Whirl and Weave: A Welcome to Midsummer's Eve

I'm standing at a beautiful dewy creek with spring blossoms and my mother-in-law Beverly's hand-crocheted "Maypole" scarf which can be admired further in her Etsy shop "Maddie's Trinkets and Bobbles".

Tis the last day of April, and yesterday evening my husband Joe and I were delighted by the sight of new duckling hatchlings swimming on our nearby pond...Oh, I love this time of year! Spring is filled with whimsy and wonder...As we welcome in May with flower-festooned Maypole traditions and June with the ancient European folk song and fertility dance customs of Midsummer's Eve, I would love to take a moment to share some beauties of spring as we embrace the new life that it breaths into our souls. Without further ado, here is a small collection inspired by the whirl and weave...grandmother's crochet and knitted crafts and the dancing celebration of new birth that it cuddles with warmth and love!

My precious niece Lydia, born in April she is our blessed little spring chick! Here are some photos of her in Beverly's darling crocheted creations...

"Alice Blue, Lavender, & Yellow Granny Square Afghan and Matching Baby Hat Set" in Beverly's charming "Maddie's Trinkets and Bobbles" Etsy Shop.

Baby Lydia in a "Pastel Granny Square Baby Afghan" found in Maddie's Trinkets and Bobbles.

"Mint Cream Crochet Baby Hat" modeled by Baby Lydia in Maddie's Trinket's and Bobbles.

Little Miss Lydia LOVES bears! She is often found carrying around a teddy bear and at 2 years old now her favorite television show is Little Bear. Here is a hand-crocheted 3D Teddy Bear with Balloons baby afghan created by our talented Aunt Mary Lynn that can be found in Lydia's mother's (my twin sister, Andrea) Etsy shop Storybook Artifact...It's a work-of-art!!!

Lastly, I encourage all lovers of crochet and knitted crafts to stop by one of my favorite Etsy shops filled with an eclectic assortment of beautiful yarns and craft patterns: Suzie's "Mom's Vintage Books"! Here are some treasures found in her Etsy shop...

"Leisure Arts Knit Lace & Leaves for Baby" found in Mom's Vintage Books...

...and this gorgeous heather grey yarn...I just love this airy neutral shade...also found in Mom's Vintage Books!

LaOohLaLa Boutique's Charitable Donation to NYC United Palace of Cultural Arts Broadway Film Showing "On the Town"

On behalf of LaOohLaLa Boutique, I'm pleased to announce our participation in the United Palace of Cultural Arts theatre's upcoming film showing of the classic 1949 movie "On the Town" starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly in the form of a donation of our vintage original 1945 Manhattan Shirts advertisement in their raffle of charitable items associated with the film.

We'll be joining other Etsy artisan sponsors who have donated unique handmade and vintage items from past classic film showings; including "King Kong (1933 film)" and one of my all-time favorite movies Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window"! I am honored that our charitable contribution will be credited in this non-profit theatre's program and social media sites as well as at the event. I love the movie themed Etsy contribution raffle items from past classic film showings...especially the vintage and handmade movie memorabilia for the Alfred Hitchcock Rear Window event, like this glamorous Grace Kelly Paper Doll from Etsy shop Paper Dolls by ER Miller!

 
The United Palace of Cultural Arts is a historic art deco architecture landmark in Washington Heights of New York City, New York...I can hear Frank Sinatra and the famous sailors singing ♩♪♫♬New York, New York, it's a wonderful town!♩♪♫♬ Along with the showing of the 1949 film "On the Town", members of the present Broadway cast will perform a concert of the score! This event takes place on the evening of Sunday May 3rd and admission is FREE to the public! The theatre provides work for the local Boy Scouts, and their goal is to raise enough funds so they can hire neighborhood youth to run the theatre which volunteers have been doing up to this point. This would provide great first jobs and a healthy source of pocket money. I'm happy to be able to provide a small contribution and support their efforts of bringing back art to a lower income neighborhood in desperate need.

As I mentioned, there will be actual Broadway performers reenacting this iconic American motion picture at this film showing...gathering their inspiration from legendary American dancer Vera-Ellen who stars in the film. In LaOohLaLa Boutique, we have a similar vintage original movie poster that also has Vera Ellen shown dancing, its from the 1945 musical Wonder Man in which she stars alongside Danny Kaye. Vera Ellen is best known for her starring roles in On the Town with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, and the 1954 film White Christmas with Danny Kaye whom she is cast with in Wonder Man...Vera Ellen is an adorable American sweetheart! Here is the 1945 Wonder Man movie poster in our LaOohLaLa Boutique Etsy shop!

Upcycled Art at Franklin Arts Center, The May 2015 Issue of Tulsa People Magazine, & Jessica White's Cranky Pickle Etsy Shop Feature!

Hooray!! The TulsaPeople Magazine feature spotlighting my Eco-Friendly Freckles Etsy art business in the May 2015 issue recently made its debut (an early release before the magazine will be available on local newsstands May 1st)! The article can be found on page 24; and the entire magazine can be viewed HERE! Along with my upcycled artwork, the two books that my art is featured in, Jen Karetnick's "Brie Season" and Julie Rawding's "The Upcycler's USA: 21 Eco Folks Who Made It" is also promoted! I'm so excited!!! My artwork can be seen in my Eco-Friendly Freckles Etsy shop section "Upcycled Decoupage Art" (my virtual online art gallery), however at this time this only includes my canister and tin art pieces since throughout the month of April all of my vinyl record artwork is on display in the "Art On Record" exhibit at the Franklin Arts Center | Resident Artists Gallery in Brainerd, Minnesota. 

If you happen to be visiting the area, please stop by and admire all of the upcycled masterpieces at this wonderful art gallery! 

In the gallery exhibit's promo photo above, my upcycled vinyl record art piece titled "Tintype of Love" is shown on the far left, in the middle is fellow Etsy artist Jessica White's vinyl record artwork titled "Nature Walks"...I love it's whimsical charm! I encourage everyone to stop by her Etsy shop Cranky Pickle and check out all of her delightfully quirky mixed media vinyl record art pieces! Two of my personal favorites from Jessica White's collection are...

"Woman Sitting on Henna"

...and "Lipstick Kisses":

A Tour of My Art Studio and the Two Books That Feature My Upcycled Artwork!!

Welcome to my art studio! Here you will find my hand-painted upcycled vinyl record wall art...a couple of the pieces are sold, but will soon be replaced with more artistic eco-conscious creations!

 
Me in my art studio hand painting "Eco-Friendly Freckles" onto one of my original upcycled decoupage vinyl record art pieces...after my local Tulsa People Magazine "Artist in Residence" photo shoot yesterday!! 

My hand-painted upcycled art cans, canisters, and tins, and the two fabulous books that my art is featured in!!! Jen Karetnick's "Brie Season" food and wine poetry book...

...and Julie Rawding's "Upcyclers U.S.A.: 21 Eco Folks Who Made It"...which features a wonderful variety of eco-artists, including myself!  

For each copy of Julie Rawding's book "The Upcyclers U.S.A.: 21 Eco Folks Who Made It" sold 10 trees will be planted!! 

Back to my art studio, in front of the pretty daffodil flowers are some stationary art cards printed with my original Eco-Friendly Freckles artwork on them...Thanks to my thoughtful twin sister Andrea (owner of the Etsy shop Storybook Artifact) for getting me this awesome gift! These cards will soon be available in my Eco-Friendly Freckles Etsy shop; sold in sets of four (one of each card).

Next up, my art collage assemblage/packaging station; with some of my vintage print ads and retro wares from my Etsy shop nestled underneath...

My precious Mod Podge and museum putty that I couldn't do without, along with an assortment of acrylic paint and brushes, and some of my Etsy bling, badges, and pamphlets from local art events where I've had my art shown: RAW Natural Born Artists Tulsa and The Drunken Artist...and I have Jen Karetnick's beautiful Brie Season poetry book and accompanying postcards pictured here too. I love that my artwork is featured on the cover of her book!!

 ...and that's it! Thank you for taking a tour of my home art studio...my sweet Flame Point Himalayan kitty Nozomi says, "good bye!"

I've added some of these photos to my updated Eco-Friendly Freckles Etsy shop About Page; which I encourage everyone to stop by and check out...Thanks again!

My Aunt Mary Lynn's Beautiful Handmade Housewarming and Hostess Gift Aprons!

I love my Aunt Mary Lynn's handmade kitchen aprons...they make the best hostess or housewarming gifts; my sister Andrea and I cherish the ones she has made especially for us. Here is one that she has made for our Etsy in Andrea's shop "Storybook Artifact".  It's a stunning Celtic garden ivy vine pinafore apron with handsewn floral rosettes! To view another one of my Aunt Mary Lynn's lovely handmade aprons, you can see me wearing it HERE in this old blog article of mine titled "Happy Housewife".

I'm also modeling our dear friend Stephany's handmade "Rose Cabochon Hair Pins" with this handmade apron! A similar set can be admired here in her Etsy shop Zou Bisou Bijoux!

...and here's the vintage English ivy tea cup also featured in Andrea's Etsy shop Storybook Artifact...absolutely enchanting!

Lastly, here is another one of my darling Aunt Mary Lynn's aprons that she made with a matching cloche hat! It is so very adorable and a one-of-a-kind creation, and it can be found in my sister Andrea's Victorian inspired Etsy shop Storybook Artifact.

Dark Roses Paranormal Romance Box Set is OUT and Includes Erica Cope's Novel "Lark"!

It's HERE! The most alluring and ultra enthralling paranormal romance novel box set has made its debut and has now stepped into the spotlight as it is available on Amazon! This captivating anthology includes eight various authors from the paranormal romance genre and stars my darling cousin Erica Cope's mesmerizing fantasy romance novel Lark!!! The eight books in the Dark Roses Paranormal Romance Box Set include:

P.T. MICHELLE - BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS  
TRISHA LEIGH - WHISPERS IN AUTUMN
ANTHEA SHARP – FEYLAND: THE DARK REALM 
LOLA ST. VIL - GUARDIANS: THE GIRL 
TERAH EDUN - WITCHES FINISH FIRST 
ERICA COPE - LARK 
CAMERON JACE - PENTIMENTO
SARRA CANNON - BEAUTIFUL DEMONS

I encourage everyone to check out this awesome box set and start with Erica Cope's Lark; you can read my full book review for Lark HERE!

In honor of Dark Roses, here are my favorite irresistibly beautiful rose inspired floral finds on Etsy! First up is my dear friend Stephany Gomez's stunning midnight owl rose necklace which can be found in her Etsy shop Zou Bisou Bijoux...Isn't it enchanting?!

Next is this romantic rose and hand-sewn rosette embellished Victorian lady pillow handmade with love by my Aunt Mary Lynn in our Etsy "sister shop" LaOohLaLa Boutique; this pillow is named "Grandma Hesson" because she resembles our beloved ancestor, my great-great grandmother!

...and a gorgeous vintage red rose American Beauty jewelry collection in my sister Andrea's Etsy shop Storybook Artifact; I am seen modeling this beautiful 1950s metal rose jewelry collection (which includes earrings, necklace, brooch, and ring) along with a romantic scarlet red vintage dress which is also featured in her Etsy shop!

Lastly, are two of my favorite rose themed upcycled decoupage creations featured in my Eco-Friendly Freckles Etsy shop: a "Literary Lady Legends" iPhone 4 case (for all you book lover ladies out there!)...

...and my Marie Antoinette inspired hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister art piece titled "Let Them Eat Cake In the Powder Room".

Brie Season Makes Its Debut Featuring My Original Hand-Painted Decoupage Artwork!

I recently added a new hand-painted upcycled decoupage art piece to my repertoire! I call it "Remnants Of Our Lives". I'm absolutely delighted that this art piece will be featured in my interview of Julie Rawding's (owner of Can or Can Not) upcoming book "21 Eco Folks Who Made It".

I feel this piece is a "sister project" to my other decoupage vinyl record album "Vivacious Vineyards and a Cat Named Brie" which is featured in the cover of Jen Karetnick's new food & wine poetry book "Brie Season" as it shares a similar artistic style with a woman at the focal point peeking from behind something...be it vineyard grapes or blue hydrangea flowers! I have a lot to be thankful for; I'm so very happy to see my art enjoyed and receiving exposure! Brie Season is now available on Amazon; please check it out by clicking the image below!

To view more of my original hand-painted upcycled decoupage artwork by myself artist Jessica Woody please check out my Eco-Friendly Freckles shop HERE.