I bet you didn't even notice that I escaped. I knew that if I left you playing in the magic yellow dollhouse, you wouldn't even notice, and shazam! It worked!! Where did I go? I got lost through my very own Secret Keyhole...
Oh goodness me, I sure needed to get lots of things done. And, I have to say, if you are with me on the next idea, do let me know. But, was last week the weirdest week or what? In all of last week, lived the weirdest days in the history of weird days. Bizarre, bizarre I tell ya. Throw that in a punch bowl with the realization that I had laundry pouring out of my ears... Couple that with things like finding hidden cups of coffee here and there under mounds and piles of randomness in the studio, making me realize, I needed to escape.
I needed to take care of some of these things, catch up with life... And, in the interim, I did some fun things too. It all started with a trip through the"Mirror on the wall."
So, through the mirror I went, and found a new perspective. I have been itching to share this with you!! As I have this whole new outlook on the topic of piles and piles of magazines...
I am one of those people who keeps magazines for say, one or two treasures I find within that issue. I mark some pages, I even make notes sometimes. Less and less over the last couple years. Now, with again, less and less time, I simply toss the magazine in the faves pile. But, as I was on a HUGE mission to clear out the studio, and get with the program, I all of a sudden lost the need and desire to have piles of magazines everywhere.
I shuffled through pages, doing the things I never allowed myself to do. Literally ripping out the things that caught my eye. I worked quickly. Feverishly. I found pictures of pillows, and colors, and tea pots. Things I just always found interesting. Things I wished I owned... (I even found old drawings I did, stuffed in almost every magazine)
As I was working along, ripping out pages, tossing the rest, I had an epiphony. I thought, even if I owned the items I was covetting, I might not enjoy them as they would be in cupboards and such. And, then I thought, what better way to enjoy the items I don't own that are in magazines, than by cutting them out, and decoupaging them onto something! Then it would be a little like owning them? Yes, silly but it tickled me. So, I found myself cutting out colors and images, and making a pile... (I even took out pieces of fabric I kept in a box)
I started making a collage... But not just any collage, something I could actually enjoy and see, everyday...
My collage grew and grew, and became more and more exciting for me...
I was tickled that I could use all of these little pieces of paper and fabric treasures...
I fell more in love with each piece I added. That is the beauty of collage. You get to tailor it to those things you love. And, oh my, there is an over abundance of what to choose from in all of our magazines!!
What a simple pleasure, I tell ya...
But, better than that, this whole collage would live in the most charming little place. A place that was intended to be used as a home for the one treat I was going to share today...
On the front of a tiny vintage metal cabinet door lived this new collage... (the picture below is kind of blurry because I was losing daylight) Click on photo for a better, less blurry biew...
You see, on this cabinet, sits a sweet new meeting place, for you and me and faun boy and the rest. It is our very own Patisserie...
Remember this little house? Wee mouse boy was working on it once. It was blue and beat up. So, since he took off with wee mouse girl and they are all happy happy, I decided to turn it into my dream, a Sweets Shop!!
With a seat right in front of a charming little window, just for you!!
So, I say, if you can't own a real french pastry shop, you might as well, own a miniature?
So, there you have it, living happily on it's new decoupaged cabinet. I know, I am easily pleased. But, it was so fun, and I encourage you to try it. Put all your fave images on a piece of furniture!! Then you can enjoy them always!!
I also revamped some of my shelves. They so needed to be cleared off, and dusted. And once I did that, I couldn't just leave them bored...
So, I had this glass box, and in this glass box, I placed a Mad Hatter my mom gave me for Christmas. He is a barbie collection character I think? I have Alice too. So, I thought to myself. Look, I could keep him in his plastic box forever, orrrrrrrrrr, I could display him and make a diorama with him and a part of the packaging insert...
So I did... I used my own table, bird, stumps, fungi, pewter tea-set, moss, and cakes. I think it is wayyy fun. I love it now. And, I can enjoy it. I am on this kick for getting rid of things I don't need or want, and using the things I enjoy. I mean, why am I saving all this stuff in closets and dark corners? No more, I tell ya, no more...
Knowme was very good at keeping me company and overseeing the whole thing. He loves that he gets to sit on a happy bright shelf now (instead of rolling around the soon to be office).
I had wayyy too much fun cleaning shelves and rearranging. Funny, though, why do rooms feel so much lighter after you dust and vaccum? I love that feeling!!
The other thing I am working on is tidying up my sewing nook, as well as, going through hundreds of bags of "treasures" I bring home. I have some, well, nevermind, I won't confess how long I have had them sitting around :)
The next thing I would like to do is finish this giant painting (I will show you a snippet). It is my gift to my studio. To add a little magic and fun...
You see, before I showed my face in the blogosphere, I did extra large scale modern art for years. Once upon a time I was in interior design, and I also did huge abstract pieces for homes in some of my design work (I still do a bit of that). Also, when I started painting at 13, I started with large scale canvas. So, I guess I am used to that, and I am being drawn back to it a bit. But, I will always do varied sizes. I so enjoy the 12" x 12" and such. It is fun to get into a smaller painting like that...
I have several projects I am working on right now, so I better get back in the studio.
One IMPORTANT thing I wanted to also say. If you happen to make those shamrock brooches I shared with you, please let me know. I will do a Saint Patrick's day post and list links to everyone who makes their own. I will do that post a day before Saint Patrick's day. Make sure you e-mail me and let me know in advance (soon). I would loooove to link you!! (Miss Karla already made some)
See you soooooon!! xoxo, V
