My Folk Art Teacups - Mint and Lemon

textured and 'antiqued' if I can be so bold as to claim the ability to carry art through time

These are dainty and delicate, no?  I will be painting more soon, since the whole process is so girly and relaxing.  Perhaps for the one tomorrow I will display the progress - sort of a fast and dirty 'how to.'  Be warned, there is medium involved.  Matte Medium.  I don't really know how they get away with naming it Matte Medium, since every single thing artists smear or speckle or throw onto a canvas is a MEDIUM.. right?  Anyway Matte Medium is just this thick clear goo that I use for texture (in this case.)

While we're on this topic - does anyone know what the equivalent thickening paste would be for oil paints?  I don't live in a metropolis full of well stocked artist supply stores, so when I had a look through their supplies I didn't see anything that might work.  Tips on this would be appreciated in the comment section.

Oh yeah - I finished the box.  I don't believe I gave you a photo, though, did I?  Here's one:

I'm hoping to trade this piece for 2 prints from artist Kalkidan Assefa.  Fingers crossed!!
In case he doesn't bite, here's where you can buy the box, pictured above:  Nouveau Trinket Box, Etsy

I'm not usually up this late, but I spent the whole day cleaning (where is Spring!!??  Spring cleaning was even less enjoyable than normal without being able to sit outside in short sleeves in between rounds of Spic'n'Spanning!!!!!) and cleaning made me tired so I napped at a silly hour.   I may start a painting now.  We'll see!

Oh oh oh!  One more thing:  I have a secret!  there's a project in the works that stands to be quite exciting, but I do not have a final word on it yet.  Will possibly find out for sure tomorrow.  If I get good news, I'll blog it here.  If not, well, I shall never speak of it again.  *wink*
g'night peeps.

Work in Progress - Painted Wood Box Feb 2013

Flashback to Childhood

When I was a very little kid I wanted to be a wallpaper designer.  I hadn't remembered this until I got the strong urge to design and paint a 3D object in a classic style and began the project pictured below.  When I got part way through outlining the flower motif on this sweet little wood trinket box it hit me like it was yesterday.  All of a sudden I was transported from my current work space back to my grandfather's cottage where I remember leafing through a sample book of wallpaper.

I couldn't have been more than 5 years old but for whatever reason I can picture the scene like it was yesterday.  It was a neat memory.  I'm starting the second box today and will post pictures soon.  In the meantime, here's a bit of a progress montage of the first one, which I plan to line with fancy fabric and also to add hand formed 'feet' to.

Has this ever happened to you?  Share your memories in the comments section if you like!