New FRIDA KAHLO original mixed media painting

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN MY ETSY SHOP!












This portrait was inspired by the beautiful Frida Kahlo. I could never tire of painting this amazing and mysterious woman!

This painting is a mixed media piece. The center of the painting I painted on 100% cotton watercolor paper which I then mounted onto a distressed canvas. It has random marks and scratches over entire canvas which also has an ink stain on top creating an "old world" feel to it. Frida's earrings are sewn on (these were supposedly gifted to her by the famous picasso!), as well as a few odd stitches on bottom right of painting (see close up photos for detail). Edges of canvas are painted black, ready to hang.

Hand writing in the background of Frida's portrait read the following: "I live on the air, accepting things as they come, without the minor effort to changed them, and all day long I feel sleepy, tired and desperate" (excerpt from Frida Kahlo's personal diary)

Canvas size: 12" x 16"

My scanner trip...

Just thought I'd share this video with you of a youtube 'scanner challenge' that I took on, started by the creatively talented Gary Reef (www.garyreef.etsy.com)

I had so much fun with this... you may just want to try it yourself! Enoy :-)

Meet "Blondie"

"Blondie"

"Blondie" is a one-of-a-kind (OOAK) vintage 1930's style art doll handmade and designed by artist Shariyah. She was created using polymer clay that has been entirely hand painted and antiqued. Her hair is made of original vintage music sheets that have been 'styled' into the popular 1930's finger wave-do. Blondie's outfit is inspired by 20th century fashion. Her dress is made of sheer frilled black chiffon and is adorned by a beautiful vintage brass button. Her black ballerina slippers are painted on, and are laced with cotton twine and tied in a perfect little bow. Blondie's arms and legs are joined using cotton twine at elbows and knees. She has been sealed with a crackle glaze to give her an aged, vintage appearance and to preserve her for generations to come. She measures approx 10.5" tall, and can be displayed sitting on the edge of a shelve or table. Blondie will arrive to you signed and dated in her own little box to keep her safe and warm. Blondie is looking for a home where she will be treasured for many years to come! You can visit her in my etsy store here:

Etsy Buy Handmade yiyah

I don't know if you remember my first doll "Amelie" who I introduced back in January... Well I had so much fun making her, I just couldn't wait to get started on my 2nd! I had quite a few people ask me if Amelie was for sale, but I couldn't bring myself to part with her since she was my very first of many dolls I will create ~ so I have since decided to create a new doll each month which will be available you to purchase in my etsy store!
Hope you enjoy, and keep a look-out for my new dolls I will be posting each month!

After months of being an in-active blogger...

...I am back! My apologies to the many people whom I've received emails from over the last few months- I promise to reply to each one of you... but in the meantime, I will give you a little update on what I have been up to!
First of all, since my last post I became engaged to my fiance Cameron... and as of July 26, 2009 I am now a married woman! You can imagine how busy I have been, trying to plan our Santa Barbara wedding from New Zealand...and in such a short period of time, it definitely was an experience! Thanks to the help of my loving mother, and her sisters Dolly, Lori, and Kim who spent hours upon hours tediously working to put together all the details of my wedding, we were able to pull it off! We would have had a "courthouse" wedding if it weren't for them :-)
Our wedding was everything I ever dreamed of (and more!) and I am SO loving married life! (no one ever told me it would be this sweet!)
Here are some photos of our magical day... a very special thanks to our incredibly amazing and artistic photographer Joy Marie! You can see more of her beautiful work at www.joymarieblog.com