Common Courtesy

Is it just me, or have more people lost the ability to simply be courteous to others.

  First, let me set the mood.  Mornings are MY time to get things done.  The kids are in school and my time is very limited.  I appreciate when I do have a chance to peruse over book and/or magazines.  So today, I have that opportunity and I have a very specific book in mind.  My latest interest in mixed media has sparked this outing and I am determined to find something.  Enter the oblivious nitwit.

As I enter the craft section, I marvel at the empty aisle and smile knowing I am free to browse as I choose.  Then the nitwit walks over behind me, re-shelves a few books, goes to get more books and re-shelves those right next to me.  Understandable.  Then, she comes over at my hip level, right in front of me, and puts 2 books on the shelf.  No excuse me. No I'm sorry.  I think, "O.K"  Then, she continues, not re-shelving, simply pushing books around, "straightening them" and now I think, " Really?  Is that truly necessary?

How does a person think that this is ok behavior.  This area couldn't possibly be straightened later.  What about the area about 3 feet to my right.  That area didn't need tending to?  It made me wonder what other values this poor women is missing.  Courtesy is one value I will be sure to teach my boys.

Hairbows Galore

I finally have decided to write a post on a guest artisan and have found the perfect gal to write the first one.  This gal makes the CUTEST hair accessories! Not to mention they would look fabulous on the hair bow holders that I make.  If you have a little girl, niece or little munchkin friend, you simply must check out this Etsy shop.  

These are Dana's products from her Livie Lu Boutique.  I asked Dana a few questions to get to know a little bit about her. Be sure to take a peek at her shop and become a fan of her Facebook page. 

 

How did you get started making hair accessories?

My little girl Olivia was born in 07, and being the 'girly girl' that I am, I wanted to accessorize her from the start!  I began buying bows, clips and headbands and after checking them out, realized that I could probably make them myself.  So after much trial and error and reading a few tutorials, I got better and better.  By trade I'm a dental hygienist and feel that my attention to detail helps me make a nice, even and pretty bow!  I also love putting different colors, textures and styles together.  Now I'm really enjoying finding new items and branching out to making headbands and painting wall letters.

Why did you start selling on Etsy?
Etsy was recommended to me by a fellow crafter and I feel it's a simple way to have your own business and get your name out there.  I sell more of my items locally and through my facebook fan page, but I like maintaining my etsy page and supporting other artists.  Many of my supplies I purchase through other etsians.






What do you do in your spare time?  

I work part time as a dental hygienist, and have a 2 year old daughter, so that keeps me busy.  Most evenings I watch some tv or make my accessories.  My husband and I love to travel, especially to tropical locations that have great offshore and inshore fishing.  I also like taking walks with my family and my Boxer, Molly.
 www.LivieLuBoutique.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/LivieLuBoutique    

  

Summertime Sangria

1 Bottle of red wine
1 Lemon cut into wedges
1 Orange cut into wedges
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Shot brandy (optional)
 2 Cups ginger ale or club soda

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and orange into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar and brandy, if using. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving. 

Personalized Wall Decor Giveaway

I have a new line of children's wall art I am working on and what better way to promote it than to have a giveaway!  I am having this contest on both Facebook and Twitter, and if you follow me on both... you double your chances.  The winners will receive a name, personalized in whatever theme they would like (up to a $60 value).  These make GREAT gifts. And as always, gift wrapping at no extra charge. 


To participate on Facebook:

Suggest Creative Flair Art to your friends. When your friends “Like” the fan page, have them write the name of the person whom they received the suggestion from on the wall. THIS IS THE ENTRY! The more names I receive the more entries you get. Both people will receive the prize! If you already are a fan, simply write the name of the person who suggested the page to you. Contest ends when I reach 350 fans.

To participate on Twitter: Be the 500th person to RT my link. Must be a follower to win. No more than 1 RT per hour!

Good Luck!

New Line of Kids Art

When I had my kids, it seemed all art decor revolved around art decor that was a bit "babyish".  Granted I did have babies, but I needed something they could grow into and fortunately for me, I know how to draw.  But for those who don't have any artistic talent (so they claim), I have a line in my Etsy store that is just great for the kids rooms.  They are fun and colorful.  The originals done in soft pastels, which offer vivid colors with a very "soft" look.

I have also extended the line to include thank you cards and return labels, perfect for birthday parties. Check out the complete line on my Etsy shop.  More products are added every day.

Etsy Shop

Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

Recipe courtesy of DisneyFamily.com- 2010

Fruit rolls are a big 'kid favorite' and very easy to pop into lunches or backpacks for kids on the go. These rolls are 100% fruit with no sugar or artificial anything added. They're also cheaper than their boxed counterparts, coming in at just 17 cents each. If you don't want to roll them, the fruit leather is just as good cut into squares or other shapes.

Hands-On Time: 10 minutes
Ready In: 8 hours and 40 minutes
Yield: 12 roll-ups
Cost Per Serving: $0.17

Ingredients

8 ounces dried apricots or other dried fruit1 1/2 cups water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Line a 12x15 inch baking sheet with aluminum foil; coat foil with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Combine apricots or other dried fruit with water in a heavy saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes or until fruit is very soft.
4. Drain excess liquid and pour fruit into a blender. Puree until very smooth.
5. Pour fruit onto prepared foil and spread evenly, making sure there are no holes.
6. Place sheet into oven for 25 minutes. Without opening oven, turn heat off and leave oven door shut for 8 hours.
7. Remove baking sheet from oven and gently peel fruit from foil. Set on waxed paper, right-side down, and press down.
8. Cut into 12 even strips, lengthwise. Roll each strip with the paper side out and store in plastic bags until ready to eat.

Ursa Jig (The Dancing Bear)

O, my little bear, shaking her groove thing.
I once saw a bear standing like this, it is not a common event.  In fact, it was under an unfortunate circumstance.  While we were living in Lake Tahoe, we had a bit of a bear problem.  She tore apart side vents, scratched at wood doors and even found her way into the house. During this one particular episode, I wanted to scare her away from the house, so I took our BB gun and shot her in the rump.  That made her angry.  Before running away though, she stood up on her hind legs and I got this vision in my head to remember her.  Of course, I added the groove in her step, but a bear has LOTS of fur and when they stand that fur has to go somewhere.  Gravity takes over and you get a full round bum.

I want to do more of these bears.  Maybe a full line of them in various colors and scenery.  I did do one other version and entered into a wine tasting event poster contest. Whether it wins or not will         be up to the judges.

Ursa Jig- Prismacolor art pens on watercolor paper
               11x14

Ursa with Wine- Gouache on watercolor paper
                 11x17

Ian's Army Rocket

Ian, my 6 year, drew this picture at school the other day.  Ian is not one to sit and color, or create pictures and will sometimes complain about art lessons.   He consistently comes home with schoolwork that he has barely colored.  NOT, something an artist mom likes to deal with.  However, every once in a great while, he sits for a period of time and creates something really cool.  In fact, when he brought this home, I thought it was accidentally stuck in his folder from some other kid that made the drawing.

I thought I'd share this piece because it was an interesting picture depicting an "army rocket", as he called it, taking off.  He wanted to show action so he drew a little piece above the rocket.  Very clever.  I asked him why he chose to have it raining and he simply said, "it was a gloomy day".  Yet the sun is coming out in the corner, shining it's rays.

I am a happy mom to display one of his art pieces.  Where the inspiration came from I may never know.  It could be that he has a cousin in the army in Afghanistan, it could be that he was in the pretend rocketship at school.  It could be just a boy's imagination.

Arbol at Pedregal

This drawing was created about a month ago when I decided to take the boys to listen to some Celtic music in the park with some friends.  We planted ourselves on the grass and there was this wonderful twisted tree right in front of me.

Fortunately for me, I had some Prismacolor art markers and bristol paper with me.  I gave all the kids some crayons and paper and we all decided to draw to the music.  I started with the outline of the tree and drew in the abstract colored background, colors that I found throughout the area.  The kids were fascinated watching the whole process and it turned out to be an excellent afternoon.




Original 9x12- $50.00


Also available in limited edition giclee print.
Contact artist for details.






Interested in a smaller version......
check out this Wearable art necklace,a small print,signed and dated on the back. The print is enclosed ina copper frame in between glass, all handmade.

Welcome to Creative Flair Art

Welcome to the blog site!  I needed a place where I could go into more description about some of the pieces I create and although I am NOT a writer, writing about them just completes the circle.


Please be patient while gather all these thoughts and check back regularly to see what's new.