my gratitude to you and a new start

©manon doyle

My life has been pretty much a blur the last while. I am slowly returning...... at least....I hope that I am. My dad unexpectedly passed away while he and my mom were visiting me and my family over the Christmas holidays. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the kind words sent our way. One is never prepared for this. I've been looking at my ruby slipper snow globe each day because it reminds me of hope when I lose faith.


©manon doyle

On another note.... It's been a long time coming but I am now slowly setting up my new studio. These pics are just the beginning. Most of you know that I did glass mosaics for fifteen years and I have closed that chapter even though the gallery owner here in Scottsdale keeps trying to get me back in....lol. I have been taking a ton of classes in enameling and jewelry making and will continue to do so as this is a process. I will also keep painting on canvas since it's in my blood. : )


©manon doyle

I decided to use part of the garage as my studio. Torches and such are not a great idea inside the house.....yikes. I'm thinking of having a Solatube installed in the ceiling to drag even more natural light in. They are pretty cool.



©manon doyle

I checked into many options for shelving and with some advise I settled on Gladiator cabinets. I bought them at Lowes and I can add on if I feel I need more. They are sturdy workhorses and I'm pretty happy with them. I will keep you updated as this space evolves into my happy mess.

Btw..... my website is purposely down. I am coming back with a new one in the next couple of months where you can purchase my work.

I hope all is good with everyone!!

fill your heart with art

~manon

dry skin?

©manon doyle

It's that time of year!!! It's the time of year when some of us start feeling a little like shedding snakes. My skin has been super dry here in Arizona and the humidifier just isn't doing the whole JOB. I love to use scrubs because they really do work. My favorites are the ones made with sugar. Last year my mom and I made this brown sugar scrub and I just loved it. Today I put a few jars together to have on hand.

You will need.........

- 1 cup dark brown sugar (if you don't want it too oily use more sugar)
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (you can substitute other oils such as almond oil or vegetable oil.... I actually used vegy oil today)
- 2 tablespoons vitamin E oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- a container with a lid on it. I used mason jars but anything will do. Be careful not to drop anything that is glass in your bath or shower.


©manon doyle

Mix it all together!!! Smells so yummy!! I used more than four cups of sugar and adjusted my measurements because I needed to fill three mason jars. You can play around with this to get to something you like. Remember that when you go to use it you'll have to mix it a bit because it will definitely separate.


©manon doyle

Takes five minutes to make and works like a charm!!!


©manon doyle

This was on my morning walk yesterday!!! So pretty!!

fill your heart with art

~manon

I'm back!!!

enameled forms
©manon doyle

It's been so long since I've blogged. I'm back.....: ))))!!! There's been so much going on!!! I'm in AZ and I'm taking a ton of classes. This past weekend I took another enameling class. This time it was a 3-D enameling class with Mary Chaduk. Mary was recommended to me by Barbara Minor and it was a fantastic class by a terrific artist. The class was at the Mesa Arts Center. It is a place that I am really impressed with.

These are some of the pieces I worked on this past weekend. I'm so excited to be learning all these new techniques. I hope to eventually incorporate my style in these enameled works.


©manon doyle

Ya gotta love this enameled red!!!


©manon doyle

Soldering class two weeks ago.


©manon doyle

Sawing class a week ago......LOL.


©manon doyle

So.... I had to throw in a sunset!!!! They make me so very happy!!!!!


©manon doyle

I also wanted to show a pic taken from my iPhone. That phone rocks!!! It's almost as good as my Canon Rebel.....yikes!!! lol

Thanks for coming back to take a look!!! I really appreciate you bearing with me!!!!!

fill your heart with art

~manon

falling free

12" x 16" mixed media painting on cradled Gessobord
©manon doyle

All of my senses overthrown
By the might of your skin
And the lamplight on your cheek bone
Drawing me further in
No sentence I can speak
For the wonder so unique
Breaking like a wave upon the shore
Mercy me, I'm falling free
Since you opened up the door

See how the sky is made of sapphire
The colours flowing through our hands
The moon is fire in your hair
A million miles beyond what science understands
Smell that mountain heaven
I don't remember ever
Feeling like this before
Mercy me, I'm falling free
Since you opened up the door

And if every window pane should shatter
If every wall should fall apart
Well it might hurt a bit
But would it matter
This diamond in my heart
There's no need to nail it to the ground
There's no need to smother it with sense
Just listen to the rhythm of your heart
That pounds and trust it all to chance
'cause we're standing face to face
With the Angel of grace
And don't it just taste so pure

Mercy me, I'm falling free
Since you opened up the door

Falling Free by David Gray

I thought I had finished this painting but I wasn't really happy with her. She needed something so I decided to show the painting to my mom. She begged me to leave her alone so I knew that was my cue to add the cape........lol!!!! When I finished her my mom agreed. The painting needed a pop of color and the red cape seemed to be the answer. There are still a couple of things to finish on the dress but I thought I'd post her today.

fill your heart with art

~manon

friendship

9" x 12" mixed media on watercolor paper
©manon doyle

Friends are the angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
~author unknown

I've been thinking about all my friends lately. I have friends that have been in my life for many years, there are those I've reconnected with after a long absence, the ones I've recently made and the friends that I've met through blogging and Facebook. Omg....I am truly blessed!!! I take huge comfort in knowing that I have so many ears that will listen to me, support me and laugh at my stupid comments and jokes!!! I can only hope to be a great friend also. We are all on different journeys but we are bound together by friendship, love, hope and respect!! A big *THANKS* to all my awesome buddies!!! : )

fill your heart with art and friendship

~manon