The Design of someone’s Ambitions is not always understood or even welcomed. But to the person whose designs are set on Ambitious...it can be magical!

I have been creating art in various forms for over 10 years. I have always been drawn to Folk & Outsider works, even before I knew what that meant.  I am absolutely compelled to create something daily and often get visions while sleeping of what to create next.
I look at every single thing and think of how could I change it or how would I use it.  My mind is seldom quiet.  Halloween is my passion and I explore that passion further each day. I enjoy the theatrics and drama of Halloween and that is all about people letting loose and having fun! No formality just some spooky good fun to scare away those nasty ghosties ;)

Movies very much play a role in my creativity. I am a horror movie buff but I blame Beetjuice for giving me the Sweet & Spooky virus and the genius character stylings of Henry Selick (TNBC, Monkeybone & Coraline )and Tim Burton for leaving me permanetly afflicted.

I enjoy acrylic, mixed media paintings but find sculpting in Paperclay (volcanic ash, talc, wood pulp) to be the best. I enjoy using repurposed treasures in my work as I need lots of textures to be happy. I find assemblage art to be brilliant and provocative and hope to tackle that genre some day soon.

My hubster, Michael of 17+ years and our two teen boys, Gavin & Austin support me and my never ending search for all things art. We live in rural NJ with our 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 3 ducks which round out our crazy house.

I would not have it any other way.

I am a self taught artist living in the Pacific Northwest and have the opportunity to fish, hike, go crabbing, walk the beaches or hit the big city of Portland if we need a city fix.  Lots of artists resided here in Oregon.  It’s an honor and pleasure to be apart of this wonderful community. My favorite mediums are papier mache clay, painting with acrylics and creating collage art.  My specialty is Halloween!

I first started doing papier mache clay pieces back in 1997.  I first gave away most of my work to family and friends.  Encouraged by their words I continued on and expanded to selling my work on online.  Selling my art on the net enabled me to gather up a wonderful set of new friends and Pumpkinseed fans. 

You can also find my line of seasonal quality reproduction pieces produced by Enesco. Check your local gift store for Pumpkinseeds Folk Art.

Creating has been a part of my life ever since I can remember.  Coming from humble beginnings as the fifth child in a family of seven children, we lived in what was a rural town and still is known as Prospectville.

One summer my younger brother and I had an idea to make some money by selling our very popular pot holders …you know the kind made with the cotton loops.  We figured since they made great Christmas gifts that previous year for the family, then maybe people would buy them.  So we collected all the soda bottles we could find and took them to the general store on the corner and cashed them in to buy the supplies we needed.  Now our potholders were quite unique because I sewed two of them together to make a mitt.  People actually stopped their cars on the side of the road and bought them and we sold them all that summer!!!

In 1989 I started to do the local craft shows with a friend and had great fun…met a lot of great people, many of whom became collectors of my creations.  In 2007 I was encouraged to try an internet shop and that led to opening a blog, which I thought no one would ever read!

I’m basically a self-taught artist with the exception of taking a few informal classes from people who were willing to show me their craft.  I’ve dabbled in many different mediums from sewing to woodworking, painting to doll making, jewelry to sculpture and I love it all!  I feel that being a creative person and having that outlet has always helped to keep me grounded.

I live with my husband, happily married for 29 years, in our now empty nest since our two daughters have grown and are happily living on their own.

Hello... my name is Lance, and I'm the creator of Crescent Hill Designs. I've always enjoyed using my hands, and I've always possessed a need for creativity; after creating my first sculpture, I was hooked. I guess I am to be considered a "self-taught" artist, other than a couple of high school art classes that played a vital role as to where I am today. They taught me the ins and outs of several mediums but it wasn't until after my 2004 high school graduation that I found my true passion of sculpture. I draw inspiration from children's stories, nursery rhymes, childhood nostalgia and anything that may create a smile. I like to think that my work can ease one's growing pains by taking them back to their childhood, if only for a moment.

Hooray! 
Thanks for visiting noodle and lou studio!
noodleandlou is named from the nicknames
I had for my sons when they were born...
mr. noodle...jake and
little lou...henry!
I'm Jenn and these are my original little works of art.
you'll find original paintings on canvas, wood and more.
noodle and lou is also home of the lulettes"! 
My lulettes collection consists
of all sorts of little polymer clay dolls,
busts and houses.  
My art is meant to make you smile and bring some FUN into your home. 
Each creation is rich in texture, color and heart!  I work very hard to ensure
that you are thrilled with your noodle and lou purchase.  All purchases are
wrapped in fun paper, ribbon and tags.  I want you to feel like it's your birthday
when you open up one of my packages:) 
Thank you for helping me to live my dream
and thanks for taking a peek...come back soon!
xoxoxo...jenn

Hi! I’m sUz.

My creations are meant to sUrPriSe and deLiGht you and to bring you a bit of jOy. 

I love to play with paper and use it in its many forms with glue, fabric, polymer clay, glitter, acrylics, and most everything else! Ornaments, nightlights, jewelry, and dolls are some of my favorite things to make and my mind is always churning up new ideas.You’ll find me working late at night wearing my apron while listening to Christmas music with an ice cold diet Dr. Pepper close at hand. Spicy candles will be burning and my project table will be covered with paper scraps and pieces, scissors and various cutting tools, paints and glues, and pieces in various stages of completion. 

Presently, I live in the beautiful North Carolina mountains with my husband iSaAc, my two year old son eLijAh, an English bulldog named dAiSy lOu, and two cats, cLiff and peNeLoPe.

Hi!  My name is Ginny Diezel, and I am a self-taught artist with a passion for creativity.  I cannot recall a time when I wasn’t drawing, or painting, or sculpting.  Although I taught French in middle school, I consider my artistic endeavors to be my lifelong career.  I began with local craft shows, moved into the wholesale trade show realm, and now my interests are in design and product development.  Along the way, my husband and I had a son, Matthew, who is a movie editor in Hollywood.  I volunteered in the classroom, and taught classical ballet on the college level – dance and music being necessities in my life.
Inspiration for my work comes from everywhere – I never know what will spark a new thought, but it usually will result in whimsical pieces.  I live on the edge of a marsh in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where every day, I can view Nature at her finest!  So, be looking for squirrels, birds, raccoons, possums, rabbits, and other little folk , along with the fun side of Halloween and Christmas in my pieces! 

Hey y'all! Dawn M Schiller here, tho' I prefer to go by D or Oddfae.

I've sculpted, made dolls or drawn since I can remember...I'm an artist because I can't imagine being or doing anything else -- but most of all, I do it cos it's BIG FUN!!!

I'm an internationally collected self-taught artist who continually seeks to learn and experiment with art.  My award-winning work has appeared in shows, galleries, books and magazines, in both the US and Europe.  I've been sculpting full-time for ten years, teaching online and in-person for four.  I make Odd Things.  Things that are strange and odd (you are what you sculpt...). My particular brand of lunacy, Odd Fae and Autumn Things, can be found online at www.autumnthings.com.

I'm a full-time self employed graphic/fine artist/sculptor and class clown. I live in Southern California in a cluttered condo with my Dear Husband science teacher/fencer/coach Greg, our three kittykids, four snakes, one tarantula and a partridge in a pear tree.

O, wait...we ate the partridge for dinner.

Dawn of Oddfae

Outside the Box Primitives~Robin Armstrong Seeber
Art~always a part of my life.Inspiration~my best friend, my mother,God rest her precious souI.My father~my biggest fan keeping me encouraged and inspired. Self taught they call it,but with successes and failures, having been taught and mistaught, inspired, uninspired, lead and mislead, all by ‘self taughters’ ,I am where I am today and continue to grow and learn from life and others I am a wife and mother of 6. As a practicing RN for over 20yrs, I realized my life didn’t fit “me”.
My real dream was to own a horse and live on a small farm.In chasing that dream, I caught it, and presently dwell in a small Pennsylvania farm house circa 1870,with my hubby and our horses.I hadn’t touched art for 7yrs,THEN,since we love candles, began a small beeswax candle business 2005 called, The Primitive Chandler.
The Bumble Bee is the signature doll for Outside the Box Primitives because beeswax restarted my creating, after much encouragement from my children!While working as a nurse for a sweet handicapped girl,her family told me she loved art.I began bringing my doll art with me to work.It made her smile. She enjoyed watching the dolls go from flat to fat and plain to personality.The dolls became quite demanding in my head, scratching, and entering my dreams anxious to be let out.I began creating the “tinies” full time spring 2008.It makes me happy.
My first published doll was a witch in Art Doll Quarterly, fall 2008.I am still humbled and honored with each new publication.The latest accomplishment is to be an officially licensed artist for Bethany Lowe Designs.My  dolls are presently being reproduced in the Philippines, and I look forward to their debut in the July 2010 catalog and in stores January 2011.
Please come visit me on my web site; www.outsidetheboxprimitives.com,
Join my email list; outsidetheboxprimitives@gmail.com

Much of my childhood was spent growing up in New Zealand, Celebrating Christmas in the summer, buying lollis at the corner dairy market, and dreaming of actually dressing up for Halloween (no Halloween in NZ). My father was an artist, my mother an English teacher – which means I spent a lot of time reading as well as pouring over the illustrations in my books. 

The long, winding path of life has led me to Arizona where I attended college, met my Husband and started an event decorating business.

 Creating themes and decor for large-scale events allowed me to exercise my creativity in a way I never dreamed possible. This crazy, fast-paced lifestyle however, came to a halt soon after the birth of my son.

 Now I work from home, creating seasonal folk-art pieces inspired by the holidays of yore. I started by selling my work in a folk-art store in Scottsdale and have only recently entered the “online” marketplace. I often incorporate an element of candy into my work (sort of an obsession of mine).  For me, the seasons are marked by holidays and special celebrations - my work is heavily influenced by the vintage softness of childhood holiday decorations. I am honored to be a part of  SpookyTime Jingle … who wouldn’t enjoy a site devoted to two of the biggest CANDY holidays!

To learn more about me, or to chat - visit my blog
http://www.sweetbfolkart.blogspot.com

It all began when I started drying apple heads to make my first art doll at the age of 10.  Since then, it's been a never-ending quest to find the perfect style and medium. As an artist, I'm constantly growing and expanding my abilities - always pushing myself to try something new. My "style" seems to have a life of its own – it’s kind of exciting to think where it will take me next.

I lives on 2 acres in rural southern California. My goats, chickens and a goose named Betty are a constant source of inspiration. I find inspiration in all things vintage (they just seemed to do "it" right way back when!). I love Halloween and Christmas and have always been inspired by those wonderful Rankin-Bass - stop action Holiday specials (Rudolph, Mad Monster Party...). I always imagine what my characters would be like if they could walk and talk.

Currently, my artwork is mixed media. Often, my creations start as soft sculpture, but then I add clay features that give them personality and bring them to life.

In addition to the wonderful Spooky Times Jingle community, I sell at Arts/Crafts shows in Southern California. I can also be found at www.chickenlips.biz.

Greetings from the great state of Texas! I'm Bone*Head*Studios aka Flora, an artist, wife, mom and a grandmother.
  Creating has always been an important constant in my life, whether is was sewing for my 3 girls and sometimes my son, drawing or sketching, even a little landscaping and creating my own vegetable garden, it's always amazing to see how the lord provides.
  However my one true passion has always been art, I don't think there was ever a time that I wasn't without a pencil and paper, although life got in the way, with family and such, so creating just took other forms.
  Well life started to settle down, and I began to feel an old familiar "tug" that something was missing and about 2 yrs.ago I discovered the internet, I soon discovered doll groups, doll blogs and doll makers, oh my, things haven't been the same since!
  I do everything from "scratch" or rather as I like to say "from concept to creation", but only by the lord's good graces am I able to do this, that and the fact that both my parents were very talented individuals. I am self taught, but I was given much valuable information from very generous individuals in the doll world.
   Having said that, I need to also add that I use no patterns other than my own rather primitive ones nor do I use molds, I'd rather struggle on my own all day till I figure it out....I'm kinda stubborn that way...but I still do ask lots of questions!
   My only regret is that I did not discover dollmaking sooner in life...so I'm making up for lost time.

The Polka Dot Pixie, a.k.a Jenny Hernandez is the mom of two awesome kids, wife of a great man, and owner of a strange, but lovable Border Collie/Aussie mix.  Jenny and her family live in an old Victorian house nestled in the lovely, pine blanketed mountains of Northern Arizona, just a wee bit south of the Grand Canyon. Jenny has been creating "little guys" out of clay since 1998, and working almost exclusively in the folk art medium since 2004.

Kristen Beason Designs specializes in contemporary, whimsical folk art. I have been a decorative painter since 1987, thanks to the tutelage of my artistic mom and mother-in-law.  With a passion for Halloween, a majority of my artwork leans towards this festive holiday. Each piece is created with the intent to amuse and delight the buyer.  Thank you to the loyal customers who continue to inspire and support these FUNkified works of art.

I have never known life without a pencil or paintbrush in my hand, and from my earliest memories, I’ve loved to create. As a child I spent almost every Saturday with a wonderful art teacher, who never taught her students how to draw, but gave us every imaginable medium with which to explore and experiment. Her enthusiasm for the journey of creating has had a lasting impact in my development as an artist.
I studied graphic design at the University of Georgia, and a few years ago, discovered a passion for papier mache. Many of my stylized, whimsical pieces have a down-home, vintage look, while some reflect my roots in graphic design. Ideas come from many sources: things I see, memories and experiences from childhood, old toys and books, antique postcards, and even my kids, who offer ideas and suggestions.
Currently I live on a farm in northeast Georgia, not too far from Athens, where we are restoring a 200 year old log house. I’m a stay-at-home mother of 4 kids who, incidentally, are getting to the ages where they don’t do much staying at home.

I am Iva Wilcox of Iva's Creations. My first name reflects my Serbian heritage and is pronounced "ee-va" for those of you I have yet to meet. The story of my creative beginnings is not a new one. I have always loved antiques, toys from a bygone era, vintage clothing, Victorian homes and all things old. I have been dabbling here and there in different mediums for years, working in the wee hours when I had a professional career, until finally devoting myself to my art while raising two children with my husband John. In 2007, my craft took on a new meaning in my life when our beautiful 17-year-old daughter Brianna died. She too was a creative soul, and her passing colors every aspect of my life, including my art.
Primarily a self-taught artist, I dabble in many mediums. I am passionate about Halloween, and you never know what I will turn to in order to express my love for the holiday. I enjoy watercolor painting, mixed media collage, paper arts and paper mache. Jewelry making has become a recent interest. But no matter what the medium, I strive for the look of a well-loved toy or a long lost treasure. 
From time to time, I enjoy taking folk art classes at some of the wonderful stores here in the San Francisco area, which I now call home. I happen to live in a part of the country rich with artists who are willing to share their techniques, open their studios and spread their enthusiasm for folk art. And, the City is full of interesting specialty shops, antique markets and thrift stores where I can find an assortment of unique items to add to my creations. 
I am an author/artist in two issues of Somerset Studio, the magazine of paper and mixed media arts. The Sept./Oct. 2008 Halloween issue of the magazine featured a "how-to" piece I created and wrote. I also teach classes on various techniques and original projects and enjoy sharing my love of the craft.
My art can be found at local folk art shows and area stores. You can read more about my current studio works in progress on my blog: www.ivascreations.typepad.com.
I thank you for taking the time to spend it with me. Remember, each day is a gift.
Blessings....Iva

I have always loved drawing, sculpting and creating. I remember sitting under the dinning room table as a little girl drawing pictures and have never stopped. I went to Buffalo State college unsure of what I wantd to do and ended up studing printmaking. I left to get married and start a family, plus college just did not suit me.
I started making my little mealy monster clan in the spring of 2008 and opened up a shop on etsy in July the same year. I needed to do something with them, they were
starting to over take my house!
I currently live in Western, NY with my husband, three kids, dog, and cat.

My name is Jorge de Rojas, I am the artist and owner of Hohohalloween Studios. Combining traditional papier-mâché techniques and using recycled and reclaimed materials including vintage finds. I create unique, original handmade holiday art. I try to briefly take you back in time to the joy of seeing classic holidays through the eyes of a child again and hopefully touching you with a smile.

Elaine Thomas since she was a young girl, art in many forms has been a part of her life.  She draws inspiration from childhood nostalgia, nursery rhymes, and children's stories.

Elaine creates Eclectic Mixed Media Folk Art.  She works mainly in paper clay or paper mache but uses several mediums to achieve her creative vision.  She loves to make pieces that bring a smile to someone face and joy into their heart.  

Elaine has been a licensed designer since 2003.  These licensed designs can be found in many retail and specialty shops around the country.  She is currently licensed with DEMDACO.  Additionally several of her designs have also been featured in home decorating and craft publications.

Hi, my name is Lisa Nelson and I'm an independent mixed media artist who loves Halloween, cats and fantasy so naturally, that's what I tend to paint.   I'm self-taught and obsessed with creating.  You could say it's my addiction.  I paint Halloween year round because Halloween can never come soon enough in my opinion.  My art is largely influenced by nature, vintage Halloween collectibles and the sights and sounds of my immediate environment.

I grew up in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs  and now  live in beautiful Bucks County with my handsome husband, Jim, 6 cats and 2 box turtles.  Our  little home backs onto several hundred acres of preserved land so nature fills my windows despite all the development going on. 

I'm also blessed with three gorgeous  grandchildren under the age of three who live nearby.  This fact assures that my art is mostly rated "G".   No blood or gore, just Sweet  Halloween - the way I remember it from my childhood.

I use only professional products and my paintings are always protected with a UV resistant sealant so  decades from now your great grandchildren can talk about your exquisite taste in Halloween art!

Enjoy your visit.

A product of a unique southern up bringing, I am a high energy
and free spirited soul, driven to experience life to the hilt and do
things my own way. I am fueled by my creative desires, and cannot wait to get to work every day. I come from a family of working artists, designers, and creative people, so I am very fortunate to have had my creative side welcomed and nurtured growing up!
I find inspiration everywhere, my mind is constantly
grabbing at its visual surroundings. I am a painter and a sculptor, and most recently have been in love with paper mache and all the neat things I can do with it. I love Halloween, and a favorite childhood memory is of my father, also an artist, carving stately, imposing, and ominous jack -o- lanterns with a butcher knife!  They were stunning, sometimes just two slanted evil eyes staring into the unseen darkness. I have always loved fire, the night, and anything scary or magical, so lantern making just seems a natural art form for me.
    At home in the beautiful piedmont of North Carolina,
I am surrounded by my tribe of friends and family, my husband, our three wonderful children, and a menagerie of pets!  All the fun and chaos of family life just further feeds my creative drive. I have also been in the business through the last ten years or so of creating art pieces for the interior design market, but I love sculpting with my hands, dremmeling, sanding, and painting my folk art. Its my own thing, done for the sheer fun of it, and my children are always jumping in to help or make art of their own which brings me great joy!  I love being able to create as soon as the idea hits me, and then being able to share that creation around the world with this amazing technology, which has also
allowed me to meet and be a part of this talented group of artists.
Thanks for taking the time to see my work and learn a little more about me!

My friends call me Paint. It's what I do, most days, what I think about, what makes me happy,what I am. I have sold my artwork for over 15 years . Not only on the web, but in shops and galleries in the central New York area.

My Name is Shirley Olsen. I live in Ohio, near Lake Erie. I have been married to my wonderful hubby for 24 yrs.

We have two beautiful daughters . I also have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and a Maine coon cat name Jinx.

I am a self taught artist and have been painting and creating art for over thirty years. I paint mostly using Acrylics but also like to sculpt . My favorite subject is the Black Cat.
I started painting black cats in memory of a very special feline I had for many years. His name was 'Black Cat' of course!
I particularly like the challenge of painting very detailed pieces.
Some of my favorite art is created on what I call “natures canvas” these are very dimensional pieces of wood tree fungus. I try to use the shape of the piece to determine what I will create on it. I also try to use the lumps and bumps that are so common on these in my art.
I have been painting and selling these for over twenty years now. They continue to be very popular.
I create Halloween and Christmas Art all year long.

Thanks for stopping by~ Shirley

 
I have been a professional artist working in the commercial field for over 30 years. It has just been recently that I have begun to pursue the kind of work I love and offer it to the public. The response has been wonderful and I have never been happier. I paint, carve, and sculpt. My very favorite though is sculpting in paper clay. I enjoy creating whimsical pieces that make people smile and laugh. I especially love Halloween. and Christmas.  I  always strive to bring something unusual or different to each  piece and they are always one of a kind originals. I often employ the use of gourds, glass glitter, crystals, ribbons,crepe paper and wooden items in my work. Moons, witches, bats and of course Santa are often themes.  I make my home at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Montana with my husband, the love of my life, and one stubborn Scottish terrier, Alfred.

At the end of every summer, I can hardly wait until the fall approaches. I anxiously await to drive into the country and see the pumpkin stands opening for the approach of Halloween. There is something about those rows of odd shaped pumpkins that stirs a creativity inside me. I envision old fashioned Halloween Soirees with cats & jaxs and fanciful crows. And that is how it began, an imagination filled with Halloween characters awaiting creation.

I started as many self taught artists do, creating everything from anything I could find. I did the craft show junket but grew tired of the mass production of my product. I fortunately had the chance to retire from my job as a computer programmer/designer for our family owned steel company and pursue my creative dreams full time. I enjoy working with both clay and fabric, especially wool. All of my characters always look slightly “uncomfortable” and wear a great hat that is always ready for a party. I have recently had the privilege of being published in several magazines and am especially proud of my Art Doll Quarterly piece as well as an art quilt piece coming this December 2009 in Sew Somerset.

I live in a wonderful area with a great yard with 100 year old trees on the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I share my life with my ever patient and encouraging husband and my three muses. Pompei my Siamese, Tibby the grey cat and Sygi, my Doberman Boy. All is great… but I just wish for once it wouldn’t snow here on Halloween!!!

I began my career as a trained Graphic Designer, but my love of papier-mâché has blossomed into a full time career for me.