The Buzz.....

... I finally finished my pieces for the Bee show! Today is the deadline to deliver my pieces and I literally finished a few minutes ago. If you are wondering where the vintage looking angel I was working on is, well she's gone, after weeks of painting on her, I painted over her 4 days before the deadline & started from scratch to complete this piece. I must like stressing myself out. The piece is a large canvas 18 x 24 and the initial angel was sweet but I wasn't digging it being just a great big head with a big hat. I think they are great for smaller pieces but I thought there needed to be a lot more interest on a big canvas. Obviously there is a lot more going on now. Everyone loves this final piece better and I think I do too. I am selling 5 x 7 prints of this piece in my Etsy Shop. If you are interested in purchasing the original before the show & helping bee research you can email Laurelin Gilmore. For more info & all the press on the show please click on this Link.

"Bees In Her Bonnet"

More buzz ..... Thank you StoryBeader at a Stroll through Storyland ! It is such an honor to be chosen to be featured on your blog in such a manner! Please check out her fantastic blog & her feature on me Here! Warning...you will see my messy studio!

And more buzz!... My son won 2nd place a salsa contest today using my original salsa recipe! You know how I love peppers and all things hot. I have lots of original salsa recipes. This is a green salsa with ginger & cucumber. I may share the recipe one day so stay tuned!

To whom it may concern...if you're still out there... It feels like a week ago, but probably not, time is passing so fast, someone, you know who you are, sent me a message and presented me with blog award. I meant to respond & post it I really did, I appreciated it too, I really did, but somehow I spaced it out. Now I can't find it or find you! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!

Go Figure

I had a pretty uneventful but very relaxing weekend, which I needed. Watched a few movies. The Invention of Lying was AWFUL. We thought it would be funny starring Ricky Gervais and had looked forward to renting it. Turns out it was blasphemous & not funny. Making fun of, or trying to make people think that believing in God is stupid, was not entertaining in the least. Really a disappointment. Ricky's performance was ok, he pretty much acts the same in every movie. Jennifer's performance was dull for me, she's not that funny or believable. She was suppose to be a real beauty in the film but with the awful hair styles, this was hard for me to buy. At times I even thought she was ugly. I'm sorry if that sounds really mean. You are pretty Jen but your ears are distracting. Just keeping it real. Why hasn't someone told her that her ears are just too odd looking to wear ponytails or her hair pulled tightly back or pushed back around the ears? Sorry Jennifer, said with all kindness, please don't let them fix your hair like this anymore.

I went through some of the many canvases I have to be repainted or thrown out, pieces that I never listed, never finished, or just wasn't pleased with. Examining each old canvas with a fresh eye, it was noticeable to even me how much I have grown since painting full-time. I also noticed that I may have given up on a few pieces too quickly, instead of working on it a little longer. After I finished some pieces that I have to get done I may repaint some of my old paintings. Maybe paint some new folky stuff, some new crabs, chickens & funky flowers.

I'm having fun painting the little bees right now and have added a few new ACEOs to my Etsy Shop. I may put a few old ones just mentioned on Ebay & start the bid like so many do at $.99 just to make room for more, spring clean. I have heard many pros & cons to listing on Ebay at $.99. As a full-time artist it could be very discouraging to have your hard work & originals go for pennies. Not to mention the hole you are in for cost of supplies. Also what does it say about your art? Does it reflect how you value your work or others will? I was approached by someone not long ago offering to put all my original artwork under their name and sell it on Ebay with a starting bid of $.99, promising me big final bids & they would take a commission. What? Not sure why they would think this would be a good idea for me to do. Ebay fees are already high, more than $.99! I know there are a few Artist that have a following that do quite well, however, it's been the opposite experience for me. Recently I put an opening bid of $4.99 on an ACEO, which I feel is low for original art work, it didn't sell. Then I put an opening bid at $11.99, a more reasonable price for a mini original, and it sold. So go figure! I'm taking a poll. What do you think? Would you or do you list your work on Ebay with an opening bid at $.99 ? I'd love to hear what you have to say on this subject.

I've had so much fun creating collections in Etsy's new Treasury East. Click Here to see the collections I've made so far. I am also honored that the following people have included my art in their creative collections! Click on their name to see their shop & their Treasury to see their collections. The Big Shout Outs go to RasberrySwirl81 their Treasury, SilverandEarth their Treasury, DesigningIt their Treasury , MindieLee their Treasury and my friend Terraworks who makes beautiful pottery. Unfortunately her Treasury has expired already but it was lovely & lovely to be included.

Earth Day...

... is a great day to ponder how you can make a difference. It is also a good day for me to bring up something I am passionate about. "Be green and keep our water's clean!" You may have seen my little slogan occasionally in some of my listings. Global Water , Surfrider, River Network & Clean Water Action are a few organizations that provide, protect & promote safe water.

A work in progress. “Whoever drinks from the water I give will
never thirst, but the water I give will
become in you a well of water
springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14

A big shout out goes to Renie Britenbucher for including my art in her spring time Etsy Treasury. Etsy opened Treasury East and I made my first 3. I have to say it was as fun as I thought it would be! I can see how this could be addicting! Here are the links:

Love Makes The World Go Round

Gypsy Goods

Float Like A Butterfly Sting Like A Bee

Space The Final Frontier...

... final alright, finally gone! The outer space bedroom wall that is. My son is turning 21 tomorrow. I couldn't let him turn 21 and still have an outer space wall in his bedroom! hahaha He has kept refusing to have it painted. Maybe because we had so much fun painting it together many years ago or maybe he just didn't want me in there, you know how that goes. hahaha. I have to say the space wall was pretty cool back in it's day. The clouds were at the bottom of the wall so his bed floated in the clouds. The glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling, well they are staying because it's covered in them. He'll have to do that job.

I snuck in there and painted the wall while he was out, then painted these 2 pieces on recycled canvas. One is a 16x20 the other is a 5x5. It was fun painting the different layers of color, scraping and grunging up these colorful heads. After I finished the first one, I wanted to do it again! I may even do some more one day just to experience that freedom again.

The room isn't finished but it's started. The final wall color is not going to be this dark either. I used this left over paint as a primer to cover up parts of the wall that were navy blue. He loves it and I'm sure he has to be feeling a little more mature! hahaha

A Fungus Among Us?...

I found this mushroom while playing in the backyard with the little guy. Later, my hubby rented the movie Men Who Stare At Goats and I laughed all the way through it. I think George Clooney was better in this movie than in Up In The Air. Go figure.

Here is a link to Thomas Keller's Over-The-Top Mushroom Quiche which I plan to try as soon as I'm feeling up to making a big mess in the kitchen! Oh I bet it's evil all right. Don't you think a fresh spinach & strawberry salad with balsamic dressing would be really good to serve with this? If you try it before I do be sure to let me know how it turns out!


*photo by Kana Okada & recipe found at http://www.foodandwine.com/

Easy Breezy...

...that's me and I'm not even wearing Cover Girl! ha! I feel great today. The big black cloud hanging over my head is gone... the black cloud being taxes. ugh. We finally finished our return last night. Getting down to the wire was pretty stressful. We had to pay. Again ugh. It wasn't as much as we thought it might be, so that was a good thing, but we could have really really used a refund.
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s. Matthew 22:21

I've been having so much fun painting these sweet bees & tulips (I love tulips) and using my new technique of layering paint, trying different combinations of color in the layers. This piece is called "Breezy" and I put it on Ebay for a change. Listing on Etsy is so much easier and the fees are lower, so I haven't been using Ebay much. I currently have an ACEO listed on Ebay as well and a few more new Bee pieces in my Etsy shop.

A big shout out goes to Chocolate Dog Studio for including my "Lift Me Up" Angel in their wonderful Etsy Treasury. Check out their fantastic selection of crocheted creations. Thanks so much Chocolate Dog Studios!

My Dancing Doodle Bug!

I know right!?! :) That "look" made me laugh so loud I woke my hubby up last night!

Everybody Dance Now!

Perfect Love...

Did you know that the meaning of tulips is perfect love? Red tulips, true love. Yellow tulips, hopeless love.
This piece was created in love to benefit bee research.

I hope you enjoy the video I made of the creation of this piece!

A Day At The Lake...

Yesterday was a beautiful day for a walk around the lake, which is about a mile from home. I grabbed my camera at the last minute and I'm so glad I did! My little guy had to bring his easter eggs along. He played with those all day. Saying "ut oh" every time they came apart, or when he made them come apart so you would fix them. We didn't know there were so many geese, ducks, turtles & birds there. It feels so good to get outside, surrounded by nature & sunshine after a long winter.

On My Easel

Here are a few pieces I am currently working on and playing around with. I won't be showing this piece but something like it. It's kind of a practice piece. I think I will be changing the flowers on the one for the show. I will be listing this one for sale after a few more layers of paint.
To see how far this angel has come along please check out March 31st post below. I still have some tweeks and more layers of paint to do on her before she's finished. I will be showing her next month. I am going to rename this piece too. I initially name it "The Bee Keeper" but now that it's coming to life I've changed my mind and not so keen on that name for it. I am going to do a stop motion video on the making of this one and will be giving the dvd to the buyer, that is if there is a buyer! I will share the video with you when I have it completely finished.

I have 2 others I am currently working on as well but don't have a picture. They are "practice" pieces too.

Wishing You...

... And your loved ones an Easter full of fun colorful memories and lots of love!

(Push play arrow to view video)We had a blast painting Easter eggs yesterday. This is the "blooper". The "real" video starts out with him telling me "tank you" Awwwww pure sweetness. He was in another world with that paint & brush. Move over Marla Olmstead! He is dying eggs with his Daddy tonight. I can't wait for the hunt!

I'm having so much fun designing shirts & other pieces in my new Zazzle shop. Every chance I get I'm in there playing. Click "Here" to check out more new items in my Zazzle Shop! I have had a Cafepress shop for awhile but haven't done much with it. Zazzle for me is more user friendly and the selection is better as far as I'm concerned. I was relieved to find out that the shirts turn out great and are good quality and the shoes turn out cute too! When I get mine I will post a picture.

Do you have a traditional dinner on Easter like you do Thanksgiving or Christmas? Something that you make & look forward to every year? Ham? Turkey? Roast? A special side dish? I wish I did but surprise! I don't. Deviled eggs don't count either. haha Easter we always seem to wing it, not a standard dish, just whatever we feel like at the time. Maybe this year is the time to start a new tradition. Now I just have to decide what that might be...

Good Friday

Crucifixion by Raphael Sanzio (Santi), 1502-1503

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit." 1 Peter 3:18

For Good Friday info Click "Here"