Weekly Challenge at Inspiration Avenue- Purple

Hello all, here's my submission for the weekly challenge at Inspiration Avenue.  I chose to create a new altered book focused on the beauty of morning glory.  The inside is an original acrylic painting and the actual book was first covered with recycled book pages and then covered with violet tissue papers.  The back contains an interlocking envelope with morning glory seeds to complete the "package".

I love morning glories, they remind me of moonflowers in the way they are so translucent and colorful at the same time.  I just listed this in my Etsy Shop.  Click HERE for more information.

Hope everyone's having a fabulous weekend!

Art Auction for Angel Faces Charity & A Special Giveaway

We at Inspiration Avenue Etsy Team art hosting an art auction scheduled for March 7th-14th. There will be art from all over the globe including jewelry, photographs, mixed-media, paintings, etc, to bid on. The event is to benefit Angel Faces, a wonderful retreat for adolescent girls (11-19 yrs) with facial disfigurements. These young ladies get to meet up for a week and go through art therapy, group therapy, one-on-one therapy and learn how to respond to the general public when someone makes a comment about how they look a little different. They also learn how to apply makeup so that their scars are not so evident. These young ladies walk away with a bit more confidence, a whole lot of healing and the proper tools to get them where they want to be. This is a wonderful program, these girls get to be themselves without any worry that someone will judge them, for one whole week. It is a major self esteem booster and a place that will touch them emotionally for the rest of their lives.

For the auction, I'm offering one of my favorite paintings :

"Lilac Ruffles" an original acrylic painting by me,           Stephanie Mealor Corder                                                     The size is 8 1/2" x 6 1/2"                                                          painted on canvas paper.                                                      This piece has been matted and backed with foam core       using acid free materials for protection and will                   arrive ready for you to frame and hang on your wall.              The starting bid will be $18.00

Special Giveaway

I am also having a giveaway of 5 greeting cards of your choice from my Etsy Shop open only to you who blog about this Art Auction- just use the flier at the top along with a link HERE on your blogs and then leave me a comment on this post telling me you have done so. The giveaway winner will be chosen by the random generator and announced on March 15th, here on my blog.

This is such a worthwhile cause, I really hope we have a lot of people taking part!

Cheers,

Stephanie

what's Up In The Studio?

O.K. so seriously, I call my work space a "studio" with tongue in cheek and the wishful thinking that some day I WILL have a studio......  But for now, I'm happy to have my own desk with all my stuff spread out in general disorder, at least it's MY disorder!  I'm trying to post more often and because I work SO slowly, I've decided to start a weekly posting visiting my works in progress.  Hopefully, seeing pieces at this point won't cause people to run screaming horror from their computer screens (as I sometimes feel like doing when a piece isn't going just the way I'd hoped...;))  Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of my desk in it's current state.....

Please allow me to introduce Peri, my mentor and muse and sharer of studio, er desk space, He says, "Welcome!"

You can see that he's guarding or sharing space with my new painting in the poppy series.....which is in the VERY early stages, and kind of an example of what kind of work I turn out when I'm not feeling well (like yesterday.....) hopefully, I'll be able to turn it around today.

Also on my desk, are the preps for what *might* be my subsission for this week's challenge at Inspiration Avenue.  The theme is "Purple" and I'm doing an altered board book with either an original painting of morning glories or a pair of my Joie de Vivre figures- haven't decided yet.  If I do the Morning Glories, I already have a book prepped and ready to go.....it all depends on how it goes with my poppy.

Last but not least of the projects on my desk is the book I started for last weeks challenge at IA but didn't get quite finished.  Also, I didn't feel like it fit the theme of "Reflections" well enough to justify rushing to the finish.  (FYI- on the last page, the packet contains zinnia seeds) I just need to do a little more on the outer cover and I'm done- note Peri's butt gradually reclaiming his, um MY space....

Anyway, that's what's going on in my "studio" at my desk......now I have to convince Peri that it's time to move his napping position to the bedroom....and get back to the desk before another kitty takes his spot ;)

Cheers,

Stephanie

New painting- "Opiate Incandescence"

I just finished my newest painting, the second in my poppy series.  This one features a focused down view of a pink oriental poppy emphasizing it's sunlit glow with soft lilacs, pinks, and periwinkle hues.
For more pictures and information, you can check it out out in my Etsy Shop.
Cheers,
Stephanie

My Apricot Tulip painting has been featured in a new treasury......

Elaine of ChatElaine Jewellery has featured my Apricot Parrot Tulip painting in her new treasury!  This treasury is celebrating Sweet Treats in honor of National Pancake Day-and it's filled with deliciously titled eye candy.  It will be up till Thurday afternoon and you can check it out HERE.

Elaine creates the most gorgeous lampwork beads, she has been making a whole series of beads with wings that I'm completely head over heels with.....Anyway, here are a couple of samples from this lovely lady's Etsy Shop;

"Tender Heart"

"Turquoise Blanc Mosaic Bangle"

"Continents Trio"

Thanks again Elaine for featuring me, I really appreciate it!

Cheers!

Stephanie

And the winners For my OWOH Giveaways are......

The numbers chosen by Random Number Generator were 76 & 170
Congratulations to Heidi for winning my selection of Greeting Cards
And to Melissa for winning my Altered Book
I've sent them emails confirming their wins and giving them information on how to recieve their prize.  They will have two days to respond before I opt to draw another number.
Again, congratulations, and thanks for riding the magic carpet with me!!!

Weekly Challenge at Inspiration Avenue & My New Acrylic Painting- Heart of a Daffodil

Here's my newest painting that I just finished- luckily, I was able to make it fit the theme for this week at Inspiration Avenue which was "Hearts".  I am very happy with this one, and it's actually the largest canvas I've done to date measuring a whopping (for me at least..) 10" x 20" and the paint literally flew off my brush- thank you muse!  I'll be listing it in my Etsy shop sometime today and you can check in there for more images and information.

I would love to see any of you come play with us at Inspiration Avenue, as you can see; interpretation of the weekly themes can be literal or go off in a less orthodox direction as I've done here.  Also, by submitting an entry, you're automatically entered in our monthly giveaway.

Come play with us!

Secret Valentine Swap- Can You Feel the Love?

I had such a great time making valentines for Christine Edward's Secret Admirer valentine swap!

In looking around for ideas for what to make, I found instructions to make this beautiful fold out heart; HERE at Her Creative Spirit.  I was so inspired and struck by how beautiful it was, that knew I HAD to make one for my V-Day Exchange! 

I used a couple of old board book pages to make it extra sturdy and lots of vintage images to make it all "Valentiney"......
Enjoy!

Here is the inside all folded out, including an ACEO I made to slip into the little doily pocket.

To create a cohesive background throughout my valentine, I used old calender images for the front and back covers, and as backing for the hearts on either side that folded in.

As for what I recieved from MY secret admirer- Crystal Nelson; she made me a sweet little ornie featuring a cherub and a heart made with paper clay painted pink and made all sparkly with glitter- just the way I like em....

 And to complete her offering, she included an assembly of sweet treats in addition to a cookie almost too beautiful to eat.  (But somehow, I managed ;))

This was FUN, and I'm really glad I did it!

Thank You Sharon, for the Shout Out!

My sweet friend Sharon of Plumrose Lane and Mana Moon Studios featured me in her Weekly Spotlight!   Sharon is a multi talented lady; creating a diverse collection of art ranging from her beautiful jewelry, wearable textiles, her gorgeous free blog backgrounds and more.  She is also the founder and team leader of Inspiration Avenue which I feel very blessed to be a member of!  Just to give an example of her work, I decide to post a couple of images and links......

"Queen's Ransom" is my FAVORITE of Sharon's jewelry, Ijust love it!

I am the lucky owner of one of these FABULOUS handwoven scarves, I wear it every chance I get.....

"Magic Garden" is Sharon's newest background available at Plumrose Lane

I hope you'll take time to explore at least one of the links to Sharon's creations, I promise you'll find a worthwhile endeavor.......

Happy Thursday and cheers to you all!

Stephanie

Art with Heart....

Since it's almost Valentine's Day, I thought I'd post a small piece featuring a collection of art on Etsy with the focus being on "Heart"  Enjoy!

Dream Chasing by David Robinson

Sixteen Hearts by Angie of Artangel

In My Heart by Rachelle Baum

Heartsong by Diahn Ott

l'amour du cafe by Mille Art

Heart No 20 by Acarrdian Designs

Weekly Challenge at Inspiration Avenue- Fruity- still playing with scissors and glue...

Happy Sunday!  I really didn't think I was going to be submitting anything for the weekly challenge at Inspiration Avenue.  Sure, I had lots of ideas, but then I got sidetracked making my little valentine ACEOs and before I knew it, it was Sunday and there I was with nothin' to put in.  Then I statrted looking at the piece I did for the Wonderland challenge a while back.  I was really happy with most of that piece except for the photo I used for the "Eat Me" element....
SO, I LOVE coconut cake and I love raspberries and decided to put it all together into a little cut and paste cupcake collage.
In case you didn't see the before, here it is:

I'm really glad I changed it, I like it so much better now!

Playing around with Hearts, Paper and Scissors....a LOT of glitter!

I don't know what it is about holidays that brings out the kid in me, but they do.  Every one of them; Halloween, Easter, Christmas.......I love the holdays and decorating, making things special, baking yummy treats, I love it all!
I remember when I was in grade school (in the 70's when kids in school still had celebrations for each holiday....) the excitement that built up to Valentine's Day- first we had to make the special container to recieve our valentines in- it was something different every year; a pink and red mail box, a special woven paper basket shaped like a heart, a beautiful sparkly oversized envelope- these are just some examples that stand out in my memory.  The excruciating choices over the perfect collection of valentine cards to buy (very few people made their own in those days....) and of course the cards that were around in those days are now vintage....wow that makes me feel old!

Then years later when my kids were small, we made a big project each year of making our own valentines; it was so much fun!   Now they are too old to make such things anymore, or if they do, they know enough to make it themselves.  This year, I participated in a valentine swap with Christine Edwards  (since it's a secret admirer trade, I won't post images of mine till V-Day) and I had so much fun with it, I decided to make some ACEOs as well.....

So, while I should be starting my new painting, or working on this week's challenge at IA, I've been cutting and gluing and have used so much glitter, I look like I'm about to go clubbing!

Here are a few of them, I decided not to post them all for fear of boring folks to death.  If you want to see images of the others, check them out at my Etsy Shop.

New acrylic painting- Concert en Bleu

I just finished my newest acrylic painting yesterday.  Evidently, I'm in a "blue mood" because for every bit of purple I used, I back lit or highlighted it with various shades of blue.  Anyway, enough rambling;for more information and pictures, click HERE.

Make New Friends........Welcoming February with new friend from OWOH!

Since it's less than two weeks until Valentine's Day, I thought I'd do a post featuring more One World One Heart artists who've created art for V'Day.  Keep in mind, the Valentine art is not necessarily what they're giving away, but I promise their giveaways are just as beautiful!
Hope this gets you in the mood......

Kersten from Altered Gypsy- and here's her OWOH Giveaway

Cheryl from Artsy Fartsy and her OWOH Giveaway

Bell, Book & Candle Season and their OWOH Giveaway

Gail Schmidt of Shabby Chic Cottage and her OWOH Giveaway

Lynn Sevens of Trash to Treasure and her OWOH Giveaway