A Mermaid Monday

aloha

[Hawaiian for hello]

a fun series of digitally altering famous people into other things,

like a merman - Jim Carrey

Today is a mermaid kind of day.

I'm hoping to see the mermaids in the new Pirates of the Caribbean soon.

I like unusual mermaids,

and pretty mermaids.

You can leave me out when it comes to

'let's make an almost pornographic image/photo/painting,

pop it into a mermaid costume and call it a mermaid' arena.

I don't particularly like ugly mermaids either.

You know, the scary ones with weird gill things going on

and talons instead of fingers.....

So

let's have a "nice" mermaid day today!

One of my mermaid Barbies. I try to collect them whenever I can.

very sorry, unknown artist

Do you know who painted this? Let me know:

dominoes@myinkspired.com

"Mermaid Sighting"

Anne Hathaway

No decent mermaid day would be complete

without a lovely Liana's mermaid costume:

These are from her Paper Boutique line of paper dolls.

These next costumes fit her newer dolls, facing to the left.

Why not get out just a few beads, and make up this quickie mermaid pattern?

'Mermaid Mini'

Get out a few more beads,

take some more time, and make this 'down under' mermaid:

"I'm tired of all this nonsense

 about beauty being only skin deep.

That's deep enough.

What do you want -

an adorable pancreas?"

- Jean Kerr

a Laurel Birch mermaid fabric, made into pincushion,

www.RoundRobinFabrics.etsy.com

a Heritage stencil

These mermaids are all hand painted!

www.GlassGemsbyChristine.etsy.com

These next mermaids are just a few of the

Collage Art Doll Mermaids that I have made.

I use all recycled junk mail to create and hand cut

my costumes, tails, purses, hair, etc.

I have so much fun making these, it hardly seems like working!

"Blue, blue mermaid"

by inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

"Shopping for Lunch" mermaid

Collage Art Doll by inkspired

"Mermaid Pearls" original Collage Art Doll by inkspired 

 "Blue Hair With Pearls"

Collage Art Doll Mermaid by inkspired

"Lagoon Pearls" Collage Art Doll original

"Seriousness is the only refuge

of the shallow."

- Oscar Wilde

Mermaid Lagoon Limited Edition pin, Disney, from 'Peter Pan'

Mermaid pin by Kati Savage

Mermaid in Art Deco style

vintage cover of Life magazine

photo by Rene Maltete

original painting by joojoo, etsy

'Mermaid in the Sea' pincushion by http://www.pattidolls.etsy.com/

Mermaid musings...

enough for a little while!

Is there a subject you would like me to cover?

Let me know

dominoes@myinkspired.com

"Everything you can imagine

is real."

- Pablo Picasso

sending calming breezes and mermaid good wishes your way,

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

Late Summer Picnics

Howdy!

(American slang, South Western USA)

'Dorothy' from the Wizard of Oz, Barbie, 2007

The kids are probably back in school,

but the days are still wonderfully hot,

beckoning all to come outside and enjoy the last days of summer.

Let's plan a weekend picnic, while we can!

Yogi Bear and friends on a picnic, Hanna-Barbera

First, we need -

  

SUNSHINE!!!

(all the bottlecap magnets are recycled or upcycled,

and have an Art Nouveau Alphabet that has been sized,

tweaked and generally messed with,

and then hand colored by inkspired.

These are not decals, or rub-ons.)

c.1910

The second most important thing about a picnic is

THE FOOD!!!

This can include some serious planning,

some make-ahead food items,

or

you can grab McDonald's on the way!

Either way, you MUST have a picnic blanket.

That's just part of the deal.

Picnic = Blanket and Food

Some things in life we just don't have a choice on, do we?

Now this picnic is a little short on the food.

Here's another idea: 



ah....this one's nice...

WAIT!

That's not food....that's felt!

c.1904

ahhhhh... that's better!

Now, what do we carry all that food and plates and spoons and forks and napkins and bug spray, and don't forget the blanket!?

Silly, a picnic basket!

they come in all shapes and sizes -

by Sutherland Baskets

Your picnic can be casual -

http://www.holdthemeat.com/

elegant....

http://www.electricblanketsss.com/

a little more elegant, using a table

(must be portable for a true picnic however)

Personally, I think all picnics should have chandeliers....

well,

at least fancy ones I'm sure!

http://www.porcelainpolyester.etsy.com/

I'm sure Mrs. Bucket (That's pronounced 'bouquet' of course)

would approve the above accouterments.

By the way, if you have never seen the BBC comedy

'Keeping up Appearances'

you have to go find some episodes and watch them immediately!!!

Incredibly funny.

You can have a casual picnic with family and friends -

Betsy McCall with a friend

The Bear Family

Or,

you can have a more intimate picnic -

c.1905

c.1912

Okay, let's see:

*picnic blanket

*picnic food

*picnic basket

*picnic go-ers

*sunshine

...now what have I forgotten?

Oh yes!!!

picnic fun!!!

Sometimes good food and a nap are perfect,

but sometimes the picnic go-ers want a little entertainment.

Kate Greenaway

skipping ropes....

c.1854

a little picnic dancing...

flying a kite...

catch up with a little beading...

You could gather a few wildflowers

being respectful of the environment of course,

a recycled lightbulb flower 'terrarium'

or fairy house?

Don't forget to bring your flower press,

or a large heavy book with paper towels

to press leaves and flowers:

http://www.desertdangles.etsy.com/

Soaps, homemade or purchased, with pressed/dried flora and fauna.

This is a simple craft; all you need is a bit of clear melted wax.

Using a light glue, tap down your dried flora onto the soap surface.

Using an old brush, brush on a thin coat of clear melted wax to seal.

You can brush on a couple more coats if you desire, making sure wax is dry before adding another coat.  Tie a pretty ribbon and fix to soap with a small straight pin, and you have a lovely, personal gift

and a remembrance of a special picnic!

Bring some mazes, puzzles and paper dolls for the kids to play with in the car, on the way to the picnic, and on the way home

(if you haven't tired them out and they are all sleeping!)

Bring some old magazines that the kids can cut up and make more outfits for the paper dolls. Throw in a glue stick, pair of scissors and you are ready for them!

Career paper dolls. I am sorry, I don't know where I found these, so please just use them for personal use.  :0)



Use those same magazines to cut strips from colorful pages,

and you can easily do some iris folding

with a tape dispenser and scissors:

Iris Folding Pattern - kite

Well, that should give you a ton of picnic party plans,

inspirations

and ideas of grandeur!

And just think, you have all week to gather supplies

and be ready to go the first thing Saturday morning!

:0)

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com