Thursday, March 29, 2018

What does your Best day look like? update:: GIVEAWAY announced!!

Congrats to Linda S., Perla, and Vanessa! you have won. thanks to everyone who participated and shared! so much gratitude



GIVEAWAY announced!!
What does your Best Day Ever look like? Leave me a comment and share this post to your social media to get a chance to win my new washi tape!
here's how:

  • share this post on social media: twitter, instagram, FB, blog, etc whichever you choose
  • come back here and leave a comment with how you shared and PLEASE POST YOUR EMAIL. (I will not post the comments so that your emails are protected from internet spamming)
  • Then on Monday April 2nd, I'll pick 3 winners!
  • easy peasy......





Sweet Mic and Min washi tape available here.

disney journal by Dave Baxter

watercolors Designs by Rachel Beth:

caran d'ache watercolor pencils

Stabilo Woodys

Sharpie white paint pen:

Mickey clips:

my watercolor workshops: Watercolor Play and Discover
 & My Watercolor Journal


Enjoy this video of me creating in my Disney Journal!



Jumpstart into Self publishing


As I begin work on my next book, I find myself going back to my own online class to make sure I get everything right when designing my book to be sold on Amazon. I use Createspace, a company owned by Amazon to self publish my book. I love that it gives me and my work exposure through a huge company. This class has helped lots of folks create their own magical book....to make the book that is inside of them. And to make it the way YOU want it to look. I even get to name my own book. Yes, i've heard that when you go through a big publisher, you rarely get to name it what you want to name it.

If you have wanted to create a book, but don't want to wait around for a big house publisher to come knocking on your door.... then why not empower your own creativity with Jumpstart: into self publishing. 



Wednesday, March 28, 2018

New Washi tape design is here!


I have a brand new washi tape design now available in the shop.... sweet Mic and Min.
This cute tape is wonderful to add to your journal creations and mixed media projects!






Monday, March 26, 2018

New Originals

Not having instagram on my phone has been incredible. I have gotten so much done, it will be hard to reinstall it back on my phone and have the temptation of distraction at my fingertips ...oy! I have been posting on Later so I may continue with that or give insta another go this week so I can do a few stories. I am torn.

I am loading some original art in my shop now. It's your chance to grab some littles!!






Thursday, March 22, 2018

Studio redo

I just had to take pictures while it is still half-way neat and before it gets crazy messy again. I always say a messy studio is a productive studio. But there comes a time for a reset...a redo...a revitalization. I just finished filming for Blurred Edges and it was time for a change. I also wanted to incorporate my watercolor table more easily accessible to my current work flow. It now is in a basic U shape that I can work on my easel....acrylic table....and watercolor table.


Also if you check out this page, I have included some of my favorite supplies and they also happen to be what we'll be using in Blurred edges so take a look.



I also have brand new sticker sheets up in the shop:



Monday, March 19, 2018

Shop update!!

Shop update is ON for tomorrow Tuesday March 20th at 9AM CST
I have a few tins and originals that I'll be listing.
Also, we will be adding a new pouch design to the mix.
I'll let that be a surprise!!!

The time away from instagram (on my phone) has proven to be AMAZING. I am very productive and it's like my creativity has expanded...if that makes sense. It's not bogged down with scrolling through feed; never-ending stories.....etc. I feel more grounded and I can focus better. 
Thanks for following me here!

Best Day Ever - original
prints will also be available


Baby girl tin


LISTEN

nature walk

EGGY

I Can Fly

Easter morning

Quiet

My Kermie

Faith



Saturday, March 17, 2018

Get our Scribble on!


My big ol scribble mess using charcoal, colored pencils, stabilo graphite, and lyra graphite stick.
Blurred edges begins in a couple weeks and we get our SCRIBBLE on!

Here are a few process shots of one of the journal lessons in class.


Class begins April 2nd

Here some other process shots taken from various projects in class.



and some of the fun supplies we will be using



15% shop sale going on this weekend

As a thank you for following me here on my blog, please head over to my shop where you can save 15% on almost everything. (the only exception are upcoming classes and Create Your Own classes)


Next shop update will be on Tuesday with a few tins, tags, and originals.
thanks again for following me here on my blog. 

I am still scheduling posts on my instagram but feel my energy around my creativity needs boundaries and have decided to revitalize my blog and will doing more updates here. 
Since my instagram break this week, my productivity has increased dramatically and there is a certain calm in my mind around trying to stay informed with comments, likes, and all that crazy stuff. LOL!

So I'm going back to the dark ages of blogging and hope you'll continue to follow me here.

I remember back in 2007 when I first started on etsy, where flickr and blogging where the go to ways of following an artist. And to be honest, I miss those times. I no longer want that feeling of "staying in the know" or those comparison gremlins. I am concentrating on staying focused on my path and art journey.

Happy Saturday!!

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

New Tins!!

Brand new originals tins are now available. These lil cuties never last long and I letting all my blog readers know first. Thanks for following me here as I take a break from instagram.

Here is a lil video for you with my process for painting tins


Plans and Dreams!

So today's #marchmeetthemaker prompt is dreams and plans. Several years back I had the dream of "doing something with Disney" but I wasn't sure what it was so to speak. It was a few months later that Tangie Baxter invited me to teach as a guest teacher at Disneyland using watercolors and journals created by her husband Dave. I still pinch myself that this is something that I get to do and am incredibly grateful to Tangie for helping me live my WILDEST dreams! (If you've never experienced Disney with Tangie, then you have never experienced Disney the RIGHT way... :-) Through these workshops, I have met some of my closest friends and I am forever inspired and blessed that we found each other.... Here's to running around acting like a kid like we are meant to!!




We later talked about how this synchronistic thing happened and I told Tangie that I had this prayer/intention/goal in mind. I even wrote it down and said it out loud. Tangie mentioned that as she started to plan and dream about it, something just compelled her to reach out to me. As we talked, we realized this was the working of the Spirit. And if He is one person, then once two souls create then Spirit moves in us to connect together and collaborate. I am in awe of how God has blessed me with Tangie and the magic her and Dave have created in this world. Saying all of this....makes me want to go back to Disney!!

I looked up how Spirit moves in us and binds us, connecting us and this is what I found:


1 Corinthians 12:7-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.




Also, I wanted to mention that I found a cool plugin called Later that I am using to schedule my posts. I am finding that I am spending a bit too much of my time on instagram and this route feels a bit less like intrusive to my creativity ....so I'll only be posting like this for a while. (so you may see less stories for a while as I test out taking instagram off of my phone for a week or two)


I have decided to post more on my blog and really focus on revitalizing my blog and doing more videos than spending time with instagram. At least for now. I want to do more youtube fun videos so subscribe to my channel and look for more goodies from me! (I am working on one now....yeh!!!)

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

New Sweet Mickey and Minnie pins and stickers are here!


Sweet Mic and Min stickers and buttons have landed in the shop!

I have been experimenting with painting Mickey and Minnie in my style and for the first time I feel like I have given them my own flair and style. They have blurred/distressed edges and kind of become one with the background. Each pin is 1.25" and the stickers are 3" in diameter. Perfect for scrapbooking or planner neat stuff fun!





Saturday, March 10, 2018

Blurred Edges



Juicy texture. Blurred edges. To give up the idea that perfection is beautiful. Imperfection is real. Imperfection is the most beautiful. It's where the cracks are. It's where we stitched together our heart and came out stronger.
I am taking you along the Blurred edges of painting. To journey into the unexpected. The vulnerable place where you want to fix things but must leave them as they are. To celebrate their beauty for what they are....cracks and crevices filled with juicy color, scribbles, and your beautiful mistakes.
We will surprise ourselves. Creating accidents. Fostering mistakes. For that is where the magic lies!
  • $85
  • 6 lessons
  • Class begins April 2nd



FAQ: 
How long will I have access to the course? Lifetime access. Videos are downloadable
Do I need all the supplies on the supply list? No, I am all about using what you have on hand. I will be working mainly with Tim Holtz paints because they move nicely when activated by water. You can use any fluid acrylics that you may have on hand. (Ground espresso and tea dye Tim Holtz colors are the most important ones)

Will there be a Facebook group? yes, there will be a private Facebook group so that you can share and get to know your fellow creatives! 

one of the lessons - blurred edges journal page

Supplies
catalyst wedge - no 6 (the gray one)
Utrecht gesso white: this gesso is super thick and holds nice texture.
any pencil - I am using a faber castell 7 b pencil  and a  stabilo graphite
flower stamps: here or here or any of these (or any stamp you like!)
journal for experimenting (I use Jane davenport 9x12 journal)
wood board - I'll be using 12x12 and 8x8. 10x10 is also acceptable
green ochre Pablo pencil (or any yellowish green colored pencil you have on hand) and a few other colored pencils. I like the Pablo caran d'ache and prismacolor colored pencils
neon pink colored pencil
Dina brushes (specifically the rounds)
stylus for scratching into paint or just use a nail
Big brush for large washes of color
Lindy's stamp gang sprays - these are optional! Cape cod coral and bodacious blush











paint colors: 
titanium white matte (make sure this is the matte white. the texture is different!)
a light pink 

















Tim Holtz paint colors:  walnut staintea dye are the must haves. Pick other colors that you are drawn to.
I will also be using crushed olive frequently and the spun sugar and worn lipstick for lips, etc. (but you could also just use the pink and neon red from above) 
***NOTE there may be a few supplies that are added as I continue to film the class. I'll keep you all posted!

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Joining Forces


Meet my new business partner, my husband Tim.....! He is retiring from his job (of nearly 20 years) and we are teaming up in the world of art. Tim will begin by first handling my etsy shop and all the aspects revolving around that. And lucky me, he is an accountant!! He got his CPA out of college in 1997 and has been handling my accounting since I became self employed in 2008. He will continue to focus on all things taxes and numbers. thank goodness, I am no good at that (and don't enjoy it either...hahah!)

So this dream has been bubbling for about 6 years. We at first kinda just joked around and dreaming out loud of working together. Then it started to become apparent these last couple years (and through a lot of prayer and trust in God) that we might be able to do this thing we've been dreaming about.

As you might imagine, there have been some fears and anxiety surrounding this leap of faith.......but we are going for it!! I am in no doubt that it will be hard as we transition on working together every day. I am in no doubt that the enemy/negativity/gremlins will come knocking and tell me we can't do it. He/It has already tried. But I know what that sounds like. And I know what my Father thinks. And He is behind us.

Thanks for all your support. Tim and I can't wait to work with you more and more this year! Lots of fun, creativity is overflowing and we can't wait to bring you more content via online classes, more original artwork and lots of other goodies that are in the works right now.


We are so blessed and grateful for this opportunity!


Here's to lots of ball playing, poodle walks, spontaneous Disney trips, sleeping past 5:45 am, eating better, more sunshine, more togetherness, creative collaborations, during the week matinees, more naps, and a whole lot less stress!

Welcome Tim !! (the best poodle Dad in the whole world.)


To celebrate, we are offering 35% off self work classes, enamel pins, collage sheets, 
and prints in our etsy shop
Just enter code: POODLEDAD at checkout to save. 
****Does not apply to the Create your own series of classes. sorry!
please don't forget to add the code!! 
as we cannot make corrections or cancellations after purchase is made
Good now through March 4th!