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.