Always saying, " This is the last time!"``by MysticSilks

Each time I finish creating a series of silk  scarves,I swear by the powers that be,that "This is the last time!" I'm getting too old for this 'stuff'."  Then something happens; some idea pops into my head,or someone asks me if I could create an image on a silk scarf and I'm at it again.

    This time around,a customer asked me if I could create another silk scarf with the astrological image of a 'Pisces':That's the fish sign for those of you who may have never heard of the signs of the Zodiac. "What Pisces scarf are you talking about?"I asked her. For the life of me, I could not recall ever creating one. Well,she sent me a photo of the scarf I had indeed created way back when.I wrote back to her and told her that I had not hand designed any more of those scarves.
   You guessed it. All of a sudden I got the bright idea of creating not one silk scarf with the astrological sign, but biting of a huge chunk of a labor of love(i.e., work) and hand designing all twelve of the signs. 
      May I add at this point, that I would agree  with  statement that all artists are a bit 'crazy','nuts',' not rowing with both oars in the water'. And, that is because when we get an idea for a new creation, we loose thought of all the labor intensive work that it entails. It's like childbirth,we forget the hours of pain we were in with the last birth, and go for the gusto again!
    I began to search online for stencils of the signs of the Zodiac. I found a set of 6 online. The description stated that the signs were six inches. Wrong! I discovered after ordering from the UK,to add insult to injury,that one stencil had six signs, that stencil was six inches!! They had to send me two with six signs on each, costing double postage(airmail). You can imagine my dismay when I opened each package and finding that each sign was only 3 inches!! I contacted them,(that's when I discovered the stencils came from London). Sure they'd let me return them. Cost me $12.00 for S&H,they wouldn't send me a return label,plus a $2.50 international charge on my credit card!! Thanks for allowing me to vent and verbalize my frustration. I guess I am still not that internet savvy when buying things on the internet.
             OK, deep breath. God is good! I continued my search and blessed be, I happened upon a site that had the exact size stencils I needed, and more blessing abounded, they offered the observer(me) to download the stencils and use them! I downloaded all twelve. Then I laminated each one, to protect it from whatever I splashed, poured, or wrote on them!

          I also did research on the colors for each astrological sign, then ordered the dyes,and blank silk scarves. I alerted the family that certain areas of the house would be a bit disarrayed til I finished. It always bothers my son when he finds my long straight pins on the floor. I don't do it intentionally,really.
   I said to myself,"Klaire, you're going to practice staying in the present moment,just like the Eckhart Tolle book"A New Earth" advises.You are not going to give a thought on how much work you have taken on, and how long you will be at this, till you complete not six scarves,as I usually do, but twelve! And, that's how I reached the completion of this series of twelve silk astrological signs of the Zodiac!!

I have added the photos: Aries, Pisces,next two are Gemini, Sagittarius,Leo,Libra,Scorpio,Virgo,Aquarius,Cancer,and Capricorn,Taurus:pay no attention to the last one. Leo always has to get his last ROAR in!
Visit: http://mysticsilks.etsy.com 

Thank you for visiting,MysticSilks 

 Aries,Ram,Silk Scarf,SilkScarvesWomens Accessories,Handmade,Zodiac,14x72 inches,

A Treasure From Long Ago`by MysticSilks

A few week ago, I was sorting through an old box of memorabilia looking for photos that I had tossed into the box with the future goal of putting them into albums. I did get the new albums and began the long process of sorting and organizing. 

As I was sorting I came upon a canvas folded in fourths;a hell of a thing to do to a painted canvas I thought. I began to unfold it carefully, and discovered it was a paint-by-number. I looked at the signatures and date listed at the right bottom side of the canvas.There was my name, my brother's, and last my Mother's with the date of 7/19/1953.

1953: Fifty- nine years old ! The painting was a street scene in Paris. From the style of clothing , I am guessing maybe from the early 1940's.

I sat holding that painted canvas, and the years melted away back to that hot summer of 1953.
I think my brother and I had been bored with staying inside due to the extreme heat of that summer. We had a nice finished basement, that was at least ten to fifteen degrees cooler than the upper part of the house: In those days, the early 50's, air-conditioned houses were only a dream of the future.
 Mom went out shopping one day, and as always I was helping to put away the groceries that she purchased. I noticed a long package wrapped in brown paper at the end of the table. 

" What's that , Mom,?" I asked. " Never mind. You just finish with your chores then I'll show you." I could feel the excitement growing inside me.  The country was still rebounding from the depression, and people held that poorness inside them, so that seldom were the times during those days, that nice surprises occurred.

I completed my chores, then Mom grabbed the package and headed for the downstairs, she said, 
" Follow me." I ran after her following her down the stairs careful not to run her over in my enthusiasm to see what that package held.
She placed the package on the table and removed the box from inside. I saw the title " Paris in the Summer" written on the box, and under it, paint-by-number.

Mom opened the box removed the canvas and on it were what seemed liked thousand of little numbers inside blank images. Sometimes certain numbers repeated themselves , and there were some that had maybe a few numbers that were duplicated. I was confused and backed away from the table.
   " Where are you going ?" Mom asked. " You know numbers and me don't' get along well, Mom."
" Oh, get back here you goofus ." She scolded with a hint of laughter in her voice. " You do not have to add them or subtract them. See these small cups with paint inside? See the number marked above them? You simply use the numbered paint in the same number marked on the canvas."
 I heaved a huge sigh of relief and moved close to the table again.

" Sit down here beside me. And I'll start you off and show you how to do this." I moved in closer than a hug, but not so close as to bump her arm: This was serious work, I thought.
    
  The kit came with oil paints, a small bottle of turpentine,  two  paint brushes with very fine bristles, and about a dozen toothpicks.

" What are the toothpicks for?"
"Watch, I'll show you. When you open the oil paints, see the oil floating on top of the paint. You use the toothpick to gently stir and blend the oil into the paint."

I watched as she stirred the small  blue cup of paint.
Then she said, " You must do this every time you begin to paint. And you must remember to use the same toothpick in the same color that you first use it in."
Then she picked up the brush, looked for the number that matched on the canvas and began to paint it in with the corn-flower blue. I was mesmerized! 

" Now, after you finish using that color. See this bottle, she picked up the bottle of turpentine. You dip the brush in and clean the color off. Here's a rag to use to make sure the brush comes clean.
You do this each time you start a new color.Understand? " I nodded.

   Mom, got up from the chair and motioned for me to sit in her place.  I sat down shaking with excitement. I gazed at the canvas, then back at the oil colors. " I like the red." I turned to look for her approval. " Then use it," she replied. I opened the lid on the small cup, and carefully stirred the oil into the red paint. I picked up the brush, ever so gently dipping just the tip into the paint, then began to apply the paint to the corresponding number on the canvas.
 Some where in my cloud of joy, I heard Mom climbing back up the stairs. How long I worked on the painting that day, I don't remember. Maybe, till I heard Mom call me to help set the dinner table.
My brother Jim's name  is on that painting. I think he wondered what was keeping me so occupied downstairs and wonder down to ease his curiosity. He might have asked me, if he could try to paint some. I, feeling quite possessive, must have given him the very strictest of instructions, and hovered close by to make sure he followed them. I'm not sure he   felt the same excitement that I had, because he soon left the table, and I can't recall him coming back to paint again.
    
 Also, because so many years have passed, I can't remember how long it took to finish the painting. I know I relished each new painted image  as it appeared. And when the scene was completed maybe a month or so later, I remember  Mom  saying that I had done a fine job. " And when it dries, Sis, it will be yours."
 Some how through all these years it sat there in that box. I asked my son, what he thought I should do with it? " Well, for sure , don't leave it folded up in a box. get it mounted."

A week later I found myself in an art gallery, and for the cost of $75.00, much , much more than the original paint-by-number kit had cost, I had it done.


Please visit my etsy store at: http://mysticsilks.etsy.com


 Thank you,
MysticSilks

Fine Art on Etsy.com```Mysticsilks

I I started selling on etsy.com in 2007. At that time etsy was sort of new and growing everyday. Etsy admins, those in charge of the online selling site, would listen to their sellers, essentially etsy's customers.
Etsy, seemed to want to build a quality online site, that sold handmade creations like; jewelry, handbags,quilts,fashion items,etc.,.I use the etc., only because to try and name everything that is sold on etsy would take up an unbelievable amount of space in this blog post.
Back in 2007 they(etsy) wanted to know what the sellers wanted and what they thought would help their shops and items gain exposure on etsy. and the vast internet.
I create and sell silk scarves. In addition I also create and sell fine art in the form of silk paintings, acrylic paintings, and an occasional oil painting. or water-color.
I have been actively involved with other etsy fine art artists in encouraging etsy to add a fine art category: So many other online selling sites have a fine art category. It's really not rocket science!

We had been promised back in 2009, that they(etsy) had hired a taxonomist who was going to put together all that was required to add a fine art category, and in fact many of the fine art artists were asked for their input, which was generously given to the taxonomist. We waited, and we waited, and waited some more for a fine art category to be added to etsy's search.

We started a petition : We believe that the artists who took the time to sign our petition would love to see these changes take place.
www.ipetitions.com/petition/artonetsy/index.html

That petition has 872 signatures requesting more exposure for fine art on etsy, such as a fine art category.
In the meanwhile etsy has added more bells , whistles, giddgets, and gadgets, circles, and what-nots, that it makes your head spin! But not a word about adding a fine art category.

There's a new CEO, Chad. We're hoping that maybe Chad enjoys fine art , and will begin the process of adding a fine art category.

It sure would be great!

Please visit http:mysticsilks.etsy.com/

Thank you for reading!

Mountain's Majesty ~ On Front Page of Etsy!! Original Painting, Fine Art,

"Mountain's Majesty"

If you look way at the top of my blog page, you'll see a copy of the Front Page treasury on Etsy.com on Saturday, April 3rd.

Someone alerted me that my painting, the one you see to the left of this page.

I did a hurried click and lo and behold there it was!!

I was thrilled , because to land on etsy's front page, is a rarity indeed.

The view count increases, and so did the number of hearts on this painting.

Now, here's an interesting tidbit of news on this work of art.

I created this painting approximately four years ago. I wasn't thrilled with it, and in fact placed it in a storage drawer, where it stayed until two years ago.

Then someone looked at it , and asked me why the silk painting was not mounted, and that it was beautiful!

I guess that day I looked at it in a new light. Soon I mounted it, framed it, and put it up for sale on etsy.com.

And then, and then it was picked to be in a treasury byhttp://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSilverDog, then it was chosen by etsy admins to be on the front page!!

So from the obscurity of a storage drawer, to the lime light of the etsy front page!

Come see the rest of my silks and art work on http://mysticsilks.etsy.com/

Thank you!

"America, America God Shed His Grace on Thee..."

This mid morning in August of 2009, I heard the rumbling powerful roar of a Thunderbird jet fly over my home in little Warren, OH.; there's an air show at Vienna Air Base, which is about 12 miles away.

Something proud leaped up in my heart as I ran outside , eyes fastened on the sky as the jet sped over my house so low that it cast a shadow on the lawns. I began to clap my hands , and yelled" Way to go boys!" And I guess I felt so proud because of men and women like this who serve and have served in our Armed Forces: The men and woman that have fought so hard to keep this country, the United States of America, free.

And FREE is the keyword here:Free to speak our minds; free to say what we agree, or disagree with, regarding how our elected officials vote.

No one in this country, not even President Obama, should ever say that " we the people" should be ignored because we disagree with his policies i.e., Health care, Caps and Trades bill. Don't ever say that Mr. President!

"We The People.." have husbands, wives, fathers, grand fathers, and great grandfathers, uncles, sons, and brothers who have fought, and who have given their lives so that " we the people.." remain free, and to have our voices heard.

So I guess when I heard that Thunderbird jet roar overhead, I had to give words to the roar of the jet engine: Way to go boys!

http://mysticsilks.etsy.com/

African Serengeti Sunset

Recently I had been working , or should I say 'creating' two new silk hangings.

Now, the differences between a 'silk hanging' and a silk painting, are the time involvement, and cost." African Serengeti" took approximately a month, working once a day for about an hour, to finish the silk hanging.
Then it took another 21/2 hours to steam, to set the dyes. Then another 24 hours to allow the steamed silk to dry ,only to wet it again by washing it in a special soap, rinsing in a conditioned water rinse. Then, ironing it,then temporarily pinning it to a foam core board to take photo shots. Another two-three hours to photo edit it, then uploading it to the http://mysticsilks.etsy.com/ website to
write up a description, a price, add the tags, then click finish.
OK, at this point it is a silk hanging, which the buyer may purchase at the cost of $75.00, plus S&H. The buyer can then mount it on a dowel , or have it framed on their own.

If they choose to have me mount the silk on foam core, and to have it framed, add about another $100.00. , plus the S&H will be more.

So, here is " African Serengeti Sunset"