Holiday Workshop at Sunshine Girl Designs!

This past summer I had 2 weeks of art camp and it went so well, I decided to have a holiday workshop where I would have the kids paint Christmas paintings and make bird ornaments. I decided to offer 3 days and take kids aged 5-12. I'm lucky that right now I am renting out a space that used to be a small restaurant/bakeshop. It's a wonderful space with great restrooms and a kitchen(great for storing snacks and baking ornaments!) It's for sale right now, but I have my fingers crossed that it will still be free for me to hold my summer camps this summer. What talent these kids have...I love looking at all the paintings lined up. We had a ton of fun!  We painted, collaged, drank hot chocolate, ate Christmas cookies, listened to Christmas music, ate pizza, played musical chairs, sculpted birds...whew..alot of work but a ton of fun. Here's some highlights...

Loving Life

These days my life is all about love! Love for my family, love for my friends, love for my art! I am loving life!

Explore your truth

Oh, how I love words! I love that I can incorporate them into my work and add meaning or thought. I am growing as an artist and loving the journey it is taking me on.

Dream Big!

5 x 5 painting...I love these little paintings. I'm thinking I will make a bunch of these for the holiday market coming Dec. 3rd and 4th. Inexpensive but super cute. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am extremely grateful that I get to create everyday and that I get to show you guys a piece of  "me" everyday. I paint what's in my heart:)

another custom painting...

I enjoyed painting this this morning while baking a pumpkin pie...I had the background prepped last night so I just had to come up with the idea and get to work! The only requirement that my customer had was to paint a tree with big balls on it.. I literally never sketch out a design, I just start painting. I wonder if the big names out there sketch and plan? I kinda like this so much, I want it for myself:)

Custom painting

Here's a custom painting that I worked on this evening... I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to create pieces for people's homes. It's an honor! This particular customer gave me free rein, specified the colors of the room and said CREATE something.. I hope she loves it;)

Art everyday- day 10

Check out my Christmas signs I worked on today! I love,love working on Christmas stuff...

Art everyday!

Here's what I created today... So with Christmas fast approaching and with many orders that need to be filled.. I took a tiny break and started painting an original owl painting. I'm not quite finished, but here she is..

Day 7- Art everyday!

Here is a necklace that I created! This is not the right chain for my piece but it's all I had.. I'm going to browse around online for the perfect chain.. I'm thinking of leather? What do you think?

Art for today... Bird ornaments

This took me quite awhile but was quite fun to do! I'm going to be offering these birds at the Holiday market and they will all have inspirational words.

Getting ready for Christmas!

Here are a  few blocks I've been working on for the holiday season;)

Art every day...

So I signed up to post about what I create everyday for the entire month of November. Oops, missed the first 2 days... Although I did create those days. So for today's post I'm gonna show you 3 paintings I worked on this week for a customer.

validation.

How good do you feel when someone says "Good job", "way to go" or "Wow, your amazing!" I don't know about you, but it makes me feel really warm and fuzzy inside. Why do we not say it more to the people we care about? Let's make an effort to do that, because your words could really mean the world to someone else. Your words of encouragement could make a real difference. Until next time, love....

noticing...

Are you in tune with what's going on around you? Being a mother,wife, friend, daughter,sister, girl scout leader, volunteer, owner of my own business,sometimes it can be hard but I make an extra effort to really pay attention. Because if you really pay attention, you will be in awe of life. The connections I've made, the people that keep popping into it, the art I discovered in my shower curtain(water  formed this most amazing art, I meant to take a picture of it..but forgot!) It's all around you... Life! Be present in it and be prepared to be amazed. Try not to focus on other people's journey but instead focus on your particular journey and what the purpose is and what it all means. It can be so joyful.

Taking the Oprah Challenge...

As I'm riding shotgun on the way to the beach to get some much needed relaxation time, I'm catching up on some magazine reading. Oprah magazine has an article in her latest magazine that helps you find your true calling by answering 3 little questions. So, just for fun thought I would share.
1) How does what your doing make you feel?
When your honoring your calling, there's an undeniable sense of stimulation and exhilaration.It feels like you're giving and getting "juice" from the experience. It just feels so right.
I've tried a few different things over the years, but what I'm doing now gives me this exhilaration I've never felt before.
2)Does it have a positive impact on others? Anything that makes you feel strong, connected, and aligned with your truth does the same when shared. Nothing that really calls you is ever for you alone. I love this, I hope to have a positive influence on kids and adults alike...it feels good to share who I am.
3)Does it turn up the volume and increase the vibration of your life? whenever your engage in the business of who you're meant to be, you're more awake, alive, and ready to play a vital part in your world. When others see your light shining, they'll be inspired to shine theirs, too. I love this! Shining my light inspires others to shine their lights.

I hope everyone finds their lights... And if you haven't, don't give up! Take stock of your strengths, find your passion, and forge ahead. don't wait, life is too short!

relationships

One thing that has been a nice surprise in starting this business, is the ongoing support and relationships I've made. I've connected with strangers, made friends from customers and met fellow artisans. It's always nice to have one of my "kids" that was in my art camp, stop by my booth at the Chattanooga Market and go "Wow, did you make all of this?" I think it's a good message to them, that I'm doing what I love and putting myself out there. I am being brave, or so a customer told me. Brave, hmmm. I told her I had no choice but to be brave, because I love what I do, it's a passion that won't quit. Sure, I can get alittle unsure when no one stops by my booth or buys anything..but I just remember all the times I've inspired kids and adults alike and remember that I am fearless, brave, talented, blessed and right where I'm supposed to be.

Moooo.....

Cows have become my fun pieces...People love cows! I always get a ton of people admiring my whimsical cows. They sell pretty quickly too! Here's a look at some of them...

This is my most recent one...It's available for $70

This one I did for my daughter's room...

words...

I love old pieces of word! The possibilities are endless!

A saw! a Very handy tool.

My mother gave me some old pieces of fence a few months ago and I haven't had a chance to figure out what I wanted to do with them until last night. Found the saw in the garage and starting sawing, which I found out this morning the reason I was having a tough time with it, was because I wasn't doing it correctly...heheh, I know, sometimes I'm clueless when it comes to tools! But I'm a fast learner and I whipped out close to 20 signs today! I'm also very handy with a drill:) I hope to have my own workshop with "big" tools soon!!

Words are sooo wonderful.