Debbie Overton Designs

Happy 4th Everyone!

 

Calamity Jane

 

What do Calamity Jane, KC Willis and Debbie Overton have in common?  Debbie is the proud owner of one of KC's original Calamity Jane fabric collages!  I was lucky growing up, we live in the country on a wonderful farm.  We rolled in freshly picked cotton, went swimming in the rice fields and had horses that we could ride any time we wanted.  There was Rusty, Red-eye, and Tricks to name just a few.  We were raised playing cowboys and cowgirls and indians.  If our friends didn't have a horse we had one for them.  I will always remember Rusty....he was delivered to us in the backseat of a car.  Daddy had told us he had a surprise that would be there that day.  A car drove up, the man got out and opened the back door of his car and out walked a pretty little brown pony.  Rusty would let 2,3 and even 4 of us get on him and ride for hours.  The only problem we ever had with Rusty was his trying to walk up the 4 steps on our back porch with us on him!  Then came Tricks...Daddy bought him from a retired circus clown and Tricks could bow, pray and talk!  Ok, so he didn't actually talk like Mr. Ed, but he did neigh on command!  Red-eye was a professionally trained cutter that Daddy rode.  We tried, but he was so quick if you were not holding on tight, you would find yourself on the ground more than in the saddle.  We rode in the parades and rodeo grand entrance.  Those horses led us to read about Calamity Jane and many other cowgirls from the past.  So when I had the chance to own one of KC's original collages, you bet I wanted anything with Calamity Jane.  KC surprised me with the quote, "I didn't mean to shoot him.  He just sorta leaned into my bullet."  I told KC I loved Calamity Jane and to surprise me.  I could not be happier with my collage.  It is gorgeous, the fabrics, lace, trims and embellishments are all me.

You have heard me talk about KC's workshops, Collage Camp and Mixed Media Mania for the past several months, now you can join KC in her Colorado studio and work side by side with the cowgirl herself.  Imagine multi-day retreats with a small group of friends or soon to be friends learningthe tricks of the Collage Camp Cowgirl herself.  The interactive setting of the studio will allow you to talk, share and inspire each other.  To learn more about KC's Studio Retreats visit here or click the image above.

KC I know you will read this soon or later....and I want to thank you again for doing an awesome collage and for our friendship.  Hope to be sitting in one of those retreats soon or roming the streets of Savannah when you and Logan come for a visit.  Now the rest of you reading this, head on over to check out KC's Studio Retreats, Collage Camp and Mixed Media Mania Workshops.

It's a Knock-Out

What a week it has been....the heat, no rain, dealing with the post-surgery fun of pain and sutures...but all I have to do is look out my windows and I have those gorgeous roses to brighten the day.  I had 3 Knock-Out rose bushes planted a few months after we moved in across the front porch.  They were a mere foot in height if that and now they span 5 feet at least in all directions. 

This down time for me has given me time to reflect on my life, my family, my friends and my art.  It has given me some clarity in the things I want to do and move forward with.  I will be spending more time doing things for myself, things that make me happy....because we all know if Mama isn't happy no one is!  So if you find me missing is action for a few days....I will be out enjoying my roses, creating new art and hopefully some early morning beach walks and lazy beach afternoons. 

This down time has given me the chance to decided if I want to pursue some opportunities that have come my way....some of them I believe were meant to be, some I think need to be put on the back burner for the time being.  In order for some to reach their potential I would be creating art around the clock and to me if you are working on that many things you can't be putting your best out there.  I am not a slap it on the canvas because I need to get a certain number of pieces done for a specific event.  I can tell you I have a wonderful collection of art from many artists I admire and they didn't get there by slapping paint and embellishments, their work is very meticulous and every detail has been thought out.  I am not saying you can't work on several pieces at one time, you just need to think about how you are being represented.

This down time has also given me time to work on the details of a few projects I have had listed on my to-do list for quiet some time.  So you can look for those to be shared soon.

Well the sutures are beginning to pull and itch, so that is a sign it is time to sit back and enjoy the coolness of my hardwood floors and ceiling fans while I enjoy the view outside my windows.

Hope you have a great Father's Day weekend.  Wish I could be with my Dad....you can bet he will be getting a phone call tomorrow!

Someone to follow.....

If you Twitter, then you know Fridays are "#followfriday" and I have someone I follow not only on Twitter, but Facebook and think you might enjoy too.  If you are not familiar with the name Enzie Shahmiri you are missing out on so many things.  Enzie specializes in commissioned portraits and figurative paintings.  She is also a wonderful blogger....I can count on a new blog post to arrive in my inbox every night around midnight!  I met Enzie a while back when she visited my blog and we have corresponded since.  Enzie and I both live on the coast, she the west and I the east.  I heard she was going to start living out of a suitcase for a while due to quiet a bit of traveling....I would love for her to travel to the SE coast of Georgia!

You might want to get comfy with your favorite cup as you are in for a treat as you stroll through her website and blogs.

Enzie Shahmiri - Commissioned Portraits and Figurative Paintings

World Market Portraits

A Blog about artists and anything art related from past to present.

 

Sur La Table Cuisine

A Blog about food, entertaining and great finds for the kitchen and sophisticated hostess.

 

Pet Portraits

A collection of Pet Stories and Photos

The Orientalist Gallery

A Blog listing of orientalist artists, images of their work and descriptions of their technique.

 

Garden Delights

A garden is a heavenly place and as it grows it should nurture the soul and be absolute eye candy.

 

I am working on a few small art projects, anticipating more thunderstorms this afternoon, another doctor's appointment later today and then one more quiet day before the kids fly back home.  Enjoy your weekend!

Pink Lemonade & Hurricane's & Mini-Camps

Nothing beats Pink Lemonade on a hot summer day except a slushy Sugar Free Pink Lemonade.  And it can't get any easier than taking one of those little to go packages, adding it to a bottle of water and shake, shake, shake!  Now at this point I like to put them in the freezer until slushy!  I have packages stashed in all the vehicles, beach bag, purse, laptop bag, in our hurricane emergency box....they are everywhere!  I may not be able to put it in the freezer each time, but as long as it is COLD, not a problem!

Speaking of hurricane's....today begins the Atlantic Hurricane Season 2009.  Wonder what Mother Nature has in store for us this year.  They are saying it will be a rather calm, normal season....what is calm and normal if it is a hurricane?

KC Willis of Lipstick Ranch has announced the sequel to Collage Camp.  Three new Mini-Camps are now available at www.MixedMediaMania.ning.com. Altars and Shrines, Works on Paper and Altered Books.

If you like being able to watch the videos and create on your own time table, then you will enjoy KC's workshops. 

While you go check out Mixed Media Mania and Collage Camp, I am headed to the freezer to get a slushy Pink Lemonade and back to work on a new piece of art!