Couldn't get a clear shot of this one!

Lace and Rhinestones~

This was recently added to Etsy. This is a long corset and on the lower right I sewed an angel, some rhinestones and another pin down by the hip. I really enjoyed making this one since It is setting me off in a new direction.

Necklace on Etsy~

I used a vintage earing and removed the old stones out of it and replaced them with pictures of pink roses and mary praying. I added some rhinestones too.

New on Etsy~

Lace ~ Lots of lace! Thats my new thing lately :)

French Corset~

I had some trouble getting a good shot of this one. This is also a long corset. The material is a silky background with raised velvet designs. I ended up adding some black lace down each side. The broach has a little black in it.

Vintage Dress

I found a vintage dress with pearls, rhinestones and beads all around the neck and hem. So I applied it to this corset along with black velvet, trims and lace along the sides. The centerpiece is an antique rhinestone earing.

Lots of Lace~

This bustier is off white, pink and gold. It is a long corset so it will reach the waist. I made it from a Hale Bob shirt. Yes, I cut it up!

Off to the Banker's Suite

I met someone through Etsy who wanted to put some bustiers in her gift shop at The Banker's Suite in Astoria, Oregon. It looks like a very nice place right on the ocean. I am so excited about it! Here are a few that she is putting in her store. This one is light blue with velvet with a little champaign colored silk.

My Favorite~

The story behind this picture still makes my hair stand up! Years ago, my sweet friend from work, Diane, who is also a spectacular jewelry designer; asked me to do a drawing of her great danes. Oh how GREAT they are. I have never been around danes before. I love dogs but I am usually uneasy around them because one of my friends almost had her face ripped off by a dog when we were little. Anyway, I drove to Diane's house to meet with her and the subjects. I knocked on the door and the loudest most frightful barking emminated from behind the front door. My body went cold and I got a very dizzy. I wanted to run to my car or up the nearest tree. There was a glass screen door and then a heavy wooden door. Diane opened the first door and one of the dogs stood up on its hind legs and put his two front paws on the screen door as he was still barking. He was about 6 feet tall. He was staring at me dead in the eye...FACE to FACE. He looked like the scariest creature I had ever seen. (He's the one on the left in the picture). I can't find their names but I have them written down some where in my art records. They were the most loving dogs. Very intelligent and you could probabaly ride them. This was one of my most memorable experiences doing portraits. I have been less afraid of dogs ever since. I don't know for sure (ha) but I think I wrote "two beautiful dogs" in Japanese down the left side of the picture. Maybe my sister in law could interpret it for me. I regret not having a better plan for the blanket but otherwise this is my favorite.

Couple of sweeties

I painted this colored pencil portrait for the most beautiful dentist I've ever met. She sure loved her dogs. I really enjoyed drawing this picture. They had such personality and as you can see, they are best friends. I would like to start doing portraits again. This photo makes them look a little blue but in the actual drawing they were crisp and white.

Some new jewelry~

This necklace is made from an antique silver earring. The center is onyx. I glazed a picture of a glowing mother on the onyx. There is a crystal bead from an old rosary just above the pendant and the chain alternates with pearly and crystal like beads. really like this one. I wore it a few times. People seem to like this one.

~Love in her heart~

I recently added this to Etsy. I made this on a day when I was blazing with inspiration and had a clear channel of creativity going. Some days I struggle find that"flow." Well... most days!

Autumn Butterfly

This is my "Midwestern Painter" I found on Ebay. You can find her on Ebay under "autumnportraits". She really is fantastic and has only been painting for a year, maybe two. She has the biggest heart. You can tell by looking at her paintings. Hi Autumn:)

Bustiers~

Bustiers~

My sister and I used to make these for a living. We did pretty good for a while. We even made it onto a tv show in Seattle where they did an expose' on our work. They would sell for anywhere from $80.00 to $350.00. I had them in a store in Vegas but people kept stealing them so they have been sitting in my dresser. We sold at my guess about 800 of them. Now I have been getting some incredible ideas on new designs that I would like to make. I have to find the right supplies. What do you think?

My Sister's Art

A few years ago my sister found herself. Or it seems like she did. She finally found a creative outlet and people who would recieve her just the way she is. No pre-conceived ideas about her or the past~just the present. That is a nice thing to find. I am glad she is having such success in her artistic endeavors. She needs that. I am so thankful for her. She inspires me and helps me too.

She has this piece on her etsy store. It is beautiful and creepy at the same time. It all starts from the unusual vintage photos that she finds and then Izabella adds her creativity to it.

Every knee shall bow...

This piece is also made on a small bottle. These are really fun to work with. It isn't quite finished but will be and you can see it on Etsy by the end of the weekend. I like this one. On the inside there is a picture of three cherubs reading from the lambs book of life. There is also a freshwater pearl, a little red heart, some beads and a rolled up scroll. On the outside of the scroll is a person nealing and when you open the scroll it says..."Every knee shall bow and every tonge confess that Jesus Christ is lord." I think we'll all be surprized to find out what he really looks like when we each meet him face to face.

Pink Angel~

I just made this piece last night. I haven't been able to work on anything for about two weeks and it was starting to bring out my dark side. This one is made with a very small bottle. It has a picture of an angel on the outside and on the inside of the bottle there is a little gold angel wing and a picture of a cherub. I also put a freshwater pearl, a gold leaf and a little pink flower. I tried putting a scroll in it but it was too big so I am saving that for my next one. I am so glad to get some time to create. Hello to my sister. Love you Vegas girl~

Little Bird~

This is my most recent work. I never really worked with acrylic paint that much. I always felt like I couldn't control it enough. Well now I realize that's a good thing. As you can see, I always feel like details are so important. I'm trying to let that go a little. The painting isn't done yet. It'll let me know when it is time to be finished. I was planning on painting her holding the bird and maybe her singing a song to it? I'll post it again when I am finished. Hope you like it. ~M~

What was I thinking?

If I had more room I would have drawn more Plumage. This piece was drawn with colored pencil about 8 years ago. I really wanted to capture this male peafowl's irridescense. It took me a few months to finish it. Drawing each of those feathers helped me get through a rough part of my life. Maybe that is why he looks so pissed. It sold but I was able to include it is a few shows. Asian pheasants and birds are so amazing. Peacocks

can fly quite well. In the 14th century, the europeans used to roast peacock and serve it on a tray of it's own feathers. mmm...Yum.

This lion is sniffing the wind on the Serengetti. I like this picture but it never sold. It looks better in person.

I am thankful to my husband, my sister & my brother-in law and so many others for encouraging me to keep on making art. It is so easy to get distracted by everyday life and then you lose sight of some of the more important things. Art before rent is my new mantra. ;) When I am on my way to the next life I am not going to be thinking about all the rent I've paid. I'll will be more concerned if I blessed enough people.

Things from the past...

I used to be obsessed with colored pencils! I saw a colored pencil drawing at a show once and I was hooked! I started out drawing portraits and then I experimented with animals. This is one of my first drawings with colored pencil. Since then I have sold numerous commissioned works. Mostly animal portraits and a few of people.

Spinning Bead

One of my favorites! This necklace was made with a hexagon~shaped bead. The bead can spin around so you can see the whole picture. Everytime I wear the one I made for myself, people seem to zero in on it.

St. Nicolaus~

This is one of my favorites! I found all the pieces while I was treasure hunting and it just came together. I have been on a Catholic art kick lately. I really like the "other worldliness" of the art. I've seen people glowing in peace like that before. It's more like a light shining from their face. It is hard to part with some of these but they are only things. I will be glad when the person who I made it for finds it! ~M~

St. Peter

Whats with all the religious icons? I guess I was just on a roll one day and I couldn't stop.

So I found this old box a few years back and it had all these intricate metal pieces on it. I wasn't sure what to use it for but it finally came to me. (I have drawers filled with stuff like that.) I took the pieces off the box and turned them into jewelry. There is another one just like this but it has Mary on it. ~M~

That was easy

Ok. That wasn't so bad. Here is a picture of my next piece. This one is made on a hexagon wood bead and spins around so you can see the whole picture of the Madonna and child. I don't like making the same thing twice. I like it to be a new creation every time. All my work isn't centered around religious figures but all my work has to be centered in spirit or else true creativity won't flow for me. So what do you think? ~M~

My first blog~

This is all new to me! I will start by saying thanks to my sister, Izabella, for pushing me to start showing my work online, I am not a sales person AT ALL... so I am finally here. I will give you her link later. When I was in grade school, I saw a picture that she drew and ever since I have been hooked on art. I have had big dreams and small about making art but it never really felt right until now. I used to work with colored pencils but I have always wanted to paint and now I finally am. But first I'll start with what I've been up to lately...

Jewelry. With this piece, I was inspired by those cool Catholic prayer cards. I'm not catholic but I like the art and I like Jesus. He was a trouble maker and stirred things up. Inside the bottle is an alleged picture of Jesus, a red heart bead, a freshwater pearl, a miniature cross and some other beads. I am getting ready to put it on Etsy. The address will be http://michellereneeart.etsy.com/. So I better get busy... Thanks for looking. ~M~