Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Choosing the word for 2012 and giveaway


I have been reading so much about picking a word for 2012 and sticking to it. It seems like such a commitment. But I have made so many changes these past couple of years I need to string everything together and really make a difference this year instead of sort of watching my world go by. A lot of time I feel like I am watching life happen to me instead of making it happen. My word was going to be positivity but I am already really positive so I have decided on making my word "ACTION" Taking action and using my positivity. Taking action to get my house in order, taking action to get new clients, taking action to make my studio a haven for all who come there, Action to become a better artist and teacher, action to be a better mother and wife. The list goes on and on..
At Quinn Creative she has awesome tips on how to chose and then put your word to "action" (see there it is again)
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/choosing-your-word/
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/word-for-2012-and-a-giveaway/#comment-21615

I would love to know your word and how you would like to use it.
Post a comment and Jan. 1st (or 2nd depending on the possible hangover) I will pull a name and send you one of my mini's

Friday, December 16, 2011

courage and Croissants!


I am so excited!!! I just won this book and it came yesterday!!! I immediately started reading it and I plan to use it this new year. I'm taking the lifebook class online and doing my best to get rid of my lazy monster and live the life I dream of... (after all of the holiday eating of course)I really think this book will help!! I will let you know.......

Monday, December 12, 2011

New look

Well everyone, I just changed the banner. I have changed the name off all of the sites to some form of The Artist Within. The Artist Within1 on facebook and My artist within on etsy and lastly DL Artist within on twitter (for Deer Lakes Artist Within)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Happy Village


Not completely better but I'm painting myself better. This painting makes me happy. I love everything about it.
My Happy Village

Friday, December 9, 2011

Chocolate makes everything better


Well, I have been eating much better this week... Not necessarily less food but less processed food and to be honest, I am a little out of my funk! Yay!! I still don't have much energy but I'm a little better. I definitely neeeeeed more energy. These probably won't give them to me but I'm going to make them with my kids this weekend and they should help this funk I'm in even more.
Chocolate makes everything better

Homemade Oreos

Recipe from SmittenKitchen.com, adapted from Retro Desserts, Wayne Brachman

Makes 25 to 30 sandwich cookies

Ingredients:

For the Chocolate Wafers:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar (I used 1 ¼)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg

For the Filling: (I double this recipe)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375°F.
2. In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.
3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.
4. To make the cream, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.
5. To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe teaspoon-size blobs of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream. Dunk generously in a large glass of milk.

These cookies are fantastic! Who doesn’t love a homemade oreo?!? While they do taste an uncanny amount like the original, they’re a world better. And they’re so easy to make!
If you haven’t already discovered SmittenKitchen.com, check it out! Deb is an amazing baker, cook, and photographer. Her website is a beautiful compilation of recipes she’s tested, adapted, or created. It’s funny, honest, and helpful. Every recipe I’ve tried has been exceptional.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Going to try this. Exerpt from "The Artists Way"

THE ARTIST’S WAY CREATIVITY TOOL: THE MORNING PAGES
By Dr. Jane Bolton
Psychotherapy and Master Life Coaching
What are Morning Pages?
“Morning Pages” is a term used by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, for a primary
creativity tool. It involves writing 3 stream-of-consciousness pages, longhand, every morning.
Doing the process is so important that Cameron calls it “non-negotiable.” These pages are
private- nobody else is to be allowed to read them except for you- and then, not until you have
done them for 2 months.
What is the purpose of Morning Pages?
They are not supposed to be “art” or even “writing.” They are to help recognize and release the
critic (Cameron’s ‘Censor’) inside. So the pages are often stilted, filled with self doubt, angry,
whiny, and petty- and that’s a good thing. Why is that good? Because that stuff is what’s in the
way of creativity, and you want to bring it out to the light of day.
Cameron states that, “Morning pages do help us get to the other side: the other side of our fear,
our negativity, of our moods. Above all they get us beyond our Censor. Beyond the reach of the
Censor’s babble we find our own quiet center, the place where we hear the still, small voice…”
We get to see the stream of negative, discouraging things that critic says and we learn to see
that those subversive comments are not the TRUTH. We learn to distinguish the critic from the
voice of reason. We learn to detach from the constant stream of ridicule which shames us and
paralyses us.
Many people find it helps them override the critic if they find or make some kind of image that
represents the critic to them. Say, for example, a dragon, or a Viking. They then put that image,
perhaps with a gag, or an x on it, near them while working. This process can help by
externalizing the critic, making it separate from the Self.
I differ from Cameron in that I believe that, despite appearances, even the critic has high
positive intentions for us. It however, mistakenly goes about trying to ‘help’ us by trying to
discourage us from taking risks. The critic, who ridicules, is terrified of ridicule.
In my master life coaching, I have methods of working with the critic that help us recognize and
release the positive power behind it.
How to do the morning pages
Go to a private place with a spiral bound book, or legal pad and listen to the voice inside your
head. Just write down, longhand, what that voice says. Do 3 pages worth. Every day. No matter
what your mood is. No excuses. Don’t read the pages for 8 weeks. And enjoy your new found
creative vivification.

Monday Morning Blues :(


Been having a lot of self doubt this past couple of weeks. In turn feeling sorry for myself. Now I feel like I'm wallowing and i can't seem to pick myself up and easily brush it off. So in turn my inner dialog is scathing. Today even if I end up in tears i am going to have to do something to end this artistic despair. I don't know how I will do it. I will start with this lovely picture and stare at a lot today.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Blog Hopping today


I love blog hopping. I was fortunate be included in the holiday blog hop. Now today I'm going through the blogs a little more in depth. Way fun!!

Monday, November 28, 2011


I am very happy to show off my artist in the magical holiday blog hop
Alicia Caudle. She has an etsy shop called Altered bits and also a blog at
http://alteredbits.wordpress.com/

She has some unusual and beautiful stuff and some is alittle creepy.
She has so much talent and even more exciting for me I am going to submit "Eve" to her for the retelling of history.

check her out! I know you will love her!!!!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Magical Holiday Blog Hop

I joined this awesome group of artists for this great Holiday Blog Hop. I hope you go and visit them and see their awesome art!!!!!!
Here is the link for the Etsy treasury I made including my favorites.
If you would like to see all of the artists that are involved Click on the blog hop link below
Remember buy local, buy handmade, save the world

Thursday, November 24, 2011

The mini's are done.... The mini's are done!!!


I can't believe it, I finally got them done. I guess I though they would be done in just a few minutes each. ha! not so much. I just keep adding details. But I have to say I'm happy with all of them. They are now for sale! Either through my facebook or etsy. $14 each plus shipping

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Art Blog Hop

This was such a great idea. Get inspiration and connect with lots of different artists. Just click the button and off you go..

Art Blog Hop.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

a mini a day


Well my new challange is a mini a day. I was inspired by Jodi Ohl's adorable mini's and I want to do some myself.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Yay for meltie crayons


This was such a fun project. All you do is hot glue the crayons to your canvas. Then with a heat gun or hair dryer just melt the crayons. Now my head is spinning with meltie possibilities

Too Big of a To-Do list






Well I had high hopes for myself today. I had an impossible time focusing today until after noon. I did end up getting some stuff done. I got 3 kid class samples done, I am now trying out some new funky little trees so I'm trying them out on atc cards. We'll see. Hopefully I can get the second half of the to-do list done tomorrow.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Working on the challange


Well, I got some of the mini's designed and my Stupid Michaels doesn't carry the mini canvases..ugh. But I worked on some owls. I know I'm a little late to the owl party but I just didn't give myself time for my own art. I worked on my journal yesterday and I'm in love with how the new page is going. Hopefully a pic next week. So to tide you over here is my swirly trees and posies painting

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Challenging myself


I have been in such a funk the last few weeks. I'm sure it has sooooooo much to do with summer being over. So I have decided to really fight it. I have picked out some words and I am really hoping to design 9 mini paintings and 9 christmas mini paintings for my open house in December. Wish me luck. here is some inspiration in case you need it.

Friday, October 28, 2011

And the winner is...


http://lolliemagpiedesigns.blogspot.com/

You have won a set of my vintage image greeting cards. Thank you for commenting. email me or facebook me your address and I will send them out!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Rain Rain Go Away


Well. I guess I skipped over Tuesday. This week is so crazy but for some reason it still doesn't feel like workl I am beyond happy about that. I think next week will be even crazier but I don't even care. I will get through it because I love teaching and not being stuck in one spot all day. Even at the end of the day when I'm exhausted from teaching or preparing or running the kids all over, it's completely a different kind of exhaustion because I don't have to dread going to work....what I do have to dread is all this stupid rain!! It's gross, This is my happy funky city where it is NOT raining.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Monday Monday


Still not feeling it today. I had planned on staying the whole day at the studio today but I have too much running around to do and I am now pouting. I have a huge schedule this week and I have , two nursing homes and a couple of extra classes at the studio while trying not to completely ignore my children. tomorrow night I am teaching starry night to middle schoolers. I hope it goes well and I get a few more sign-ups. I did my own version of starry night last year with LaRue and it was the hardest thing I ever did. I hope I can make it easier on them!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Sunday morning Blahs!


Early Sunday morning and it's freezing. Not going to create much today I have to tend to the business side of things. (boring) Tomorrow though I can spend the whole day at the studio and catch up on some projects and start some new ones! I can't wait. On the upside, I taught 3 beautiful little girls a painting class on gary here yesterday and they were hysterical and did awesome paintings!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Horatio


Well I'm still blogging every day. Don't know if anyone is reading or not but it is giving me some sort of comfort to do it and so I keep on doing it. A couple of weeks ago I started an art journal. I said I would just slap paint around and each page would tell me what it wanted to be. I have never felt so free as an artist before. Absolutely no pressure at all. I love it and I am making my students do it also!! The more the merrier. So I have about 40 pages in different forms of completion. Some are just barely basecoated. Some a little more. But. this little guy is the first completed painting done. I am scanning him to make prints than I am turning him into my first real mixed media piece of work. I am loving this complete process. It has changed my life. I hope you like him.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Time flies


Going crazy not knowing where time has gone. I was so impressed with myself because I was a whole month ahead of my teaching schedule. Well now.. not so much. Monday is my crunch day and I will have to do 4 paintings. AND work on Horace. He is the Peacock. I'm not so angry with him anymore so I gave him a name. Pictures to follow. Here is one of the Nov. projects. Fall flowers. Adapted from a beautiful calendar

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Heart Exchange


I am so excited about this!!! I haven't done an exchange before and I think I already know what I'm going to do!! I hope whoever gets it likes it!

Update my blog design

I would really love to update this blog design..the problem is that I have absolutely no idea how to do it. Help!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

ugh! Not feelin it today


Today is the first day in awhile that I'm not looking forward to going to the studio. I know it's because I can't get a handle on the peacock painting I'm working on. This is one of the days that I'm sure that I'm definitely NOT an artist and should close up the studio before everyone realizes I'm a big faker. Sooooooo I just need to get up off this couch.. Leave this house and just do it already. Although I have been telling myself this for the last hour and here I still am.. I swear I'm going..right after i eat a piece of apple pie.. Then...for real...I'm going... I really hope I have a picture to post this evening of a decently painted peacock. Wish me luck and talent

Thursday, October 13, 2011

What a day!




My Goodness today is crazy crazy crazy!! I had a lesson this morning with Samantha and she always gets me really creative. Although Mr. Peacock isn't turning out the way I want. We will be having a talk about that next week. I got some new pages working in my new art journal (which is completely changing my life). I finished all 3 Alice in wonderland paintings for an upcoming class. I sent emails to the new clients. I even re-opened my etsy shop. Now I will be youtubing for the rest of the day looking for new techniques. I uploaded tons of pics and am updating my blog. Wow! I love when I'm on a roll...but I better have a quick cup of tea so I can keep it up.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Time to make the donuts!!!

I at some point decided I could be super-woman. ha!! Not! Within the first year of opening my studio I also thought it would be a great idea to also co-open a pre-school all while taking care of my 3 kids as a weekday widow. (my husband travels)

WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!

Good Grief.

So have you heard Jack of all trades but master of none...Well that is what I became. I completely lost focus. I wasn't able to completely concentrate on the studio because I also had the preschool. I wasn't able to concentrate enough on the preschool because I had my studio. And my house looked like it could be condemned and those pesky kids of mine. They actually had the nerve to think there should be some kind of dinner served.

I became completely lost and felt like a complete failure.
So I have left the preschool to completely concentrate on working as an art teacher. I am a little scared but this is my love and it's what I need to do. So I have a couple new classes I am working on and I really feel free. I am so lucky. Now lets hope the jobs come my way so I don't h ave to go and work at the food court at the mall