Black and White for Halloween

I decided to do a little something different with my Halloween decorating this year....Black and White!  Gotta say, I'm loving it!!  This room is actually meant to be the formal living room.  Who says you can't rearrange the rooms occasionally?  :)

 

 

Thank you for peeking in!  Happy Halloween!

 

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Well jeez! Another year...

Another year gone by.  And what a year it has been!  Miss Macey turned four and goes to preschool two days a week now.  Tyler is now 16 months and is giving me gray hairs daily.  ;)  That's the BEST in life.  (Well, not the gray hairs.)  The not so good, well, I like to focus on the positive.  Let's just leave it at that.  And the mundane things....we moved household in March.  Though things are unpacked, the house is not as I like it to be.  So much painting to be done and so little time to do it!

My space at Monticello Antique Marketplace keeps me busy, as do bears, a little side gig - helping a friend with estate sales, and of course, the grandchildren and Bill.  So you see why I have so little time to paint.  The sad thing is that I have actually picked out paint colors and have purchased some of said paint.  I WILL get to it eventually!

So, the new house is big.  It's really big.  It's so big that I actually have a room inside the house for all my Halloween and Christmas decorations.  We also have a room designated as the Monticello room for staging all the antique goodies for the different seasons.  Is that beyond crazy?!!  Yeah, crazy AWESOME!

Oh, and my new studio space is cozy....yes, meaning small.  Smallest room in the house!  This is a good thing really.  I don't need any more stuff to accumulate in there!!  I do have plenty, and actually, my desk is chock full of ideas for this, that, and everything else!  On that note, I will close, get up there, and create something.  :)

I hope it's only a matter of days before another blog post with pretty things rather than a year.

Happy Autumn, friends!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta 

While I wasn't looking.

Wow!  I've been away much too long.  Looks like Blogger has changed a few things while I wasn't looking!  Time to clear away the cobwebs on this blog!!

What the heck have I been doing since March?  Working, working, working and having a new little wee grandson steal my heart!!  Yeppers, Miss Macey has a little brother, little Mister Tyler Warren, born June 7th.  We are so blessed!!  And you thought my hands were full with Miss Macey, Monticello Antique Marketplace, and The Silly Bear!  Add a grandson and a new part-time job working with an Estate Sale company.  Oh, but think of all the goodies I'll find to share with you!

 Miss Macey is now 3 years old!

Sweet baby boy, Tyler Warren.

 Newer Bears:  The Nurse and Sailor have been adopted.  Little Grey is available in my Etsy shop.

The back garden patio.  A place for sipping and dreaming.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I can hardly believe it's already March 17th. Who pushed the accelerator anyway? Thought I'd take a minute to share with you my two newest listings. Baxter is the sweet little bear up there. He's visiting Etsy. And, the sweet little chick down there is visiting Ebay for a three day auction!

Trying to get things moving along before I take some time to play "shuffle the spaces in our home" as we get ready for the arrival of our grandson in June. My studio will most likely be moving to the largest bedroom with a walk in closet!! That room has been the guestroom, which has gone mostly unused and it just seems silly to waste the space when we need it for daily life.

I'm going to try my very best to post pictures of the transition because I know how much all of you like pictures! I do too!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Red W. Blue

A quick little post......Red W. Blue has just been listed on Etsy. http:etsy.com/shop/aletabreese Been crazy busy with Easter goodies for Monticello but I did make time to finish this, the last red mohair bear for me. I'm moving back to traditional colors and more traditional bears with only a scattering of the "odd duck" here and there.

Oh, and I'll have some bears with dolls similar to my 2007 TOBY winning bear. (Pictured over there to the left.) The dolls will be handsculpted by me and nestle in antique trunks and include clothes and other assorted goodies that might be found in antique doll trunks!! Doesn't that sound delightful?!! I have one in the works right now. :)

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Learning Etsy and listing on Ebay again soon!

As you can see, I'm having fun playing with the clay! These two sweeties will join Miss Amelia Ruffleflounce on Etsy or on Ebay sometime this weekend.

It's a huge learning curve getting to know Etsy and learning all over again how to list on Ebay. With so many changes in my life over these past few years, my collector base for bears has dwindled as I've gone from one thing to another feeling so unsettled. As such, the traffic to my website now is....ummm.....rather spotty. ;)

One thing is for sure, it's time to start from scratch. Etsy is a great place for me to encompass all the artistic avenues under one umbrella because I don't want to give anything up. I just have to figure out a way to blend it all together in a way that makes sense. Over time it will all work out. I'm looking forward to the challenge and hope you will follow along.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Full circle with new work.

Miss Amelia Ruffleflounce

One of a kind, Miss Amelia is handsculpted and handpainted with an aged fine crackle then sealed with a matte finish. Her eyes are antique shoe buttons. She has a cotton body and is weighted to sit like a proper bunny.

A piece of early 1900's christening gown was used for her bodice. The faded robin's egg blue jacket is trimmed with antique lace, a porcelain bird button, crinkly ribbon trim and a sweet little crochet dangly thingie.

Look at all those yummy yummy layers of loveliness! Four layers of vintage and antique textiles were made into knickers, slips and a skirt. Oh and those sweet little wool felt shoes with the ribbon rosettes!! So charming, right?

And last, but certainly not least, Miss Amelia wears a simple snip of white silk ribbon around her lovely ears.

Miss Amelia Ruffleflounce is available for $265.00 (US) plus postage on Etsy. Please send along a note if you are interested or visit Etsy.

A little background: Long before mohair there was clay. Many of you don't know I designed figurines and dolls for Enesco, a giftware company, years and years ago. Back then I used Fimo or Sculpey to sculpt samples that would be reproduced for production. Just recently, I found the joy of working with Paperclay! Unlike the aforementioned products, Paperclay is a medium that requires me to get the lead out and just design already! There's not much mucking about with this stuff because it starts to set up fairly quickly. What I really, really love about this medium is the ability to make truly one of a kind pieces. This stuff has a mind of it's own in the drying process so each piece is absolutely one of a kind just in the sculpt. Add the fact that each piece is then handpainted and aged, and that each doll is dressed in antique and vintage finery.....well, you get the idea.

Thank you so very much for peeking in! I'd love it if you have a moment to leave a comment. Good, bad or indifferent. It's how, we as artists, grow. Keep in mind though, for bad comments, you get the evil eye and the bird of paradise will poo in your pansy patch. *wink*

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Moving along at warp speed!

Our sweet, sweet Miss Macey. She's almost three years old. Crazy!! She's doing great! I love this picture of her. It makes me think all she needs is ruby slippers. :)

Part of the reason for my absence is that I continue to be busy trying to keep up with Monticello Antique Marketplace as well as creating new designs for my collectors.

This brings me back to a time well before this blog was started. It actually takes me all the way back before mohair bears. At a time I was sculpting figurines for Enesco! Life has come full circle. I've returned to my love of sculpting to see if there is any interest. Only this time I'm sculpting with paperclay instead of Fimo or Sculpey. I'm having a grand time with the paperclay even though I have to work MUCH faster with it. A little sneak peek can be seen in the photo above and to the right. Dollies!! I'll be posting larger pictures soon.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Maybe THIS year I'll actually redo that Santa Claus. I threaten to every year. I bought him years ago because I really liked his kind face. I'd like to give him a lovely new coat made from one of my old red and white quilts. Oh, and he definitely needs an artist made bear and stocking and a tree with german glass baubles. Maybe this year. Maybe. It's not like he really NEEDS a redo. We'll see. It's a lovely idea anyway!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

All dressed up for Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Won't you come in and sit for a spell? I promise only treats, no tricks.
Oh, but wait! One little trick here. Those chair wraps are made by taking black sheer curtains purchased from Ikea (I think they were $6.99 for the pair) and tying them in a knot. How simple is that?!! I inserted one of my Halloween wands but you could gussy them up with flowers or....whatever!
The house we're living in has a greatroom floor plan. The entry, living, dining and kitchen are all open so the whole space got a little Halloween magic.
Miss Mannie and Miss Quinn are all dressed up and ready to greet guests this weekend. If only they could help me string all the spider webs to really set a spooky mood.
Thank you for dropping by. I do hope you have a Jolly Halloween!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

New Studio!

Welcome to my new studio space! It's cozy. That's a lovely way of saying it's really quite small compared to what I was used to. :)

This is a moment when my desk was clean. To see it today it isn't quite that tidy. When I'm at my most creative, I'm at my most messy!

The nice thing about working in a small space is that everything is within reach.

This space has a vanity sink and cupboards just to the right of the closet and through the door. It makes it really nice to be able to airbrush and paint all in one space.

I love, love, love IKEA shelf units. They make a small space much more organized. Especially with all the boxes that fit nicely inside! Atop the shelves are some of my favorite things. Pink and white with touches of aqua.

As hard as it was to leave our other home, this one is a pretty good fit for where we are in life right now. I like this space. It makes me happy to be in it. I can create art and that's what I need.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Forever Changed - July 13th

The morning of July 13th forever changed our lives. I took Macey to meet Brittany at Macey's doctor's office for what we thought may have been a milk allergy. As it turns out though, Macey was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Her glucose reading was 592. Normal is around 90. I remember the doctor saying over and over, "I'm so sorry."

Brittany and I had no idea how our families lives would be forever changed. The next thing we knew we were driving over I-84 to check our sweet Miss Macey into the hospital. This picture was taken exactly one week before her diagnosis. As we understand now, Type 1 Diabetes can come on quite rapidly.

Our lives now revolve around glucose tests, carb counting and insulin shots. It's been such a shock emotionally but we are trying to find our way and Macey is such a brave little girl. The good thing about being diagnosed so early is that this will become normal for her. Right now though, for the rest of us, it shatters our hearts that this sweet little girl will have a life of finger pokes and insulin shots four to five times a day.

I will get to those studio pictures. Life just threw us a curveball and I've been out in the cornfield trying to find my way back to the ballpark.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Moving forward one step at a time.

After what seems like it's been an eternity, we are moving on and building a new nest. Our previous home still hasn't closed. We are on the third, or is it the fourth, buyer. An all cash deal for the bank, this latest one. If they don't accept it, there is something seriously wrong with the banking industry. It's ridiculous!!
We've found a house to begin the rebuilding process and we're starting to feel okay. It's odd to rent after so many years of owning. Our landlords have been kind enough to let us make it our own by allowing us to paint rooms. I've only painted two so far. Macey's bedroom and my studio are a beautiful shade of soft pink. That's enough for now.
The cats seem to have weathered everything just fine and have found their favorite spots.
And would you look at our sweeter than ever granddaughter!! She celebrated her second birthday in May. Can you believe it?!! :)
Now that I have a studio in which to work and spread all my projects around, I'm back to creating again. I'll post tour pictures soon. For now though, it's enough for me to have a blog post up letting everyone know we are on the mend and have so very much to be thankful for. Thank you for hanging in there with us and cheering us on as we move forward.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Life changes.

This photo, taken of one of my favorite old dolls, truly shows the sadness and scrapes and scuffs Bill and I have lived this past year. You may have noticed from spotty posts since April of last year that I really checked out for awhile. The economy and housing crash took it's toll and despite our best efforts to hold on to our beautiful home the time came to let it go when the banks wouldn't work with us. Being self-employed has it's upside and downside. Losing one's home can only really be understood by those who've experienced it themselves.

So, we have put on our best smiling faces and we're moving forward. There are boxes everywhere waiting to be moved. Packing my studio and Macey's room have proven to be the most difficult in different ways.

Speaking of Macey, our most precious granddaughter, here is the most recent picture taken of her. This move hasn't seemed to have fazed her a bit so far. I have to tell you, if not for being her caregiver Monday through Friday, there would be many days I would not have even gotten out of bed. Macey has been a blessing in so many ways no one could have ever imagined. Hard to believe, she'll be two in May!!

I'm sorry this has been a real downer of a post. It's reality though and I know there are many others out there feeling some of the same types of struggles. My heart goes out to those of you who are.

There are bright spots on the horizon for us. We've found a lovely house to lease not far from where we are now. We won't have a beautiful pool and acre of ground but we won't have the maintenance or cash outgo either. We are in the process of rebuilding our lives and ourselves....home will come. We're going to be fine. Better than fine actually. We've got each other, family and friends and health. We have everything!

Warmest bear hugs,

Aleta

Yardley Featherbottom

Yardley Featherbottom will be available to purchase beginning November 20th promptly at 9am New York time at Teddies Worldwide Holiday Bear Show. I do hope you'll visit. Friday I'll pop in with another sneak peek!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Online Holiday Bear Show!

I'll be there with bears in tow. I hope you'll attend! Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Four bears and a cat.

Meow! This pink kitten has just been listed on my website as well as three new bears and one who's been around the block once already. You can find them here. Bless you for taking the time to peek in. :)

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Distractions galore!

I've been celebrating life, family and birthdays.....
watching Macey become the most divine little pixie.....
and creating art!
I've also been nominated for a Golden Teddy Award bestowed by Teddy Bear Review magazine! What a huge honor!! It was so unexpected because although I LOVE this bear design, my collectors haven't been as keen. Life is funny that way.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta