1st of the Fever Dreams

Thanks to all for your kind wishes & for putting up with my whinging.

Here are the 1st images from my recent delusional state.

Each measures 2.5" x 3.5 " . They are available as a set in my etsy shop, ArtSnark's Artifacts

Monday's Muse - Fever Dreams

Well... it was either that or Monday's Muse - Crud

Fever Dreams sounds a little sexier at least.

Hope everyone had a wonderful _____ !(enter holiday of choice)

Too much fun was had by all & once the final obligations were met, the Control-Freak (that would be me) collapsed into a sweaty pile of feverish snot. Could I make it sound more unpleasant? Yuck!

The plus side of a 3 day phlegm filled delirium:

• My husband was forced to play with our son & not go immediately back to work
• I may have lost a few pounds ;D
• Great Freakin' dreams! Don't get me wrong, there were some scary a** nightmares! ...and way too many cameos by people made out of Lego's. But other dreams were really floaty & angelic. Lots of steampunk images too.

The combination of sky-high temps, dehydration & heavy duty cough medicine had this real visionary state going on. Unfortunately I was too out of it to get my sketchbook, but still have a bunch of ideas swirling around.

Will be fun to see what twisted stuff leaks out of my uptight little drawings next.....muhahahaa

Monday's Muse - Lovely Blogs

Can't believe it's here already!

Today's inspiration is creative folks & their blogs!

There are so many great blogs "out there", it is mind-boggling. Several days ago I was honored with the Lovely Blog Award by the talented SueAnn Lommler. A fun, wonderful artist SueAnn always has a kind work to share. You can view her blog & latest pieces here .

Now I am supposed to recommend 7 of my favorite lovelies. Tough to narrow it down. SueAnn already mentioned some of my faves back on the 11th. You can find them here. Check them out when you have the time - there are some amazing things going on.

Now... the 7 I list are then supposed to link back & suggest 7 others. If any of you don't wish to "play", that's cool. You're still Super Lovely in my book :)

Here are my seven beauties; just click on them to visit! Go on now, you'll be glad you did....

januarywish
vintagesnapsandscraps
sweetrepeats
sandraevertson
nancylefko
papermischief
ewian

A quick note: there is so much inspiration out there in the blogosphere,including maternalspark where I was 1st introduced to the idea of Monday's Muse!!

So grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy!! Anybody bothers you tell them I said "Shoo!"

Steam Dreams

Renewed a couple of pieces on Etsy: A Blustery Day and
Penny Farthing Dream

Click image for closer look at each piece & a shortcut to ArtSnarksArtifacts
All items on sale (20% off + free shipping) through Dec 31st.

Red's True Love

Took a break from the Holiday Madness to push some pencils around. As with all my WIPs, who knows when I'll pick this piece up again, but here's phase 1.

Monday's Muse - A Classic Combination

I can't believe it is already Monday again!

(click above to visit the great blog Maternal Spark)

Today's Muse is Procrastination ….. & Possibilities.

Through my own foolishness, I have become Queen of Procrastination lately. When I was younger I had lots of practice avoiding things, but now it happens by accident more often than choice. My studio/home office/Santa's workshop resembles hell on earth. I can't even show you my planner because it is lost under piles of stuff. To be honest, I am deeply afraid to find my To Do list - I feel overwhelmed as it is. So, I'm supposed to be cleaning this pigsty & instead I'm typing away .......

Sorry about the rant, now for the Possibilities! As I scrape away layers of accumulated stuff, scraps of paper, items to repair, etc. I keep finding lots of really cool materials & many many unfinished projects. Last night I uncovered my markers & a fairy-tale collage started in October. I gave up on cleaning & started coloring. Here is the latest incarnation:

Not done yet. I know what I want to add and I know it is here....somewhere! Time go pick up some more

R.I.P. Dark Angel

although she has left this world, her glamour will always remain

click here for more about the glorious, notorious Bettie Page

And The Winner Is.......

Here is my assistant randomly choosing a name from the “Goblet of Fire” (Guess what we’ve been reading lately) The flames seem to be switched off for safety reasons...And the Winner is:

JOY

After cries of "Again! Again!" my Harry Potter fan & aspiring model changed costume & picked a runner up:EMMMALIEGH

And for his 3rd & final Act, Mad-Eye Moody chose:

SASSY DESIGNS

Congrats to the Winners!! Joy will receive a customized necklace & the 2 runners up will get... something cool - I have to poke around my studio & see what I can come up with ;D

Thanks to all who played along & added their inspirations! It has been fun reading them! Seems you’re a bunch of literate nature lovers who listen to music while searching for vintage items. You creative souls are also inspired by other artists, even while observing everything (& everyone) around them. …. Does this sound like you????

Could the 3 selected please leave your emails or convo me on etsy www.ArtSnark.etsy.com . I’ll get your prizes out right away..… Joy, just let me know which pendant style you want & that will determine the size/shape of your image. Then you can send me either printed image or (preferably) jpg & I’ll create your necklace.

Again, thanks for playing! Please stop back when you have a chance. Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season!

Monday's Muse - Butterflies & Customized Givaway

Bit chilly in Tampa this morning.

When I went out for the paper I spotted a butterfly on the grass. Thought it might be dead but it was simply waiting to warm up

It flexed its wings a little & later it was gone.

My mornings are always a bit like that. I start out slow & chilly but eventually take off

Butterflies seem to appear often in my artThey Have Given Me Much Inspiration NOW I WANT TO INSPIRE YOU!

I'd Like to customize a butterfly necklace for 1 lucky winner!
Simply comment on my blog with what inspires you (between now & Friday) to enter a drawing for a custom necklace ( based on 1 of the 3 designs shown here). I will draw & post the winner Saturday morning so check back to see if it's you. I will then ask the winner to choose a pendant design & send me their image to put in the center.
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Most of the art & jewelry here is available at ArtSnark's Artifacts just click photo for more info.
Only the top piece with the dragonfly & face is unavailable at this time.
Please note, I am running a December sale of 20% off+free shipping.
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I look forward to seeing what inspires you!!

Day of Sharing Song PART 2 -If I had a boat

I'm a huge Lyle Lovett fan & If I Had A Boat is #1 on my itunes.
Listen Here

Still working on my Pony picture; been a chaotic week. Hoped to post it with this song but got tired of waiting for it to be done. Here are a couple of my boat pics insteadIf I can get my act together both Morning Fog (the top image) & Ship of Fools (just above) will be available in my etsy shop, ArtSnark's Artifacts this weekend.

Some of the Angels will be too. A couple have already been sold however. Just click on image & once it's in the shop you'll be taken right to it.

For the curious here are the Lyrics to If I Had A Boat:
If I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat

If I were roy rogers
I'd sure enough be single
I couldn't bring myself to marrying old dale
It'd just be me and trigger
We'd go riding through them movies
Then we'd buy a boat and on the sea wed sail

And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat

The mystery masked man was smart
He got himself a tonto
cause tonto did the dirty work for free
But tonto he was smarter
And one day said kemo sabe
Kiss my ass I bought a boat
I'm going out to sea

And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat

And if I were like lightning
I wouldn't need no sneakers
I'd come and go wherever I would please
And I'd scare em by the shade tree
And I'd scare em by the light pole
But I would not scare my pony on my boat out on the sea

And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat

If you have the time, please leave some of your favorite songs in the comments - I'd love to know what you're listening to!

A Day Of Sharing Song - Calling All Angels

"Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought. " E.Y. Harburg

Playing with another great idea from LK Ludwig:

"Songs can move us to places we haven't been in a long time, places we long for every day, or places we some day hope to be. The combination of music and poetry can transport us across distances, and through the years... Meeting new music, musicians, composers, poets, new ways for my soul to sing, is an intriguing concept. Want to go on this adventure with me? It will be easy to travel along...Dec 3 ...post a song that touches you...."

I've narrowed mine down to 2 -The 1st is Calling All Angels by Jill Siberry & KD Lang:
You can listen to it hereSanta Maria, Santa Teresa, Santa Anna, Santa Susannah
Santa Cecilia, Santa Copelia, Santa Domenica, Mary Angelica
Frater Achad, Frater Pietro, Julianus, Petronilla
Santa, Santos, Miroslaw, Vladimir
and all the rest

a man is placed upon the steps, a baby cries
and high above the church bells start to ring
and as the heaviness the body oh the heaviness settles in
somewhere you can hear a mother sing

then it's one foot then the other as you step out onto the road
how much weight? how much weight?
then it's how long? and how far?
and how many times before it's too late?

calling all angels
calling all angels
walk me through this one
don't leave me alone
calling all angels
calling all angels
we're cryin' and we're hurtin'
and we're not sure why...

and every day you gaze upon the sunset
with such love and intensity
it's almost...it's almost as if
if you could only crack the code
then you'd finally understand what this all means

but if you could...do you think you would
trade in all the pain and suffering?
ah, but then you'd miss
the beauty of the light upon this earth
and the sweetness of the leaving

calling all angels
calling all angels
walk me through this one
don't leave me alone
callin' all angels
callin' all angels
we're tryin'
we're hopin'
we're hurtin'
we're lovin'
we're cryin'
we're callin'
'cause we're not sure how this goes

Sweet Sales Part 2 & Random Thoughts Tuesday

Had the good fortune to sell a couple of pieces (including the Polaroid transfer Hush ) during my 4 day Sweet Sale. SO have decided to extend it through December just to see what happens. 20% off & FREE SHIPPING worldwide on all items at ArtSnarks Artifacts - Part 2!!
There's so much inventory stacked up in my studio & I'd love to make some space!!! Will continue adding more random pieces & toss in some PIFs so please check back now & again.

Speaking of Random:

Been internet free for a couple of days but popped in on the blog maternalspark
this morning which led me to the un-mom . Love the comic book look & random Tuesday was just too tempting to resist. Like I'm not always random, right ?

* Start with a Congrats to La Donna Welter for her upcoming feature in Somerset Studios !!

*Can't get enough of Monoral & Vampire Weekend lately. Bubblegum Quick Fix for mellow or uppers. My faves are Kiri & Walcott

*I love coffeee- weee!

*Why does it always seem the house is in super mess mode when play-dates are scheduled here - eek! Gotta stop typing & get cleaning :(

*last thought - must plug yet again this great sci fi site: 365tomorrows.com