Babbling...

So clocks spring forward and the weather goes to winter? I'm confused. I had a few days of flip flops then back to long underwear and snow boots! Crazy Maryland Weather.

I had bought this top but was afraid to wear it thinking it would jinx our nice weather. Then bam we get snow so I pulled out the snow shirt.  The snow turned to freezing rain and ice and the neighbors tree decided to lean over towards our shed. Now I'm just waiting and wondering if I'll be getting a new shed out of the deal. LOL

Well Saturday, March 18, 9 - 3 pm, is the Glen Burnie High School Craft show and I'm hoping that this snow and ice is gone by then. There's nothing worse than loading and unloading fragile porcelain in ice. I am really nervous about it. Drop by if you aren't doing anything and visit us. We are in the cafeteria in our usual spot. There will be eggs and bunnies (of course), nightlights, alcohol ink art, porcelain, hand painted wine glasses, decorative painting on wood...you name it we will have it. It always amazes me how much Patricia and I can get into that little space.

I  put some spring listings on Etsy....Here's one. Lots of eggs for you collectors.

This egg is a pale blue bisc with enamel scroll work...it's so soft and pretty...here's the link to the listing on Etsy.

Something to Crow About

...a cup of tea with this cute little hand painted porcelain Rooster Tea Caddy. Available on Etsy.

Available on Etsy

 For hand painted china, decorative painting & fine art, visit my shop JYWheeler on Etsy. The large 3.5 inch porcelain egg pictured below is china painted and kiln fired with stand. Click the photo to take you to the listing.

Punky & Funky

I love this crazy steam punk vase.  I painted it and then applied a green luster around the gear & along the edge. This photo doesn't do it justice. I love the look of the lusters in general. 

It's not my usual style. I really liked it but apparently others didn't. I have painted other steam punk porcelain pieces which sold immediately. Not this piece. 

So I'm taking a chance and reinventing it. Sometimes things just need a little touch of something different.  I've wired it with various pieces of metal hardware giving it more of an industrial look. We will see how it goes. What do you think? Even if you aren't a steam punk fan. Hardware or no hardware?

It's even funkier looking and I still like it. I'm thinking I need to sell this so I am not tempted to change my cottage style over to steam punk. My kids will think I am suffering from mid life crisis if I do that! LOL

Here's the  link on Etsy if you like it. LINK TO VASE

Tea Anyone?

So I've had some pieces waiting to go on to Etsy for a little while now. Well last night I got the listing bug. Here's 2 of them related to tea.  They are also related in that they both have yellow roses. Yellow Roses were my Mom's favorite rose. She passed away 1 1/2 years ago. So here you go Mom...yellow roses...thinking of you today.

The one to the left is a miniature teapot box. Inside is a tiny porcelain yellow rose.

Here's the link to it:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/198538614/hand-painted-porcelain-mini-tea-pot?


The one to the right is a small teapot. It is useable as it will hold enough tea for one cup.
This is microwaveable. You could put it in the dishwasher but I think I would handwash it so the ends of the roses and the leaves don't get chipped.

Here's the link to the listing:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/198554664/hand-painted-porcelain-small-tea-pot?

Here we go again....

snow....I'm praying that this snow will some how just miss us. But I have a feeling that we will be hit pretty good.

Everyone says how pretty the snow is..sure if you just sit and look at it.  But all I can think about is worrying about my kids going to work in it and then clearing the sidewalks and driving in it. 

Not to mention my poor pooch who will have to try to find a place to potty.  Luigi is a cockapoo and has short legs so  I generally have to dig out a little path to a potty spot. 

But he doesn't mind the snow. That crazy ball of fur likes to try to snap at it as it falls. 

Well I guess for now, I'll just sit and watch it fall with my cup of coffee in hand and just hope for the best. 

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The praying angel pictured is available in my Etsy shop. Here's the link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/168269711/porcelain-prayer-angel?ref=shop_home_active_9

Winter's Coming...Fall is Here!

Well it's Fall. It feels like it here. For a long while it was an extended summer which was okay by me but it didn't make me want to get my butt in gear for the craft shows and events.  I did manage to come through as I generally do.

There will be new porcelain and lots of new decorative painted items. Like this cute little nutcracker snowman ornament.  I've also made more jewelry, cards and painted 6 canvas Christmas stockings to just name a few things.

My crafty friends have worked hard on having an incredible variety for this season. I'm excited to go just as a shopper! I plan to starting my Christmas shopping there.

So drop by for the craft show this coming weekend. Here's the flyer!

I would love to see you there.....oh and my Etsy team is hosting their Winter's Coming Celebration.  If you are in love with Prim or Cottage, you really need to check out my team.

It's called Old Farmhouse Gathering Team. Search everyday for OFG Team on Etsy. But if you want to see some awesome crafts just for the winter season, search on Monday for WCCOFG on Etsy.  I had the pleasure of checking out the new items when I uploaded my photos. There are some beautiful pieces on there and I plan to do some Christmas shopping here too!

What Did I Get Myself Into?

Ya'll know how I love to paint. I am a pretty prolific painter and I always see things and think I want to paint that.

Years ago (must have been at least 15 or so) I saw a painting of the Holy Family in a china painting magazine and tore it out. I have had it for years thinking one day I'm going to paint that.  Well the day has come. LOL.

I'm not crazy about portrait painting...skin tones, etc. Oh and how I hate clothing folds...I struggle with it but it's like landscapes I hate to paint them and I think I suck at it but I make myself do it. You can't  paint all the cutesy stuff  forever and you can't grow as an artist if you don't push yourself.

Soon after I started it, I could see that this piece was going to take many paintings and kiln fires. The whole time I'm praying to the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph & Infant Jesus! I need big time help!

 In this photo I was just starting the 2nd fire (painting) process.  I was working in the face area (where the colors were being darkened). You can see the rest of the plate is very light, that was the first fire area.  Yesterday I  finished working on the 2nd fire painting and it's in the kiln now. It looks much better. Things are more defined and taking shape, however, it's got a very long way to go and the background....well to get the depth of color I want...more fires. When I get it out of the kiln I'll take another photo of it...so stay tuned folks.

Pet Portraits

So lately it seems that I have become a pet portrait artist! LOL I have done a few in the past in watercolor and on porcelain but lately I've had a run of commission work.....so check out a few.

This one was done for someone who didn't have a King Charles Spaniel but liked them...I found a photograph of one of these animals online and used it for my study

.This one was done for a friend who's dog had to be put to sleep. She had his ashes in a box and wanted to have his portrait to be mounted on it. I also did one for my cousin. She wanted her cat's portrait put on a porcelain urn into which she wanted to put his ashes. Sure enough I found a porcelain urn and painted it for her but I don't have a photo of that one.

Then just a couple of weeks ago someone wanted me to do a plate of their son's girlfriend's cat. The photo was not very sharp. It was a bit blurred but I did the best I could with it. She seemed to like it alot. So much so that she has asked me to do another one of her cat. So I'm guessing that I will be doing more pet portraits. :)

Happy Paint Party Friday.  For more Paint Party Features visit: http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/ 

And the WINNER is.....

.....ready to be announced! LOL  Well today is the day when I give away the hand painted porcelain place card holders! It's just in time for those upcoming Christmas or New Year's Day dinners!

This morning I didn't have anyone to draw it for me so I used a random number generator on random.org  So by now you are saying, "Joann, hush up and tell us who it is."  Okay, okay...so the winner is: Liz of Seattle Washington.  Her blog profile says she has a love for fashion, makeup, and fabulous eats. Her blog is:  http://crystal-lized.blogspot.com/

You should check it out. Her last blog post was on Lady Gaga Barbi's....you gotta see her creations! LOL Congratulations Liz.

I love doing these blog catalog's I meet the most interesting people. So you are wondering, "Joann, when's the next porcelain art give away?" Okay, okay....it's February 1. Something of the heart...that's the only clue you get!

But while you are waiting drop by my Etsy shop! Http://jywheeler.etsy.com

What a couple of days!

Well what a couple of days. I went to VA Beach but before I left my kiln malfunctioned and didn't shut off. It fired so hot it burned through the fire brick. Something woke me up at 5 am. I went into the garage and everything was hot to the touch... It's a wonder my house didn't ignite. I threw open the garage door & manually shut off the kiln.  Later I went out to buy a new kiln. When I came home I thought I'd try to salvage some of the porcelain but most of it was fired so hot it stuck to the kiln & kiln furniture.

That is with 2 exceptions... .2 cross "rosary" boxes similiar to the one pictured which I had painted the Blessed Mother on!  All the other china paints were fired completely out of the other porcelain but these 2 pieces had the faint image of Mary on them.  I personally believe that she protected me & my house. My bedroom sits right over the garage.  She woke me I'm sure.  I store gasoline, paints, denatured alcohol  & other flammable chemicals in the garage and nothing ignited!

Well then in trying to save the china, I cut my hand...with only 3 hours before I left for Virginia Beach. It wouldn't stop bleeding so I went to the Urgent Care and they put 2 stitches in my left index finger.  I'm left handed! And then they gave me a tetanus shot. So for the weekend with my cousins I had a sore finger, sore arm and then from the reaction to the shot had flu like symptoms, a headache and couldn't stay awake!  We went to Mass Sunday before we left and I was getting sick in Mass & even started having a panic attack. My daughter drove home because I was so drowsy.  What a weekend!

Today I feel much better but it's so hard to type. It takes me forever. Now I have a new kiln and I'm $1500 in the hole. I have to do a hot fire to cure it and I'm a little bit nervous .  It is programmable so it will be safer than the old 25 year old kiln. But I'm still nervous.

Chocolate Quesidilla Yumm

I'm not such a good cook so I'm always looking for recipes that are easy like no cook or minimum ingredients or just plan simple. Of course I just LOVE chocolate and I came across this cook recipe.

It would look great cut up in pieces and served on my tidbit tray available on Etsy. The tray is handpainted kiln fired porcelain so it's dishwasher safe & microwave safe. I would however take off the handle which just screws in before microwaving or putting in the dishwasher. Anyway if you are interested in the tray just click the picture and it willl take you to the link.

Chocolate Quesadilla

July 28, 2007 by Tracie on http://icrochet.wordpress.com

This recipe serves one, but make several if you want to share with others.

1 – fajita-size flour tortilla, either wheat or white
1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
sugar & ground cinnamon, mixed
powdered sugar

To cook, place the tortilla on a flat skillet sprayed lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Leave just long enough to get warm, then flip over. On one half of the tortilla, pour the chocolate chips (add more if you want more–there’s no such thing as too much chocolate!), and sprinkle with a good heaping of sugar and cinnamon to your own liking. Fold over the empty half of the tortilla, press with a spatula, then flip and press again. Remove from heat when the chips are melted. Cut into four triangles, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and enjoy!

Christmas in July

It's only 6 months away and I don't know about you but I start early with my Christmas shopping. Primarily because I hate going to the malls when it's so crowded but also because the later you wait the more things are picked over and you don't get exactly what you want. All the good stuff is gone early. 

Figuring that there are others like me who shop early I decided I'd run a Christmas in July sale in my Etsy shop. So this month, until July 31 I have 20% off all my handpainted PORCELAIN.  If you decide you want something before you put it in the shopping card, message me through Etsy and I will readjust the price of the porcelain on the item and move it into a section called Reserved for Customer where you can easily find it and purchase it.

Motherhood: What it means to me.

Happy Mother's Day. Reflecting on what it means to be a mother, it brought to mind this tea trivet I painted. Forget me nots........I hope my children never forget me as I can never forget them. This dedicated to them.

Being a Mom to me means:

*Love: Love that is unconditional, unbounding and everlasting from the instant you are aware of that wonderful little life inside you until the end of your life and beyond the grave.

*Concern: Concern for your children's well being from the moment of conception.  Concern that sometimes means putting your child before you own needs. Which brings me to:

*Sacrifice: Sacrifice of your time and resources and sometimes even sacrificing little of yourself for the betterment of your children.

*Happiness: Happiness brought about from little things like a finger painting, a fresh picked dandelion, a homemade card, a phone call or a long tight hug. Some of my best presents were just a post it note with "I'm sorry Mom, I love you."

*Understanding: Understanding that the little life inside you will change your life. Understanding that the little baby before you will very soon be  young woman or man. Understanding that your child is an individual who isn't necessary a clone of you who deserves respect. Understanding that you need to let go sometimes, let them make their mistakes and Give God and not be judgemental. (a struggle for me sometimes).

*Courage: Courage to say no even when it means you may not be their favorite person. Courage to be their mother and not their friend.

*Teaching: Teaching them to be kind, considerate, generous, loving, to respect others, to be color blind to the human race, about God, to love God with all their being, Christian values & to stand up for what they believe in.

You know all Mom's love their children, but not all Mom's LIKE their children. I am very lucky. I LIKE my children.  I am so lucky to have them. They have grown up to be wonderful adults. Life has not always been bed of roses with them but then again if you want the roses, you have to take the thorns huh?

 

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Forget Me Not Tea Trivet available in my Etsy shop...here's the link

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24205753

 

 

 

 

Easter Trivia on a Rainy Day....

....it's raining, I'm bored. That means I'm on the computer surfing so here' some interesting Easter Trivia I came across...

• The name Easter owes its origin from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who symbolizes hare and egg.


• Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.


• Pysanka is a specific term used for the practice of Easter egg painting.


• From the very early times, egg has been considered to be the most important symbol of rebirth.


• The initial baskets of Easter were given the appearance of bird's nests.


• The maiden chocolate eggs recipes were made in Europe in the nineteenth century.


• Each year witnesses the making of nearly 90 million chocolate bunnies.


• Next to Halloween, Easter holiday paves way for confectionary business to boom.


• When it comes to eating of chocolate bunnies, it is the ears that are preferred to be eaten first by as many as 76% of people.


• In the catalogue of kids' favorite Easter foodstuff, Red jellybeans occupy top most position.

This is one of the new pieces of porcelain that I've finished and put up in my Bonanzle store.  I've been painting up a storm with special orders, gifts, and new items for my two shops.  Here's the link for this if you are interested..Mother's Day is coming up!!!!!http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/EclecticSpirit/items/Handpainted_China_Cake_Knife

Easter, Tea Bags & Recipe Cards: What do they have in common?

Today was a fun day, my friend Susan came over to paint. We had a nice chat, went to Pastore's for pizza and then painted. Susan was working on an acrylic ACEO and I was working on painting china. She's a new painter and coming along quite well. Sometime during the day I took a minute to list one of my latest china paintings.

The china painting is in the porcelain inset in the box top. Really nice wood box. Just in time for Easter (talk about last minute) it's a 4 x 6 inch lined wood box painted with a cute little Holland Lop bunny among the berries. Perfect for using as a tea box or for your favorite recipe cards.

Here's the link to the listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23415265

Bahhhhhhhhhhh

Is this mug cute or what.....I love sheep. They are one of my favorite animals to visit at the fair. Especially after they shave them and put them in the spandex jumpsuits (well that's what they remind me of). Anyway this handpainted china mug is available on my Etsy shop. It would be a great gift for Christmas. Here's the listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12536499

SALE SALE SALE

This Pretty blue flower and bud painted on 6 1/4 inch porcelain plate. Gold border. Perfect for that cottage style decorator! It's on sale 50 percent off the original price.....only $7.50...here's the link to the item http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7248870

Tea Party

Well today was my china painting club's tea party. It was a great hit. The committee chair was just terrific and very well organized. She did a wonderful job....so I'm thinking the feature of today should be a piece of china.....It's a tea trivet...click here to go to the listing.

What to feature...

...can't decide....an ACEO or china perhaps........on my dilemmas........well I will just do china today and an ACEO tomorrow............or maybe a decorative painted piece...oh why can't I make a decision!

So this is a cute little china painted set. Three cup teapot, creamer and sugar and tray...........I don't have this on Etsy. I figure that the postage would not make it sellable so I'm going to either try to find a place locally to sell it or sell it at a craft show. I have another tea set I may put up at another time............