Whimsical Things

Scrolling through BBEST listings on Etsy confirmed that BBEST is a gifted team of artists and crafters.  Some of my recent favorites:

You can always count on ZudaGay to come up with elegant clay forms.  If anyone could make a black bird whimsical, it’s Zuda.  She’s quite a master of her medium.

 

Imaginuity combines vintage beads with wonderful crocheted shapes to creative stunning asymmetrical pieces like this choker.

 

Colours and Textures has such a lovely light touch in her watercolors and silk paintings, they always look like fairy gardens to me. 

 

 

Vivid color and abstract shapes make this painting by Heronkate a real standout.  The collage-like textures show Kate’s skills as a trompe l’oiel artist. 

 

 

When talking of VanFleetStreetDesign’s work, surreal is probably a more appropriate term than whimsical.   It’s a treat to see her mastering digital media.   (I also really like Two Feathers.)

 

 

Of course in my humble opinion, nothing says whimsy quite as well as Make Your Presents Felt’s egg cozies. I think she actually pinched these off the tiny heads of the elves that must watch over her garden.   

 

And when speaking of gardens, it’s mandatory to mention The Filigree Garden, whose jewelry is inspired by her magical garden.  Her work and her blog are always wonders to behold.  Perhaps Liv and Chrissie share the same elf gardeners?   Hmmmm . . . . .

Holiday Treasures

Boomers love their holidays, and craft like crazy to prove it!  Here’s just a sample of holiday decorations by the BBEST team, from goats’ milk soap to melting snowmen, and mini quilts to doggy scarves.  Clicking on the links below the tree will take you directly to the items shown.  You can see many more possibilities by searching BBEST holidays on Etsy.  Happy shopping!

Row one:  Pretty little angel topper by Nonnie.

Row two:  Christmas seals pendant by fireflyglassdesign; melted snowman ornament by uniqueXpression.

Row three:  recycled felt wreath ornament by maddyandme; white snowflake glass ornaments by Chris1; peace crane stained glass dove by DianasStainedGlass

Row four:  fabric origami crane ornament by Asianexpressions; Santa star ornament by Artsyclay; retro bear in a box ornament by birose ; mini quilt ornament by PocketComfort.

Row five:  poinsetta window cling by clingingimages; doggy holiday scarf by bagsandmorebypam; wine cozy by blazingneedles; holiday pendant by Chauncey

Row six: starburst temari ball by luckygirltrading; Santa card block print by Sixsisters; gingerbread man soap by aromafields; Smokin’ Santa assemblage by JunkyardGypsy; borosilicate glass ornament by gimmebeads ; angels beaded ornament by jstinson

Row seven: holiday snow note cards by pdforiginalartworks.

Art from Found Objects

I'm continuing in the vein of Joonie's previous post regarding vintage stuff . . .

I always love to see art that uses various found objects and repurposes them to create something entirely new.  Joon mentioned a restaurant supply store she loves to visit.  I've had luck at local Habitat for Humanity Restore and a place called The Scrap Exchange not far from where I live in Raleigh, NC.  These are all terrific resources for finding good materials for art projects. 

BBESTers are among the most talented reuse artists.  HeronKate has a wonderful assemblage in her shop called The Pearl Diver.  This piece is composed of a mannequin, natural sea sponges,  pearl "drops" from a Victorian window decoration, shells, beads, a piece of Chinese play money, glitter, and frogs.  I've been antiquing with Kate and she knows where all the good stuff is.

You can always expect the unexpected from The Junkyard Gypsy.  This is Annabelle the Anteater.  She is composed of  a vintage gas nozzle, vintage jello molds and a beautiful vintage tin.   All Junky's creations are at least 75% vintage or antique materials, and contain at least one piece that was destined for the local landfill.

Other great BBEST recyclers include LuckyGirlTrading, who finished off a bottle of Southern Comfort (not really) and made it into a neat little serving plate.  LuckyGirl adds rubber feet to her slumped bottles and suggests these as the perfect gift for someone who has everything.  She's got vanilla bottles for teabag rests, bar glasses for spoon rests, and a blue tequila bottle for a snack plate.

Karen loves finding vintage photos, and uses them in the mixed media collages in her shop  LemachiGallery.   She adds fabrics, foil, lutradur and other fun stuff to layer her pieces into works of art.  She loved the look of pride in the mother's eyes in this piece called Sunflower Family, and added some lace and acrylic medium for texture to get the result she wanted. 

In addition to making art from recycled materials, these four BBEST artists all have something else in common.  If you've figured out what it is, please say so in your comments!

Sally Starts Early!

Sally was coming over. Believe it or not, she was going to start her online Christmas shopping already, and wanted some ideas from me.

"Come right in!" I smiled, as I opened the door at the sound of the bell.

"I'm so glad you are going to help me," Sally said. "I love seeing what your Bbest team members have for sale. You know I'm shopping for some friends that have favorite colors, don't you?" she asked.

"Yes, that's what you said," I responded. "And what colors are you looking for today?" I queried.

"Well, Susie loves red. Lisa's favorite is blue. And Maggie's favorite is purple," Sally replied.

"Oh, do I have some great things for you to look at!" I said excitedly. "Let's start with red," I continued.

http://www.bethpeardonprods.etsy.com/

Boston, MA

http://www.ajscountrycottage.etsy.com/
Kansas City, MO

http://www.sixsisters.etsy.com/

Philadelphia, PA

http://www.chris1.etsy.com/

East Lansing, MI

http://www.birose.etsy.com/

Hawaii

http://www.nonnie60.etsy.com/

Danville, PA

http://www.luckygirltrading.etsy.com/

Durham, NC

"Those are simply gorgeous!" exclaimed Sally. "It will be so hard to choose just one," she said.

"Well, that isn't everything there is in red," I responded. "All you have to do is go to Etsy and type in Bbest team red, and you can see lots more selections in red," I added.

"What about the blue?" asked Sally.

"Let's check those out now," I answered.

http://www.bytheby.etsy.com/

Crawfordsville, IN

http://www.claycenter.etsy.com/

Wisconsin Dells, WI

http://www.artmixter.etsy.com/

East Dereham, United Kingdom

http://www.annasjewels.etsy.com/

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

http://www.mysticsilks.etsy.com/

Warren, OH

http://www.zudagay.etsy.com/

Camp Point, IL

http://www.altheap.etsy.com/

Raleigh, NC

"I love all of those, too," whispered Sally. "They are all simply beautiful. I can't wait to see what you have chosen in purple!" she said.

http://www.gerrysjewelbox.etsy.com/

Pittsburgh, PA

http://www.blazingneedles.etsy.com/

York, PA

http://www.jnoriginals.etsy.com/

Urbandale, IA

http://www.onawhimsey.etsy.com/

West Sussex, United Kingdom

http://www.magdalenejewels.etsy.com/

Hartsdale, NY

http://www.sassalynne.etsy.com/

Fleet Hampshire, United Kingdom

http://www.heronkate.etsy.com/

Pittsboro, NC

"Well, I just don't know what do say," said Sally. "Everything is so beautiful, and you tell me there are more I can go see. How will I ever choose? asked Sally.

"Guess you'll just have to get them all!" I laughed.

"Wish I could, wish I could," sighed Sally. "But, all this shopping has made me hungry!" Sally said, licking her lips.

"Come on," I grinned. "I'll treat you to a chocolate sundae at our favorite ice cream place."

"Mmmmmmmm!" said Sally, as she headed for the door. "We can't get there fast enough for me!"

(This blogpost also published at http://www.bagsandmorebypam.blogspot.com/)

Sunshine!

We are now getting to the time of year when we have had enough of being snug inside looking out on snow drifts, grey skies and generally miserable winter weather.  Every glimpse of sunshine heralds a new gasp of joy!  The weather promises, though it does tease sometimes, to get brighter and warmer.  So what better way to celebrate and encourage the spring sunshine but by showing off items from some of our talented members?  Put on the shades and be prepared to be hot, hot, hot!!!

This will get you in the right mood!  A cheerful quilted fabric postcard called ‘You are my sunshine’ – remember the song?

Thanks to Attack of the Vintage you will find many more wonderful examples of her quilted postcards in her shop.

 

It’s hot out here!

This piece is done in the paper prayer format. The paper prayer was created by the Japanese to evoke health and well-being for the person for whom it was made.

Van Fleet Street Design is the place to find more ‘hot’ items

 

Orange Flower Folding Hat

Sometimes the sun, even at this time of year, will cause you to look for a little shade and what a pretty hat to do that with!  Look, it even comes with its very own zipper purse for storage.

One Dog Talking is the shop to visit if you like style and elegance.

 

Too sexy for the Beach

Now start singing… "I'm Too Sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my..." I won’t go on!  However, a girl still needs to look her best at the beach!

Laughing Otter Jewelry just knows what jewellery you ‘otter’ be wearing!!!!

 

Sunrise, Sunset print that really could be either time of day. Imagine sitting quietly slurping, sorry sipping a cocktail watching this sun slowly dipping into the sea.

Beth Peardon Prods has a great array of prints, cards etc in her shop.

 

Sunbird – you can tell the artist was really enjoying herself in the creation of this wonderful mixed media painting!

Sixsisters has an exciting way of depicting everyday subjects and yet making them so individual.  She shows a great empathy with nature in the portrayal of her art.

 

A large smiling sun window cling suncatcher

The sun is always smiling on the righteous they tell me.  However, who could resist this wonderful cling looking like real stained glass?

Clinging Images has a shop full of window clings of every shape and size. 

 

I could go on for ever on this happy sunny note but why don’t you search yourself and see what you can find amongst this incredibly talented group of artists on Etsy who call themselves the BBEST!