New Pieces

Apparently I've been quite remiss in posting pics of my latest pieces here to my blog! Here is a bit of everything I've been creating over the last month or so:
I've been having so much fun with the framed jewelry. The artwork in the small square pendants measures only 1/2" by 1/2", and I love testing myself to see how much detail I can fit into them. My poor pencils are being ground down to stubs, as I need to keep them constantly sharpened to extract the detail I need.






I also created these polymer clay Christmas ornaments, each with a small bit of hand-painted goodness and protected with wonderful glossy varnish.



Last is this small 5x7 acrylic painting in my "Dreamer" series, painted on canvas board. She sold at Jingle Fest...hurrah! So happy when my paintings find good homes. :)



If you see a piece you like above but don't see it for sale in my shop please e-mail me at hoydendesigns@gmail.com. With the Craft show last week and Thanksgiving just days ago I haven't had a chance at all to list them, but most are available. And there's still time to get your U.S. shipments in time for Christmas!

Jingle Fest 2011

Here's my table at Jingle Fest 2011! Thank you to everyone who came out to see me! Despite being a rainy and cold day it was a great success, and so much fun.

JingleFest Art and Craft Faire!

In 9 days I'll be at the 'JingleFest Holiday Art and Craft Faire! I'm so very excited, and hope that if you're anywhere near San Jose, CA on November 20th that you'll stop by and visit me!

There will be 80 vendors, with something for everyone on your holiday list. If you do manage to come please be sure to stop by my table and say "hi!". I'll be right inside the entrance, one of the very first tables on the right.
I'll also be having a giveawy at my table. Anyone who signs up to be on my e-mail mailing list will be entered into a drawing to win this original mixed media piece:

She measures 8x10 and is on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper. I hope to see you there!

'Still' - Mixed Media Piece

The word "still" embodies all that is peaceful and quiet to me. That's why my newest mixed media piece is named that; I couldn't think of a better word for what this woman seems to be feeling.

'Still' measures 5x7 and was created using pencils and watercolors on 140 lb.cold-pressed watercolor paper.

Two New Alice Paintings

Once again Miss Alice has cauht my fancy and my imagination. Here are the two newest of my paintings inspired by Alice in Wonderland, and there are several more in my little sketchbook just waiting to be brought to life.
'Such a Long Way to Fall 2' 8x10 acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas (currently for sale at EniThing boutique at Westgate Mall in San Jose, CA - see side bar to the right for a link to their website):



'Drink Me' 8x10 acrylics on canvas board (to be kept in my private collection for my illustration portfolio):

The Sweetest Thing mixed media painting

I'm still fiddling around with new methods of painting. Here's the latest, entitled 'The Sweetest Thing'. This is a 5x7 piece, done on 140 lb. cold pressed watercolor paper, with pencils and watercolors.

The Dreamer 3 - New Acrylic Painting

Here is a small 5x7 acrylic painting on canvas board I completed a short while ago. It seems I've been drawing and painting quite a few of these flowing haired ladies lately, and so have decided to create of series of them called The Dreamers. I have another on my desk nearly finished that I'll be sharing with you soon.

'Feel My Love' - Mixed Media Painting

While discussing a possible commission for a dear friend's daughter, I had a sudden image in my mind of working a pencil likeness over a music sheet. I wasn't sure if it would work, so I took an antique photo that touched me emotionally and began working. This is what I was able to come up with:

'Feel My Love' ~ 5x7 mixed media painting, utilizing acrylics, pencil and watercolors on an antique music sheet circa 1890, attached to a canvas board painted a deep purple and protected with a matte varnish.

Wearable Framed Paintings

I've been trying to come up with a new way of doing pendants, and after the last batch of Halloween goodies I was really and truly inspired with the pendant frames I'd found. But I didn't feel I'd get the detail I truly wanted by going with acrylics, so I switched to pencil and watercolors. And here are the results:
Before framing...





And framed and varnished:

I loved doing these, though I think I may need to get myself a good magnifying glass soon!

Happy (Early) Halloween, Dearies

I was asked by the wonderful woman at EniThing to do a display window for her store. Imagination churning, my thoughts turned to the upcoming Halloween holiday and I fairly threw myself into several new pieces for it.
I found these lovely pendant frames, and used 140 lb.watercolor paper inserted into them. Too much fun, and I love the new look. I can't wait to create more.




This paper mache witch's hat wat a "hoot" (pardon the bad pun) to paint:



This mysterious witch took on a life of her own. She's quite ready for trick or treating:



And here is the display itself. I added a small crow sculpture I made last year, as well as a lavendar wand created from the amazing smelling lavendar in my own yard. With mini hay bales, a spider-web stamped piece of muslin and halloween-y bunting, I'm quite pleased with it.

Teeny Tiny Houses

There is just something about teeny little houses that I absolutely love, which you may know if you've visited my blog and seen my tiny house pendants. When deciding to give paper a try as a base, I just couldn't help picking these as a subject matter. The smooth surface lends itself well here to the delicate lines of the windows. (The bottom piece is especially close to my heart; I'm an avid veggie gardener, and this image is a particular dream of mine)
'Five Little Houses' ~ 5x7 acrylics on paper



'House on the Hill" ~ 5x7 acrylics on paper

Alice and the Flowers - Triptych Painting

Here is a 3 panel painting I recently completed:

It was commissioned by a wonderful lady who loves all things Alice (she is a woman after my own heart! How could I resist?). Each panel is a gallery-wrapped canvas that measures 11x14, with antique music sheets circa 1890, and painted in acrylic paints. Here is each panel separately:

Such a Long Way to Fall!

Now is the time again, my dears, for a fantastically magical Mad Tea Party! Thank you to the lovely Miss Vanessa at 'A Fanciful Twist' for hosting such a splendid event! Please be sure to visit the 'A Fanciful Twist' blog and check out all of the other participants in this yearly fun event!
Here is the piece I created for this year's event, and such a fun time I had creating it, too!

It is entitled "Such a Long Way to Fall", and measures 9x12 on canvas board, painted with acrylics on circa 1892 music sheet. Please contact me at hoydendesigns@gmail.com if you've a wish to own her for yourself!
I wish you an amazing time visiting the many Mad Tea Parties on the web, and hope you come back soon to my own little corner of the cyber world!
Ta-ta for now, ny sweets!
Christina

Let The Wind Take You - Acrylic Painting

This image popped into my head one day and I couldn't rest until I had her brought to life on canvas.


She looks quite content to let life take her where it will, don't you think? She's painted on an 11x14 gallery-wrapped canvas with an antique music sheet circa 1890.

Stars of the Summer Night

Here's a small painting I created recently. I found this incredible little song in my 1913 songbook, and was so inspired that I decided to try something new. The blacks and blues were fun to work over the surface; they do some amazing melding on the antique page that I couldn't get on a straight canvas texture. It measures 5x7 on canvas booard.

Rosalie ~ Acrylic Painting

A bit of a Parisian twist with this one. I read the lyrics to this lovely song and was so inspired, I just couldn't help myself.
'Rosalie' is an 8x10 acrylic painting with antique music sheet circa 1913 on a gallery wrapped canvas.

Mini House Pendants

A baker's dozen of teeny little house pendants that I just finished. Handmade from polymer clay and hand-painted with acrylics by myself, each is one of a kind and unique. They measure about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches tall. I won't be posting the majority of them to Etsy, as I'll be bringing them to shows, but if you see one you like please e-mail at hoydendesigns@gmail.com and I'll get it to you!

After 6 months...finally a painting!

"An Ocean of Tears" 11x14 acrylic painting on canvas board

Welcome Spring...and Inspiration!

This winter for some reason truly destroyed my creative spirit. I can't even explain why, I just could never bring myself to pick up a brush and lay my soul on canvas.
Now the weather is warming, the flowers are blooming, and I'm feeling the faint stirrings of that wonderful spirit returning. I suppose my creativity needed to hibernate. I picked this bouquet of inspiration from my garden to fill my antique silver water pitcher - and myself - with some much needed color and joy. Hopefully it will breathe some life back into the dusty corners of my mind!

Belated Happy Holidays!

I've been so busy with family things for the holidays that I'm afraid I've left my wonderful blog friends in the lurch! I wanted to keep you updated on my newest pieces and how the Handmade Holiday Gift Fair went...so here goes:

The new ornaments came out wonderfully, just as I imagined they would. I even brought some fresh pine branches in a weighted vase to the fair to display them:


Here are my newest pendants, many of which sold the night of the fair!:


I didn't have a huge assortment of mew pins, earrings or hairpins, but they did very well regardless:


These rings are my new passion; I had a blast making them, and they are so fun to wear.:


I also managed to create 2 new paintings. Here is the first, which is an 8x10 acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas, with antique music sheet circa 1890:


Here is the second, 'The Heart Bowed Down', also an 8x10 acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas, with antique music sheet circa 1913:


Here is my Christmasy little display; it was too much fun!:


I hope all of you had an amazing holiday season, and that this New Year has all sorts of wonderful things in store for you!