Odessa's Closet

10/19/2024

This song feels haunting. Just released today on Spotify. I’m so glad it’s out in the world to tell the story.

Helene by Wesko

https://open.spotify.com/track/6Ok3ShsAQ5Iyf85Tgie6tM?si=jq0da-s1T9OmLMiWUwf14Q&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A5HFpq62oD7pFofzwXeB1tG

Wesko · Helene (The Carolina Taping) · Song · 2024

08/27/2022

Continuing to work north on this 25” leather square.

08/26/2022

I'm in Tallahassee, Florida pet sitting so I have access to several brick and mortar art and craft stores. At home, I’m a good 20 minutes minutes from ANY store and 45-60 minutes from an art supply store.

I really like to be able to hand pick paintbrushes. I don’t trust ordering them online because they might come with a few bristles bent and sticking up like bed head under a barrel on a handle. So it’s such a treat to be able to go into a store and pick up brushes.

I bought five new brushes with five different sizes and I can already tell just from the look of it… That this round 18/0 is probably going to be my favorite.

Thanks and

08/21/2022

Another common pattern in my work. This pattern reminds me a bit of rainbows.

08/21/2022

A row of stripes and dots working with the same colors. It feels good to be painting again! It’s been a while!

08/18/2022

Another row in place. I pulled in some pink, orange and coral. I’m not quite at the half way point on this square. This 25” square will be used to create earrings and necklaces.

08/17/2022

Finished another row of pattern for this large leather square that will be used to make earrings and necklaces.

04/30/2022

Precious toddler shoes painted in total summer whimsy! Let me paint a pair for your little cutie pie!

04/04/2021

Here are a few more pair of fun summer, leather sandals by that I embellished with fabulous paint. You can find them at in Hartwell, Ga. or let me update/paint a pair of your personal shoes! Commissions and bartering are both embraced.

04/02/2021

A few pair of fun summer, leather sandals by that I embellished with fabulous paint. You can find them at in Hartwell, Ga. or let me update/paint a pair of your personal shoes! Commissions and bartering are both embraced.

03/19/2021

Day #19:
Silver Lining

Yes, please, and thank you. I am all about the silver lining! I’ve struggled with being a Hope Addict. I totally identify with Pollyanna and Fraulein Maria. In fact, I am convinced that seeing value in most things is part of what fuels my creativity. Or maybe my creativity fuels my seeing value in most things. I’m not sure which came first, but I DO know that the two give energy to each other.

So, when something breaks, I see it as an opportunity to use the pieces from that object to become the starting point for a new creation. My youngest child *ruffles brow* has upon occasion accused me of being a hoarder. I would much rather call myself a collector. :)

No matter the name on my badge, I am definitely a Silver Linings kind of gal.

So, broken china becomes jewelry, found objects become garden whimsy and a tossed piece of furniture can be used as the start for LOTS of fun items!

Thanks so much for joining in and reading along this month as spends another March focusing on makers across around the world. Click around the hashtag and look at all the wonderful creatives out there being brave and showing you their hearts through their craft.

03/18/2021

Day #18:
Color!

Years ago, when my marriage fell apart and I realized that the message I received from my prior-husband, “You’re all over the place,” was actually a compliment, I began to look for the consistency in my creations.

The more I was true-to-myself, the more my color preferences were obvious. My favorite color is definitely “autumn.”

Today, most of my work is created in fall colors with splashes of turquoise here and there. From the photos that I take in the great outdoors to the pics I snap at stores for inspiration, I often find mustard, teal, burgundy and olive fill the frame. My bath towels and my clothing are tinged with the visual scent of a bonfire. My favorite painted leather items visually sound like rustling leaves. My Christmas cactus ... that blooms at Thanksgiving ... even screams “fall.”

Yep, autumn is my favorite color. What is your favorite color or color palette?