art

New in My Etsy Shop – Birds and Teacups plus One Inspiring Squirrel!

Posted by Barbara Techel

This 8 x 10 mixed media on a birch wood panel above was inspired by a delightful encounter I had a few weeks ago with a young squirrel. While at first, I was concerned about the little one, I soon realized it was my own projection of fear and wanting to protect it. This young squirrel was just doing its squirrel thing and learning to navigate the big world out there. 

Poised on the trunk of this tree this is the photo I took of the young squirrel which is enhanced with chalk pencils. I imagined how big the world must look to this little one and how brave it was for learning to find its way.

This piece is also infused with the gentle energy of birch branches which often fall from the tree in my front yard. I love to sit and watch the birch leaves gently blowing in the wind as they sparkle in the sunshine. It’s so meditative! There are also dried flowers and leaves incorporated that come from around my gardens.

Lastly, it is also a dimensional piece as some of the artwork and natural elements are raised off the panel. This creates a lovely effect that brings it to life! Created on an 8 x 10 birch wood panel there is no need for a frame.

It is $55 plus shipping and is available here in my Etsy Shop. 

Birds & Teacups Series

In early May inspired by the many birds that have returned and the joy they bring me to see them outside my Joyful Pause Cottage windows, I started a Bird and Teacups mixed media series. Because…well…I just think birds and teacups go together so beautifully and quite naturally!  Besides, having a cup of tea while observing birds is a simple and sweet meditation that brings happiness and calm to my heart.

While I’d hoped to have more to share at this point, I simply ran out of time! So alas, I decided to share the three I have created instead of waiting. If one speaks to you I’d love for it to fly off to your home!

Created on 140 lb. mixed media paper they are 5 x 7 and ready to put in your favorite frame. They are $30 each plus shipping and are available in my Etsy shop here.

I hope your June has started out with all things that bring you joy and contentment!

XO

Barb

                  

The Tiny Twig Talisman Story and the Artist Who Created Them.

Posted by Barbara Techel

The artist, Sandi, who created this Tiny Twig Talisman, is someone I recently learned about from another artist — and all because of a serendipity connection on Instagram.

Sandi’s IG page is called Bluebird Cottage. Well, you know me! Anything related to cottage and I’m going to want to know more! I would come to learn more about Sandi from her artist friend, Lille Diane and who just happens to also love something else just as much as I do — donkeys!

I’d discover through Lille Diane that Sandi was featured in the May/June/July 2020 issue of In Her Studio — one of my favorite magazines. How did I miss that? A little research, a gently used copy found on eBay, and well, now I feel like I’ve connected with another kindred spirit in Sandi (and Lille Diane, too!)

Sandi has a lovely bohemian-style art studio with lots of happy and bright colors as featured in the pages of the magazine. Her Esty shop is called, Love From Cape Cod. Swoon! I’ve often wanted to visit Cape Cod since falling in love with it through the pages of the author, Susan Branch’s memoir, Martha’s Vineyard – Isle of Dreams (which I’ve read at least ten times now. I’m not kidding!)

So back to Sandi. Her posts on IG always bring me so much joy and her love of home, art, and nature feel so in alignment with mine. When she posted her newest creations (Tiny Twig Talismans) and the story behind them, well I knew I just had to have one to add to my altar in Joyful Pause Cottage.

From Sandi’s IG page:

Tiny Twig Talismans. Created with much love over many months. The story behind these is…. Three years ago my favorite tree in the front blew down in a blizzard. I loved that tree and was heartbroken to actually see it come down in the high winds across the driveway. Before the tree crew came to cut up and haul away the broken parts I went out and gathered many of the smaller branches. Some are in a large vase in the loft and greet me every time I go to my studio. Other tiny twigs wait for me to lovingly create these precious talismans. They have the sweetest energy and I loved creating them. Do you love trees too?

When the package arrived containing my sweet little twig of the tree that Sandi so lovingly found a way to commemorate into these beautiful works of art, I should have known how it arrived would be first-class too.

The Tiny Twig was wrapped inside this blue bedazzled tissue and then tucked inside the brown paper with lovely calligraphy written on it and a floral sticker which came inside the envelope with floral washi tape taped to the front.

Included inside was this beautiful envelope and colorful and sweet card. It was many gifts in one and unwrapping it all felt so very magical!

For many years now I’ve truly enjoyed every time I can support an artist. When I do, I feel like not only do I honor them, but I also honor a part of myself that loves to create too. You aren’t just getting an item, but something that comes from the heart, soul, and the hands of the many hours of joy that go into creating by the artist. Talk about good vibes to have in any space and exactly what I surround myself with in Joyful Pause Cottage!

So, welcome Tiny Twig to my space, and thank you, Sandi, for following your artistic whims and dreams…

XO

Barb

                  

The Art of the Pause

Posted by Barbara Techel

Mid-summer I began dabbling in mixed media collage. It’s a whole new way for me to embrace pausing in yet a different way. Like writing, when I’m in the flow, nothing else can enter my brain. I’m finding when choosing different layers to collage (papers, paint, and images) I’m not really thinking of anything, but just being with what is.

Yesterday I finished this collage on canvas to support the fact I recently renamed my writing cottage to Joyful Pause Cottage. This 10 x 12 space — a ‘room of my own’ and separate from my house —sits off the southeast corner of our deck. It was built in 2009 as a labor of love by my hubby as a place I could come to as I began my journey of writing two children’s books, three memoirs, and I don’t know how many blog posts I’ve written to date. But let’s just say LOTS!

But it’s become so much more than where I write, that I had been feeling this inner nudge to change its name for quite some time. Joyful pause is also about the joyful paws that have been part of my tribe in helping me evolve over the years — especially three special needs dachshunds. And if you look at the bottom of the collage you’ll see a paw print image to represent each one of them — Frankie, Joie, and Gidget. All three of their sweet and loving spirits remain here in this space with me.

Joyful Pause is now the space in which I collage, write, provide oracle readings via Zoom with clients and for my Youtube channel, meditate, dream of possibilities, and take joyful pause moments to glance out my windows to be inspired by my gardens or connect with the birds, bunnies, turkey, deer, or squirrels that I’ve been blessed to see here in my yard often.

xo,

Barbara

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