Get Ready, Set, Shop!

Getting ready for Christmas? Me too. I have put up a sale with a number of Christmas items included in my Etsy shop for those of you who like to get a jump on your Christmas shopping. Drop by and take a look the item shown is one of those included in the sale!

Here's the link to the bargains! http://www.etsy.com/shop/JYWheeler?section_id=5167255

Out Smarting the Kitties

All of you "Cat People" can probably relate to my story.  I have 2 cats..LeeLu and Lily. I spend more money at the pet store buying things I just KNOW the girls will like.  My husband  says, "You waste your money. They won't like that."  I always want to prove him wrong.

My problem is I watch all those infomercials that make it look like your cat will love whatever the item is.This time I was sure that it would be different. So I go to the pet store and buy a self grooming cat brush (you know the one in an arch) and an emery scratching board (the one where the TV cat stretches and scratches and looks so happy).

I buy them, set them up-- No Interest.  I soak them in catnip--No interest.  OH, I thought I can outsmart those girls.  I pull out the laser pointer. They love to chase it around. I point it under the arch of the self grooming brush thinking they'd go under it brush themselves and see how good it feels..nope. They just ran around it.  I gave up.  Then I decide well maybe they need a demonstration of how to use the scratching board so I kneel down and demonstrate scratching the board.  They watched and looked very interested. Then Lily decided it was more fun to put her paw under the board, playing with a toy she swatted under there.

I give up...instead of outsmarting the kitties I think they have outsmarted me.

~~~The above ACEO Original Watercolor is available in my Etsy shop-Painted Panache by Joann Y Wheeler. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40817607

Tea

"The tea party is a spa for the soul.
You leave your cares and work behind.
Busy people forget their business.
Your stress melts away, your senses awaken . . ."
Alexandra Stoddard

Having a tea party? Are you a tea drinker? I am. Nothing better than brewing tea from loose tea. I like to experiment mixing a little of this and a little of that. How about you?

This tea trivet is available in my Etsy shop. It's handpainted kiln fired porcelain. Dishwasher safe. Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26449720

What better gift for Mother's Day....

....than a piece of handpainted porcelain. A gift that can be passed down for generations. Each piece of porcelain is painted several times to build up the colors and fired in between each painting in a kiln from 3 or more times. Since the paint is fired in a kiln it is dishwasher and microwave safe. Unless of course there is a luster or gold on it. Then you should hand wash to protect the luster or gold.

Here's a lovely piece. Handpainted cottage style porcelain cabbage rose box. Size 4 inches round. Side of the box has been tamped in pink the top has 2 beautiful yellow/pink roses with teal blue leaves. Here is the link to the box: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/EclecticSpirit/items/Handpainted_porcelain_rose_box

Visit my shops:

http://jywheeler.etsy.com/

and

http://bonanzle.com/eclecticspirit

Surprise!

Surprise......no little Easter chickie here.......Peter Rabbit hatches out of the Easter Egg..............

available on Etsy.com

Click here for the Link to my listing.....

And click the link below to check out my Etsy and Bonanzle Shops!

Joann Y Wheeler
My Etsy Shop
My Bonanzle Booth

China Painted Fan Box

I am SOOOO ready for spring and summer.Today I'd like to feature a china painted fan box. It's available in my Bonanzle shop (EclecticSpirit) for $18.

Cottage style china painted fan dresser box. 7 x 5.5 inches. Pink, blue and yellow daisies with blue painted accents. This piece of porcelain is a piece of art to treasure. Time has been taken to carefully design this piece. It has been handpainted and fired many times in a kiln to an approximate temperature of 1400 degrees to obtain the beautiful finished product. The paint is permanently fired into the glaze. Because each piece of porcelain is handpainted, no two pieces are exactly alike.

Painted by Porcelain Artist Joann Y Wheeler

For all those who love snow and snowmen....

There's NO man like a SNOWMAN! Here's a handpainted china ornament. It's $10 in my Bonanzle shop. Click on the link below. I am running a sale on there if you type in Friend in the Code you will recieve 20% off. This applies to all purchases in my shop on Bonanzle until January 31, 2009....so go get yourself a bargain! Snowman Ornament Link

Sugar Plum Dreams

So Christmas is right around the corner. Are ya'll prepared? I have almost everything I need to do done. Thank Heavens. I love this time of year but it's just so much darn work. I've been working on setting up a bonanzle store.....so now I'll have 2 online stores to tend too...I must be nuts. But anyway I hope you will visit my new store: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/eclecticspirit We (my daughter & I) have jewelry, art, decorative painting you name it. Dec 14 (Sunday) 9-12 Pacific time we'll be having a 15% bonanzle (sale)...please stop by.



And visions of sugar plums danced in their heads....... Christmas candies painted on a Snowflake shaped porcelain ornament painted with enamel paints.

Available in my Etsy store...here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7288077

Merry Christmas!

Happy November!

Today is my day. Hi, I'm Joann Y Wheeler of http://jywheeler.etsy.com

Since it's fall, I will feature one of my favorite pieces. It is 4 1/2 x 4 inches x 1/2 inches high. A porcelain box painted to look like faux leather.

This primitive design consists of 2 oak leaves and 3 acorns. Nice dresser box for rings, pins, change, whatever.

Each piece of handpainted porcelain is a piece of art to treasure. Time has been taken to carefully design this piece. It has been handpainted and fired many times in a kiln to an approximate temperature of 1400 degrees to obtain the beautiful finished product. Because each piece of porcelain is handpainted, no two pieces are exactly alike. Click here to go to my listing.

Welcome Fall

Welcome Fall, the earthen smells, the fallen leaves, the chill in the air. Today I feature one of my china painted pieces of porcelain. Painted in a faux leather design.

The size is 4 1/2 x 4 inches x 1/2 inches high. Porcelain box which is painted to look like leather.

Primitive design consists of 2 oak leaves and 3 acorns. Nice dresser box for rings, pins, change, whatever.

Painted by Porcelain Artist, Joann Y Wheeler, this piece of porcelain is a piece of art to treasure. Time has been taken to carefully design this piece. It has been handpainted and fired many times in a kiln to an approximate temperature of 1400 degrees to obtain the beautiful finished product. Because each piece of porcelain is handpainted, no two pieces are exactly alike.

Paints are an overglaze so they are permanent and dishwasher safe. Click here for the listing in my Etsy Store.

A Bit About China Painting

China or porcelain painting is an ancient art. Like any other piece of art, composition, color, design, perspective, etc. all apply. The process which was developed in 1400 AD in China. In the late 16th century Europe was introduced to the process, however, it was not introduced to the United States until 1769. Groups of women would come together in a painting circle to paint tea or chocolate sets.

China Painting is a method of painting on white glazed porcelain. Glazed porcelain comes in many forms, the traditional teacups, teapots and plates, You can also find porcelain pieces suitable for painting in jewelry, thimbles, coffee mugs, even tape dispensers! China paints are an overglaze paint. Overglaze paints are painted on top of the glaze and then the piece is fired in a kiln multiple times. Most china requires 3 fires, some may require up to 10 firings.

Paints are in powder form and mixed with a special oil medium. Each porcelain piece is painted multiple times. Paint is applied very lightly on the piece. The piece is then fired fired. Another coat of paint is applied and the piece is fired again. This goes on, painting and firing, until the colors are vivid enough for the artist. During the firing process the glaze actually opens up to receive the paint. It becomes part of the finish. Additional firing could be required if the artist applies lusters, gold or platinum which are fired on top of the glaze.

Because the paint becomes part of the glaze is the reason china painted pieces will never wear off and are dishwasher and microwave safe (unless they have gold or lusters applied) Many of the china painted pieces resemble watercolors in their translucence. There is no white on the porcelain artist palette. The white showing through is actually the porcelain.
Today because of the time involved to paint a single piece of china and the necessary to have a kiln for firing, not to mention the lack of teachers passing along the art, there are very few china painters. Visit me at:
Http://jywheeler.etsy.com

Variety is the Spice of Life!

Since I am the first artist to post I will give you a little introduction to me. Hi, my name is Joann Y Wheeler (why the Y because there are a lot of Joann Wheeler's who are artists!)

So I am a self trained artist. I live in Maryland. My first love is china painting, however I also do watercolors, oil, decorative painting. You name it I do it. I love painting those little ACEO art cards. That's how I got in with this motley crew! :) I believe that variety is the spice of life and my work reflects that. Here a few things that I have done. All of these items are available in my ETSY SHOP. Click here---->JYWHEELER.ETSY.COM

China Painting Faux Leather Box
Watercolor ACEO
Decorative Painting - Cottage Style Acrylic