Halloween Wishes!

To all my Friends, Family and Collectors! 

Tonight is our night!  Live it up!  

Be safe and have a wickedly good time! 

I'M WISHING YOU A HORRIBLY, 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Halloween and Vine is this weekend! Who's with me?!!

Hi Everyone!

The time is almost here when I pack up my van and bring my ghastly ghouls with me to Halloween and Vine!  A wonderful Halloween Art Collector's Show!  If you have never attended, you are truly missing out on walking into Halloween Heaven.  So much gorgeous Halloween artwork under one big roof.  I get giddy just thinking about it!

Here is the link to check out the show details.  www.halloweenandvine.com    This will be my third year attending and selling my artwork.  I am so thrilled to be one of the artist there.  Truly, I work all year making my little beasties just for this occasion.  Sure hope you can come if you are in the area.  You won't regret it and will certainly be back each year.

Here are a few things I am bringing with me!

There are so many more pieces, but not enough time to edit all the pictures.  If you follow me on facebook, keep watching there as I will be posting pictures of the whole adventure.  Soooo much fun!

I will be loading up all my girls (Family and Friends) and we are off to have a wickedly fun girls weekend!!  

Wish me luck!  

New Pieces Available in my Etsy Shoppe tomorrow, Saturday, September 17th!

Hi Everyone!   ---- All the below pieces listed in my Etsy Shoppe have SOLD OUT!

I wanted to let you all know that I will be listing 5 new pieces of artwork in my Charmed Confections Etsy Shoppe tomorrow, Saturday, September 17th at 10am Pacific Time.

Here is a sneak peek of what I will be listing.  Remember it is first come, first serve to be fair to everyone.  Hope you can stop on over and check it out.

Save the link below to go to my site.  Don't forget to refresh your browser.  Items will not appear until 10am pacific time tomorrow!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CharmedConfections

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Halloween merriment is only 2 weeks away!! Time to catch you up!

Hi Everyone!

I'm finally back to blogging after spending months at my worktable working my little heart out on my new lineup of Halloween characters.  I tell you, it has been a whirlwind of sculpting, sanding, painting and dressing up my little spooky/sweet gang.  So much has happened since my last blog post.  Time has ran away from me, but I will try and catch you up now.

First off, I am sending you a BIG HUG and hoping that you are all well and happy in your corner of the world.  Our favorite season is rapidly approaching and I can finally feel it in the air!!! YAY!!!  Leaves are falling, the nights are getting cooler, and the moon is big and bright in the night sky!!  Halloween items are in the stores and my heart races a bit to see it all!!  I hope you are enjoying it too!

I am excited to say that my article in Art Doll Quarterly Magazine looks amazing!!  My sweet coffin doll, Sophie and Sebastian were published in the August 2016 issue!!   This piece will be available at Halloween and Vine on Saturday, September 24th in Petaluma, CA.  Go to www.halloweenandvine.com for more info.  Below are some pictures of my article!

 Pretty cover of Jennie Helper-Takens pumpkin girl!  

It never gets old to see your art in print!  So happy to have been selected to write an article for this incredible magazine.  Congratulation to all the artists represented!  

It is a keepsake issue for sure!

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More good news?  YES!!  I am now the newest artist to be signed by Bethany Lowe Designs!!  If you know of Bethany Lowe Deigns, you know them for their incredible holiday collectibles that you can purchase right in your own local retail, specialty stores.  I am so excited to be a part of their family of artists, and can't believe that someday (hopefully, Halloween 2017) some of my Charmed Confections will be in stores for the collectors!!!  This was such an incredible "pinch me moment" to be signed by them.  I don't think I will ever stop smiling.  

Click on this link www.bethanylowe.com to see all their holiday items!!   I think, I will be doing some Christmas too!  

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I am currently trying to wrap up all my goodies to take with me to Halloween and Vine, an incredible Halloween Artist Collectors Show hosted in Petaluma, CA on Saturday, September 24th at 9am to 2pm.  Go to www.halloweenandvine.com for more information.  

  

Here are some pictures of a few things I have been working on and bringing to the show.  

A sweet, ghostie lantern that lights up!  I caught him out in the back yard and locked him up safe and sound!

I will be bringing some new ghostie lollipop grabbers with me.  

Some sweet ... some sour!!

There are lots of new wands!!  Skellies, Cats and Eyeball wands.  Need to still take pictures of most of them.   Below are a couple of the skellie wands!

I am also bringing a whole gang of sweet and sour ghosts with me!  Below is a sweet girl next to the Halloween and Vine postcard.  So excited to be going!

And it wouldn't be Halloween for me, if I didn't make some Ghoulie Cakes to bring with me.  Below is a picture of the Candy Man!  My tribute to Willy Wonka!!  

Well, I think I have caught you up on quite a bit!  I will be posting more pictures in the coming days as I get ready to pack my bags and get ready for the show!  

One Last Thing!!!  --- I will be selling a few items in my Etsy shop this coming Saturday, September 17th at 10am Pacific Time if you are interested!!!  Stop by and see what is available! The link is on the sidebar of this blog, or go click this link

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CharmedConfections

Happy (early) Halloween! 

Charmed Confections' Studio is in high gear for Halloween!

Hi Everyone!

Hope you are all well and happy in your corner of the world.  Thought I should check in and at least say hello!   Whose running this blog anyway?   I've been so busy, I tend to forget to keep up my blog page.  Not good! 

The Charmed Confections' studio is in high gear creating for Halloween and the upcoming collector's show Halloween and Vine in Petaluma, CA on Saturday, September 24th.  I tell you, I have been working night and day on new items to bring with me.  I am planning on doing a pre-show for all those who cannot attend.  If you have a facebook account, please look me up under Charmed Confections and like/follow my page.  I will be giving sneak peeks there for you to see.   A link to my facebook page is in the right column of this blog.

Anyway, lot of new pieces and ideas are coming out of my head this year.  It is so nice to be able to focus totally on the creative side of my art.  Now, if I only have about 20 hands!  HA! HA!  Wanted to share with you some works in progress photos of the sculpting happening.

These skelly head cherries are just as sweet as can be.  These will be going on my new Scary Sundaes which I will post more about later.  Sure to be some wicked eye candy to decorate your home with.

If any of you follow me on Pinterest, you will know that I have board called Candy Dolls. These candy centers will act as the body of my Halloween characters.  Head, arms and legs still need to be sculpted, but boy, their yummy centers sure are pretty!  Stay turned for more pics on these.

I've been sculpting Ghastly Ghost heads like crazy!!  All different too.  No two are alike, which I love being a collector myself.  These little guys still need to be painted and attached to their bodies, which I am happy to say are done!  YAY!

A new skellie head sculpt which I am loving.  I've done quite a few of these now.  They are all ready to go, painted and ready to mount on some beautiful wands.  Fun little jingles have been added inside the skellie heads.  When you shake the head in your hands it actually jingles!!   Eeeeee .... so fun!!!

My new ornaments this year!  Skellie bats, cats and mice are almost done!  The above pic is a work in progress.  Head still needs to be painted, bones shaded and final touches to be made, but I am thrilled with them so far!  Stay tuned on these!

The witches are coming!  The witches are coming!  Yes, they are and I couldn't be more pleased to see them.  Of course, I will be painting these witches green.  I think most of my witches are green.  Who doesn't love a green witch?  These little hags are now sculpted and will be added to their bodies shortly.  Exciting!!!!

So much more to show you, but I will stop for now.  I have been sanding and painting away for the past month, so the month of July is a month of assembly and completion.  I am exciting to meet my new creations and I hope that you will stick around to see them too!

Well, I should get back to my worktable!  Until then, I hope you follow your dreams ... they just might come true!

Something New Off the Worktable & "Ding! Turn the Page!"

Hi there!

It's been a few months since my last post, so I thought I should catch up my blog with what has been happening here at Charmed Confections, and with me in general.  So far, this year has been a "year of change".  Lots of changes in my life and I am trying to deal with them as they come.  It is not always easy to do.  I am a creature of habit.  So, when my apple cart has been upended, I find myself regrouping, re-evaluating and searching for a new direction. When this does get the best of me, I am glad that my art keeps me somewhat sane.

Here is the latest piece of art off my worktable.  It was made for a very sweet customer of mine that I met years ago at a local craft show.  She has always wanted a one of my cats.  I have to nervously laugh, as I am still somewhat shocked people love my art and want in it their collection.  Don't think I will ever get over that.  I was thrilled to meet up with her and hand deliver this piece.  

When they say the gift is in the giving, it really is true.  Her face lit up upon seeing it and it warmed my heart that she was so happy.  As with any customer purchasing something from me, I want them to be truly happy with their purchase.  Making money is hard!  No matter what you do.  If my customers are going to spend it on something from me, I want them to love it for years.  That is probably why it takes me a bit to get anything done.  :)   She was delighted and I was relieved and honored that she wanted to add another piece to her collection.  

Here are the pics!

I will be making new ornaments like this skellie mouse pictured, along with bats and cats!  These are in the works and I am excited about them!  Would be darling hanging from a Halloween tree! 

Such a fun piece to create!  I love the spider and the mouse hanging from the cat's tail!  Hope you do too!

So what's with the apple cart up-ending?  I recently decided to quit my day job.  Yup, I did it!  If you have been following my blog, you know that I have dreamed of doing this ... waiting on my Fairy Godmother to whisk me away.  Well, dream no longer.  It is a reality!  Truly a blessing!  So now I am a full time artist trying to navigate through my day and still be productive.  It is a big adjustment.  After working a day job since the age of 15, I'd say so!  My last job, I was there 22 years working for the same boss.  It was time to leave and I am excited to ... "ding, turn the page" on this new chapter of my life.  

Lately, I have been immersing myself in art.  Art really does soothe the soul and takes your mind off your woes.  I am sure I will find my feet in this new endeavor and excited to do so! 

Exciting News!!!   I will be at Halloween and Vine again this year!!  So thrilled to be going to Petaluma once again to show off my Halloween art.  Go to www.HalloweenandVine.com for the details.   

Now, that I have more time, I am eager to add more shows to my calendar and meet new customers and collectors who share in my love of all things Halloween!  

I'm also, happy to say that my sweet coffin doll, Sophie (see her in the post below this one) will be featured in the August issue of Art Doll Quarterly Magazine!!!  Yup, she will be featured along with an article on the process of her creation.  So thrilled about that!  You can find Art Doll Quarterly Magazine at Barnes and Noble bookstores, Michaels, Joanns or you can order one directly from www.stampington.com 

So, lots of changes going on.  I am confident that they are good ones.  I am going to follow my dream and see how far I get!   I just need to learn to relax and be confident this is where the Lord wants me.  One foot in front of the other, right?

Hope you are well and happy in your world.  Sending out BIG hugs to you all!!

Sophie and Sebastian - The newest piece from Charmed Confections!

Hi there!

Hope this posting finds you well and happy in your world.  As you all know, I love Halloween, but before all of that, I was born with a love of  DOLLS!  If I think back to my childhood, I always had a little trinket of some sort in my pocket or in my hands. I was completely in love with Kiddles.  Do you remember those dolls?  Tiny, little things and you could hide them in your pocket, they were so small.  Big headed dolls with tiny bodies in comparison.  They usually had big hair, big eyes and smelled good too!  I loved them!!  In fact, I still have a few in my personal doll collection.  What has this to do with my latest piece?  Well, at first ... nothing. But as I stand back to admire my newest piece, I find some similarities and have to giggle.

When speaking of my art with family, friends or customers, the most common question I am asked is, where do my ideas come from.  It is a very difficult question for me to answer.  The truth is ... it's just pops in my head.  I find my art and ideas are mostly pulled from past feelings and memories.  I'll see something and it sparks a thought and it grows into an idea from there.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to visit a cemetery close to my house (out in the middle of nowhere) that dates all the way back to the early 1800's.  I love cemeteries!  I find them to be a wealth of architectural beauty.  I love reading the headstones as sometimes you can gleam a little knowledge of the person to whom it belongs too.

It was a glorious day!  Gorgeous and mild.  I spent a few hours roaming the stones and visiting with those I past.  I met three sisters, several soldiers, entire families, children gone way too early, and small, baby girl who was on the very outskirts of the graveyard.  She was very endearing to me.  Born 1865 and I am sure her family is long gone by now.  I hope that I will be able to get back there someday soon and bring her some flowers to cheer her.  I guess, I feel that motherly affection for her.

Where is all this talk leading?  Well, I would like to introduce you to Sophie and Sebastian! My newest Charmed Confection.  In past posts, I showed you pictures of a coffin I was sculpting on.  This is the final product.  My sweet ghostie girl, Sophie, who is not by any means tiny, but reminds me somewhat of a kiddle doll I use to play with.  Her sweet, shy, but possibly worried face, ties into my trip to the graveyard for inspiration and how a small child ghost might behave.

I do hope you like her.  Since I did not want Sophie to be lonely out there on the outskirts of the graveyard, I needed to make her a tiny kitty cat for company.  Cats are good companions and sooth the soul.

This piece is almost 18" tall and 12" wide.  Sophie and Sebastian are sculpted out of clay, painted and then shaded to give them a ghostly appearance.  The coffin is handcrafted out of wood by the very talented husband and wife duo, Mark and Rae Davis of Calaveras Coffin Co.  You can find them on Facebook under that name.  They make gorgeous, wooden coffins in all sizes finished and unfinished.  You can even ask for a custom size, as I did with this piece. If you are looking to use a coffin in your art, I would highly recommend their's.  I purchased an unfinished coffin and decided to sculpt side panels, roses, skulls, leaves and vines on it.

Here is a close up picture.  Each rose and skull was sculpted one at a time and then assembled on the coffin --- kinda like a puzzle.  I added the leaves and vines after.

Here is a side view.

 The three skulls on the side of this piece represent my own sweet family.  Hubby, myself and daughter.  Three is my favorite number too!  :)

Here you can see how beautiful those side panels turned out!  Love them!!  Pretty pleased with how the coffin turned out.  The stone block work on the base is out of clay too.  Hours and hours of sculpting time here.  Sophie carries a tiny lantern with a real candle inside to light her way through the night.  Sebastian the cat is darling with his tiny painted bones --- always by her side.

A cute picture of Sebastian's backside.  He was so fun to create! 

So, in closing, where can you draw on inspiration?  Just about anywhere.  From my love of Kiddle dolls when I was a small child, to graveyard where I met new friends.

Where do you draw inspiration from?  Drop me a line and let me know.  :)

Until next time!