the little things

Here is a mini version of the totes I've been making. It keeps my art supplies neatly organized.


I also made a bag for a gal at work... we drew names for a secret santa gift exchange. She could use it to bring her lunch to work, or as a purse.



Shelly made some candles recently, so I thought I'd try to make one too. I found a really cute glass at the thrift store and turned it into a candle! Very simple project and a great gift-giving idea.

cap map

More bottle cap art! Maps are the new black.
Featuring a map of NC... You can see Alamance County in the upper left, and Chapel Hill/Carrboro. Home sweet home.


Hannah and Kellen are now the owners of some map cap artwork. Theirs is slightly larger than this one and features Charlotte NC. They collected their own caps to put inside.



This last one is my new favorite shape for the cap artwork. I've also been playing with the color and arrangement of the caps... I used to just throw all the caps I had together. This one has a home already, but I've got more in the works!

far east

in the spring of 2007 I got to visit some friends in Osaka, Japan. It was an AWESOME trip. I had maps from a guidebook on Japan, and I used some of the maps to make a painting as my own souvenir...


My plan is to make artwork showing all the places I've been. Maybe not all, but I like maps and I will continue to use them in my artwork. Stay tuned!

more light

more experiments with light drawings... no photoshop or crazy edits here!


We used various exposure times... mostly 20 or 30 seconds. and the tripod! that helped a lot.


Also used a different location. I like the lights in the background.


Cursive was tough, especially since you have to draw backwards. We used my headlamp again, and the red light that goes on the back of my bike. We were out of breath by the end of it after running all around the field trying to make neat designs. This is fun project for this time of year when it gets dark so early. You should try it!

bag it

here is the latest in the tote bag collection...


ta da! yellow and white on canvas color. no words on this one, but it is personalized with a friend's initials on the back. and sent all the way to Texas!

great for groceries, work out gear, sleep over supplies, or an everyday bag!
now taking orders for the sassy lady on your list... don't forget birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.
See previous posts for other samples. email me if you are interested!

cathy.dwyer@gmail.com

my favorite mistake

some artwork from earlier in 2008...


acrylic on canvas, then phone book + varnish on canvas, followed by extreme frustration and tearing everything to pieces. Then feeling OK again, then a gold wash over the whole thing. Not my original plan for the piece, but I like it and visitors to my home always compliment this one. I think it looks better in person. Another "cool" version of this is in the works (in the frustration phase for now). Check back for updates! More bags are in the works, and more bottle cap art as gifts!

set sail

Here is the latest addition to the verb bag series...




a crisp white tote with a few shades of blue. all of these totes will feature a different action. They'd make great gifts for the holidays coming up! My crafting services are available!

drink up

Here are some more bottle cap displays...


This lovely arrangement serves as a blacksplash in my kitchen. More of these smaller bottle cap display pieces are on the way. Also, be sure to save your caps! All of mine I have on display are different. No repeats in over 300 caps. I am always on the lookout for new & exciting caps, so save them for me if you go on vacation and drink a bottled beverage in an exotic location. Thanks!

triple play

Here are a couple of paintings I did this year that use a series of three canvases...


My usual stripe design in blues. I have this displayed with an old model ship that is blue and white so the stripes all go together nicely.

This next one is YELLOW! one of my favorite colors.


I was also pleased with the metallic tan color I came up with for the letters. I like using these letter stamps a lot, so you'll see more with those.

do it.

I am back from my vacation in England and Scotland. Happy to report that both bags served their purposes wonderfully. The DIRTY laundry bag was great. My sail boat scene luggage was very easy to spot. Also glad to be back so I can start some more CREATIONS. I have plenty in mind! Check back for updates.

bags

I finally finished this green tote! I have had it for a long time and just didn't know what to do with it. and now it is complete! and ready to carry my things anywhere I want to GO!


Next is a suitcase that I used (and broke) on my study abroad trip in 2004. Dad fixed it up so it is useable again. I will be taking it with me on my trip to Scotland (which is less than a week away!!) and I wanted to be able to spot it easily since so much luggage is black. So I used a homemade stencil and spray paint.


I will definitely be able to pick it out, and I am so ready to give it a test run.

light

Here is a fun thing to do...


Draw with light!!


David took these pictures, and I used my headlamp (a Christmas present from Jim) to draw in the air. It was fun, quick, and pretty easy. I want to practice and try some more complicated things, or try a location besides the front yard. Some of the pictures we made were featured in this week's issue of the Carrboro Free Press.

You should try this!

a collection

I started painting because we had so many walls in the apartments after college... like Sunrise Lane and Edwards Street. We needed decoration and color! Here is some early work:


The small blue, white, and brown one was one of my first paintings. (I think Jim has the VERY first experiment.) I still get compliments on this little buddy. Acrylic on canvas, using painters tape. Same for the green one, and I used a stencil for the stars. The bottle caps are a 2008 addition... and more of those to come. I like this cool-colored grouping. The green CHARLOTTE painting in a previous post was with these, and now I am working on a navy phone book painting to go in it's place in this corner of the house.


This painting was once mistaken for a piece of wood! Nope. Canvas again. With CDs and a roll of tape as stencils for the circles. The lamp belongs to Amanda, and I am giving it a very good home until she needs it again.
Again, if anyone is interested in decorations for their walls, just let me know!

dirty laundry

here is a craft project found in ReadyMade magazine's June/July issue...



I stitched this on an old pillowcase. now it will be my reusable travel laundry bag! I am glad I finished this one... I will be heading to the UK in less than a month where I will be sure to test it out. It looks so much better than the plastic grocery bag(s) I usually use for dirty clothes. I will be able to wash it and use it again each time I travel.



I may or may not put a drawstring-like closure... I'll see how the first test goes.

a painting creation

Here is a piece that belongs to my friends in Charleston, SC :


acrylic on canvas, plus map and embroidery floss. also looks good vertically! I like using maps on my paintings... I will share more of those later. This one has a part of a map where you can see CHARLOTTE, NC. That is where my friends are from, which is why this painting was made for them specifically.

Here is another map painting... a first attempt actually. this has a map from my home sweet home of CARRBORO, NC.


ta da!

salsa!

perfect for chips, tacos, fajitas, nacho pie, or breakfast burritos!

4-5 tomatoes
1 red onion
2 jalepenos, seeded
about 5 or 6 chunks of fresh pineapple
1 clove of garlic
juice from 1/2 of a lime
tons of cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

i usually squeeze out the tomatoes so the salsa isn't too liquidy. throw all of this into the food processor and you're good to go! sooo easy. and easy to tweak for size and flavor.
best after it sits in the fridge for a while. nice and cold.
enjoy!

one creation

here is one of the first things i made...

I started collecting bottle caps I don't remember how long ago. But I amassed quite a few, and needed a place to put them. I designed this "frame" with help from dad. It is one hefty piece of plywood that I drilled holes in, then painted out the sections. We made little frames for each section and the caps are held in by glass. Each little section can be unscrewed from the back so I can replace caps and reorganize them if I feel like.
This has been on the wall of every house and apartment I have lived in since college. It is very colorful and I like it! I have a TON more bottle caps that need homes now and I am working on that. I also tell my friends to collect caps for me if they go abroad... I have stuff from Japan, Germany, Argentina, and lots of other places now.
I am currently working on some smaller versions of this, so check back later for updates on those.

In the begining...

Welcome to my blog!
This is going to be all about CREATING. Each week I will post about something I have made. Most of the time it will be painting, or other artwork. Sometimes jewelry or embroidery. And sometimes food. Yum! I would love to see and hear about the things you create also, so please comment with your creations.
Also, the artwork I make is for sale... so please inquire if you are interested! and tell your friends.
Thanks for stopping by!