Friday, April 30, 2010

ketchup

I am playing catch-up.

Between eating, ~~sleeping~~ trying to get some rest, chasing Mr.C, keeping the house ~~clean~~ from being a total disaster, finishing up a HUGE custom order, and whatever else I do - I haven't had the chance to blog or even read the lovely blogs I follow.

I hope to have some fun shop news along with pictures of the HUGE custom order to share on Monday. And I ~~hope to~~ better get some rest this weekend or someone might die [tired smile inserted here].

Have a wonderful weekend. Is it May already?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

♥ I heart art ♥ The Joys of Jess

I love, love, love embroidered wall art.

It is such a unique and fun way to decorate.

And along came The Joys of Jess:

When did you first begin creating wall art?

My mom taught me how to cross stitch when I was 8 or 9, so officially my first project was a Tweety Bird 17 years ago. I got back into it about two years ago with embroidery instead of cross stitch. For me, embroidery is more free-form, and I don't have to worry about patterns.

What is your favorite or most sentimental creation and why?

Little Red Riding Hood, definitely. I just am in love with the trees, and the hills, and the way little red came out. I was very proud of this piece.

What people/things inspire your work?

I do a lot of nature-based art, which I love. A lot of my items are inspired by what I am around on any given day. I've made flowers inspired by flowers my students have drawn.

My "teacher name" embroidery is because I used to teach preschool and wanted something with my name on it.

I did a lot of ocean-animals once because my mom was into having a beach theme.

Things just get stuck in my head and then I have to figure out a way to make them.

Is there a project you have always dreamed of creating?

What would it be?

I'd love to do a whole line of fairy tales. Now that I'm pregnant, I'm wanting to make onesies for our baby. I'd love to do a HUGE project one day, but I'm pretty impatient for things like that (one reason crochet never worked out for me. Tons of scarves, no finished blankets). I'd also love to do portraits, but I'm terrible at drawing people. I'd need someone to team up with for that!

Be sure to visit Jess's shop...she offers FREE shipping!

{I did and got this for Mr.C's room.}

Also check out her photo-stream

{to see more of her great wall art} and blog.

And congrats Jess on your baby-to-be...you will have another joy added to your life for sure :)

Monday, April 26, 2010

Mother Dear

Mother's Day is two weekends away.

Here are some nice finds my mother and mother-in-law would love.

namolio

This is my second year celebrating Mother's Day as a mommy.

Now, what I REALLY want cannot be found on Etsy.

I can be found here though...

[source]

{The Windsor Hotel}

A night away.

A {long . full . glorious . uninterrupted} night of sleep.

Happy shopping for
your mother .
yourself .
or the ladies in your life who have been a mother to you.

Friday, April 23, 2010

with a Moo here, a whale there {shop talk}

I received my FREE box of Moo business cards.

I have been using Moo MiniCards:

With my MiniCards almost gone and a new look in place,

I jumped on the offer for 50 free business cards.

________________

I also updated my shipping.

Thanks to the advice of a fellow artist,

I found a more efficient way to ship my smaller paintings.

I also decided to use pretty shipping labels.

{Pretty paintings should have pretty labels.}

________________

I have a painting making a {splash} in the shop soon,

and I am working on a BIG custom order

(one of the last before BabyJ comes).

Busy . Busy.

________________

Oh, AND readers can get 15% off any in-stock item in my shop today.

Enter SHOPtalk23 in the message to seller upon checkout,

and I will refund your PayPal account.

Discount does not include shipping.

Hope you have a productive and happy Friday!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

dirty laundry

“We should all do what,

in the long run,

gives us joy,

even if it is only picking grapes

or sorting the laundry.”

-E.B. White

[Sorting laundry doesn't particularly give me joy,

but the little man pictured above sure does.

So, give me him with a pile of laundry and I'll be happy.]

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

♥ I heart art ♥ Kolleen Harrison

I ♥ happy people.

You know, those kind of people who would be bright yellow or pink if they were a color.

I haven't ever spent time with Kolleen Harrison one on one, but from her art and her blog, I have the feeling there is some bright pink there [smiles].

Meet Kolleen and check out the vivacious art she creates:

When did you first begin creating art?

Does having an obsession with coloring books as a child count?!! I feel I always had a strong pull and desire to create but quite honestly let many other things get in the way of my doing that. A little less than 2 years ago, I had a very vivid dream that drew me into the beginning stages of my painting and creating. It was one of those dreams that awakens you in the middle of the night and you know you just HAVE to write it down! It was the dream of my "HeartWingSisters"!! I was also given the book “Spilling Open” by Sabrina Ward Harrison that ignited that fire strongly within me to really delve into my creative side....now if I go more than 3-4 days without doing so, I find myself getting a bit irritable and crabby!!

(sorry to my hubby and kiddlies!!)

What is your favorite or most sentimental creation and why?

hmmmmm.....this is a tough one to answer since there are many that i hold near and dear to my heart. It would probably be this one I did not too long ago. It states “life is better with company” and it was inspired by my family and all of my dear friends who I cannot imagine walking through this life without! They simply make life better! I will be listing this in my etsy shop....soon to be opened!!

What people/things inspire your work?

First and foremost I would have to say my 3 daughters. They inspire me so much and in the majority of my art I try to provoke the message of “focusing on our hearts” and being in touch with our inner beauty and growing kindness within. These are things I feel, as their mama, I need to teach them! Also, the countless amazing women in my life from my mom to my sisters to my aunts and girlfriends....they ALL inspire me together with my inner child, old vintage stores, hanging at the beach, and the endless amazing artists and blogs out there!!

Is there a project you have always dreamed of creating? What would it be?

I simply dream of my artwork reaching out and inspiring others, reminding them of the importance in staying focused on our hearts. We all age and our bodies change....but with work and desire and awareness to continually learn and grow within ourselves...our hearts will become more kind and compassionate and hopefully inspire and have others follow suit. And I am a strong believer that the more of us focusing on our hearts....will create a much better place for all of us and our children!

Check out Kolleen's blog for more behind her inspiration