My Birdsong

Summer Time and the Studio Looks More Like Halloween

 

I am getting ready for two Halloween shows this fall:

Halloween and Vine
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013
Petaluma, CA
http://www.HalloweenandVine.com 

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Spirits in Sanford
Friday night and Saturday, October 4 & 5
Sanford, FL
http://www.SpiritsinSanford.com 

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In the meantime, we have had weddings to attend, summer dinner parties to enjoy and strolls on the beach amid sand castles. Plus, we are putting in our backyard, which is no easy task with all the sand we have here! The North Florida summer months are heating up and so are the afternoon thunderstorms, which make a great backdrop when I am painting a haunted house or creating a witch. I hope to see you at one of these shows! Enjoy your summer, it is passing by much too fast!

I'd love to meet you at Upcoming Shows!

Although it's still early August, I'm already preparing for Halloween and Christmas shows.

Below, is my upcoming schedule, and I'd love to meet you at one of these shows. Also, you'll find a variety of other talented artists at these venues, so be sure to mark your calendars now!

I look forward to seeing you at one of these outstanding events!

 

Saturday, September 15 • 10 am - 4 pm
Tinsel and Treasures Folk Art Show

Veteran's Memorial Building 
Downtown Danville
400 Hartz Ave., Danville (across from Starbucks)

TinselandTreasures.com 

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Saturday, September 29 • 9 am - 2 pm
Halloween & Vine

Hermann Sons Hall 
860 Western Avenue, Petaluma, CA

HalloweenandVine.com

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Friday, October 12 • 6pm - 9 pm
Saturday, October 13 • 10 am - 4 pm

Spirits in Sanford

Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery
211 East First Street, Historic Downtown Sanford

SpiritsinSanford.com

 

 

Halloween and Vine in One Week!

I've been busy creating all sorts of Halloween delights for my debut at Halloween and Vine, Saturday, Sept. 24, in Petaluma, CA. I'm so excited and honored to be part of this outstanding show of Halloween artists! It's a week away, so grab some friends and make a date! Petaluma is a quaint town, with yummy places to eat and comfy hotels for your stay. Or make a day trip and hit the wine country on your way home. Get all the details on the show website. Can't wait!

 

 

So Many Fun Art Events Coming Up!

Hot air balloons are hot, and I'll have a few available at my next show, the Fourth Annual Tinsel and Treasures Folk Art Show, Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Alamo Women's Club, Alamo, CA. There's a line-up of fabulous artists who will bring their creative magic to the day.

Also after you've shopped and visited with the artists at the show, head for the Make and Take tables, where you can get inspired to make one or all of three projects, like this sweet Christmas Memories paper doll offered by Dede Warren. She designed this kit so you can personalize it with a family member's photo! What a wonderful gift it would make! Head to the Tinsel and Treasures blog to sign up and to see photos of the other projects offered. And sign up for the show mailing list for the latest news!

 

Next up...Halloween and Vine! On Saturday, Sept. 24, at Hermann Sons Hall, in Petaluma, CA, I'll be in the midst of a cadre of Halloween fans as I offer a table full of art that celebrates my favorite holiday - All Hallows' Eve!    I'll have mixed media collages, like "Nevermore", which pays tribute to Mr. Poe. There will be so many other "fangtastic" artists selling their works, you are sure to find that something special just for Halloween. Learn more about the show on the website, and don't forget to add your name to their mailing list! 

Then, it's Glitterfest on Saturday, October 15, at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge. This is always a great day with lots of art to choose from due to the 40+ artists there! It's not for the faint of heart! Head to the website for more information on artists and location.

 

Finally, Colleen and I are teaching a special event workshop together at Gilding the Lily, in downtown Fullerton, CA, on Sunday, October 16. "Winter wishes," is a one-of-a-kind light up lamp that is sure to become a family heirloom. 

We will have a great time building the lamp, creating a wintery scene and then sculpting and fashioning two sweet now ladies. You don't want to miss this! For information and to sign up, head to Gilding's classes blog.

I hope to see you at one of these events in the coming months! Cheers....Iva

 

It's already the end of May and time is just blowing by. I've been busy preparing for Tinsel and Treasures Folk Art Show set for Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at the Alamo Women's Club, 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo, CA. I thought I'd share a video that was recently put together from last year's event. It holds just a tiny bit of the magic you'll find at the show. Other duties have kept me away from my blog too. 

In addition to taking care of my family (our son is now home from his first year in college - yay!), I've been taking an art class to keep me inspired and learn new techniques. It's always fascinating to see another artist work, and Mira M. White is not only a talented teacher, but a wonderful artist. She was featured recently in Pastel Journal, among her other credits. Here is just a sampling of some of her evocative art work. I fell in love with this piece. Just stunning!

 

Artist Mira M. White

Her Name Is Sophia And She Wears A Dress Of Stars

2010

Soft Pastel/Acrylic/Paper

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Artist Mira M. White

Carnival City

2011

Soft Pastel/Acrylic/Paper

25"x37"

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I hope you've been enjoying spring and new creative ideas and interests are sprouting for you as they have for me. Happy May!

 

Dreaming of the Sea

I can hear the sea calling, as I prepare for my next show, Glitterfest Spring, in Southern California, Saturday, March 19. Not that I will be visiting the Pacific on my trip, but I have been researching and reading about the ways people enjoyed the treasures brought forth by the ocean. You see, in times past, ship captains would come home after a long journey at sea and present their loved ones with shell encrusted boxes. These signs of love make me so nostalgic, and I am creating my own take on the long ago tradition. This along with other boxes will be available at my booth.

Additionally, I have been learning more about the lore of mermaids, who were believed to be as fickle as the sea itself. They were thought to be fierce like a raging storm and then quickly become peaceful and serene. I love the mysterious nature of them, along with their magical beauty. All of this lead me to create my next folk art workshop at Gilding the Lily in Fullerton, CA, to be held Sunday, March 20, the same weekend as Glitterfest. "Enchantress of the Sea" is a glass theater, and you can click here for more details and to register.

Can you hear the crashing waves?

Drawing on A Rainy Sunday in January

It's a rainy day here in Northern California which means the perfect time to draw. Thought I'd share what's on the drawing board, as I think about mermaids, shell art and more in preparation for the Spring Glitterfest folk art show, Saturday, March 19, in Santa Ana, CA, and the Enchantress of the Sea Glass Theater workshop I'll be leading on Sunday, March 20 at Gilding the Lily, in Fullerton, CA.

Watch for Fairies and Glitter in the Coming Weeks

I have been working on a variety of projects in the recent weeks. One of these is my class kit for my Woodland Fairy Boudoir Lamp I will be teaching at Gilding the Lily, Sunday, April 25, 10:30 am - 4 pm. You can learn more about the workshop and sign up for the class on their workshops blog. The talented dollmaker Colleen Moody and I will be there for the weekend teaching (her sweet bluebird workshop is on Saturday),  and we will be having a trunk show, Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25. Come by and say hello!

I'm also happy to announce that I will be joining the talented pool of artists at the mixed media art show Glitterfest, May 22, in Santa Ana, California. There will be so much talent selling art under one roof you won't want to miss this one! And I will be joining the fun! Stop by my booth and say hello!