Happy Presidents Day!

As a child I attended Abraham Lincoln Grade School

in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. I have no idea why I

still have retained this poem in my mind but it has been

in my head since kindergarten or first grade...

"Abraham Lincoln kind and good, honored and loved by many.

We loved him so much as our President, we put his face on our penny."

This piece is entitled "We Shall Overcome".

It was inspired by the current Civil Rights issue of Marriage Equality.

I believe that art can be both beautiful and informative.

Simply put.....LOVE is LOVE.

And my trio entitled "Ballot Boxes"

"Liberty" and "Justice"...."For All"

Enjoy your holiday!

Putting your HEART in to your work...

 Just thought I would share some images of works in progress with you 

on this very cold New England morning...

The MAGGIE jack-in-the-box is coming along. 

I will be painting the box today and then sculpting the head.

Maggie is a Black & White cat that I have been

commissioned to sculpt and make in to a jack-in-the-box 

and a hot air balloon.

Just a few pieces of wood to chip-carve...almost 300 squares.

This is my Tramp Art version of a Moravian Star.

The box will be lined in velvet. The box will be able to be hung or rest 

on a table top. I will post more images as work progresses.

I got up to start the coffee this morning and 

when I got back to bed our little 115 pound pup had taken over my spot!

So, I let my husband and Paddington stay cuddled under the covers.

  

and last but not least...Happy Valentines Day!

while they were asleep I designed a simple card for my husband...

so...as we get ready for another blizzard to come our way

I'd like to leave you with this sign of Springtime...

Marking time & remembering mom...

sitting here with my first cup of coffee 

and thinking about my mother.

It was four years ago today that my mom passed away, but, 

I am not sitting here crying....

she has put a smile on my face as I think of her.

The Heart In Hand Threadholder & Pincushion is a 

VERY special piece to me! The pattern was made from a tracing I did 

of my mother's hand many years ago.

At the time I told her that I would make a piece to honor her 

once I had found the courage to follow my dreams. 

She passed away before I started on this journey but she remains 

a huge part of making my dreams become a reality.

I remember she said, "Oh sweetie, I think I'd like that!"

when I told her about the tattoo I wanted to have done to honor her.

"In Memory of Mom" and it even has her signature at the bottom.

There is nothing to be sad about on this day. She was an amazing gift

to me. I could not have been blessed with better parents.

And I continue to be blessed with a loving and supportive husband who

believes in my art and in ME!

Making my Tramp Art is my way of celebrating the craftsmen 

who came before me. Staying as true to my craft and being as authentic 

as possible. It nourishes my heart, mind, body and soul.

This is the first Heart In Hand I made along side a most precious

Hand that was made and given to me by my dear friend

Stacey Williams Mead a.k.a. The Goode Wife of Washington County.

Now, back to TRAMPland and creating as many new and 

exciting pieces as I can....oh, and it is snowing again so there will be 

some shoveling time today too.

Life is Ducky...

after two days of shoveling snow

it looks like I can get back to creating again!

Our sidewalk was clean as a whistle till all the neighbors

decided to dig out their cars and now the snow

is more then six feet deep in places on our sidewalk.

Believe me, there IS green grass and flowers under all this...

Spring is coming...lol.

I am working on a couple of commissioned pieces....

a Hot Air Balloon and a Jack-In-The-Box

of Maggie (a very sweet Black & White/Tuxedo Cat).

I am also making a couple of "trinket boxes" which adds up 

to 348 hand cut pieces of wood! And 336 pieces will be chip-carved.

And so life is "ducky" around here......

Everything is getting back to normal and am so happy to be 

getting back in to TRAMPland and creating more...

Finally, today would have been my dad's 94th birthday.

So I thank him for being such an exceptional example of how to live and love

Happy Birthday Dad!

A peek in to TRAMPland...

Some might call it a studio.

Others would call it a temporary workspace.

Still others would say it is a dining room.

All of which are true, but, I call it TRAMPland.

Cigar boxes, boxes for thread spools, old wooden boxes  in all shapes and sizes.

Most of these already have designs ready for them.

Patterns waiting to be cut out and traced onto the wood.

Vintage springs, sewing scissors even a pair of hands and a Krampus head.

A gathering of some old and new pieces that inspire me.

The wonderful Cat with his Bass by Jack Roads.

A beautiful hand with a pink ribbon around it's wrist made

by my friend Stacy Williams Mead. Some wonderful

pieces from Kay Stamm. And a vintage "Mammy" PinKeep.

Eventually this child's Step-back cupboard will be transformed

in to a piece of Tramp Art!

And, of course, an assortment from my collection of Ravens and Crows.

Can you tell I like Ravens? LOL

After the Blizzard...

Not much of a blizzard but the snowblower

did get to come out of the shed!

A Room With A View (from our kitchen widow)

As you can tell, Biagio was very concerned...

And of course Paddington wanted to help...

So I sat here and tried to figure out how to create this blog....

I still want to add elements but I am uncertain

of where to find those darn gadgets!

Luckily, I have a wonderful friend (Lori Brechlin) who has

taken time out of her busy schedule to help me from

afar (Virginia). Much thanks my friend.

Today is nice and sunny, no winds and so it goes....

I will get back to my studio and get started on many new and exciting pieces!

Of course I still need to finish up creating this space so please visit again

and hopefully I will have figured everything out by then!

Now, off to Trampland a.k.a. the dining room a.k.a. my studio.