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Artistic Perseverance - Don't Give Up!

11/26/2014

As a budding artist, I find that I have a hard time telling myself to sit still and make something. Oh sure, the ideas are there. The materials are there. The motivation is there. However, I find it difficult to begin a piece of art for fear of failing at creating a finished project that others may not view as being 'artistic'. The old phrase "you never know until you try" keeps running through my head. Hopefully it will stick!

There must be many more artists out there that feel the same way.
Are you one of them?

In order to battle that feeling of hopelessness, I began searching for uplifting and motivating images or quotes that can help beat that mood down.
These are some of my personal favorites...

THIS!!

You know it's been a great day when at the end,
you have dirty hands, dirty brushes,
and something inspired in front of you.

Wonderful words to take to heart...

Beautiful.

Be courageous.

And always remember...

These photos make me happy, and I hope that they make you happy.
Always be artistically courageous!

Beth L. 11.26.14

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"Dear Miss Gray..." Deer Locket Shadowbox Assemblage Art

11/24/2014

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This original piece of artwork took very little time to assemble and I love the way it turned out! I call this piece "Dear Miss Gray." The colors are so elegant and pretty for display. Here's a little information and 'behind the scenes' on its creation. Please visit the bottom to see the finished design photos.

I gathered my materials that I thought that I would be able to use.
They include:
An old distressed shadowbox-like frame
Some different patterned origami paper for a background
An old locket found in a jewelry junk drawer at a shop
An old vintage postcard of a deer
Some collected moss from around my area in Massachusetts (dried of course!)
A few old postage stamps
A page torn from a small old book about how to write letters
A handy, dandy hot glue gun

When I opened the locket, I realized that there were oval plastic pieces inside to preserve photos. How perfect! I used these ovals to trace out the perfect size to lay both the image of the deer head from the postcard as well as a specifically chosen page from the Letters book (because it addressed "Dear" Miss Gray over and over - perfect! Dear & Deer... couldn't be better!

I began to glue the pieces together. There was a pretty purple designed background origami paper that I used for the background. It contrasted nicely with the gold and neutral tones of the locket. I contemplated removing the chain from the locket, but the overall effect of leaving it spilling down the side and inside the frame looked wonderful.

As a final touch, I added a thin layer of dried moss in the bottom and a few vintage postage stamps to give this art piece a little more color. I then cleaned up the glass on the frame and assembled it all together, finishing it off by attaching a piece of neutral lace ribbon to the top to hide the seam where the back of the frame was glued on.

'Dear Miss Gray' - Finished and Lovely!

I am completely in love with this new design. It is very beautiful and the shadowbox frame is deep enough to stand on its own on a table for display!

So thrilled to begin this artistic journey and pleased to share my work with others.
Comments and emails are encouraged.

Thank you for stopping by 703designs!

Happy Crafting!

Beth Lippmann 11.24.14

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Snow.

11/21/2014

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Workspace.
Was originally going to write the letters S, N, O, W in vintage buttons.
Decided against it later on.

Winter is creeping closer. The bite of the air catches in my chest and casts my breath away.
A giant lake-effect snowstorm barreled through parts of New York this week and was all over the news. Everyone is wondering "Is this year going to be a freakishly harsh winter?"

I've been thinking of snow a lot. Like any other Massachusetts native, I long for the first falls of snow, and then wholeheartedly curse it come February.

A friend and I have decided to begin 'girls' crafting night' and we met up at her place last night for our maiden meet.
We decided to make cheerful holiday/seasonal door hangings instead of wreaths.

Supplies I Used for 'Snow' Owl Door Hanger:
Thin Birch slices (approximately 3" wide), with one tiny hole drilled near the top of each
Chalkboard Paint, 'Vanilla' Acrylic Paint for letters
Hot Glue-gun/glue
Various Mixed Media: Feathers, Odd bits of paper with old maps and script, remnants of an old sweater, loosely woven burlap ribbon, small brown leather scraps, vintage jingle bells, thin leather twine and a long shimmery gold translucent ribbon.

It was a good feeling to craft with someone who also has a passion for creating things.
We hope to get more ladies together for these nights.

Finished!

A detail image of the owl at the top of the door hanger.

I could not wait to come home to replace the Halloween wreath on the apartment door!

To celebrate the coming winter, I want to share a word from one of my favorite poets:

Emily Dickinson, The Snow
It sifts from leaden sieves,
It powders all the wood,
It fills with alabaster wool
The wrinkles of the road.

It makes an even face
Of mountain and of plain, --
Unbroken forehead from the east
Unto the east again.

It reaches to the fence,
It wraps it, rail by rail,
Till it is lost in fleeces;
It flings a crystal veil

On stump and stack and stem, --
The summer's empty room,
Acres of seams where harvests were,
Recordless, but for them.

It ruffles wrists of posts,
As ankles of a queen, --
Then stills its artisans like ghosts,
Denying they have been.

Owls in Snow.
ohbythewayblog.blogspot.com

Thank you for visiting. Please stop by again! Feel free to leave comments or thoughts - they are most welcome!
Happy Holidays to all this winter season. Stay warm!

Happy Crafting,

Beth Lippmann 11.21.14

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"When things slow down..."

11/18/2014

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You have the crafting itch. Everything you see - you want to make something of it.
This is how I feel all of the time.

I keep my eyes peeled while driving during warmer months hoping to score a freebie item from the side of the road to use for art. Running late for work last month, I cruised past a beautiful carved mirror that usually swings on hinges from a bedroom dresser. When I drove by later that day, it was gone.

Creating artwork is a passion of mine. My heart gets squeezed a little bit when I get a good idea of something to make. I love sitting on the couch unraveling old sweaters for their yarn into balls or cutting old necklaces found in junk drawers at flea markets for their funny shaped beads. I found a necklace recently that had large metal beads that look like owl eyes. Those eyes will stare unblinkingly from some sort of art creation; soon.

A quick story: One day I bought a new pillow and had it sitting next to our bed. My husband greets me after work saying, "I changed the bed linens, threw out your old pillow and put your new one on for you." I looked at him and said "Thanks! But... the pillow was for an art project! I was going to cut it and use the stuffing!" He just laughed and shook his head.

So many times when I talk about making art I hear myself saying I'm going to make this "when things slow down..."

I've come to the realization that Life will not slow down. You need to take the time you need for what you are passionate about and just run with it. Never put off something you want to do. Months fly by and I'm always making excuses "The apartment is too small. I'm too tired. I have homework. The house is dirty. I'll do it later." Making excuses doesn't make the magic happen. Just go for it.

Beth Lippmann 11.18.14

barn owl textile art willowynn shop at www.etsy.com

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Artistic Perseverance - Don't Give Up!

"Dear Miss Gray..." Deer Locket Shadowbox Assemblage Art

Snow.

"When things slow down..."

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