What Goes with Everything?...black & tan

My crafting BFF, Tracy (over at Glitterbug Studios) and I have been on a Black & Cream or in my case Black and Tan kick.  Those color combos go with just about everything no matter what your color palate is.  Tracey has been creating the most amazing assemblages out of vintage cheese boxes.....imagine getting your Velveeta in a wooden box but that was the case awhile back.

This assemblage is in a woodbox (not a cheese box) that measures 8 inches tall by 4 inches wide.  I Photoshopped the shelves with all kinds of goodies on them in the background but they really look 3-D due to the way the shadows fall on the objects.  The little boy is from the Vacay kit from Tumble Fish Studio.   

I've named him Charles and he's backed on chipboard and popped out about 1/2 inch from the background using foamcore board.  He's the curator for the "Combs Conservatory".  They conserve and preserve all of your favorite ephemera and he takes his job very seriously as you can see from the look on his face!

Tracey gave me this dress form and it was extraordinarily ugly.  It was painted white with a light purple apron.....uggghhhcchhh!  Enter the black paint, light tan paint book text, velvet ribbon, lace, glue and ta-da.....something new and improved!

The roses are made out of tan suede which I upcycled from a jacket.

Curiosities of the Sea........

This little guy sails the 7 seas looking for the perfect gold fish!

This collage was created with hand cut papers and measures 3.5 by 5 inches. I got this frame at the Dollar Store. It was painted a very ugly rusty red. A few coats of acrylic paint and ta-da! I made the "beach" sign from a piece of Grungeboard painted with bronze Lumier paint (the little key was also made the with the Gurngeboard).

Here is quite a curious creature from the sea, the elusive "Buttermaid". She is a cross between a butterfly and a mermaid. She's extremely rare and I'm so lucky to have captured one!

I created her on chipboard backed with book text. I made her mermaid body and tail with strips of handcut papers cut with scalloped scissors......that took a little while!

So have you noticed I'm into putting butterfly wings on everything lately? It's sort of like my compulsion last year where I had to put pointy hats of everything. Can't help it, I still think wings and pointy hats are the best! What are your thoughts on butterfly wings?

Sailing........

I remember the first and last time I was ever on a sailboat. It was on Lake Erie and I loved it! Gliding over the water silently, effortlessly, skimming the water leaning this way and that way with the only sound being the wind. When I saw image of this little guy I knew I had to turn him into Captain Monarch The Sailboat Fairy!He stands approximately 6 inches tall on a 2 inch by 2 inch painted and collaged wooden block on glass marble legs.
This boy was one lucky little guy with such a beautiful toy sailboat. His image is from around 1922.

I've been working on several pieces and will be sharing more with you in the coming days!

Fairy Problem?

I'm not saying I've got a fairy problem.....but, I SUSPECT I have a fairy problem in my perennial gardens. Last night I caught this little girl out in my creeping phlox......

She told me her name was "April" and she was the fairy that brought the showers. She even had beaded raindrops hanging off of her cloud and umbrella. She carried a bucket full of raindrops and looked well prepared for a deluge in her slick yellow rainboots.

Then tonight as I was checking out what popped up during the past few days in my side perennial garden, this little fellow scampered about and introduced himself to me as, "King Flowers". He had a pet Swallowtail butterfly attached to a leash!

And an armful of flowers.

I don't know for sure but I think he's French (see the French text on his hat?).

Well, what is your take on this? Do I have a fairy problem? Should I just let them hang out in my garden?