Friday, December 17, 2010

Birch Trees Encased in Wax



This is the first time I've posted here at The Artist Babes, but I wanted you to see what I've been working on lately! 

This technique is century's old, there is nothing new. But this IS new, it's new to me. I've been thinking for years about painting with this golden glaze. I finally took the plunge and using my old candle making supplies from junior high, I melted wax in a double boiler (wait can you call an old Folgers coffee can a double boiler?), and with an old paint brush I began layering my birch trees with vintage sewing patterns. Creating an erethral space between each translucent layer.

 Encaustic painting as it's called, uses wax (traditionally bee's wax). It's been used to add texture and intrest, to encase a book page or a painting or when tinted used as paint.

This particular piece was done with melt and pour pellets from Walmart, I don't think century's ago they'd approve of using cheeeeap wax. But I thought I'd use it up before I upgraded to bees wax.

 And my brain has been a little dry lately, all of it used up for Spanish, work, family, home or holidays. So this evening of experimentation was just what I needed to feel refreshed and ready to take on all that this December has to offer.


Where has your creativity been lately? Are you crafting up a storm for the holidays?

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Eggs!

I've joined C & C photography for a four-week workshop, and our first assignment was... eggs! Very timely for Easter! I thought I'd share my Spotlight on the White Egg to get you in the mood :-)


If you want to see all the amazing things that can be done with eggs and a camera, check out the blogroll in the sidebar of C & C! There are some very talented photographers and absolutely stunning images out there! Who knew eggs were so photogenic?

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Hi from Sedona


HI Babes, I'm in Sedona teaching and on a retreat. It's been a few months since I posted so I wanted to drop in and say hello. I too soooo enjoyed and was honored to be a part of Shannon's first e-course and I know they are going to be a huge success. I don't have alot of personal art-making time so it was great to be able to do that freely for a month. Thanks Shannon!
Some of you may know from posts I made last summer that I have been teaching workshops in southern France for the last seven years. I am offering an early bird discount for the workshops a year from this summer- in July 2011. If you'd like more info you can visit the France page on my site- www.dayledoroshow.com and email me for the discount info. I would love to share the experience with you! dayledoroshow@hotmail.com
Here's a pic of what I'm inspired by at the moment.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

What Better Way to Be, then Love?

I began my Magical Eyes Tour a little over a month ago, traveling across The United States, staying Pinkies, learning about their lives, sharing what we each had to offer each other.

Though my journey has only been a month long, there was a flame that sparked inside of me. A flame that was put out long ago. Rediscovering these passions and truths has led to a whole new level of art for me.

I know that one stepping stone in getting to where I am was taking Shannon's Inside Out eCourse. It led to a completely new space of self expression. I got back down to the roots of who I was and why I am here.

Thank you for letting me be part of this group of artistic bloggers. I love the space already and feel honored to be here.

Here is my first home-made card: What better way to be, then love?




Monday, March 22, 2010

Premiere of crafts outdoors today!


Today, it was possible to sit outside in a sunny corner and work again after a looooong winter. I'm learning a new crochet-technique (tunisian) for a course, while I'm surrounded by a dripping from the melting snow. It so unlikely wonderful.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

First Sign of Spring!

What signs of spring do you see where you live?

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Back in KC

It's been over a year since my last post, but I'm back in Kansas City for the time being and wanted to leave you with a few photos to catch up. I spent last year in Bainbridge Island, WA studying permaculture and edible landscape design. It was a beautiful environment to live in. Hooray for Beautiful animals, food, and landscapes! (The last two photos are from my road trip back with my brother from Southern California)...now that I'm back in KC, I'm taking a drawing class at KCAI and I've got big goals for sewing projects. More to come...

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Hostess With The Mostess

A couple of weeks ago, my friend and I made this all-in-one apron for an auction to benefit NAG, a group who brings artists and workshops to kids who live in a very rural part of Montana. The benefit dinner and auction of aprons made by artists was the perfect venue for my friend Michelle Lambson and I to collaborate. We first found the yellow dress at an "upscale" thrift store... (We were there to find a jacket to make into an apron... a kind of MichaelJacksonesque number), but this yellow dress screamed at us from the rack... and thus was the beginning of the "Hostess With The Mostess."
Our ideas started flying... I immediately thought of the fabulous gloves in the Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines book by Anne Shayne and Kay Gardner. Chelle found the fabulous Kate Spade bag... the perfect accessory for our Perfect Hostess. P.H. really started coming together when we found the exact yarns for the gloves (made longer and more elegant) and the pocket (which is the famous ballband warshcloth pattern from same said book.) We were stunned when all the parts and pieces made themselves manifest on our 8-hour shopping spree. I even had the exact dyes we needed in my dye stash for the apron!
Chelle did all of the fabulous hand-stitching of all of the trim (hours and hours of it). She also split the dress and made the straps for the back. It was a labor of love and we were both rather sad to pack P.H. and send her off to Montana. We were told she went to a wonderful home.
Good-bye Hostess With the Mostess! Have fun in Montana. We will miss you.
p.s. you might want to put on some panties before the auction. Just sayin'.