Mini Zentangle Doodles and a Demonstration

In honor of Art Everyday Month hosted by the uber talented Leah, I'm trying to be better at showcasing what I'm doing and blogging more frequently (as well as visiting blogs). Over the last few months, it just seems that I've been bogged down with misc. things that have kept me from my little online world of blogging. Art has not stopped though...in fact, this year I've done a lot of projects, shows, and even a bit of writing. (Stay tuned for a new article coming out in Cloth Paper Scissors come January)!

I'm trying to position myself to one day doing this gig full time. I'm having a hard time deciding when that would be though. When do you know you are ready??? Is anyone else out there self employed??? How did you get started? Did you have another income coming in before you hit the ground running??? I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I don't have a lot of money saved, that's the problem. AND I just bought this house. I do have my 401k I could tap into...but...not sure if that would be wise. hmmmm...all things to ponder as I decide what I want to do with the next 40 years of my life :)

In the mean time...I'm conducting classes, creating when I can, and even doing demos for different functions and organizations. My next two demos will be at the Art of the Carolina's this coming weekend, held in Raleigh at the North Raleigh Hilton. On Friday at 12:00 I will do a ATC demo on creating distressed backgrounds using ranger inks; then on Saturday I will be doing a demo at the Strathmore table featuring their ATC papers and these quick little pen, pencil and marker doodles-similar to the ones featured in Cloth Paper Scissors on "Zentangles". I am a bit addicted to these mini mindless activities. I've added a twist to a few of them by lightly sketching a subject rather than random tangles and filling in the body of my sketch with fun doodles and limited colors. I love how they look matted! Come see me at 1:00 pm on Saturday at the Strathmore table!!

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Question of the day--when do you know it's time to go off on your own???

Art Everyday Month November 11-12: Going home and Decluttering the mind!

So this is what it looks like during the heat of the artistic moment.....the blanks start to get some faces and the world begins to make sense again....

then suddenly....it all becomes much clearer and you see where you are going in this chaotic world.


After making, oohhh 30 or so different cards, I decided to go back to my quaint village in my favorite colors. You get to know an artist and then she decides to change her shoes...ya it feels weird but ya know, a girl can never have too many shoes. She has a right to change her style every so often :)

I didn't quite make my internal goal of 60 cards, but I did make about 42 I believe. I experimented with watercolors, india ink, graphite pencil, water soluble graphite, water soluble oil pastels, charcoal, and acrylic paints, and a couple of collage. ATC or ACEO's are great for experimenting. You can try out new tricks and and learn new treats :)

Oh yes, my elusive portrait work...I dont' know if I will ever master this skill. I'm getting better though, although my girls still look like fairies or victorian women..it is what it is, maybe she is SUPPOSED to be a fairy and I had no control over the situation. The pencil did it, really!


I've never been that great at getting my holiday house in order. Maybe next year I'll have more holidy geared items but so far my only holiday creations are these cards and then my new originals that are in modern holiday colors.

**To see the entire lot--please check out my flickr page!

Late last night, I had a wild hair to rearrange my furniture. I was sick of looking at my art mess and while it's still there, I have magically opened up things by moving my furniture around. I also came up with a brilliant idea to take over a whole built in book shelf and turn it into art shelves. Now...I did say idea, I didn't make this happen yet other than move some supplies close to their new home...but now at least I'm not caged in by chaos..lol. Isn't that funny that the things that give us joy can also give us pain?? I am inspired by all my supplies but I'm also at times overwhelmed by all th things that are everywhere. I've bought quite a few bins lately and other storage but there is still a ways to go before I have it to a mangeable level. Once the books get rearranged so that my art stuff can go onthe shelves in a more orderly fashion, I'll be good to go. Lia, our fearless Art Everyday leader is also working on the Soul Coaching program. One big healing/growth activity that they recommend is cleaning and purging to cleanse your soul. I can see how it helps. I feel slightly less stressed today. It also could be because I finished and met a few deadlines in the last couple of days so I have that off my mind. I do think the purging of the old and organizing of what is left is very neccessary to free my mind and soul so I can move on to the next big project. Time is what I'm lacking so I plan to do a little everyday. Tonight, I got a late start so I just cleaned the kitchen and took everything off my art table so I could start fresh with new paper and new supplies. It does feel good :)

Hope you can cleanse your palette and free your mind even in a small way this week!!!

Halloween ACEO and Other Random Thoughts

I know it's hard to believe, but I really do finish projects that I start. It may take me awhile (1 week for these, okay...who am I kidding. Probably more like two weeks. But hey...I have work during the day, and shopping, and watching tv, and using the computer, and well--there's lots going on here that just gets in the way of finishing things like artwork in progress, and laundry, and cleaning...you know how it goes.



But somehow it all does get done. Even the laundry. Even the mopping. Even the artwork. When I put my mind to something, I normally achieve what I set out to do. Sometimes it's in due time. Hopefully, it gets done before DUE time. I stress my self out waiting until the last minute to complete things though. I have gotten a little better over the years. Pulling all nighters and burning the midnight oil, well, let's face it. I'm not getting any younger. I can't be doing that any more. LOL I can't tell you how many times I lie in bed working on something for work, whether it be pulling a meeting together or catching up on reading emails or corporate info.

If company comes over (which they rarely do anymore HINT HINT MOM) I will stay up to 3 in the morning spit shining the palace. That's just how I roll. I make lists. I like to see things crossed off the list. But then I loose the list so I start a new one.


I like to plan things out to ensure everything gets done. I always start out with a plan, sticking to that plan, well...we won't go there today. Let's just say, I stay flexible. I roll with the punches. I've learned long ago, things don't always go as planned. Why loose sleep over things you can't change or can't control. You can only control yourself. Kinda. It's nice to think that way..lol. Sometimes I start off the day and say, I will not do this or that today...and then my hand is right back into that cookie jar. Slap slap. Control yourself?? Hmm. that's a work in progress.

What does this all have to do with anything?

Well, I'm just rambling on about my desire to do something larger one day than what I'm doing today, but in the meantime, I'm going to continue on as I do today. I wonder sometimes how do I get it all done? It's just me at the house with lil man. I'm not complaining, just sayin.


It's mostly determination. But sometimes I do wear myself out doing what I do. Many nights, I only get 4 or 5 hours sleep because I'm so jazzed up on coffee that I drink all day and into the night just so I can pack it all in.

One thing that has helped me in at least doing my artwork--create several in a similar vein at one time. It makes me feel once it's all done, I've got a lot to show for the time I've spent working on it all. I still burn the midnight oil getting everything done, but at least this....I enjoy doing :) I wish I could say the same about other things in my life. Like laundry. Or mopping. LOL

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To see the rest of my ACEO's recently created--me sure to check out my flickr page!

New ACEO's and Some GOOD News!

I wanted to share with you some of my new ACEO's that I have been working on, only a couple of which will be available on my ETSY shop-the others are already spoken for. I have only done a few cards as part of my artistic endeavors so I felt the need to get this book to guide me along. They have one on Amazon for only 4.95 used so I definitely suggest anyone interested in this miniature art form to pick it up and learn more about it, there are some very cool techniques listed within the book. One of these days, I'd love to write a book on mixed media art techniques. Of course, I'll have to get better at what I do but I'm adding having a book published to my "bucket list".

Another thing I really wanted to do this year was to submit some of my work to a national magazine to be published. It's a scary thought to even do that because there's a good chance I'll be rejected but then again, I thought to myself--well it's really 50/50....they'll either say yes or say no. The odds aren't really bad when you think of them it those terms. It's definitely a NO if you don't do it, so why not? Well, I finally worked up the courage to put myself out there with the help of some friends encouraging me to do so. A new 'online' friend who was recently published (actually published several times) gave me additional guidance before and after my submission that really has helped me.

....and the good news is: My first submission was accepted and I am now working on an article for a large magazine in the art world!!! Whoooooohooooooooo!!! I'll give more details and issue date once everything is set in stone as I suppose anything can change between now and then, but as it stands right now, I should have something(s) published before the holidays!!!!!!! You have no idea how tickled I am but how scared I am that I will fall on my face..LOL. Debbie Doubter talking right now but her sister Positive Polly is the stronger of the two twins so I am going to plug away as if it's a done deal and do my best to make the August 1st deadline!
The moral of the story is, you must at least try--and sometimes try and try again if you really want something to happen. Inaction leads to sure failure; Action and motivation leads to accomplishments and achievements. I am so glad I bought the book The Secret as it really changed my mindset and has shown me how to believe in what I'm doing and live my life as if my goals are already achieved or on their way.
So maybe writing an art book isn't sooooo out of my reach. There are several online artists that have really catapulted their career over the last couple of years, one of which also has a book coming out early this fall. If you haven't ever checked out Kelly Rae's work, do so now!! You'll love her whimsical woman who are so very inspiring.
I love the name of her book....Taking Flight. I can totally relate to the meaning behind it.
Stay tuned for the rest of the story :)
Until then, have an artfully good week!

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??