Clean your plate, then make stuff out of it.

Hey Pilgrims,

This year to spice up my dinner table for Thanksgiving, I have decided to make a cornucopia, a horn of plenty or harvest cone, whichever you want to call it. The cornucopia is a symbol of abundance or lots of food which is what I plan on eating this Thursday…YUM. But before I shove all that food into my mouth let's say I use my creativity first and make my home festive. To make a splendiferous cornucopia that any pilgrim would be proud of, here is what I will need.
A paper plate, masking tape, brown ribbon, an assortment of construction paper.
Roll a paper plate into a cone, securing it with masking tape. Bend the end of the cone slightly to curve it, then wrap the cone with more tape to create a smooth surface, leaving the hole at the tip untaped. As you will see it already looks like a horn. Next stick one end of the ribbon in the small hole in the tip and glue it in place. Add a line of glue down the length of the cone then wrap the ribbon around it. When you are finished it should look like an empty cornucopia or a big mess but in that case just throw it in the garbage and buy one that somebody else made.
Next cut different size leaf shapes out of the paper and glue them around the opening of the horn.
Now your horn of plenty is complete, I will be filling mine with plastic fruit but anything can go in yours, real fruit, candy, flowers, use your imagination to create the perfect center piece for your Thanksgiving dinner. Now bring on the Food!

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

Pretty Pretty Pictures

Hey you guys!
Just wanted to let you know, that I have put some of my most recent drawings up on my myspace page (www.myspace.com/mysticreflections) in the New Art Album in my pictures.
So check em out, ENJOY!
Have a nice week!
~Caralyn :)

M-Y-X-I-E and Myxie was it's name-O

Hey-loo Everybuddy!

I just wanted to let you all know that I have new sculptures on my Etsy store. Including my newest additions, Myxie Goblins or Myxlins as I like to call them. So check them out.

Have a great day!~Caralyn

It's a Scary Thing...

So I’ve been talking a lot to my sister, who also doubles as my manager for Mystic Reflections, about a few ideas for the future of my business. We had the idea to turn my art into a business about 4 years ago but really only started working hard toward the goal this past year and a half. It was really scary at first. I was constantly afraid I would fail horribly and no one would like my work, we didn’t give up though. Now after almost 2 years of selling my work we feel confident to take our business to the next level. But there are a few obstacles in our way.
As it stands right now I currently have a day job that sucks up the majority of my day and I work on my art in the late afternoons or on weekends. Honestly I find myself searching for more time and constantly thinking of how much more I could get done if I didn’t have a day job. I could work on all my little projects I keep saying I should do but never get around to them because I have a 9-5.
So that is the question, do I quit and have more time to see if I can make a living just as well with my art, or do I stay and never really find out? I live on my own so I have to consider how my decision will affect me being able to pay my bills. Those Leasers really get touchy about that Rent, they don’t take I.O.Us either. Also with the job market the way it is right now, leaving your job with no guarantee you will find another is a scary thing.
I have read some articles on what other people have done and most of them just went for it. Perhaps that is what I need to do, just give it a go and see what happens.

Wish me luck.
~Caralyn

Craft Show in Lithia Springs This Weekend!

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to let you know, I will be doing a craft show at Lithia Springs High School on Nov. 8th and 9th. I will have all new Holiday Myxies, so be sure to stop by.

Have a great weekend.
~Caralyn

People are talking about me...but in a good way :)

Hello Everyone!

I have been featured in a few Artist Blogs. One is about polymer clay artists and the other is about fantasy doll art. Check them out...

http://chattyhomemaker.blogspot.com/

http://dzfantasy.blogspot.com/2008/10/art-dolls-and-artists-who-create-them.html

Have a wonderful day!
~Caralyn

Happy Halloween

Hello My Friends

It is just about that time again, Halloween! The only time when it is acceptable to take candy from strangers. In fact it’s expected. All you have to do is wear a towel around your neck and your undies out side of your pants…don’t tell me I’m the only one who does that…and they give you candy. Any other day of the week they would call the police for that kind of display. But not on October 31st, ain’t Halloween grand. So to honor this wonderful holiday get yourself in the spirit by dressing the way your mother never let you.
What’s that? Gas has taken all your money you say, you can’t afford a costume that makes you look like a crazy person? Well never fear, looking like a psychopath isn’t just for the rich now days. You can find a costume using stuff from around your house. There is the traditional towel around your neck that we covered but if you are looking for something a little more creative here’s an idea.
Get a regular baseball cap, spray paint it green, unless you have a green ball cap…I don’t know of anyone who does.
Take different color construction paper. Cut out ears on the green, sharp teeth on the white, a tongue out of the red, and if you have googily eyes use them but if not use the construction paper. Then paste the ears and eyes to the top of the cap and paste the teeth and tongue to the bottom of the bill. Be creative as to how you want to decorate it, with spots or glitter, etc. Combine the cap with a green shirt and presto, you’re a dragon! Okay so I know it’s a campy cheap costume but you’re the one who spent all you money on Gas. Besides with a little creativity you can make it a great, despite cheap, costume and then be on your way to getting a tummy ache from eating more candy then your stomach can handle...that’s the American way :)

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Back from D-Con and Boy am I D-Tired.

Dragon Con was great!
Despite being a busy, BUSY little beaver, I had a lot of fun. People from all over attended the art show, it was packed most of the weekend. I did fairly well and I received a lot of positive feedback from all who stopped at my booth. I had the opportunity to meet all kinds of people, including Todd McCaffrey the son of Anne McCaffrey the science fiction novelist best known for her Dragon rides of Pern series. I also had the great pleasure of meeting Willy Whitten, he is the talented artists that worked on the films Aliens, Terminator, The Thing, Invaders from Mars…just to name a few. By far the coolest conversation of my life. He gave me his email address and you better believe I am going to be bugging him with my emails. He will have to change his email address to get rid of me.
It was also a wonderful experience being able to meet some of the artists that had booths at the art show. They are all very talented interesting people and they were kind enough to share some of their techniques and advise with me. It helped me come up with all kinds of neat ideas so look out world
I also appreciate all of you that came to see me this weekend, it is always nice to get your support. Over all it was an inspiring and educational experience and I look forward to it next year.

Talk to you later D-udes,
~Caralyn

OMG Dragon Con is Coming for Me!

Hello my little darlings!
It is crunch time people, only 2 more days until Dragon Con. Fortunately I'm not worried…okay I lied, I am a little worried but that always happens to me before a big show like this. And being that this is my first time having a booth at Dragon Con, I will say there are a few butterflies squirming around in my tummy…don't know how those little suckers got in there.
I am pretty much all set and ready to go, I have a few finial pictures I am matting tonight and then I should be all done. It has been a long, tiring month but it's all going to be worth it at the show.
Please everyone come by and see me while you are there so I don't get lonely. I will be in the art gallery and I'll be the one covered in Myxies, can't miss me. :)
Unfortunately I won't have a computer with me this weekend so I won't be able to answer any messages but you can leave them for me anyway so when I get back I feel like I have lots of friends :D
Well, see all you geeks and nerds and Trekkies this weekend.
~Caralyn

A place for my Myxies

Only sixteen more days until Dragon Con and I still have so much to do.
The project I am presently working on is MYXIE LAND! The second happiest place on earth :)
It’s a stand for my Myxies. Before, now my little creations were homeless, sitting on a cold table at each show waiting for that special someone to come along and give them a home *sniff sniff* but not anymore. Now they will have a happy little shelter, a place to rump and play while they wait for their new family to adopt them.
It’s a beautiful dream come true.

I started with craft foam. Craft foam is that stuff usually used for silk floral arrangements, but I’m using it for the base of the stand. It is light, Thank goodness, I have enough to haul to shows without adding a 20lb Myxie habitat. Also craft foam is not difficult to shape, so carving hills into it a breeze.
Covering the foam in a green felt creates a nice illusion of grass and topping that with craft moss and flowers completes the naturalistic effect.

The last part is going to be a large tree that will enable me to have a place for my hanging/flying Myxies. The tree I am using was actually old decorations I purchased after Christmas. YAH DISCOUNTS! It isn’t quite the right shape, unfortunately so I will need to shave off a few limbs and crop the base until it's right.

Well, all this is going to take some time so instead of jack-jawing with you fine folks, I’m going to get back to work.

Tootles