Last Artist of the month for 2008!

For those of you not yet aware of the artistry of Beth of Strange Dolls, this will be a visual feast!!



So exciting!!!



Beth Robinson (Strange Dolls) is an ingenious artist with a grand conscience that shows in every piece she creates. Clearly affected by the world around her, I believe she often creates pieces that reflect her desire to understand & explain the darker circumstances of our world today.


"Stitch Bitch"



I so enjoy her attention to detail and the subtle differences of textures and color even when a "blood stain" is present. This never over-done ability, really impresses me.





She has found wonderful recognition, as she was recently commissioned to create for a Cirque de Soleil installation and fundraiser for energy efficiency!! What an honor!!
The dolls are 30 inches tall and made with Cernit and Aves. They were suspended, like acrobats, in the air.





These odd dolls are not something you will find in a toy store. They are hardly something you would buy for a child. They are misproportioned, strangely dressed, and they have a story and character uniquely their own.







Created after reading about doctor assisted suicide, she created this gripping piece
(I could not upload photo's at the time of publishing, so click link to view..amazing!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/strange_dolls/447742587/





Each doll is entirely hand made using polymer clays, vintage fabrics, acrylic paint, and sometimes real human hair or teeth. Each piece is one of a kind.





Artist Bio:




Beth Robinson is a self-taught Vermont artist who has been making and selling hand made dolls since 2003. Although she found significant success with her oil paintings, her life was transformed when a friend sent her a link to a Japanese doll artist's website. From that moment she realized that taking her characters off the canvas and turning them into actual little people would be the best way to express herself.



Her dolls have been featured in the magazines: SPIN (USA), Stuff (USA), Maxim (UK and Hong Kong), Rue Morgue (Canada), Art Doll Quarterly (USA), Nordic Vision (Norway), and RIP (Russia).





"Apparition"

In closing, it is really no wonder that Beth has found such success in her few short years of sculpting. She clearly took to it like a duck in water and has found her "voice". Her dark, even at times unsettling works are always strangely beautiful in execution and leave you pondering what prompted such a piece?

~Links~

Blog - n - Website

Santa came to town & made Mom & Dad proud!

Our 15 year old son Gavin played Santa Claus today for the township children (shhh & maybe some adults)!



Santa always comes the Sunday before Christmas each year driving around town on top of the Fire Truck. Santa's helpers hand out candy canes to all the residents who wait for him to come by!





~I have the warm & fuzzies~

A wonderful honor and my 1 year Anniversary blogging today!

I love the Wymzee Arts award and what it stands for. I am very honored to be thought of in such a lovely way that they chose to add me to their list of recipients.

~CLICK~

To read my interview

What is the the Wymzee Arts Award?

This has been made to Showcase what we believe to be the..... Top Creative Blogs, Websites & Artists currently online. We selected these people because of their Outstanding Art Work, Friendship, Support to all the Craft Community, and Creative Excellence. You will see us showcase only the Best! We would like to say...Welcome to Wymzee Art Friends"Showcase of the Best Artists for the year 2008"

Thank you Sandra & Lisa for thinking of me in such a positive way and for understanding that nothing would make me happier than to see every artist succeed in a way that makes them happy.

a HUGE Thank you to many of you who have followed my lil ambitious blog. Hard to believe I have been doing this consistently for a year already.

You ALL (yes even the woman who called me a devil worshiper for combining Christmas & Halloween arts together on SpookyTimeJingles.com) have made my life better.

I have seen many opinions, suggestions, hopes, dreams, aspirations & inspirations. I have seen many of you lift each other up and care for each other in times of need. I have seen you join in swaps, host swaps, give awards and help spread "the" word about the latest and greatest.

This whole blogging atmosphere, 100% has created communities of people with common goals who genuinely care for each other, even though many have never actually met.

I am undoubtedly a better person due to this art driven community we have accidentally created. You all inspire me and show me the best in people. Thank you all for so much for welcoming me with open arms and for caring about what I have to say.

Much Love,

~Dani~

Ok, One more...PLEASE!

This cause is VERY important to me. PLEASE read and vote online.



President -elect Obama's team has created a web site asking individuals
to submit ideas for change and below is a link regarding ending sexual
violence. They are going to look at the top 3 ideas, so spread the work
on this one, which currently has only 61 votes.



http://www.change.org/ideas/view/get_serious_about_ending_sexual_violence







As a volunteer first responder to victims of sexual assault I can tell you we need ALL the resources we can get.





Besides, keeping up with the current technology so that forensically we can be sure to capture all the evidence (our machines are only a few years old are already outdated). We also need to provide the victim with a multitude of harsh medications to help combat any sexually transmitted diseases, a full change of new clothing as we take everything for forensic testing, Medical Care, Counseling, Legal aid, and sometimes shelter all add to the astronomical cost of caring for victim.





Imagine you or a loved one was in such a situation, would you not wish you had these services to help you through what is undoubtedly among if not thee absolute worst event ever in your life?




Now deal with it for the rest of your life.





I could ramble for hours and truth be told the details of why ALL nationwide organizations need more resources is because rape and incest is not going away without more monies, education & prevention programs & YOUR HELP!!





Please take the time to vote.




To learn more on how you can help or how to protect your loved ones, please visit:

Please make a difference FOR FREE!! GIVE RESPECT

Dear Friends....



There's a worldwide rally for respect going on. And it's all about preventing violence against women and children by building safer, healthier, and stronger homes and communities throughout the world.



Join me at the rally for respect at GiveRespect.org. Geoffrey Beene Gives Back™ will donate $5 to the Family Violence Prevention Fund just for entering the site. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference.



I ended having $25.00 donated in my name FOR FREE just by following the simple instructions that took me 5 minutes or less to click! I decided to donate $5.00 of my own money and Geoffrey Beene MATCHES YOUR DONATION !!! Just Keep following the prompts to donate for FREE!!



PLEASE... LET US ALL...

Show People we do care about them and that we will not tolerate abuse.


With Respect,
~Dani~

1st Time ever offered....

~I painted this in 2007 remembering some of the harder times in my life~


Ok, y'all...here it is. Go to my Etsy shop and....




MAKE AN OFFER!


That's right, make any offer on any piece for sale on Etsy .


Why, you ask?


Well, I have a very dear friend who was downsized many
weeks ago and still is without any income and lil prospects for the near future.


It is very important to me to help this friend. I adore this person and know how hard they are struggling. Many years ago this person was there for me in a time when I needed help as much as I didn't want to admit it.



ALL monies will go to help this person.



~Hugs in advance~


~x0x0's Dani~

~Quick News~

December 1oth will mark the next update on Pfatt!



You will find, I have some super fun & festive holiday pieces up for sale and priced to sell with Free SHIPPING!! Woo Hoo!



I would also like to ask you to visit my fellow SpookyTimeJingles artist Ginny Diezel on her Pfatt debut on Wednesday the 10th! Ginny is a wonderful artist/designer who is too humble to tell you how accomplished she is (Demdaco, ESC, Robert Kaufman.......).



~ HappY HolidayS my friends ~


~may the season bring you tons of smiles & heart warming joy~



~Dani~

Catching up and winner announced!

Well my friends I am soo very behind but really who isn't, right? Good news is my Red Friday Sales event went so well that I am stunned. I hadn't been selling much over the last few weeks and I can now see it was not my art that was the issue, it was pricing/shipping.

It is a frugal time and I must adapt by making smaller, less time consuming pieces. This is a bit of a challenge for me as I create whatever my minds says to.

I never did my November Artist of the month (hate that I didn't..ugh) & I am just getting around to announcing the blog giveaway winner for the Christmas cd.

I am tickled Christmas pink over the random number generators choice of #4 as she is one of my dear blog friends and a SpookyTimeJingles artist...

Suz Of Surprise, Delight, Joy

CONGRAT'S!

I hope you enjoy your Jingle Bell Jam Cd and it helps puts you into an extra festive mood!

~Hugs to all my sweet blogger friends~

~dani~

Red Friday is coming!!

This Friday, December 5th is Red Friday!


A group of us Etsyans will be updating our shops with new goodies and sales for the holidays ALL on the same day! I have been saving some new Holiday Treasures just for this special Etsy Sale.<BR>


To see the list of participating shop owners click the ad above or go to http://www.handmadehullabaloo.blogspot.com/.
More added daily until we hit our cap.




Happy Shopping!


Oh and do not forget that SpookyTime Jingles had an extra update today!! You should see these pieces of holiday art..AMAZING!!

SpookyTime Jingles will be updating again on its usual day the 13th of each month. So more goodies again in 2 weeks!! Woo Hoo~

Holiday Giveaway

~My cover art for 1st (hopefully) Annual JINGLE BELL JAM Christmas music swap~


(I used the actual Jingles Bells sheet music as the background)

I participated in a Christmas CD swap hosted by Melissa of Honey Girl Studios. She called it Jingle Bell Jam! Well, 10 of us swapped each and boy did I get some great Christmas music! My Mikey (aka the elf) is so tickled! We have been playing Christmas music since days after Halloween. So, I thought I would giveaway my Jingle Bell Jam creation to help you ring in the season!




My compilation consists of many of my all time favorite Christmas songs in an eclectic mix of Artists in Jazz, Rythym & Blues, Blues, Contemporary & Traditional Stylings.




Wanna win it?


Comment by telling me your favorite Christmas song. Yes pick one...well try...lol!


Mine is: Baby, it's cold outside by Vanessa Williams with a close 2nd of Jingles Bells by Diana Krall. LOVE Them both!




Winner announced whenever I get to it...guessing December 3rd ish!




xoxoxoxoxox's 2 u ~Dani~

It is now official......

Come see on December 1st & 13th on SpookyTimeJingles.com

So much to do and yet so 'lil gets done.

~A peek at one ornie I did finish..she is super sweet and makes me smile~







I am trying desperately to get my started pieces finished. I have multiple body parts lying around or pieces 90+ percent done that I just have to finish. I have been so easily distracted. And now the pumpkins are home for the Holiday week so it should prove interesting still trying to work during the day.



I have been in my studio with ear plugs in..yep ear plugs with Pandora (Adele, Duffy, Sia, Jem, Jemmy Moss,Imogen Heap, Corinne Baily Ray & Lily Allen) as my light background noise. These musical artists have gotten me through a tough few weeks and I could kiss each one of them for their talent.



So, I shall keep plugging along hoping "my fire" rears its pretty lil head again, soon.



~Dani~

2009 Skelly Swap for Sculptors

Well Versed sculptors of all clays welcome to join in this skelly ornament swap . I will keep this swap at under 15 participants.



Specifics:


1) Any size Skull head/style you want to make.

2) Should have a hanger.

3) I will pair partners up in January-February 2009

4) Skull should be sent out by the 2nd week in March 2009.




***Oh, and please remember to sign your skull!



*For those curious..this swap is not for craft projects.



Email me at AmbitionsDesign@yahoo.com to join.

~Happy Skulling~

Naughty or Nice?

~Eye Opener~

Whatever BS we each face in our daily lives...this brings it all into prospective.

What a great cause!!

Just a few hours left until our midnight
update!!

In a few shops this month on SpookyTimeJingles

Click photo to link directly to make a donation anytime!

For the month of November, select Halloween & Christmas pieces will have a portion of the sale price donated to Autism Speaks. Your donation is tax deductible. Please see individual descriptions for the amount of the donation.
Thanks for your support!

SpookyTime Jingles Peek!

"Midnight" the Dreary Doll scares away the Drearies from her owner. No more bad, sad gloomy days once you bring Midnight into your home.

Quick Peek!

Please visit me on Pfatt on November the 10th!

Progress, Wine & Hanging Heads

Here is a quick peek at a doll I am working on for SpookyTimeJingles.com. I took an online class from Gritty Arts, weeks back on how to apply Paperclay to cloth (Very Cool..btw) and am just getting around to completing my version of the doll (hers was a perfection of angelic and sweet, I just couldn't do it...lol). So, I am hoping to have this "so far - so good" doll done in time for the update.

~fingers, toes and eyes crossed~

So, could you use a lil giggle? I came home from a design consult last night (yes, I still do that very rarely and on referral only as time is a hot commodity anymore) and I had a surprise for my Mikey and it turns out he had one for me. We got to laughing so hard at the differences between our gifts to each other but still somehow perfection!

Mike came home with a bottle of Niagara wine from New Hope Winery (Pennsylvania Winery 30 minutes away). Each time we go to the cabin (3+ hrs away) we stop at our favorite local winery and buy a few bottles of their Niagara version. He was passing the New Hope Winery and thought he would surprise me with my usual yearly purchase of Spiced Autumn Wine (yummy-warm) but saw they had a Niagara and opted for that instead.



I however came home with something quite different.


Mike enjoys the wicked scary gory part of Halloween (who doesn't...lol) so while picking up nail polish remover at RiteAid, I saw these cool hanging heads for 75% off. I got them for $3.25 each!! I bought Mike one and realized on the way out they had the Skeleton head too, so I went back and got him the other as I knew he would LOVE THEM!!



Oh, love is a funny thing!

October's Artist of the Month!

This months artist who ROCKS is Sarah of SAS Photo's! Sarah exudes a vampy-edgy & cotton candy sweetness, while being very provocatively polished. I ADORE this!! She specializes in self portraits but she goes way beyond that. I have admired this chickie for years (yes Myspace again) but since getting to know her a 'lil better I am smitten even more with her awesome personality and not just her fabulous talent. Besides, being totally talented & genuinely sweet, she is gorgeous. Just look at her photo's! Oh, plus she is a local Jersey girl so of course I am a 'lil bit biased ;)




Sarah says......

I guess I started taking really horrible self portraits around 2004, but that's how I learned a lot. Then I would take pictures of my friends. I just kept doing it and the images and my editing skills got better. I'm still learning and trying to improve my images though.

What got me started was a mix between boredom and having a slight desire for modeling. I don't consider myself a model though...maybe I'm just my own model. So I guess I'm just an experimental portrait photography geek with some Photoshop skills.




I wish my photos could have more of a cinematic feel with more of a story behind them...maybe that is a goal I would like to achieve at some point. I'm completely inspired by films more than photographs. My favorite filmmakers are David Lynch, Alexandro Jodorowsky, John Waters, Todd Solondz, Gregg Araki, Harmony Korine, and a bunch more. I'm always searching for more films to obsess over.

Ah..judging by the above photo you are well on your way, sister!!




Same goes for music. I don't really have any favorite photographers surprisingly but I love the work of Lithium Picnic, Chas Ray Krider, Troy Paiva, amongst many others. I love so many different styles that I never know what direction to take with my own work. I'm a bit of a mess.





I had to giggle at that statement because I always think the same of myself.


NOW... Look at these model shots below. THEY ARE brilliant!








In closing what I like best about Sarah/Sas Photos is that she is self taught & approachable while her work makes her look totally at the top of her game and unapproachable. I suspect she has no idea just how good she is. I have to wonder if she could make me look even just a smidgen as fab as her and her models! Man oh man she would have to have some serious Photoshop skills for this 30 something Mom of 2 teens...eek!

NYC Halloween Parade-BEST in the WORLD! + My Fav..Oogie Boogie!

Happy Halloween everyone...now go TP your friends house!!!

>YOU MUST WATCH OOGIE do his BOOGIE!!!

2 new Halloween goodies

Finally was able to get a few fun new goodies in. $75.00 each with Free Ship on Blog only.

SOLD

Boo Ghosty is paperclay sculpted on a turned tapered wooden leg that has been heavily crackled. Tied with Bethany Lowe tinsels and attached wooden tiles read "BOO"!. Tapered leg grows out of sculpted pumpkin with moveable stem, all attached to a German Glass glittered block base.





SOLD
Cheery Pumpkinhead box is a paperclay sculpted pumpkin on a wooden tapered heavy dowel. with feathers around the collar. German glass glitters used on hat and box. Wooden box has a finished interior with black flocking! Resin bead finishes his polka dot party hat!

Halloween Party 2008

Some quick clips of our Halloween Party this past weekend
just before friends arrived.

Blog Winner & What I woke up to this morning!

So...... the random number generator says......

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

15

 

Timestamp: 2008-10-28 15:31:15 UTC

#15 is Monica Zuniga!!! is our WINNER!!! Congrat's Monica, you will love this art magazine and of course the SpookyTime Jingles ad...he he he!

Finally, this is what I woke up to this morning. I actually thought I was hallucinating at first. I had to go outside and show you my outdoor ghost which has a black cat and pumpkin in his belly with flying bats swirling around. However, not today...today they are FROZEN!

Art Doll Quarterly Blog Giveaway

How would you like to win the Winter issue of Art Doll Quarterly??!! This issue is not released to the public until November 1st but as an advertiser I receive them earlier!! Just so happens I received two of this issue and I will share my good fortune with you!!!


RULES

So, to win you MUST comment on this post and tell me what/who has influenced you most in your art or love of art


I have many contemporary favorites but 2 people jump to mind instantly. I have always loved Maxfield Parish for his use of light. The way he portrays light through clouds is so dreamy it feels magical. EVERY single time I look at the clouds I think of him and wonder how he he did it.





and Alexandra Nechita (mini master-child prodigy) for reminding me to paint for me and no one else.

I was lucky enough to see her original works in person in NYC about 10 years ago. She blends so many colors in a single piece and they are all work brilliantly. Although, I am not a big cubist fan, I am when it comes to her. I actually went into the city a 2nd time to see her works again the very next week but my train derailed when it abruptly stopped due to a sudden warning of a methane gas leak in Penn Station. Alexandra is now an adult and somewhat reclusive but her art still sells for 100's of thousands of dollars since she was 7 years old!





Winner announced by October 27th but will be anytime I can fit it in or feel like it!

Good Friends +Beach, Cemeteries, Antiquing & Seafood= Great Time!

Marie and I are showing off our happy feet!




So, here are a few quick highlights of the day trip that Marie and I took, that turned into 3 days!!!




We got up at 6 am (after a late night of wine and scrabble-ugh!) to see the sunrise over the ocean. It was a foggy morning but the temp and breeze were great and it turned out to be lovely watching the orange sun peeking through the clouds as it rose.





During our trip we visited some of the area cemeteries and found some beautiful masoleums.





Here is a photo looking through the copper door at the beautiful stained glass.



While we were taking pics, Marie realized we could see each others reflection through the glass. Can you see Marie?





We shopped in Manasquan and Pt. Pleasant Beach and found some wonderful shops with lots of ooh's and ahh's! Finally on the ride home we passed this farmers market and I just had to take a quick video. It so makes me laugh.



I needed this break and am so glad Marie was right along with me!!

A wee bit burnt out & sale for blog friends

Hey all my sweet blogger friends! Just wanted to say hi and bye..lol! I am a wee bit burnt out these days from the oodles of updates on all fronts.
I am going to take a few days to recharge and enjoy the beautiful Autumn days that are so quickly passing me by. With the start of SpookyTimeJingles.com this summer I literally spent the ENTIRE summer in my studio working with the exception of 6 days in the last week of Summer and I don't want to do that again.




So here are my plans:




We live in a historic river town with a State park that has two parks, one on the NJ side and one on the PA side. The NJ side has 369 acres & the Pa side has 478 acres with great hiking trails. I can literally walk out my front door, cross the street and hit the wooded trails.

So Colby (my sweet athletic dog) and I will be hitting the trails together this week and seeing what we can find!



For you history buffs this park also marks the site where, in a blinding snowstorm on the night of Dec. 25, 1776, General George Washington crossed the river with 2,400 colonial troops and captured 1,000 Hessian mercenaries.




Every Christmas morning their is an re-enactment in our town of General George Washington and his troops crossing. Cool, I think!





Ok, so enough of the history lesson. So hiking and then Marie of Marie Patterson Studio and I will be taking a day trip to the beach for some walking & inspiration and then shopping in the sweet lil town of Manasquan. Hope I can remember what it is like to relax (Marie be patient with me..lol) Finally, for some spooky fun....a haunted hay ride this weekend and a haunted tour of the Pennsylavania Pennitentiary is in order. I am excited to have some fun!!


~Thanx all see ya next week~

Oh, BTW...Anyone who mentions this blog gets 20% off of ANY and all items I have for sale..yep.. Etsy, SpookyTimeJingles, Pfatt-all of it!!! Enjoy~