Artful Adventures

I won!!

 
There's a reason for showing these pitiful blank journals, all journals that I've nmade with visions of me filling them up faster than I could make them.  Journals with "stuff" hanging outside the edges, bulging with the tidbits of my life and lots of art.  Well, it didn't quite work that way:)  I try, I really do, but nothing ever really clicked with it, and I never made it a habit to actually sit down & journal on a regular basis.  That's all changing now-finally-read on, it'll all make sene:)  Whenever there's a drawing or raffle or anything, I give it a shot, but seldom, if ever, do I win.  Well, I just broke that streak!  Remember a short time ago, I posted about a drawing being held over at MMCA?  The prize that was being given away was a month of an LK Ludwig's online journaling class, round 2 of her Point & Shoot journaling class!!  I participated in the October round, and wrote about it here, loved it, learned a lot, and was planning on taking the next class anyway so it was perfect.  Now I'm learning tips & tricks, no special equipment needed, just some time, and that I can do.  Here's my poor journal that I've been working on for several years, that's one sad looking journal!  But soon, I'll be posting those filled to the brim kind of journals that I've loved for so long!  There's still plenty of time to join in, just go back up & cick your way over there:)  And a huge thank you to Debbie Overton for coming up with the idea of the drawing and for digging into your own pocket to pay for it!
 

It Was a Great Day!

 

Jessie, our first born, came out to spend the day with us for my birthday a week or so ago.  It was nice, very nice actually, since we don't often get those "one on one" kind of days with her.  It was just a low key day, just the way we wanted it.  We decided to go over to The Flying Pig, since I've hardly been there at all this summer.  I think I've mentioned that recently, but you seriously feel like family when you're there, and you'd miss your family, right?  Gary likes to always drive a new route to wherever we go, always promoting a car full of groans, as some of short cuts add on a ton of time:)  But this one was perfect!  I couldn't make it to the Art Studio Tour this year, and I really wanted to see Bren Sibilsky's sculpture work.  If you haven't clicked on her name, do yourself a favor and do so, seriously, she's so talented!  Brenda lives just on the outskirts of Algoma, but coming in from the other side of the Flying Pig, so we took that route so I could see where she lives and her sign proclaims that "The Idea Factory"-it's perfect!  Can''t wait to call & go see her!  For anyone wanting to give sculpting a hand, she also teaches at the Peninsula Art School.  So, on with the tour----we came up on this little park, and I do really mean little, but it's charming in a rustic teeny kind of way, and I do want to go back. 

We stopped & had to do a little exploring, the place was full of tangled tree roots and even some of the trees-couldn't you just see those couple of archways for fairies? 

Everywhere you walked, there were those crazy roots and green rocks that lined both sides of the water.  Having been raised "up north", this kind of thing is like going home, finding little creeks, swimming in a river, finding magic wherever it seemed it should be.  Now on to "The Pig" for a cup of coffee, a little birthday treat, and a glimpse of their fall gardens.  Come on up here sometime, and we'll show off the magic that's hidden in this farmland!

  
 

Another Celebration!

Turns out that my birthday last week end, was shared not only by my "birthday sistah", the one & only Annie Lockhart ,if you ever meet her, you'll love her, but be prepared for her practical jokes-I still owe her one!  The date also marked the 5th anniversary of MMCA, which started out as, and continues to be, a group of artists brought together to share their collective knowledge, exchange ideas and techniques, as well as mentor each other.  The group has grown over the years and branched out a bit, quite a bit!  It now offers a Marketplace so that anyone can set up shop to sell their art, and a blog that offers interviews for us to read, free images to use in our art, and everything in between.  The most recent interview was by Sheri Gaynor, it's a great interview, as they all are.  I've got Sheri's book, and recently posted about it, so I was pleasantly surprised to see her interview-made  it a good day for me:)  Now that I think about it, I should let you know that if you care to join us in the Marketplace, there's been some changes-the best one is that you have the option (there's several payment plans to choose from) of not spending any money up front!  Just apply (all the info is on the front page of the Marketplace), let Debbie build your shop page while you create, and not pay anything until you sell something-good deal with Christmas looming ahead!  The MMCA group itself, like any group, you can participate in as much or as little as you'd like-my favorite kind of group, life gets busy sometimes!  But pop in, check us out, meet some new friends, say "HI" to some old ones, and you just never know what's going on-like right now there's a drawing for a month long class, LK Ludwig's Point & Shoot Journaling class.  I'm in the class this month (and LOVE & it!) recently posted about it, you can find it here.  Hmmm, I got a lot chattier than planned, and threw out a lot of "linkie love"-so click away and enjoy:)

Another Year Older & Still Kicking:)

 By this time of year, you just never know what to expect.  I've seen it be anywhere from 80 degrees or snowing and everything in between.  But the one thing that happens for sure, is that I have another birthday.   Funny how our priorities change as we get older, what's important now and what's not so important anymore.  Think about it for a bit, you'll be surprised.  I remember chuckling years ago, when someone quite a bit older would say something like "if you've got your health, you have everything".  That statement didn't mean anything to me back then, I lived my life like a crazy woman, taking risks, being the daredevil all the time, with no thought to my health at all.  I figured if I didn't break anything, I was good.  Well, I'm paying for it now, but I'm done bitching about it.  There's too many good things in my life that I need to concentrate on instead.  
Like this deck-I Love this deck!  It's not huge, just right, on the east side of the house and weather permitting (and sometimes not) that's where you'll find me.  It's a place where I can watch the birds, have a bonfire, sit quietly or have it jammed with friends and family.  It's a GOOD place, a favorite place, a place to be grateful for and grateful that I have friends to share it with.  Friends and family are everything, and something I never take for granted.  So on this birthday, I'm celebrating the dreams that have come true over the years, like being an artist.  That got put on the back burner for so long that I never thought I'd have the opportunity to give it a shot, but it happened!  A husband that's stuck around for over 30 years, through the good & the bad, 2 kids that are wonderful and can turn me into an angry banty hen if anyone messes with them.  Friends, how important you all are-those who I've known forever, some not so long, but you all play a part in my life.  So Happy Birthday to me-I have a lot to celebrate!
   

Want to win a free E-Book?

Then you'd better be quick:)  This past week, the MMCA Marketplace posted another great interview, this time with Kelly Watson of Womenwise Marketing.  She just released her book, "Small Business Blogging Blueprint: Your Step-By-Step Guide To Building A Blog That Skyrockets Traffic And Sales".  The drawing will be tomorrow, Oct.13, all you have to do is go the Marketplace Blog, read Kelly's interview, leave a comment, and the lucky winner will be pulled from the names of those that left comments.  Quick, easy, and the interview is fantastic besides!  Win-Win situation if I ever saw one!

Creative Awakenings

 

Have you read this book yet?  Creative Awakenings:  Envisioning Tour Life Through Art, written by Sheri Gaynor turned out to be one of those books that I couldn't put down.  The timing is perfect for this time in my life, how about yours?  I honestly think there's something for everyone in this one, and if the book isn't enough, there's also a group that you have the option of joining, an interactive salon where you can share the process with other like minded souls.  This EnVision process will guide you in setting your own intentions for your life, and then follow through-that's the tough one for me.  But the last few years have been a challenge for me, icky boring medical stuff that I tried to ignore, but it didn't work.  It didn't make me feel any better, it didn't help to try to explain to foks why I had turned into such a different person, the kind that there were days that I didn't like me so much, and I'm sure others felt the same.  Chronic pain will do that to you.  I'm heading in the right direction now, finding answers to old & new problems, but at least finding answers.  With any luck, I'll stop feeling like I'm just treading water soon, and be ready to rejoin the human race-what a relief!  There's no doubt that this book will help me along the way, help me focus on 1 intention at a time, 1 day at a time.  There's actually a couple of different ways to work through this book, one of my favorite things about it.  You can do it in a month or work through it for a year, 1 month at a time and even make a travel visa for the journey if you choose.  If you don't have any local buddies to do this with you, you can find peole in your region through the group, or maybe you'll choose to go it alone.  But read the book, you won't regret it.  The first Monday of each  month, you set your intention, EnVision it through your dream journal, collage about it, write about it, work towards making that intention a part if your daily life, and then move on to the next month.  Are you up for the challenge?  I am!  My book is ready & waiting, covers aren't finished yet, but that's the least of my concerns.  Let me know if you give this a try, we can boost each other up when necessary:)

Art Now For Autism

 
Please go over to the Art Now for Autism site and take a look at all the art that's been donated, and 100% of the art sales will go to Autism Speaks through their National Walk Now for Autism Speaks event.  If you've followed my blog, you already know how I feel about Roy Bedward, an artist who happens to be autistic.  I'd do just about anything to help him, help find a cure, and most importantly-help those with autism find a voice, and let them be heard.  You can read more about Roy here &here &here, to get a glimpse of someone who has so much to say, but is non verbal.  Although with help, he can type, and his words will bring tears to your eyes.  So---that said, here's all the details of the Art Now for Autism event, and please do share it on your blogs-spread the word!  Today is still a preview day, but you can start shopping tomorrow.  And maybe even consider donating work for this cause for next year-I know I will be!! 

Cause Announcement from Art Now for Autism

We are pleased to announce the opening of Art Now for Autism 2009.

An online exhibit and reverse auction benefitting autism awareness and research.

October 1-10, 2009
http://www.artnowforautism.com

October 1-4 : Preview of Art.
Opens at 9am EST on October 1.
Art exhibit will be open online at www.artnowforautism.com.
All work will be viewable but not on sale.

October 5 & 6
Reverse Auction Opens AT 9AM EST.
All Art is $90

October 7 & 8
Unsold art drops to $60 at 9AM EST on Oct. 7.

October 9 & 10
Last two days.
Final price starts at 9AM EST on Oct. 9.
Any remaining art is $30

This year's exhibit includes the work of 89 artists from around the USA, Canada, France, Italy, Australia, Brazil, and the Netherlands. Included in this amazing list of artists are a number of artists with autism spectrum disorders. 160 pieces of fine art and craft are included in the exhibit. There is something for everyone!

Please help us spread the word about Art Now for Autism by forwarding, tweeting, posting, blogging, and talking about Art Now for Autism!

100% of art sales will go to Autism Speaks through their National Walk Now for Autism Speaks event.

We appreciate your support! Any questions? Please email Claudine Intner, the organizer of Art Now for Autism at artnow@artnowforautism.com

THANK YOU!

View Announcement on Facebook

Another October Event-Journaling Class

 

One day not that long ago, I was looking around at blogs and landed on LK Ludwig's blog which is always a pleasure to visit.  But this time, she had a post about a class she's teaching online starting Oct. 1, called Point & Shoot Journaling, saying the class would show us how to use the tons of photos we all have stashed all over the place-at least I do!  Well, she said a lot more than that, but you'll have to go over there & read it all yourself:)  But I've got photos stashed in camera software, some on Flickr, some on CD's, but not much organization so I can seldom find what I want anyway, and I'm not really using them except when I blog.  Now I'll have a reason to sort my photos, put them to good use, and finally, finally, learn to journal, and to make it even sweeter, the class is very affordable.  Can't ask for much more than that!  Now I have visions of books that are overflowing & containing our photos, our memories, our life!  Can you tell I'm excited about this?  I am, I really am!  Wish me luck, I've never been successful in the journaling department, but I have a good feeling about this one!
 

Let's Pretend it's Yesterday--

 ----And Think Pink!!  We all know that October is dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer, right?  Is there anyone out there who hasn't been personally affected by this disease, either by losing a loved one, knowing someone who's fighting for their life, or maybe it's even you that's doing battle against Breast Cancer.  For me, I've lost my maternal grandmother and one of her daughters to breast cancer, and there's a couple of my online friends with it, and they're kicking it's butt!!  If we each do a little something, that power in numbers can beat this disease down someday, and I hope I'm around to see that day come and celebrate!  I'm going to do my part-for the entire month of October, I'll be donating 20% of all sales made in my shop (just click on that shop link & it'll take you straight there) that I have at  MMCA Marketplace, to the Susan G Komen for the Cure Foundation.  Make sure to check the shop often, as I'll be adding new art, all sorts of things, throughout the month.  So lets have some fun, do some shopping and make a donation to fight breast cancer all at once!

  

Rings & Things Strikes Again!

For months now, our calendar has had the innocent enough looking words "bead tour" written on yesterday's date.  But let me tell you, everytime I saw those words, my heart raced a bit, a little smile crept over my face, and then I'd count the days.  This event, put on by Rings & Things, hits Green Bay in September & then again in the spring.  Gary & I met Amanda & her Mom there, and we had a friend, Julie meet us there.  Julie & Amanda's Mom were BSV's (bird show virgins), a little term I just made up-they're the ones with the biggest smiles and normally you hear the word "overwhelming" coming from them, all good things!  This event runs so smoothly, that I'm always amazed.  After working retail my entire life, I know all too well that it's not always easy to be calm, cool, and collected in a room full of women all shopping with enthusiasm.  In fact, last year when we checked out, it just happened that the lines were particularly long at that time, and yet, the gentleman that checked us out actually chased us down out in the parking lot to make sure that we had gotten our coupon for free shipping on our next order. THAT'S service!  Now the fun begins, pricing & putting the beads to bed (almost done), where they'll patiently wait for me to create something with them.  But they won't wait long-tomorrow morning it begins:)  Oh one more thing, after we got in the car to leave, Gary mentioned the tray of beads that he was carrying around, which I just assumd he wanted since he's played around a little with making jewelry and wants to do more.  Turns out, he claims they were beads he thought I might like and I was supposed to go through them and choose what I wanted, not just buy them-whoops:)  Personally, I think he really wanted them all along, he's not THAT easy when it comes to spending money!  If you hear of a Rings & Things show coming your way-go!  If not, you can always shop their website, you won't be disappointed either way.