Back in July of 2007, Casa posted a Midday Muse featuring a retro-floral card design complete with a challenge to incorporate the idea into a room.

We were working on our living room at the time and I was seriously stuck for a piece of artwork that would work above the sofa. But Casa's challenge inspired me well and the solution to my creative dilema was handily presented.

Post Modern Mixology: Acrylic on Canvas

We've made quite a bit of progress since then and I will update photos soon but, in the meantime, I thought I would share some of the other ideas that this muse has presented and how the inspiration has really taken on a life of its own.

Pearls Optional
"Pearls Optional" is decorative wall decor, hand-painted acrylic on a vinyl body form. It measures 24" wide and is 36" high.

I showed this piece to one of my clients and she was so intrigued that she asked me to do something fun and along the same lines for her. To this end I set up a casting session with herCasting Call: IreneFrom plaster rag casting to plaster and gesso; plaster and gesso; plaster and gesso, ad infinitum.

Casting Call: Irene 2The casting: Gesso'd and drying and being prepped for painting.

Casting Call: Irene The plaster casting of Irene is shown here, painted and sealed. She measures approximately 20 inches in width and is about 30 inches high. A half-round basket provides a seating for the festive fronds that were added during installation in the client's home on January 26, 2008.

Adding to the mirth of this prolific muse, I created a topper for a side table.

The top itself was cut from a piece of cast-off plywood, painted with acrylics and sealed. The wrought iron base is a reclaimed tea cart (circa 1940-something) that had seen much better days. This side table will be adding service on our patio that is due to be completed very soon now that the weather is starting to warm.

The inspiration didn't stop there, however. I recently start a line of hand-painted skirts created to client specs from recycled tee shirts. Here are just 2 of the designs, for which I owe a nod to Casa and her inspiring challenge:

PM Mixology Drawstring Skirt

Coral Petals Ruched Skirt

Thank you, Casa. My hat is truly off to you for the inspiring challenge.