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!

Some Things Change, Some Things Stay The Same

"Hometown Friends"
6 x 6 on deep edged stretched canvas

I almost hesitated on posting this little new piece as the colors didn't come out as vibrant in the photos as they are in real life. I did take them outside but perhaps the sun light was not in the best position for me to capture the true essence of this piece. I still have a lot to learn with photo taking. A lot. But I am getting better and I do realize the value of having great photos of your work when you are selling your wares, not to mention, I want to keep my archive of paintings for future uses of prints so I want the prints to look as closely like the originals as possible. Speaking of archives...I need to get my tail busy moving my pictures to cd before this computer blows up from all the abuse I've given her, loading her with picture after picture after picture!!

This weekend has been pretty laid back for me. 4th of July came and went with little fanfare. I opted not to go anywhere this year. Instead we ran errands in the morning, went grocery shopping for some grillin' goodies, came home and relaxed outside with the new Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine, DS played with the neighbor girls with the slip and slide, the went with his Dad to the fireworks (it seems to have become a routine that his Dad takes him to the fireworks each year....I guess it's a guy thing and the new wife doesn't like me taggin along so I stay home..lol), and then a friend of mine came over for some grillin out and some wine. All in all not a bad 4th, but I do miss the bigger get togethers my family used to have each year and then all of us walking down to the lake for the fireworks show.

After my friend Linda left at about 11, I settled in for bed but was rudely awoken about 1 am by furious knocking and the dog barking. I go to the front door and there's no one....but there is a taxi in my driveway??? huh??? The dog is still barking and so I go to the back door....and yep, it's What's His Face. Drunk. Just came from the "DANCE" Club. I say Dance loosely, or nudely rather. He wants to stay here AND for me to pay for the taxi because he is out of money!!! The taxi won't take him to where he lives because it's too far.
Did you hear me when I say he WANTED ME TO PAY for the taxi after he spent all HIS money at the club????

Oh my goodnesss...well since this is a family show, you don't want to know what came out of my mouth.
Needless to say, the night was not good. Yesterday morning wasn't good either since I had to end up paying for gas to take him home and I was ill from the night before, mad as all get out at the audacity of him to actually think I was going to pay for the f***ing taxi!! No Bleepity bleep bleep bleep Way!!!

The bright side to the story is that he is actually working and can pay to go to the club himself.
He is still begging me to take him back because he has done everything I wanted him to do. Got a job, got his own place, and not doing drugs anymore. That doesn't erase all the pain and suffering I had gone through though. Nights like the one described above is a scaled down night like it used to be alllll the blessed time. Ridiculous.
There is still the looming issue of the drinking that I can't get passed either. Not that I'm a prude and detest everyone that drinks. I enjoy a cocktail from time to time. I can't be around alcoholics though. Too many bad memories from my past relationships and other events in my life with alcoholics in other close people's lives. You never know when that switch is going to be flipped and the happy fun person is turned into a monster from hell.
It doesn't take much for that switch to be flipped.

I do have to say though, the bright side of this whole adventure is the amount of artwork that my experience has inspired me to create. It's that escape that I started with to get away from all the sadness, anxiety, and depression that I have turned into a gateway for my new passion. Not everything I create has come from this experience, but the the idea of painting and creating is rooted in that need to go to another place and escape in my mind.
Now it's become a way of life.
I believe it's time to move. Over 3 rooms in our house as well as just about every storage area and built in cabinet houses my artwork and supplies. I need a bigger place for the rest of us to live, but then again, I like to create out in the open, not in a separate room.
I can only imagine what someone would say if I did start dating again about all of my art supplies in the area that used to be my dining room. LOL I'm not sure they would understand the journey I've taken to get to where I am today and why it is that I do what I do.

Then again, I could always point them to my blog and just say read it.....you may just begin to understand me from my posts and artwork.
There's still a lot yet to discover yet. I'm just not so sure I'm ready yet to open up to anyone else to join this journey with me.
No, I'm prepared to walk alone for a while yet longer.

This last piece feature is called:

"Through the Window of His Eye" which is the 3rd in my Faith Collection. This one depicts the window to which I am looking at as I see myself and the approval I"m looking for, for using the new skills I've been honing. The gifts HE gave me. I'm hoping they are being put to good use in His eyes.

It has helped to save me and my sanity.
(((((UPDATE-I have mounted this now and it is currently available in my Etsy shop. Mounted on a 12 x 12 black and gold masonite board. It looks striking on this 'frame'!))))))
*****

Next post--my FANTaBuLouS swap package from Katie!!!!!! You won't believe all the wonderful goodies she had in store for me!!

SALE TODAY!!!! 25% off!

I haven't quite finished my tutorial yet on alcohol inks but I will give you another tid bit--here's the base of my new magnet series "Love Letters" collaged on recycled wood material, using a copy of a 1944 vintage Love Letter ((not mine..heheh))) which was then distressed using Ranger's alcohol ink and distress pads with squirts of water.

Would you have guessed this is regular copy paper distressed?? Cool, huh?? :)


SALE TODAY ONLY...okay thru Sunday morning when I get up:


25% off any item in my shop!! Making way for new artwork, so stop buy and check out my new items!!


Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend!

TGIF!!!!

TGIF Sale!!

Featuring some of the prints I have for sale in my Etsy shop:

2.00 any one print
3.00 off 2 or more!

Prices will need to be adjusted by me prior to paying, so simply purchase the prints, and I will send you a new invoice via paypal.

Mention Sweet Repeats in the convo and I will even through in FREE shipping!!!
WOWZA!

Thank you Laura for the suggestion of making my last pieces into cards--that's a great idea, and I just may do that on my next order of prints. I have several things I want to order as soon as I make my quota in order to purchase new 'inventory'...lol.
Are any of you supply junkies?? I'm trying to balance my artsy purchases for supplies with mysales in my shop and it is quite a challenge to stay above the water when I see new things and just want to try try try new things!! I have come to the conclusion, if you want to make money, you need to spend money. That's how I justify my art supply purchases. At least that's what I'm telling myself!!

Hope everyone had a good week. I accomplished a lot but am drained to no end. By taking on some new responsibilities, I have spread myself thin but in the end, it will be a good thing. By stretching your wings and showing initiative, it does pay off in the long run. It's just when does the long run end and the pay off begin?? LOL

Anywhoo--I'm taking a breather from Thrifting this weekend. I'm sure my kidlets will be happy. I need to make 1 major purchase and that's where my money needs to go to right now. Baby boy (7 year old) needs a new bed so we are going to hunt for that this weekend.

But...tonight, I am creating some new pieces for my shop. Take a look around at the new things uploaded this week and last :) Thank you for supporting me and giving me the inspiration to keep on keeping on!!

Have a good weekend!

Things Are Looking Up!

New pieces completed:

"Things Are Looking Up"

Part1 The Egg

Part 2

Cracking Up

Part 3

Birdie

**I'm offering these separately but if purchased together, I will apply a 20% discount to the entire purchase**

I hope everyone's week was good. I had yesterday and today off, originally I took it off because I was hoping I might be able to go to
Art & Soul
but after debating about it, I think next year will be the year that I try to do something of that magnitude. I do know lots of people going between the NCMMG that I belong to, as well as my Sweet Goodness Swap Sister, Jane--so I can't wait to hear all of there stories and experiences!

Nope...instead, I'm preparing for a yard sale. Art & Soul, or Yard Sale. HMMM??? What was I thinking???? Seriously, it's more about the money than the choice about going, it does look like fun though.

Who knew preparing for a yard sale could be dangerous??? I found that out yesterday when I was taking about DS's bunk bed, well taking off his mattress. I pulled the mattress down and hit the ceiling light which promptly crashed down within inches of my head in big ole glass shards!! A piece did stab me in the shoulder but it was small thank goodness. I could just envision myself bleeding to death with this huge piece of glass attached to the top of my head. What a way to go. Like some crazy horror movie..lol. Then later on that evening when I was putting everything back together and vacuuming up my mess, I stepped on some glass, fell backward, knocked over a bookcase, fell back onto the vacuum, and clocked my head against the wall. My war wounds are plenty from this seemingly safe and easy (well not easy) task of cleaning out the boys room for a yard sale!

Thank goodness today is a new day and there are no major tasks for me to do for the yard sale. It's amazing how much better I feel already with about a truck and half load of stuff taken out of here. Makes me think about what I've been doing and how I've been doing it. I was going to yard sales and thrifting every single week without fail. And the house was getting fuller and fuller and fuller--until finally it was busting at the seams! I had an obsession to replace everything I had lost and THEN SOME. All for a dime on the dollar...lol. Things were getting out of control. This is a good thing now, and believe me, I could do more. There still is a lot I could scale back on and not really miss. I think this year I need to seriously consider what I need and how much I need before I go anywhere. Even before I go to Walgreens, Michael's..etc. Two of my most favorite shops on earth..lol :) I believe without so much, I'd be more open to new things and new ideas. Clutter and things really do cloud our minds and create disharmony in our worlds.
Things to think about.

Have a artfully great weekend!

I Know a Good Actor if you Need One!

I had a rough night last night, not like a 21 year old running on the town rough night (good old days, remember those?), but a 39 year old with a triangle creating chaos in her life rough night. (((anyone see Chuck and Larry?? Triangle's not good....circle good...LOL)) Long story short, I was up at 2:30 this morning and I ended up staying up all night and into the morning before hitting the big old yard sale early on, and the craft show this afternoon. Lord knows how I'm still standing at 7:30 in the evening. I can't pull all nighters anymore!
The good news is, I was really really productive during my early morning escapade. I worked on all of my projects and this is where we are today. My productivity today in my artful endeavors is a perfect example of why I need to have this in my life. I would have sat around and cried or stewed all day if I didn't have my projects to escape with.

Sometimes people aren't all they are cracked up to be. It's amazing how good some people are at acting. How they can live with themselves when they are pulling the wool over someone else's eyes is beyond me.

Anyway, I've stewed over this all day long and I know I'm not making sense because I'm not rehashing all the details, but the main point is, I was put in situation that I didn't ask to be put into yesterday...I was working last night on my heart magnets, minding my own business when chaos walked in unannounced. Drunk as a skunk. Anyhoo--suffice to say, I learned some things that really really tipped me over the edge to say the least. So I decided to call someone on the lies--and well--same old same old. Not that I'm surprised but it really drives me nutz that chaos is obsessed with me and will not leave me alone. Go on with your life and LEAVE ME ALONE. Don't play me like a fiddle and think you are the best actor in the world because your not and I see right through it, and for what I don't see through, other people are happy to tell me. Especially when I go through your cell phone and find their numbers. HA!

Okay...enough venting. Aren't my newest pieces in progress cute as can be?? I'm using some of my new Golden Paint that I bought from Amy, another mixed media artist that lives in the area. I took a trip up to her house last week and bought a bunch of duplicate supplies she had for sale! whoooo hooo. These little 6x6 canvases are part of an order we purchased together. I have 12 total to work with for upcoming projects and another 12 on the way. I'm trying to beef up my inventory for 2 reasons. Number one, I am going to put some of my artwork in a local store so I want a nice collection of new items to display as well as I am going to...yes, I declare right here right now to do an art show this year at one of the local festivals. ALSO--I am going to submit some of my work to Cloth Paper Scissors...my favorite art magazine, so I need a few things that aren't in my shop to send to them as they can keep items up to 6 months or so as they jury you for their publication. This is going to be the year for me that I really make some moves to step it up notch in my little 'part time' job.

It not only keeps me busy, it keeps me sane!

Here's some more of my Sweet HeART magnets that I have going for another special order. I'm doing 24 of them this time for a customer. These buggers take a LONG time to make. First you have to cut the wood, then sand it, then prime all sides, then coat with black paint at least 2 times all sides, cut the background papers, cut the hearts out, cut the inspiration words out, then decorate. Final step is to seal on the front, let dry, then repaint the back because inevitably there is glue or XS paint from the decorating on the back...then seal the back and add the magnets. That's a lot of work for a 2.50 item. That's why I'm raising my prices on these!! LOL Not to mention, the new set of magnets I'm making are bigger than the last set.

Well, thanks for listening today even though half of it is in riddle for those of you who don't know who triangle chaos is. Sigh.....it's like a bad dream that keeps coming back every night and Ican't get rid of it no matter how hard I try.

Thanks for visiting and hearing me roar!!

Tiny Art

I have another order coming up for my Sweet HeART magnets so I thought I'd play around and make a few ACEO's.
It's funny, I have a much easier time working on larger canvases but these cards were fun to make and are adorable. I had a real small frame I tested one in and they look great in it. Gotta branch out and try new things, right?

So, I'm thinking about getting a scooter...lol...can y'all believe the dang gas prices?????? I decided not to go on any road trips this year because of it. Maybe some people haven't changed their driving habits, but I can say I surely have. The only thing I haven't done differently is to stop going home for lunch....but that may come soon if the prices don't go down soon. Other than that, because we live out in the country, I really try to plan my route so we are not going back to town 2 or 3 times a day--or on a weekend. Josh said Mom, we can always walk.
Child, do you know how long 10 miles is??? LOL Mama ain't walkin' to town anytime soon!

(((all 3 new in my shop!))

Enough venting. LOL Doesn't change anything but it does make you feel better!

Not much going on at the ranch today, just going to make our 1 trip to town, hopefully pick up a new outfit for my meeting on Tuesday, do some errands, go look at some stuff a friend has for sale, make dinner and drown my sorrows in some chocolate brownies. Maybe continue working on the 3 new art pieces I have going.

What about you??

Reflections in the Sun

Completed Spring Color Challenge:
"Reflections in the Sun"
Thank you Hare and Drum for inspiring the name,
If you email me your addy, I'll send a lil somethin'
somethin to you :)

I hope you have had time to reflect
in the sun today.

WIP--Name that Painting

Wow! It's been awhile since I've blogged. I've been down and outright sickly from last Wednesday through Monday of this week with a case of strep throat, ear infection, fever, migraine...you name it. The good news is that I lost five pounds. Now--for the other 35 I want to loose!! It's been a chore to get anything done this week but I did manage to get started with my color challenge project I'm doing with the new team I joined on Etsy, called METSY (mixed media artists on Etsy). We picked a color palette from an ultra cool website I'll have to back through my favorites and try to find...believe me if you click on the website, you'll be lost in a sea of colors and be lucky to escape alive :). We voted on some of the top color palettes the team chose and the winner was this one called "Purple blossom". Our challenge is to create a piece or two of work that we can sell in our etsy stores as well as use to promote each other in treasuries and blogs. The deadline is April 30th--so I'm moving along pretty decently for me, little last minute lucy ;)

Isn't this color combo cool?? Reminds me of walk in the garden at dusk. I'm not sure if I see purple in it, but that's what the curator of this color palette chose to call it. Maybe I do.

I started with a blurry drawing of my vision--loosely inspired by one of my 5000 magazine cut out inspiration photos so I'm not exactly where it came from other than my box of cut outs.

This is a piece of thin wood board, sanded and primed with gesso and then I brayered some yellow green on the base using a piece of textured wall paper.

Next, I lightly drew the main image of the girl holding the flowers and her skirt. Added a second layer of brayered greens as well as scrap papers in various places. For pasting on the papers I purchased a big ole jar of heavy gel medium---it's like a can of crisco modgepodge...lol. It works fabulously!! I had no issues with bubbles on the papers at all as I do with modge podge. It's expensive but I used a 50% off coupon at Michael's so I saved about 9 dollars!!

When you have a layer of glue or varnish on your work, not everything will write over it so you need to either use a charcoal or graphite pencil. That black thingie is a graphite pencil which I dropped on the floor (accidently). It will write over anything!

An example of the textured wall paper used. My Sweet Goodness Sister Jane gave me this wall paper as well as a bunch of other collage goodies that I have been using lovingly. I've used this piece alone about 50 times already!!

For the next step--I tore up bits and bobs of scrap booking papers and some music to create texture on the skirt. I might not be a scrapbooker but the allure of all the delicious papers available is hard for me to pass up anytime I walk in a craft store. I wish Michael's had the variety of papers that Hobby Lobby does. ((Only because Michael's is 15 minutes away from me and HL is an hour....otherwise HL would be my artfix joint of choice)) ;)

First layer of color on the skirt was scrapings of white, then the purplish mauve that I came up with for the challenge. Background you can see coming alive with more greenery. I was watching the Martha show one day (I forget if it was the craft show or regular show) and they featured a shadow garden. I've never heard of a shade garden before but I guess it's one that has only greenery-shade plants and ground cover. It's a place where you can go to just relax and get lost in the shade of the leaves and reflect on your day, your life, your place in the world.
I love that thought. This is where this young girl is going--to her shade garden.

I took this picture at about 10:30 last night so it's a lot darker than the real picture is--but you can see now how it's all coming together with the addition of her bouquet of fresh picked flowers as she heads towards the shade garden.

I'm attempting the scary hand. eeeks. There are some things I am just deathly afraid of painting. I'm still learning and well--I just didn't want this hand to turn out like a claw and ruin the blessed piece!

So far so good. It's hard to tell from this picture but on top of the first skirt layer, I added a layer of paint I made by taking some of my lumiere powders ( you can see the tiny jar of EXPENSIVE powder in the upper left corner) and adding a bit of gel medium glaze. This creates a translucent layer of color. Lots of fun being an Art Scientist! I'm not quite sure what I'm going to call this yet..but the main feeling I"m trying to convey is that of peace and reflection....any ideas? Hopefully this piece will be finished by next week so I need your input! Should we cast a vote for the name???? Please chime in if you want to title this latest work!!

I will send you a small prize if I pick your name!!

***

I have about 4 other pieces in the works right now, it's just slow going as I spent the majority of the last several days on the couch. My glands were so swollen on the right side of my neck, i looked like a freakin football player. Thank goodness that has started to go down...my neck doesn't need to be any bigger than it already is!!

I'm on vacation the rest of this week so hopefully I can knock out a bunch of projects and get my house in order. This last week I've read chapters in my book The Secret on Money, Relationships and Health. To play along, I'm going to have a yard sale (soon) in preparation for a move. Am I moving anywhere?? No, not yet. But it says in the book, if you want something, act like it's already yours, see it, feel it, believe it..and the universe will start to align itself so it will indeed be yours. What does that have to do with a yard sale?? Well, heck, I don't want to move all this stuff for when I get a new home!! Heck no! I'm going to get rid of stuff my rapidly growing boys don't play with, fit into, or don't want anymore--Mama is going to clear out her closets, cupboards--and pair down as well.
It also says if you want to be in a relationship--you shouldn't have full closets in your bedroom. There's no room for anyone else if you have a full closet. Hmm. I didn't know it was that easy of a fix. I would have cleaned out those dang things awhile ago had I known! Once they are clean and ready to go...I'll let you know then if you have a rich brother or uncle--or heck, grandpa...let me know!! ;) Okay maybe not grandpa but definitely brother or uncle. :) LOL

Have an artfully great day!

Rainy Day Friends

Like a rainy day, it may be a long time in between visits, you know, you just know she will come back, if only for a few minutes and it will be sweet comfort knowing she has come to quench your sorrow in the cool
blue raindrops. Raindrops that surely will bring a new day and many Spring Flowers.

Things I like. Things I don't like.

1) I really like drinking French Vanilla Chai tea in the evening. Something so relaxing with every warm swallow hugging my throat. This is a new found like. I am really a coffee junkie and could drink it all day and all night long, but then I can't sleep, am more forgetful than normal, and pretty much go to he$$ in a hand basket with all the caffeine.

2) Chick Fila Chicken biscuits. I know they aren't for everyone, but for me, it's a little slice of heaven each Monday when I allow myself a special morning treat. I about blew a gasket when there wasn't a Chick Fila to be found when I was traveling for work last month! I some how managed, but it was really really hard to go without. ( I know---boooohoooo)

3) Chores: I like um, um, um, there must be something. I guess doing dishes really doesn't bother me. In fact, well, the thought of leaving dishes out really bothers me so the lesser of two evils is to ensure they get done all the time. Do not leave dishes for another day, or another hour. It will eat at your soul.

4) Chores: I don't like---sit down. This could take a while. The short list--detest cleaning the tub and the toilet. Necessary evils though. To not clean them, well--you know what happens then. The police come after you. Or social services.

5) Flip flops and tank tops, cosmopolitans with lime. The promise of a warm summer nights with cool drinks, laughter all around, and bbqs with friends.

6) Mowing the lawn so you can do #5. I detest this. But, I have come to accept the fact a good looking yard boy is not going to fall from the sky to take this task away from me anytime soon.
Sigh

7) Bed and Breakfasts--I know I'd like going to one, even though I've never been. Some things, a girl just knows.

8) Sky diving, Para sailing, bungee jumping, skiing. No thank you. I like to have control, be in control--and NOT throw caution to the wind. Maybe that's my problem. I should loosen up a bit.

9) I do like Movie watching, getting lost in my art, reading, driving, dreaming, shopping, bargain hunting and getting lost in all the above. Notice, most of these are done with two feet on the ground or at least firmly planted in the sofa. I should really get out more, folks. This is evident the more I write.

10) I'd like to have a more exciting life. Travel more, get out more, do more, see more, have more friends. It's bad when your social life is from 8:30 to 5:30 during work hours...LOL.
sigh

11) I hate my fat arse, wobbly arms, jello legs, pudding stomach, and ice cream thighs. You get what you deserve self. Late night 2am snacks, belief that if it's not on a plate, then the calories couldn't possibly count, and believe me---it's all catching up to me.

12) Of all exercises, I do like Yoga best, and light weightlifting. So why don't I do it?? Because I believe in tomorrow as the answer to everything---and I think (((no cross that off))) I've got it wrong. Today is the answer to most everything. It's the only thing promised, so why waste it?

Not sure why I wrote this list. Just some things on my mind :)

New items in my Etsy shop--Mini Sweet HeART magnet collages!!

Check them out!

Some cool favorites here

With That Said

I'm sitting here pretending like I'm a full time artist. Got up at 7:30, thanks to one of my peeps texting me ((my new found technology love since upgrading to unlimited texts...lol), did a little product research ((not that I need anymore products in my arsenal, but what developer doesn't need to research what's going on in the industry)), refined some of my 'product' photos, marketed my wares a bit on some community threads, uploaded pics to my shop, and now I've come to chat a bit with my friends on the blog. Did I pick up a brush yet today? No, but the biz ness side needs to be attended to in the artist's life as well.

Okay so it's not my full time job, but I can pretend, can't I?? I have two days extra off this week. I'm sure my work peeps aren't happy with that but since I was away for so long this month, I needed a work break. Catch my breath, catch up on the cleaning, spend time retooling what ever it is that needs retooling around the palace, then off for some fun this weekend.

About a year ago this month, I really started with my collage/mixed media work full speed ahead. My house hasn't been the same since. Bulging at the seems with supplies, paint and paper every where you turn. I am definitely more at peace with myself since last year. My Sweet HeArt in Pink reflects that mood. Fun and whimsical, yet reflective and appreciative. The month of February has been a turning point over the course of my life in many different areas. It was February when I was almost killed at 14 in a bicycle/car accident...that forever changed my way of thinking. It February that my best friend met her husband when the two of us were out declaring the holiday "Black Friday (Valentine's Day fell on Friday year). 2 of my sister's children were born in February, it was February that I ended my relationship with a great love of mine, it was in February that I decided to truly embrace my art in order to find peace in my life.

So far so good. I can escape and yet do it in a healthy way. I can dream and make those dreams come true. I can have color on the days when it only seems that I can see black and gray. I can see myself grow and share those moments with many many people that I would never have met otherwise.

I hope to come back next February and be able to say I was published in an art magazine, have more and more sales of my work, I hope to say that my day job is still going well and that I have been promoted in some way, I hope to say that a new great love has entered my life in a more positive way, I hope to see my kids happy and content and doing even better in school, I hope that over this year I can get out of debt created from some recent events of the last 2 years, and a house or big move is in the works.
February has always been a turning point for me now that I think about it, but maybe it's just a coincidence. Are there coincidences in life or coincidences merely the hands of fate showing there face more concretely to us??

Well enough rambling for today. I'm off to shower, clean and hopefully I can make it to my favorite thrift stores today or tomorrow. It's been way to long since I've rescued other people's stuff!
With that said,
Enjoy your weekend! It's Friday Eve!

Sweet Goodness Swap News and Etsy Updates

First off--Check out the NEW Sweet Goodness Swap going on over on the Goodness girls swap blog!! We are ripping and ready to go for 2008 with variety of creative swaps planned for this year, one or more for every season (but the details are hush hush, you'll just have to stick around for each swap to find out what we have in store for this New Year)! Rebecca included a few links to subscribe to our blog so you can be among the first to know of our new swaps, so sign up now--hurry this one is going quick but open to new participants!!

Speaking of swaps, my dear swap Sister Jane A. has reported on her Father's accident and the good news is he is on the mend after a horrific scare of a broken neck. Please stop over her blog to wish her well as well as wish her a Belated Happy Birthday!! Jane's birthday was December 28 :) I'll report on my package I am sending to Jane this week as we held off sending because of all the chaos that has happened at her house, and with her daughter home for college keeping her busy-- and then with me getting sick during Christmas we postponed our send off till after the first.

Here's a look at some new items in my Etsy shop--Elegant Distressed Embossed tags that are made to mimic a copper/metal like look. These are very cool and each tag is definitely one of a kind.

They are rather labor intensive so I really should be charging more for the sets but I'm hoping to get some exposure to my shop with some low ball impulse items so to sell some more of my paintings.

Created on blank tags, I tea stained them overnight, dried and then distressed with Tim Holz distressing stamps, let dry again then painted with my own recipe of metallic pearl ex powder and gloss medium, added a background layer of stamps with acrylic paint, and then embossed each tag.

The final step was to find some inspirational words to add on to each of the tags and hang a ribbon or raffia on each.

They really would make great additions to that unique and special gift you may be giving year round. Or, you could use as a book mark, recipe marker or just hang on a set for a dose of your daily inspiration!


Over the next couple of months I'm going to be a artsy fartsy Mama, as Nancy and I are really going to do the Spring Fest. My organized partner has already gotten the application and we are in the midst of creating our partnered tent. I'm energized even thinking about it--but ask me come April 27th how I feel and whether or not we will do it again...LOL.

Other news--next month I was picked to be on a merger training team for my work so I will be heading to Deerfield, Fl for 10 days in February to work with a branch that we are acquiring and help with the our consolidation. I know...poor me. Having to go to Florida for work in February! I'm going to miss my kidlets though...I hope I can make it that long without being with the boys, but I'm excited to do something different for work to break up the monotony. I'm going to try to bring some of my art supplies so I can create while I'm down there but I'm not sure what I can bring on the plane. I'll have to do some research on that one. The bad news is, I will be w/o a computer for the whole time so no bloggidy blogging for me. :( I'm sure I'll live but it will be hard to be w/0 internet access. We can access the internet at work but not blogs, flickr, myspace, or any internet email. I can still get on Etsy though..LOL :)

I hope all 5 days of the New Year are starting out wonderfully for you. From the comments on my Stop, Start, Continue list, it looks like a lot of peeps out there are on a mission to although not "resolve" to do things differently, but to take baby steps towards goals and have an eye to the future for some things to tackle in the new year to make our lives that much better. I hope we all make progress on our goals, one thing for sure, it's one day at a time. I'm going to try not to bite off more than I can chew, but also spend less time making excuses and more time just "doing".

With that said, I need to go do something. :)

lucy

This Bird

THIS BIRD

"This Bird Has Wings,

Watch it fly"

Be night or day, in the brisk winds of fall, this bird will soar.

You are this bird!

New in my Etsy shop!

I am going to feature one sale item each week (I may do more as I accumulate more inventory) and this item is my

HOT HOT HOT

ITEM

OF

THE

Week

Check out the shop to see "What the Sale is Going On!"

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Keep watching this week for a special Blogoversary post (and maybe a give away)!

Showtime

*****UPDATED POST*****

Who Else Is Ready For Fall?

I thought I'd do a bit of redocorating here at Sweet Repeats in honor of her upcoming arrival.

I'm really loving the color combinations of orange and blue (teal, or tourquoise).

I'll have to edit this tomorrow---

Don't you hate when you sit down to blog and someone calls and pisses in your cornflakes?

Really.

I'm holding off on the "french" that I really want to say so I better close now and try again tomorrow.

*****Okay I'm back finally--just wanted to update from the other day****

This top painting was done as an exercise in inversion-the two opposing profiles represents relationships gone in the opposite directions---not seeing eye to eye, and worlds turned upside down as often happens when we part ways. "We Were"-- At one time, even if not eye to eye, at least going in the same direction. This piece was done using found stamps (AKA FREE from around the house :), acrylic paints, metallic marker, watercolor pencils, alphabet stamps, and cut image from a magazine.

I'm loving the orange and teal together!

ya..it's showtime all right.
*******

"Showtime" is about the many hats we wear from day to day, putting on a new attitude and a mask on our face as we head out the door and embark on our "Stage" You don't have to be a model or actress to have to put on a show everyday--mask your mood or feelings so you can do what you need to do, it happens to us all--our own personal "Showtime"

The background for this piece was created as a I worked on other backgrounds, utilizing excess paints and test stamping items. The result is a new hand painted paper ready to go for a new collage!! When you are trying to create several works of art, it only makes sense to have many things going at once. As a new mixed media artist, I'm finding that when you incorporate many layers and switch from stamping to painting to gluing, to drawing and everything imbetween, you really have to spend several hours if not days to finish a piece otherwise you'd have a big sloppy piece of mud! The answer to that is to have other works going on at the same time to pick up when your current piece is drying!

Spread the love girls, spread the love!

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For those of you interested, I listed my END OF THE LINE picture and a couple of my fall decorative mini clipboards on etsy today!