Art Creations Friday - Billie Dove

As I am a silent film fan, I am so thrilled to be able to work with this beautiful image of silent film star Billie Dove.  Billie started out in the Ziegfeld Follies. However, since Mrs. Ziegfeld was worried that her husband and Billie were getting just a bit too close, Billie decided to try her luck in Hollywood.  (Mrs. Ziegfeld was stage and film star Billie Burke, who played the good witch Glinda in The Wizard of Oz.) 

In Hollywood, Miss Dove soon became a hit in silent films and made many popular features.  She retired from films soon after the advent of sound.  She had a three year affair with, and was once engaged to Howard Hughes, the famous recluse billionaire.  Billie Dove passed away at the ripe old age of 94 at the Motion Picture Home.

Sadly, few of her films still remain.  But thankfully, there are many lovely photos that preserve her etherial beauty for us to this day.

We were given this gorgeous photo to alter for Art Creations Friday.

I love sepia-toned photos; but decided that for this photo, I would experiment with using watercolors to softly color the image.  Here's the result:

Dress for November

Can't believe there's just one more dress until this challenge ends!  This has been so much fun!  Thank you, Alice and Camilla , for hosting this unforgettable challenge.  Is there anyone out there thinking of hosting the challenge for 2011?

Well, here's my dress for November.

I'm still obsessed with leaves!  I wanted to design a festive ball gown so I started with brown paper painted with acrylic paint.  I added the gorgeous paper leaves and did not feel that this dress required any further embellishment!

Here is my dress closet.

The box to the right is to hold hats, gloves, etc.  And there's a little necklace form to hold necklaces that I will (hopefully) have time to make eventually.

Art Creation Friday - First Timer

This is for the Art Creations Friday.

This is the first time I've done this challenge.  I am ASTOUNDED at the incredible talent that the contributors to this challenge have!  I urge you to check out their contributions!

This is how I feel whenever I try to read.  I only have two cats; but somehow, it seems like a lot more!

Christmas Advent Boxes

Thanks to the Lovely Leslie for sharing this great tutorial!  As soon as I saw it, I knew that I had to make one for each of my daughters and their families.  Each box requires 24 small match boxes!  Now what to do with the matches!

The match boxes are VERY tiny, so if you plan to make one, be sure to take a box with you when you shop for the trinkets.  I was surprised at how difficult it was to find items to fit!

Mona Catsa

This month's challenge in the Monthly ATC group is to use the Mona Lisa as your inspiration.  I didn't have too far to look!  My cat, Fanny, has the most direct stare you can possibly imagine.  It's quite unnerving to wake up in the middle of the night to see her staring at you.  She's every bit as enigmatic as the Mona Lisa!



I wrinkled and glued tissue paper to the card, then painted it randomly with water colors.  I used a bit of gold German scrap as the trim.  The little heart is made by wetting tissue paper and stuffing it into a small mold.  I then unmolded it, let it dry thoroughly, and painted it with acrylic paint.  The webby-type scrap is something I received from a fellow trader.  I wish I knew where I could get more of this material!  It's wonderful!  If anyone out there knows where I might find some of this, I'd really appreciate your letting me know!

Another Trading Card inspired by Matisse's Cut-Outs

This is the card that I sent for the trade.  I used a beautiful glittery card that I received from one of my great trading partners.  And then the 'cut-outs' are mostly paint chips!  In fact, the orange cut out had that rounded square cut right into it.  The black accents are purchased stickers.  I hope Reni likes it!