Mother in Laws and Crabtree tins

Years ago when my mother in law retired, I began collecting tins, tins from the Crabtree & Evelyn company, a company that my mother in rept for so many years. Someday I may write a book about them. At this point, I'd like to think I own all of them and even some that were the demo for what the finished one would look like. I do not own any from recent years though. I use some, have a few packed away, I have given them to other family members who also find my mother in law important. Some how all my Crabtree tins have been a shrine of sorts to her for all she has done and who she is to each one of us. I have a 14 ft shelf above my work table in the art room where they are on display.
Here is my dilemma...For Christmas, Mike bought me a 6 ft morning glory stained glass window from this antique store that I had been eyeing for some time. The shelf along the wall also has 14 feet of window, I'm afraid the much loved light that comes through those windows would now become a bit too busy for my purifial vision. Did I mention my collection of Crabtree tins consists of anywhere between 45 & 50. 
Before Mike hangs the window I will climb up there and unfortunately dust and then maybe condense some of the tins, smaller into larger maybe.


I adore my mother in law and miss her living so close.


Since its already 7am I should go get started on that dusting...oh wait, I have to clean the work table so I can stand on it to reach this shelf...Its a good day for cleaning, I'll just keep reminding myself of that
...Thanks for thinking that through with me  ;  )


Lisa D.

Happy Holidays

I usually start ending my year in September/October, ending my year of creating/painting. So here I am at the end of the real worlds calendar and I'm itching to paint with a large brush with lots of colors on a huge canvas! I spent a lot of time this year making paper bag art, using it in ways that I never would have imagined and I love it! In some ways it has allowed me to step back and see my passion for color. But its very time consuming, almost as though I've painted the canvas twice.  I'm excited to see what comes out this year :  ) Mike says he is done with my trees and to some degree, I agree, yet I sell them all the time, the outside world is not ready for me to be done. We'll see what comes of that. I'm also feeling a bit tired of painting flowers, don't get me wrong...moving that paint all around in the shape of flower petals...mmm doesn't get and better then that for me.

Christmas feels different this year, my kids feel somewhat grown. I know Hannah still loves it and enjoys the festivities, Zack on the other hand probably wishes he could sleep through and wake to gifts at his bedroom door. Oh well      I have Mike and he always everyday makes me in some way, feel special, as I do him. Takes work keeping it good  :  )

24 Hours from now we will be waking to see what Santa left, have a beautiful breakfast prepared by my Mr. D.  along with the delicious dinner he will then spend the day preparing and I'm going to make a t~shirt scarf inspired by the Sew Wild book

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas

 Summer fun

Lisa D.

Hills painting...Congratulations on that Masters Hillary Margret

Happy Holidays

I spent last week in Texas visiting my sister and what fun we had  :  )

She requested a painting, with Starry Night being my inspiration.

Here is what I created

Two 16X40 canvases

 Close up

 Its actually more blue then green and silver/pearl stars

Enjoy the day

Lisa D.

Super Star

With all the support I've  received this year from so many people, I feel like a Super Star.

Thank you, a big Thank you

This was my busiest year as an artist.

I hung my art in two different locations, I bravely set up a tent at a summer art festival & ended the year with two craft shows. 

I find it interesting that most of my sales are to people that know me or have rated with me. When strangers come up, I think they feel unsure of all that on my table. I think its a little similar to how people have reacted to me all my life, unsure, that is until they spend some time with me  :  )

Maybe that's how it is for you too.

I have had endless computer problems for well over a year now and because of my sweet man Mike and wonderful in laws, I am now the owner on a mac desk top with a 17" screen :  )

I'm so looking forward to learning all that I can about using this to help me along the way with my art.

I was also treated to a pair of Uggs  :  ) For a girl that has always been cold...they are the best for warmth!

Thanks to my friend DiNunzio, a year ago I started keeping my heat at 64 during the day, 62 at night and when guests were over 66. Over last winter I saw our heating bill go from near $300. down to $80.

Put a sweater on.

I'm off to Texas this week to see my sister Hillary graduate with her masters. I'm looking forward to seeing her new home along with spending some time with Hill and Paul. While I'm there I will be doing a painting for their bedroom :  )

I'm pretty much done with holiday shopping, I do my best to keep it simple.

Most of the photos from above are from years ago  

Have a great day!

Lisa D.

Come out and see me and my art 11/18 ~ 11/20 or 12/11

Come out and see me if you haven't had the opportunity to this year. My last 3 sales/shows are below. On Fridays event we will serve some treats and drinks.
Friday November 18th from 6pm to 9pm I will be at the Evanston BooCoo Cultural Center showing over 20 pieces of art. The corner of Dodge & Church ... 1823 Church Street

 Summer photos

 My girlfriend Stacy & I

 The work table

Sunday November 20th from 11:30 till 3:00 Wellington Ave. UCC 615 W. Wellington Ave. Chicago I will have smaller gift giving items.


Sunday December 11th I will be participating in The Glenwood Winter Market


from 9am to 3pm 6962 Glenwood Ave. Chicago I will be selling smaller gift items and a few paintings.

Hope to see you at one of these events.


Lisa D.

I needed an artist statement for The Glenwood Sunday Winter Market

Artist and Craft Statement for Lisa, written by Mike

My art is a reflection of who I am, at that very moment; what inexplicable force moves my hand in certain ways and which muse inspires me to create a piece of art from a vision or feeling I cannot let go. Always the rebel and never accepting the “norm”, I create what I feel with no mind towards what is acceptable in art or in life.

I proudly consider myself part of the “outsider” art movement; with no formal education, my perspective is unique in that arises from what I feel rather than what I have been taught. I take my inspiration from what moves me, not where I have been instructed to.

I enjoy working in different mediums; from acrylic paints to three-dimensional objects, from ink to cardboard, from glue to paper. I enjoy texture; I use recycled paper and material, help it evolve and become part of my art. I enjoy using reclaimed wood; it makes a wonderful canvas. Everything I see becomes a medium I must use.

 

Sunday, December 11 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at The Glenwood  6962 N. Glenwood



 

It takes a lot of work always being honest and fare.

I often think of Jake at this time of year as well as in spring, spring is birth and autumn is death.
I've been keeping myself sane by doing lots of paper bag art. The physical movement of applying the paint and rolling it out, then the crumbling of the paper with paint all over my hands, the tearing of the paper and the adhering the torn pieces of paper to the canvas. All so good for my soul.

Char & Hannah in Georgia this summer at Ritas for some ice cream

Hannah is doing well in her 3rd year of high school. No needing to come home sick :  ) No barfing at the front door. She continues to practice and play wheelchair basketball...go BULLS go...HUH! This year Hannah is learning some job training along with life skills courses. This summer she was in a 3 week work program at IKEA and did very well!  :  )  Go Hannah Grace! and as always I have to add on her behalf how much she loves scrap booking. Who knew we would turn out to be artists :  )

Mike is good :  ) Enjoying the new company he has been working for since January this year. A year ago at this time Mike was unemployed  : /  So glad we are not in that place anymore. I'm so proud of Mike and so grateful for him and all he does with us and for us.

Zackery now 22, decided to not go back to school this fall and has been living with us. I hate it! Sorry to just put it out there. I think because I see myself as a different parent to him now, I think he needs to see me/us different and give more respect to us. I need to come up with a contract of sort. That way its all on table.

Me...trying to do a self portrait :  )

Here is my 5x4 canvas

A few months back I had painted it red and green and then I "lost it" whatever it was that inspired me to paint it that way. So after this large piece has now sat around, I decided it needed some paper bag art on it.

This time I challenged myself to not use oranges, yellow and reds

Here I laid out the land

I have gotten my inspiration for this piece from the painting by Egon Schiele's painting Four trees.

At this point I will leave it for when I have a full day or two all to myself and put some trees on it or something. 

Here it stands with another paper bag art piece. I had made a piece exactly like list for the festival this summer and really felt the need to do it again. I only had it for four days...I made it and sold it...then I missed it.

I will be putting leaves on these 2 trees next.

Hope you are all well

Now I'm off to do some blog catching up.

Enjoy your day

Lisa D.