A Mosaic of Ideas About Life, Art & Superfluous Adornment.
Showing posts with label Christmas in Lakeview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas in Lakeview. Show all posts

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Breathing Your Work


"I am focused on the work. I am constantly creating. I am a
 busy girl. I live and breathe my work. I love what I do. I 
believe in the message. There's no stopping. I didn't create
 the fame, the fame created me." 
— Lady Gaga

I am so blessed to be constantly creating in my work and art,  thus at the end of the work day I don't often have the energy or breath to blog.

(I say "every work day" because I create every day whether at the studio/salon or at home where I often work on my commission projects). This is my excuse for not having a blog entry for…months?
In my brain is one continuous blog entry complete with pictures, but unfortunately not with written instructions. Living with this ongoing vision board  is  exhilarating and exhausting and often leaves me a bit twitchy after a long day, especially one filled with constant client dialog. 
The point is that while I have the talent to write, I find it one of the more exhausting creative endeavors.
After many long days at a very productive studio it is easier to share bits of information and pictures on the famous social media site (which must not be named) where most of my family, friends and clients see and share my activities. 
Wow, that was the longest most drawn out excuse for not blogging you have probably ever seen.
Here is what has been keeping me too busy to blog about it…

A Work of Art Studio Christmas in Lakeview 2013
2013 Christmas in Lakeview proved another successful crafty day at A Work of Art Studio & Salon. On Saturday, December 7 there were over fifty willing crafty elves of all ages and their adults taking a turn to create a felted snowman pin. 
Most of the elves were determined “do-it-yourselfers”, some even pushing their adult’s hands away when trying to assist in gluing, mainly the two year old artists.

This particular elf was heard to say, “Oh...no it's broken mommy.”.. But the master elf told him it was only melting.
There was a bit of contention among a few elves who fondly remembered making gumdrop trees at past Studio workshops. “Noted”, said the master elf. 

Much thanks to all those who visited the workshop to create a work of art and especially to Santa’s helpers Debbie Lake and Jackie Bissonette for ordering enough snow to play with.

Pay attention to 
www.lakeviewtimes.com for future notices of upcoming kids art classes.



This is the commission mosaic I have been working on mostly nights and weekends at home (after a full day at the salon) where I can focus without client interuptus. It is based on the client's memory of a family vacation in Wyoming. She sent me several pictures of her trip which I interpreted in my drawing. This is a direct installation on boards which will be attached behind her kitchen stove.
It pays to get pictures of your work out there. This client found a picture of my last custom mosaic on Pinterest.

Which can be seen here: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/162622236516303496/

I will be loading my mosaic process in pictures (easiest way to blog) when this is complete.





Imagine my genuine surprise at two wonderful friends' interest in adding antiques to the shop atmosphere. Not really, I suggested the idea to them. It has been a bit slow but word of mouth takes time, right?


The apples were plentiful this year and I took advantage of harvesting from my own backyard tree for the first time. This sink's worth alone provided about 6 bags of chopped and 4 bags of cooked applesauce. This took up about two weekends of wrist strength (before I started my mosaic commission).
 My husband worked on two different weeks of vacation to take down our shed in the backyard (it was collapsing anyway). We now have a lovely sitting area that faces the back of our house. I noticed the brick wall was pretty bare and so designed and mostly finished this metal bottle cap sculpture of a sunflower. Mostly because the mosaic commission beckoned. Oh well, Spring is 6 months away.
 Making homemade toothpaste with coconut oil, baking soda, tea tree oil and white oak bark.
And a few classes in the studio…..
Ongoing mosaic class
Jewelry making bracelet class
stained glass
Jigsawing  trees for a Costume jewelry Christmas tree class






And a two weekender: Halloween. I created my son and friend's medieval knight costumes on black t-shirts with red duct tape and cardboard painted and duct taped logo. The cool castle in the background is a border I installed in my son's bedroom years ago. It was the perfect backdrop for their costumes.


Is that enough of an excuse to not blog?
It was for me. Also been preparing for:
 Coming in April at A Work of Art Studio:
The Amazing Martin Cheek- world renown mosaic artist is coming to teach a weekend mosaic workshop. Check out his work at:
http://www.martincheek.co.uk

Peace be with you all, and happy breathing whilst you create. Molly

Sunday, December 9, 2012

A Colorful Crafty Gumdroppy Bunch of Angels

“And all the colors I am inside have not been invented yet.” 

Saturday, December 8th was Lakeview's "Christmas in Lakeview" annual event where local businesses have fun and mostly free activities for families to participate in. It is a great way to get local business owners and customers together to celebrate the season!
This year A Work of Art Studio had 42 visiting kids and their families visit and try their hand at making a gumdrop tree, an activity I remember fondly from even my childhood. 
Here are some of the (mostly happy) visitors to the shop .


 This young elf hadn't noticed there was a giant angel in the shop until asked to stand by her for a picture!






 Some local exchange students visited!
 Babies know an angel when they see one.














 Mason made a math experiment out of his craft. There are no rules in art!






Thanks to all who visited and participated and hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season!




Saturday, December 1, 2012

Time for Gumdrop Trees!

We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.
~Buddy the Elf

He forgot to add: Gumdrops!

Saturday, December 8th is Christmas in Lakeview

and A Work of Art Studio will once again have

Gumdrop Tree making for kids of all ages from

11am - 1 pm.

There will also be photos taken in front of the 

ArtPrize (Christmas) Angel,

which I will post here afterward.

Here is a small sample of visitors last year:





Yes, buddy, there are angels among us.

So, come and join the fun next Saturday from 11-1, along with many other fun activities in Lakeview for Christmas in Lakeview.


Saturday, December 3, 2011

Elves Abound in Lakeview!

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy,

 candy canes, candy corns and syrup." 

~Buddy the Elf

And, of course, Gumdrops!
Welcome to Christmas in Lakeview!
 What a fun time we had today in the shop. 63 elves and their grownups visited A Work of Art Studio to make a gumdrop tree and get their picture taken with the "ArtPrize Angel". Thanks to everyone who came out. Some fabulous local artisans were also in attendance to share their talents and beautiful wares. 
Check out these special elves who came a calling today:









































Here's wishing everyone a very safe and happy holiday

 season and I hope to see some of you for art classes or 

salon services in the future. Peace be with you!