A new blog look & I was featured on another blog!

I wanted to take a moment and thank my fellow blogger Katy, owner of MorningGorgeous Blog, for reformatting and designing the new layout for my blog. I liked the previous layout but since I'm heading in a new direction with my work, I knew I need a new layout which reflected that and Katy did just that! I especially love the banner and how it incorporates my pyrographic piece of Greta Garbo. So, my fellow followers, what do you think?

And speaking of new directions, I'm going to be opening a second Etsy shop soon, possibly by the end of this year. I've decided I will be keeping Swell Dame Inc but I think my woodwork is more suited for its own shop. Swell Dame Inc will be for my graphic art and promo supplies I offer while my second Etsy shop will be for my woodwork. I'm still searching for a name though - any suggestions?

Also I'm happy to announce I was featured on another blog! Chris at CBCrafter Blog featured me on their blog with a few pictures of me and my work space. Since I'm a college student living with my parents, I don't really have a workspace yet - I do most of my burning outside (that way I don't burn the house down) and my painting at my computer desk. So check out my feature as well as the other interesting posts you'll find at her blog:

CBCrafter Blog: Featured Artist - Swell Dame Inc

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Thank you!

I would like to take the time to give a short post and thank two fabulous blogs for advertising my shop:



As a person who takes up knitting as a hobby, I'm more than familiar with the fibre art. It has always fascinated me and the artisans who do it. DZFantasy has incredible skill and talent in this line of work and she was kind enough to recognize my woodwork by giving me a spot for my "Etsy mini" on her blog. Be sure to check out her blog and Etsy shop - her Aqua Sea Nymph piece is gorgeous!


And Groovy Gal Designs is a wonderful place to not only advertise but find a info on a lot of other fellow artisans including Groovy Gal herself. She has excellent resources and is prepared to share them with her visitors. For example, I didn't know there was a site called Plinky.com until I visited her blog. And Plinky.com is a great site for people who suffer from writer's block.



Once again, Thank you very much to DZFantasy and Groovy Gal Designs for giving me the unique opportunity to be on their blogs.

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Hooray For Hollywood!

Films have influenced my life since I can remember being a child watching a lot of classic films with my grandmother and mother. Being a filmophile has been running my family for generations on my mother's side; it started with her great grand-mother and filtered through to my mother. As a result, I knew who Charlie Chaplin, Lon Chaney and The Marx Brothers were by the time I was five.

I went through my usual stages of wanting to be an actress, even though I took more interest and passion in writing than anything else. And it was two years ago, when I was 19, that I submitted an application to becoming a Bellaonline Editor, wanting to run the Classic Film section. I was accepted and I still currently run the Classic Film section there where I write an article every week.

My recent article was, "The Influence of The Wild One", where I examine the different angles of pop culture that "The Wild One" (1953) has influenced. You'll recognize this film by the visual reference it conjures up - Marlon Brando wearing the famous motorcycle jacket with a white cap and when asked what he's rebelling against, he answers with an undecided, "What'd ya got?"

As it comes to no surprise that my artwork also reflects my influence and reference to Classic Hollywood, particularly my new piece I added to my Etsy shop. It's a print of my pyrographic portrait of Greta Garbo on the back of a pocket mirror.

Greta Garbo Pocket Mirror

Now, I want to become a writer/director (and perhaps "pull a Hitchcock" and make a few cameos in my films) and I'm very excited about going back to school as a film student; I'm so excited that I made another Etsy treasury for you all. Enjoy!


Back To School - Film Student Etsy Treasury

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Happy 150th Birthday Alphonse Mucha!

Born on July 24, 1860, Mucha was talented in both music and art. While he was able to fund his education with his singing, Mucha was more drawn to art and drawing. He worked painting theatrical scenery, and freelance work in portrait painting. In 1887, Mucha moved to Paris and enrolled as a student at Academie Julian and Academie Colarossi. While attending as a student in the City of Lights, Mucha worked as an illustrator for magazines and advertisements. His life changed when famous actress Sarah Bernhardt produced a poster for her newest play, "Gismonda." The poster was a sensation and Bernhardt signed Mucha to six-year contract for his work on her posters. But the poster did much more than further Mucha's career, his work astounded Paris and the world, starting a new movement called Art Nouveau.

Throughout his lifetime as an artist, Mucha designed paintings, posters, advertisements, book illustrations as well as designs for jewelry, carpets and wallpaper. While in Paris, used his popularity to start the traditional artists ball Bal Des Quat'z Arts.

In the 1920s, He produced "The Slav Epic" which consisted of twenty large paintings which were visual dedication to his native Czech and his Slavic people. In Czechoslovakia, with the rapid growth of fascism in the area, Mucha was arrested by the Gestapo and interrogated by the authorities. He eventually contracted pneumonia and though he was released and survived the ordeal, the illness would forever affect his health. A seventy-eight year old Mucha would pass away from a lung infection in Prague on July 14, 1939.

However he left the world a legacy of beautiful, awe-inspiring illustrations that have continued to inspire artists and art lovers everywhere with his beautiful motifs, feminine compositions and natural colors.



"La Danse" was the first Alphonse Mucha I saw several years ago while browsing my newely discovered interest in Art Nouveau (which makes sense because he is the father of Art Nouveau).



I didn't think that I would actually create me own Mucha-influenced piece one day. However, my first pendant necklace I burnt was one of my very own Mucha-influenced mermaid:

Art Nouveau Pyrographic Pendant Necklace @ Etsy

Mucha said it best about art with his quote, "Art exists only to communicate a spiritual message."

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Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

About a week ago I was acquainted with Samy at Etsy. She was kind enough to interview me and feature it on her blog. It was a great experience and I am proud to say that if you are looking for someone to be featured by, I definitely recommend Samy - she's delightful!

Be sure to explore her blog and read my interview:

Samy In Wonderland Interviews Swell Dame Inc.

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