Painting Bliss

Motivational Monday - Sunshine

 

 Some of you may notice this is the 2nd time you are getting motivational monday... but that you got it first on the wrong day? that's because I blogged before my morning coffee kicked in and pressed publish instead of schedule, ooopsie! It was only up for a few hours but you who have subscribed by email got to see it a wee bit early.

Have you ever given serious thought to the line from a popular children's song "You are my Sunshine"? what a huge thing to say! when you hear it you smile, when you say it you mean it... and when you think about it... well, to be somebody's sunshine is like saying your the whole world in their eyes.

Can you imagine a day without sun? or light? no.

Can you imagine a day without warmth on your shoulders and face? no.

Can you feel healthy without the Vitamin D that soaks into your pours? No.

This Motivational Monday tell someone they are your sunshine ;)

 

Brought to you by House of Tender Beasts

 

Brought to you by Steelye McGeebs

 

Brought to you by Flourish Cafe

 

Brought to you by Sari Jane's

A Pair of Foxes and Send Something Good

 

As mentioned in a prior post, I am participating in a large and fun blog swap called Send Something Good. A blog swap is a sending off of packages secret participating pals. It's a package for them and all about them - because we have spent the prior weeks stalking their blog and reading about their loves, not so loves, and just what kind of person they are in general.

My pal will be recieving this piece of art, along with some other fun goodies I have either bought, crocheted, or made for them. I was supposed to package it all up today but I will be doing so in the morning. We send our packages on Monday, so exciting!

I have really been appreciating and enjoying a pure white background. I worry when I create  a piece that has a plain white background that perhaps viewers will think it's very elementary and school-child like... but I think it's exactly the opposite. I admire how the bright colors of my image pop on the stark white stage of paper. Your eye is directly focused on what you are being shown and it can't wander to and fro. Which is sometimes good, but other times it's nice to be drawn right in. This quote was found in a sea of other love quotes here on the world wide web. I discovered it in a shop called ExLibris whom I have featured on my Motivational Monday series.

I hope my secret pal likes this! (and all her other goodies as well)

 

 

An Artist who Multi-tasks

 

I'm a multi-tasker, no doubt about it. I'm one of those people you meet who can be in a million different projects at once (okay maybe not a million) but they know just where they have left off and right where they need to go, yup... that's me! and I wouldn't have it any other way cause I know I just wouldn't be able to function if it were different.

 

There's a project in the kitchen and one in the middle of the dining room table that has to be moved during meals. Actual mixed media painting goes on at the desk area of my studio, and there's a ball of yarn - 2 needles - and a printed pattern on the kitchen counter. My tote bag has more yarn and another project for the times I have to wait in the car before dropping off or pick up from pre-school. A journal and a sketchbook are also there in the car. And that's just the artist part of me. Along with this I'm also mom, wife, house keeper, errand runner, chauffeur, and gardener. There's probably more but they just all don't fit on a business card, ya know? hee hee. And I bet your many things too! have you ever thought of each and every little thing that you are? your amazing! praise yourself for all your multi-tasking abilities. Cause whether you think your a multi-tasker or not, you are. Otherwise you just wouldn't be able to live in this busy hum of a world.

 

Maybe it's just that I just have to be busy at all times, cause once I stop - I drop... and I'm completely useless for the rest of the evening. Each picture you see today is something I am currently working on or tangled in at the moment!

A Piece Just for Me

 

It's not often I create a piece of art just for me, nor do I hang it up in our house. I don't know why, but my home is not filled with my work. I guess I'm afraid if I look at it too much that I will critique it and in turn no longer care for it... or maybe it's that I'm still learning to take a compliment and if someone sees it and likes it then I have to handle the flattery. Aren't those silly reasons! yeah, I thought so too... that's why I'm tossing those out the window and have begun hanging up my pieces.

When I started this botanical owl I didn't plan on it being mine, but when I finished it I just didn't want to give it up. And I didn't! now it hangs happily in my dining room and I think it makes a fine addition to our home, don't you?

Of course the original is mine... but if you really really like my artful owl and would love to own a print of him, then head over to EatArt.org... purchase my artful owl in an array of prices and feed children across the world.

Purchase yours here

As of yesterday, and this is pretty exciting EatArt news... all donations are 100% tax deductible!

Just one 5x7 sends 100 meals, that's right 100 meals to hungry children in need.

 

 

This piece was created with Brown Paper Card stock, decorative papers, micron pen,sharpie pen, ink, pencil, white gel pen, and acrylic paint. Piece measures 8x10 inches.

Happy Friday! Time to plan and enjoy the weekend. I would write more but there's a baby on my lap who's pulling my hands from the keyboard.

Good day!

 

 

Tutorial Thursday - Coin Purses

 

 

You might remember that in connecticut I picked up a tiny vintage hanky that I wasn't sure what to do with. When I had the suggestion to make a coin purse, I said... YES! so to the craft store I went as I often do, and picked up one of those cute vintage inspired coin purse enclosures... 

 

 

I looked at the enclosure... saying to myself  "how the h-e-double L , do I get this onto my fabric!?... I see holes... perhaps I hand sew it." and I was right... and here is my beautiful coin purse :) Sewing the top on was a challenge, but I managed... it's good for a first attempt!

 

 

Coin/Change Purses, it's your Tutorial Thursday. 

4 tutorials for your 4th day of the week on how to make a coin purse. Enjoy! and... as always...

GET your CRAFT on!

Click the picture to visit your tutorial.

 

 

{{ Handsewn Coin Purse }}

This is the tutorial I used :) It was step by step perfection!

Brought to you by AnneKata

I really ended up loving her blog and she has gained a new follower ;)

 

 

{{ Japanese Coin Purse }}

This has such a nice shape... I totally see myself making this one as well. Perhaps this Christmas everyone will get coin purses! that would be fun wouldn't it? and inside I can sneak some sort of nice gum and a $10 bill!? huh? huh?

Brought to you by The Purl Bee

I have featured The Purl Bee in the past on Tutorial Thursday, and she too has a new follower ;)

 

 

{{ Crocheted Coin Purse }}

THIS is beautiful! no question about it! beautiful, lovely, and elegant! pull this one out in public and prepare for the onslaught of complimets... then the where did you get that question and YOU MADE THAT!? estatic follow up to that question!

This tutorial has two links, so make sure you go to both if you are making this purse.

 

2nd part of tutorial here... here I say, here! (hee hee)

Brought to you by Handmade by Calista

 

 

{{ Pear Coin Purse }}

This is for you experienced sewers... if you are new to sewing I would probably suggest you don't tackle this on as a first project... but who knows! go ahead, you may surprise yourself :)

Brought to you by Craft Passion

 

Get out your vintage fabric out, buy some new fabric that you love... this is a great project for little left over's and scraps.

Have fun!

Clean Up the Art Studio

 

Have I done well fooling you all into believing that I have been really productive? I mean... I am being productive and have been... with yarn - crocheting, drawing in my Limited Edition Sketchbook Project sketchbook, and spring cleaning my house.  But have any of you noticed that I haven't produced any real art since my Poe Submission to Somerset Studio Magazine and The Bleu Squid piece? did I do a good job of hiding it? Or maybe your saying... but Ashlie, that's a lot! hmmm... I guess it is. But I expect more of myself you see and hold high standards for my productivity.

You might remember in this post, that I gave my top 10 tips for surviving a creative rut. I wrote that because I knew I was having one and wanted to share my tips with you.

Soooo... I have been gentle with myself, and taking all my tips to heart - I waited patiently for my mojo to return... and returning it is. I am starting to see visions of art pieces dancing in my head. Of course I did have a few ailments that I don't usually have that haulted production... one being a muscle spasm in my neck that left me useless, and in the past two weeks a strong case of poison ivy (tis the life of an allergic gardener). Not looking for a pity party, just stating the facts folks :)

I know if I am to create anything new though, that I must really start with cleaning my studio, cause O-M-G it's a catastrophe! I mean seriously! I have been crafting everywhere other than in my studio and dumping my supplies onto my desk in-between tasks, taking no care to the slowly and surely growing pile of this and that.

So here I am... kicking my self  in the rump with a good ol' fashioned spring clean up!

On my agenda in the coming month of May and into early summer will be creating the custom portrait giveaway for Laura from The Blue Eyed Night Owl. Thank you to her for being patient while I complete my Sketchbook Project sketchbook! And then there's my alphabet I want to return to and take seriously, and also some items for my Etsy shop. Amongst all of those things, I will be working on some pieces with Jax from The Hand of Bela Peck. We have combined our talents in past years and we are past due. I have some of her beautifully made forms sitting on the studio table awaiting my paint and brush :) Hopefully in the near future we will be able to open are LONG anticipated shop which we have forever and lovingly called, The Rustic Foo Foo.

I could of been a wee lil' white liar and kept on fooling you and acted like I'm super human - saying I can do it ALL ALL ALL... but I won't, and I'm not. I'm flawed :) we all are. This break has given me the opportunity to give attention to some things that become neglected when I'm buzzing in the hive. Hmmm maybe that's a great name for my studio?

All Clean!

 

 

Have you felt the need to spring clean? declutter and start anew?

 

 

Thrifted Granny Sqaures Turned Vintage Inspired Pillow

 

 

As you may remember in this post, I picked up 12, 4' inch granny squares in an antique shop on our vacation to Connecticut.  I admit I started to border them while still in the hotel, as I had a ball of white yarn in the car (there is often random art supplies in my car at any given time). Upon returning home I finished bordering the squares and being nervous (yes even I get nervous about some projects) about connecting them all into a pillow top, I did some online research and also watched a youtube video... it was a bit humorous really cause the guy was... well if you watch it you'll see.  He wore very tight pants and talked like a girl, hee hee. The video was great/helpful, step by step, and solidified what I had already formed in my mind. Piecing together the squares was very very simple. Now I'm all about the granny square!

 

You can see in the photos I completed the piecing together of the squares and then sewed a pillow form with vintage inspired fabric. I really wanted to use vintage fabric, but I'll admit was too inpatient, and wanted so badly to finish the pillow and see the end result.

 

 

I really love how it turned out! It's just the right size for our antique rocking chair and a wee cozy place for the boys to rest their head on. In fact my 6 year old carried it around the day I finished it and wouldn't let anyone but himself use it. They have now (all 3) put in their dibs for pillows, so you can guess what else I will be granny squaring! I have vintage fabric on the way in children designs thanks to a tweet, tweeted by Suki of The Owl Club for a wonderful Etsy shop selling vintage fabric on sale cause the shop owner is moving! She is also selling vintage wallpaper btw!

Hope you like my pillow and my re-use of something thrifted :) Enjoy your day and all it has to hold.

Motivational Monday- Chocolate

 

I know it's not the same for men, and they really don't get it... and honestly I didn't get it up until my mid twenties... that chocolate is... everything. It's the something that can cure bad moods, PMS, and sad days. Chocolate is a treat that melts on your tongue in the I gotta close my eyes kind of way. I don't know why it took me until my mid-twenties to know the marriage of woman and chocolate... but oh I do and now I have my preferences! Not any chocolate will do... my new favorite being a chocolate called GNAW which you can only get in the UK. Thanks to my English friends I don't have to go without ;) xo

 

Brought to you by Penny Wishes

 

Brought to by Love Sick People

 

 

Brought to you by Ex Libris Journals

Brought to you by Candie Ink

 Helena from Candie Ink upon recieving notification of her print being featured today is offering a 10% off with the promo code MONDAY, which will be good through the month of May! thanks Helena! how kind of you :) You can visit Helena's shop here.

Go! take on your day, your week... and eat some chocolate :)

Let's Talk Black Pens - Every Artists Must Have

 

An artists most beloved supply is the black tipped pen. A must and have, and must work well - never fail the black tipped pen is every artists most used tool. There are so many out there, each claiming to be the best... and one can get truly overwhelmed in an isle of 100 or so...

But really, in my book (in my book anyways)... there are only 4 kinds of black tipped pens one needs to create great art and here is how they go...

 

• Sharpie Pen - The Sharpie pen is relatively new and supreme in the world of black nibbed pens. It doesn't bleed... and it really doesn't. Some say they don't then they do and you end up frustrated.  Draw on a piece of paper and look on the other side and it will NOT have soaked through. This pen has a smooth feel and takes a good long while to run/dry out as long as you cap it between uses. Highly recommend is this pen!  I even like the weight of this pen in my hand, very comfortable... and I'm picky ;) I use the Sharpie Pen for outlining. This pen is a new find for me and I was really excited about it and still am. Up until now I was using the Sharpie fine tipped marker which bleed a bit and ran out quickly.

 

 

• Micron Pens- Never fail, always reliable, acid free, and my I can't live without is the Micron Pen. Found in the marker, pen, pencil isle of the art department you can find these sold separately by nib size or in sets that create an array of what you need. I personally, only use one micron pen size and it's my secret ;) I use microns for detail and outlining.

 

 

• Sharpie Marker - One can't argue with tried and true. The marker that's been around forever, Sharpie is the king of all permanent markers. Yes this one bleeds, but if your not drawing in a sketchbook, then there's no worry. Always in the studio,  it's used for everything from Artwork, jotting down quick notes - to addressing packages. It's a must need and must stock up on. A few extras awaiting you is never a bad idea when it comes to items you use ALL the time. I always have at least 2 of what I use most frequently in stock. My only qaum with the sharpie is that over time, and quite quickly; the once sharp and hard point becomes a rounded squished nub. I use a Sharpie Marker for packages, blocking out big areas, and well that's about it.

 

 

 

• Black Copic - Yeah, ok... it's a pricey marker. But it's refillable and it writes sooooo smooooooth. I love the black Copic for it's two sides. One being a brush tip and the other being a chiseled edge. I discovered Copics during my online course with the amazing Joanne Sharpe called Whimspirations. I use the Copic for a lot of my large lettering and alphabet work.

 

 
 

Don't bother with a black Prismacolor by the way (Sorry Prismacolor! I love you!)... it's streaky. I don't enjoy a marker I have to apply 2nd or 3rd coats to. A one coat marker is a must for me, as getting rid of every little streak can be quite agitating... Oh! and be not afraid of pricey items, that's what coupons are for! bring a friend, an extra coupon, and have them purchase and item for ya!

Now that I have taken all the work out of picking out the best black pens for artwork, go ahead and hop over to your nearest art supply store. Jot down my recommendations and then come home and try them all out.  Search no further, waste no more money trying to find the best... cause I just let ya all in on what you'll need and never go without again!

Luna Moth Surprise

 

Some of you may have never heard of a luna moth, or maybe you have but you've never had the pleasure of seeing one in person. Either way I just had to share the pictures I took of a luna moth that visited us earlier this week.

A regular Monday morning on the way to the bus stop my eldest stops me and says, "MOM! look!" There on the road lay a majestic and vibrant green luna moth. A luna moth has a wingspan of up to 4.5 inches...so imagine it takes up the entire palm of your hand. The luna moth, only appearing at night as most moths do, is usually nestled somewhere safe during the day where it rests until the following evening. Seeing a luna moth is a true and honest treat. You feel privileged to have been in their presence.

 

 

Anywho! we scooped it gently into a pink pot and put it safely on the front porch where it stayed with us all day. I thought for sure it was dying... until around 4pm when upon giving it a little poke it trembled and suddenly and crazily took off straight into the air! the boys and I watched it, chased after it, blinded by the sun and only seeing it's silhouette... it left us over the tree tops and I was glad and comforted that it was ok. The boys were sad! they told me so, and said they were sad it had to leave us... after all we had tended to it's well being all day :)

The next day, another day out in the sunshine thinking nothing of our green traveler another shout came from the street, "mom! the moth!"... What I thought to myself? couldn't be... but sure enough there it was in the same exact spot we had found it the day before except this time it's wings were tattered, proof of a hard night. I knew it was the same one because upon inspection the day before I counted only 3 out of 4 legs... this one too was missing a leg, same one... it was our friendly visitor.

 

Again we scooped it up and placed it this time in one of our flower baskets, again with us all day it stayed. We checked on it... and this time I knew for sure it was passing away... and as of this evening the wee soul perished. I really couldn't believe how long it suffered and how long it held on. I couldn't help but somehow wonder if it returned for a reason or if it just happened by coincidence to return.

 

Luna moths are a symbol of re-birth, a continuing quest for knowledge, gift of intuition, and a heightened psychic perception. Hmmm... one can only wonder. Hope you enjoyed my photos, the green was so very vivid and as the poor thing lost it's life the bright green dulled to a light version of the bright self it was on the first day we crossed paths.