Do you believe in fairies?

Pretty fairies, bright and gay
Come and play with me this day
A gilly flower, a fairy's bower
A mouse's bone, an elfin home
I call you to me, and I pray
To see you always if I may.

Lady Cottington's fairy Album,Brian Froud,Harry N. Abrams, Inc.2002

Normally you would have to repeat this poem at midnight when the moon is full,on a warm summers night, but I have caught the quickest of glimpse of some brand new fairies. They are so new, being just born yesterday that their colorful skin has not even developed, hair has not yet grown and they don't even know what clothes are. They seem to enjoy living in my garden and I promise to take more pictures as I can.

Frustrated..............

This has been an on going problem for me. My photos of my work are amateurish and poor. I have been trying to learn little tricks to take better photos and it just is not working. My biggest problem seems to be with the flash. Everything seems to get washed out and the details lost in the photo. Anything white or light in colors just glows because the flash is so bright. I try and turn the flash off and then the items are to dark. Well I'll try again tomorrow in daylight and take the fairies I'm working on outside where they will be happier anyways. Have a good night Blogland.

It's begining to look alot like Christmas.......

OK,OK, I know it's not even July yet but I found the perfect fabric I think to finally finish this Kringle I started. I'm planning on dressing him in a full length brown fur coat and when finished he should stand four or five feet tall. I can't wait to finish him now. It's amazing how something can set on a shelf waiting for just the right inspiration to be finished, I have no idea what makes me put something away or bring it back out when I do, but I love seeing it finally get finished.

Alice in Wonderland - Kerli 'Tea Party' Official Music Video

Trying to decide.........

I have the day off today from my "real" job and Its nice to actually be doing something creative. Of course I'm not going to get everything done that I had hope to today. I always said when i had my own business how much I had wished that the days were at least 28 hours long if not longer. Twenty four hours just is not enough time, especially for someone who likes to sleep. But as my family always told me you can only do as much as you are able to.

Today I'm working on a few small watercolor paintings, I had hoped to get done some painted fabric pillows and a few other things to but i don't think its all going to happen. I was wanting to join my fellow artisans Sunday at the Fulton Street Artisan Market, I'm just not sure I have enough to take and the fact that's its a hodge- podge of stuff bothers me too. I have Halloween and Christmas stuff, water color paintings, and some of my Alice in Wonderland pieces. I can not decide if I just take what I have and set up or wait until I can create this "themed" booth like I like to have. My displays always have to be as interesting as the art I'm selling. The fact that I have to get someone to help me for a few hours because I have to teach a class at work and that it might rain is not helping me decide.

I guess ill just keep creating, take an inventory tonight, see what else i can get done tomorrow before and after work and let you all know then if you can find me at the market on Sunday.

ADO/ Wonderland challenge

Falling down the rabbit hole soon..........which character will you see from The Rare Hare Studio?

Fall down the hole and see for yourself on July 9, 2010. Click the ADO/Blog event Wonderland logo on The Rare Hare Studio blog.

I'm working on my piece and having a great time. I can not wait to show it off.

Avril Lavigne - Official 'Alice (Underground)' Music Video (HQ)

Alice and friends...

Once again the story of Alice and her friends has inspired me. These painted fabric dolls are not just for the young, but the young at heart. Each doll is hand painted with acrylic paints, and aged to give them that well worn, loved feeling. Each has a dreamy eyed expression and I have a feeling more fairy tale characters will be joining Alice and he crazy friends down the rabbit hole at The Rare Hare Studio.

The beach..............

Well I spent the afternoon at the beach today with friends. I took along my art supplies and was hoping to get a little drawing time in, but with all the people and it was so nice laying there that it didn't happen. But i have confidence the ideas i have that I want to do will happen someday, but today was not that day.

Watercolor and tulips

After a little time away I'm bringing this watercolor out in hopes of finishing it. I started the painting this Spring when tulips were blooming. This painting shows the progression of the tulips from small bud just popping from the bulb to spent and wilted flower.

I think I like working with water colors because the lack of control that I have with this medium. Using water to bring the paint to life, trying to control the color as it dances across the paper. I'm looking forward to the final painting.

Off with their heads............

Off with their heads............

Inspired by Alice and Wonderland as so many artist are right now I created these decorative boxes. Each box has been accented with aged pages of the wonderful story by Lewis Carroll, and the lids have been painted black. Below you will find such characters as the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, and of course the Queen of Hearts.

Off with their heads............

Off with their heads.............

Fulton Street Artisian Market

After work today I stopped down at the Fulton Street Artisan Market on Fulton and Fuller. Imagine my surprise when I pulled in after 2pm to find the market packed with both artists and market shoppers. I had to park at the very end of the market and it looked like is would have been at 11am. PACKED!!! I could not believe it.

It was totally amazing, there was painters,wood workers, block prints, cement birdbaths and fountains, jewelry and new art created from old "junk" it goes on and on, I was told there were like some 83 artists. I could not believe it. I saw old market friends and made new ones. It made me want to create and get ready in a few weeks to share my talents again this summer.

This will be my third summer at the market and I can not wait to join my fellow artists. The FSMA board needs to be congratulated on the success of the market and its continued growth, they are doing a great job. Thank you friends, Ill see you at market soon.

Check out FSMA on Facebook:


http://www.facebook.com/#!/fsartmarket?ref=ts

How to be an artist

I have a dear friend who gave me a card one day when i was feeling a little down and these are just a few of the inspiring words it said.

How to be an Artist.........watch clouds, invite someone dangerous to dinner, make little signs that say yes and then post them all over your home, look forward to dreams, cry during movies, swing as high as you can on a swing set, believe in magic, draw on the walls, play with everything and write love letters.

Pumpkin People

Halloween Witches

 

Here I go..............

As a blogger virgin please bare with me, I really have no idea what I'm supposed to do or say here. I will try and learn the proper etiquette and hopefully create a blog that you will want to come back to on a regular basis just to see what is happening here at The Rare Hare Studio.

I have always been a creative person, and enjoy working in various mediums. Growing up i was always creating, drawing or painting, making puppets and putting on puppet shows for friends and families. In high school I enjoyed acting on stage and designing sets and props. I'm a florist and had my own shop for a number of years until I went back to school for Interior Design. I currently work and live in Grand Rapids, Michigan where I continue to create Kringle's, Witches and other holiday inspired items, but not all my work is holiday related. I hope to introduce you to myself and my work through this blog. I look forward to sharing my passion with all of you.