Jessi Designs

Craft Show in Castle Rock

2010-11-16T11:05:00.000-08:00

Me and my good friend, Sharelle, along with my son, Javan, who was a very big help, participated in the Fall Harvest Craft and Gift Show in the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock, Colorado last Saturday and Sunday. This was the third show I did this year (the first two was the Sweet William Market, August and September, which I neglected to blog about!). We had a lot of fun and there were some awesome vendors there.

1. My table - Jessi Designs. My art lockets drew interest along with the bookmarks, magnets, cards and prints I designed from my original art.

2. Me!

3. My friend, Sharelle of Sharelle's of Denver. She creates the most wonderful art coats and her Sister Girl pins, earrings, journals, bookmarks, cards, and fabric eye glass cases are just gorgeous.

4. Johnny of Two Mile Creek Specialty Foods - He had the best tasting Habanero jelly I ever had. Great with cream cheese and wheat thins.

5. Carmen with Carmen's Kitchen - Their almond toffee candy is the best!

6. Allison and her husband of A Little Twisted Jewelry - Fun jewelry and accessory pieces.

7. Lourdes of Lourdes Rios Designs - She creates sophisticated ready to wear gowns.

8. Denise of Goddess Wisdom Jewelry - Her jewelry caught my eye as they had a vintage inspired and funky appeal which matches her personality. She generously gave away the pieces I had an eye on to me - :)

9. Last but not least was Nick with Direct TV -- Really, this show was not that boring!

My son did not want his picture taken - (though he was the regular social butterfly - almost everyone knew him by name by the time it was all over).

A boy and his dog

2010-07-11T22:07:00.000-07:00

Here is my next project:

This is an 8 x 10 acrylic and markers on canvas. I still need to apply spray varnish to protect it. Just wanted to upload this as soon as it was dry. I am going to have prints made and will be in my Etsy shop soon. I also would welcome any comments and suggestions or even just to say Hi - have a great week! ")

Tony Curtis

2010-07-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

As I have maybe mentioned before, I love classic movies. Turner Classic Movies is my favorite cable station. Today, I was watching a Tony Curtis movie, The Vikings, from 1958. I knew that he also is an artist, so after I checked out IMDB.com (Internet Movie Database) to find his official website and to read a little about him, I went to his website, to check out his paintings. His work reminds me of my fav artist, Matisse and a some of Manet. I will post pics of some of his artwork later. In the meantime, click on his website above and enjoy - :)

Sisters in the Pink

2010-07-05T14:35:00.000-07:00

I ran across a sketch I made of these two girls in my art room:

and thought to bring it to life (and color) to this:

This is on canvas on wood, 8x10, with acrylic paints and markers. My sister, Kelly saw it today and wanted to buy it, so it is on hold for now. But I will have prints of it on sale in my etsy store soon.

Kathy's dogs

2010-06-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

I forgot to post this:

A coworker asked me to do a painting of her dogs, 9x12 - 2 pugs, a pom/pug mix, and an australian shepherd mix. Told her it would be very illustrative, not an exact representation but she said that would be okay. This is the result. She has it hanging on the wall next to her desk at work. I am so flattered!

Triptych

2010-06-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

This is a triptych I painted for my sister, Kelly's office at work, 9 x 12. Not sure what type of flower these are, possibly some type of roses or tulips. She had emailed me a bunch of pics as inspiration and I picked these. What do you think of my first attempt at this?

I Won Danita Art Giveaway!

2010-04-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

I was so thrilled to have been chosen to win the Danita Art giveaway, the book, Where Women Create Book of Inspiration. It was interesting to read that she is also inspired by children's books and Matisse - as I am too. She also added two pretty handmade bookmarks, aren't they cute?

Original art prints in my etsy store

2010-04-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

I have some new art prints in my etsy store from my original mixed media canvas paintings. Other sizes will be coming soon - prints from original 8x10's, and 4x5 cards. I also plan to add fabric dolls inspired by my whimsy girls prints - Macy, Annabella, Madison. More later.

Whimsy Girls

2009-11-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

Besides making jewelry, I've been doing some drawing and painting lately. Here are two of my efforts:

I used acrylic and gouache paints along with some polka dot fabric for the red dress on canvas. These are my very first efforts; need more practice. I have four nieces, one grown (24) and three ages 8, 10, and 13 who will figure in future projects.

I'm also very intrigued with mixed media art - will be using some new and vintage fabric from my stash in my art. Fabric is really my first love, especially vintage. Whenever I go to thrift stores I peruse all the fabric including bedsheets, pillowcases, and bedspreads. I also love to browse through Etsy for vintage fabric and have bought some wonderful fabric there. If I had more time I will be designing and studying fabric and textiles. I had an aunt who was talented in that area. My father was also artistic; he was a talented sketcher and loved to draw. Another aunt of mine told me he used to draw nude women from memory very well when he was younger, as she used to run across his sketches when she snooped in his room. I often saw him doodling and sketching a lot when I was a kid.

All my life I dreamed of being an artist but always thought that I didn't have the time, it wasn't practical but as I have gotten older, I've realized that I need to be able to express myself, explore different facets of myself I did not know I had. The internet, Etsy, blogging and Blogspot, etc., have opened wide my eyes, and artistic inspiration has been pouring out almost to the point where I feel overwhelmed. I've always had a problem with focus. I get easily distracted and want to try everything out there artistically. So I have learned and still learning to try everything but one thing at a time. Seems like an oxymoron, doesn't it? All I know is that I have to be myself, a controlled scatterbrain, if there is one. Well, enough of that.

If you happen to come across this blog, please feel free to comment. I love comments and feedback as I am constantly learning and do not view myself as an accomplished artist but a newbie trying to accomplish art and grow artistically. Have a great rest of the weekend all.

New items listed and Sale

2009-11-06T22:51:00.000-08:00

I'm having a sale at my Etsy store:

http://www.jessidesigns.etsy.com/

If you buy more than 1 item I will combine shipping. Just let me know before ordering so I can edit the invoice

I've also uploaded new items - Necklaces from my own unique designs and made with repurposed jewelry parts - very green!

New items will be added this weekend - rings, bracelets, and more earrings

Free giveaway

2009-11-06T22:49:00.000-08:00

Free giveaway at:

http://www.akanedesigns.blogspot.com/

New earrings in Etsy shop

2009-10-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Check out new earrings for sale in my etsy shop . Snag a new pair to add to your wardrobe for the upcoming fall season!

Denver Handmade Alliance

2009-09-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

Just found this site via the etsymilehighclub on Yahoo - a great resource for craft-based businesses in the Denver area - denverhandmade.blogspot.com

My stuff - Here!

2009-09-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

I had forgotten to post that some of my stuff is at The Fabric Lab - a craft and clothes consignment shop here in Denver on Colfax Street - button rings, polymer clay and decoupage pendants, earrings and bracelets. Some very nice people and stuff there.

The Sweet William Market

2009-08-30T16:52:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I participated in the Sweet William Market here in Denver. It was celebrating Etsy day so most were etsy sellers. I shared a tent with my good friend, Sharelle, who makes the most awesome art coats and clay pendants, Sister Girls. It was a beautiful, perfect day - sunshine in the morning and a little cooler in the afternoon with a few drops felt.

There were some amazing artisans and collectors which I'll mention a few: Kristen from pearl clothing-pearlclothing.etsy.com, Franki from Out of My Hands at outofmyhands.com - amazing jewelry, Francis from Studio Yoshida at studioyoshida.etsy.com - awesome upcycled designed clothes, Sugar Plum Fairy Bowtique at sugarplumfairybows.etsy.com - sweet children's accessories, Trees3 at trees3.etsy.com - lovely appliqued pillows and clothes.

It was my first show. I got some very good advice from my friend Sharelle. I need to focus on my strongest point - jewelry. So I'm going to do that - start with earrings, next week - earring and necklace sets, week after that - pins and brooches, next - bracelets, then hairsticks. I have been all over the place which has been overwhelming and unsettling to me. And when I feel pretty good there, then I can add my art, dolls with vintage fabric, tote bags and more. I have so many ideas and can hardly wait to create! I know my next show is going to be more successful.