven on low and let things dry in there for a few minutes.
After your glitter is dry take the fairy and cut some fishing line so that it will go far beyond the ball when she's put in the ball, thus making room for error:)
attch the fishing line to the center of the fairy's BACK and i poked a hole thru the center of the metal cap for the glass ball so she wud hang in the middle!
Ok now is the time your gona ruff up the fairy a bit, but no worries she will recover if your not to ruff! BE CAREFUL NOT TO BREAK THE GLASS! DO NOT SQUEEZE OR FORCE, THE BALL WILL BREAK!
ok now that we have that settled :) carefully bend the wings to the back of the fairy and kind of roll her towards the back to get her in the hole at the top of the ball.
Next string the fish line thru the center hole you poked
and take a teeny piece of tape and after you decide how far down or up you want her to hang , tape the line at the hole and put the seed bead on. Tie the line so your going thru the bead and making it part of the knot, once you knot it several times put a tad of super glue if oyu have it so that it wont slide.
once your happy with the placement, making sure she is facing out where you left the blank spot on the ball for her to look out,carefull life the metal cap and stick the ultimate glue around the top of the glass opening so that it will seal when its dry. Don't worry there are air holes in the cap for her to breath. I'm a member of PETA! and also PETFairys!!!!
fond some vintage ribbon or take some brown ink and kind of lightly make it look old and string that thru the loop to hang.
Then you can use fun fur or some fancy edging around the top under the bottom of the cap for the ball to hang. you can add any fun things you'd like and there ya go! Don't forget to hang her where you will see her and talk to them often, they get lonly!
i will post pics in a bit, need to see if they are charged!
Ok another thing i learned today was to make your own alcohol inks.. using any fabric dye and rubbing alcohol! yep thats easy peezy! you should be able to find some small bottle for applying in and art store or where they sell fabric paint.
If you'd like to make some awesome transparent embossing powders mix a couple drops of alcohol ink in a small measuring cup for like medicine and the embossing powder and oyu will have rich colored transparent embossing powder. just mix untill the clumps are gone and your set!
ok i've given you some amo NOW GO MAKE ART!
FAE HUGS<
DAWN M

Time... I need more

Well allot has been happening since my last entry! Been so busy with artwork and my groups I need more time!!! I'm proud to be a new member of "The Latest Trends in Mixed Media Art" yahoo group and also was invited to be a member of both the ebay group and the flikr group for "The Fairy Zine"!!! I am so inspired by all the talent i've seen. The help i've gotten from Jenny at the "Polka Dot Pixie" is truely amazing1 I've found that Lisa Kettel from the fairy zine to be like a sister/mentor to me as well. I'm so excited to be involved with such talented Artists,it's almost overwhelming! But trust me i'll adjust :) In the near future my class will be on the ARTchix web sight,i'll let you know when i get notified, this is exciting from me especially because I did not ask I was asked by Helga to write up the class for altered charms!!! I'm so humbled and honored to know all of you Artists and to be in your company is so inspiring! I have so many new links to add to my lists, that if you dont see your store or a link to your blog or artwork could oyu pls give me a tiny bit of your time to email me the direct links so i may add them.I have so many bookmarked i'm a bit overwhelmed! My DH is going to be making some wood shrines soon and i will post a pic so oyu can see, if your interested after seeing the pics , he will be selling them, We are pondering ebay, But if you come here and email me first you'll save money by ordering them here. I'm also working on some collage sheets from the awesome postcards and cabinet cards I've found during the summer!!! We will be offering those as well. What's next you wonder?? Rubber stamps! I've wanted to create rubber stamps for so long and I'm just going to do it! So I'm working on the sheets and will have some UM stamps in the future also. The next step is to create a web store. hehe I told ya i need more time!!! It's not going to be a huge store , just something thats easy to handle and offer some of our talent to you to use in your artwork or projects. Pls take a minute and take a peek at my art! I have more to add , in time it will happen! Big hgs to all my artsy friends I do cherish you all!! Alos my fairy art will be published in The Fairy Zine's next edition!!!

living in the now

I have really been living in the "what if" mode while creating's new art. I seem to have overcome my fears of messing something up! Let me tell ya , it's a great feeling and so much more freedom. I used something new to me just last night and i love this product! Goldens moldling paste. Its like frosting ,dries kinda foamy and retains its shape when u poke at it LOL. I also tried paperclay for the first time and LOVE that to! It"s so light weight. I am a bit impatient waiting for things to dry so i keep the oven on warm and stick my work in the oven for about 10-20 minutes and its dry. i'm going to be adding some new links to my favs hopefully tonight .Received my order from Dharma and can't wait to start dying silk! i ordered some silk scarves and a silk skirt and that company is so reasonable and fast shipping to ! I added new art to my flickr and i am so proud of my fairie art pieces! The naughty kitty ATC is kinda funny to, go take a peek.. I've also brought out the beads and took a trip to the bead store and bought some really awesome one of a kind beads and natural semi precious stones. I do art everyday , it makes me feel so great when i finish! I have also found and have been burning sage and sweetgrass as it helps calm my nerves and gets rid of the jitters. I found some really awesome incense to at the floral boutique, its temple incence and its from India. It smells GREAT and really wakes up the mind and sences. I was told the other day I was very fairy like! LOL maybe its the positive attitude and the Bohemian skirts and being me instead of doing what everyone else is doing or wearing?? I made a really nice jewelry piece last weekend. i found an amethyst pendant in a rectangle slab shape so its thin and its so pretty and i added some sterling chain and some other purple semi precious stones and sterling charms and made some dangles! I will have to find something dark enough to take a picture of it! well till next time, happy arting and sweet fae wishes blowing your way!!
xo

What A Weekend!

It's been a long creative weekend for me! I was busy as a bee most the time creating Art to offer at my spot at the crafters market and create i did! I will be uploading all the photos of the art i did to flikr, there is a link to the right for my artwork.
I am so excited!!!! I was invited to "the Fairy Zine"!!!! I was asked to submit artwork for the upcoming issue in a halloween/maquarade theme!! I feel so blessed as when things seem to get really unbearable God seems to cast his hands on mine and then things are wonderful again and even better! The prospect of having my own small E-store is looking good, and i am really excited. Ok i noticed i say i'm excited alot! If you knew me you'd know i REALLY am excited! Thats when i talk fast and i dont take frequent breaths and my heart is goin crazy and the ideas seem to plow into my mind. I guess that i get inspired and its overwhelming sometimes!!! And thanks to Lisa at the Fairy Zine for sparling my newest creative endeavor, I made a captured Fae!!! I am going to be creating a small journal to keep track of her progress in captivity and all the things i learn.This should be fun! Don't worry Lisa, I still plan on adopting one of your so very awesome captured fae's!! Well I am going to watch Tim Holtz's Video before closing down the castle!!!
Lots of Good Faerie Energy to all of you!
Hugs,
Dawn

Lots to share!!

Alot has happened since i last entered this world of mine.... A dear friend of ours called to let us know he was diagnosed with cancer. This is very tramatic for me as he is like a brother to me.. Pls pray for him and his family to find strength and healing In all the prayers being said for them.
I am ready to set up my spot at the crafters market!!! Dean and i went and got some sheer fantasy fabric for the backdrop as i refuse to keep the pegwalls as a backdrop for my ART! YUK!
we've been making packaging headers and bussiness cards etc. I tell Dean and Jake they are in charge of marketing LOL. I will be having some ARTchix items and Lisa's altered art images for sale also. and will be making ATC kits and goodie bags!! Speaking of ARTchix..I emailed Helga and wanted to show her pictures( i used her images) of the charms i made for a charm swap for Nervousness. Well much to my surprise she replied asking me to write up a class for her E-store!!! I am both excited and honored! I have been doing alot of thinking and talking to my DH and we've been kicking around the idea of opening an online store. It would be a dream come true and PLS people it does not mean i will stop shopping at your stores, so have no fear!!! Dh will get a tax id number and will be doing the work with my help. I can keep books and play with the stock!!! shhhh dont tell. I was already told i have to pay for anything i take! Geesh give him some power and look at him go! I want this to be a success and i have several good friends whom own E-stores and I have faith in us and know we can do it.I have a new found confidence! I have been praying for an answer to some questions and this is it. I got my stamp to mark my art ... Original Art By Dawn Marie under that it says ARTifact & Whimsy! It's in black ink and It makes things real for me!!! so most of my art including my ATC's will be marked with that stamp as it will make it an original. We ran this all past the accountant we chose to handle the tax's etc and we were given the thumbs up! Solid bussiness plan is a good thing!
Dean is also thinking about going to school for small engine repair as he inquired about having one of our boat motors tuned up and was told the labor alone is 119.00 an HOUR! OMG we'd be rich!!! he ended up fixing this one on his own and it had been worked on and off for 9 yrs with no luck and he spent a day with it and it runs like a top, well a motor LOL the little propellor turns thats good isn't it?? So i think we have turned some negatives in our lives into positives and am so excited and proud about it. Even my son is creating digital art to be printed off and to be made into prints etc. very exciting for all of us.
Mom , oh my she needs her hair done! I offered to take her where i go and pay for it but she refuses to go and pay that much. She likes her own little lady who does everyones hair the same and you'd swear they have barbie hair machines as i swear they all look the same! but her hairlady's father passed away and so I am having fun putting little clips in her hair that we got for my neices and she looks like a young old lady LOL. AWW mom i love ya!!! We are creating a great sign for the booth with the paper mache sign i found at ben franklin and will try some new techniques on it to make it look weathered and awesome! i promise to post pics! if this comes out the way i have pictured in my head i will be so happy! If the E-store works for us, we thought maybe during the summer we cud rent space in town and get a small store and we cud hold classes etc after hours. My DH is very talented. he can do anything he puts his mind to his jewerly and beading is amazing!! I have some amazing animal sculpts he did out of polymer clay and he made me a laptop desk for my lap when i sit in bed to play with the laptop. I figured the only way we are going to get ahead in this world is to MAKE things happen. We have the desire and the smarts and just need to make sure our ducks are in a row so this will be a success!!! Now this is in the planning stages , we are not going to run out and jump into something we havnt thought totally out . So as we pray for all of you pls pray for us to. I dont want to be a poor old lady:(. I bought some dye for shirts, fabric, ribbon etc so we can do some art shirts! There isnt a store around me within 200 miles that sells what we want to. Mixed media, thats new to this area and getting a jump on it before someone else does is a good thing or so i'm told. Advice is always welcome. I was in a swap to make fantasy wedding ATC's and well it didn't go as planned so i have a card to scan to show you and i'm really impressed with myself as i did the triptech card. i think thats what you call it, it has a middle and 2 sides that close and it's like entering a church at the doors to the wedding couple waiting inside with flowers and doves and as i know of to date one will be going to someone special as she made me one in return! Anyone who has gotten packages from me knows that i dont just stop at the ATC's i have to make gifts etc and i made an altered charm braclett and some other lovelys to send to. I love to make people feel really special!
I am thrilled to be INVITED to join some special swaps and was asked to swap a collage canvas. this is all so exciting for me and i couldn't be happier! God does answer prayers and he gave me some really awesome friends and i so appreciate you all! I've got boxes coming this week and weekend and am on pins and needles waiting there arrival! I received some awesome gifts in the mail yesterday, a watercolor card hand painted and ATC card and a tag and i love them all!!! Who needs to win the lottery when i already did with the blessing of friends i have in my life! Anyone can have money, but few people are blessed with true friends who r there no matter what happens and forgive and forget and move on with more love then before! thanks for your emails and well wishes and to answer your question of the name for the whole bussiness..... drum roll you guessed it ARTifact & Whimsy !!! Happy ARTing! Keep the emails coming your suport is so appreciated!! Blessings to you all...

Good things to come!!!

I just got the email i've been waiting for... I requested to join the international charm exchange and i was excepted!!!! I am so excited! Dh brought me to Ben Franklin today and I ended up getting some things for my store front at the crafters market. I am going to make a collaged sign , I found a 3 foot by 1 1/2 foot paper mache sign and i was so excited, i wanted it then thought i could make my sign out of that and i have some brand new foam letters i got for scrapbooking i have never used and i can stamp my store name on top of the collage. i want it to be simple and whimsical. so i am seeing some baby fairys or maybe a little girl with wings.... OMG if you guys cud see in my head! It's spinning with ideas! I have so many ideas and i want to do them all right now! I always get really inspired at this time of the night, then i end up staying up all night creating. since i did not sleep well last night i think i should go to bed after i sketch my ideas in my art journal. The art journal is a whole nother story, i end up spending alot of time coz i can't simply write stuff down i have to make it pretty or grungy or however i feel! ohh sometimes i wish i cud shut my mind off! thanks to all who have sent your continued support of my art endeavors and encouragement to my wanting to do a bit more then i have. I am blown away at the many friends i do have and i thank God for you all !!! sleep tight....................

Bad Links

if anyone experiances any links that don't work Please let me know if you have time and I will fix them. So far I have repaired a couple. Enjoy......