Butterflies & Hydrangeas Jewelry Box

I'm finding it a bit harder to blog about new artwork lately, with all the gardening I'm doing and new blooms I'm taking photos of, it seems there is always something new appearing outside these days. This is a piece I finished a couple of weeks back, my Butterflies & Hydrangeas Jewelry Box.

This box is actually heavily distressed and antiqued. I really wanted it to have a feeling of being a time worn piece.

I did the antiquing one night after all the painting was done, I was in my kitchen, it was midnight and I was working on this box over the sink. Chris was actually playing a concert so this is when I can sometimes get the most work done in the evenings, the nights that he is working.

I've been on a real butterfly kick these days so I had to add two to this box.

There always has to be a surprise when the box opens so this time, I put a full Hydrangea bloom on the inside upper corner.

Spring Bluebird & Hydrangea Jewelry Box

I recently finished a custom order for a Spring Bluebird & Hydrangea jewelry box. The background for this pieces is a shade of lavender purple.

I painted the purple and blue Hydrangeas on the top of the box.

A leaf and some blooms spilling over the front and sides in a couple of places.

Of course a Bluebird box wouldn't be complete without the bird himself, perched on top of some Hydrangeas. This box was created for someone that loves Bluebirds!!

A little surprise on the inside lid!

Sweet Spring Bluebirds Emu Egg Jewelry Box

My first of the 2 jewelry boxes with the curved vertical cut is finished. Emu eggs are big and sturdy and measure about 5 1/2" tall (7" with the stand) and 10 1/2" at the fattest circumference.

So as you might know by now if you've been reading my blog, I start with the egg with its original color, which is a dark and may I say luscious green/black. The surface of the egg itself is very textured and can be fun, if not challenging to work on. I basecoated the egg a pale blue and white and then sketched on my design.

I like to create the design on these particular pieces so that it flows well around all the sides of the egg. I like to have visual interest that is well proportioned and try to carry the design to both halves of the egg. I decided to paint some sweet spring bluebirds, a mother and a baby actually, perched on winding vines.

This is a close-up of the smaller, baby bird. The vines are full of little purple flowers and crystals in different sizes and different colors for lots of sparkle.

This is a view of the back of the egg and as you can see, I've carried the design all the way around and also, when I basecoated the egg, I painted the hinges the same color as the background.

The top is open here, with the inside lining showing.

Last but not least, don't forget where it all stated, the two eggs that I received in the mail are below. This is what the egg originally looked like before I started working. I've got some ideas for the second one, we'll see what I end up doing with it. The bluebird egg is available at my ETSY shop: http://www.eleganteggart.etsy.com/ .