Calm Seas and a Boat Canvas

 I am a 'river' girl at heart. From a young age my family and I have holidayed on the Murray River and as a result I have grown to respect the river, learn about it and appreciate the area. Time away in this area thoroughly relaxes me. For a week I feel like I am away from the 'real' world.

Occasionally, we travel from our home to Adelaide and as a result we cross over the Murray River. If it is a while since we have spent time away on the river, I look at the river longingly as we cross over it and mention to my husband that we should organise some time away on it.

For some people, the sea is their desired place to dwell in, near or around. They enjoy the sound of the waves flowing into shore and the smell of the salty air. Mind you, it is also the ocean and the air around it that can spawn ferocious storms. The place of relaxation and peace can quickly transform to a place of fear as mighty winds, rain and waves are created and strength is required to bear the brunt of the storm until it passes. Isn't that similar to life? One minute there is celebration and comfort in the everyday and then troublesome times brew and swamp us. They eventually blow over and life returns to its calm self. The refreshment of being able to totally relax in a favoured area (such as by the river or by the sea) helps to rejuvenate energy to cope with the everyday pace of life and troublesome times.

This sailing boat has been created using fabric that is adhered over thin pieces of wood to make the sails. The mast is a rolled up book page and the bottom of the boat is a shape cut out of a book page that have been painted. The words that are adhered on the canvas are "May calm provide strength for stormy seas". All of this is then adhered onto a backgroud that uses various painting techniques. This canvas is part of the chocolate brown and light blue hue range.

Wishing you all smooth sailing!

~ Jen.

Lemon yellow and Aqua blue tiny mixed media canvas

Last Christmas, I decided to treat myself. As I was buying little gifts to fill Christmas stockings, I found these tiny canvases in a shop. I thought that I would buy one and I would figure out what I would create later on. Well, I am glad that I made that purchase as this is the result and it is my favourite canvas to date...

I managed to add splashes of lemon yellow and aqua blue over the tiny canvas. The canvas is just big enough to place a daisy-like flower on the top, painted on a a book page and outlined/detailed with pen. With the combination of yellow and blue and the brightness that it creates, there couldn't be anything but happiness... hence the word 'Happiness'.

The great part about this canvas is that it comes with its own little easel, therefore it can be easily placed on a shelf, desktop, window sill, coffee table, etc. There are a few lovely ladies in my life that a tiny canvas like this would make the perfect gift.

I must admit, there are more of these little canvases on the studio table... I couldn't resist!

This item is currently in store. To view it, please click here.

~ Jen

My new colour combination - Lemon and Blue

(source: http://design-seeds.com/home/entry/lemony-hues)

After spending a glorious time creating items using a red and grey colour combination, I felt it was time to move to another. Looking through pictures of the items that I have created, I realised that I didn't have a lot of yellow based items, hence I have a bit of a hankering for 'yellow'.I spotted this colour combination - lemon yellow and blue/grey hues... warmth and coolness colliding. 

I must admit, I have already started creating a tiny canvas using these colours...

Now to add my feature motif...
 What do these colours remind you of?
I have started a list of items that I link with particular colours. As my feature colour is yellow (with a cool colour background), my ideas for a motif include:

• a duck (for a child's canvas)
• flower
• beach items
• butterfly
• bird

 Now to make a decision...
 I am also looking forward to creating larger canvases and jewellery items with this colour combination.

~Jen.

R is for Radical

I have been enjoying creating canvases and using the grey and red colour combination. This mini monogram canvas is the next item in the grey and red colour scheme...

The background is predominantly grey and built up using mixed media techniques. It also uses a touch of red tulle. The 'R' uses an old book page and is painted bright red. To me, R=Radical, therefore the word 'radical' is added.

Other mini monogram canvases are available in store (click here to check them out).
If you would like a monogram canvas in a particular colour, size or letter, feel free to email me and I will endeavour to help you out (click on 'Contact' at the top of the page).

Thanks for viewing!

Monday in the Making

I had an urge to make something in 'green'. I ended up making another monogram canvas. Here is the result:

I loved using different hues of green, but it also has a tiny bit of orange and grey added to the mix. Once again, this canvas uses decoupage, paint, drawing, fabric and textural techniques in its creation.

It would look lovely on a bedroom door or wall of a 'superhero'. Currently available in store - to check out the details, click here.

Thanks for viewing!

Monday in the making

I have been enjoying making greeting cards using collector cards that have been transformed into mini works of Art. Earlier, I made a batch of cards with a sunset theme, using yellow, orange and red. I enjoyed creating them so much, that I made another batch, this time using a different colour scheme. Here is the result...

These are a couple of examples to show you. I wanted to use purple, so I used hues of this colour, teamed with pastel green and apricot. I love the result and I love their uniqueness. They are currently available in store.

I have also begun a new project. This one is going to be a mini canvas that will display a monogram...

I wanted to use pink and I wanted it to have a feminine feel, without it being to overwhelmingly pink. This photo shows the beginning of the background.

Thanks for viewing!