Signs (and a wish!)

I've always been one to notice "the signs". I usually see them everywhere. What I mean are those little things that catch your eye as you go about your day-to-day, that give you pause, that grab your attention. Sometimes, they make you ask "What does that mean?" and sometimes you just KNOW.

As I continue to find my way with regards to my art and work and my purpose, I have had the recent occasion to ask the Universe to send me a sign. Let me know that I'm going in the right direction. I've felt them before, the signs of suredness that you can feel in your toes. The signs that make you say "YES" with your whole heart.

Guess what happened?   

Nothing. I haven't seen any signs. Am I not noticing? Am I going in the wrong direction? Am I supposed to just trust and keep going? All I know is that I don't feel settled. I don't feel that enthusiastic feeling that makes me want to put all of my energy into something. Whatever IT may be.

I have been thinking of signs a lot though. I have been thinking back to my childhood, spurred on by my recent interview with the wonderful VP Miller. It made me realize that I'm good at MAKING signs. One of my strengths is lettering. It comes easy to me to add words to my paintings. I think that's why I'm becoming more attracted to mixed media. I know it doesn't come easy for everyone. I know that a lot of my art comes out looking like posters or signs. As you can see from the above work-in-progress. I know I have some things to say, and I naturally seem to make paintings that look like posters. It seems so simple. Yet I never really realized it before. Or I haven't really embraced it before. Hmmmm, could this be something that has been under my nose all the while?

Then, the other night I went to an emergency city hall meeting concerning the closing of my daughter's elementary school. (Our city is truly rallying against this. I can't even describe the upset and sadness that surrounds this). Anyhoo, as I was walking through the historic part of our little town on the way to city hall, I see this SIGN.

 

How's that for a sign?

So Jamie asks today for Wishcasting Wednesdays... "What do you wish to focus on?" At first I was going to say, I wish to focus on my art career. But I think that I'm going to revise that...and be more specific...I wish to focus on a sign FOR God!  I'll keep you posted as to what comes about.

In the meantime, Go Out and Be Kind!

New mixed media peice

Here is another one of my new mixed media pieces. I am really digging the freedom that mixed media offers. I made this for my mother-in-law's birthday. I can't believe that just a short time ago, I didn't really enjoy "doing faces." Now I feel quite comfortable and am happy with how they are coming out. If there is something that you are uncomfortable with, but wish you weren't, my advice is to take a few workshops or watch a few instructional videos, and practice, practice. You'll be amazed at the world that will be opened to you. I enjoyed Jodi Ohl's and Tam's workshops when working with faces.

I used a stretched canvas as a base which I painted a variety of blues and greens. Then I collaged torn papers and die-cuts layered with different paints. For the girl, I used watercolors and Pitt pens on separate watercolor paper. I then cut her out and used gel medium to glue her to the collage. I used stamps for the words and voila! Whoop, there she is. Hope you enjoy her!

Happy Easter, my Peeps!

Here's a little bit of the yumminess that we are enjoying this lovely Easter Day. Above is a Lush Angel Cake...angel food cake topped with pineapple whipped cream topping and strawberries. Heavenly.

We colored eggs yesterday and also made these cute little Rice Krispie treat Peep nests with little M&M eggs. So easy, just form the krispies in muffin pans to make the nests.

 

I was going to make my usual quiches for Easter brunch at our house, but I found a recipe for Strata, kind of an egg bread pudding that was begging to be tried. I made this one with ham and cheese and carmelized onions. Soooooo gooooood AND can be made the day ahead.

Top these off with a couple of Mimosas and you pretty much have a perfect brunch. Hope your Easter was just as yummy!

A product that really works...

As you can see, I'm still persevering on the bloggie overhaul. Learning so much, which is fun at times and other times I want to pull my hair out trying to get it to do what I want. I'm getting there...

I wanted to take a minute out for a product recommendation. I consider myself quite a savvy shopper, mostly by necessity, but I also find it kinda fun getting bargains just by paying a little bit of attention. That being said, I do not like products that don't do what they say. It really bugs me. It makes me feel ripped off and I start pondering all that is wrong in the world, like work ethics and fraud. So, when a product actually outperforms my expectations, I am happy and willing to share the info, especially with my fellow artists out there.

I found such a product in Winsor and Newton's Brush Cleaner and Restorer. Absolutely fabulous product, and non-toxic, and low vapor, and IT WORKS.  I have to admit I'm not the best brush caretaker in the world. I have brushes that have caked on, dried on acrylics, that I lovingly tell myself I'll use for some mixed-media experimenting. But we all have those brushes that we love and actually use to PAINT with, and when those are mistakenly left out to dry, it's is a sad day. And for those of us with young artists who get caught up in moments of creation and not so much in moments of clean-up, this will save you from admitting yourself to the looney bin, next time you find your favorite brush coated in dried black acrylic looking like a 12-month-old toothbrush, bristles all hither and thither.

It works! I recommend keeping a bottle on hand. (And if Winsor and Newton is out there, I'm available for product endorsement!)

Wishcasting Wednesday with Jamie Ridler

I usually like to add a photo to represent my wish for Wishcasting Wednesdays, but today my whole blog represents my wish!  This week, Jamie, asks us What Do You Wish to Tend to? 

I wish to tend to my Blog! I wish to tend to my Creative Business! I wish to tend to my dream of success as an artist! So, today, I know I have the power to make the first part of my wish come true...I'm going to tend to my blog!  Might look kinda funny as I work on it...please bear with me!

Go Out and Be Kind!

Wish...

It's Wishcasting Wednesday, and today Jamie asks..."What do you Wish to Read?"

This is my nightstand. This is what I wish to read. There is almost always a stack this big. I love to read. Books speak to me...begging to share what they know.

Just a few of the titles waiting...
Infinite Possibilities by Mike Dooley
Crafty Superstar by Grace Dobush
The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity by Catherine Ponder
Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers
A Course in Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

Can you tell I like to help my SELF? Makes me feel Good!

Baby Steps

My blog has been on the fritz as far as uploading pics for the past few days, and for some reason, if I can't load a pic, a post just doesn't seem complete. During that time, I have had some kinda big news for me! I opened my very own ETSY shop with the above girly girl as the first item listed. 

To be honest, this is my second shop. The first one I started about 4 years ago. I listed a few items and then....nothing happened. And quite frankly I gave up. I didn't nurture it. I didn't feed it or pay attention to its growth. I planted some seeds and walked away. That's why this new shop is such big news for me...a recommittment to myself and my art. It's me being brave in putting it out there, no matter what happens. I will not become deflated if I don't sell out overnight. I will love it and take care of it as an extension of myself because it is (I am) worth it!

The original for this print was made for someone very special to me, but the irony is that I'm realizing that it is helping me too. I haven't been feeling very strong and healthy lately and I've been on a quest to get to the root of why. I am a firm believer in affirmations and a huge fan of Louise Hay, the grandmother of affirmations. I truly believe that our minds play a big role in how we feel and how our lives unfold. So, this little girl is the first in a series I am calling Artfirmations! Affirmation art...something to delight your eyes, your heart and your mind. Something to look upon daily and tell yourself these truths until you believe them with all your might!

 I'll be listing more inspirational, whimsical, happy art items soon, so please check back and see if something might be calling to your heart.

Be kind!

My First Interview!

I'm pleased to share my very first interview. Check it out here, over on VP Miller's blog. Enjoy!