New Website

Hey folks, you can now find my new blog at www.kathartsis.com.

Thanks and hope you stop by.

Strut your Stuff #2

This past weekend was a big one in the studio.  I started the first of 3 large commissions.  Very excited to have this challenge in front of me.  

Spirit on the Water, 16" x 40", Mixed Media on Canvas

Named after the Song by Bob Dylan.  If you have not heard this song, I highly recommend it.  Catchy little tune.  

So let's see what you all created this past week.

I'm excited to see!

Wordless Wednesday

My camping studio

Strut Your Stuff #1

Strut Your Stuff Mondays

I planned on getting this out earlier today, but you know how that goes.  Clean-up duty from the boys on Spring Break, sales orders that need to be photographed and sent out, online marketing and a run.

BAM! There goes the day.

So during the run, I kept thinking that it would be great to see what other people are making in their wonderful lives.  I am always sharing what I do over here and I would like to see all your stuff too.  

Call it motivation, call it showing off; either way, 

LET ME SEE IT.

Maybe it's a wonderful dinner, maybe it's a necklace.

Maybe it's something to decorate your house

Whatever it is, add your name to the McLinky and share whatcha got.

This is my artwork that I created this weekend.

The Song Divine, 8" x 10" mixed media on canvas

Named after the Indian prayer and motivation book.  I found the book at a yard sale. I had no idea what it actually was but after reading through it, it has some great words of wisdom that inspired the art piece.

I will leave this open all week so people have a chance to visit and share.

Perfect Margarita

Sometime last month was National Margarita Day.  We had so much fun we declared it National Margarita month in our house.  There is no better recipe than Jimmy Buffet's Perfect Margarita's. 

Enjoy and be careful.  Don't say I didn't warn ya!

Crushed ice
3 wedges lime
2 ounces gold tequila (Cuervo 1800)
1/2 ounce tequila (Cuervo white)
1 1/4 ounces Rose's Lime Juice
1/2 ounce triple sec 
1 splash orange Curacao 

Put all ingredients except the 3 lime wedges into a shaker. Squeeze 2 of the lime wedges into the shaker. SHAKE WELL! Rim outside of glass only with lime. Salt only the outside of the glass. Add fresh crushed ice to glass. Strain mixture over ice. Squeeze remaining lime wedge in glass.

New Art Series

I began this new art series recently. I started by drawing these woman images with long hair in several different poses.  They all have on flower somewhere next to her.  

I then colored it in with Prismacolor art markers, cut them out and place them into a mixed media scene.

I have had a lot of fun creating these scenes so far and think I will continue this series for awhile. I love working with all the layers and mediums to create these pieces.

My Art Frames were Featured

It's a beautiful Monday morning! 

I am enjoying (another) cup of coffee and working away on everything art over here.  

And to make my day even better, I just found out I was featured on Sweet Stella's blog.

Check it out!

SWEET STELLA

Song of the Butterfly

Got into the studio early this morning and was inspired by this little dragonfly I had cut out of wrapping paper. Who knew it would lead to an artwork.

Mom and Me Art Classes

Yesterday, I held the first of a series of new art workshops that I have planned.  They are Mom and Me, two hour long art classes where both parent and child work on creating an artwork together.  For this particular class, we created a mixed media artwork on a 12 x 12 canvas.  Just the fact that the kids worked on canvas was a huge treat for them.  They got to play with paint, fabric, oil pastels, paper, glue, beads, rhinestones, and other small treasures. 

We had so much fun and such great works of art came out of it.

My younger son's (Thing 2)

My older son's (Thing 1)

 

The Trade Network

Well, number 20 on my list of things to do before I'm 40 is to create a Trade Networkand I am glad to say it is finally up and running! 
It is a site where artist and crafters can post something they are willing to trade and people can respond if they want to participate.  The trade is open for a specified amount of time.  
It will be a running list of people willing to Trade items.So, say I need a gift for a friend's birthday next month.  I go on the Trade Network, look for something she might like, and make a trade with something that I make in exchange.
Pretty Easy.
I invite you to go over and check out the site. You will also find a page for quarterly swap exchanges, art/crafter listings and advertising opportunities.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.artisttradenetwork.wordpress.com" title="The Trade Network"><img src="http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad150/yolitahoe/cool-powerpoint-backgrounds-1.gif" alt="The Trade Network" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

The Art Opportunity

When the Art opportunity comes knocking...

well, I simply open the door and greet it with a big fat hug!

The opportunities have been great lately, things are going well.  I have been selling these custom shoes and they have been a blast to make.  These latest ones were for a customer who likes Widespread Panic. They were so much fun, I think I want a pair!

Also, I have a friend who is a realtor and she has commissioned me to do an Art Frame for her clients.

So every time she sells a house, they get one of these.

Let's pray she sells LOTS of houses this year!

Lastly, a few weeks ago I was reading a Somerset magazine and they had a call for artists.  One of the themes is classic books.  One of my favorite of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird.  I haven't read it in awhile but I knew it would bring lots of inspiration.  So that's it, that has encompassed my January. Rereading AND artwork among motherhood and wifehood.  But, it has been worth the exploration.  On my list of 40 before 40 is publication.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.  I'll share the finished product in a post soon, I still have a few final touches.

Star Wars Birthday Party Time

My 6 11/12 year old (his term, not mine) is soon to be 7 in a couple of weeks and now it's 

Mommy Freak Out Time!

 I know I don't have to go all crazy with decorated cakes/ cookies, matching partyware and such.... but really.  That's me.  I like to do it, I just know wish I had done it starting last month like I wanted to.  But with the holidays, you know how it is...it's just gets plain crazy.  

So I have a few ideas

1) First: I traded a custom picture frame 

 for some of The Sweetest Thing's cookies

Not these cookies..I don't have them yet.  They are going to arrive fresh for his birthday.

He decided to go with the Star Wars theme (big surprise, right?)

Some little lightsaber cookies would be very cool.

2.  Yeah, that's all I have so far.  But it is one of my top priorities right now so I'll let you all know how the process is coming along.  

In the meantime, if you are in need of any cookies, you should visit The Sweetest Thing.

And you can see all the fun thing she's working on at her blog.

Maybe something sweet for your Valentine?

Come Visit My New Shop

I am really loving making these photo frames! And I love being challenged by custom orders.  So, I took the plunge and opened up a Big Cartel shop in addition to my Etsy Store.  

Please go by and visit and if you find one you like, 

enter the discount code blog20 for a 20% discount...just for my lovely blog readers.

http://www.creativeflairartdesigns.bigcartel.com

My Art Frames Were Featured

I was contacted earlier this month from an event planner here in my part of town, Rylie Boo events.  She wanted to use my art frames to feature in her events and photo shoots.  

How cool is that???

Well, here it is.  This is the first one and it was featured over at
Save the Date for Cupcakes

My LOVE frame in this beautiful tablescape

Go on over and visit and while your at it, if you need any party planning (ANYWHERE in the country), visit RylieBooEvents.com.  

And, of course, you would like to see more of my frames

visit me at www.creativeflairart.etsy.com

Also, I am Mingling over at Meg's blog.

Ahhh, coffee and blog reading, such a lovely way to spend the holiday.

Happy MLK all!

Felt Heart Wreath

You know I love my wreaths!

And this one is no different.  I am looking forward to making this wreath, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Go on over to The Idea Room and check out the tutorial. It's so easy and inexpensive. 

 My only problem is where I am going to store all these wreaths!

Personalized Photo Art Frames

Happy New Year!!

The holidays are over and I am ready for the New Year and all it has to bring.

I have been busy creating in the studio and wanted to share what I have been doing.  

I have decided to expand my art line with these photo frames.  They are SO much fun to create.  I get to use all of my "stuff".

The grandkids frames are really popular.

This motocross frame has the little boy's name on the sprocket that I made out of polymer clay.

Perfect for the little soccer player.  I can see it with pink paper in the background for a little girl.  

This ballerina frame has a little tutu and ballet slippers made out of polymer clay and a personalized name plate at the bottom.

That's about it for now but I am in the process of a wedding frame with the words of the first dance.

Anyone have any ideas for other frames?