Sweet Moments

Do you remember all the dreams you had as a child? The thrill of the first days of summer and all the possibilities the days ahead had in store?

Do you have someone in your life that's been with you through thick or thin? A Sister, a friend who has your laugh and watches your back even when you keep falling to the ground?

Have you taken time out today to play a bit, create a bit, dream a lot?

What adventures have you taken lately? A walk to the park, a swim in the lake, have you taken the time to enjoy the little things? The little ones?


When all hope is gone you can still hold on to this.


The innocence of a child. The deep thoughts of a small mind that knows much more than we give him credit to understand.

If today you haven't started to live, there's no better moment than now.


Take a breath. Soak it all in. The wonder, the unknown, will be come clear before to long.

It's there. Deep down inside. It all always was.

Creativity brings smiles, it brings laughter, it spreads joy.

There is no greater truth than this.

For this, I was put here. To raise my sons, to guide and nuture.

But the truth is, they are the ones who are guiding me.

And showing me what life is all about.

And sooo much laughter is born amongst the tears.

It's my hope that I have done enough so we all can soar.


(((Photos from my sister Sherry's visit, our trip to the lake, crafting together making these magnets, and Josh's birthday)))

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun

Where does summer go? Next week the kids go back to school, it's hard to believe we are coming to the end of another season.
Here's one of the many pictures taken last week during my sister's visit. My nephew, Matthew sitting peacefully looking at the little lake we visited.

Just posting and running. Lots to do today, but I'll be back later with more pics to share of the visit and my son's 8th birthday. Yikes. 8. I remember CLEARLY the day he was born :)

Blue Creek Print now Available!

NEW Prints in my Etsy Shop:

"Blue Creek" one of my newest pieces, now available as an 8 x 10 print!!
Price: 15.00
This WEEK Only (Ends August 15th, 2008) 2.00 off as part of my Anniversary in August sale.
I will adjust the price if you convo me first before purchase or re-invoice you after purchase via paypal.
All other prints also 2.00 off this week!!

Don't delay--all of my prints are VERY limited!!


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Has anyone seen the new Artful Blogger? I just love this magazine. I have been reading it, or rather just soaking in all the beauty within this book. I'm so inspired by every story in the magazine. The world truly has become smaller with the invention of blogging. It's comforting to know that there are many, many kindred spirits in this world just like you and me just waiting to be found, waiting to be heard, and enjoying life when something we say or feel resonates with another like minded individual.

In another one of Stampington's magazines, Life Images, a local artist & photographer who is also part of our Carolina Mixed Media guild, has the cover shot!! Isn't it lovely??? Congratulations Chrysti!

Hope you find a bit of inspiration in your day today!

Swank in Southern Pines, North Carolina

First and foremost, I want to announce my winner of my 1 year Etsy shop anniversary drawing:

Leah, from Creative Everyday is my 1st place winner....yes, first place winner....because I had so manywonderful and inspiring comments, I decided to draw again for a second name and that winner is:

Patti, from Altered Attic. Please send my your mail addy to johl3 at windstream dot net, and I'll get your prints out to you later this week. :)

Thank you everyone again for taking the time out to enter my drawing and for leaving such sweet comments!

Here's a little tour of the shop where I have several of my pieces featured. It's a delightful coffee shop and handmade market which features the artwork and fine crafts of several local residents who have the 'Etsy' look and live in the Moore County area of North Carolina, called Swank. I brought the WHOLE crew down there to check out my wares. Five boys who like coffee drinks and smoothies. They actually were very impressed to see their Aunt's art hanging on the walls.
How cool is this? I get a 'Hot New Item tag' :)

My "Things Are Looking Up" series, up high on the front wall :)

City Life

My Home

Don't you wish you had funky handwriting like this?

House on the Hill

One of my collages from last fall....In The Shadow

Sweet HeART in Pink

Thanks Ladies of Swank for allowing me to take pictures and for making it easy to do business with. I appreciate the partnership :) If you are ever in Southern Pines, NC--you must stop by the shop off of Pennsyvania Avenue in the Belvedere Plaze and visit Swank and meander around all the other lovely shops that dot Broad Street and surrounding streets, you won't be disappointed!

Two More Days To Enter!!!

I've started to list a few of the prints I just received this week and wanted to share with you some of the features. I still have several more to go yet but may not get them listed until next week because.....

I got some good news that my Sister Sherry and her boys will be dropping by for a visit this weekend on their way home to Florida from their summer stay up in New York!! I'll be honest, I am panicky about getting my nest in order. I just got done mowing 1/2 my lawn, doing laundry, ran the dishwasher, swept the floors, cleared off 1 of my craft tables so we have at least one table to eat at, took the garbage to the dump, cleaned the kitchen.....and there's still more to do.

Now, don't go thinking I'm a slob or anything..lol..I just well, don't do the white glove every week so when guests come I feel the need to go over board and make sure the palace is in spit shine condition. Not to mention the fact that since I've taken on my part time job as an artist, I have more craft supplies then one can probably use in a lifetime at this point (that's not to say I couldn't take on more..lol) and not enough storage to put everything up properly and beautifully (like I see some of your studios when you feature them...I know 'you' are out there)!

It'll be nice to have a visit with the fam though, it's something that happens not enough with all of my family. Tis the price we pay for chasing after our dreams, it has put a very real physical distance between us. I happen to live in the middle of everyone so at least I get the benefit of 1/2 way drive thrus when the fam travels from NY to Florida or Florida to NY. My house in NC is pretty much the halfway point, funny how that worked out isn't it?

Don't forget, the last day to get your name in the drawing for one of my new prints (could be one of these or one of the 3 or 4 more I have yet to list) plus goody box I have started to compile (you don't want to miss out now, do you???))!!

Simply make a comment on one of my posts from August 1st on and you'll be automatically entered my very scientific drawing (cut up names and draw out of a hat)! LOL

Thank you for all your support, kind words and encouragement! My blog readers are the best!!
xoxo

lucy

Anniversary Celebration Continues--Featuring The Artist Alley

The 1 year anniversary on Etsy continues....remember to leave a comment for a chance to win one of my new prints coming out this week. Contest ends on Friday, August 8th!!

(((new work in progress--one of my largest yet. 24 x 30))
I don't have a title for it yet. I'm sure though, something will come to me in my dreams..lol.

One of the best things that I have done this year is to join the Carolina Mixed Media Artist Guild which although membership is open throughout the Carolina's, the most active members are from Central Carolina and meet monthly in Raleigh or a nearby area for play dates. I can't tell you how much inspiration I've acquired through this group and the new friends I've made.

(Amy, Olivia, and Jean in the background)
I stumbled upon this group when I happened to visit a local shop called Artist Alley which is located in downtown Southern Pines. Artist Alley displays a variety of art in just about every genre you could imagine, from jewelry, to painting, fabric art, mixed media, metal, and pottery to name just a few. I believe it was Penny that I met first that invited me to join the group, and if anyone has ever met Penny before, her personality is as lingering and delightful as her soaps and candles she creates. Jean, the owner of Artist Alley is warm and friendly. I've never seen her without a smile on her face. She also extended the welcome to join the group and I started to feel like, yes maybe I could do this even though it was moving far and away from my comfort zone. I'm glad I joined though as the meetings have evolved from a once a month visit to a complete network of not just peers, but inspiring woman I also consider friends.

I visited Jean's shop again on Friday of this week to take part in the First Friday Celebration. I think First Friday is a fantastic idea. Not sure who thought of it but what better way to advertise your shop and rub elbows with those that create the beautiful works of art. Normally at least one artisan is featured on the First Friday opening and is on site to discuss what it is that they do up close and personal. In a store like this, you must go back, and back, and back again because it is forever changing.

I'd be remiss not to mention one of my favorite artists featured at Artist Alley, the wonderfully talented Amy Smith. Amy has an entire wall of her artwork displayed as you can see from the snapshot above. She is fearless with color and creates work that has many layers incorporated into her whimsical pieces. I just adore what she does and am finally a proud owner of one her lovely pieces! Amy has been extremely supportive of my development as a mixed media artist, even going so far as to introducing me to many different mediums such as tar gel, molding paste, and golden fluid acrylics when she graciously allowed me to purchase some of her overstock and duplicate supplies.

Doesn't this flower just sing happiness?

Some more of Amy's mini's on the right.

I wish I would have wrote down the name of the last several artists I took photos of but I didn't. I just love the vibrant colors of these flowers and animals which are created on wood.

Talk about inventive and imaginative, bet you didn't know that shovels and cast iron pans could be so funky!

I'm not sure what this sculpture is made out of, I think some sort of blade or farm equipment? I have no idea and it really doesn't matter because it's now a person strumming the guitar and dancing to the beat of their own drum. Amazing.
After the First Friday celebration all the ladies mentioned as well another dear friend who is a mixed media fiber artist, Nanette, went out for some snacks and a drink. We couldn't hear each other to save our lives, but it was fun. Being in the company of such wonderfully talented individuals motivates me to forge ahead and continue on this journey. Nanette has been instrumental in guiding me on the writing portion of my next phase of my own personal journey which is to achieve being published in art magazine(s). She's taught me several things about writing and the process of how to submit work and so one. If I do achieve this next goal, I know it won't be because of what I have done by myself. The goal will be achieved because many had their hands outstretched, guiding me along the way.

Thank you all for joining me on my little tour today. Hope you have someone(s) in your life that have been instrumental in help you achieve your dreams and goals. If not, open yourself up to the opportunity. You'll never know when walking through a strange door will open yourself up to a whole new world!

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Update--after posting this, I saw that I was featured in a post from my online mixed media team from Etsy-'Metsy'. The blog author, Yin, asked for feature ideas and after writing to her about my anniversary giveaway, she suggested doing a post about my first year on the site. Thank you Yin for the feature!

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Don't forget--contest ends Friday, August 8th!!!

Anniversary Celebration at Sweet Repeats Studio Shoppe

"City Life"
Many heartfelt thanks for the positive feedback on my new blog look and new artwork! You don't know how tickled I was to see the many comments come through and such kind words. You all made my week and it was a difficult week, so it was good timing. :)

Here's a snapshot on a piece I completed that I have featured in a shop downtown Southern Pines called Swank. I've actually put several pieces in their shop recently. It's fun to go into a store and see your work featured! I'll have to see if the owners would mind me taking a few pictures and feature them on my blog so you all can see what they look like hanging up.

Don't mean to post an run but I'm on my lunch break--however, I did want to give my faithful readers and friends a heads up on a giveaway I'm going to do next week to celebrate my one year on ETSY! My anniversary is at the end of August but I"m going to do the giveaway this next week when I get more prints in.


So...for now, anyone that leaves a comment between today and next Friday August 8th, will be entered into a grand giveaway from Sweet Repeats including one of my fine art prints and several other goodies I've set aside.

Thank you for your support and inspiration!

Blue Creek

She's been busy visiting a town far, far away.

Blue Creek, I believe is the name.

A place where there are buildings that have a personality and can speak of a day gone by,

whispering of times when life was so much more simple and anything could be possible and as real as our dreams.

Treasury Galore :)

Don't you just love Etsy Treasuries? Even better when you find one that you are featured in!! Now that I figured out how to do screen shots, I'm good to go and can savor them a bit longer then the few hours/days they are up.

To see the full size treasury--click here.

The piece that is featured is one of my recent favs--click here to see the full size piece.

The curator, Alisa--has a great store herself, full of sweet collages and mixed media soldered pendants (I would love to learn to solder----I've had a soldering gun since my birthday last year but I'm too scared to pull it out and give it a shot!!))
Good news--I finished my article with a little help with some friends who have done this sort of thing before and I sent it off last night. Phew--now I have to send my pieces and pray they make it on time. I'm kinda down to the wire but I think I did a good job considering I had to recreated 6 pieces (only sending 3 of them but I made a few for back ups just in case) as well as for the the fact I've never written an article before..LOL. Should be interesting to hear their feedback! Hopefully they still like it and the deal doesn't fall through. I'd have shame face if that happened!!!

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On the money saving front, I've taken Selena's suggestion and stayed out of the grocery store this week. I was tempted as there isn't anything quick to eat here and DS is staying in Myrtle Beach so I really hate making food for myself and having it go to waste so I normally opted for a restaurant take out of a quick frozen dinner. Instead I made a steak I had in the freezer and then made stir fry veggies and mixed it altogether after the steak was cooked and it was delicious. I wish I had rice to go with it but all I had was broccoli and cheese rice and that just didn't seem right....lol. Oh well, saved on the carbs anyway. It really is a good idea to do meal planning and less grocery shopping. I know that I have very little restraint when walking into a store. I'm perfectly fine when I stay the heck away but the minute I go inside, that one item turns into twenty! 10 dollars turns into 60 dollars that I end up spending. Just say no...just say no.. Okay. Until this weekend, then I really need to go to the store, I can only last so long :)

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Stepping out of the Zone

Is it Monday already?

Having a few days off really spoils oneself, doesn't it? I had Wednesday through Sunday off and got a whole bunch, a WHOLE BUNCH of artwork done, 7 pieces altogether would you believe?!
I also was whittling away at my article during my days off. I figured I would take the creative approach to keeping notes about my process and put them in the big BIG HUGE journal I have that I received during our Paris Swap. I totally made note keeping fun. If I only could have brought my markers and stamps to college, life would have been so much easier! I wish I had beautiful handwriting, I have a tendency to scrunch up my words together, sometimes barely even waiting to finish one word before moving on to the next.

During this time off, I day dreamed about what it would be like to throw the corporate world away and turn to my hands as well as my mind to make my living.
What was my conclusion?
I need a sugar Daddy. LOL
No seriously, I'm a modern woman here. I can take care of myself--but not yet by myself. I still need my day job, but I do believe I could make a decent living if I could focus the majority of my day on my artistic life. I might be a skinnier gal and have to take a few less trips to Starbucks--but hey, I'm about to have to make that choice anyway with the rising prices so what the heck. Well, what the heck is Insurance money. That's pretty much the only reason why I won't quit my day job truth be told.
Well until that day comes along, I'm satisfied to create on the side and have fun in my own little world. I'm hoping soon it's going to branch off into bigger things--time will tell!

In my last post, we ( meaning me) started a discussion about what you are doing to save money these days. Be sure to check back in the comments and read what others are doing--and please share yours if you missed the post!
Several of you mentioned using what you have, ENJOYING what you have whether it be the food you already do have or utilizing the (art) supplies you own before going out to the store to by more. That's a great tip. The picture above denotes pieces of scrap I use over and over again in my pieces to create texture and use as stencils. Nothing fancy and probably mostly things you have in your stash. I've been doing good at saving things that I think will work in my art. Almost too good. I've got a growing stash of 'texture' tools as well as papers that I can pull from at a moments notice. That's saving and recycling, right?
Although, I must admit, I did visit an Etsy shop recently of a new friend called Remember Yesterday and bought some cool vintage goodies to use in my collages. I received them today and the shop owner through in some goodies from her art store--Kathy's collages and assembleages are wonderfully crafted. You must visit!! Very reasonable I might mention (as we are trying to save $$)

See here--I'm working on my 'secret projects'(which are completed now), utilizing one of my used up gift cards! I've used the credit cards and gift cards before to spread on paint on my collages, but only recently started working with modeling paste and found that the cards are perfect for laying on this medium as well. Who needs an expensive palette knife??

I need to do a few touch up on these pieces before I list them, but they are pretty much completed. I had a coffee shop in town in mind when I made these, I even used their cups they use for inspiration. I doodled and journaled on the background using a brown charcoal pencil. That's the first time I used a brown charcoal pencil.

I love the distressed look it generates as I worked the yellows, creams, and oranges in to create the warm and funky background.

Makes me want to grab a cuppa Joe...something I drink entirely too much of. I do get a lot done every day thanks to my pal Joe.
In other good news, I prospected two more shops that I potentially can put my art in. One is going to be perfect for a couple of bigger pieces. The other, my friend Amy put in a good word for me to one of her friends that owns a shop and I am going to chat with her about potentially being a featured artist for August. It's all very exciting. I'm glad I've started to network and get to know other people and artists in my area. It's taking a big step for me because outside of work, I'm pretty much a loner....making friends and getting out in the world pretty much doesn't happen for me so it's definitely outside of my comfort zone. I'm fine once I get to know people, but generally I'm not the social butterfly that gets involved in a lot of things. Amy is helping me along with ideas on how to feature myself in galleries or shops, and I'm doing my best to encourage her to send her work off for publication, too.
I'm hoping this last 5 months of the year brings many good things to those of us who step outside of our comfort zone and just try...just try something new and brave and scary all at the same time. You never know where that road may lead. It leads no where if you don't at least attempt the journey. That's one thing for sure.

Until next time, be good--and be thinking of new ways to enjoy what we have and or save a little bread for Sunday dinner. :)

Sale at the Sweet Repeats Studio Shoppe!

just playin with photo shop again :)

I'm officially on vacation for a few days and spent the whole entire day playing with my paint and glue. It felt good to immerse myself in my project with the only thing looming over my head was my lawn that sorely needs mowing and packing that needs to be attended to. I could get used to this.....hmmmm...though I don't know if I could handle the stress of having to make up the salary that I have no with no guarantee of a sale each week let alone each day...lol. It's something that is worth thinking about down the road anyway..when I'm collecting social security ;)
I slept in today which is unusual for me. My body must be telling me that I need to rest but my head is telling me other wise. So many things I want to do. So many things I need to do. Work has been really wearing me thin, worrying about the economy has me stressed, thinking about the rising prices of everything has got me in almost a panic attack--and the thought of us all being held hostage by this economic crisis has got me mad as all get out. I don't want to think about all that but I do, and I'm sure most everyone out there isn't much different.

Working on my artwork helps me escape but I know I can't escape forever so I want to look for ways to save, to cut back, to do things differently and share the ideas here so that it may help others as much as it will help myself. Sarah has started a Frugal Friday post and I definitely want to join in as soon as I find frugal worthy ideas to share. I think a weekly post of how we are saving our pennies is a great idea!

It's apparent that we all need to start taking action before the going gets really rough. There is strength in numbers so please feel free to join in and share your thoughts, your tips and advice on how you are handling these hurricane of changes that are happening within our country and the world

What are you doing differently?

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To kick off the belt tightening posts I'll offer a sale in my Etsy shop, so if you must buy and I hope you must..lol....I'm offering a sale to help you out! I mentioned earlier in the post that I spent the whole day working on an art project, I actually finished my submission pieces for this magazine. I can not wait to see the pieces in print!! I'll let them dry over the weekend and then finish my article and hopefully send my babies off by Wednesday. That's my goal anyway. After that, I'm going to get busy and make a TON of new artwork in preparation for Christmas. I'm hoping there are still a few people out there with disposable income and ready and willing to buy original art for the holidays :) If not, at least I'll have something to do as I'm chained to this house because I can't afford to drive the car anywhere..LOL

I hope everyone has a great week and looking forward to any and every tip you have to share about your ways to cut back and save. I'm off to visit some friends for the weekend (frugal, well maybe not, but staying with friends so at least we are saving money there :)