A New Leaf...

My new paint arrived today!

Plus, I've been gathering fun papers, wallpapers,

vintage German flowers, and vintage buttons...

And, I've been organizing my studio in preparation...

Starting on the 31st, I shall {paint}.

I can't wait!!!

My Newest Typewriter...

I'm still working on the other post that I promised you yesterday but I just HAD to share with you my newest typewriter!

New Year's Eve, me and Michael hit up my new favorite junk store called {Vintage & Thrift}. This is the same store that I found those cool vintage glass ornament balls at two weeks ago...

It's not super old but it's a lovely shade of blue and will fit in here nicely.

The kids are enamored each time I bring home a new one and Jake had fun typing out some new spelling words that he's been learning in school.

I plan on using it for some new artwork that I'll be starting on soon. I've got so many ideas and so much inspiration has been swirling my way lately that I can't wait to start creating again!

It's beginning to look alot like....

Christmas!

The newest issue of Inspired Ideas is out and it is so-so beautiful! So many beautiful projects and ideas....I've added 3 projects to my running {to-do} list! Specifically the Felt Ornaments, Silhouette Tags {using as ornaments!}, and the Sampler Trees and Yo Yo Trees {grouped together!}. I'm also seriously contemplating the China Doll Tree Topper and I am swooning over the Ornament Chandelier.

AND, I'm excited to debut my very first ornament tomorrow or Saturday! Done Spring Lane style!

A First...

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.

{Ralph Waldo Emerson}


I am still trying to find my groove in this new phase of our life. I have not been able to do much creating in the last couple of months and I can feel it taking it's toll on me. For me, art refreshes my soul. It allows me to process all that's going on inside my head and my heart. I'm trying to be patient with life though and will get back into full-time creating once things settle down.

I did spend a bit of time this week working on some new designs in my shop. I'm pretty excited about them and they should be available at the end of next week!

Also, today I am being featured over on the glorious Hazelnut Cottage today! This is my very first blog feature and I'm just so excited!

A Snapshot...

Today I took the photos that I needed for an interview that I'm doing next week over on Jan's blog, Hazelnut Cottage. Here is a snapshot of my studio space in the new house. I. am. in. LOVE!

New Paintings

Last night I bought a decorating magazine that had a painting of oysters in it. I decided to try and see if I could paint something similar and this is what I came up with. It's sortof an abstract of the oyster shells. I'm not entirely happy with it but I wanted to try my hand at regular painting again instead of collage work. I had fun and might try some of my own again soon:)

Then, since I had my paints out I decided to go ahead and do my painting for the Creative Color Challenge over on Louise Gale's blog. This week's challenge was {sunflower yellow}. Let me tell you, it is a HARD color! {well, at least for me} I finally settled on trying to do a realistic style golden finch. I think I may stick with my theme for the rest of the challenge and do a different bird each week. I am envisioning these as a grouping next to or around my great-grandmother's 30's quilt. {the link is of a similar one, mine's packed in a box somewhere or I'd show you a photo of it}

Have you done anything creative this week?

Thoughts on Art and Dreams

My blog has been and will be a tad quiet for a bit. We are in the middle of making some life-changing decisions. If everything turns out right, I'll be able to mark another item off of my list of dreams! I'll share more as things start to unfold:) In the meantime, here is a photo that I took of some hydrangeas today while we were strolling through Art on the Green in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. There were so many pretty things and sooo much inspiration!!! I've really been struggling to find my creative voice as an artist. It seems to be a fairly common thing among us artist types! Anyways, I think I've found my voice and am hoping that my creative abilities can help me accomplish what I have in mind....I can't wait to show it to you.

My Weekend Project

Yesterday, I decided to do a couple of projects that have been rattling around in my mind for awhile. I got the idea and instructions from the website All Things Thrifty. I'll walk you through what I did and what I'd do differently next time.

These techniques can be used on just about anything around the house. Furniture, mirrors, picture frames....it works better with something that has ornate details though, such as my mirror above. My husband has hated my mirror since I brought it home, I figured if I changed up the color he might like it better. {and he does!}

I also decided to do the box I use to hold mail, pens, pencils, and stray junk. I've had it for a few years and wanted to spruce it up a bit!

You'll need to buy some indoor/outdoor spray primer. The brand doesn't really matter I don't think but you need a spray kind to get an even coverage.

Lay out some newspaper to cover your area really well. There will be some overspray so make sure you cover WELL:) Apply 2 even coats of primer leaving some time between each coat to dry. It dries quickly so if you're working on multiple pieces you can move on and by the time you're done the first pieces should be dry or very close.

Next you'll use some indoor/outdoor spray paint. Pick some really neat colors. And, don't be afraid of the bright ones! Later when you apply the glaze it will tone down the colors a bit.

I chose the ivy green for my mirror.

And, I chose red for my box.

Now, here's where you might want to visit All Things Thrifty to get the glazing techniques. I didn't start the glazing until after it was dark and so I don't have any pics to show the process. But basically you're going to apply a faux technique tintable glaze {found in the paint dept at Lowe's & Home Depot} and use a damp rag to remove some of it leaving the glaze in the crevices.

My pieces came out pretty good but DON'T do what I did! Instead of getting the water-based glaze that is suggested, I decided to save a few bucks and got a Minwax furniture stain/sealer. Boy-oh-boy did I give myself a headache! I started off with the mirror and worked way too slowly at first. The top of the mirror is a little darker than the rest because the oil-based Minwax gooed up the spray paint and would not wipe off near as easily as when I worked quicker. Bottom line, buy the faux technique glaze!!!! You'll have way much less stress and be happier with the results!!! Now, onto the before/after photos:)

{If you want, you can click on the photos they'll enlarge a little.}

I'm adding this post to the I Made It! Blog party Thursday over on the Everything Etsy Blog. If you made something this week that you'd like to share, head on over and join!

Like Growing Tomatoes...

Yesterday, a "fellow flyer" Valerie Hart from my Flying Lessons group stopped by my blog and left a sweet comment. I of course, followed her back to her beautiful blog to check her out. She has a wonderful quote posted right above her picture that says, "Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be." {Joseph Campbell}

This reminds me of a quote by our Flying Lessons teacher Kelly Rae herself that reads, "Follow your intention, do the work, and allow the rest to follow." I sortof took this and made it my mantra in my "creative life". Well, in my regular life as well I suppose.

I think they go together beautifully....

I sortof look at it like gardening. You plant the seeds, tend to them, and the fruit follows...but not without the faith and the effort!

{I discovered my first tomato yesterday!}

A Grateful Heart

(My son holding a piece of apple that he had bitten off)

I've been super busy this week working on my art business and filling orders for Spring Lane. {I got 2 international orders this week, one to Belgium and one to India!} I'm also working on my "artist" website and getting all those ducks in a row. {I'll share it when I get it more put together} I'm getting exhausted by the business side of that business and just really want to throw caution to the wind and PAINT! But if I don't get the business stuff in order then how can I sell my paintings? It's a vicious cycle this creative business life.....but I am grateful to be on this path! {finally!}

In family news I've been busy getting the kids registered for school. We're a homeschool family but this year I've decided that we're going to do the public school's online program this year. It's been a bit frustrating trying to get all of the required paperwork in for 4 kids. I am grateful that this is an option though and am looking forward to this next year!

I have been getting more and more involved with the Facebook group that formed from the eCourse that I took recently. I have been learning so much just from watching the other ladies go through the business and creative stages that I am going through right now. I am so grateful that I decided to take that course and so grateful that there is such a wonderful group of women who are not afraid to share their struggles as well as their information so that we can all learn and grow from it.

And lastly I am grateful for YOU for coming to read my blog! Even leaving comments every now and again. Thank you. You mean the world to me!

Custom Camera Strap Cover

With all of this talk about Cameras this week, I decided to finally spruce up mine with my very own strap slipcover! I got the directions on how to make one from Everything Etsy. It was fairly easy to make and I loved that I got to pick out my own fabrics for it! Anyways, here are some photos of my new, dollied-up camera strap....

Leave me a link if you decide to make one for yourself! I'd love to see it!

I am working...

I am working on a small sewing project this weekend.

I'll share the results when I am finished!

Dreaming in color...

"It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else." {Erma Bombeck}

Getting my hands wet....

This weekend I was able to get my hands wet tearing, gluing, drawing, and painting. It makes me so happy! My husband told be a couple of months ago that I {glow} when I am working on a painting. I've still got a ways to go and I'm not sure what my style is yet {although I love mixed media so much right now!}but I am so happy to finally be on this path of pursuing art seriously...

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." {Howard Thurman}

A Glimpse...

"Life just turns deliciously quirky when you stop resisting yourself and, instead, honor the intuition that tugs at you like a puppy on a leash in the park. Follow the magic and magic starts to follow you." Tama J. Kieves

Here is a small glimpse inside my studio....

More Goodies...

Remember my post where I got all giddy about a chandelier? Well, I found a similar one this weekend on our date. It's not multi-colored but it's pretty and fits perfectly in my small workspace! It also gives off alot more light than I thought it would:) And would you believe it only cost $5.75?! {pardon the flash, my space is a built-in and I couldn't get a decent shot without it.}

And this is my last great find this weekend! I had been using an old wooden chair that I had repainted some fun colors but the joints were loose and it was rather rickety. It got thrown to the curb {literally!} when I found this beauty for only....$1.99! Can you believe it?!

My Husband's a Cheap Date!

Yesterday after I got off of work, my husband Michael asked me if I wanted to go on a date. Of course I said, "Yes!". His surprise was to take me out for a day of thrifting. Yep. Thrift stores/junk shops:) My daughter asked him why he'd take me to the thrift store on a date. He replied that he wanted to spend time with me doing something that he knows I LOVE. Wasn't that sweet! We had a fabulous time and I came home with a few treasures. I've got another one to post tomorrow but I wanted to share the vintage books that I got yesterday to tear apart and use in collages. I am so excited that I found them, and am already using pages from the grammar one in my newest painting! I love my man....

"If you don't allow yourself the possibility of writing something very, very bad, it would be hard to write something very good." {Steven Galloway}

Growing....

I am thoroughly enjoying the ecourse......

Filling it in...

We started Kelly Rae's ecourse on Sunday! I had to sneek peeks when Michael was taking a break from his finals. I finally got to sit down Monday night {tues morning if I was honest...} and started filling in my Dream Journal.

I have the made {The Commitment} to myself and my dreams of being a full time artist. A {painting} artist. I make jewelry. I quilt. I do all kinds of crafts. I already am an artist but my real desire is to paint. I finally made the commitment in my heart to pursue that.

I've also outlined all of my dreams, both large and small. Here's the list if you're interested. {and just so you know, i'm scared to put them out here for all to see. but I think that it's because i'm afraid they won't come true and look like an idiot. i need to overcome my fears and this is part of the excercise.}

Photograph the Eiffel Tower in person.

Sit on a beach in Maui with Michael. Renew our vows to each other in private.

Open an Etsy shop selling my original artwork.

Take some photography classes.

Buy a cottage style house with a beautiful yard or room for one.

Fit into a size 10 again. {and stay that way}

Have my art featured in a book or magazine.

Have a booth at an art show or trade show.

Attend an art retreat.

Move back "home" or finally make this city home.

Buy a house with a studio for me. {paint the walls green or blue.}

Teach an art class or seminar at a retreat.

Meet Kelly Rae Roberts in person.

Take the kids to Disneyland again.

So, as you can see, most of my dreams center around my growth as an artist. I'm scared. I'm overwhelmed. I'm worried about not being good enough. I'm not sure where I'm headed yet. I'm afraid of being {found out} like Kelly puts it. But, I've commited to myself to pursue Art. And I've never done that before.....

Catching Up

We've been sick over the last 3-4 weeks and alot of things around here have been neglected-such as my blog.....

Mother's Day weekend I was down with the flu but my husband and kids took care of me and it was still a blessed day. Michael ordered me a new mother's ring {still waiting for it to come...} bought be flowers and gave me a delicious box of chocolates. I am blessed indeed!

{the view i had of my chocolates while lying on the couch sicker than sick}

{michael hunted down a starbucks with a blueberry scone for me for my mother's day breakfast}

This week I finished my dream journal. I just got done reading Kelly Rae Roberts' book, Taking Flight and this is my version of her project in the book. It is made using some of the covers off of my vintage book collection.

I am taking her ecourse {Flying Lessons} as well. It starts on Sunday and I am sooo excited!!! I have soooo many artistic dreams and have just begun to learn that my fears are the only thing that is stopping me and that I need to take the leap in order to {fly}.

I've got some new designs in my shop if you want to check them out. Some great new beach glass designs!

Until next time!

{Jen}