Holding Hands Mixed Media

A while back I did a pencil drawing of an adult hand holding a child's hand.  I put the work aside knowing at some point I would find inspiration to do something more with it.

I recently purchased a tablet for creating digital artwork.  Combining media to create one piece of art is very exciting.  I'm still in the learning curve stage but very happy with the recent result of mixing traditional with digital art.

By coping the pencil drawing and bringing it into my Corel paint software, I was able to add color to the artwork.  I had to guess at skin color but my goal was to show difference.  I wasn't looking for absolute realism; just an idea of it.

Previously, I created a digital heart that I used for different products at my Zazzle stores.  I was suddently inspired to combine the digitally enhanced holding hands drawing with the digital heart to create a new, adoption inspired artwork.  By working with layers in my paintshop program, I was able to make a completely new creation.

Since I'm teaching myself how to create digital art, it's an exercise of trial and error.  I'm really liking the transparent background in the image.  As a result, I can now make fun and exciting designs for products in my Zazzle stores.

http://www.offthecuffart.com/
http://www.barbaragiordanoart.etsy.com/
http://www.sunfluersjewelrydesigns.com/
www.Zazzle.com/Sunfluer
www.Zazzle.com/Dogs4U
http://sunfluerdesigns.imagekind.com/

Custom Order Adoption Bracelet

It just got easier to order a personalized adoption bracelet design. Due to popular demand, I'm now offering a fully customized adoption by multiple countries of origin. Many adoption families similar to my own have children adopted from different countries. For instance, my son was born here in the U.S. and my daughter was born in China. My customers have been asking me to respond to the ever expanding way we celebrate adoptions through my exclusive adoption designs. We know families who choose to adopt are not a one size fit all. The unique adoption designs I create make it so easy for you to be involved in the process of having a jewelry design made just for you to reflect your adoption experience.

Go to: custom order adoption bracelet to choose from sterling silver charms and sparkling Swarovski crystals to create your very special design. These symbolic bracelets make a very meaningful, thoughtful gift this holiday shopping season. Whether it be for yourself or some you know who have adopted or waiting to add to their family tree. Don't wait to order this holiday season because supplies will last only as long as I have components to make your special design.

November is Adoption Awareness Month

The adoption community recognizes November adoption awareness month. This month helps us focus on finding ways to celebrate adoption, assist in educating people to help dispell myths and prejudices still associated with adoption. Here is a site with a calendar showing how awareness can be brought about each day this month: Adoption Awareness Calendar

I bring adoption into my daily conversations with my children. I tell them how much I love them and how lucky I am to have them in my life. Do you have a special way to celebrate adoption? I would love to hear your ideas.

Work From Home Momma

Recently, I was interviewed by Laura Spencer from the Work From Home Momma site. Laura selects work at home moms who have been running a home based business for at least 2 years. It's cool because I got to talk about what I love doing most and that's creating art in the form of handcrafted jewelry.

In the interview my signature line of adoption jewelry got center stage. The adoption jewelry is the design that helped to ignite my business. One of my most recent creations is the 14K gold filled Adoption is Love bracelet. It's a high end piece of jewelry that reflects a great deal of love and pride because of it's unique sentiment. Many of my designs can be made to order but the 14K GF adoption design has many options available to make it a very personal accessory.

Customers can choose between birth stone colors in any combination and chose three charms from a list to create a personal, meaningful bracelet. In this way, the bracelet reflects the unique adoption experience.

The image shown here is a sample of the bracelet I made for myself. I chose garnet and aquamarine birth stone colors representing each of my two children's birth month respectively. My daughter is Chinese so I decided on the ladybug charm. My son is African American so I thought the mask charm to be the best choice. At the center of the bracelet is a lovely heart charm with the word love in the center.

The bracelet is stunning. Although it's an outstanding bracelet, I feel it can be worn from day to night. I love it! I get so many compliments on the bracelet.

You can purchase the bracelet directly from my website. It makes a great gift for any occasion. I only wish I had one when I was adopting my children in 1999 and 2002. Now any pre or post adoptive parent can have one. It's also a great gift idea for grand parents too!