First, you will need to buy 18 brass hex nuts and a coil of cotton twine.  Cut twine into three strands at one yard each.

Next, leaving yourself a few inches of slack, make a knot near the top of the twine strands.

Secure the top of the bracelet under a heavy object.  Begin a tight braid that continues for an inch or so.

Wrap the loose ends with tape for more easy threading through the hex nut.

Now thread one hex nut onto the outside strand of the braid.  Push the hex nut towards the braided section and bring in another hex nut on the opposite strand. 

At first it looks messy, but just continue introducing hex nuts each time you braid a strand, until you have used them all.  For a nice option, you could use smaller hex nuts for the last six.  This gives it a feminine tapered look. 

Finish it off with another inch of braid, and tie a knot.  There should be enough twine left over to wrap the bracelet around your wrist twice.  Your friend can choose to clip the ends but it is nice to have the option of wearing it long.

What else to do with a random circular canvas?  If you want to find out whose face I’m wearing, just hop over to the comics section!

It is night.  Three birds sit on three trees softly calling out in haunting melodies.  The children in the village lay their heads on their pillows and close their eyes to the purple strains.  Time passes softly as down.

This image is inspired by a musical windup toy I had as a little girl. I would put little plastic records on the player and lay down on my playroom shag carpet to listen. I loved memorizing the simple tunes and would stay there for what seemed like hours. The phonograph in this picture probably provided some Victorian child with endless hours of amusement. Ladies and their beaus might have danced to it’s lovely songs.

I enjoy the natural inconsistencies and wobbles that appear when a human tries to reproduce something precise and mechanical. My painting hand naturally shakes so this is visible in some of the lines.

via my TUMBLR

Sometimes I lie down at night and the roar of the traffic outside melts into the sound of crickets, are they tree frogs, who cling to the sides of the apartment buildings outside, their gummy fingers like melting jelly beans.  The homeless men rise up out of their boxes and sleeping bags on the steps of the church and begin shooting poison darts into the shadows.   Puddles form in the corners and fern fiddles uncoil there, popping up through little heaps of trash and glittering glass.  Fog rolls in and I can no longer see the ground from my window in the sky.  I can only see the window of my neighbor, shining like a ghost house across the old lake.  How can I sleep on a night like this?  My heart thrills and I want to eat the hours like a sandwich measured in dripping bites.

I found this cool antique store while I was out collecting ingredients for Easter dinner.  I love their items, which range from oddball skull clocks to vintage Gucci and Hermes jewelry and Japanese prints.  Now my chief pleasure is taking my guy friends there.  After all, it’s called Mantiques!

Mantiques Modern

146 W 22nd St # 1  New York, NY 10011

(212) 206-1494

My friend Keith encouraged me to learn how to make animated GIFs.  They are super fun and easy in Photoshop.  For a quick tutorial go to THIS PAGE.  I used one of my paintings, then just chopped it a bit and added fun letters… it’s a fantasy ad for a store.  It’s always fun time when it’s time to shop!!!

Here is my reference picture for starters:

tracing out the proportions

painting the line drawing, I like to put the color around the lines instead of painting on color blocks.

free handing a beautiful stag with antlers like the waves of the sea

laying down a happy yellow to serve as a visual foundation for all my color choices

trying something out… the red is a mistake but in the end it makes things even better once it’s covered.

See how the red sparkles through once it’s been covered?

The finished piece will go in a lovely warm light brown colored vintage frame.