Author Archives: beccasgreencraftstudio

R. Shuler Art

Posted in art journey, Studio Sparks by

R. Shuler Art (aka/ Becca’s Green Craft Studio) creates beautiful impressionistic florals, landscapes, and farm life scenes for her audience. When did you begin collecting? Let’s talk about what moves you to take one home. Reach out by email or comment in this blog page to chat with the artist directly.

Each of these works are immediately available for purchase via link to online payment services. Shipping within the 48 contiguous states of USA only. Respond by email to beccasgreencraftstudio@gmail.com or purchase directly from payment link provided.

Acrylic Floral Paintings by R. Shuler / Vibrant Floral Series from Spring/Summer of 2025

Flutter-Bye (6x12x1″ wood panel) Butterfly meets Wildflowers, $180 includes sales tax and shipping (USA)

Purchase Pink Bliss and/or Flutterbye

Pink Bliss (6x12x1″ wood panel) Pale Pink Echinacea Blooms on Green, $180 includes sales tax and shipping (USA)

FLUTTER-BYE, 6X12X1, $180
PINK BLISS, 6X12X1, $180

HAPPY DAY, 6X12X1, $180
IN THE BLUE, 6X12X1, $180

Acrylic Floral Paintings by R. Shuler / Vibrant Floral Series Spring/Summer of 2025

HAPPY DAY (6x12x1″ wood panel) Single Blue Hydrangea in Vase, $180 incl. sales tax and shipping (USA)

Purchase Happy Day and/or In the Blue

IN THE BLUE (6x12x1″ wood panel) Teal Blue Wildflowers on Green, $180 incl. sales tax and shipping (USA)

Fussy Freida, 12x12x1 Acrylics on Wood Panel, $290 (includes tax and shipping cost in 48US)

Fussy Freida is a fluffy white hen content in flowers. Purchase Fussy Freida or Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea, 12x12x1 Acrylics to Wood Panel $290 (includes tax and shipping inside 48US)

Art Lesson: Painting the Sky

Posted in Show Off, Studio Sparks, Tutorial by

“Lighting up the sky while painting with acrylics can be accomplished with ease,” she said. Until I learned to add acrylic glazing liquid, I would never have thought it so easy.

Clouds can be tricky because in the sky they are forever changing shape, form, color, and detail. In this lesson, we gathered firsthand experience with using the underpainting to our advantage for letting the light shine.

The underpainting for this cloud painting began with a very warm red/orange. Then the blue/green to blue sky was painted over the red/orange underpainting leaving one area about middle right to remain red/orange. Along the lower three inches of this work, a dull purple was used over the red/orange. If you examine the greenish-blue sky tones closely, you can still see some of the red/orange tones. And where the red/orange is covered by clouds in white to creme tones, the glazing liquid was added to the paint, creating a translucent effect.

Overall, the sky becomes lit by a morning sunrise, and the warmth of that experience can be felt in this piece. Demonstrating this technique for lighting up the sky during a recent painting session certainly brought a lot of “a-ha” moments from my students.

This class called: LIGHT UP THE SKY is only one in my repertoire of acrylic painting lessons held monthly at the Gilmer Art Center in downtown Ellijay, Georgia. Stop by in person some Friday to see what we are up to. Or visit the Gilmer Arts Website https://gilmerarts.com/art-gallery/#classes to browse all the art classes on the schedule and follow my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ArtwBecca/events.

1st Photo: red/orange underpainting and blue/green sky underground with underpainting glimpse.

2nd Photo: 2 layers of white clouds painted over the underground using additive: acrylic glazing liquid.

The Jury is Out: Annual Spring Juried Art Exhibit

Posted in Show Off by

Annually the local art center in our county, Gilmer Arts, holds a juried art show each spring for local artists. Many different mediums are accepted: 2 D painted, drawn, and mixed media works, photography, and 3 D works of art. The notices have gone out for acceptance into the show, and I am happy to announce I have entered several different paintings this year.

This is my first Juried Art Show even though I was invited to submit pieces into a juried show last year in the town south of us; that show was cancelled due to severe weather. Entering any art show means a lot of preparation work for the artists, the gallery, and those involved with the opening and the judging. During the Opening Reception for the show on Sunday, April 6th, 2025, the winners in each category will be announced at 4:00pm. If you are local, come and enjoy the refreshments as well as meet the artists presenting their works. It will be fun, I promise!

Before, during or after the show you may purchase my artwork. Please feel free to browse my submissions here; each one is available for purchase. If you purchase at the art center during the show, a portion of the proceeds goes to the art center. If you see something you must have but aren’t local, reach out to me here: Art In the Community.

“In the Vines at the Foothills”, 12 x 16 x 1″ acrylics to canvas, local N. Georgia winery: $168

“Winter Cornfields on Macedonia Road”, 14x11x1, acrylics to canvas, local area farm in N. GA.: $190

“Spring House,” 11 x 14 x 2, acrylics to canvas, Birds built a nest in birdhouse at the lake pergola: $ 195

“Monument Valley 1”, 12 x 6 x 1, acrylics to canvas, shadows on red cliffs: $100

“Monument Valley 2”, 8 x 8 x 1, acrylics to wood panel, shadows on red cliffs: $ 90

“Monument Valley 3”, 8 x 8 x 1, acrylics to wood panel, shadows on red cliffs: $ 90

LIGHT UP THE SKY, PART 1, 9 x 12 x 2, acrylics to canvas, billowy clouds at sunrise: $ 160

LIGHT UP THE SKY, PART 2, acrylics to canvas, 10 x 20 x 2, billowy clouds at sunrise: $ 198

FOR THE BIRDS, acrylics to canvas, 20 x 12 x 1, Blue Tananger in forest boughs: $ 190

In the Galleries

Posted in Studio Sparks by

Birdies Came Home / Dance-Sing Flowers

When the time came for the Winter Flowers Art Exhibition at the local art gallery, all but one of the “Birdies” came home. “Lady Sparrow” found a new home with a local patron of the arts.

Birdies is the nickname given to the series of small bird paintings that I entered into the “Small Works” art exhibition held during the holiday shopping season at year’s end. This is the first time one of my artworks sold at Gilmer Arts Gallery, therefore all but one of them came back home.

Feel free to browse the slide show of paintings available for purchase below.

It’s fun to see my work appreciated and am looking forward to more opportunities of sharing my work locally. A curator for another local gallery is excited for future showings of my artwork, location and dates to be announced soon. Nine new paintings were accepted by the Gilmer Art Gallery for the “Winter Flowers Art Exhibit” showing through February 2025. Painting flowers for this exhibit while the temperatures are cold outdoors brought me a lot of joy. I believe the joy came across in each one of this series that I call “Dance-Sing.”

Floral Series of Artwork by R. Shuler: DANCE-SING FLOWERS

After the Rain, (Tall Coneflowers blowing in wind)

Acrylics w Palette Knife to wrapped canvas, 16x24x2”, $248

Bee a Sunflower, (Large sunflower head w bee against sky)

Acrylics w Palette Knife to Panel, framed to 11x14x1”, $182

Sunshine in the Rain, (Sunny Yellow coneflowers in field)

Acrylics w Palette Knife to Wrapped canvas, 11x14x2”, $182

Dancing in the Rain, (A field of Coneflowers dance in the rain)

Acrylics w Palette Knife to Birch Panel, 10x10x1” framed, $96

Tiny but Fierce, (Close-up of Coneflower blooms)

Acrylics w Palette Knife to Birch Panel, 10x10x1” framed, $96

Delightful Joy, (Fuscia Hollyhocks on green)

Acrylics to paper under glass, framed to 14×18,” $122

Fenced Posers, (Red Roses along vintage picket fence)

Acrylics to Paper under glass, framed to 14×18,” $122

When the Mountains Sing, (Deep blue iris and wildflowers)

Acrylics & Glaze to wrapped canvas framed, 16x24x1,” $280

Where the Mountains Sing, (Deep blue iris and wildflowers)

Acrylics & Glaze to wrapped canvas framed, 16x24x1,” $280

Bird Series of Artwork by R. Shuler: BIRDIES CAME HOME

For the Birds-2, (Tanager in tree boughs),

Acrylics to wrapped canvas, 16x24x1”, $179

For the Birds-3, (Abstract Wren in tree boughs),

Acrylics to wrapped canvas, 16x20x1”, $179

Song of Dawn, (Chickadee in tree blossoms),

Acrylics to birch panel, 8x8x2”, $96

SOLD Lady Sparrow, (Sparrow in field of Queen Anne Lace),

Acrylics to birch panel, 8x8x2”, $96

Long Shadows, (Chickadee in golden light),

Acrylics to birch panel, 8x8x2”, $96

Little Birdie, (Titmouse peers over shoulder),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x2”, $54

Lonesome Night, (Titmouse perched in berries at dusk),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x2”, $54

Reality Check, (Rufus Towhee in grass),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x2”, $54

Simon Says, (Titmouse peers down),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x2”, $54

Sorrowful Morn, (solitaire Chickadee in cherry tree),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x2”, $54

SOLD The Way Home, (Titmouse perched on branch),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x2”, $54

SOLD Whoo Goes There? (Owl in autumn woods),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x1”, $32

Redbird Eve, (Male Redbird on ground),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x1”, $42

SOLD Lady Cardinal, (Female Redbird on branch),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x1”, $42

Serenity Snap, (Sparrow in Tallgrass), Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x1”, $32

Blue Dazed, (Titmouse in Berries),

Acrylics to birch panel, 6x6x1”, $32

ARTWORK available for purchase by reaching out in an email to becca@beccasgreencraftstudio or by sending paypal order to paypal.me/artworkshop50 Add your address, Title of artwork, price in email.

Shipping to USA-48 only. Terms of sale include agreement to shipping cost ($25) at time of purchase, send email request for estimate if outside of Georgia.

2025 Is Full of Potential

Posted in Studio Sparks by
October 2024 Apple Arts Festival in downtown Ellijay via Gilmer Arts Center

As an artist: Do you have a bucket list?

I didn’t realize until now that I have had a bucket list for each year of my art journey. I am happy to say this past year was a very eventful year for it!

Several items were marked off my list of firsts:

  • Sell art in a gallery show
  • Sell art via a local festival/fair
  • Start offering Private Lessons to Students
  • Series of Paintings (3 or more similar paintings)

So now what? In 2025, I have planned a few more new things to accomplish as far as my art journey goes. One must have is a place to steer like-minded budding-artists toward, and this past year I had the opportunity to make a few more art contacts to move in that direction.

In November, the local Art Gallery invited local Art Guild members to show art during an exhibition for Small Works. I’m happy to say: one of my bird paintings sold in the first week of the show. How exciting to see others appreciate my love for painting birds.

I’m enjoying working with the local Art Gallery by teaching acrylic classes on the regular, that was a thing I added to my journey two years ago. Before that I taught randomly at a few local antique shops. Because of my connections at the Gilmer Art Center, I was able to man and share a booth with a few other local artists and enjoyed selling art to the mass audience that the local Apple Festival in our county brings. It was the best fair/festival sales experience I’ve ever had! And after the let down of weather interference during the Art Walk and cancellation of events in a town north of our community, I was happy all my work wasn’t for nought. The Festival sales experience surprised me because of the items that were popular. I learned a lot about my art audience and had some amazing conversations with customers, some of my students were visiting locally.

One of my long term, Acrylics 101 students, had to move from taking classes publicly to receiving private lessons because of a family situation. It was a special request, but I was happy to offer her private lessons in her home art studio. She lives in a lovely mountain community surrounded by gorgeous views of trees and mountains. Another first checked off the list! She mentioned my name to a friend who owns a business locally with an art gallery inside a beautiful wine bar downtown. Another great contact which has led to me meeting my first goal for 2025, sooner rather than later.

On the horizon this year, 2025:

  • Be curated by local gallery for sales opportunities
  • Publish a workbook for acrylic art students
  • Stretch my ability by creating larger pieces of artwork—goal is 30 x 30”
  • Participate in a juried art show locally
  • Paint more series of works, by themes—subject & color palette
  • Create a lesson plan for painting from Still Life Settings

Let me know what you have on your Bucket List for 2025. I’d love to compare notes.

Article written by the founder of Becca’s Green Craft Studio: R. Shuler

Lessons in Painting Looser

Posted in BoHo Bags by

Why Painting Looser Works

Painting looser is relaxing and it helps create a more appealing piece of artwork. There are other reasons to try painting looser, but these are my reasons. Painting is therapeutic for me and creating a beautiful result makes it all worthwhile.

My art mentor preaches relaxed form while painting, so it’s a natural stance for me now as I work. I prefer the standing position while I paint at a high-top surface using a tabletop easel. It makes it easier to wield my paint brush like a magic wand if I’m standing in front of an easel.

You heard it right; I hold my brush like it is a wand! This way my entire body is involved with every brushstroke. It’s a very relaxing stance. Try it! You may love the results!

Grateful Beatitude Acrylic to Paper, Mounted, Matted, & Framed under glass 8 x 10 framed to 12 x 15 / $122

Grateful Beatitude
Acrylic to Paper, Mounted, Matted, & Framed under glass
8 x 10 framed to 12 x 15 / $122

It will be on display during the Jasper Artwalk show on September 13, 2024. Look for me at the Hive & Vine Wine Lounge located at 57B N. Main Street, Jasper, Georgia 30143. You can reserve a painting before the show by going to this post link where you will see a listing of all my available works: https://beccasgreencraftstudio.com/2024/08/26/r-shuler-art-at-the-jasper-artwalk-2024/

Landscape Painting Exercises

Posted in Show Off, Tutorial by

UNDER THE MADNESS / W. Va. Farm Under a Storm Cloud / Acrylics to Wrapped Canvas / 11 x 14 x 2 / $192

Creating balance in a painting is an exercise I practice each time I paint a landscape. The light that appears in the sky along the edge of the dark angry clouds is reflected on the white farmhouse and on the tips of the grass growing in the field in front. The layers of charcoal gray in gradient were the trickiest parts of the sky, but I’m finally pleased with this result.

The focal point is never in the center; as I try to follow the thirds’ theory for a focal point. I prefer to exclusively place detail in the focal point areas, everything else gets only a suggestion of detail. The addition of light along the edge of the dark clouds falls somewhere in between the details of the buildings and the lack of details in the foliage along the horizon flanking either side of the house.

The madness of the storm cloud brings moodiness to the scene. The rosey haze along the horizon line is repeated in the sky and the foreground, although it’s not obvious. The color palette for this composition was inspired by a painting with similar subject matter under blue skies. (See the last image for the color inspiration.)

TWICE AS NICE / W. Va. Farm in Autumn Under Blue Skies / Acrylics to Wrapped Canvas / 11 x 14 x 2 / $192

See something you wish to purchase or have printed into a greeting card? Send an email request to the artist here: beccasgreencraftstudio@gmail.com

Illusion of Details in Practice

Posted in Tutorial by

LESSON 3: Use your Imagination to simplify the scene. I like to squint at the scene and decide what is most important to the scene. Asking a few questions like: What do I see first? Where do my eyes go next? Is it fluid movement or jerky? What would make it more transitional and fluid? The answers help you to edit out the elements which block the emotion you desire. Keep in mind that a vibrant color palette will bring excitement, while a more muted color palette will calm things down. A highly contrasted value study will help you decide whether you have achieved your goal–providing an emotional reaction.

The inspiration image (Image 1) below shows a tiny sparrow in the same color palette as the field of lingering Queen Anne’s Lace flowers. The stems are dominant in the foreground where the sparrow is perched. The darkest feathers match the stem coloring. And the sky in the background is filled with muted shadows.

Caption: Image 1: Inspiration Image: Tiny Sparrow resting in spent Queen Anne’s Lace Caption: Image 2: Painting: Lady Sparrow by R. Shuler, Acrylics to Wood Panel 8x8x2, $96.

  • Caption: Image 1: Inspiration Image: Tiny Sparrow resting in spent Queen Anne’s Lace
  • Caption: Image 2: Painting: Lady Sparrow by R. Shuler, Acrylics to Wood Panel 8x8x2, $96.

Notice how the painting (Image 2) has those same aspects but in less detail. Rather than paint every single flower head and stalk, the artist painted only one plant. It was the most important one because of the bird perched there. Do you see how the entire mood shifts when a new color scheme is used in the sky shadows? The artist added the blush of pink from the sky to enhance the beauty of the tiny sparrow.  This piece is named: Lady Sparrow—playing off the name of the flowers in the field: Queen Anne’s Lace. What do you think about this simplifying technique? Will you attempt it in your next work?

Becca invites you to stay tuned for more insights! Lesson 4: The Magic of Color placement and Value explores the importance of color and value placement. It questions whether one should create a color palette chart in advance or skip this step and jump in headfirst. If you scroll to the end of this blog post, you will find Lesson 1 for The Illusion of Details in Practice art lessons by R. Shuler / aka: Becca the artist behind the Green Craft Studio. Peer at her Facebook page when you find the link at the end of Lesson 1 and sign up for her ongoing acrylic art lessons held two Fridays per month in Ellijay, Georgia via the Gilmer Arts Center.

LESSON 2: Creating the Illusion of detail is challenging and takes practice. Practicing the illusion of detail rather than painting all the details allows one to create intriguing artwork. Adding too many details can make a scene visually busy. If we “quiet the noise” and edit the scene into the most basic elements, we can create the illusion of detail. Simply stated: We get more done with less; we simplify the process just as Impressionists do. So much information can be conveyed with one single stroke of the brush if it’s done well. It’s a fun way to paint, but it’s not easy. Copying the subject is easy. Simplifying the subject and painting with fewer strokes is more difficult.

This painting process is beautifully illustrated when comparing an inspiration photograph to the work in progress. Can you see where the artist simplified the scene? The overall scene is represented; however, the details are more imagined than real. If you are one who is attempting to loosen up your paintings–adding fewer details–this technique is one you should practice. Some questions to consider: How do you decide what to remove and what to keep? Which elements require you to keep the details? More on this in future lessons.

Simple impression of real scene in the mountains. Flower field with old barb wire fencing and mountains in distance.
Simple artistic impression of real scene in the mountains of a flower field with an old barbwire fence.

What do you think it takes to master this process? Lesson 3 will help you relax as you learn how to use your imagination and let it do all the work for you. Stay tuned for more next week.

LESSON 1: Getting Caught Up in the details is a common problem for aspiring artists. Trying to paint every leaf, branch, blade of grass, highlight, shadow, line, or shape can be overwhelming not only for the artist but also for the viewers of the cluttered painting. Determine why you are painting the scene? What is it that drew you in? What do you feel as you work on it? Provide that emotional connection to those who admire your work, and you’ll find followers. For instance: Do we feel the emotion of the storm in those dark clouds in a moody sky or are we too focused on the details of the raindrops?

This red barn painting is a perfect example of creating the illusion of detail without adding every little board and nail. Notice how the illusion of texture is added with only a few strokes of the brush. In the pine trees, not every pine needle is added, nor is every bump in the bark. Overall, the painting is aesthetically pleasing, well-balanced in color value and composition. What else do you enjoy about it? What would you change? What style did the artist use: realism, impressionism, abstract?

First, what exactly is the illusion of detail and why is it important to an artist? This is Lesson 1. There are five more lessons to come. See the list below and stay tuned. If you wish to enroll in an acrylic paintings session, reach out by way of email to learn more about art lessons with Becca: beccasgreencraftstudio@gmail.com

  • The Illusion is Challenging
  • Using Your Imagination is Relaxing
  • Colors & Value placement can be Magic
  • What are Feature Details?
  • Become a Master of Illusion with this TIP

Becca adds Acrylics 101 Sessions for students from beginners to advanced. She paints with you during class and each session helps you to build skills necessary to paint beautiful gallery worthy pieces of artwork. She posts her session schedule by adding weekly events to Facebook–her acrylic sessions are usually on Fridays between 1-4pm and held at the local Art Center where she lives in Ellijay, Georgia. Follow her Facebook page to keep up or join a session: https://www.facebook.com/ArtwBecca/events

R. Shuler Art at the Jasper Artwalk 2024

Posted in Market Events, Show Off by
R. Shuler the artist aka: Becca of Green Craft Studio

On Friday, 9-27-2024, (weather permitting) original acrylic paintings to Canvas, Wood Panels, Paper under glass, or Printed Notecards by R. Shuler are on display during the Jasper Artwalk on Friday, September 27, 2024, 6-9 p.m. It’s a juried show. Judging begins at 5 p.m. Several local Jasper, Georgia businesses have been selected to participate by hosting a different artist at each location. The Hive & Vine Wine Lounge at 57-B N. Main Street is where you can find artwork on display by R. Shuler (aka: Becca). All of it is available for purchase during the event. Be sure to engage with the artist and her husband, the author of fiction thriller novels–it won’t disappoint. Becca has been teaching art to the public in surrounding counties since 2015. She paints in her home studio and at the Gilmer Art Center in downtown Ellijay, Georgia. She resides in Gilmer County but lives between cow pastures in Talking Rock which sits between Jasper and Ellijay. Her favorite things to paint are landscapes, especially the farm life which surrounds her home. Folk art is also her passion which she shares routinely during the workshops she teaches at Gilmer Art Center monthly. Browse her available artwork below.

Each piece of art shown will be in the show and available for purchase. You may reserve your piece here with payment using this link, add a note at time of payment with the phrase ARTWALK and the TITLE of the piece: Paypal.me/artworkshop50. If you don’t have paypal, then reach out using the contact form or email the artist here: beccasgreencraftstudio@gmail.com.

Between the Pastures / Framed Panel (16 x16 x 2) / $405
Creme Brulee / Framed Panel (16 x 16 x 2) / $405

Creme Brulee / Framed Panel (16 x 16 x 2) / $405

The Road Home / Acrylics to Pro Birch Panel (18 x 18 x 2) / $405

These Silent Woods / Acrylics to Pro-Birch Panel (18 x 18 x 2) / $405

The Burden is Gone / Acrlics to Pro-Birch Panel (16 x 16 x 1)/ $320

Twice as Nice / Acrylics to Gallery wrapped canvas (11 x 14 x 2) / $192

Under the Madness / Acrylics to wrapped canvas (11 x 14 x 1) / $180

In the Pines / Acrylic to Pro-Birch Panel (8 x 8 x 2) / $96

Glory Sounds / Acrylics to wrapped canvas (11 x 14 x 1)/ $149

SOLD Edgar’s Trees / Acrylics to paper mounted, matted, framed under glass (16×20) / $72

Warm Water’s Edge

Acrylics to paper mounted, matted, framed under glass

(11 x 14)

$52

Rock Solid

(river rocks along a treelined shore)

Acrylics to paper mounted under glass

(6 x 14 x 1)

$49

Rooftops / Acrylics to Birch Panel

(6 x 6 x 1) /

$32

Sheep in the Meadow

(sheep in field w/ windmill)

Acrylics toround wood panel (8″ round x 1″)

$32

Peace Like a River / Landscape

Acrylics to wrapped canvas (12×12)

River rruns through the Blue Ridge

$180

Farmhouse Star Barn Quilt / Folk Art

Acrylics to Purebond Poplar Panel framed (28″ square)

$250

Navy Sunflower Barn Quilt / Folk Art

(painted and sealed and ready for hanging)

Acrylics to Purebond Poplar Panel unframed (24″ square)

$195

SOLD Flora’s Crown / Folk Art Chicken

RESERVED by Cromie, Shane & Alisha

(Alisha’s hen)

Acrylics to paper mounted, matted, & framed under glass (9×9)

$122

Sunny-Side / Landscape

Acrylics to wrapped canvas

(11×14 framed to 16 x 20)

Sunflower rows in mountains of Georgia

$179

Grace Abounds / Landscape

INQUIRY POSTED 9/11/24

(sunflowers follow the sun on mountain landscape)

Acrylics to wrapped Canvas (11x14x1)

$159

Plum Satisfied / Florals

(hydrangea & foxglove bouquet)

Acrylics to birch panel (6x6x1)

$32

Delightful Joy / Florals

(fuscia hollyhocks on green)

Acrylics to paper mounted, matted, framed under glass (14×18)

$122

Fenced Posers / Florals

(Wild red roses along vintiage pickets)

Acrylics to paper-mounted, matted, framed under glass (14×18)

$122

SOLD Grateful Beatitude / Florals

(coneflowers on green framed)

Acrylics to paper, mounted, matted, & framed under glass

8 x 10 framed to 12 x 15

$122

Sally’s Song / Florals

Acrylics to birch panel framed (9×9)–Gerbera daisies & fern bouquet

$152

Drops of Sunshine / Florals

Acrylics to birch panel / 8 x 8 x 2

(White jasmine bouquet on vintage table at window)

$96

For the Birds 2 / BIRDS

Acrylics to wrapped canvas (16x24x1)

bird in tree boughs

$179

Song of Dawn / BIRDS

Acrylics to wood panel (8x8x2)

Chickadee in blossoms of a tree

$96

SOLD Lady Sparrow / BIRDS

Acrylics to wood panel (8x8x2)

Sparrow among Queen Anne lace

$96

Long Shadows / BIRDS

Acrylics to wood panel (8x8x2)

chickadee in golden light

$96

Little Birdy / BIRDS

Acrylics to wood panel (6x6x2)

titmouse peering over shoulder

$54

Lonesome Night / BIRDS

Acrylics to wood panel (6x6x2)

chickadee perched on berries

$54

Reality Check / BIRDS

Acrylics to wood panel (6x6x2)

Orange Rufus Towhee in grass

$54

Simon Says / BIRDS

Acrylics to wood panel (6x6x2)

tufted titmouse peering down

$54

Sorrowful Morn / BIRDS

Acrylics to wood panel (6x6x2)

solitaire chickadee in cherry tree

$54

SOLD The Way Home / BIRDS /

Acrylics to wood panel (6x6x2) /

titmouse on branch at dusk /

$54

Serenity Snap / BIRDS /

Acrylics to wood panel (6x6x1) /

sparrow in tall grass /

$32

Blue Dazed / BIRDS

Acrylics on wood panel (6x6x1)

titmouse in berries

$32

SOLD Whoo Goes There? / BIRDS

Acrylics to Birch panel (6x6x1)

screech owl in autumn woods

$32

  • Sweet Jenny / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • Just a Struttin’ / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • Clyde Says / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • Rooster Grape / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • SOLDOUT Party of Two / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • Mr. Poke / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • Mrs. Peck / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • Hello Sunshine / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • Ray the Rooster / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • SOLD OUT Miss Pat / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • SOLD OUT What She Said / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • SOLD OUT Jumbalaya / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • SOLD OUT Squatter / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • SOLD OUT Gretta Spoke / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • SOLD OUT Flossy Goes / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • SOLD OUT Good Morning Sunshine / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • OUT OF STOCK Zombie Chick / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • OUT OF STOCK Hen Party of Two / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • OUT OF STOCK Chicken Blues / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5
  • OUT OF STOCK Fat & Sassy / 5×5 card w envelope / $3 each or 2 for $5

Ask about Custom Art Kits by Becca when you check out.

Fun Sewing Lessons for Little Girls

Posted in Camp Green Craft, Show Off by

My first machine!

My first machine was a Singer Treadle

I have two sisters who showed absolutely no interest in sewing when we were kids.  On the other hand, I was very intrigued with my grandma’s ability to make things by sewing. I spent a lot of time at her house in Georgia during summer vacation. I would stand by her side, aching to sit at the machine and make it hum for me.  My mother also did a lot of sewing when I was growing up. She didn’t let me stand at her side and watch too long, however. Probably because I drove her crazy with questions.  I would watch her from the door of the sewing room in our basement.  When she got up from the machine, i would run and sit at it, pretending to sew.  (I couldn’t have been more than 7 years old.)

I learned to use a sewing needle and thread at an early age (5) because my Grandma had patience to teach me during summer vacation, and I’m sure I would have bugged her to death had she not let me try. I got the hang of it pretty quick from what I recall. I made so many doll clothes that summer, I could hardly fit them in my suitcase when it came time to go home.  A few years went by and my interest in sewing never waned, so my daddy surprised me with my very own sewing machine. It was a gift from an old friend of his who had an antique Singer machine, operated by a foot treadle. That winter, my mom finally bought me my very own sewing kit, equipped with a pair of shears (fabric scissors) and tailors chalk and a pack of needles and some thread and marking paper.  I was so excited to use all of it right away.  Mom and I went to the store to buy a pattern for me to try. I was well on my way to my very first machine sewing experience. I’m sure that I was literally jumping up-and-down.

With this experience fresh in mind, I launch into a new teaching venture for my Summer Art Camp classes.  I have presented 6 different lesson plans for a variety of textile lessons for little girls to have fun with sewing this summer during the Blue Ridge Mountains Art Association’s BRMAA Summer Youth Art Camp

Last week, June 23-26, 2015, was the first week of Summer Art Camp and my Sewing with Felt class was a big hit with five students ranging in ages 6-10.  We made rice filled, pocket size, hand warmers by sewing together felt pieces and filling them with grain.  Simple hand sewing techniques were taught. They learned three basic stitches: straight stitch, back stitch and whip stitch. We had fun making them into penguin and kitty cat shapes.(Penguin project) (Pocket Kitty Image) We also made a handy little pouch in the shape of an owl adding a ribbon strap for carrying (Owl Pouch image from Pinterest, Joanns.com).  Glitter glue was used to decorate the owl pouch when the students finished sewing it up. All girls love glitter! The younger students had to have some help when it came to threading the needle and knotting the thread, but the three older students caught on quickly.  All of them completed their projects gleefully and displayed them for photographing as you can see below.  Two students continued to practice their straight stitches by creating pouch bags using ribbon and felt to carry all of their creations home after Show-and-Tell on Friday.  It was a very fun group to teach.

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Stay tuned for more as the classes fill up and continue through the month of July, 2015.