Brushed with Magic - Functional art for the goddess within

The WaLkInG aRt GaLlErY !!!

I cannot leave a denim jacket alone. I ‘must’ paint each one I own.
It is almost like a an addiction… painting.

I actually get a little stressed every time I see someone pass by wearing a light coloured jean jacket with no embellishments. It is almost (for lack of a better term) sacrilegious to me to let a jacket go unpainted. I guess it is the same way a traditional Artist would feel about a blank canvas.
I, however, can leave a canvas blank without painting a lick on it for years.

I held back on painting ten of my cushion covers for some ‘rush’ commission pieces. It’s driving me nuts that they are sitting there waiting until the new year. UGH!!!

So, what did I do, …… I went out and bought myself a new denim jacket. YEAH!

Once I finish painting the commissioned messenger bag, the jacket will be next on my list. (Actually I have a couple of Christmas items I have to finish painting before I get to the jacket, but you get the idea.)

(The photo of me was taken by Alex Browne from the Peace Arch News last year for a newspaper article. The other photo is of a jacket I painted many years ago.)

Have a great night!
Keep smiling & creating!

Nicci

CRAFT FAIRS, ART GALLERY EVENTS, and HOME PARTIES……
Happy Holidays to all you crafters and craft appreciators out there!

Well, I dropped off a whole bunch of stock today to the Arts Council of New Westminster for their December show. This year it runs from 01-23 December and is open daily from 1pm to 5pm.
At their 18th annual wonderful craft show I have:
35 cushion covers (feather cushion inserts available)
3 tote bags (last ones for this season)
3 painted kids denim jackets (size 4)(last ones for this season)
17 hand painted tree ornaments (last ones for this season)
11 painted coffee mugs (mostly of ladies wearing red hats)
120 marble magnets of ‘My Girlz’ (last ones for this season)
NOTE: My items always go fast, so get there early!!!

CLICK HERE for a PRINTABLE MAP

NOTE: all my items (except the magnets) are ORIGINAL HAND PAINTED ART PIECES created by myself using acrylic paint and flexible varnish. Each item is a “ONE OF A KIND“. Happy shopping!

I hope you are able to make it out again this year!

Have a great night!!!

keep smiling & creating,
Nicci

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to our neighbours down south!
(Actually the Canadian/U.S.A. border is only about 5 minutes drive from my house.)

Well it’s only lasted for about a week, but the fog around here has finally lifted. YEAH! I don’t ever remember it lasting that long around here. What a joy it was to see the sun shining and actually be able to see the sky!!!!

I am in the process of spreading my work out at many different stores, craft fairs and galleries. Tomorrow I will be dropping items off at the New Westminster Art Council Gallery. They are having their 18th Annual ‘Treasure Room’ gift show on from 01-23 December 2005. I took part in it last year as well and was featured in their local newspaper for the show. I was interviewed by Katie Robinson for the New Westminster Newsleader.

Anyways, I had better get off the computer and start tagging my items for the show.
Have a great night!

Keep smiling & creating,

Nicci

R U wearing the WRONG BRA ??

It’s the latest kick right now.

I mean the ‘kick’ is having someone actually come up to you and say “You know you are wearing the ‘wrong’ bra, don’t you? I mean, even Oprah has done a show on it!”

Yes, yes, YES…. I know I am wearing the wrong bra, but I cannot afford to go out there and splurge on a bra.
I have other things higher up on my list than getting a new, EXPENSIVE bra.

Well, that was my thinking until yesterday afternoon, when someone did actually come up to me and say that.
From there I went to spend some of my well-earned money from Circle Craft…. yes, on new undergarments.

Two bras later and $120.00 less in my pocket… and I feel like a new woman. I am actually taking all my old bras and sending them off to never never land.
I look better, I feel better, and yes… I even look and feel SEXIER.

Come on ladies, join the craze of treating yourself better, putting yourself first and throwing those old ‘over the shoulder boulder holders’ (as my Dad called them) IN THE TRASH!!!
Go out there and buy a few everyday ones as well as the sexy sexy sexy ones.
You don’t even need a man or partner to enjoy a sexy bra set.

Wow, I think this is the first time I have talked on my site without mentioning art.
Ha ha

Well, this now brings me to a challenge for the new year. Your ART SUBMISSION will be due on Valentine’s Day 2006.
Instead of throwing one of the old bras out, I ask that you embellish it and turn it into an art piece. Sample art bra shown above by Val James.

Please email the image to me at artchallenge@brushedwithmagic.com. The image size is preferred to be no larger than 400 pixels wide and/or 40.0 KB in memory. Don’t forget to let me know what medium was used to create your embellished ART BRA !

Actually, I have just decided to take this even further.
Why not do some extra good with these old contraptions of ours?!
Depending on how much of a response I get from all of you out there….if you would like to donate your final art piece to help bring awareness and raise money to find a cure for breast cancer… I will look into auctioning off your ‘Bra Art’.
Once you have emailed me your image, I will gladly send you my mailing address.
Happy embellishing !

keep smiling & creating,
Nicci

Pea Soup in ’sunny’ South Surrey!

Wow, the weather sure is strange right now. All day you have only been able to see about 30-40 feet in front of yourself due to the thick fog.
Maybe it has something to due with the voting we had to go through yesterday (ha ha).

TODAY I went to Notti Biscotti, a local bakery/cafe, and put up a whole new display of my hand painted cushions and glassware.

I had the pleasure of testing out their new ‘Peppermint Mocha’ …… YUMMMMMM !

Shelley even sent me home with a sampler bag of her biscotti.
Needless to say, I was a big hit with my hubby and son when I came home.

FYI: I have 3 cushions listed on eBay right now for auction. ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT !!!!

Have a great night everyone!
Keep smiling & creating,
Nicci