Banner Day in Blogland!

What an awesome day. I got two awards today and I feel totally honored.

First, Ghostly Diva Gail Lackey whom I admire like crazy, gave me a bop from her cohort Mrs. Pennythistle. Gail makes the most amazing dolls so be sure to check her out! As for Miss Pennythistle...be careful she's crafty and not in the Martha Stewart kind of way....just a warning. ;o)

And now I just got a very cool Marie Antoinette - A Real Person, A Real Award from Tashai at her blog named Ultraviolet Wind. Her work is freakin' amazing and I adore it and her and her blog! Check her out and thank you so much Tashai!

You both have made my day!

Now for the rules of the Marie Antoinette award

Here are the Rules for the Award:
1. Please put the logo on your blog
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them


So here are my nominations for the Marie Antoinette award:
1. Chasing the Pesticide Truck (I freaking love that title, cracks me up every time and her work does too, skill and fun - love it!)
2. Bonehead Studios (Flora is an amazing sculptor!)
3. Fractured Fairytales (Rosanna makes fabulous dolls with amazing skill)
4. La La La Illustrations (Leanne, you are one of my favorite people with AMAZING skill)
5. Raising Creative Kids (Jen, keep up the great work because little artists become big ones one day!)
6. My Sweet Imaginations (anyone who creates work this sweet deserves an award!)
7. Gail Lackey - (Ghosties, Fairies and Magical Things) I had to give you an award back because not only are you so much fun but your skill is phenomenal. ;o)

Thank you all for your inspiration! :o)

Finally Jane

Ok, ok , you all can stop giving me a hard time now...Jane is finished. ;o) I broke down and bought a new tool and worked her over a lot. For me, painting is the hardest part and I still don't have it down to where I want it yet. Also, next to painting, sculptures are so hard to photograph as they look soooooo much better in person! That is what I love about sculpture, it demands to be viewed in person, that it really should be viewed in the round. I'll do a video again soon but not today. I would say that the ones of her on the bookcase are the closest to what her true color is.

So also, how funny is the photo of her backside. I didn't realize that Earl Grey was staring at her bum! he he I really like her on the bookcase but it is just so hard to convey how dark she actually is. Probably time for a new camera.

Here is my next painting project. Haven't figured out what to name him yet. That is unusual for me because normally the names come to me fast. Maybe I will name him when he is done or get all of your opinions. They look soooooo different once they are painted. Could be an Edward. What do you think?



One more thing...thank you thank you thank you for ALL of your fabulous comments. You are the best!

The evolution of Jane

So my sculpt has changed yet again. Of course she needs major refinement but I'm always into seeing other artists works in progress so here is mine.

My frustration is that I can't for the life of me find my favorite sculpting tool!!!! Where it walked off to I don't know...could be my children, or the goblins (oh wait...those are the same! LOL) I would go out to buy a new one right now but my car is in the shop! Oh well, c'est la vie. I can't go any further without my tool. :o(

Happy Anniversary Dan!

Hi Baby...I know you secretly check out my blog so I thought that I would say Happy Anniversary!

Nine years ago today I vowed to love, honor and cherish you. Nine years later, three fantastic kids and no money to show for it ;o)...I still love you more than I could ever put into words.

I love you!
xoxo
Amy

Rocks and sculpts

Here is the smiley, winking stone we found on the beach in Suffolk. I could have stayed on those beaches for hours looking at rocks. I wish I could have come home with a ton so I could pebble mosaic my back patio but alas (back of hand on forehead) the airplane wouldn't have liked that so here is my little bit of beach. It now lives on my kitchen windowsill.

Also, a few of you have asked for some works in progress photos, so here is one with a few in them. They are all about 80% complete. The woman with attitude fell off the table and now I have to resculpt her hair but otherwise I hope to be completing them this week sometime. Oh except for the head because I think that I am going to make a cloth body for that one. I'll keep you posted.

A lot in common

Every once in a while I like to tell you some of my fun short conversations with my children. Here is one of the latest. A conversation with my 6 year old son Max dressed in his Indiana Jones hat, etc.

Max: Mom, you know, you and I have a lot in common.

Me: Really? Like what?

Max: We both really like Harrison Ford.

Me: You are certainly right about that! (yummy!)

Some old sculpts

Life is a bit crazy at the moment with getting the boys to school so I am trying to settle into a routine. It is taking longer than expected. I have 3 sculpts that I am working on at the moment but while going through some jpegs on my computer I found some photos of some sculptures that I did a while back. One lives in a fabulous woman's home but the other has a broken neck...live and learn...make sure those necks aren't too thin, no matter what your style! LOL

Here's the one who's neck broke. My little French guy.

Back from England!!

We are back from our MONTH in England and we had a fabulous time!! We visited our family, went to castles, explored the coast, made sand castles, went crabbing, went to London, hung with royalty and ate, ate and ate, etc. It was soooo much fun and never in my life did I think that I would be so exhausted from having so much fun.

Some of the highlights of our trip included the boys going to Knight School at Framlingham Castle where they learned to joust and sword fight. Our youngest, Ben was so hilarious in that he participated without any fear and actually kept fighting the knight on his side! Here is a photo of that:


We also went to a few more castles. Here is an amazing one of a really well preserved castle keep. It is called Orford Castle:


We went to many a beach since we were very close to the coast. Here was a rocky beach and the rocks were soooo cool and colorful that I actually came home with a heavy bag since the boys kept putting the ones they liked into the bag.

We visited London and went to the Tower of London and here is the guard, guarding the crown jewels:


Near where my husband grew up is a very cool old water tower referred to as the House in the Clouds. I LOVE this. It is crazy cool in person and for as nice as this photo is it just doesn't do it justice.

And finally, it wouldn't be a trip to England without a visit from royalty. Yes we saw Prince Charles and Camilla. If you don't want to believe me...here is proof!! I have more too. I could have reached out and touched him!

And this is how we felt by the end. LOL...


All in all, there is so much to say and I was so inspired by the art around me including the churches that I will have to slowly show you things as they come up. After all I don't want to bore you with the 1000+ photos that we took! I have discovered that I am obsessed with old doors, windows, angels and of course I always knew I was crazy for sculpture!

Alas (back of hand on forhead), we did not see Johnny Depp though we were told that he moved near by. Oh well! Probably just as well because I probably would have fainted if I saw him! ha ha

More soon!

A wonderful day in webland!!

First, I made my first treasury in Etsy! Thank you so much LindaG !! What a fabulous treasury filled with ballerina's. I am very honored. :o)

To see Linda's treasury click here.

Then I got an award from one of my fav blogger friends Vickie. Go see her blog, she is an amazing artist! Thank you so much...it's my first award! I'd like to thank my mother for having me and my children for their support and my husband for being a great kisser... lol you get the idea!

I would like to award the following bloggers:
1. Diane
2. Anna
You poor thing hurting your neck. I tried to leave you a comment on your blog but it isn't working so hopefully you will stop by mine and see that I have given you this award. Well deserved! Hope you feel better soon.
3. LeAnne
4. Lisa
5. Lorajean
6. Rima
7. Tiffany

The rules of accepting the award are as follows:

1) Put the logo on your blog.

2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4) Add links to those blogs on yours.

5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Also, just so you know my shop will be closed until the 20th of August. I'm off on vacation and will fill you in upon my blog return.

TTFN!

What a weekend

Here are some photos from our hectic weekend. We had lots of fun with friends for a bbq and then tons of outdoor play in the heat!! (between rain and thunder storms and rain...oh did I mention rain?) All in all we had so much fun that we are pooped out. Here are some photos of the boys. Grandma, thanks for the t-shirts...they had to wear them on the 4th of course due to the flags! :o)

Another day in a hectic life!

I know it has been a while and I apologize. No excuses, just life in general. I have a few sculpts in the works and am starting on an illustration series. When I say starting, I mean just today! LOL My eldest son just finished kindergarten...eeeeek! My middle son is who I call "The Instigator" and my youngest is just blossoming into a big boy right before our eyes. All in all they are a great time but it seems like I blink and the time has gone by!

I thought that I would post a custom work I did for one of my best friends. This is her daughter Katie, who...let's face it, is one of the cutest girls on the planet! I couldn't help but draw her and I'm not too thrilled how it turned out so I think at some point I will be drawing her again but for the moment this is what I have. My friend says she is happy with it and that means a lot to me seeing as I think she would be the type to tell me if she thought it was crap! LOL

I am my worst critic but I also KNOW when I can do better.

OK...TTFN! More soon. :o)

The Tortoise and the Hare

I am so thrilled to announce that I will now be offering limited edition giclee canvas prints of my work. I can do them in glossy or matte finishes, though knowing me I will be offering other kinds soon! I just put my first one up in my shop.

Here is an example of what it looks like framed.

Here is what it looks like minus frame.

Sidewalk chalk

It's that time of year when the chalk comes out in our driveway. Here is my latest illustration. I will be off to the printers next week! :o)

End of an era and a big boy's birthday!

It is the end of an era (sniff sniff) no more crib! We said goodbye to it this week since my 2 yr old decided to pull a Nadia Comaneci and jump out of his crib with a big 'ta da'!! I love this crib and all boys used it so we took a photo before we dismantled it.

It was also my son's 6th birthday and what a day we had! It was filled with Star Wars and birthday cake and he had so much fun he said, "Mom, this is the best birthday ever!" All in all a great day!

Dahhhhling sculpture

Here she is:

I can't think of a name for her but I always think that she looks as if she is saying "dahhhhling".

Oh and she, along with my girl below WILL be going on etsy by the end of this week. I just have to get some felt for the bottom of both sculptures.

Creative block!

Arrrggghhh! I have about 15 sketches and 3 sculpts, and a painting started yet nothing to show for it. I have hated everything that I started so hence...not finished or completely ripped up and started again. I am finally working on something that I think that I might actually finish. So frustrating!

Also, it was my 10th annual 29th birthday LOL and my mother sent me this cool card by artist June Silberman of Ithaca, New York (very cool Mom, thanks!):

The coolest thing that happened this past week was my girlfriend Ellen showed up at my door from Florida and COMPLETELY surprised me for my birthday! I have never had one pulled over on me and both my best bud and my husband totally got me. It was soooo great! We had a great time! I think that has helped me get out of my slump. Phew...I feel all inspired again!

Finished goth sculpt

Here is my latest sculpt. I am pleased with how she came out because believe it or not she was a bit difficult to sculpt because she is smaller in size than my usual...therefore her face is littler. She is 9" tall. She is also quite difficult to photograph and it is hard to tell but she is actually more purple than blue. Yes, I have a purple kitchen in my house, it isn't just bad photography! ha ha

So here are a few pictures. I will be posting her on etsy within a few days too.

Also here is my attempt for you to see her in the round as sculpture should be viewed. My son helped me spin her but it is impossible to get no sound and I am not one of those people who knows how to add music and stuff. Anyhoo, mute the volume and it won't be so bad. ;o)

My shop is open for business!

I am so excited...my prints are back from the printer and I have now listed some of my work on etsy.com! You can find them right here, listed below, or on a regular day, on the side bar of my blog. You can also find them on my website: www.amyshortart.com

Currently there are few prints but I am working on some sculptures that I hope to have listed by the end of the week.

Feel free to pass this information on to ALL of your friends and family!! :o)

My new illustration

Here is the latest finished illustration.

I am working on some sculptures and hope to post something 3D next but they take much longer to complete. I am also getting prints done. amazing how much time I don't have!! ;o)

Crazy yet fabulous weekend

I haven't posted this past week because my brother-in-law, Aaron, was visiting from London. We had a blast! He came for Ben's birthday...can't believe that he is 2 already! Our baby's birthday started with him going to the doctor's and finding out he has a double ear infection and while we were there he tripped over his brother's foot and landed face first into a cabinet! Got a lovely gash on the side of his head that almost needed stitches. Luckily we got the bleeding under control and held the slit together with tape. Poor kid, although he is so lovely you would never know that he was ill or cut.

Anyway, we went to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History on Saturday to see the dinosaurs. I have begun to really love dinosaurs. Never did I think that would happen but I guess that is what happens when you have 3 boys. So here are some funny photos that we took while we were there.

Max, Aaron and Ben acting afraid of the bear:

Then...heavy sigh...why is it so hard to get a good photo of 3 boys (click on the photo to see that the dinosaur behind Remy posed better than he did! LOL)...here is one of the attempts:

I will be posting my new finished illustration tomorrow. Just have bit left to do on it...stay tuned!

Baby Elephant?!?!

I just had to tell you what my 3 year old son said to me today. It went kind of like this:

Remy: "Mom, I want you to grow a new baby in your belly."
Me: "Really?"
Remy: "Yes."
Me: "Do you want a new brother or sister?"
Remy: "No mom, I don't want a baby brother or sister...I want a baby elephant!"

Huh-larious! :o)

New girl

I used to want my ears pierced so badly that I would hang things from my ears to make them like earrings. I finally bugged my mother so much she gave in. :o) Eventually, I had many holes in my ears.

A sculpture

This is a sculpture that I did for one of my dearest friends, Patty, who is also a sculptor. She practically always has a bird on her head when I visit. :o) I made it for her a while back but found the photo so I thought I would post it. Although this sculpt was inspired by Patty it is interesting to me that though I don't own any birds they often find their way into my work...just something about them I guess. Anyhoo...enjoy!

Also, if you want to check out Patty's shop it's www.worksbypatricia.etsy.com

Friends in high places

Here is the latest illustration. I am getting frustrated lately...mostly I find it good that my finished piece doesn't look like how I pictured in my head but this monster bummed me out a bit. He was so much cooler in my head. Oh well, what can you do but move onto the next and hope that it turns out better. I used to have the mentality of not finishing things that weren't "perfect"...yeah, I'm over that now. LOL

So here he is:



and the closeup: