A new home . . .

This "Persnickety Chick" has decided to fly the coop! Heehee

Moving on over to my new digs  

Got myself a brand new shiny website now.

It's super cool with all sorts of new options; even have my very own Shoppe over there.

Come on over . . . Check it out!
HERE

And if you're interested to check in with me more often, 
be sure to "like" me on Facebook  (pretty pretty please?)

AND 

if you're a "pinner" check out my Pinterest boards, too.

And the Sisters keep on comin . . .

Well, despite my absence the "Sisters with Attitude" keep on making their appearances.
I am so proud of all of these gals!  What a treat to see so  much talent from all over the world!

In no particular order, if you haven't had a chance to check out that link for the Craft Attitude project I previously shared, here are some more of these darling talented gals' creations . . .

 

Our Queen Sister of the challenge, the one who started it all:

 Artist – Trudi Sissons
From – Alberta, Canada
Blog - http://twodressesstudio.blogspot.com/
Image Credits – http://tumblefishstudio.blogspot.com/

by the daring, darling Miss Dale Bradshaw Botha

From: South Africa
Site: https://www.facebook.com/dale.b.botha
Image Credits: http://tumblefishstudio.blogspot.com/

 

by the marvelous Melissa Hines
From: Texas, USA
Site: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.morrillhines
Image Credits: http://tumblefishstudio.blogspot.com/

by the industriously creative Donna B Miller
From: Kentucky,USA
Site: http://donnabmiller.typepad.com/
Image Credits: http://tumblefishstudio.blogspot.com/

The Fantabulous Fiona Randall

From: Leicester, United Kingdom
Blog: http://myartfulmuse.blogspot.com/
Image Credits: http://tumblefishstudio.blogspot.com/

 

The Terribly Terrific Tracey Parker

From: Ohio, USA
Blog: http://glitterbugstudios.blogspot.com/
Image Credits: http://tumblefishstudio.blogspot.com/

By our very own cut and paste queen, our
Renee Stien
From - Minnesota, USA
Blog - https://thetingoat.blogspot.com/
Image Credits - http://tumblefishstudio.blogspot.com/

 Mixed media maven, Marion Bockelmann
From - Münster, Germany
Blog - http://bockel24.blogspot.com/
Image Credits - http://tumblefishstudio.blogspot.com/

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, 

the sister with the MOST attitude

(after all I gotta live up to the Persnickety Chick title, don't I?)

ME

from the humble little upstate city of Little Falls, New York

you already have my blog link, heehee

but here's the link to my new site:  http://persnicketychick.wix.com/persnicketychickart

 

The funny thing is, I ran into all sorts of setbacks working on this project but I always considered it such a privilege to even be a part of it.  I knew I had to do whatever was necessary to join my fellow sisters in getting this done. In the end, I came up with three takes on a similar design (and the same wonderful TFS gal with attitude).  I never intended that all three be submitted but am so glad they all were!  

Thank you Trudi Sissons for this wonderful opportunity to allow all of us in the Tumble Fish Studio Sisterhood to shine so brightly! And thank you to our wonderful fearless team leader, Marsha! I think I speak for us all in saying how much we love and value you both. 

STAY TUNED as there is more crafty creativity coming your way!!

~Amber

*all of these can be seen in larger detail on the Craft Attitude facebook page here.

Sisters with Attitude, Stand Proud, We HAVE Arrived!!!

Woot woot!!! 

I am so excited to announce that after months of waiting, the SISTERS OF ATTITUDE project (led by our fearless and hardworking leader, Trudi Sissons of Two Dresses Studio and in association with Craft Attitude) has officially gone live!

I was so flattered to be asked to be a part of this fearless, creative, and oh so inspirational team of artists to be included.  All of the girls on the Tumble Fish Studio creative team are so wicked talented and I pinch myself almost daily to ensure that it isn't simply some crazy dream that I am on this team with them.  Been over a year now that I have been privileged to create alongside them and they continue to inspire me (besides being just about the kindest, most humble, supportive people I know).  

This latest project is for sure one of the highlights of my creative year.

I am a bit late in getting in here to post about this so the project is actually already on Day Three and so far three artists have been featured on both the Craft Attitude website and Facebook page.

Here they are:

By Jayne Alexander (Blog - http://pigsinpink.blogspot.com/)

By Mary Bailey (Blog - http://milesbeyondthemoon.typepad.com/)

By Nancy Baumiller (Blog - http://www.crowabout.blogspot.com/)

From now on, I will be posting daily as each fabulous artist (and friend) is featured.
I can't wait for my turn!!

Oh my goodness! Do I ever have some catching up to do!

First of all:

My piece created with the La Vie Boheme Kit . . . 

"Doorway to Enlightenment"

And then would you believe that I have been gone so long, Tumble Fish Studio has released  THREE amazing kits, in no particular order . . .

SHADES OF RED  

(It's All Perfecto!)

No worries . . . Just let go! Go with it! It's all Perfecto!

SHADES OF BLUE

(Miss Bonnie Blue)

Liked this piece so much I used it as a springboard for another project of mine:

"Little Rosie La Belle" and "Bonnie Blue"
both mounted on wooden plaques with varying mediums used to create background surface

And my personal favorite: so many fantastic elements I think I included them all! haha

YOUTHTOPIA

This piece really reflects where I am right now.  Playing the law of attraction, living life outside of the box, no rules in how I play it! 

I just can't wait any longer . . . .

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY!

~HOORAY HOORAY HOORAY!!!~

Created by Marsha Jorgensen

Sneak peek; created by me from the La Vie Boheme kit

(frame from Frames and Words by Tumble Fish Studio)

Naughty Naughty!!

I have been such a bad, bad blogger!

I did not even realize how much time has passed since my last blog post.  Think I may have just gotten caught up in that vast social network known as Facebook, is all, but"Shame on me!"  I will need to see how it is I can spread myself just a tad bit thinner to make room for my dear ole faithful blog.  AND if you happen to be here now but tend to spend more time in Facebook-Land, be sure to visit me there too:

The Persnickety Chick

(Be sure check out the end of this post for links to some of my other favorite spots I am spending my time these days . . .)

So, seeing as it's been three long months since I have posted here's what I have been up to:

Via the wonderful designs of Tumble Fish Studio I have been able to dabble in both

"Shades of Green"

Though not my conscious intention, my intuition clearly guided this piece and it took on a whole Zen sort of symbolism with the butterfly and "Empty Bowl".

 and

"Shades of Purple"

"Miss Violette" does allow her love (or shall we say obsession?)  for the color purple to get away from her at times! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This little lady got to show off her new glasses quite proudly. 
How typical! Or rather shall I say: "how optical!" (heehee).

A journal card titled "An Optical Story"

 While this one, with the help of inspiration from the late great Georges Méliès, got to show those elements clearly who's boss!

Queen Elemental; an ATC

I, the Persnickety Chick, also had the fun of 
participating in a bit of artsy fartsy fun . . .

First: the April ATC swap under the theme "Eye of the Beholder:

"If we all could see the world through eyes of a child, we would see the magic in everything" -Chee Vai Tang

And this month, one of my very favorites:

As part of the Deviant Scrap birthday celebration challenges, an altered portrait of my 2nd great grandmother . . .

 

 

"Little Lotte"- I had so much fun with this gal and am so proud of how she turned out!

I have also been working on some personal projects on the side.  I began work on my first ever altered art book/art journal.

Page two and three of my journal. The left page will contain my journaling and I will be filling in words of importance in the swirls of the tree, my Tree of Life.

This spread showcases the house of my dreams (quite literally based on a dream I had full of symbolism.)

Was enjoying the process so much, at the request of some friends I decided to hold a little workshop/art night at my house. 

Here I am getting my hands "dirty" prepping the pages beforehand.

We had so much fun and the girls really embraced the whole experience.  Even going to make it a regular thing now!

On my own, when I do manage to find some downtime (between my CT work, commissions, my little job at the health food store, and the blog I run with my cousin), I continue to work on my own art journal therapy pages, as well.  Perhaps, if I can get my butt back here before too much time passes, I will do a feature on those.  Until then  . . .

Love, light, and peace to all!!!!

Amber

 

Keep on creating!!! There is a creative being inside of us all!

Once Upon a Time . . .

Once upon a time there was the most amazing designer collaboration ever brought to life in the most sacred of all deviant artistic realms of the universe!

It promised sheer creative power in the form of the most fantastical kits by the greatest of all of the designers in the Deviant Scrap Dot Com world!

It's size too numerous to calculate and its beauty, something which must be seen to be believed!

This post alone can only hold a preview of the goodness to be found.

From the enchanted Tumble Fish Studio

And as an esteemed member (we all are!) of the Tumble Fish Studio creative team, I was privy to put it's magic into effect to create this fairy tale maiden:

She is a follow-up piece of sorts to an earlier piece I did with a sweet girl and her fair froggy prince.

Perhaps this is them, so many many years later. She has aged and perhaps she's a little plumper. He remains his froggy self but she maintains her love for him all the same. 

Here is the earlier piece, also created with magical goodies from Tumble Fish Studio.  Click HERE to see just what sort of magic was used.

And for those who dare, there is even more magical goodness to be bestowed:

THIS incredible bonus kit can be yours!

Well, what are you waiting for?  It isn’t as if you’ve got forever?  Oh wait! Perhaps you do but why wait another moment to start your happily ever after?

Simply close your eyes, think happy thoughts, and Click HERE.

A step back from the digital leads the way for more art!

Well, I had a bit of an incident with my laptop about two weeks ago and I'm sad to report that it's really put a damper on my digital creative time.  Between borrowed time on my son's pc and my hubby's laptop I've been keeping up with my creative team duties but that's about all I've been able to do.  And I am so excited to be a part of something special debuting at Deviant Scrap this coming week.
Here's a sneak peek of the goodness to come!

This is just Tumble Fish Studio's portion.  Wait til you see what the designers have in store for you!

This is a sneak peek of  my participation. Can you guess?

Though I feel a bit of a loss with my digital and graphic artistry endeavors having to take the back seat, I do have to admit it's actually been a really good thing for me in that I have been forced to use my creativity in other areas; waters I have been wanting to dive back into.  Two projects I have been dividing my time between:

An altered art book I intend to use to journal about the incredible turn my life has taken this year and the subsequent growth that has taken place within as a mother, wife, artist and friend.  I know that I shall never forget but I feel it is something I am so grateful for and something that which must be celebrated.  I am so excited at the prospect and hope with all my heart it will be just what I envision it to be!

As you can see, I am still very much in the beginning stages and it is a total lesson in patience for me.  I am so eager to move onto the real fun of gesso, painting, glueing, and journaling!

AND I have returned to my painting after so many many years.  I have some growing to do, for sure but am enjoying relearning the process for myself.
Found this cute little Crayola chipboard book at my local goodwill and set out to decorate it, with no real plan, mind you.  Here's how it's going so far.

Day One-Page One/Cover

Day Two-Page Two

Day Three-Page Three

Welp, that's it for now.  Be sure to come back and share my progress on these projects.  As always, I am so appreciative to have such a wealth of friends who support me in my artistic endeavors and I feel so blessed that I can share with no worries of being judged.  Thanks to you all!

I'm back!

Well, as is usually the case this time of the year (end of the year), my life was chocked full of all sorts of activity that didn't really afford me much creative time though I must say that I am very grateful for the biggest of those distractions: my family.  We were able to fly out to California in December for an extended stay but it took a bit of rearranging with my work schedule at my "job" which meant extra shifts and such. Not to mention that my workload here at home has intensified as we work towards getting our house ready to put on the market; lots of little projects that need to be done.  But I continue to crave my creative time and I suppose I manage to find satisfaction in creating where I can; even if it only be in the pattern of my spackling or the strokes of the paintbrush painting that upstairs bathroom.  heehee

It's also been super cold here which is never a good thing for me.  I am so ready to move onto milder, warmer pastures. I think my one of my newest Tumble Fish Studio layouts makes that clear.

Totally been feeling like I'm trapped in an ice cube 24 hours a day! haha
Created with the new Winter Junque kit available here.

So for now, we do what we can to put ourselves in a better position should opportunity knock and continue to hold out hope for something more like this . . . .

A piece I created a few months back.  CREDITS can be found here.  

So December was busy and January's been downright frigid.  I wonder what February will hold . . .

Created this little "Valentine Beauty" with a combination of two of Tumble Fish Studios' newest arrivals

Warm winter wishes, valentine greetings and oh yes. I almost forgot:

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!

EYES

A bit of fun for the Three Muses challenge this week.
The theme is EYES . . .

For full credits see my gallery here.

Feeling a bit "Fiery" these days!

I call her "Pyra-Phenom of the Fire"

 A tribute to all of us strong willed women of invincible, phenomenal spirit!

And a little art journal therapy . . .

Hallow's Eve is upon us!

For this month's "Haunted Portrait" art swap over at Deviant Scrap.  To join us in all the ghoulish fiendish "deviant" fun, head on over to the thread HERE for all the details.

Created with goodies from Tumble Fish Studio, Hidden Vintage Studios and Holliewood Studios.  All available at www.deviantscrap.com

And in the spirit of Thanksgiving coming next month (Wow! Where did this year go?!) . . .

I present to you:

WORTHINGTON THANKSGIVING

Per her mother in law's insistent request, Matilda Worthington and her husband Igor came "more than prepared' for Thanksgiving dinner . . .
(In addition to bringing their own utensils, the main course substitutes as a fine chapeau until the dinner bell is rung: heehee)
Credits:
background paper from Midnight Reverie
Everything else from Autumn Junque by Tumble Fish Studio, available at Deviant Scrap.