More journal art designs coming off my drawing board this morning.

I am in the "get it done" mode for the upcoming show in Salt Lake next Saturday March 9th.

It will be a 6 hour drive (more or less) but the weather looks good and I can head out early Friday morning

and thankfully going down in elevation means easy peasy until I get into the mtns in Utah which will be later morning so no problems.  My trusty Subaru Forester ( and I do LOVE that car) will be loaded to the hilt for my one day show.  I was so blessed to hook up with a FB art friend who has graciously invited me to stay at her house!!!  We have only met online and are both looking forward to meeting in person.  I love FB for the connections.  I joined FB with the intention of promoting my art and it works over and over again.  

Then an even bigger show in April - a 3 day show in Denver.  That one will be amazing and I was so

fortunate to get in. And side attraction..I can stay with my mom who is happy to have me.. thanks mom! Having the big spring shows is wonderful because I usually am not doing shows in the spring.   So I am thrilled to have these on the calendar.  

My goal for this year is to create more flow with production and get my name out more.  I was so busy 

working last year, that I did little in the way of promoting.  I have several new ideas for products and at these spring shows I can test their sellability -- if that is even a word!

The studio is being used at it's max with extra tables holding WIP that I am working on daily. And I am happy to conquer the to do list everyday with a smile and and song in my heart.  

ta for now

This has been fun working on wooden wall prints for Lunar Designs.  I am experimenting on trying new

products for wholesale.  Here's a few of my pieces.

These are ceramic tiles .. trivets.. that I am working on techniques for.

I am setting my booth tomorrow in El Jebel at the Winter's Farmer's Market

at Eagle Crest Nursery and will be selling these for the first time!  I 

am really pleased the way they are turning out!

A beautiful sunrise this morning!

I took this standing at our front door.  The colors are pale

in the photo compared to the real thing.  But

so gorgeous to start out my busy day.

I was still in my robe sipping coffee and watching the

sky just go vivid.  Snow storm on the way.  

"Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning...."

ta for now

BUSY day ahead of me!

My ART at a really sweet wonderful fun shop here in Glenwood Springs!

 YEAH Confetti Designs!

so.  whoa. 

 It's been awhile... I have been sooooo busy with ART, LIFE, FAMILY, WORK..  I have not

had much time for this poor neglected blog.

But

I am back.

I am trying to get more balance in my life.

Important things will always get done, one way or another.

But the essential for my soul "stuff", I have been sorely neglecting.

Doing my morning ART has been scarce.  And that is not a good thing for me.

I started doing more art last week and I swear I could FEEL my world coming back into balance.

Colors began to brighten, vistas came into focus, LIFE just got better, birds started singing,

coffee tasted better, my husband fell in love with me all over again, you know, that kind of thing.

To catch up.. I did a LOT of holiday art fairs this past fall/winter till Christmas.  It kept me running

7 days a week.  I managed to stay healthy and pull it off, but I have to admit I was ready for a break.

But I am now rested and restored and jumping back into more show schedules. Can't keep me away for long!   Just signed up for a show in Salt Lake City March 9th called the Vintage Winters Market.  That will be a trek to get there (about 5 1/2 hours) but I was so fortunate to be invited to stay with an online  artist friend (FB) who has graciously invited me to stay with her.  wow.. lucky me.  I love hooking up with other artists on FB... we got to be friends virtually and now to have the opportunity to meet her in real.. it's just icing on the cake!

And I have been playing with new product development.. testing the waters to add to my array of products.

Doing coaster and printed pictures and playing with techniques.  Nice that I have places I can test

them before considering them in my wholesale lineup.  

Have also been toying with the idea of teaching some workshops on doing art fairs.  It's a learning curve and I feel very confident in how far I have come by doing so many.  Booth design is so crucial and I have often 

noticed artists trying to sell their wares when their booths are just sad looking!!!!  Kind of like you tend to focus so much on the trees, you aren't seeing the forest.  Understandable, but a part of marketing your 

art is the presentation.  It's that HOOK factor that you have to really work on.  I have been doing our local Farmer's Market here in town now for 3 years.. a weekly market and that's where I really learned a LOT!  I just kept improving on my displays and it helps with your sales!  And that's what we are trying to do, right?

So Life is wonderfully busy and exciting.  My new world for 2013 is 

BREATHE.

Do it all, but take time to take those big cleansing breaths and just be in the NOW.

And I will make a point to get back into blogging more.  

ta for now.. 

GETTING IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE

LOVE IT.

Now the real story of this design..

First came the lips/leaves.. like 8 years ago?

then last year I added the heart background.

liked the combo, but it wasn't IT.

Then I was working on backgrounds for my kitchen rules designs.

I created the red polka dot with turquoise blue inset.

and then I worked on heart flowers.  

and then all of a sudden...

(here's where you picture cupid appearing over my creative brain....

and tada...

it all came together

and shot arrows straight through my heart.

I am smiling.

and 

SMOOCHIE MAMA

was born.

another day in my life.

ta

PEACH FUZZY NAVEL

PEACHES PEACHES PEACHES!!!

Is it peachy fuzzy navel or fuzzy peach navel?

I'm not sure!!!

I played with this design and used a lot of different ideas for the background.  I first thought a border would

be in order, but after I got it put together, decided not.  I loved painting on the map and I like the

look it gives the design.  Working in layers in Photoshop is such a fun way to create.  What did I ever do before Photoshop?  It takes a lot of the manual work out of designing allowing you to add or subtract what you want.  I didn't want to commit the design entirely to the peach fest so I would be locked into just the weekend event.  I used a map of the area and will be able to magically erase the word Palisade out of the map and include it in my lineup for Lunar.  But I can also use any leftovers to take to the Lavender Lady's shop in Palisade.  Nice to have that backup.  This is my first official Festival so it's a wild guess as to how much inventory I take. 

I have been working fast and furious all weekend.  Partly getting inventory ready for the Palisade Peach Fest and partly getting art ready for the upcoming art show at the Aspen Chapel Gallery.  Thankfully, I work well under pressure!  The weather has been picture perfect all weekend and I have been locked in my studio

working.  But I am taking Marley for a nice walk after dinner.  He has been so patient waiting for me.

NOW

I am longing for a Fuzzy Peach Navel!!!!

yum.