This Saturday, May 5th is the 3rd Annual Lakeland Artisan Fair. My last show of the season.

http://lakelandartisanfair.weebly.com/

I was able to finish a few more pieces I’ve been working on. Their small, but sweet. “Queen Mom” would make a great Mother’s Day gift. The scans on these are not the greatest they’re much nicer in person. The crown on the bird is beaded and I added small buttons to the trees after the scan.

It has been a  fun season doing a few shows and putting myself out there. The summer season is a bit too hot for me, so during this time I will focus my efforts on a few new projects. More on this subject later…

Thanks for stopping by 🙂

 

I have some very exciting news. I am going to be a featured artist next month with Mixed Media May. A website dedicated exclusively to mixed media artists.

For 30 days in May, the site will feature a different mixed media artist. We were all asked the same questions, but apparently our answers were very different and varied.  Along with the interview each artist was asked to share some of their work. Like the answers to the questions the art will be diverse as each artist was chosen for their own unique style.

My interview and artwork will be featured on Monday, May 21.

Please follow this link starting May 1:      http://www.mixedmediamay.com/

I could not have dreamed this for myself 5 months ago when I started this journey. I’m so happy and excited to share this with you and I hope you’ll enjoy following these very talented artists as much as I will. 

As you might have already realized… there are 31 days in May. Evidently they have something very special planned for the 31st day so be sure and follow this exciting project to the end.

Hope you enjoy it. 🙂

I have started working on some new art for a couple of shows that are coming up in late April and the beginning of May. Platform Art # 19 and the Artisan Fair. I told myself I needed to quit doing birds but guess what… I’m still doing birds. 

I’m trying not to question what is coming naturally. I am also working on some new assemblage pieces that aren’t bird related. Hopefully that is a good sign that I am beginning to move and grow in new directions. 

I am still in my infancy where art is concerned and I haven’t really found my true niche or style. I know that’s important in the art world, but in my world I am interested in to many mediums and want to try them all. 

Although it seems currently the theme of most of my art is light and airy. I also lean towards a softer color palette and subject matter that is simple and somewhat whimsical. Maybe I’m going through my second childhood. LOL.

“B is for Bird” was photographed before adding the glass and wood inset to seal it up. Just in case you were wondering why it looks unfinished. It is  very difficult for me, a novice, to photograph art so I will definitely be photographing  new works before adding glass to avoid glare.

Hopefully, some of you will be able to come out and support all the local artists from Lakeland and the surrounding areas by attending Platform Art #19 on Saturday April 28, or the Artisan Fair on May 5.  Click on the “Shows” tab up top for links and more information.

Thanks again for visiting my blog, please come again. 

 

 

 

 

I have some very exciting news. Margaret and Kay, the owners of Brooke Pottery have decided to try some of my prints in their  baby & kids department.

There are only a few, but it’s a step in the right direction. Please ask about them next time your shopping.  For those of you who have never been…which I find hard to believe. Brooke Pottery is a wonderful gift shop located in historic downtown Lakeland.

http://www.brookepottery.com/magento/shop/new.html

For over 20 years they have championed American artists working in clay, glass, wood and metal. They have gifts for almost every occasion such as weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. They will gladly gift wrap and ship your item too.

I feel very honored to have my artwork on display at Brooke Pottery and I hope the response will be positive.

Thanks for stopping by, please come again.

 

I wanted to share something I’ve been working on this week.  I am part of a facebook ATC’s group which is a spin off collection of wonderful women that I met through an online art/business course.

Every month we make three ATC’s (Artist’s Trading Cards). Think  trading baseball cards, but for artists. Each artist makes three and receives three in return.

It’s like Christmas every month when I receive my new cards in the mail.

The group was started in November 0f 2011. Each month we have a new hostess who chooses the theme and then collects and redistributes the cards back to each participating artist.

It’s really fun and challenging due to the different themes each month. Each artist has their own unique style so it’s interesting to see how many wonderful ways one theme can be interpreted. 

I will be hosting in October and the theme I chose is “Halloween & Pumpkins”. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful creations that will be coming my way. It will be very exciting for sure…I will keep you posted.

Thanks again for stopping by, please come again.

Boy, it’s hard to find the time to come here and post. My goal however is to try and post more regularly. I have learned so much in the past few months that now  I think my brain is in overload and its hard for me to think and focus.

I may have to scale back and slow down a little. Life is too short to be stressed over things that should be enjoyable… like creating art. So I think I am going to focus only on the art for awhile and let the rest go. Luckily, the whole show market slows down around this time due to the impending heat.

They say you should have a specific theme for your web/blog and stay true to it to create a following. I don’t know if I can do that. Besides I started this for me so that I could have an outlet for self expression something I have always kept somewhat hidden.

So I am warning you… this blog may be somewhat hard to follow at times but hopefully it will hit a cord with most people. I think we’re all just trying to find our way and figure out what makes us feel good about getting out of bed each day with a hopeful outlook.

I no longer want to edit, edit, edit, and reedit every time I post either. Because that really gives the perfectionist in me way to much power.  I’m going to from this post forward just enjoy what comes from my heart and soul naturally. “Me and all my glory” as they say. LOL.

Here are a few wood birds I have embellished. They are covered with vintage ephemera and scrapbook papers with button eyes and burlap wings. They were fun to make. I love their aged rusty little feet.

Hit the Etsy Link at the top of this page to  see what else I have been working on.

Thanks for stopping by please come again.

 

 

On Saturday March 10th we held our 3rd Annual Spring Downtown Artfest in downtown Lakeland. Tammy and I started this show three years ago in conjunction with the popular Spring Obsession Garden show that is held in Munn Park.

The weather was gray and overcast in the morning but by afternoon the sun was out and it was blue skies the rest of the day. The crowd seemed to be a little less than last year but the response overall was positive.

It was my second official outdoor show and I felt it went pretty well. It’s really nice to talk and meet with other artists.  We’re all  different yet we all have the same common goal.  We want to be able to continue doing what we love most…art.

My booth still needs some tweaking to say the least. I don’t have real walls yet due to the expense. Hopefully, as I grow I will be able to purchase them.   I did however, get some new weights for my tent. My husband was a man on a mission after witnessing it almost being blown away at the Bloomin’ Arts Festival in Bartow the weekend before.

My friends Dottie and Amy stopped by to say “hello” and see how I was doing. Dottie purchased a piece I just finished the day before called “Flowers”.  I was excited to know it was going to a good home.

There will be a small break in between shows at this time. So I plan on taking full advantage of it by concentrating on some new ideas I have rolling around in my head.

Check out the shows page for upcoming shows. I will post them soon.

Thanks again for stopping by.

Hello Friends,

Well, I’m gearing up for the Bloomin’ Arts Festival in Bartow this weekend. The excitement is building along with the nerves.  Overall, I feel I am prepared for this fun two day event.

I purchased  a new tent, we figured out a way to hang everything without using actual walls, my prints are matted, priced and nicely sleeved, I have enough art to fill the space, I had new business cards made, I have  a Square for the convenience of using debit/credit cards and what seems like a ton of other small things I don’t want to forget.

It seems, however, I keep discovering more and more things that need to be done and the deadline is fast approaching. So I will tackle as much as I can of my to do list by 5:00 tomorrow and then that’s it. I want to be able to enjoy this weekend and not get caught up in all the woulda, coulda, shouldas…

I’m looking forward to greeting, and  welcoming interested onlookers into my tent and answering questions they may have about my art.  I am also excited about  meeting and conversing with the other artists. Many of them have been doing art shows for years and hopefully they’ll share some of their priceless knowledge and wisdom.

I hope some of you can make it out to the show this weekend and enjoy all the art, food and festivities. If you do, please stop by and say “hello”  your presence and support will be greatly appreciated.

In my next post I will give a full report and have plenty of show photos to share.

So please stop by again soon.

Thanks