A Creative Time of Year

Christmas and holiday decor is the perfect opportunity to get crafty.  This time of year I just want to play in my studio creating decor items. I love the ornaments (vintage and mercury please), snowmen, tinsel, bottle brush trees and pointsettias. I love recreating snow globes and Christmas scenes. German glass glitter lends its sparkle to so many projects. Feeling inspired? Don't hold Bach-grab the glue and go for it! Decorate to your hearts content. More is more this time of year.  

Wishing you all a happy holiday season, merry Christmas and a happy Hanukkah ! May 2015 be filled with joy and possibility. Until next year,

cheers! 

Xo,

Tara

Another One In The Bag

Glitterfest was over the top fabulous.  Such a fun show.  Beautiful, art, fun and friendly artists and the best customers around!!  It was great to see so many familiar faces and meet so many new people! Thank you all for supporting me in all my creative endeavors.  

Still recovering from the complications that came with m back surgery, the show wiped me out. Super excited to get back to physical therapy and the gym. Finally got permission to exercise last Thursday!! So fitness will be my first priority every day.  My health remains fragile and I will be doing everything in my power to change that.  Move more, eat clean and make art. That is what I will be doing. There will of course be the occasional cupcake. 

Be in good health my friends!! 

Xo,

Tara

The big give away, social media and lemonade!!

I have had a lot on my mind these last few months. My Social media presence and marketing, doing a give away and the importance of health.  Let's do the fun stuff first! My Lulu Max page on Facebook is hosting my first ever give away! I will be doing a one of a kind piece of jewelry just for the winner.  So how do you get in on the action? Of course my goal is to increase my presence on social media so to enter hop over to my FB page and comment on the giveaway post and tell me what color you would like to see my floral collage pieces in I have several new colors coming to Glitterfest October 11th. (cream, pink, burgundy, cappuccino and aqua to name a few) for extra entries share the FB post, comment on this blog or share the blog on your FB page or simply like the Lulu Max page! It's a bit of experiment to see how many I can reach on social media and I would love your help in the form of shares and likes. The winner will be chosen using a random number generator on October 15th. Multiple entries are welcomed as there will be several posts to enter. 

While I have tried to post on Facebook and Instagram on a regular basis, it has not been authentically me. I find balancing myself and my alter ego Lulu Max on social media difficult when life is handing me lemons. What do you post? How much of me do I reveal? So, I have been having a lot of lemonade lately.  I try and choose happy as often as possible.  

My health has been getting in the way of complete happiness as I recover from surgical complications.  These last 18 months have been filled with far too many trips to the ER, catscans and various assorted blood thinners. A few weeks ago I had a series of pulmonary embolisms. Pretty scary stuff. We are still accessing the damage to my heart and lungs. I am feeling well and eager to resume intensive physical therapy as soon as possible. My new bionic back is fantastic.  

I have chosen to focus on all the positive things that bring me great joy and satisfaction. My friends have been so wonderful and supportive through this journey and I am grateful. I married a prince and he has kept me sane. I decided to share this as there is always so much more we don't see in the lives of our FB friends. So don't think you are the only one with a giant basket of lemons.  This has been one more period in my life where art has saved me.  I have loved creating these recent months. In fact it has been the most personally satisfying creative time in my life and that is some really great lemonade!!

Box Full of Crafty Cards

A while back I was out hunting for treasure at my local thrifty store when I discovered a large index file box. At first I thought a box of recipes but upon further inspection it was filled with artsy crafty how to cards! Score. 

Theses are the cards from the how to make flowers section. Some are hideous and others show promise. 

The red rose is made from a solid red handkerchief.  Hmmmmm would any vintage hanky work?

 Here are the instructions. Might have to give this one a shot. 

I will share more from the box each week. Maybe I will even try some out. 

Xo

Tara

Glitterfest marks the arrival of Spring!

The bluebird is chirping that Spring is here! This lovely photo was taken by the amazing and talented Rita Reade of Mammabellart.  The weather was sunny and bright and Glitterfest was a wonderful day. The room was filled with the beautiful creations of more that 50 artists and crafters. There was papier mâché , hand bags, jackets, paintings, art, jewelry, mosaics and so much more. I really enjoyed visiting with the other artists and viewing their wares. I snuck a little shopping in myself!

I felt so honored to see customers shopping my booth wearing pieces from past shows. My friends have been so supportive of my silly artsy fartsy creations and that warms my heart. Each piece was created with joy and love. 

Xo,

Tara

Patina Day!

After days of soldering work I always love patina day! This is when your designs come alive with color and shading. 

The silver pops against the rusty verdigris patina. 

Bunny house. 

Cupid's arrow. 

Love these sweet Victorian hands. Ready for their jewels.  These pieces are all in progress and will get another layer or two of color. Such fun. Next batch of shabby cream finish pieces are on deck. 

Valentine Heart Swap

This is the heart I created for a swap. I hand stamped fabric with music notes, added bling, lace, flowers, ribbons, tulle, mother of pearl heart button, flowers and lovely fabric from French General. I made 12 for the gals and I came home with 12 beautiful hearts. I will make a banner to hang in my studio. They are too pretty to just see once a year!  

Of course the packaging is just as important as the creation so I bagged my hearts up with a packet of flower seeds and some conversation hearts. 

Then I popped these in craft bags decorated with a heart doily, lace, a paper flower and a few vintage charms from my stash. 

Then off to swap!

One heart banner coming right up. More on that later. 

XO

Introspection is scary!

     

Recently I was asked to telll the world how art saved me. I was really honored that Jenny Doh would ask me to be a guest curator on her website Crescendoh.com. It was a chance to share my favorite blogs and have my own sites featured- such a thrill. 

Then I had to actually put my story down on paper.  That was far tougher than I imagined. Was I telling too much, too little, would others ( ok I'm talking about my Mom) react badly?  I struggled with this for a few weeks until I just decided to tell my story without second guessing myself. Whew! 

I hope you will hop over to Crescendoh.com and read my story and visit some of the blogs I love. If you are not familiar with this site explore it all! Jenny Doh has created a community for artists of all types. There are classes both online and in her studio with really talented and amazing teachers. 

Dreaming of Spring

I

The supplies have been gathered and work is in full swing for Spring!! My favorite season to design wearable treasures and art.  I love the colors and motifs. Bunnies and flowers. What could be better?  

What are you working on???

Xo,

Tara