Ornaments! Minis! Open House! Crazy Busy!!! Big News!!!So Excited!!!

My Open House was a huge success!!!
So many people stopped by!
I was overwhelmed with gratitude!!!
I really felt loved!!!
My stars where sold before they hit the tree!

Please everyone that came out, know that I appreciate each and everyone of you!!
It means so much to me to send my art out into the universe and make people happy when they look at it. That's all I want in life. Is to spread the love!

I had been working really hard.  Trying to get as many affordable original pieces that I could.
So I decided to make Mini Canvas. (Which is really a switch for me I like to work large)


Here are a few of my Minis and Ornaments.

Still working on ornaments for this weekend . I have a show. And then I can relax for a little.
Look at the mess!!
It is all worth it!!
I love making Art!
Woooooooooo!!!!  Big News

 

I am in the Somerset Studio Jan/Feb issue

Featured Artist!!

I was so excited to see that I was used for the advertisement in the Dec Issues! 

What an honor!

Can you imagine when the magazine comes out?? Crazy!!

This has been a dream come true for me!!! 

REALLY!!!

I even put it on my Vision Board 2 years ago.

I just had to feel the fear and do it anyway!!!

Dreams do come true!

Skies the limit!!

Don't forget to pick up a copy!!!
(Click on the word copy and order a copy for yourself!)
Or you can pick it up at any AC Moore, Michaels and Barnes and Noble.
EEeeeeeeee!!!!

I am going to leave you with a little poem today
It is the true meaning of success, I am truly blessed and thankful for everyone and everything in my life
I have such Gratitude!



The Meaning of Success

To laugh often and much;
To earn the respect of intelligent people
and to win the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate the beauty in nature and all that surrounds us;
To seek out and nurture the best in others;
To give the gift of yourself to others
without the slightest thought of return,
for it is in giving that we receive;
To have accomplished a task,
whether it be saving a lost soul,
healing a sick child,
writing a book,
or risking your life for a friend;
To have celebrated and laughed with great joy and enthusiasm
and sung with exaltation;
To have hope even in times of despair,
for as long as you have hope, you have life;
To love and be loved;
To be understood and to understand;
This is the meaning of success

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Peace and Open House

Each person has to find peace within. And peace to be real must not be unaffected by outside circumstances.

~Mahatma Gandhi~

Here is a  little progression shoot for you.

Always starts with the sketch

Add a little color

Add the Christmas Carol Music Paper.

I always use Golden Matte Gel Medium

Make sure you use the brayer to get all the bubble out from under the paper

Added the hair with some paper that I made.

Used a stencil to make the letters.

Again out of the paper I made.

Glued the Peace with Gel Medium

Also added some swirls in the background to add some glory

 

 "Let us forgive each other - only then will we live in peace"

~Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy~

Also I wanted to let everyone know that I will be having an open house on Dec 1 from 1 to 4...

You are all invited!

Yay!!

There will be lots of goodies for sale.

Also door prizes.

Good food!

Yummmmm!

Come and join us!

Don't be shy!

  

Also wanted to remind you that I have a 2 for $35 sale going on in my Etsy Shop right now.

Any 2 prints for $35.

Click on the below link and it will get you to my shop

Etsy Shop

Fasten your seatbelts!!!! Tis the season!!!

Give Thanks Goddess

 

 When we arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and joy of living.  If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.

~Tecumseh Shawnee Chief ~

Progression

 

Scrapes of paper glued down with Golden Soft Gel (Matte)

 

Working on the face

Like to get the face just right 

 Cut the paper for the feathers

Paste the paper feathers on with Golden Soft Gel Medium

 Paint the butterflies

Just adding the details.

 Softened it up a bit with Golden Titanium White

and added some scribbles.

I am also working on a new piece. 

This is the biggest piece I have ever worked on.

I love looking at the possibilities.

So much fun!

Can't wait to see what it turns out to be. 

Also it is my husband I my Anniversary!

26 years!

So indulge me a bit because I have to dedicate this post to my lovely husband.

I have been posting this song for the last few years.

It has become my song to him.

It tells it all!

Love you Stephen Foust!!!

It's true, I was made for you.

Happy Anniversary!!

Mish Mash......Busy Busy Busy!!!!! Yay!!!!

 Ohhhh how busy I am...................

The busy time has come upon us.  Tis the Season.... My favorite time of the year.  I am getting ready for a Open House at my house on December 1st.  Nelly is organizing it. She is selling her Sabika and I will be selling Originals, Prints, Postcards, Tablets,  and Magnets.  There will be other vendors like Pampered Chef,  Is it 21???.,   Tastefully Simple.  If you are in the area please stop in. Everyone is welcome. It is for sure going to be a fun day! 

So my house has to be ready for Christmas too. 

I have never been ready that early.

I think I will like it though, Starting the Holiday Early.

Also getting ready for another show on Dec 7.

I am working on 2 commissions this week.  Just have some tweaking to do.   One I can show you but the other I can not because it is a surprise for someone for Christmas. (I simply adore it. Can't wait to show it!)  Started 3 other paintings.

I am all over the place

 Yay!!!! I am so grateful.....

To be able to bring joy to people's lives, by doing something I love.

So Grateful!!

 

This painting I did for Marci. She lost her Beloved Copper. She has bought 3 of my originals paintings before, So she knows my style. When she asked me if I would do this, I was scared, because this is such a personal thing. She has all the memories and I wanted to do Copper justice.  So I really procrastinated. 

I hope she loves it as much as I loved making it for her.

 

Working on Portraits

I also was playing around with Tissue Paper

 

 WIP - Christmas Queen

Still working on the face.

Not quite there yet. 

Getting one canvas ready 

Not sure for what....

It will come to me.

Look at this crazy table!!! 

Working on a still life

Working on a portrait

It was organized earlier in the week!

No kidding!!

I love it this way!

Makes me feel alive!!!

With that I will leave you with this quote.

If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. 

The more things you do, the more you can do.

~Lucille Ball~

Dia de Muertos - Day of the Dead

DAY OF THE DEAD

Dia de Muertos is a  Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. It focuses on gathering of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family who have died. Building altars consisting of gifts to there loved ones including  pictures of the deceased, sugar skulls, marigolds.  Also leaving possessions of the deceased.  I left jewelry that my Mother had given me and that I got when she died. The celebration takes place on October 31, November 1 and November 2.  

Today I will be celebrating all my family and friends that have gone before me. 

My Sisters and Nieces will be here to Celebrate and honor our loved ones. 

It is also my Fathers 86th Birthday. Halloween Baby.

So glad he is still around.

Also the little kiddo's will be going Trick or Treating in the Neighborhood.

Lots of Candy.

Lots of Love.

Oh what a day we have in store for us. 

 

I painted these skulls from left over skulls from Halloween. You can get them really cheap at AC Moore or Michaels after the holiday. 

Just make sure you gesso them really good before you paint them. 

I honor them all and I miss them.

They will be in my heart forever.

True Love Never dies. 

Take some time out in the next few days and honor the ones you loved and lost. And honor the ones you love.

Both are so precious.