She Brews

My Wish List.....

I have a birthday in March, so I am starting my wish list.......I saw these on etsy and just loved them. I love the style and colors, and of course, the stories and illustrations. If I don't manage to get them for my birthday, they will be my next big splurge.

This Little Piggy.......

This is another watercolor page from the Alice illustrations I did today. It's always intimidating to draw in her face because you only get one chance. If I don't do it good, its a throw away....I hate those.....

Unfortunately my printer scanner needs a new color cartrige so it won't work without it. It won't even scan---I consider that a flaw. If I was writing it a review, that is one of the things I would complain about. So, I had to resort to taking pictures of the work, which is not nearly as good.

I'm late, I'm late......I'm late. This one doesn't have a wide color range--I think I prefer the reds of his heart coat after he sees the Queen......

I will be putting these in my  etsy  store after I get good scans of them. I will offer the original and the prints. I am going to try to put some new stuff in the store these next two weeks. My new store, Shebrews Attic has really been doing well---I am excited about that.

Let Me Illustrate.........

I need to work on getting  things in my Etsy shop and so, since the Alice stuff is so popular, I have been working on some more illustrations. I have this book that is completely falling apart, so I have been using the pages as my canvas. My illustrations are not original designs,  I use the old familiar illustrations, but I do them myself-----sort of an artist's "cover".......thinking of those singing other's songs........

I forgot to take a picture before I did the drawing---that would have been interesting.

I already started the drawing and watercolor, but you can see the process a little, anyway.

I put them on red fabric. When I etsy them, then you will see the background. I forgot to photograph them for this post.

This one I added so much, I wish I would have photographed the page when it was just words. This was actually a lot of fun to do.

So, there you go. I plan to do a lot more painting this winter. I have canvas's ready to go. I took Paulette Insall's online class for some collage ideas, so I want to incorporate it all. It should be an interesting off-season.

Mad Hatteur Checks In.......

Who Stole the Tarts?

Yesterday, after doing some organizing in the studio, I dug out some pages to watercolor illustrations.  These are smaller pages than the ones I did before. It's actually from a purchase I made on Etsy of random Alice pages. I did not know what I would be receiving, and most of them already had illustrations on them......

Last time I used acrylic paints, but I did watercolor this time, so there is a transparency quality. Afterwards, I put borders around them with fabric, but I can't decide if I like it or not. Can you give me an opinion? I will show you both ways....

Also, if I put them on etsy, should I offer them framed? I sort of like the look without the border in the frame.........opinions, please....thanks.

Etsy in Wonderland

I made the treasury again! I don't know if that helps sales, but it's fun to be included in some of these shows! I can't wait until I can spend some quality time on Etsy. I have plans, but my road shows keep me from computer work quite a bit. I have all I can do to blog!

I tried to copy and paste the page, but I couldn't figure it out, so I had to photograph the computer...lol. This is where I need my friend, Jay. He figured out why my printer wouldn't print the black ink. He left a message at Kodak and I had a new printer head the very next day!!!! Plus new ink cartridges and photo paper for free! WOW. If you have trouble with your Kodak printer, this is probably what it is.....

Oh My Fur and Whiskers!

I am bad, I know, but I don't have anything to blog today. I was swamped all week and things came up I didn't expect. Now, I am playing 'catch up'. I managed my new post over at Feeling Stitchy, though, so go check it out.
Now, I must get back to work.......I will let you know how the weekend went on Monday. I have two shows back to back, check my show schedule on the side bar. Have a good weekend, everyone!!!

A Very Merry Unbirthday to You!

My latest Alice in Wonderland collage. I was pulling out work that I started and didn't finish and two Alice pieces developed. I liked that I worked on the Mad Hatter because today is my Birthday! I could hear Mad Hatter singing "A very merry unbirthday to you---to you!"

I was introduced to the Mad Hatter in eighth grade by my English teacher. She drew me a handmade birthday card of the Mad Hatter's tea party. I searched high and low for it, so I could show it to you, but I can't seem to figure out where it is.......



These are a little different from my other Alice pieces, but I like that. It started something, I think, and I should be able to work for awhile now.

My camera batteries are dead right now and I don't have a charger, so I haven't been able to take pictures. I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers   which I would love to show you, from my "future" daughter-in-law,  but I have to tell you---it made some points.....*giggle*

I signed up for an on-line painting class, I blogged about it at my blogger blog , so I won't do it again, but hop over there and check it out. It doesn't start until May, but I am geared up for it! There are a few more openings, if you follow the links.

Queens Never Make Bargains.....

I will be putting new Alice in Wonderland originals and prints on Etsy today.  I also plan on putting on some bargains in the next week or two as I am going to clean out some of my scrapbooking stash.  I just can't seem to use ready made embellishments.....they feel too commercial for me.  They are often so ingenious and interesting that I succomb to buying them, but when it gets down to actually using them in my things, it feels artificial.  That said, (I know good selling points, right?), well, I am hoping that someone does not feel the same as I do and will think they just got lucky.

I am talking about papers, all textures, like mulberry and hand-french marbled, and stickers, and things. I see people doing this on Etsy all the time, so instead of ebay, I am going for the peeps at Etsy.



I hadn't decided on a border yet with the ones I posted the other day, but I discovered this brilliant Robert Kauffman fabric in my stash and I loved the playfulness of it, dizziness that you get reading Alice in Wonderland.  It seems to fit.



"No, no! Sentence first and then the verdict" the Queen yells out....Ha! How often have we run into that in life! The poor guys in charge of red roses have been caught painting them red-----and each other.....I should probably read Alice in Wonderland straight through. My youngest son, who is 24 loves Lewis Carroll and tells me things about his writing all the time. I collect Alice stuff



mostly for him. I had some problems with this post, so I am hoping it publishes in order and correctly....if not, you have been forewarned......

So, these are my two latest Alice pictures. Don't forget, although the Queen never makes Bargains---I am about to change that in my Etsy.

Also, Strong-toe tells me that she can't see my banner, if that is true for you, will you leave a comment and tell me so I can fix it? I can see it on both of my computers, so I am not sure why she can't see it. Thanks.*

Alice in Wonderland Vintage Pages

I have an Alice in Wonderland book that is in sad repair, the binding is broken and the book itself I don't think can  be saved. I plan on making a notebook out of the covers and illustrations, but there are plenty of pages that I can make into artwork.



I like using pages as my palette. I use acrylic paints without first priming the paper with gesso, as I used to. I like the transparency that sometimes happens with acrylics, if you water it down, it can act like a watercolor, but have more stability. Fortunately, the paper from the pages is heavier than some, and can take the paint well.



I pulled pages that had no illustrations on them, on either side. I want to save the illustrations for when I bind the book together later. When I get that done, I will show you that. I have to send it to my friend to get it done. He adds extra blank pages for making them into sketch books or notebooks.





I purchased this book already made. He left some original illustrations in and throughout the book. Now, when I have a favorite book that is falling apart, I can at least save the covers to keep for journaling and sketching. It's a great inspirational book. Anyway, now I have discovered what I can do with the pages that I don't keep in the book.......acrylic illustrations.



Now I am thinking about what I want to do further. I am laying in bed not sleeping about this.......yes, that is what I do. I have in mind, fabric, or collaging, but, just how extensive do I want to get? They are approximately 7" X 9" right now. Do I want to make them much bigger? Can I sell them as is? Do they need colorful borders? That is my wrestle right now. I will sit on it awhile longer as I make more. What do you think?

Winter speaks

Winter came last nite, and it was much prettier coming down, but my camera wouldn't take any pictures in that darkness. I hurried out this morning hoping it wouldn't be too messed with, but, alas, too late. Anyway, you get the idea.

They aren't really pretty pictures, but it is Thanksgiving and I wanted to post something. The next pictures are of me taking fresh water to the birds----Strongtoe called me at 7:15 am to remind me to do this.

Here is the evidence, dear Strongtoe---my little pitter patter and the juicy bowl of water on top of the frozen bird bath............

Here is the latest Alice in Wonderland book I found. I found it at Goodwill yesterday. It is delightfully illustrated in the Quentin Blake/Roald Dahl style, by an artist named Tony Ross, who also abridged the edition. I really enjoyed his take on the whole story. The illustrations are really fun!

Okay. Back to the turkey day---although, I am making ham. Have a great Thanksgiving day---even you Canadians who celebrated in October! (I know this because I was reminded by my Canadian friend at coffee this week).