Don't curse the darkness

Picked up a couple of VERY inspiring books the other day. The first is Choosing Civility by P.M. Forni and the second is Drawing Lab For Mixed-Media Artists by Carla Sonheim. I bought the first for someone else but can't seem to stop reading it. It's full of great quotes and common sense reminders for life.
"Don't curse the darkness–light a candle." chinese proverb

I'm going to use this proverb in a lot of ways artistically. I have an illustration I did a few years ago that it will fit perfectly next to. And it's going on my wall. (maybe my fb wall too).
The drawing book is full of great ideas to get ya moving with sketches. I tend to not draw every day but need to keep at it. Now I have a lesson plan to make sure I don't laze around with my art.

Etsy goals are to keep adding earrings and in a couple weeks have a big sale for the holidays. Still need that first sale, but I am patient and have only just begun putting the word out there.
AND, the boy got the airplane costume after all. Got the wings started and then I happily shifted responsibility to my husband while I made dinner. A silver airplane just like his great grandpa flew.

happy bday to me

well, the bday plans did not go as planned. however the adorable 3 year old happy birthday song to mom is unforgettable.
i found a cowboy hat at the thrift store for my son and when I brought it home he said he wants to be an airplane. ok, plan B. lots to do tomorrow!
checked in with Etsy and my turquoise dangle earrings are in a very nice treasury. . . http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cca52730df66d917c537342/undiscovered-beauty
I love the photo of the day of the dead apron, great photography!
my migraine says time to go to bed, bye now.

Hello camera!

Here are the newest earrings to be listed on Etsy asap: Red Bamboo Coral, Freshwater Baroque Black Peacock Pearls w/ Brown Swarovski Crystal Pearls, and Peacock Pearls w/ Vintage Purple Plastic Beads. . .

hang on antenna, hang on!

This wind is wicked. Not only does it feel like it's blowing right through my house but I'm crossing my fingers that the TV antenna holds on tight! Without it, no Fat Albert re-runs, no more bad 70's B movie re-runs, and certainly no hope of any quasi-interesting sitcoms or such. Oh MY!!!
Tweaking my blog design today and doing piece work for jewelry. No sign of the camera yet. ugh. My son's trip to the pumpkin patch for a hay ride was cancelled due to weather. I'm going to try to entertain him here with Elmer's glue, egg cartons and dried beans. We'll see if it works!
Ok, I'm going to go look in our vehicle, then in the hutch.

technical difficulties

Time to upgrade the camera and the powerbook, you've both been good to me but enough is enough! Had a pretty productive day today (sans camera of course). Made some new earrings I really like, long and dangley with dark red coral rounds and the other with black baroque freshwater pearl and deep brown swarovski crystal pearls. I'm so excited to get them online, gonna have to resort to the OLD camera with no DoF, as soon as I can find where the 3 y/o put it. Yep, it's my toddler's camera. (did I really just admit that?)  As I watched him spinning on the carpet tonight—a Dancing w/ the Stars inspired breakdancing session—I briefly wondered where he might have stashed it. The toy bin, a cabinet, some random closet shelf? Hope to find out tomorrow.

The painting is done!

After a good 40 minutes of hand painting letter after letter, the bday painting is done! I have never painted so many words and had to be so careful about it too. I realize now that the letter spacing was very unforgiving and will not do that again! All in all, with only a couple letters not looking as great as I wanted, it is done! To be given away tomorrow. I am very happy with how it turned out.

I've already coffee stained my next canvas to start another blossom painting. The canvas is much longer so it'll be more fun to compose with branches. Maybe a trip tych because I do have 3 canvas boards of that size. hmmmmmm.

making earrings and placing text

The kids are sleeping and I have a few minutes to play. I put together a rather pretty pair of earrings, vintage purple beads and freshwater baroque black peacock pearls. Once my camera and I see eye to eye again, I'll list on Etsy and show and tell.
I also scanned my blossom painting and placed the text in Photoshop to see about placement. I don't have time to fix it on the canvas so I only have one shot to get it right. Looks good so far, now to take the leap and get it done!