© Sybille Sterk 

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

Who doesn't sometimes want to run off and go on an adventure? I always did when I was little and I still do.

Bought resources including the Stringfellow font all mixed up in Photoshop and Illustrator into something special. 

Available as prints, phone and tablet cases, mugs and travel mugs, wall hangings and shower curtains, cushions and various bags and pouches, duvet covers and stationary cards. Oh and mouse mats. :D Have a ball. Have a set. :D

Society6, Redbubble, Artflakes, DeviantArt, Casetify

A dream and a miracle

© Sybille Sterk

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

Another of my vintage creations. A mix of public domain and bought resources. The quote is by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

On Society6:

the emperor's new clothes

© Sybille Sterk

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

Another digital collage of images from various (vintage) resources, including some I bought, some which are in the public domain and some from The Graphics Fairy.

I love fairy tales and this was one that always made me laugh and think at the same time. It is a rather clever story the way it makes you think about rules and preconceptions and even more appropriate nowadays when everything is about image and more about seeming than being. 

Read the story here

On Society6:

Love Me, Do

MyFreeCopyright

MCN: CN26N-JNB95-QYG2P

Picture of one of my necklaces. When I first saw this in a shop on Etsy I couldn't resist the whimsy of it. :-)

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0218

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Recycling and Upcycling and a new bracelet....

Just came across this fabulous blog and shop:

Recycled Market Blog - with lots of recycling ideas and stories.
Recycled Market Shop - with lots of stuff that has been made from recycled or upcycled materials.

I am a great believer in re-using materials and found great inspiration just looking through the shop.

Incidentally I found some time yesterday to make a new bracelet that fits right into the theme....

Not all the materials are recycled, but the beads, the typewriter key and the chains are. I've also used opals and two bird charms. Most of the materials came from Etsy and the beads from an old necklace I picked up at an antiques fair some time ago and took apart.

I'll be making more of these bracelets with the typewriter keys and semiprecious beads soon. There might be a few necklaces as well.... I haven't made much jewellery recently but caught the bug again. I just wish there were more hours in the day!

Floating Islands

 MCN: C3NUN-TW8C9-LJGP3

 

Detail image of the three islands in the top left corner.

The image was created with images of actual moss to make the top of the island, the bottom is either part of the moss 'pads' or bits of wood, stone, and bark.

I had great fun making them into little islands, each different from the others. I've included images from Leiston and Ely Cathedral, a tower in Happisburgh, an old beach torch as seen in Aldeburgh, trees from Rome, bunting from Cambridge and old watch parts for the gears.

The image took a week to create and pull it all together.

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-00136

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Secret Heart II and more jewellery

I thought it was time to show off some jewellery again. This is 

 Secret Heart II

A commission that made its way across the pond yesterday. It's always been one of my favourite designs. I love the barbed wire chain and the caged heart. Sad, I know.

Here it is once before the oxidisation process, just the bare bronze and then again, oxidised and packed, ready to go. This design takes forever and caused me some very sore fingers. Each part on it, except for the wire (different gauges) and the bead, is made by me. Each barbed wire link takes about 10 minutes to make. The wire heart took me most of an afternoon. Even the jumprings are handmade.

 Dragonfly Necklace

This was a present for my friend Helen back in October. I am so pleased with how this turned out. Different chains, different mostly semi precious beads and vintage chains and charms (apart from the swallow at the bottom. Click on it to see a larger version.

A Walk in the Woods

Christmas present for my friend Caroline over on Uniqart. I love wooden beads and seedpod beads and have accumulated quite a few of them (as you can see). I've used every singel one of them plus everyhting else that fitted with the theme including paper beads, fabric beads, Kashmiri beads, a little vintage bear bead, a glass heart, semi precious beads, mother of pearl, horn....

Viking Ships

Christmas present for my friend Helen... She loves blues and purples. The colours reminded me of the sea and the ships on it, hence Viking Ships. Wooden and glass beads, vintage and new, lava and kimono fabric beads, resin and semi precious, even a sead pod or two.

Pomegranate

Pinks and greens and reds... another Christmas present for my friend Liz. :-) Her favourite colours and all the beads I had in those exactl colours. LOL

Pink Eruption

Final jewellery Christmas present for another Caroline. :-) This was one of my silver art clay experiments I liked. I loved the heavy texture on it and thought it worked really well with the pink Calcedony.

That's it (for now anyway). I am always open for commissions, even with older pieces. Just send me an e-mail and ask, if there's something you fell in love with and just have to have. :-)

Not a Toy

 

 

 

Illustration to go with my poem.

My inner freedom and my independence are both important treasures to me, which I'd defend to the death. Sounds utterly dramatic, but being manipulated and steered into a direction as it suits someone else is horrible, no matter how well meaning it might be. I've always strongly believed that we need to make our own mistakes. It's one thing to share our experiences and help with advice and examples and another to manipulate someone supposedly for their own good. It never sat well with me.

Credits

Model

• Shelter by mjranum-stock
• Model Rael C
• Photographer Marcus Ranum

Stock

• O-key dokey... by chop-stock
• you can't light my candle by LuckyStock
• frame 11 by Meltys
• Smashed Glass Texture by dozystock
• Claw Marks 1 PSD by ravenarcana

Background and Textures

• Nannys Room by pareeerica
• Curly Fav (no longer available) by EricaMarieArt
• Attic Treasures Texture Set by Shadowhouse
• Photo Tints Overlay Set by Shadowhouse
• 6 Faves Texture Sets 3 (Not a Clue) by Shadowhouse

Brushes

• Ropes -n- Chains Brushes by redheadstock
• Hair brush set by para-vine

All other images/textures/brushes etc my own.

MCN: CV3TH-NSH3F-Q83XS

Wonderland III: Desire

 

 

 

Part III of my Wonderland mini series (see the accompanying poem)

This may seem like a fetish image, but it is actually about how desire can consume and shackle you. Ever felt that way?

Credits

Model

• Stock Photo - Diss 59 by dead-stock

Stock

• Veil Stock Package 1 by almudena-stock
• Fire-stock001 by tirasco-madawa
• Fire-stock002 by tirasco-madawa
• Fire Stock 100 by tirasco-madawa
• Fire Stock 101 by tirasco-madawa
• Fire Stock 103 by tirasco-madawa

Backgrounds and Textures

• 6 Faves Texture Sets 3 (Not a Clue) by Shadowhouse
• Photo Tints Overlay Set (Lichen and Burnt Bronze) by Shadowhouse
• Slightly Delicate Texture Set by Shadowhouse
• Grunge Wall Texture Set by Shadowhouse
• glitter bokeh by Seraphic--Stock

Brushes and Actions

• Perfect Portrait 3 Action by TheCoffeeshopBlog
• Hair brush set by para-vine
• Ropes -n- Chains Brushes by redheadstock
• Lace mix by NadinePau-stock

All other images/textures/brushes my own.

MCN: CKUPG-ENDYJ-CB7BH

Tête-à-Tête

My latest painting. took a while to complete, partly because it is close to my heart, partly because of the break-down of my computer.

The painting is the second in a series of paintings, all inspired (loosely) by the poem 'Hollow Men' by T.S. Eliot. It's one of my favourite poems and I love the imagery in T.S. Eliot's poetry. I've seen a documentary about his life and work recently and it made me want to paint this.

I have slightly modified the first painting in the series with a new technique to frame my paintings, therefore here it is again:

Panier Avec L'Oiseau

Tête-à-Tête

Here is the new painting where the original caged bird is joined by a raven.

The raven is a very spiritual bird and I've always found it interesting; be it in Edgar Allen Poe's poem 'The Raven' or in mythology the raven is a fascinating creature.


Here is a close-up of the bindweed:



And here is a close-up of the two birds' faces. I am particularly pleased with their eyes and expressions.


There will be two more paintings in this series, one I've already started, the other is still in the planning stage.

---

Once all four are done, I am considering to have them professionally printed and will offer them together with some of my dress designs in my Etsy shop.