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HOME dot com by sjacobsfabian ©

visitors hard won
pristine marvel to see
tangled and yet strong
graphic fragility

Idyll(ic)

Back to work soon and it'll be time to miss my idyll time, again. Less time to spend with nature's exclusive works of art...sigh... Less time to be careful what I wish for, eh? Ha!

She (Mother Nature) helped me minimize flower costs. That was accomplished mostly with overwintered Creeping Jenny - right in its intended destination. I just added a few flowers and voila! Instant gratification. The 3 types of coleus are Redbean (at center), Lemon Twist and Kingswood Torch and they provide a textural backdrop. Gerber daisies are planted for their summer-long contribution and finally, this trough features tiny, "Firecracker" Zinnia. They'll grow more as they mature. I'm a sucker for these old fashioned posies.

Planted in this statuary, dubbed "Our Lady", is sweet alyssum and corkscrew rush. We called it the "Spike Lee do" but I think maybe "Whoopie" would be better. I hope the trellis realizes its climbing rosebush by summer's end.

The last pic is of overwintered baby's breath (no coddling required) with zinnia again. Sweet scale placed in front of our patio door, its blossoms just about ready to popPp. This is one of 3, the center being a chartreuse hosta, for contrast.

Happy gardening, my friends.

B U T-ful (Blogger Awards)

Award time! The table's set for you with handmade pom pom flowers, made after visiting one of my winner's blogs.

This will be a visual mouthful, so bear with me...Miss Bohemia bestowed upon Mamasakio a "Beautiful Blogger Award". Which begat, lucky me, the award from Mamasakio (who's also a fav art friend)... Anyway, I'm passing this slick sucker on to 15 new charmed, virtual winning authors.

These award winners weren't necessarily aware of my admiration, 'til now. Some create things I can not. Some are inspirational and I consume the big "Inspire" daily. Others are spunky, sassy and sooo supportive. (Insert lithsp here) Some have invaluable links and some post videos of works in progress (wip). Yum. Some are painters, assemblage or outsider artists, metal smiths and photographers. It's a fairly diverse list and I hope you are as enamored as I. I'll include a brief description of each but I encourage you to check them out. Don't miss their favored links too such as Mystele's. She includes a treasure trove of wip videos on her YouTube page. I spend loads of time drinking that knowledge nectar. Yes, self-confessed Mystele wip junkie here. I don't create works like Mystele but her technique demonstrations have helped me stretch for more depth in my art for which I'm very grateful. That fast friendship led to meeting Ronnie (son of a) Gun Tucker and so on. You get the picture.

The number "15" seemed like an insurmountable number but in retrospect, it's sorely lacking. Too many to choose from, it turns out. Let me just add, most of these bloggers are staunch cheerleaders for the rest of us lucky duckies so I hope you give them their due.

Here's how it works...

• Thank the wonderful person who chose you for the award and link up to their site. It sounds a little selfish but, believe me, it creates future invaluable marketing for your award winners.
• Choose 15 bloggers/recipients (old or new) that top your elite stable of bloggers.
• Let each blogger know that you sang his/her praises.
• State 7 things about yourself, exaggerated and otherwise. ;)

Gallerie SUZE's Fab Phifteen Beautiful Bloggers (I quote Shirley here...'no particular order')

Little Glimpses Studio, Mystele Kirkeeng - mixed media artist and video tutorial genius (all 'round lovely person)

My Paintings, Kim Roberti - daily painter, I want to be like her when I grow up, talent and particular styling but also in her discipline. She's been at this for almost 3 years. Daily? Good lord, I'd be a success just to remember my meds everyday!

Mamasakio, Shirley Amatsakio - jewelry maven/artiste and friend who dishes out encouragement quite liberally. (Love my purchase too, it looks like this one...) I rarely spend da dough but just HAD to have that!

The Thrifty Collage Artist, Suzan Bucker - artist/antique dealer, not only do I loove her painting style but the logistical approach to blog content and link icons are cool too. She even has ephemera daily freebies!

Henle Studio, Cecilia Henle - another great artist whose blog includes artist's studio shots and resourse(ful) links

Katy Elliot - success mogul/jane of all trades, bits o' food, photography, design, art,

decorating, mentoring

Paper Chick, Vanessa Cavaco - stationery designer from Blue Sugar Press

(her link on paper flowers inspired our son's wildly successful wedding decor,

see pic above)

Pam Garrison - artist/crafter, journaling with wip blogs featured

(there's also more paper flower inspiration made from coffee filters...brilliant)

Charlotte's Fancy, Karin and Molly - I'm a bonafide(o) paper flower freak(o)

now. Check out the linked entry on cupcake topper flowers! I made a boo boo

on one but love it too much to gift to my sister, the intended recipient)

Tsk, Greedy Suzi...

Art & Life by Jessica Torrant - artist/painter and wip video art blogger

(I still regret not buying the piece that led me to her works) And her flicker link

is loaded!

Golly Bard, Holly - Artist/Illustrator with a unique spin on the truly avant garde,

be it a sweet or serious) Her hearts and birds suckered me in.

Crystal Neubauer, art and objects - mixed media/assemblage artist

(love her encaustic pieces and object goodies galore) Looks like she's

a teacher as well.

On My Desk, Linzie Hunter - some of you may know my obsession

with peeking into art studios. Linzie invites others to share theirs.

God bless you! Busy bodies arise!

Biddy Brain, Ronnie Gunn Tucker - contemporary folk artist/friend

She (and her art) is quirky and infectiously happy. I value her friendship

and envy her "I Have Power Mug"

and last but not least... Old Crow Farm Antiques, Jordana & Kasey

funky, junky treasure hunters. I love antiques and they showcase their

phat finds with phab fotography.

7 things about me...

if you ask me the time, I may reply "which poem?"

i love crows, gingkos, pears, and clean toilet seats (tee hee)

i hate shoes, they're prisons!

love not having nails…must type notes about not having nails quickly. Pronto! Yesterday(te).

I met my husband after seeing him onstage in a pink satin jester's suit - love at first sight. Sigh.

I garden to grow and to paint. Weeds? My uninvited guests, especially creeping Chuck(y).

I'm a jane of all trades who has yet to paint in oils, master clay, roll with the felt,

cake on the encaustics and master the scale. We can't all be perfect, eh?.

DION and on

Raw and real. Dion Hitchings is a fierce presence. Why? One reason, sheer talent. It goes without saying that "outsider art" is a fav. With this artist - vivid color, bold strokes, captivating subjects and a fascinating imagination speaks with true "outsider" accent.

Dion's portfolio is packed with firecracker works, sometimes yipping at Picasso's heels. Take for example, the 7 deadly sins | envy the green dog. Be sure to check out "lust jimmy carter" on the same page. Hitching's strokes smack of genius as seen in lust's image, whose chosen subject is Jimmy Carter. Pres. Carter is decidedly beloved but poking a bit of decadent fun brought the image to another level.

And anyone experiencing a bad day can can relate to this self portrait

from Dion's self portraits 3 collection. Dion also takes on Tiger Woods and the 'nun with a bit of a mustache smoking'. Those series and the sunflower people…a poignant look at a death in the family…the self portraits and well, I could go on and on. You just have to see for yourself. As always, readers, thanks for respecting copyright privileges.

On a personal note: Dion, thanks for the chance to show your images here. Lucky for us, your imagination will hopefully keep us rolling in your works. Keep those gems coming, my treasured cyber friend.

SK8 BORED

I've been Zazzled. Just created 3 skateboards for my Zazzle store. Creating is fun again. Something new. First up at left, GOOD GIRLS DON'T TELL turned out pretty well. I haven't seen much for rocker girls in the skateboard genre so this is my contribution...sort of a Joan Jett approach, if you will.

Next is EXTREME CHIMERA, Losing Control. I've shown it here in both orientations because of its dual-viewing distinction. Merging my Etsy store ATC watercolor image, SP-EYE-DER, I-Webbed with an acrylic painting, DESPERADO, Swat Me worked out really well. Photoshopped and be-bopped, it's a fantastical approach.

SNAKE EYES AND MEN is, well, let's face it...a blatant attempt to lure in the male sector with a "bad boy" 'tude. I like the way these two images go together. Snake eyes for both the invertabrate AND those with no backbone. (sorry, couldn't resist)

This addition of a new product was loads of fun and definitely sparked my creative juices. There should be another word for "work" when it's nothing short of exhilarating. Can't wait to shake up the skateboard world again and, no, I won't be breaking my back on one. But, for those who do...I hope it's all "air" for you.

Rooster Pride Greeting Cards from Zazzle.com

Rooster Pride Greeting Cards from Zazzle.com

Here's a card for fun...

Mama(mia)sakio

Fun new fav to tell you about this dreary Monday morn...sorry for the lapse in entries.

Sharing my merveilleux purchase! In fact, I'm wearing it to my son's wedding. Lucky, lucky me. Some purchases are made hesitantly but this one was an immediate knee jerk reaction. Follow her on Etsy and zibbet... we'll see many more of this style, I'm sure, but the vision of Mamasakio's Etsy offerings is enviable.

Love those rings too! Be sure to check out her shop. I think you'll appreciate the affordability too. Really nice person. It's always nice to spoil the "really nice person" in ourselves and not feel so guilty at the same time, right, girls?

You rock, oh patient Shirley!