Oh Happy Day!!

I recently received the email I have been waiting for telling me that I got into ALL the classes I signed up for at Art Unraveled. I am so thrilled!!

So here is the lineup.
Click on the class name links or the photos to get more information on the class. All photos included in this email are of the classes that I am taking and belong to Art Unraveled and the instructors of each of the classes. Please don't duplicate or use them without the permission of the artist. Thank you!

TUES JULY 29TH
Danse Macabre
Michael deMeng

  

WED JULY 30TH
Intuitive Drawing and Mark-Making with Collage
Crystal Neubauer

THURS JULY 31TH
Maker of Saints
Deryn Mentock

  

THURS JULY 31TH PM & AUG 1ST
Fabric Art Book
Kate Thompson

SAT AUG 2ND
Shopping Day!!
I don't ever take classes on this day because it is just too much fun to walk around and shop for hours!

SUN AUG 3RD
Mixed Media Surface Design
Mary Beth Shaw & Pam Carriker

   

TUES AUG 5TH
Time to Nest 
Diane Cook

   

So that is all of them! It will be a full week of artsy fun and I cannot wait! For the next 6 months I will have these classes in the back of my mind as I shop at art stores and pick of fun finds at estate sales. The next contest I can prepare for is the name badge contest. I can also be thinking about trades. I have never really taken part in the trades before. Maybe this is my year. How many does one make, I wonder?

The prep is half the fun! I hope you are inspired to take one (or more) of these classes with me!

Art Unraveled Registration!!

Ok. So the thing I am most excited about each and every year is Art Unraveled. I look forward to it all year long. Lucky for me, they are great about getting the schedule of classes out in early December and I can register in January even though the event isn't until the end of July. It gives me tons of time to plan and get super excited about each of my classes.

This is my retreat of choice (A.) because it is local for me and I don't have to truly take time away from my family. I still come home for dinners and to sleep. And reason (B.) really has to do with it being the only retreat that I have tried thus far. Obviously it is a good one because I day dream about it for months in advance. And (C.) I have made some pretty fantastic like-minded artsy friends from attending  for years now. I'm thinking this will be my 5th year, but I could be wrong... I'll have to check on that.

One of the many fun competitions that they have leading up to the event is that you can decorate your registration envelope. It is just one more way to earn prizes and artsy goodies. I love to take part in these. I was one of the winners for the envelope contest last year and I hope to be again this year as well. So I thought I would share my decorated envelope with you all. I am proud of it. I think it came out nice. I bet it is so much fun for Linda and Chuck to get the mail each day when all the fun art mail starts pouring in!

Here is the front:

 And the back:

Hope you like it!! 

I'd love to see yours too, so if you have blogged about it please leave me a comment with a link!

Once I hear back about the classes I got into I will be sure to post them in my "Classes I'm Taking" side bar list. So check back. Hopefully we will have a class or two together!

2014 goals/resolutions

I always have the best intentions at the beginning of a new year to better myself – make myself more productive, more organized, healthier, etc. Well, in 2013 I did the healthier thing... and I was pretty successful there. Pilates has become quite a healthy addiction for me. Three times a week and I feel strong and healthy.

So what does 2014 hold for me you ask? Well for one, I will be working extra hard on the productive goal. I have already started a series of paintings which I am super excited about. I have three that I am working on at the moment. I should have them done in the next few days. And then I have three more in my sketch book that will follow those three. My sketches have been leading me towards animals lately. I am enjoying working on getting the general shape and likeness of the animal and then giving them that little twist to have my style integrated in... giving them a life and character all my own.

I also have the goal of flossing every day - no matter what! I know that sounds silly... but I haven't exactly been the best flosser my whole life :) And if this gives you any idea of my personality, I am also one of those people who when they make a list puts down the smallest thing that may or may not already have been accomplished so that I can cross something off right away in order to feel productive.

My list actually is pretty long, so I won't go into detail on all the rest, but here is a short list for you to see what else I have in store for myself.

- take part in more art/craft shows
- build my buisness
- blog more
- submit more art to publications
- take classes
- sketch more
- put more time and effort into building my etsy shop...

I'm hoping that by putting this out into the world I will feel held accountable for making them happen. Have you followed through with any of your resolutions as of yet? I'd love to hear what yours are too!

I've been Published!

I am so very excited to share the news that Somerset Studio has chosen to feature my halloween paintings in their Somerset Studio Gallery Winter 2014 issue!! It is the coolest thing seeing my pieces in such a fabulous magazine. (I'm on pages 140-143) I hope you get the chance to check it out!

Here is a link to buy a copy.

 Yay!!

New Giclee's in the Shop!

I have some exciting news! You can now get my paintings on canvas - signed and ready to hang in your home or give as a fabulous holiday gift. I have recently found an amazing place that will print my paintings onto canvas in archival ink and UV coating and stretch them onto high quality 1.5" stretcher bars. They are color matched to the originals and look amazing!

To take it one step further, I have added the little bits and sparkles that make it that much more like the original. All edges are painted or decorated to give it the look of the original as well. That means they are ready to hang, no need to bother with a frame or mat.

So head over to my shop to pick your favorite!

CUPCAKE

Fine Art Giclee on Canvas

10" x 8" x 1.5" 

Bébé

Fine Art Giclee on Canvas

10" x 10" x 1.5"

HER WISDOM GIVES HER WINGS

Fine Art Giclee on Canvas

11.25" x 12" x 1.5"

HILDEGARDE

Fine Art Giclee on Canvas

11" x 14" x 1.5"

HIS GIFT IS CHARMING

Fine Art Giclee on Canvas

12" x 11.25" x 1.5"

THE SWING

Fine Art Giclee on Canvas

10" x 8" x 1.5"

BAIGNOIRE

Fine Art Giclee on Canvas

10" x 10" x 1.5"

LAVER

Fine Art Giclee on Canvas

10" x 10" x 1.5"

Cheers to new experiences!

Wow! What a whirl wind of a market day! I had such a great time at Junk in the Trunk last weekend. It was an amazing experience. I am so glad I chose this opportunity to be my first. I had heard from many how great it would be, but as things go... you have to experience them first hand to really get it.

I had a small booth space (which I did my best to appear large) next to my good friend Katie Blueford from Blue Green Arts. I also had the help of my wonderful friends Joy and Alex as well as my lovely sister Holly and her boyfriend George. Without their help, it would not have gone so smoothly. (And I think I would still be there packing stuff up.)

Thank you to all who came out in support of me and my art and shopped that day!! I also met so many amazing people who I am hoping to hear from and see again in the future. If you picked up my card at the show and are checking my blog... Welcome!! I'd love for you to come along on my artful journey and follow my blog. And if you bought something from me and have it placed in your home, I would be giddy if you would shoot me an email with a picture!

Here are some pics from the show of my booth. Enjoy!!

In the next couple of days I will be updating my etsy shop with the items that didn't sell. So if there was something you wished you had purchased from me check there.

Oh... and if you loved it at Junk in the Trunk or are sad you missed it, the next show will be May 3, 2014. I hope to be there!

Making Changes & Market Booth Information!!

I have been very absent in the blogging world as of late and I apologize. Life is full these days and I am adjusting to quite a few changes. My youngest has started Kindergarten. And although I have more time because of it, I have filled it before getting the chance to get bored. All this is good though. I am refocusing my time and efforts to an upcoming booth that I will have at Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market this November 9th. I am so excited to have been chosen to take part in this fun day of shopping at Westworld. I have been busy creating, altering and junking to fill up my booth with fun goodies. I have tons to blog about as this experience has opened up a world of ideas and creative stories, but little time to dedicate to blogging. So hopefully as I become more prepared, I can share some of it with you. But for now I am just going to share the information with you all of times, date and location so you can hopefully come visit me at my booth and maybe even go home with something I created.

I look forward to getting back into blogging with you again!