The Queen Lives...

Even if she has been quiet for the last month. Yes, MONTH. Can you believe that?? I doubt anyone thought I could go that long without running my mouth!

Without giving you a long excuse explanation of where I've been, I'm just going to jump right back in. I've been working on lots of art during my absence, in a variety of media. It's been interesting, having the beasts home on summer break and trying to create. You haven't lived until you have three wild heathens running lose among open paint cans, hot instruments, and fabric galore. In order to keep me from going totally over the edge, we won't discuss their interaction with fabric dye...except to say, they were outside when I started - and in my defense, I had it all set up in MY sleeping quarters. You wouldn't expect a herd of wild animals (aka: my kids and all their friends in the neighborhood) to tromp through your room - without warning and uninvited - would you??

I suppose that's what happens when one is silly enough to run to the bathroom. You see, I thought my lack of response to my 16 year olds' yells from the front door would be a hint for him to come in and find me. HA Lesson learned. Apparently, not screaming back is a signal to come on in...and bring all your friends, too! Then everyone under 16 in my neighborhood can stand outside my bathroom door, anxiously awaiting my answer about whether they can have Freezer Pops.

However, this situation did teach me two things.

1) Eleven kids can fit in a space no larger than 3'x6'...the size of the vanity area in my bathroom.
2) No matter how fast you think you can pee, eleven kids can go from playing outside to rioting just outside the bathroom door faster than that. Especially when they know you have Freezer Pops in your freezer.

Today I'll share with you, two cards I made yesterday.

Gold metallic card. Funky "splatter" stamp used with VersaMark ink, covered with Polished Pigments mica. Edged in Hazy Magenta. Black flourishes stamped with Memories ink. Mica stamped with old Hero Arts text stamp. Angelina fibers I made into paper, then cut. Copper mesh cut into rectangle, then fan folded. Rhinestones in green, blue and clear. "Family" tag that was silver - I covered it in Hazy Magenta before embossing it with Franklin Opals, a clear embossing powder. There is a dark blue baby skeleton leaf tucked beside the mica.

This began with a white pearlized card. I stamped the background with the same "splatter" stamp used above. It was stamped with VersaMark again - and I also used Polished Pigments again, just in a different set of colors. A dark blue skeleton leaf was added to this card as well, as well as a "Good Luck Knot" I made from Mizuhiki Cord. I tied blue, green and gold wire around the top of a gold feather charm. I delaminated (separated) a large piece of mica and wrote "Abundance" (Souffle pen, black) and is lined with a yellow Glaze pen. (A note about the Glaze pens: I love them and how they write - but I'm really disappointed with them. Out of the 10 in the pack, 7 leaked and are unusable.) The card is edged in gold leafing pen, and the top of the card has little gold coin charms (similar to these) and blue 11/0 seed beads attached with 28 gauge gold wire I spiral wrapped before threading it through holes I punched into the card.

Just FYI: I listed links to the products I used for convenience only. The links I provided do not mean I purchase from that particular website - so please check out any online business before buying from them. I only provided links because it drives me nuts when someone uses something cool in a creation - and I have no idea what it is, or what I'm looking for.

Please feel free to leave comments. And a great big thank you to everyone who has commented lately. I promise I HAVE been reading comments - I just haven't responded due to my computer problems. Have I mentioned how much I've missed you guys??

Have you purchased your Hallmark card yet??

xx,

b

Aside from being The Queen of My Own Reality (which takes most of my time), I'm an artist. And I seem to spend quite a bit of time with my little subjects - who feel comfortable enough to call me "Mom" instead of Queen.

The Castle is in Denver, Colorado, at the foot of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Some of the world’s best skiing and mountain resorts are within our kingdom. The Queen is unable to wear high heels without practically killing herself…so the fun and beauty of the mountains is observed from a safe, warm, distance – and hot chocolate and mini marshmallows are within easy reach.

Three cats and a turtle are the four-legged residents of our castle, and the Queen enjoys these creatures…mostly because they don’t talk back.

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Q 

Art is Life

Art is my life...

My heart...

My essence.

Welcome to my world

Below is just some of the art I have created. Please feel free to browse through it and leave any comments you have. Always open to a good critique – criticism or compliment - all I ask is you’re honest in your assessment & that proper credit is given where due. I will sick the childebeasts on you if you steal my art & pass it off as your own…so please don’t. Want to use my art? Contact me.

Above all…Enjoy!

 

Click on the word under each image to view additional images

Fiber Arts

Candles

Greeting Cards

Jewelry

Clay  

Journal 

Big Book

Kids

Home Decor

Do I Havta??

The Book

So here it is. THE INTERVIEW.

I'm not so sure this turned out the way I had hoped anticipated.

That said, I'm still posting it. In its entirety.

Good idea? I don't know. I never know. Until after I do something.

This is me. This is Wix. These are side comments, or thoughts. This is the poem. And now you're on your own. So here we go...

Wix

Hi, Wix. Would you please introduce yourself to everyone?
Umm My mom is the only one who calls me that, so don't get any ideas. I'm tall. I play the electric guitar. I'm 13 and have a little sister and an older brother. I'm taller than he is. I'm also smarter than he is. Well, I'm smarter and taller than the "Princess" (said with extreme sarcasm) is, too. And I love our cats. Did you tell your phantom readers you talk about, what happened to Squeak? (See how funny the kid is??)
No. I forgot.
(I'll spare you the 20 minute rant he then went on about how I obviously don't care about the cats, since I hadn't posted a global APB for our cat - who mysteriously "disappeared". A story for another day.)

Squeak - the missing kitty

Anyway...thanks for letting me interview you. I really like your poem.
I didn't "let" you. You're making me.
Duly noted. Why did you write this?
I didn't want to, but I didn't have a choice. The teacher made everyone write one.
I love the cover. What made you decorate it the way you did?
I collaged the front with paper because I can't draw. This seemed easier. Besides, you do stuff like tear up paper and say it's art. (Gee, thanks. The appreciation is heartwarming. Truly.)

Let's talk about the meaning of your poem. What instructions were you given?
To write a poem about, "I was... I am... I will be...". Are we done? Can I go??
Where do you want to go?
To finish playing video games.
But don't you always play video games?
No...I also havta go to school and sleep.
But school's out for the summer.
Thank goodness.
So let me interview you about your rockin' poem. I'll make you famous, baby.
Right, Mom. No one reads this. Am I done?
Ouch! As soon as you tell my readers about your poem.
Fine. I wrote it.
I love your modesty. And how you draw things out. You really don't like giving it all up too soon, do you?
I just think this is dumb. I wanna go play my game.
Chillax, Wix. You're going to turn into a video game...look! Look at your hands!! It's already starting!
You're one funny old lady. Not.
I'm glad to see you're on your best behavior. Let's move onto your poem or we may destroy the facade of functionality I've worked hard to build.
What?
Nevermind...

After much dragging and cajoling...

I was...
I am...
I will be...

The poem is about me. Where I've been, where I am now, and where I see my life heading. It addresses different aspects of life, and how I perceive each, or want them to be.
(Huh? Is this the same kid sewing his verbal oats above? I assure you it is - the same impatience and eyerolling was pervasive throughout our convo.)

Wait - Say that again...
Mom...It's about the way I see myself. The journey of growing. Or something. Blah. Blah. Blah. Why do I have to do this? No one cares or wants to know.

That isn't true. Every one is salivating to learn about this. So just do it.

I was surrounded by bars.
I am almost free.
I will be a free American.
It's about age - I started my life in a crib, now I have more freedom. When I'm 18 I will be a free American. I won't be a prisoner in "Royal Land - Where Children Have No Rights" anymore.

Does that mean you'll be glad to be rid of your "3 hots & a cot" gig?
I'll still drop by so you can cook and do my laundry for me - I'll just have a few human rights. I can't wait!
(Note: I don't want to know what that means...so I left it alone.)

I was uneducated.
I am loyal.
I will be a Marine.
This is about life. I was uneducated as a baby. Once I gained some knowledge I became loyal to those who gave it up. I want to protect the American way of life. If I become a marine, I can do that.

I was average.
I am poor.
I will be wealthy.
This part is about money. Duh.
Wait - just one question about this part. When did you go from "average" to "poor"?
When I was born. I'm kidding. Kind of.
Ha, you hater. And how long, exactly, do you think it will take you to get wealthy?
I dunno - but it'll be faster than your other two. Does the prison still pay for making license plates?
You're terrible, Wixster. But when you're rich and famous, Just don't forget who raised you. All alone. Who cooked for you and washed your skivvies all these years.
We'll see. I may suffer from short term memory disease. That could happen, ya know.
(At this point I'm wondering if - just maybe - I really did drop him on his head one too many times as a baby.)

I was delinquent. (His words...not mine.)
I am making progress.
I will be owning the world.
Tell me about this part.
My actions. Actions. Actions, Mom.


I was afraid of the dark.
I am better.
I will be fearless.
I bet you can't guess what this one's about
Fears - and overcoming them?
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ya want a cookie? Or another thing in that psyho crown you wear?
Hey - and what's wrong with my crown?
Nothing...if it's for your invisible friend...and you're SIX!
Moving on...

I was bored in life.
I am bored in school.
I will be interested in many things.
Ok, before you ask, this is about my interests. That is the last one...does that mean I'm done?
Not so fast, Junior. If school is boring, and you think life is boring, what will you be interested in?
Right now I'm interested in playing Super Smash Brothers. Can we please be finished?
In one more second.
Fine.
Thank you for doing this. I love you.
You're welcome, I guess. I'm outta here - and I love you, too, Mom.
I love you more.
That's impossible.

*At the end of the interview, he did say he was just kidding about the short term memory disease when he's wealthy...and promised to consider putting me in a good home.

Thanks, Wix.