The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to welcome guests into your home than with a beautifully crafted hanging Christmas garland? In this guide, I'll walk you through the steps to create an elegant and classical garland using a curtain rod with a spring, adorned with magnolia flowers, natural elements like mushrooms, and hanging gold ornaments suspended from luxurious velvet ribbons. Plus, we'll add a touch of rustic charm by covering the curtain rod with burlap ribbon to seamlessly blend it with the festive greenery.
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to welcome guests into your home than with a beautifully crafted hanging Christmas garland? In this guide, I'll walk you through the steps to create an elegant and classical garland using a curtain rod with a spring, adorned with magnolia flowers, natural elements like mushrooms, and hanging gold ornaments suspended from luxurious velvet ribbons. Plus, we'll add a touch of rustic charm by covering the curtain rod with burlap ribbon to seamlessly blend it with the festive greenery.
To start, cover the curtain rod with burlap ribbon. This not only adds a rustic touch but also conceals the rod, creating a cohesive look with the natural elements of your garland.
Choose Christmas greenery that suits your style – whether it's classic pine, cedar, or eucalyptus. Ensure that the branches are sturdy enough to support the weight of the decorations.
Begin attaching the greenery to the curtain rod, securing it with floral wire or zip ties. Make sure to evenly distribute the branches for a balanced look.
Integrate magnolia flowers into the garland, placing them strategically to create focal points. The glossy green leaves and striking white blossoms will add a touch of sophistication to your arrangement.
Enhance the garland with natural elements like mushrooms. Attach them using the same method as the greenery, ensuring they are evenly spaced for visual appeal.
To achieve a classical look, suspend gold ornaments from velvet ribbons at various intervals along the garland. The rich color of the velvet complements the magnolia flowers and adds a regal touch to the overall design.
Ensure that all elements are securely attached, and take a step back to assess the garland's overall appearance. Make any necessary adjustments to achieve the desired symmetry and balance.
Finally, hang your masterpiece inside the entryway using the curtain rod with a spring mechanism. As your guests enter, they will be greeted by the timeless beauty of a classical Christmas garland, combining natural elements and elegant ornaments for a festive and inviting atmosphere.
This hanging Christmas garland is not only a stunning decoration but also a testament to your creativity and festive spirit. Enjoy the holiday season with a touch of classical elegance that welcomes everyone into your home with warmth and style.
When my kids were young I always kept pillows in the car, especially when I know driving time would exceed an hour.
]]>When my kids were young I always kept pillows in the car, especially when I know driving time would exceed an hour. However, our pillows were never as cute as these! I spotted this DIY craft project on ISSUU Tickle the Imagination
The instructions for the travel pillows are easy enough and offer a great incentive to finally do something with all those leftover scraps of fabrics you might have lying around at home. I would actually even put some dried lavender in my pillows for an added fresh scent and if you are very crafty you could even stitch your child's name somewhere on the pillow.
I really like how they look and love that there is a pillow for boys as well. I hope you enjoyed this little share .
If you prefer just ordering a travel pillow for kids check out these cute animal pillows.
]]>I love to put together puzzles and you might have seen the many puzzles on my website. Some puzzles are reproductions of Old Master paintings and others are made from my original oil paintings. Today I want to share tips on how you can preserve the longevity of your puzzles if you like to display them in frames and hang them up around your house.
Some people glue their puzzles onto a board, but I never have the right size on hand and don't really like that technique. I did find this video on how to give strength to your puzzle without a backing and have tried it on my own puzzles and it worked rather well.
I use Mod Podge in a lot of my projects and love the quality of the product. Mod Podge is a decoupage medium. It is a glue, sealer, and finish designed for craft and art projects and it makes things stick together and give them a nice protective sheen.
After you have applied several coats of the Mod Lodge and the piece has dried, you can dip a brush into more Mod Lodge and apply it heavier on areas that you want to add brush strokes to. When it dries, the brush marks give the illusion that those areas have been painted.
Do not buy cheap photo puzzles and invest in real traditionally made puzzles. The pieces are much thicker and the coating is made to last. Photo puzzles are meant for a onetime use and don't hold up to be displayed as artwork.
How to Make Puzzle Last Longer
Here are more videos that I found useful
I love to hear tips and tricks you use to store, safe and display your puzzles, so make sure to comment below.
]]>Ever since I discovered decoupage and the world of molds I have become hooked on trying out different crafting projects. I am going to visit my girlfriends very soon and thought why not bring them each a little crafted framed piglet that they can hang up in their kitchen.
For this project you will need the molds listed below and a few other items for which I will list the links later on.
A little note about paper clay. I love paper clay, because it is very lightweight, dries fast and can be painted with various materials. I started the project with Activa La Doll Premier Natural air Dry Stone Clay which I absolutely love. For the 4th frame I run out and used DAS Clay and had a chance to compare. DAS clay took longer to dry and was heavier. The color was also a bit more grey and not white. It took the mold nicely, but so far I do prefer the Activa clay over DAS. But back to the tutorial.
Sprinkle a bit of baking powder or even baby powder in the mold so that the mold comes out easy. Then take a bit of clay and fill the cavity of the mold. Press the clay in firmly so that all the crevices get filled.
Use a ruler or other sharp blade and cut off the excess clay. Then turn the mold over and slowly let the cast drop out of the mold.You might have to help it along a bit, but the cast usually drops out fairly easy.
If you need to do some touch up, you can take a bit of clay, wet a brush and gently brush on some more paper clay. I am going for a vintage look here and will not be touching up anything.
If you have an old frame you can use it for the next step. If not I found it very convenient to have molds for frames on hand. Just make sure that your piggy has enough room in the center of the frame.
This is what the a cast of a frame looks like. I found similar molds on Amazon just make sure to double check the size before ordering. I have ordered plenty of stuff not realizing that they were much smaller than what I thought them to be.
Now it's time to make a backing for our frame. When using air dry clay some shrinkage can occur, so it's best to wait until the clay is dry. Then just trace a circle on cardboard and cut it to size.
Apply a generous amount of glue on the backside of your frame and glue the cut out cardboard backing to the frame. Glue the piglet in the center of the frame.
I apply a coat of Golden Soft Gel Medium over everything. It acts as a barrier to protect the cardboard from buckling when wet paint is applied and it also acts a bit as an adhesive to seal everything in.
You can use any color Acrylic paint at this point. I started with a coat of white and then decided to go with an off white instead. Then I took a chocolate brown and made a wash (more water than paint) and applied it all over. I rubbed away some areas that I wanted to remain lighter and added more paint in areas where I wanted it to be darker. The painting process is a put on wipe off sort of thing. Don't be afraid to experiment - you can always paint over with a heavier coat of color.
Here you can see how the darker brown paint has seeped into the crevices. This will only happen if you either use watery paint or a paste to wipe the color in.
As I mentioned before I am going for an aged look and want to the piece to have a bit of patina. That's why the color application is not even.
Here is a side view of the piece showing the supposed age of the piece.
To finish the piece off add a ribbon and attach a small saw tooth picture hanger
The piglet mold can be ordered from my store - see below
How to Make Gift Wrap and Bows
Tip for using wall paper as gift wrap. First cut off a smaller more manageable size of the roll. Once you have the desired size use the back of a knife and score the paper along the fold lines. Wall paper can be stiff and this makes folding the edges much easier.
Next
I have added a free printable PDF with the bow patter that you can either use to print and cut or upload to Cricut Design Space to use.
Since wall paper is stronger than regular card stock it is ideal for making strong envelopes in a variety of sizes. Small ones can be used for correspondence and super large ones are great for storing scrapbooking supplies.
You can download the free PDF by adding it to your cart. Then upload either print the file or upload it to Cricut Design space. Use the corners in Cricut design space to change the size to the size you need and then let the machine print and cut.
It's not often that I come across a product that I just totally fall in love with. However this vintage leather journal by Wanderings has cast its spell on me. The handcrafted papers, the leather strip binding, the key, well the entire journal is nothing less than awesome.
I am not much of a writer, but I love to doodle and collect scraps of papers and images that spur my imagination on. Scrapbook activities are a rabbit hole that I can fall into with a smile on my face.
Couple that with a journal that has an otherworldly feel to it and oh boy, I am in trouble. This journal is held together with a leather band that has a cool looking key at the end of it. As you unwrap the journal the sense of anticipation already mounds.
The journal measures 5x7 inches and has 120 sheets/ 240 pages that are non refillable. The antique cotton paper looks like it was dipped in tea and left out to dry. It has an incredible looking patina and the ripped edges give it that old world charm. The journal has just the right kind of pages to make an artistic soul like mine sing with joy.
You can order the journal here
I love the way the spine looks. The added leather straps really show that thought went into designing this journal.
The journal ships with a canvas bag, which I thought was also a nice touch. It protects this jewel while you are on the road and keeps sticky fingers off. This journals just beckons to be picked up by strangers!
Wanderings was kind enough to offer my followers a 20% discount if they visit and order here >https://bit.ly/2P2l8Zx
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I wanted to make a large wooden spool for some lace I had to use as a prop for my miniatures. In the video below I share the step by step tutorial how to do it. If you like the tutorial make sure to give it a thumbs up and subscribe to see more of my DIY tutorials.
]]>If you like to style your shots for social media with vintage items, or if you like to make them for your own home for decorative purposes you might enjoy this tutorial on how to make vintage looking faux wooden spools. The process is very easy and the fun thing is that you can alter the shape and size according to you needs.
I love to use props and create flat-lays and often incorporate some of the items that are very dear to me. One such item is my grandma's measuring tape. It is very old and tattered looking and I hardly dare to unroll it. I would love to make a casing for it to protect it a bit more. Any ideas?!
But I am getting off topic ~, I wanted to make a large wooden spool for some lace I had to use as a prop for my miniatures. In the video below I share the step by step tutorial how to do it. If you like the tutorial make sure to give it a thumbs up and subscribe to see more of my DIY tutorials.
This is just one large spool and the process is pretty much the same regardless of size. Look on-line to get ideas for colors and spool shapes and just follow the painting technique.
I am going to make some miniature spools for an upcoming sewing room diorama and will share those via Instagram as soon as they are done.
Thank you so much for checking out my blog posts, and be sure to tag me @Portraits_by_NC if you if you have been inspired to try something new! I’d love to see your projects!
xo
NC
]]>If you take a lot of photos and shoot DIY videos, you probably want to block out parts of your room that you are shooting in. This is when having various backdrops come in really handy. In this tutorial I show you how you can make such backdrops with only a few very inexpensive items that offer you maximum versatility.
Thank you so much for checking out my blog posts, and be sure to tag me @Portraits_by_NC if you if you have been inspired to try something new! I’d love to see your projects!
xo
NC
]]>Redoing ones kitchen can be a daunting tasks, when you have to work with existing dark counter tops. Do you go with light cabinet color, like white or off white or should you opt for all natural lighter wood colors, or a different color all together.
I am going to share my kitchen makeover (the video is lower down). We moved into our house a while back and inherited wood cabinets. At the time we redid so many things in out home that redoing all cabinetry did not make sense. Instead we decided to choose a complimentary color for the counter tops and went with a granite called Uba Tuba, which is basically a dark green that has specks of silver in it.
I actually stained all cabinets a lovely warm tone and was very happy with look of the kitchen. Now fast forward to today. The stain has rubbed off on the doors that are most frequently used, and I have just simply tired of the look.
Craving for a renewal I did consider hiring professionals to do the job, but during COVID 19, the last thing I want is strangers coming in and out of my home. SO I decided to tackle the job myself.
For my kitchen remodel I am using Annie Sloan Chalk paint. The white is a paint called Original and the green is called Versailles.
Gone are the days of making spontaneous decisions and for weeks I have moved around a plank of wood that I have painted with the colors I am considering for the cabinets. I just could not make up my mind which color to go with since depending on the time of day the colors of the paint change by several shades.
First I tried the Original (whitish) color and it was just too white for my taste. Then I tried just the Versailles (green shade) and although I absolutely loved that color, it became too dark for the space as the light decreased.
So I decided to mix my own color. I used 1 can of the Original and added 1/4 of the Versailles to get the center shade.Now I had three different colors on the panels side by side and watched them for two days as the light kept changing in the kitchen. I highly recommend doing this step, because the color that you fall in love with at the store can look very different in the room. I wanted my kitchen to be much lighter looking than before at all times of the day and really ruled out a basic white tint from the beginning. The artist in me wanted color, but which one and how much was the question. In the video you will see how the cabinet's color shifts even at the same time of day, since the lighting comes from different areas one a pocket door, the other a small kitchen window and then the open space towards the kitchen nook.
To start out I cleaned the cabinets with water and a bit of dishwashing solution and wiped them dry. I purchased the type of brushes that Annie Sloan recommends, but they were heavy and I opted to paint with my favorite painting brush. I know , I know, I get enough remarks from my hubby about the size of brushes I use, but these are the ones I just love and use for my oil paintings as well. One thing I did notice is that Chalk paint is rather thick and as soon as you apply the first coat it acts as both a Primer and first layer. When using the round brushes you tend to pick up more paint and the coverage is really thick. While I was painting I left everything on the countertops, because this paint hardly every drips and that I found amazing.
Pulls and Knobs
Deciding on the hardware was the most complicated thing about the entire kitchen redo. Our kitchen never had any hardware and we really got used to not seeing any. With the new light paint color having hardware was a must, but hubby and I soon agreed that having hardware on every door and drawer might just be too much. I fell in love with the long drawer pull and wanted to keep that one at all cost. So while we both mulled over what to put where, we finally came to an agreement three weeks later and this is what we chose.
Here is a list of the items I used and where I purchased them from:
Thank you so much for checking out my DIY’s, and be sure to tag me @Portraits_by_NC if you try any of them! I’d love to see your projects! Budget wise decorating is always such fun ~ don't you think?!
xo
NC
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Do you like to decorate your home with wreathes? If the answer is yes, then you will love this super easy Spring Wreath DIY project and is done in under 30 minutes at a fraction of the cost, what a store bought wreath would cost. Most of these items can easily be found Amazon, and I will provide Amazon links for reference. So let's get going!
Instructions :
~ Start by cutting the stems off their base using the wire cutters. The stem length needs to be enough so that you can stick them into the Vine wreath with ease. This way you don't have to glue them down and can always change the look at a later time.
~ Place the Eucalyptus leaves all around the wreath. Since we are not gluing anything you can always adjust the look one you hang the wreath up.
~ Now add the Baby Wreath by sticking it into the Vine Wreath. I like to intertwine some of the greenery from below for a more natural look.
~ After the wreath is all filled up with greenery and flowers, it's time to cut a long piece of the rope. Loop the rope around the wreath and take it to the location were you like to hang it. This way you can adjust the length of the rope, before cutting off the other end. I made a bow and then threaded the ends around for a decorative looking knot.
~ Here is a video I made of the process ~ If you like to see more hit the subscribe button on Youtube
Thank you so much for checking out my DIY’s, and be sure to tag me @Portraits_by_NC if you try any of them! I’d love to see your projects! Budget wise decorating is always such fun ~ don't you think?!
xo
NC
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This set is so nicely put together that you don't want to mess it up. As you can see in the video the set comes with the following:
I wanted to try the light colors, since the pigmentation in lighter colors can be problematic in inferior paints. To my delight the pigments of these colors are wonderful. Pigments look pure (no grainy look) and the paint glides on easily. The Watercolor pens are great to have since they can be filled with water, thereby avoiding accidental water spills. The palette is spacious enough to mix paints in. I also tried removing the color pieces and with a little tug, they can easily be removed and exchanged with new ones.
I love this set. It would make such a lovely gift for anyone who loves to paint with watercolors. Everything you would need is included and the colors are gorgeous. The pigments are made of non-toxic materials, which is good to know. I did run into an issue with opening the pens, for some odd reason they opened the other way around, but overall that was not a big issue. I also love that watercolor paper is included.
I would give this product 5 stars and would buy it as a gift for an artist friend. I loved everything about it from the packaging to the quality of the paints and down to the goodies that were included with the set.
Make professional looking videos with overhead shoots with this easy DIY hack. Many tripod mounds also take up space and can get in the way. With this overhead set up nothing sits on your workspace. Instead it is suspended from above and can be moved up or down as needed.
For this project you will need the following items:
]]>Make professional looking videos with overhead shoots with this easy DIY hack. Many tripod mounds also take up space and can get in the way. With this overhead set up nothing sits on your workspace. Instead it is suspended from above and can be moved up or down as needed.
For this project you will need the following items:
A hanging Drying Rack - I purchased mine from Daiso, but you can also find a similar one via Amazon
1 hook
1 outdoor clothesline with clips - I purchased mine from Daiso, but you can find a similar one via Amazon
Pliers
String
Glue
3 Wooden Coffee Stirrers ( you can cut cardboard to size as well)
Directions
I have an iPhone 12 Pro Max and my phone fits perfectly in the center opening. I also tried it with a smaller phone and although the opening is too large adding the coffee stirrers will stabilize the phone. Since the entire set up hangs from the ceiling it tends to sit a bit off center. To remedy this, adding the string or thin elastic band and attaching it to the clothes pin is a good way to keep the phone in place.
What I like about this DIY project is that it is super cheap and very versatile. I can move the phone up or down as much as needed. When not in use it is easy to store and out of the way. I can even move my phone manually if I want to quickly show another angle. The only drawback is that when you move it it will wiggle a bit until you gently coax it to hold still.
I tend to edit my videos so I usually cut away the wiggly parts at the very beginning. Let me know if this set up works for you and if you even have a better idea how to stabilize it further.
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Food Bloggers and product photographers love white marble backdrops since it lets whatever is put in front or on top stand out more. These types of patterned backdrops are great for all sorts of Flatlay photography. White marble has just the right amount of light grey veining in it to make the surface more interesting than a plain white surface. However, not everyone has a white marble countertop or wants to drag around heavy pieces of marble just to set up a shoot. Read More ...
]]>Food Bloggers and product photographers love white marble backdrops since it lets whatever is put in front or on top stand out more. These types of patterned backdrops are great for all sorts of Flatlay photography. White marble has just the right amount of light grey veining in it to make the surface more interesting than a plain white surface. However, not everyone has a white marble countertop or wants to drag around heavy pieces of marble just to set up a shoot.
My solution to this problem was to use a marble-like contact paper and adhere it to flat boards that I can position any way I like for that perfect shot. Since the panels are lightweight, under 1 lb they can quickly be taken anywhere as needed and since they are thin storing takes up no room at all. Another benefit is that spills can quickly be wiped off making the backdrop usable time after time.
Directions:
1. Spay your surface area with Windex and wipe off any excess dust or dirt.
2. Take off the plastic wrap of your contact paper and place it on top of the area that needs to be covered.
3. Cut off any excess contact paper.
4. Spray the surface area with Windex again. This is done so that you can easily slide the contact paper into place without it immediately sticking to the surface.
5. Peel the backing off the contact paper, parts at a time. Don't pull off all the backing, but rather do a small portion so you can line it up with the area to be covered and avoid bubbles and creases.
6. Once the contact paper seems to be in the right position place it on top of the surface and use the squeegee to adhere the contact paper permanently to the surface.
7. At the same time continue removing the backing and smoothing the areas that are making contact with the surface.
8. Repeat until the entire area is covered.
9. Use the squeegee once more to make sure that the entire contact paper is making good contact with the surface and that no bubbles, bumps or creases are visible.
10. Use the Exacto knife to cut off any excess. Enjoy your new creation!
Photography Tip:
When you shoot a simpler scene use the marble veins for a more interesting setting. When your scene is more complex choose an area that has less visible grain.
I love using Adhesive Craft Contact Paper since it is a quick way to make a large visual impact for a very low cost. You can line shelves and drawers, cover furniture and even use it in various crafting projects.
As I mentioned before the nice folks at Craftopia send me several rolls of their Granite Gray/White Marble Vinyl Paper Rolls to try out. First off I liked the 16"x89.25" large rolls. The size is ideal to cover large areas.
I like that the back has a grid which makes cutting straight lines ever so much easier! The paper stuck to my surface with ease and I had absolutely no trouble with placing it on my desired surface area. I have tons more rolls to use and I am already making plans to cover some other areas in my home in this nice looking faux marble. The vinyl can easily be wiped off with a damp cloth.
Love to hear what you have covered with contact paper! Did it work for you? Any tips or recommendations? Let me know in the comments xx]]>Nothing is more disappointing than to go through all the trouble of pouring resin, just to find bubbles in your creation once it has undergone the curing process. Therefore I wanted to share a quick and easy trick how you can eliminate those nasty bubbles when casting anything with UV resin.
]]>Today's post is sponsored by FUKKUDA
Nothing is more disappointing than to go through all the trouble of pouring resin, just to find bubbles in your creation once it has undergone the curing process. Therefore I wanted to share a quick and easy trick how you can eliminate those nasty bubbles when casting anything with UV resin.
Regardless of what UV resin you use bubbles can form while you are pouring the resin into the cast. If you go to cure the resin under a UV lamp, there is a good chance that your design might have unwanted air bubbles. Here I am pouring resin into a small mold for a multi layered design.
Grab a toothpick and gently move the resin around to make sure that every nook and cranny of your mold is covered with resin. I made a little video to show you what I do ...
As you can see in the video, before placing the mold under a UV lamp you need to grab a lighter and quickly pass it over the resin. This will help eliminate any bubbles that might have formed.
If your cast is thin cure it for about 1 minute. If it is thicker work in layers and let each layer cure. Resin cast should cure in about 4 -6 minutes depending on how thick the resin layers are.
As I had mentioned before this post has been sponsored by FUKKUDA. The company has send me this Electric Arc Igniter that works buy charging it via USB either via your phone or any other USB charger ( 3.7V-500MA).
After you charge the igniter, all you have to do is push the middle slider upward and you are ready to use the lighter. I love it! No more running out of lighter fluid or dealing with lighters that do not work for unexplainable reasons.
Another cool feature is the bendable tip, which makes getting into hard to reach places super easy.
I am using the electric arc lighter in my studio when working on models, but this lighter works also great when lighting candles, the BBQ or any other hard to reach areas. I also work with 3d molds and sometimes just need to get rid of the supports. Passing this flameless lighter over those areas allows me to burn off unwanted areas with more control.
If you like to learn more about this lighter visit Amazon here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BJ74PRV
I should point out that the lighter looks very dainty, but do not let that fool you. The power is intense and the lighter has features build in so you will not burn yourself.
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Today's post is Sponsored by United Tapes
My new 20 rolls of Washi tapes from United Tapes have arrived! I am so excited to see what can be done with these pretty tapes that measure 15mm (.59“) wide and 5m (16.4 ft) long. I like that the tapes are sticky yet can be easily peeled off. This makes them great for borders around dollhouse rooms. They leave no residue behind which means I can experiment putting them in all sorts of things. I ordered mine from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/B071Z7SVKC
In case you are wondering what exactly Washi tape is here is what I found : It’s actually a decorative adhesive tape made from traditional Japanese paper (wa meaning ‘Japanese’ and shi meaning 'paper’) that’s great for craft or journaling. Okay, but washo special about it? Unlike western paper which is made from tree pulp, washi comes from Japanese shrubs.
Washi tape can be used to decorate a variety of items you have in your home or office. Since I have started to make miniatures, I wanted to share some ideas how Washi tape can be used for dollhouse and miniature room scapes as well. So over the time I will be adding more tipe to this post.
Decorate Folder Clips
This is a super quick and easy way to dress up your folder clips. Just tear or cut off a piece of tape stick to the black parts of the clip. For those looking to make handbags for their dolls, this is a very quick way to accessories and add some handbags to your doll's closet.
Another quick tip what you can do with Washi Tape. Here I have used it to quickly transform my miniature birdhouses.
Cut the desired birdhouse shape using either cardboard or wood. Since my birdhouses are at 1/24 scale I was able to use the Washi Tape as is.
I recommend placing the tape before assembling the pieces. Since Washi Tape can easily be removed and repositioned experiment with the look.
I ended up using a combination of three tape colors and just love how theses tiny houses turned out.
]]>LUDWIG DEUTSCH FRENCH, 1855 - 1935
THE LAMPLIGHTER by Ludwig Deutsch measures 22 1/4 by 17 1/4 in on panel and is signed L. Deutsch.
]]>LUDWIG DEUTSCH FRENCH, 1855 - 1935
THE LAMPLIGHTER by Ludwig Deutsch measures 22 1/4 by 17 1/4 in on panel and is signed L. Deutsch.
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Fall is such a great time to start crafting. During the week I am too busy painting portrait commissions, but I love using my downtime and weekends to craft
]]>Fall is such a great time to start crafting. During the week I am too busy painting portrait commissions, but I love using my downtime and weekends to craft. Instead of watching too much TV I like to drag out my crafting supplies and get busy creating decor items for the home. Ones the weekend comes around it's a mad dash to set up little seasonal vignettes.
I love decorating with natural plant materials, but here in southern California where mid-October weather is still in the high 70's everything just wilts away. So I work with materials that last a bit longer. Dried flowers are my favorites for a more natural look, mostly in areas that get very little direct sunlight.
The greenery around the door frame is made of three long garlands I found at Micheals. Made by AshIand the 6ft Classic Greenery softens the door frame. Then by adding some clear string lights (also from Ashland) a more welcoming look is created for nighttime visitors.
A new addition is my friendly witch, which I just totally adore. You should have seen me trying to bring her home. Being that I am rather short this witch is taller than I am! Of course, I needed to ask a knight in shining armor to give me a hand to get this cutie into the car. I filled her basket with brown mocha moss, pinecones, and a black natural iced Willow Pick.
Here is a little decorating tip. When the gods bless you with a plant that you can swear you have not planted, dig it out and put it in a pot. These foundlings when further nurtured, come to good use as fillers for your vignette. The spindly tree was just such a gift and before hubby could rip it out, I saved it and planted it in a pot. I really had no idea what the plant is, but come fall it changed color and worked wonders to round up this fall display. Well, hopefully, I can finish the other side and show you that as well. Until then, happy decorating!
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I love looking at Old Master painting and really study them. By looking closely you can really appreciate the thought that went into creating a painting. You see things that at first glance you might completely miss.
]]>I love looking at Old Master painting and really study them. By looking closely you can really appreciate the thought that went into creating a painting. You see things that at first glance you might completely miss.
This is a painting by Robert Kemm (London, 1837 - 1895), who was an English romantic painter of genre scenes, and who painted some paintings that had an orientalist feel to them, like "admiring the Painting". His work includes Andalusia landscapes and figures.
It is not known if the artist asked this young girl to sit for him, but the fact that he has included his own palette makes it very likely. In a way, he is validating his visit and time spent painting in the East.
I love the intensity by which this young girl seems to look at a painting that is hidden from us. Her flushed cheeks are handled flawlessly. It makes me miss painting this type of scene and especially children.
Here is the entire painting ...
If you like to learn more about Orientalist Art I recommend this book, which can be ordered via Barnes and Nobles
]]>I had these two very rustic looking grapevine wreaths purchased from Michaels that have seen better days and I wanted to spruce them up for this fall project. My house is rather large and every time I want to decorate it's always in a set of two, otherwise things just seem to get visually lost.
I had seen this beautiful colored Raffia assortment and wanted to incorporate at it in my rustic wreath. These are sold at the Micheals Craft Store, where they keep the wreath making supplies and dried flowers.
One package of this colored Raffia (there are six different colors in one package) and scissors for cutting it up was plenty to make two wreaths.
Before I knew it the table was piled up with a wonderful explosion of color. I separated each strand of Raffia and kept folding it in half until the desired length was achieved that was suitable to tie around the branches.
I alternated colors and even left some strands longer or shorter, depending on how it was complementing the overall look.
My two lion heads then received their fall accessories which made my outdoor space look season-appropriate. This was a fairly quick way to add some fall color to an outdoor space costing about $15.
]]>Stumbling is a method by which wet paint is dragged over dry oil paint to create a different painting effect. The wet layer should be an opaque paint application ( not be be consumes with transparent glazing). The idea is to let some of the underlying paint color show through.
]]>Stumbling is a method by which wet paint is dragged over dry oil paint to create a different painting effect. The wet layer should be an opaque paint application ( not be be consumes with transparent glazing). The idea is to let some of the underlying paint color show through.
If a color is stumbled over it's compliment you can get a beautiful mystic optical gray tone, which is side for landscape chiaroscuro effects.
Here is a great vide by Winsor & Newton that explains it all.
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Van Gogh allegedly wrapped up his head and his removed ear and gave it to a prostitute in a nearby brothel. He was then admitted to a hospital in Arles.
Van Gogh's physical and mental health would continue to deteriorate, and the following year he would tragically take his own life.
What could cause mental instability in an artist?
1. Stress
Van Gogh experienced a marked period of feverish painting frenzy when he produced a prolific amount of art, which tested his creative limits. His relationship with his artist friend Paul Gaugin, who spend the summer with him tended to be full of arguments. These two situations could have caused the artist too much mental stress.
2. Illness
Severe epileptic seizures caused the artist to suffer from losing consciousness and having hallucinations.
3. Lead Poisoning
Even low levels of lead poisoning can cause kidney problems, anxiety, depression, and other “pervasive developmental issues.” Artists of that era often used pigments that would contain lead.
It is known that the artist suffered from his declining health. Sadly the artist shot himself in the chest on the 27th July 1890. He died two days later.
While searching for materials for this blog post, I found this mug on Amazon here and thought this would make a great gift for anyone who is obsessed with Van Gogh. The Van Gogh mug is finished with a bandage over his missing left ear and his vivid red beard and would be quiet the conversation piece, don't you think?!
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The Veiled Circassian Beauty by Jean Léone Gérôme was painted in 1876. The French title is Femme circassienne voilée and the painting was painted on oil measuring 16.02" x 12.83" inches. Jean Léone Gérôme was an Orientalist painter.
Gérôme travelled extensively and visited Istanbul several times. In 1867 on his way back to his studio in Paris, he stopped again in Istanbul. The artist was known to visit bazaars in order to find props and clothing for future paintings. Once in Paris he would set out to dress his French models in the garments of the regions he has visited, arrange the pose and add whatever prop he thought would be appealing to his clientele. Gerome used the same model for the two versions of the Danse du Sabre dans un café, painted in 1875.
I have always been fascinated by Jean Léone Gérôme's paintings and his attention to detail. In this light blue jacket he has recreated the gold embroidery in lovely detail. Gerome left nothing to chance and carefully chose colors that would compliment each other. Here the light blue is set against an almost Burgundy colored reddish background. The effect is that the gold and blue pop almost off the canvas.
He gave his model simple jewelry to wear, yet he painted it with such attention to detail, that once you notice it you can't help but step closer to have an even better look. The model't hand rests on an equally detailed painting of a Persian rug.There is a nice juxtaposition of patterns going on. The rug has a larger geometric pattern which almost makes the embroidery seem even more delicate in comparison.
I love painting Old Master's copies because there is always so much that can be learned about the color harmonies, texture and patterns as well as overall layout of Old Master paintings. Many, many years ago, I think it was in 2000, I painted a self portrait as the Circassian Beauty.
If you like to have a painting painted of yourself in any Old Master setting click here for pricing information.
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Fat over Lean has nothing to do with painting thick paint over thin paint. It actually refers to the amount of oil in the paint. The underlying layers should be mixed with less oil (be leaner) than the upper layers which should be mixed with more oil (fatter).
Each layer should be dry to the touch before another layer is applied to prevent cracking.
This video by Winsors & Newton does a great job explaining it all.
]]>Fat over Lean has nothing to do with painting thick paint over thin paint. It actually refers to the amount of oil in the paint. The underlying layers should be mixed with less oil (be leaner) than the upper layers which should be mixed with more oil (fatter).
Each layer should be dry to the touch before another layer is applied to prevent cracking.
This video by Winsors & Newton does a great job explaining it all.
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Seashells are the ocean's refuse, the remains of more than 75,000 kinds of invertebrates that once lived in the ocean. Did you know that shell collecting dates back to the sixteenth and seventeenth century?
]]>Seashells are the ocean's refuse, the remains of more than 75,000 kinds of invertebrates that once lived in the ocean. Did you know that shell collecting dates back to the sixteenth and seventeenth century? Some collectors would comb the beaches to find rare specimens, others less picky just collected everything in sight and filled vases and bowls to decorate their homes with.
Those who had a flair for the crafts loved to collect to let their creative juices take over. In general, there are no restrictions against collecting empty shells from California beaches, but other areas have different rules. It's always best to do an online search to see if your area has any restrictions before you get hit with a heavy fine.
Even better why not just buy what others have already collected and leave your beach just as you found it. There are so many places that sell a variety of really cool looking seashells. This assortment is by Supplies Mall on Etsy.
I thought it would be fun to see what people have made with seashells.
These shells were filled with Soy candle wax and are being sold by Sandy Land Studio . These seashell candles would great for a summer pool party!
Here are some more cool seashell craft ideas ...
]]>Charles Henry Miller was a Long Island artist who specialized in documenting the natural beauty of Long Island. He was particularly interested in creating an artistic record of the Long Island landscape, which was rapidly changing after the proliferation of the railroad and the growth of development in the western portion of the region.
]]>Charles Henry Miller was a Long Island artist who specialized in documenting the natural beauty of Long Island. He was particularly interested in creating an artistic record of the Long Island landscape, which was rapidly changing after the proliferation of the railroad and the growth of development in the western portion of the region.
I love exploring painting up close because there is so much that can be learned from them. At first glance, this painting seems like any other oil painting. It's a landscape and as the title implies a farm in Queens.
Just like the last farm is about to disappear, it looks like the artist is losing access to paint as well. There are so many areas where the canvas clearly shows through. However, sometimes artist allow the canvas to show through deliberately. The texture and color are used to add a certain feel. Here it could be that the artist was after a rustic look.
Charles Henry Miller painted this painting in 1911 in oil. The artwork measures
13"h x 21 1/4"w and is painted on canvas. Since I am working on the painting of the Farm I wanted to see how other artists have tackled painting trees. Here the artist has used a combination of dots, impasto strokes, light swooshes and even the canvas itself to create the impression of leaves on a tree. Another clever trick is the use of very unexpected colors like Lemon Yellow and some sort of a teal. These colors give the illusion of light bouncing off the leaves.
I love the haystack. There is really very little paint. The artist relies on us to fill in all that is missing. In reality, all he gives us is the rounded shape and some highlights he painted on with thick paint. Yet when you look at the painting it looks just like a haystack with beautiful golden hay. What a genius!
]]>Artist: Norman Lindsay Title: Swans and Peacocks
Norman Alfred William Lindsay was an Australian artist, etcher, sculptor, writer, editorial cartoonist, scale modeler, and an accomplished amateur boxer.
]]>Artist: Norman Lindsay Title: Swans and Peacocks
Norman Alfred William Lindsay was an Australian artist, etcher, sculptor, writer, editorial cartoonist, scale modeler, and an accomplished amateur boxer.
Norman Lindsay was a prolific painter whose work consists of many nudes in various settings. These videos show a large number of this artists work.
]]>Artist: Etienne Dinet Title: Conciliabule Dans La Nuit
Etienne Dinet often painted the people he would encounter while living in Morocco. However "The Night Conspirators" are a different subject matter for the artist who is best known for paintings of Algerian children and lovers.
]]>Artist: Etienne Dinet Title: Conciliabule Dans La Nuit
Etienne Dinet often painted the people he would encounter while living in Morocco. However "The Night Conspirators" are a different subject matter for the artist who is best known for paintings of Algerian children and lovers.
The painting was exhibited for the 1st time in Algiers in 1924 this oil on canvas measure 44.5 in x 57 in. . I love the expressions on the faces of these men as they intently listen.
Here is the entire painting
~Painting Commissions are Happily Accepted ~ see prices here
Check out my custom painted Old Master Reproductions
Adam Styka was a Polish artist who studied at the Paris Beau Art Academy. He served also in the French military and travelled in the East. His subjects are often bathed in lovely sun lit scenes and are in some way interacting and not set up in static poses.
]]>The Artist: Adam Styka (1890-1959)
Title: The Secret
Medium: Oil on Canvas Size: 35.5 x 31 1/8 inches
Adam Styka was a Polish artist who studied at the Paris Beau Art Academy. He served also in the French military and traveled in the East. His subjects are often bathed in lovely sunlit scenes and are in some way interacting and not set up in static poses.
Painting Commissions are Happily Accepted ~ see prices here
Check out my custom painted Old Master Reproductions