Pfatt Marketplace Opens Tomorrow with Brand New Items

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to give you a heads up that Pfatt Marketplace (a wonderful selling site I am on) updates tomorrow at 10am pacific time with new items for sale by the artists on the site.  Go to www.pfattmarketplace.com and check it out tomorrow.

I have two Ghastly Ghost looking for a new home.  Here is a picture of them.  They are $75.00 - shipping included.  Go to www.pfattmarketplace.com tomorrow at 10am pacific time for more details.  Look for Charmed Confections in the artist line up.  Don't forget to check out all the artists there!

Angus (above) is SOLD too!  Happily haunting his new home!

The purple Ghost is SOLD!  Thank you, Jamie!!

See you there!

Back on the Artistic Journey!

Hi there ... remember me?

Geesh! I should really kick myself for not blogging more.  Well, I will give you no excuses.  Not this time.  Life has been happening and I just pushed my blog to the side.  I do hope that you are all well and happy.  Speaking of happy ... happy St. Patty's Day to you all!  This day always reminds me of my sweet, Irish Dad.  I am sure my Mom is cooking him up some Irish dish tonight.  Corn-beef and cabbage, perhaps?  I, on the other hand, will be hoping my hubby cooks for me.  Not likely, but a girl has to dream.  :)    

Well, what's new?  I have been working on some new pieces and I have a couple of photos to share of my most recent art.

The first is a sweet Skellie Trunk called "I only have an eye for you."

I love how this piece turned out.  It was quite a puzzle trying to get the two skellie's to fit together.  The gentleman skellie has his arm around his gal.  His hand is somewhat on her waist.  You can see it better from the side angle in the below picture.  Do you see their tiny eyeball olives in their cocktails.  hee! hee!  I couldn't resist!

I love how the skellie girl's hair turned out.  Love the Gibson girl type bun and curls.  She is quite the lady, this sweet skellie girl!  

I also have been working on a cat and mouse duo.  This is my first attempt at a cat (and mouse) for that matter.  I hope you like them.  The hat they sit in is hand flocked.  Something I taught myself last year.  LOL!  I am always trying to learn something new.  Keeps me thinking and dreaming up ideas.  

Recently, I am playing with resins. Already had a couple of disasters, but then finally, success!  More on that later. 

The little mouse is removable from the piece.  He is jointed at the arms and hips.  The cat is doing a magic trick.  I think he is trying to guess what card the little mouse is holding.  

Next is my Bat.  

He is still a work in progress.  (Sorry about my messy work table.)  I am still sculpting his legs and feet.  His wings are just the skeletal frame.  There is still a lot of work to do on them.  They will look completely different when finished.  But this gives you a look at the inside framing.  This guy is a challenge, but his face is downright sweeeeeeeet!

Would love you hear from you.  Drop me a comment and share your blog site address if you want to share something you are working on!  

Until then ... 

Happy February! Sharing the love!!! Can you say ... GIVEAWAY!!

Hi Friends out there in Bloglandia!!

Can you believe it is almost time for Valentine's Day?  Where is the time going?  Someone please slow down this carousel ride, I can't keep up.  :)

Hope all is well and happy in your corner of the world.  Are you looking forward to this year?  Have you already made your goals and plans? Do you have something special that you are looking forward too?  Drop me a comment, as I would love to hear what you are doing.  

Making plans --- I have been trying to do just that.  Plan out my year, set some goals (both personal and creative-wise), and find the time to keep learning and trying new things I've always want to.  However, with all my good intentions, I am off to a slow start.  January flew by for me and then I caught a wonderful flu bug which lasted about three weeks!  UGH!!  Guess, I should be thankful that I got through Christmas without a hint of a cold.  I'm not really sure why I always get my flu shot, when that flu bug seems to find a way to bite me.  This year, that little bug is a nasty one.  Hopefully, you did not meet up with him.  

Things at Charmed Confections are looking up though!  I am excited about a few things I have in the creative process.  Last year was such a big year for my art, I wonder how I can even top it ... if it is even possible for this year.  Happy to say that new characters are emerging on paper which I will transfer to clay. It is kind of exciting to think of who will emerge this year.  

In my quest for continued artistic knowledge, I have learned some new polymer clay techniques.  Definitely not a pro at them, but I am working on perfecting them to the best of my ability.  I have been learning how to create canes in polymer and how to reduce them to the tiniest of sizes.  I find it pretty fascinating.  I am also developing new techniques with paper clay.  As soon as I have something I am proud of, I'll share.   

In the meantime, I wanted to let you all know about a sweet GIVEAWAY!  I am honored to be in a group of talented artists called "Folk Art and Primitives".  This group is on Etsy and on Facebook.  Lots of talented artists, selling wonderful handmade items.  This month, the group is celebrating their 2nd Anniversary.  

Here is what you could win! 

Giveway ends February 8th, so sign up soon!

The link to sign up, is below this paragraph!  PLEASE NOTE:  Do not leave a comment here on my blog to sign up for this.  You need to click the link below and sign up there.  However, I would love it if you signed up to follow me if you are not currently!  :)

http://folkartandprimitives.blogspot.com/2015/02/ready-for-spring-and-wonderful-giveaway.html

I am giving away one of my Blissful Bunnies (like pictured below).  The one pictured is already sold, but I have another sculpted the same way.  The winner can choose their own colors.

Lastly, if you are looking for some cute items to shop for, pop on over to Etsy by clicking the link below and see what the FAAP Team has for sale!

https://www.etsy.com/search?q=jstsfaap

Well that's all the news for now.  I do hope you will drop me a comment and say hi!  Have a great week and sign up to win in the giveaway!  You never know ... you just might win!!

Until next time ... 

An Amazing 2014 - Hello 2015!

Hi Everyone!  

I'm back ... and it feels good to be back too!  I am giggling that my last post was about Thanksgiving.  Gee, am I a little late on getting this out or what?  I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  Happy New Year to each of you!  Here is hoping it is one filled with health, happiness, love, a little wealth would be good, and maybe ... a little "happy" excitement too!

Last year was such a roller coaster of a ride ... super highs and super lows.  The highs being that I felt like my art was finally taking off and the lows being health issues in the family (not with me, but with my loved ones).  My entire family and extended family have really taken some heavy blows last year.  Happy to say that we are slowly on the mend, by the grace of God, and I am keeping my fingers crossed for the future.

This year, I would like to ride the carousel (not the roller coaster) ... fun music, riding my pretty pony, nice and steady with the wind in my hair ... maybe even catching a brass ring or two.  :)  One could only hope.  

I am happy to add, that I am back at my work table sculpting.   Funny, but when I am away from it for a time, I am hesitant to sit back in my chair.  Crazy ... don't know why.  I find myself looking for other things to do, but sit there and create.  So, I have pushed myself to sit down, turn on my light, and after a few seconds I am like a duck to water.  Just need to get my feet wet again.  Don't know why I hesitate, because I love it when I create.  I know ... I think, I'm nuts too!

Anyway, I am already getting ready for Hallowbaloo and Halloween & Vine 2015!!!  Two national Halloween shows that I attended last year.  I had so much fun bringing my Charmed Confections there!!  Can't wait for this year!  I have the dates so mark your calendar!

  

www.thehallowbaloo.com

Click the link above to go the website

www.halloweenandvine.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccIAUNmV5io 

Click above go to the website or click the You Tube video to see a video of the show!!

It is Halloween and Vine's 20th Anniversary!   Eeeeee!!  I am so excited to be there!!!  

So, what am I bringing to the show?  Well, I have been trying to come up with some new designs, doing a lot of drawing in my note pad, tons of post it notes with ideas EVERYWHERE, and already starting on the process of quite a few items.  I am hoping to get ahead of crunch time.  

This year, skeleton grim reapers will be showing up - angel wings and all.  Frankie is back with his monster friends, the wolfman, mummy, dracula, Morticia, and some candy stealing imps too.  There will be some bats, some cats, new jointed dolls, and a new line of cool ornaments I am tickled to death to show you!!  It's all coming!!  Now just to get it all done.  I am definitely on a timeline.  

PINTEREST --- In my previous holiday downtime, I have found that I am totally addicted to Pinterest! Check out my Pinterest Boards.  I have some cool tutorials, inspiration for art, a fantastic Halloween costume board, some recipes, pictures of my previous artwork, etc.  Here is the link!

http://www.pinterest.com/charmedconfecti/ 

FACEBOOK -- Charmed Confections also has a business page on Facebook.  If you are on Facebook look me up and "Like" my page.  I would love to hear from you!  New postings of my work in progress will be posted on this blog and on Facebook too!  Check it out - here is the link!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charmed-Confections/383766415066590

WITCHES OF GIGGLESWICK -- Most of you know that I am one of the founders of a group of artists named the Witches of Giggleswick.  Carly Smith (shop name-Boggy Bottom Bayou - you can find her in my blog roll in the right column of my blog) and I started this group a couple of years ago.  We also have a Facebook page where you can find some incredible art by some of the best Halloween / Holiday artists out there.  

It is also a selling site too!  Here is the link if you would like to check that out!  Don't forget to "Like" the page too!  We would so appreciate it!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Witches-Of-Giggleswick/1438375269725632

Well, I guess I should sign off for now.  Before I do, I would like to say a big 

"THANK YOU" 

to all of you who follow and read my blog.  It is an honor to have you along on my crazy carnival ride.  

The ride is definitely more fun with 

you sitting beside me!  XOXO

Happy Thanksgiving!! I'll Miss My Family This Year!

Hi All!

Hope you are having the best of days today, enjoying your family and friends. I posted a little poem below, I like to share each Thanksgiving.  It makes me laugh!  I hope you are all laughing too with your families close and making memories!

Twas the Night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep, 

I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned - the dark meat and white,

but I fought the temptation with all of my might!

Tossing and turning with anticipation,

the thought of a snack became infatuation.

So, I raced (me and my little dog, Jake) to the kitchen,
 flung open the door,

and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore!

I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,

pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,

'til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky,

with a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie!

But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees,

"Happy eating to All, pass the cranberries, please!"

"May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,

may your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump."

"May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,

may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs!"

 This year, I am spending Thanksgiving with my in-laws.  I love them dearly and am happy to be going to their house this year.   My family, Mom and Dad, sister and brother-in-law, are all in Monterey celebrating together.  I will miss them.  Below are a couple of pictures of my sister and daughter laughing at last year's Thanksgiving 2013. 

 Love looking at the these pics and remembering the laughter!  I hope you are laughing a lot today and enjoying being in the company of those that love you!

Do you see Jake photobombing!  Too funny.  He is totally food driven!!  A typical man!  

 I also wanted to take a minute to wish Everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!   During this Holiday, take time to count your blessing, thank the Lord above and take comfort that he is always near.  Say a prayer for those in need, those who need love or those who are neglected.  Pray for the sick and those who are hungry.  Pray for our troops and our country too!  

 If you have love to give - give it to Everyone, everywhere ... all the time!   IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.    I am thankful for you!! 

May God bless you and your family!  XOXO LeeAnn, Jake and family