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

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.

Mother's Day Sale!!

Mother's Day Sale in my Sweet Repeats Studio Etsy Shop!

20% off all items now through Monday morning at 6am est!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone :))))

Happy Mother's Day!

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!

A Nest of Her Own

Here is my latest artwork:

"A Nest of Her Own"

((((Description taken from my Etsy Shop))))

Created on wood about 1/4 inch thick. Original piece included in my Series of "Altered Thoughts of Women". 1st two pieces in the series are now sold--be the third to own one of my quiet inspiration pieces, which gives a voice to my growing self realization that I am worthy as a woman, deserving as person, and growing into my own skin now as an adult.

In this piece, I convey my desire to have "A Nest of My Own", not just a home of my own, but I long to live somewhere that I can plant my roots and truly belong. I have always loved botanicals and incorporating flowers in my paintings, as flowers give me hope. Representing the roots and beauty I so desire in my life. Have you ever felt this way?? Hopefully this original artwork will speak to you and you can give her a good home.

There is a ton of texture and detail embedded within this piece, as well as areas of metallic sheen achieved by dusting pearl ex powders over the layers---so much to discover!!

This artwork comes UNFRAMED. Sides are painted and back has been finished. Can be framed or set on an easel for easy portable (and affordable original art)!

Thank you everyone for the sweet comments on my new do. How come no one told me that one side is longer than the other?? LOL I need to go back this week and even myself out a bit. Unless, I walk around with my head tilted most of the time!

Hope everyone had an artfully great weekend!!

*****update: Also available in my etsy shop is REFLECTIONS IN THE SUN !! stop by and check it out!

WIP-Mixed Media Portrait "This Is What"

Here's a little peak into a work in progress that I've been playing with the last few days. The art of the human portrait has always been just outside of my artistic reaches so one of my goals this year is to make more portraits in an effort to enhance my skills. One thing I think this piece is starting to rise above in is depth---and that I'm doing the happy dance about! Can you see me?? :) I still have a ways to go before finishing and I've taken some pictures of the journey along the way to so I will be posting soon the true transformation.

How's everyone's Thanksgiving plans coming? I'm working on getting my house in order as I'm actually having some out of town guests for 5 days! WHOOOOHOOOOO!!! (another happy dance) My dear Sister Becky and my nieces and nephew will be driving alllll the way from Dunkirk, NY to Aberdeen, NC- which is about 670 miles to spend the holidays with us. I'm excited as I've lived in NC for 8 years now, and this is the first time she's coming to visit. Not to mention, I rarely have much family around the holidays--so it's all good. I unfortunately don't have vacation that week, but we still will be able to spend a good amount of time together. Can't wait to see ya Beck-!

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SPECIAL at Sweet Repeats Studio Shoppe
for my blog readers only!
25% off any purchase now through Thanksgiving--50% any of my HOT items. Simply convo me FIRST before Purchasing, let me know what item you will be purchasing, and I will adjust the listing accordingly. MUST MENTION "Sweet Repeats Blog Special" in the convo!!!! You will need to purchase the item within 24 hours of my adjusting the invoice to take advantage of the special. I want to thank everyone for the support and encouragement you have given me over the last several months in my new endeavor. Happy Holidays--now let the shopping begin!

For those of you who don't have an etsy account--what are you waiting for??? This is a great site to buy "Handmade" this year!!

Spread The Word!

Have you taken the "Buy Handmade" Pledge yet?

It's simple to do, click on the badge to the right of this post and follow the instructions listed. One of the challenges of starting off selling your handmade items, is finding a market for them and then once you do--leading your potential customers to you. Etsy is a great forum for not just the sellers, but a fabulous place to find just about anything you could possibly want for what ever special occasion you may have coming up, holiday you celebrate--heck, pick up a special item just for you-just cuz ( you deserve it)! The draw back of Etsy is, it is so new, that not a lot of people know about Etsy or perhaps don't think about buying on Etsy in this age of commercialism and instant gratification. There are many more sellers perusing the site than there are buyers so alot of sellers are on a mission to spread the word in our communities, via our blogs, marketing materials, promotions we are doing and so on, to increase the buying traffic to this website. I bet the majority of people who read my blog and blog themselves either know about Etsy, sell on Etsy, or have purchased something on Etsy---but how many of your friends know about this marketplace?? Does your family realize that you have a favorites list a mile long they can peruse to find a special item you like??? Have your co-workers ever checked it out?

My challenge to you is to show support this holiday season to the indie crafter by spreading the word about Etsy, let's drive traffic to this wondeful site in droves!! Tell your friends where you got that beautiful necklace, those fab earrings, the one of kind tote bag, the original artwork, the fantastic print, cool ornaments!!!

Another marketing idea would be for everyone to buy a gift for the upcoming holiday season and give it to a person that may have not have heard about Etsy and let them know where you purchased it--the hope would be for them to spread the word about this shopping site in support of all the talented people out there!! So much love and care and talent goes into all these items made buy the "Etsians"---let's show the big boxes that there is another Sheriff in town, and he's gonna take it by storm! Oh sure, there will be some Playstation games under the tree, hopefully some Bath and Body products for Momma--but in addition to the store bought gifts, I have a list going of a few special someones who I'm going to treat to an Etsy purchase or two, from a few great "shops" I've found.
Speaking of shops--I'm going to share a few shops a week with you--let's all do the same and direct even a bit of the traffic away from the commercial stores--because it would be a shame not to!

Here's a few shops you may or may not have seen before--check them out!

Awesome Art
Here!

Cool Jewelry Here!

Clean up with some of These!

Be Styling with these!

Surely one of these would be Sew Perfect!

This is on my wish list--can't believe it hasn't sold yet!

Tags
galore!


Please check out some of these shops-and spread the word. The customer service is top notch on this site-you won't be disappointed!!!

Oh--almost forgot--here's another fave ;)


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***The above picture is another exercise in my photo transfer technique and graffiti style art-so much fun! Titled: "Can Be!"

Coffee Break

That's what I'm doing right now...taking a break with some good ole Starbucks coffee, topped off with some cinnamon swirl coffee creamer. On the stove is a pot of "semi-homemade" spaghetti sauce with my own meatballs, and it's actually somewhat cool here today (in the low 80's).....awww the sounds and smells of fall are in the air!

I'm attempting to mow the lawn one last time for the season. Ohhhh how I have dreaded mowing all spring and summer. I'm glad that chore is coming to a close.
Here's a side view of this ultra sweet girly glam acrylic collage called "Coffee Break". I've been trying to use up all my backgrounds I have started ( I almost love making backgrouds as much as the collage itself). The cup and the cupcake are magazine images totally altered and the wording is hand cut from music sheets and painted a pretty robins egg blue.

Yesterday my little speech went well as could be, I'm not used to keeping the attention of 3-13 year olds and explain things in ways that they can understand but I think I was able reach them with examples of "wants and needs" and how you can decipher between the two, set goals for yourself and save money even if you don't have a lot of money to save. I gave them all savings account registers and told them to get a coffee can and put all the change they have in the can and write it down in the book....showed them how to do that....and gave them instructions on what to do once they add to it, or take money away. We had fun discussing "How we spend money" , "How we get Money" and ways to save for college, for a new car...."

I had to laugh, I asked one of the kids where do they get their money from and they said rather quickly "Bank of America" LOL....I was going for birthdays, allowance, paper routes..LOL Not to mention Bank of America is our companies biggest competitor! Oh I about lost it. :)

After our discussion the boys and I went the scenic route back up 220 and stopped at some really great produce stands and loaded up on some goodies and got a few pumpkins to liven up the front porch. As we were coming up to the stand all of a sudden this SUV started spewing watermelons everywhere...badong, bang, splat, all over the road, flying at cars, then their luggage came flying out in the road it was quite the sight! They apparently forgot to shut their trunk and whipped out into traffic, well that went over like lead watermelons! We all thought it was hysterical!

Some people are in such a rush no matter where you go.

Well break time is over---but if you want to see more creations of mine,

check out the shop (I reduced a couple of seasonal items so check them out too!)