Art & Music

I've been working some crazy hours as of late and when I'm not working, I'm full swing into redoing the guest/sewing room, and still in mess it up to fix it up mode. I'll have pics of the projects I'm working on soon, but in the meantime, I thought I'd do something a little different today, and share some of my mixed media collage art with you.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
~Eleanor Roosevelt


"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."
~Lanston Hughes

Much of my art is influenced by music.

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent."
~Victor Hugo


"There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold and she's buying a stairway to heaven."
~Led Zepplin


This collage by was inspired by the song of the same name, “Suite Madame Blue”, written by Dennis DeYoung and performed by Styx.
Madame Blue, is representative of America. It was written in 1975, just before the bicentennial as a wake-up call.

"Time after time I sit and I wait for your call
I know I'm a fool but why can I say
Whatever the price I'll pay for you, Madame Blue
Once long ago,
A word from your lips and the world turned around
But somehow you've changed, you're so far away
I long for the past and dream of the days with you,
Madame Blue

Suite Madame Blue, gaze in your looking glass
You're not a child anymore
Suite Madame Blue, the future is all but past
Dressed in your jewels, you made your own rules
You conquered the world and more ..............heaven's door"
I hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into some of the things that move and inspire me, and as such, how they're reflected in my art.

Until next time,
Sheilla

This post is shared on "Show and Tell Friday" at Cindy's gorgeous blog, My Romantic Home. You should check it out....lots of great ideas to discover!

My Art Prints Have Arrived!

Recently I decided to have some of my art work printed, but finding a printer turned out to be quite a challenge. After searching the Belfast area in vain for a print shop that could handle large, quality prints. I began searching online.
	"First Rose" - Pencil Sketch

My first several stops were quite discouraging. Most of the printers I found had extremely high prices for small quantities. But then I happened across Northeast Reprographics in Bangor. Their prices were quite reasonable, and to make things even better, Jeff was very helpful (and extremely patient) in guiding me through the process of preparing my artwork for printing.

"Stairway to Heaven" - Multimedia Collage

"Suite Madame Blue" - Multimedia Collage

I had 4 diffent types of media to print, pencil sketches, photographs, and collage, and I was quite happy with the results of each.
"Friends" - Black and White Photograph

The "Friends" shot is my sweet dobie-lab mix Lucy, with Prissy, my cat. It was an accidental shot, but one of my favorites. I'll be using the black and white images in the photo wall I'm putting together, and the collages will go in my guest room/project room that I'll soon be re-doing. I've just got to get the old bunk beds out of there so that I can start. Yesterday I visited a lumber yard and priced wood for a bookcase-room divider that I'm planning to build. It will be my first large woodworking project, so it will be interesting to see how that goes. The folks at Buxton Building Supply were extremely helpful in suggesting materials and, like Jeff at Reprographics, most patient in guiding a newbie! Time to get busy!

Until next time,

Time for a Change

Well, the Style de Boheme store will be coming, but not as soon as I'd planned. I've decided to do some things around home before I launch the store. In fact, I think I may wait until fall to launch, as my very dear friend, Barbara will be coming to visit and I want to keep my time free. I also want to have the house looking spiffy when she gets here!

I've been putting ideas together for my decorating schemes, and came across a magazine that I LOVE! Flea Market Style is probably the best magazine I've come across in some time. I saw a mood board on page 40 of the current publication, and that was enough to get me moving. While I've seen a number of beautiful mood or inspiration boards, this is the first one I've seen in black and white. It is truly stunning! So...it was off to the Goodwill Store to buy a bulletin board that I could transform. This is my version. I painted the entire bulletin board white, and then to add a bit of dimension, I rubbed some gold paint into the recesses. Then the fun began! I displayed some of my favorite magazine clippings, a few old photos, some vintage lace, and a cherub head on the board. I think my favorite addition to the mood board was some jeweled push pins that I made.

I'd recently picked up a bargain desk and my favorite junque store, and the mood board was the perfect accessory to top it. This is where I'm planning to do most of my painting and paper projects. I can just look up for some great inspiration! As you can see, I've used various pieces of glassware and pottery in white and gold to hold many of my art supplies.

You can see in the photo below, that I've also found the perfect place for my decoupaged chair. It's another of my flea market redo's. I've covered it with vintage sheet music, old French love letters, and wallpaper scraps from the 1930's and 40's; with a few photos and magazine clippings added for good measure.

I have so many projects in my head right now I can hardly wait to move.  But for now, it's time for bed....

Until next time,