Swinging on a Star Creations by Shari Valicenti: February 2012

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Repurposing and Thrifting with a Good Friend.....Life is Good!

AS YOU MAY KNOW, my good friend Heather of Larissa Hill and I often go on thrifting adventures together. Sometimes they really ARE adventures and
we often laugh ourselves silly at the predicaments we get into.

Our latest was a revisit to a large thrift store in Jeannette, PA called THRIFT KING. Let me tell you this place is great. It has a really large furniture area and huge array of household goodies....well priced and sometimes great sales.

I found these lovely Italian metal frames and loved them immediately.
While I love repurposing, Heather is always trying to get me back to my roots....my painting, pen and ink etc.
She gave me the spark to repurpose frames with miniature artwork.
I quickly placed them in my cart!

When I got home I tore off the backing (it was glued), cut new backs from cardboard and then covered the new backs with scrapbook paper.

I added swarovsky crystals to the frame.

I decided on bunnies as they are one of my favorite subjects.

This is the first... Guy in Gray, done in pen, ink and acrylic.

He has swarovsky crystals on the ears and tail.

Next came... Bunny in a Brown Fur with crystals in his eye and tail.

Added some green velvet ribbon for hanging.

Can't tell you how fun these were to do!

Each is signed.

I think they look cute as a pair.

I was so pleased with them I wasn't sure I could part with them, but started their Etsy page. My Etsy site has been sadly neglected, but the good news is I keep selling the stuff before I can get it on!!!

Took them into work to show my friend Kim. Her daughter is having her first grand child and she bought them on the spot...FOR THE NURSERY!
I totally missed that idea, whoa they actually would be great in a nursery and great news.... later would work in "grown up areas" like a powder room, etc.

I was so excited and pleased....made my whole week.
I am so grateful that these experiences keep coming into my life..so blessed.

Now this has given me the vision to do more of these. My friends, who are all starting the grand child phase of their lives, have been asking me to come up with gift ideas for babies. Isn't funny how if you just listen, how "Spirit" taps you on the shoulder?

Another Happy Tail...Shari

(sorry, once it came into my head, couldn't help myself!)

Please Enjoy these Links..

The Shabby Creek Cottage

The French Cupboard

Beyond The Picket Fence

The Brambleberry Cottage

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Baby Shower Fun.

FRIENDS OF MINE HAVE been so over the moon about their daughter being pregnant with their first grand daughter. While planning her November shower they turned to me and another friend for some help. They wanted to keep costs down and keep it fun. First I came up with these favor ideas.

I used these canning jars.

I cut the circular insert for the top from scrapbook paper

and inserted them in the lids.

I added a square of fabric and a little ribbon around the edge.

Then I made hang tags that I Modge Podged the same paper to tags I found at Michaels.

I edged each with a strip of green polka dotted ribbon and used pinking shears along the bottom.

Each said..."It's a Girl!"

Next centerpieces....

I was inspired from Pinterest to make my own version of these for each table. The terra cota pots are so inexpensive (Again Michaels). I filled each with a piece of floral foam and some sand to give it some weight. The "flowers" are baby wash clothes and onesies that we used those wired floral picks to anchor the bud at the center and then twisted and wound them using straight pins to secure. These were a little more labor-intensive than I had planned. Thank goodness I had my friend Angela to help and give insight.

We added the ribbon which we secured with double faced tape and squares of tissue paper tucked in between the "flowers".

I added some balloons for heighth and to give it a little more fun.

The Mother to be was just delighted with the results.
I was so pleased to do this for them. I had such fun doing this!

She had baby Nola just a couple of weeks ago and isn't she just adorable?!

Don't you just want to take her in your arms and smell her little head.

I don't think we ever get over that amazing feeling of what a wonderful miracle they are!

"A baby is a bit of star dust fallen from the hand of God."

Baby Blessings,

Shari

Please Enjoy These Links:

I Heart Nap TIme
Flamingo Toes
Craft Envy
Polish The Stars
Craft-O-Maniac

Crafts Keep Me Sane

Polly Want A Crafter?

C.R.A.F.T.
Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Savvy Southern Style
{Primp} Michele Raven Designs
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Beyond The Picket Fence
The Brambleberry Cottage
It's Overflowing
My Romantic Home
Common Ground
At The Picket Fence

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Thoughts on Doing an Art Commission

I finished this commission not too long ago.

I don't know how you may feel about doing this type of work,

but it intimidates the devil out of me. Wish I weren't so darn insecure, but I believe we all are always dealing with that one. I imagine that is why we enjoy our blogging as I think about it...we give each other the reassurances we sometimes need, don't we?

So back to commissions..Mind you, I had a very good mural business for 5 years, sometimes doing very large ones in very beautiful homes, but this for some reason intimidates me. I tell myself, for Pete's Sake Shari you get to sit at home in your comfy chair with music or TV on to do this. You don't have to hang of ladders/scaffolding all day.

I stress about doing one of these and this was more so

because I was so busy at the time.

When someone sees a piece you've done previously and comes to you with their wedding or shower gift expectations and places them in your hands....I take it VERY seriously.

A friend came to me with her request, a few pictures and it was up to me to bring it all together on an 18" bulb for display on one of those table hooks in some one's home. She wanted a very special, unique gift to give. It is the second one I've done for her. It's very intimidating because you just want the person to be so happy with the outcome that it sometimes inhibits my creativity at various stages.

I wonder if this happens with you and how you deal with it?

I usually won't let myself do another art piece until this one is complete.

Then suddenly inspiration strikes and I'm off, although it's not unusual for me to remove large areas and start again if I'm not happy with it!

I use the flowers from the bridal bouquet on the bottom of the piece and have a representation of the groom and bride emerging from them. The dress resembles the bride's along with their hair color. This one includes hydrangeas with swarovski crystals in the centers.

First names and date on the reverse in some sort of romantic font.

The top has glitter, although the picture does not portray it properly.

The final touch, my signature with a sigh of relief that it is finally done.

I did a gift box and then presented it. She seemed very pleased with the outcome and gave me more than I asked for it, which was a lovely boost to my morale I must say. I learn a little something each time I do one of these. Which is what we should always be doing isn't it? Please share with me how you handle these artful stresses. It might be nice for us to share how we deal with artful demands to help each other.

I have 2 more I will be showing at some point, one was a memorial for some one's pet that had died....oh my, wait till I tell you how perplexed I was about how to represent that one!!

Hope you all had a very PINK Valentines Day!

Shari