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!