Letting Go

Wednesday night was a night to release. To let go. Thank you Pixie Campbell.
You have begun a powerful movement for women to entrust what they can control and to let go of what they cannot. A visionary for us all.

goodbye 2011. hello 2012. i am ready to take in what you have to offer. i can't wait to fly above like peter pan. to see the world through the eyes of a child again. there is joy. i believe! 

Now to choose my word for the year. Last year was my first year to have a word......"Dreams". do you know what yours will be....? i have some pondering to do.

Happy New Year everyone!

ps. Announcement, dates, details, and all the juicy tidbits about my online course, Paint Your Story will be up at the stroke of midnight. Sunday, January 1st, 2012 - 12AM

Paint Your Story

"It took me four years to paint like Raphael and a lifetime to paint like a child" -
Pablo Picasso

Announcing my first online workshop:

Paint Your Story!

coming Spring 2012

dates, details and Intro video will be up January 1st

Woodland perfume

Woodland perfume sample set and larger bottles are coming to the Understory next week. On monday or tuesday of next week I will launch 3 new perfume blends to my shop. Owl, Bird, and Rabbit. If you love Bear or Fawn....you will love Owl.

Owl wears warmly on the skin with earthy patchouli, rosewood and immortelle as the base notes. Frankincense and violet leaf play in the middle. Evergreen slips in to recall the cool mornings as soft sandalwood and musk warm your heart. A brisk note of teakwood and vanilla briefly intervene at moments. A beautiful wearable earthy, musky blend. If you have always wanted to wear an earthy oil but never thought you could, this is the one for you.

Rabbit is one of my new favorites. It is reminiscent of a bunny scurrying through the snowy brush as the dawn breaks. Paws dusted with smoke, fragrant greenery mixed with warm Amber. Hints of vanilla sandalwood offset with patchouli honey and black rose become a resting spot for the hint of smoke.
Douglas fir and wild mint capture the snow and fragrant understory of the rabbit's lair.

Bird is grounded by exquisite Neroli and vetiver. Oakmoss continues to ground the blend as soft notes of peach and white musk play on your nostalgic senses. Black raspberry interlaced with vanilla cream comes in at the end with hints of vanilla and orchid. As the bird nibbles on berries, he is surrounded by leafy green trees. As the sun warms his feathers, he bursts into the sky for his next journey.

They will be available separately as samples, the larger 1/4 oz amber bottles, and as sample sets......

I'm so thrilled with this new series of blends. Thank you to all of you who have tried the oils and left the most awesome feedback. You guys rock!!

ps. the new banner features a photo from the amazing Lisa Parks.........

Shop update TODAY!!

Today at 10am central time.....i'm doing a big shop update with lots of dolls, original artwork, and a couple of new prints. Here is a sneak peek of some of the stuff.....

get your browser ready!! all the items will list at 10am (central)

Everything will list at once. (all items are in draft mode just ready to go LIVE!!)

I am super stoked about this new line of work! i love the rawness....the sad faces...

and the primitive-ness of the dolls.

go now to get ready!!

Giving Thanks.....

As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our families, I want you to know how thankful I am to each and every one of you who have supported my art over the past 4-1/2 years. It was back in March of 2007 that I first opened my etsy shop and it has been the most fun and rewarding 4 years of my life. I have you to thank. Because of you I am living my dream.

I'm offering a coupon code in the shop now through Friday 11-25 midnight.......use BLACKFRIDAY2011 to save 20% off everything in the shop. 

 new ornaments in the shop

and some inspiration winged girl postcards

Understory

Remember me mentioning working hard on a new venture....? Well, I'm here to announce what I've been working so hard on this last month.

I have just opened my new etsy shop!!! it is fragrance inspired by my artwork and long-time love of oils. i have always had a good nose palette stemming back from my childhood when i adored everything that "smelled-good". I loved collecting candles, smelly erasers, smelly markers, and strawberry shortcake dolls.


Right now, I only have a few fragrances available and a couple of amazing bath salts!! But stay tuned for more fragrances and other surprises!!!

 here is my shop announcement: (my little sister helped me name the shop.....i struggled with finding a name that told the story of my shop as well as one that had not already been taken. I think this is perfect)
The Understory is the growth layer lowest on the forest floor mostly underneath tiny twigs, leaves, and small plants. There, closest to the soil, the understory has many complexities and indeed stories to tell. My shop is inspired by the nostalgia of my childhood and the simple everyday pleasures. My blends take shape visually and olfactory.

 snow princess - bath salts

Lemon Lime Love - bath salts

 snow princess sample

Guides - sample set

something new

New paintings will be hitting my etsy shop on Monday.

 bear

 henry

 little stitched sally

Shaman bunny

I have been working like mad lately on the new venture and its pretty much taking my every waking moment. I had a bit of a breakthrough yesterday to the point where i said....."i can do this...i can really DO this". I wake up in the middle of the night because i can't sleep. the excitement is taking over. i have been drawing and brainstorming and calculating. yes, a little!

sometimes i find that when i come hear to my art blog....i don't feel i have much to say anymore. i feel like a broken record that keeps repeating itself. i start to type and i say to myself "i've already said this" or touched on this in some way. is it because we are creatures of pattern? I just have this weird feeling that this new batch of paintings will be close to the last of them before the end of the year. its so funny feeling my hands type that. although i will say i have several backgrounds on canvas already waiting to be tackled. i don't know. i feel my focus has shifted just a bit to get this new shop up and running.

its weird because yesterday i received an email from Teesha telling us that 2012 will be the last artfest and i could so relate to the words she wrote. 

a shift. 

a new direction. 

still doing what i love.

but something new.

i can't wait to see what the future holds for Teesha and her retreats.....

and i can't wait to tell you what I've been working on!!!! it feels like when i first started painting. 

the newness.

the butterflies. 

the beautiful planning.

the organizing. 

i hope to have new shop going by sometime in December. but i have so much work to do. and in saying that i may be absent just a bit from this blog until then.

happy creating my friends.

Swimming With Stars

Swimming with Stars
water crept into her dreams, from the glow of the moon.
speaking beyond the subconscious, yet shouting loudly to be heard.
it is here where freedom began.

from the depths of fluid energy the mind escapes
into realms of mystical worlds.
hypnotized by her majesty, the waves forget their power.
her fullness extends a balance as the veil is lifted.

knowing now what her heart must try,
there is beauty in fear.
now lit with stars
holding her hand as they swim
where darkness once lingered

by me in Kate's class at Serendipity
inspired by my friendship with Jennifer and the moon

Swimming with Stars

for Jennifer

painted on one of our late night painting sessions...

me and jennifer

After the magic muse class, the students wanted to know what poem of Jennifer's first spoke to me a couple years ago. in these words, beauty is realized by hurt. i love you jen. my eyes are now open.......


Eyes open - by Jennifer Beltoff

I bring myself to the table

with my heart on my sleeve

I hug you

Tell you I love you

and try to show you

that life is not perfect

Sometimes it is plain awful

We get dragged through the mud

and we are not sure

how to pick ourselves back up

but we can do it

As human beings we are so strong

So powerful

and so brave

I show you my tears

I laugh with you

I take chances

I put myself out there

I live with my eyes open

In hopes to open yours

a bit of NEWS and some mail art

I have just returned from teaching at Serendipity and i discovered the beauty of magic moments. (more on this very soon)

fab mail art that i received while i was away:

 the pink, the red, the stitches.....

the words peeking from behind tissue and papers.

JUST DIVINE! 

from the talented Vikki

 nostalgia at its best.....

layers and layers of sepias and orange

a teeny touch of turquoise in all the right places

mail art from the Fabulous Karen

juicy collage

playful purple

remarkable layering!

this gorgeous atc original 

mail art is from the talented Martice

Thank you Martice, Karen and Vikki.......what gorgeous works of art you made. (your mail art pieces from me are going out today or in the morning)

ok.....so for news time.................

a new business opportunity is in the inner-workings of my brain. i am letting it simmer for now. a couple steps in the direction have been made. it has been a passion of mine since i was a little girl and i think the more i visit that child, her heart is telling me to make this leap. i'm not sure where this will end up so i don't want to reveal anything too soon. i'm guessing months will pass until anything is seen of it. but i will tell you that i will continue to make art........and that this new venture will incorporate my art in it. almost like an extension of my art. of me. 

so due to this news, I am closing my mail art exchange program for now. i know that i had previously announced that i would resume the exchange in November (so if you've sent things in to me already...don't worry i will honor your mail and you will receive a return mail piece from me.) thank you for everyone that participated. it was a dream of mine inspired by the late Ray Johnson to make mail art and send it into the world.

i heart you all BIG time!

a little mail art and next adventure

I am in the midst of scurrying around packing and getting ready for Serendipity. I am so excited to see some wonderful friends and to bask in the light of the moon on the beach. I am teaching two workshops called Magic Muse and Full Spectrum Story. I have fallen hard for teaching! It feels natural......i'm not nervous and so far has been the most rewarding practice since i first started painting. I love sharing this bit of myself and the fun techniques that incorporate painting messy with our hands and using words and paper as background patterns. carefree and alive......!!

here are some photos i took last year in nags head....

 this is the moon folks!! certainly serendipitous that there

was this huge moon last year over the water....

(a bit of a back story......i had an epiphany that i wanted to

start painting when i saw the moon over the water on

the west coast back in 2005)

it really doesn't get much better than this!!!

I'll post lots of photos when i return. me and this girl have a date with  a camera. (we did

a trade of a painting from me for a photo shoot with her...so excited!!)

and perhaps a little margarita too!

also i wanted to leave you with a couple mail art pieces:

 mail art from Tina Gilmore

i adore the intricate line drawings on the envelope

and the little pin is to die for....and we haven't even talked 

about the painting....wow!!! so so wonderful and even matted too

thank you tina!!

mail art from Rachel Rydel

I have had a huge art crush on rachel for months now

and i received this beautiful little book just in time for halloween.

i just squealed when i saw it wrapped in those darling

glassine bags topped off with a pin. this will

most certainly go under my Nightmare before Christmas Tree.

Thank you Rachel and Tina for your amazing talents. your mail art is headed your way right now.

I will be resuming my mail art exchange in November so get out your pens, paints, thread, or whatever

and send me some art to be featured on my blog.

here is my mailing address again:

Mindy Lacefield

123 Detonti Drive

Maumelle, AR  72113

Create Magic

Liz has a special thing about her retreats........there is a real connection fostered with the workshops, the people, and Liz herself. She makes you feel at home. (home was a recurring word and theme at this retreat.) and the people i met there connected instantly. it didn't take us long before we were gathered in a circle laughing and sharing stories. it truly was magic.

i was honored to teach for the very first time here at this retreat. and it only seems fitting that this is the retreat i would do it with since i attended my first be present retreat back in 2009. i didn't know what to expect.....but i didn't expect the kindred souls that i would soon call my sisters.

sometimes its hard to articulate in words what the experience holds for me in my heart and how it deeply affected my soul.....

we met at a log cabin filled with..............
heart strings
quilts
cozy tea
bouncy balls
photo props
accessible words
warm spirits
belly laughing
walks in the woods
capturing jumps
laughing more
wine
painting to music downstairs
crying together

these are the things i hold dear.............

words as layers....by JoJo Blondal

i love you Liz, Vivienne, Kelly, Danielle, Jojo, Celina, Melissa, Angel, Eileen, Janna, and Valerie!!!

Mail Art Monday

I'm still receiving the most beautiful mail art!!!

i have just returned from being filled up with love and teaching at Create Magic (a be present retreat) which by the way, was just featured in Mingle. let me tell you, the people you meet and the magic you create will go on to enrich and change your life forever. i'm a walking testament. (more on Create Magic tomorrow)

here are the lovely, beautiful, amazing pieces of art i received while i was gone:

mail art from the fabulous Tammy McGee

i love the dreamy blues and greens! and the words

showing through make my eyes dance with joy!!

bravo dear girl....

mail art from Mary Ann Mariano

wow!!! just wow. this amazing art quilt is just so exquisite!

and the stitched envelope..... my heart can't take much more goodness.

mail art from Sophie De Cort

coming all the way from Dubai! i love the blue pom poms and

the stitched book tells a story of layered goodness....

happy. ponder. make. 

yes!!

mail art from Kathie Vezzani

i love the hand carved flower buds and the 

whimsical, loose face. just absolutely breathtaking!!

mail art from Tina Amaro

the envelope is such eye candy with sweet paper collaged pieces.

i am bowled over by the chunky goodness of this canvas.

just so amazing! colors are spot on!!

mail art from Tina Deschenie

i love the textures, the collaged note (be still my heart!)

yes, "support the postal service". i love that you said that!!

i think by doing good for others with this circle of love, we are

helping the very ones who deliver it.

xoxo!!

mail art from Jennifer Taylor

oh these blues and oranges make my heart flutter

with happiness! everything down to the envelope makes

me want to hug the sky! love this.....xo

 

 

mail art by Sarah Waterfield

oh my!! what wonderfullness this package holds!

i love the angel. the christmas fellow (or gal) 

i am continued to be blown away!!

well, there they are folks. don't they just make your eyes dance with joy?!?! i am so honored to have you all featured here and will send those folks art very soon (for the ones i haven't already done so)

you guys rock!! what an amazing circle of love and life we are sharing. my heart is so full!!

thanks so much for participating!!

xo

min

Mail Art monday

Monday rolls around so fast! mondays are pretty much my favorite day of the week. It used to be the my worst when i worked at a job i hated. and it gets even better with these lovely mail art offerings i have to share with you today.

here is the awesome lineup:

Mail art from Bonita Rose

i love the delicious red and black envelope

and the textures in this sweet piece delight my heart.

mail art from Brooke Butler

oh wow, what exquisite brush work!

i love the envelope too. just so divine dear girl.

 mail art from Cameron Reutzel

i love this little painting! such sweet friends sleeping beside one another

i love how she added a gorgeous ribbon for easy hanging. brilliant!

i may have to start doing this to my canvas panels.

 mail art from Ludgera Worms

i adore the shape and size of this mail piece.

she mailed this just like it  is presented here with an address

on the other side. i love the colors and the collage elements. beautiful!!

(and Ludgera told me she is taking on of my classes at Artfest. can't wait!!)

 

mail art from Annie Hooten

i adore the pe work on this amazingly colored

mail piece. just gorgeous soft mixed with bold. wow, wow!!

be still my heart.

Thank you all so very much for participating! i continue to be blown away at all the beautiful work that graces my mailbox!

Brooke and Bonita, I sent your mail art to you a couple days ago. And Annie, Ludgera, and Cameron...yours will be mailed today.

I think for the month of October, I'm going to have to put a "pause" on the project. I think i will have 1 or 2 mail art monday posts because i'm going to be teaching in Seattle oct 4-9.....here. and in NC Oct 19-23.....here. (by the way, there are still spots available at Serendipity. its never too late to join the fun!)

......and then locally i'll be teaching an evening class HERE

I may not be able to return a mail piece to you for the month of October so just wanted all of you to know. Keep sending them in though, and i'll still feature you here on my blog.

thanks again for your lovely words and encouragement for this project. it has been so fun!

here again is my address if you want to participate:

Mindy Lacefield

123 Detonti Drive

Maumelle, AR  72113