Cindy Wrobel Illustrator and Bead Artist Extraordinaire!

More sad news I am afraid. My friend and fellow artist, Cindy Wrobel, died after a long 10 year battle with cancer on Saturday. Cindy was a real fighter and kept working in her studio until 3 weeks before she died. Cindy was one of the most prolific artists I have ever met and when Gary and I went to her house yesterday for a memorial gathering I was reminded again of how much fabulous work she had done in her lifetime...paintings, beaded sculptures and jewelry, ceramics, pastels...you name it  Cindy had done it. And she did it superbly...she was one talented woman. Cindy had energy in spades and her spirit was a huge part of who she was. Always upbeat, looking on the bright side, telling me to go for my dreams and that I could make it as a licensed artist. I will miss her...it is hard to believe she will not make any more artwork. But whenever I succeed as an artist, I will hear Cindy whispering in my ear that she knew I could do it.
Below are some of her bead sculptures.

A Woman’s Curves

Homage to a Tree

Sad Day in my Studio

Sorry there has was no blogs last week. On Friday January 14, my beloved gerbil, Mr. Perry, died. He had been getting skinnier and skinnier and my vet Jim Scheusler of Kirkwood Animal Hospital told me he could run some blood tests to see if he had cancer but if Mr. Perry did have cancer he would not survive any surgery. Mr. Percy is still in my studio missing Mr. Perry. I get him out more and let him run around my desk so he will not be too lonely. Gerbils are social animals and get along best in pairs. I would get him a new brother but because Mr. Percy is older, he would not welcome a new brother in his territory.
Here is Mr. Perry when he was a baby.

Gary told Anna that he thought maybe I needed a pet that lived longer than 2-3 years like a dog. So although he has always said he does not want a dog, Gary is thinking I do need something for the empty nest that is coming next year when Anna goes to college. So last week I thought I would look at senior rescue dogs and see what they had. And I found Thelma.

As my friend Joyce pointed out the name alone meant she was the dog for me. And my other friend, Artist Annie, has two Bostons named Bebe and Strummer and I am crazy about her dogs. But they are super full of energy and I am not sure my cat Miss Sophie who is 12 years old needs a dog in her face. And then once Gary really thought about it he sorta said no to the idea of getting a dog now...he meant we should get one in the future. I checked and Thelma did get adopted over the weekend so at least she has a home but I must admit I wish she was here with me.

Spring Scholastic I Spy job

After doing the I Spy art for the Scholastic Weekly Reader Valentine’s Issue I got a further Scholastic job...A small I Spy Spring booklet that will go in an April Weekly Reader. Here it is....and again remember I have 99% of the items for this job in my home.

The Spring Cover...can you find a white daisy?

Gardening spread...can you find a green hose, a red shovel and five seeds?

Bird Spread...can you find a nest, blue feather, and three eggs?

Insect Spread.....can you find a green beatle, a brown snail and four flies?

Christmas decorations coming down

It always makes me sad to take down my Christmas decorations. I have so many cute things that I hate to put them away. Sometimes, since I really like snowmen, I will keep up the snowman, fur trees and anything that smacks of winter just to keep those items out and about longer.
I said I would show you the Christmas in my studio so before I take the decorations down here they are.

As I sit at my desk, I look at shopping bags and cards I have collected over the years. I loved the bubble lights on my childhood Christmas tree so I have a small bubble light tree on my desk that I light up while I work. The collection of animals is from the Martha Stewart holiday collection at Macy’s this year....I had a Brushkin squirrel ornament I bought years ago made out of bristel brush and have always wanted more Brushkin animals. When I saw Martha’s collection I knew I had to have them. Luckily at Macy’s I got all of them on sale. You can find Brushkin ornaments at www.brushkins.com

My inspiration board filled with vintage and new greeting cards and tags

I look at these cuties when I work on my computer. The elephant and two ducks are ornaments from Jennifer Murphy, a favorite artist of mine. www.jmurphybears.com The bird in the hat is a new addition this year...my mom bought it for me and I love it. The small owl my mom made and gave to me for Christmas.

This wreath I made last year greets you when you come into my studio.

Holiday Decorations in my House

Thought all of you might like to see some of the holiday decorations in my house. I have been collecting vintage holiday collectibles since 1980 at estate sales and flea markets. Most of the stuff in my house that is vintage I got before the prices soared upward. Also my mom was quite the saver and I have a lot of stuff that was her’s or my grandmother’s. I treasure those items and always put them out at Christmas.

Small tree in my dining room where I hang ornaments that I have designed and that have been produced. Unfortunately they are no longer in production.

Tabletop display in living room....I call these snowmen the Osmonds because I have so many of them and they all look alike. The snowmen are made of batted cotton from the 40’s. I paid a lot for my first one in 1988...$25.00 and then I kept finding them wherever I would go and each new one I found would be less money. The last couple were only $5.00 each. If I like something a lot, I will buy variations..I like to group collectibles in masses.

My fireplace mantel...this has some of my favorite items on it. I used an old small crib frame and put lights around it....it gives me a place to hang my chenille Santas and wreaths. The bird artwork is by Gennine..I just love her work. www.etsy.com/shop/Geninne

Old German Candy containers

Usually these shelves hold my collection of bird artwork and primitive bird art. But at Christmas I fill it with Santas and Snowmen. The vintage candles sat on my grandmother’s and mom’s mantel and the plastic Santas and Snowmen I collected over the years with my friend Sandy...we always had a big shopping day to buy new Christmas items after Sandy got her Christmas bonus.

Collection of Christmas gift boxes in my hall. My mom has given me quite a few...she used to put her extra lights, hooks, etc in them but because I liked them so much she has given them to me. Also when I go to estate sales a lot of times I will empty out a decorative box of its contents and just buy the box. The dealers look at me like I am nuts and sometimes give me the box cause they consider it trash.

Coming in the next couple of days...Christmas in my studio and bedroom.

Happy H-owlidays!

Hope all of my friends and readers have a great holiday and a wonderful new year.

The Woodland Plushes are done, now they need their outfits

Even though I have been swamped the last couple of weeks I have managed to finish up my Woodland Plushes. I have tried making them outfits but I am not sure how to create a pattern that fits around the plushes now that they are stuffed. Luckily one of my best buddies Laurie has volunteered to help me make patterns during the holidays....her grandmother was a seamstress and she taught Laurie how to make patterns. So Laurie has signed on as the Woodland Plushes pattern maker...she thinks it will be just like making patterns for troll dolls...turns out both of us liked to make outfits for our trolls.

If anyone has an animal that they think should be added to the collection let me know....there has been a small clammering for a hedgehog or a porcupine.

Truman the Beaver...when Truman came to the cookie decorating party last weekend he loved this beaver so I decided to name it after him

Fabian the Skunk

Lizzie the Chipmunk...I got the face a little lopsided on this one...she looks a little off

Stanley the Possum