Decorating With Handmade

What is your decor style?  Shabby chic? Rustic? Traditional?

Would you like me to tell you what looks great with every style?

Handmade.

Adding handmade decor to any style brings a uniqueness to your home that you just can't find in any big box stores or factory made furnishings.  A little touch here, and little touch there, and

VIOLA'

your home is uniquely yours.  Here's a few great ideas to get you started.

(If any links are available, you will find them under the pictures.)

Isn't this a great way to create mood lighting in a room?  Stop at any flea market and scoop up some old ladles.  Bend them and mount them on a piece of wood, add a candle...and perfect.  Use wonderfully white chippy wood for a shabby chic look, or use rough wood for rustic, and smooth painted wood for a more traditional look.  A great and easy DIY project.

UHL art

No home is completely "you" without an original piece of artwork that represents your style.  Not only does art express your inner feelings, it is also a great investment.

Ali's pots

And sometimes it's just the little things that can make a house your home.

What's your favorite decorating idea to bring personality to your home?

Be blessed,

Debbi

YBC Book Review - The Watercolor Course You've Always Wanted by Leslie Frontz

As an artist, I love to create beautiful things.  And as an artist, I love to try many different mediums.  One medium I have never really tried was watercolor because I thought it was too difficult.

Than along came this...

"The Watercolor Course You've Always Wanted"

by Leslie Frontz.

First, I just skimmed through the book.  Then I browsed a little more closely.  Then I got excited.

Every chapter is stuffed full of information for both the experienced watercolor artist, and for beginners like me.  I realized while reading this book, that you can't just jump into watercolor paint if you don't understand how they work.  It's not like painting with acrylic or oil.  The blending is different.  The shading is different.  And it looks like so much fun!  

Guess what's on my Christmas list this year.  A new watercolor set.  lol

This book takes you through everything you need to know to start painting.  How to choose the correct paint, brushes and paper.  Understanding the values of color for depth and shading.  Textures.  Mood.  And so much more.  When you get this book (and every serious artist should get it), you will want to keep it handy for easy reference while you work.  I know I will.

Now for a little background on the author.

Leslie Frontz is a studio artist with over 40 years of experience.  She teaches watercolor classes at a local community college about 2 hours from me!!!!  (I'm squealing with excitement.  Now I can join one of her classes to learn even more.)  And her work has been featured in several magazines and books.  You can learn even more, and enjoy her work, by visiting her website, Frontz Studio, and you'll meet her husband Harold, who is an accomplished artist in his own right.

I highly recommend this book for artists, and wanna-be artists.

Let your creative juices flow.

Be blessed,

Debbi

 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Sensational Saturday - or - Lookie What I Found!

The best part of handmade and original artwork is finding a piece that really moves you, and you just can't get it out of your mind.  That's what I want to share with you today.  A few days ago a friend of mine posted an item on facebook that took my breath away.  Of course, I didn't take the time to pin it, or share it, or bookmark it.  So I just spent the past 30 minutes scrolling down my facebook page to find it, and I didn't get sidetracked once!  Here is it....

Isn't it amazing? I can just feel the wind blowing as the tree bends, can't you?

The artist of this piece is Matthew Hamblen, and he sells on Etsy at MattsArt.  Let's see what else he has to offer.

This feels like something from a sci-fi story.  I love the colors and to me it seems almost peaceful.

Here's another one that makes me feel that I could just follow that "water(?)' trail.  While I'm not usually a big fan of abstract, I find Matt's work invigorating.

If you would like to check out the rest of his work, you can click on any picture or the link to his shop at the top of this post.

So, how about you? Do you enjoy abstract art, or more traditional works?

Be blessed,

Debbi

*yes, I know that pictures are overlapping the edges here, but they are so amazing that I didn't want you to miss the full effect.*