PAPER ROSES......

Paper Roses, to quote the old Marie Osmond Song......

Taking time out to photograph, scan and edit some of my vintage, textiles, wallpapers and ephemera is a monumental task but I am determined to get it done. I am trying to set for myself the goal of photographing or scanning five a day. I know this does not sound a lot but when I get busy it is so easy to end up having not scanned or documented a single item......

So today I got my trusty camera out and photograph five items. Which in itself can equal thirty to forty photographs that I carefully sift through trying to pick out the best one. My latest digital artwork is made up of a number of vintage papers and wallpapers and I like how they turned out......

There are many days that I create nothing that is worth showing, you are lucky you do not get to see the ones that I discard. Believe me they are truly awful but even so I still love sitting down in front of the computer with a new blank page. The digital art that works out and ends up in my Etsy store makes it worth while......

For all of the digital artists out there I know how much labour and love goes into each and every creation. Have fun with it even on the not so nice days when nothing seems to work!

OLD FASHIONED CLOTH DOLLS......

The Wonderful World Of Cloth Dolls......

One of the things that I love is old fashioned cloth dolls and I have a couple of my own. These very simple dolls were very popular well over a hundred and more years ago and I don't think they have lost any of their charm......

So for that reason I have recreated the look using my vintage collection of paper dolls. The images above are just a few of my favorite dolls. I do have to say though that the original paper dolls are not in the condition of these doll images. I have spent many hours and sometimes days repairing and restoring a doll back to it's former glory......

All of these images are from authentic original paper dolls and not images of reproductions. The reproductions although good do not have the clarity and look of the old ones. I have had to recreate feet on a doll that was missing its feet. Replaced a missing arm and hand and removed many years of abuse and play. Torn necks and scotch tape being just a few of things that I had to lovingly remove from these time worn images......

Now they are ready to be turned into wonderful new cloth dolls to be enjoyed affresh by a new generation. These and many others are now available through my Etsy store http://www.arosewithoutathorn.etsy.com/. This is just a small sample of the paper doll images that are available. I am very picky about the ones that I use! The doll image that you will receive will be on a white background.

I am including with the purchase of a digital paper doll image a website that you can send the graphic to that will print and enlarge the image for you onto fabric. Image a whole collection of these sitting on a favorite chair. I like to print these on cream fabric as opposed to white to give a more vintage look. You can decorated and embellish these wonderful dolls to your hearts content......

Enjoy a trip down memory lane with these wonderful little cloth children......

I am also making these dolls available as a PNG file (clear background with no white) so that they can be used in digital artwork. The only stipulation is that my Etsy store must be listed in your description as the source for these images. Have fun!!!

DECORATIVE PAPERS......

These are some of my latest digital creations for you a pretty selection of decorative papers for lots of crafting uses. From these you can paper a box, cover a journel, embellish a scrapbook and many, many other decorative uses......

Have fun coming up with some pretty ideas for these decorative papers. The great thing about buying a digital image is that you can print as many as you like to finish a project. No having to run out to the craft store because you have run out only to find they no longer carry the design you need......

You can find these at www.arosewithoutathorn.etsy.com and each design is available in six colors. They are currently sold in packs of three......

Have fun! :)

WOODLAND PRINCESS DIGITAL STEAMPUNK ALTERED ART......

These digital images are my latest artwork that is now available in my Etsy store www.arosewithoutathorn.etsy.com. Please stop by for a visit I would love to see you......

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE......

This is a little peek for everyone at the mannequins that I used to create. I do say used to because they were very labor intensive to do and also packing them for shipping was a nightmare......

I made many of these over a period of a number of years and I thought you might like to see just three of them. I have not kept any for myself so I get to enjoy them again looking back over the photograph's. The fabrics I used were vintage fabrics from the 1940 -50's and I loved being as creative as possible. The one really great thing about these is that the covers were completely removable for washing. Just unlace the ribbons and voila, off they came, just like dresses......

The mannequin in the middle was made using a different method and was equally as lovely. I have been very honored to have had these in a few national magazines and also in a hard backed decorting book......

I sometimes think I will do one more for me, I will see, until then I have fun taking a trip down memory lane......

I hope that you too also enjoy looking at some of my creations......

FAVORITE BLOGS IN BLOGLAND......

The latest fantastic antique image from http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/, be sure to check out the original digital image on The Graphics Fairy website......

I think we all have blogs that we like to check in on and see what is going in their particular blogland. So I thought that I would one at a time introduce you to some of my all time favorite blogs to visit and enjoy......

These blogs are not in order of favoritism but more a case of which blog speaks to me and gives me joy. I hope from these blogs you will find a new love as well......

The first blog I am going to start with has been very special for quite a while now. I have to say that I honestly stumbled across this blog by accident but it was quick to become a big favorite of mine. Karen the lovely lady that runs this blog does a fantastic job for all of us Altered Art Graphic Artists out there and I honestly do not know what I would do with out this wonderful source......

So my first favorite blog that I hope you will take the time to visit is called The Graphics Fairy and you can find her through the above blog link. Karen tirelessly hunts down graphic images for us all to enjoy and use and I have happily passed her name onto many other digital artists out there. I do realise that she is probably known by most of the ladies but if not I honestly recommend that you take a moment to check out the wonderful library of images that she provides for us all......

You will find some of her images in my graphics and if ever something is missing from my current creation I always take a moment to see what is new and different on Karen's blog. So if you are an expert at graphic altered art or a newbie I am sure that there will be something on Karen's site for you to use and enjoy......

Happy creating everyone and above all have fun with Karen's wonderful collection......

LATEST CREATION.....

Art Print 265......

This is my latest Digital Art Print and it is now available in my Etsy store. I love working with vintage and antique images and I have a huge collection to call upon when I need inspiration. It is funny to think that when I began collecting ephemera more than thirty years ago that one day I would be able to use these wonderful old images in art work......

I have long adored old photographs, postcards, die cuts and anything else that was pretty. When I first began collecting you could pick up these lovely paper goods for pennies. To be honest no one was really interested in someone else's family photographs and old chromolithographs were picked up really cheaply......

Many of these images are displayed in my own home and I have a large collection of antique chromolithographs to enjoy. These stunning images were bought at the start of my marriage. When they began to gain in popularity they rapidly became too expensive for my humble budget. Having said that I have really loved owning these and enjoyed their company. My mother and sister were bitten with the same bug and between the three of us we have a wonderful collection of antique beauties. I have begun letting many go but I still remember them and before they go off to their new owners I either scan them or if they are really big take a photograph which then ends up on the computer......

One of the chromolighographs that I sold a few years ago on Ebay was a spectacular Zoe Mozert with the most beautiful romantic woman. It was a very big vintage print but is now remembered on my hard drive. I think one day soon I will be working with her beautiful face and enjoying her image anew......

Happy creating to all the digital artists out there......

NETFLIX AND THE JOYS OF DOC MARTIN......

I am not one to promote a product but I have to say something about Netflix. To be honest I find the selection on T.V to be awful. I cannot bear to watch reality shows and most programs at the moment are not great viewing. My husband and I over the years have loved to watch some of the great American shows such as Frazier, Friends and Everyone Loves Raymond but I can only watch so many re-runs......

So for that reason Netflix has been a huge life saver, Reubs and I love to watch documentries, movies and for me I love foreign films. Now I have to say in all honestly that for most foreign movies I would have to sedate my husband, tie him down and tape his eye lids open in order to get him to watch. The same goes for a period piece, I love most period costume dramas but my husband has to only see a crinoline and he heads for cover......

The wonderful thing about the Netflix service is that they now do streaming and that is the way we watch just about everything. At the moment of writing this blog I have on my computer screen a Netflix programme running on a separate Explorer and writing this blog on another. I love it!!!!

One of my all time favorites is a wonderful British series called ' Doc Martin', this series has been a pure delight from beginning to near end. I say near end because I think the series next year will be the last, it seems to be coming to a conclusion. This wonderful series is held in a Cornish town on the English coast called Portwenn though it's real name is Port Isaac. This has to be one of the most beautiful places to live and I have googled it to look at properties for sale it is so lovely......

So the service of Netflix and the stunning quality of programmes that it provides is one of our families great joys. I barely ever watch the normal television since the arrival of the Netflix envelope on our doorstop and also the advent of streaming programmes directly into the home......

No more do we scan the T.V programme guide to come away with the words "there is absolutely nothing on at all". We eagerly scan the instant downloads of Netflix and pick and choose what we want watch. I love, love, love it......

So if you ever become a member of Netflix be sure to start off with the wonderful, charming and funny series called Doc Martin. You will not be disappointed!!!!

BLOG GIVE-A-WAY WINNERS......

I have three cupcake picks and toppers winners and the first is THE HAPPY HOMEMAKER, have fun with these Wendy!!!

The second winner is MARYDON, these should keep everyone busy over the summer!

And finally winner number three is ELYSE, thank you so much for entering the give-a-way. I hope that you all have a great time baking cupcakes and decorating with these fun picks and toppers!

Try not to get too nostalgic!!!!