Something Old ... Something New ... Something Available ... and Something To Look Forward To -- Not particularity in that order! :)

Hello out there!

Hope this blog post finds you well and happy in your corner of the world.  The holidays are over and I am now settling back into my art and plans for the new year.  This year, I am thinking full bodied dolls ... and much more ... winged things!  Kinda excited to put my plans in motion.  

Last year, I met a wonderful lady by the name of Rae Davis at Halloween and Vine ... the Halloween show I participated in last year.  She and her husband, Mark, are the owners and artists of Calaveras Coffin Co. (Their link is below.)  They specialize in handcrafted decorative coffins and unique Halloween decor.  They also feature various artist's one of a kind creations too!  If you love Halloween, you need to check them out!

I was so in love with their coffins, I just had to buy an unfinished one to see if I could sculpt on it. Roses, skulls, leaves and vines!  Tedious work to say the least, but I am loving the results and hope you like it too!  I will adding one of my characters to go inside.  This piece will be offered for purchase at a later date.

You can purchase a made to order coffin in various sizes, finished or unfinished (like mine below) or anywhere up to 6' tall with shelves in it!  The finished coffins are signed and dated. Please check out their facebook site and "like" their page.  smile emoticon

Calaveras Coffin Co.

https://www.facebook.com/calaverascoffinco/

Mark and Rae Davis -- (209) 768-8485

If you haven't stopped by the Charmed Confections Facebook page.  You should!  I would so appreciate a like from you.  Come follow my page!

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

Here is a link to Halloween and Vine!  A wonderful Halloween Artist show featuring some of the best Halloween art out there.  It takes place in September of this year in Petaluma, CA.

https://www.facebook.com/halloweenandvine

I started with an unfinished coffin, beautifully made by Calaveras Coffin Co.  I sculpted all the roses, skulls, leaves and intertwining vines.  All hand done and very time consuming, but I love the results!  Now to paint, distress and spooky it up!  Then on to making the doll to go inside.

 The coffin had these beautiful cutouts on the sides.  I used stamped clay and placed them in the cutouts.  Clay tends to shrink when dry, so it was tricky to get it in there just perfect!

A close up of the roses and skulls! 

As mentioned in my last post, I wanted to share some of the works that I took to Halloween and Vine last year.  These charming characters are all hand sculpted and placed in wooden trunks that I  have aged using an array of mixed media.  

All these trunks are sold, I am thrilled to say.  It is truly a "pinch me moment" when your art sells.  I am so very thankful of my customers and collectors.  You keep me going!

 A cute wedding couple I call Dearly Beloved!

I love their wicked Bloody Mary cocktails with a bat for a garnish.

Lil Boo is seriously having ice cream envy!

Below are some pictures of my Ghoulie-Cakes that were at the show!  These are gone too!

 

Below is Frederick the Grinning Ghost!  He is the only piece I have currently available at this time.  You can find him in my Etsy shop.  Here is the link!  I have reduced his price!!  He is just as cute as can be and looking for a new home to haunt.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/252355605/charmed-confections-halloween-grinning

Sorry!  Fredrick is sold!  Thank you, Deb!  I truly appreciate your purchase.  

I hope Fredrick brings you lots joy and Halloween merriment to you home!

Well, that's about it for now.  I will post more pictures of  the coffin's progress.  I have my ideas and plans drawn out this year.  Now to achieve them!  A girl has got to dream BIG!

In the meantime, I hope you DREAM BIG too!  Do something that makes you happy!

Much love!

"A Wink and a Smile" -- New Christmas Charmed Confection

Hi Everyone!

Hopefully this post finds you well and happy!  Things have settled down in the Charmed Confections' studio and I'm back to blogging.  Nice to come back and look at my site and see how this year has unfolded for me.  Blogging reminds me somewhat of a diary ... (that everyone can read) ... but it also is a wonderful reminder of where I've been and where I am headed.  Looking back at the art created and my progression, I am so very thankful to be able to do what I love -- even if it is only part time due to the day job.  :)

But, before I get ahead of myself, I would like to say, "Thank You" to all of my followers and collectors.  Without you, my art has no wings!  I truly mean this.  There is no greater satisfaction than seeing someone delight in what you create.  I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for this opportunity to share a little of me with you!

Since I have not blogged in a while, there is so much to catch up on.  I will have to do it in a few postings.  My Halloween shows were wonderful!  Halloween and Vine in Petaluma, CA, once again, was a huge hit!  I just loved seeing my fellow artists and their amazing works!  This year the art was incredible!  Loved seeing some of my collectors again and meeting new ones too!  I have much to share on my Halloween art, but will post about that soon, giving you finished pictures of some of the art you didn't see here.

As for today, I would like to introduce you to "A Wink and a Smile".  This sweet Santa is going to be displayed in a local gallery here in Sacramento, CA.  The gallery is called, The Art of Toys.  You can visit it by going to www.artoftoys.com.  I belong to a local artist doll group called, DollWorks.  We have been invited to show and sell our art at the gallery.  I am really excited, as this will be my first piece ever in a gallery.  Sounds fancy!  Ha! Ha!  In all seriousness, I am thrilled by this opportunity.  Who would have thought my art would take me there?  I still consider myself as learning this art form.  I don't think that will ever go away.

Anyway, I hope you like him!  Santa is 15 1/2" tall - sculpted out of paper clay.

 
I also wanted to mention that I did a really dumb thing lately.  In deleting my spam emails, I happened to delete my entire inbox.  Yup!  Gone!  So, if you sent me an email in the past that I did not respond to, please forgive me.  I am starting from scratch again.  Drop me a line and I will get back to you. Promise!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Sending out big hugs to you all!

Halloween Merriment ... A Sneak Peek at New Artwork!

Hi Everyone!  

Once again, it has been a while since I've posted.  My how time flies!  Where does it go ... and why can't we have more of it?  

I have been diligently sitting at my art table each and every night preparing for my upcoming show at Halloween and Vine in Petaluma, CA.  I am excited about the items I am bringing this year -- Trunk Monsters, Ghoulie Cakes, items from my Art Doll publication, a new line of ornaments, and some others mixed in.  My sweet / spooky characters are ready to meet you!

 For more information go to www.halloweenandvine.com 

Here is a sneak peek at some of the items, I am bringing.  There are lots and lots more, but I haven't had a chance to take their pictures.  Hope you like these!

The above picture is a work in progress of some heads that I have created for my line of Trunk Monsters.  These trunks will hold the happy couples in them.  Can't wait for you to see these!  Still finishing them up and time is raging on.  Only a week before the show - I'm cutting it close.  Say a little pray that I finish these!

Well, guess I should be off.  Hope all is well and happy in your corner of the world.  I will try and post more pictures as soon as I can.

Be well my friends!

What's New At Charmed Confections? Come see!!

Hi Everyone!

Guess who?  Yes, it's me, LeeAnn - returned from the dead.  I know... I can hardly believe it myself.  LOL!  It has been forever ago since I have last blogged.  I am glad, I still know how.  Hope if I have still any followers out there, that you are happy in your corner of the world.

I have been living a solitude life at my work table, sculpting away the hours in preparation of the upcoming show - Halloween and Vine.  Go to www.halloweenandvine.com for more info.  A wonderful, upscale art show hosted in Petaluma, CA, featuring some of the best Halloween artwork!  I am always excited to go and see all the goodies there!  If you are a Halloween lover like I am, this is Halloween Heaven on earth!

So, after working the day job, I come home each night to work the night job of creating my Charmed Confections.  It is a labor of love for sure and I am excited about the characters I am bringing to the show!  A lot of mischief and merriment happening around the studio right now!

Some more happy news!  Look for me in the latest August issue of Art Doll Quarterly!  Below is a picture of what the cover looks like.  Sylvia Smiser's day of the dead doll is on the cover.  Isn't she fabulous!  Love her expression!  

You can find my skellie couple below on Page 6 with an article write up on them.  I love this little couple.  These two love birds will be available for purchase at Halloween and Vine!  If you are going to the show, it is first come first serve.  They will come with a copy of the magazine!  How fun is that?!  I can't wait to meet their new owner!

I do have a couple of other pieces --- My Midnight Magic Cat and my Scaredy Boys are published in the Show and Tell section of the magazine too!  These will be available at Halloween and Vine as well.

I am thrilled with this issue of Art Doll Quarterly.  So many of my wonderful friends are in the magazine!  Congratulations to them all!  

I am happy to say that my first bat, Barnabas, has been completed and flying to his forever home soon.  Such a happy bat and my first to boot!  I am thrilled at how his wings turned out!  I will miss this little fellow! 

A backside view!  Pretty all the way around ... just like I like it!

Tomorrow, I will be back at it.  My studio chair and work table are waiting ... along with the countless of unpainted characters just staring at me.  HA! HA!

Well, don't be a stranger and say Hi!  I would love to hear from you (if you are out there).  Leave a comment and say hello!  

Here's to a wonderful and productive weekend!  Until then ... 

What's New? - Making Progress - And Just Being Silly!

Hi There!

Thought it would be a good idea to post in my blog and catch up where I left off?  Hope you all had a blessed Mother's Day!  My daughter was working, so she spoiled me on Saturday with flowers and my favorite perfume.  I cried over the card ... that girl know just the right thing to say to make me feel special.  I hope you were spoiled a little too!  I spent Sunday with my sweet Mom.  We had a BBQ over at her house and  she and I worked on ornaments for the Halloween and Vine show.  My finished cupcake ornies needed their hangers.

I wanted to catch up my blog on the latest happenings here in my studio!  Halloween and Vine (A fantastical Halloween Art Show) is approaching and I am so thrilled to be in the show once more selling my Charmed Confections.  You can go to www.halloweenandvine.com to check out the details.  They are celebrating their 20th Anniversary!  I am thrilled!  I remember when I was just standing in line to get in and now I am actually an artist in the show.  Crazy!

They also have a Facebook page.  Go to https://facebook.com/halloweenandvine ---- You can click the link, I've provided.  Check out all the artwork on the photos tab.

Here is an update on my bat!  He is my first one, so it is slow going until I work all the kinks out, but he is now primed and ready for paint!  I absolutely love how his wings turned out!  I studied so many anatomical bat photos that I think he is pretty accurate!  Even has a tail and all!  I will have to post a picture of his cute backside.  

Now that I have him figured out, I will make a few more for the show!

Here is a picture of my latest find!  A new desk for my studio!  I found it in a furniture consignment store.  Love it!!  The chair was mine, but I think it works.  So nice to be able to display some of my Halloween collection from my artist friends and get organized!  Loving those sweet cabinets!!

My sweet, Candy Boy, Jake, wanted to make an appearance on my blog too!  He is sending you a smile and hoping you have a terrific week.!  

Jake, looking for more tummy rubs!  I swear, my little man should not have any fur on his chest with all the rub downs he gets.  He should be bald!  This is the look I get when I stop petting him.  LOL!

Lastly, something silly I just needed to have.  Some super, cute skull rubber boots to go tromping in the yard with.  How these make me laugh and smile!  I need to make some of my skeletons with a flower headband!  My boots are inspiring!

Well, that is it for now.  I will post some more works in progress soon!  Lots of things cooking in the studio!

Have a wickedly, sweet day my friends!