christytomlinson

Behind the Art.. creating texture with the everyday

okay.. so I have the funniest story to tell (maybe not so funny but just one of those moments you go.. well it must have been meant to be for some reason)..  Monday I posted that I was leaving for Puerto Rico to teach for my friend Yamille at an event she was putting on to over 200 women. Well called me monday afternoon,  to make sure everything was in order for the event.. I told her yes but just needed the itinerary for my plane tickets emailed to me as I hadn't seen it yet. WELL when she started to tell me what it was.. and what time I would be flying in.. she said out loud.. "you will be  coming in on the 9th of December.. and coming home the 14th!"  and I was like.. wait what? Can you repeat that last sentence?? Lol..  isn't the event THIS weekend?... and then dead silence..  and then we both had a "oh crap" moment.. lol..  it seems as though through the mist of many facebook messages back and forth, and the language barrier we both have..  somehow we both totally got confused. She originally wanted me to come out the 9th and 10th but my husband and I are going to Hawaii with some friends and so I told her I would love to, but couldn't do it that weekend. as I already had a trip planned that had been for months... but could the weekend before, which was December 2nd and 3rd. She said that was wonderful and we were good to go.. and starting planning  the class and her event. Well she read the email  that I could come out the 2nd or 3rd WEEKend in december when I meant the 2nd and 3rd DAYS of december.. and so this whole time we have both thought the event was on different weekends! lol. Oh I felt soo bad. I wanted to cry for her! After a little bit of brainstorming and a few laughs (and maybe a few tears.. lol) .   We figured it all out!  The event is going on as planned without me next weekend.. with all the other fabulous teachers.. and while I can't come as I will already be gone in Hawaii..I am going to fly out there iN January and do a private event for all of the ladies who are attending the event next weekend.. just for them. Yamille was so positive through the whole thing and that Is what I love about her and our friendship! I felt so bad for her! through all of it she said to me " there must be a reason that God doesn't want you to come to Puerto Rico this weekend.. maybe there would be problems with the plane and so this is Nature protecting you"   .. and I thought.. seriously? how freaking sweet is that.. instead of being upset or looking at the negative about this whole situation.. she is looking for the positive in it! I ADORE Yamille.. she is seriously one of the most genuine people I know. And so FUN! Can't WAIT to go in January now and teach at her private store to all those wonderful girls.. gonna have to bring them something special for the wait! lol

anyhow.. so instead of being on a warm sunny beach right now.. I am still home, in cold idaho and now have 4 extra days of "i don't know what to do with myself".. because I have been working so hard all of this past 2 weeks to get every deadline done by monday! lol.. I even stayed home from thanksgiving to get it all done..so now I feel like.. wow.. I can breath?  maybe I will take this opportunity to go make some magical christmas art to put in my house. Maybe I will just sleep. lol who knows.
ANYHOW.. the whole reason for this post is because I have a VIDEO to share with you today!! lol

 so a few months ago I did an article for Somerset Studio's Magazine.. (it was in their september issue I believe).. and in it they asked me feature how to create texture on your art projects with everyday house hold items! I LOVED this challenge.. specially because I use household items in my art all the time! Well they also asked me to create a video for them to post on their website creating one of the projects I did.. so of course.. I said.. yes!  But I also created a second video for at the same time.. all about the household items I use and how to use them! So I thought I would share THAT video with you here in my blog! Here are a few peeks of the projects I did for the article.. if you don't get that magazine.. yoU MUST SUBSCRIBE TO IT!! it's amazing! and I think you can still buy past issues on their website.. and they even offer digital downloads of past magazines too.

this article was seriously so fun..

so again.. this isn't the video where I created the actual projects.. (you have to buy the magazine to get the code to actually watch that one).. but this is one I created the same day using all the items I talk about in the video!  hope you enjoy it! .. Happy Thursday!

sneak peeks.. holiday cheer

so glad to have my family back home! ive decided if I lived alone I would starve to death. I bought myself a pumpkin pie the day before thanksgiving and that is what I had for lunch each day (and no breakfast or dinner).. I seriously just forgot to eat each day! I would have working all day without eating on thanksgiving too... if my friend mer, had insisted on bringing me a plate of food from their thanksgiving dinner. She's such an awesome friend. ahh.. so glad to have ben home.. he is the one who cooks around here. Now I will eat again! lol

so..  I have to admit.. I am totally getting into holiday mode.. listening to Christmas music and wanting to be in the studio creating artsy holiday things. This year I have decided to go handmade and make a lot of my gifts for my friends. I am excited because it's been a few years since I have done that.. and it always just means so much more to ME.. making something from the heart. We will see if I can stick to that plan! ohlol

so speaking of handmade and holidays.. I know a week or so ago I announced a new mini workshop debuting next monday.. The 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas! I have some emails and questions about it.. and I thought I would do another short question and answer about it and also show you SNEAK PEEKS of this class!   first question is: how long will the class be available: The class will be available for 6 months! So plenty of time to watch and create.  second question: is the class in video: Yes.. just like all my other workshop each teacher has created an awesome video for you to see step by step the process of how to create their ornament or holiday decor. Plus pdf's to download of the finished projects for upclose personal looks too!  Question three: Will there only be ornaments? No! some of the teachers will actually be creating fun holiday decor.. so it will be a mixture of ornaments, holiday decor and a few fun surprises from me :).  So come join me!!! here are just a few sneak peeks of some of the projects!

Donna downey linen, burlap and twin wrapped Balls 

Alisa Burkes Water Color Ornaments! yum!

 

Jeanne Oliver's 12" Vintage Burlap wreath.. seriously in love with all the balls on there and the roses! ahh!

In true junelle style.. colorful whimsy canvas ornaments (plus she made som adorable house ones too! She just simply rocks!)

Margie's adorable Vintage Bird ornament.. complete with it's own nest, party hat and everything! 

 Chrissy's ornaments are an assortment of houses made out of textbook paper! She shows vintage style and then also shows you how to add color to them and make them whimsical and fun!

Oh and there is so much more.. your gonna love love this class. I hope you join me and all my awesome guest teachers. I've been editing their videos all weekend long.. and seriously. Just love their funny quirky personalities!

Class starts December 5th.. registeration is going on now! If you want to know more about it.. you can click on the link below

12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas!

or sign up here :)


REGISTER NOW!

So.. this week I am preparing to head to Puerto Rico to teach at an event there.. for Yamille with Memory Box! so many of my dear friends have taught her her events and they all say they are fun, wild and crazy! So I can't wait! lol. I am bringing along my friend Meredith.. who isn't in the art industry.. but she SHOULD be..She is going to help me in my classroom.  She comes and hangs with me a lot in my art studio while I am working and she always picks up something and just starts to create and comes out with the most beautiful things. She says shes not an artist.. but she is. She is a busy mom to 3 kids and works full time as a nurse.. so she thinks she doesn't have time to create.. but I will change her mind. She makes the most beautiful jewelry! just excited to have her along. She always keeps me laughing. Can't wait. We both need a break. lol

so that is what I am working on today.. getting ready to leave.. finishing up some deadlines for art.. I have some a fun announcement to tell you about.. I AM HOPING I can tell you in the next few weeks! Something that i have been working SOO hard on for the last 2 months and cant not wait to share it with everyone soon! AHH!! lol.. i am so bad at keeping secrets.. but I will :) let's just say its going to make creating and getting messy.. a little more fun :) OH and speaking of creating and getting messy! We have a cyber monday/black friday special on our Scarlet Lime website today.. 50% off all clearance items.. PLUS we added some grab bag kits perfect for creating. for only $5.00 BUCKS!! to get the 50% off all clearance.. use this code: BlackFriday11 at checkout. Just added tons of new stuff to the clearance section!

Scarlet Lime Mixed MEdia Shop

well I better get to work. Long list of things to do. Laundry probably should be one of them.. since I am down to my last pair of clean of.. well you know. Yes.. I live moment to moment. haha.

happy monday!!

 

grateful for the everyday...

 

this week has been super crazy getting my family ready for Thanksgiving, deadlines and just the everyday hustle bustle of holidays.. but this morning, as I sat in husbands comfy chair, reading the paper and listen to the sound of well... nothing. I realized it's the little things I am truly grateful for. 

For weeks now I have been working my butt off trying to get deadlines done so I could enjoy this week with my family and enjoy our trip to boise.. to see Ben's  family who we haven't seen in just about a year. It seemed the harder I worked, the more deadlines seemed to creep in.. that I had either forgotten about.. or just new ones that hadn't surfaced yet. Anyhow.. at the end of last week.. it was VERY apparent that I would not be able to finish everything before we left for Boise on Wednesday. 

The biggest hurdle  was that I am leaving next week to teach in Puerto Rico and while most of my deadlines weren't due until December 5th..  I will be gone almost all of next week.. it meant I would need to have everything done by this weekend. So I started looking into flights from Boise to here. My new plan was to go with ben to Boise.. and spend thanksgiving day with my family and his and then fly home friday morning, to finish up my deadlines.  (boise is on the western side of the state and we are on the eastern)  but wow.. living in a small town.. the price to fly from boise to here.. was nearly $350 dollar one way! that just seemed ridiculous.. so after much talk and thought, my husband and i decided it would just be best if I stayed home and worked.. got everything done and he and the kids would go to Boise. He offered to stay home too.. but I said no way. His brother, whom he hasn't seen in a couple of years was coming.. and all but one of his 8 brothers and sisters would be together.. I was not making him stay home for me. Allie offered to stay home with me too.. but I just knew she really wanted to go. She loves her aunts and cousins and hardly ever gets to see them and she has been talking about how excited she has been for a month now to go.. so I said. no.. TRULY I will be okay.. im a big girl.  It's life right? Sometimes we overcomit and underestimate the time it will take us to do things.. and one thing about being an adult is owning up to those mistakes and learning from them.

Yesterday I have to admit was AMAZING. My family pulled out of the driveway at 1:30 pm.. to head to Boise and for the rest of the day.. until about midnight.. I got more done than I have ever in an entire day. The house was quiet, the house STAYED CLEANED.. there were no meals to cook, no "mom I need this" or mom he's being mean" .. no little fires to put out..i was getting ataste of being single and alone. My friend Margie lives alone.. her kids are grown and so she has her house all to herself. Every time I go visit I marvel at how everything is in its place and things are so well kept and life is so quiet and easy going.. and I always say to her.. how lucky she must be to just have so much peace and quiet. She always says.. "you just wait.. someday it will come to you when all your kids are gone and then you will miss it".. and I laugh and say.. um yeah NO. lol

Well this morning as I woke up.. I  lookedover to see where my husband would normally be.. I kinda missed him not seeing him there. I swear I complain every morning when he rolls over and pretty much "attacks" me like we are little kids in a wrestling  match.. He's like a kid at heart and loves to just bug the heck out of me each morning.. by "loving" me to death. He'll quietly roll over.. put his arms around me.. and just when I think we are going to quietly lay there snuggling.. he attacks! lol..  he'll start making fun annoying noises and kissing my neck, my ears.. my face.. and he always has scruff and he just thinks it so funny to tickle me.. and i HATE being tickled and so I am constantly laughing begging for mercy for him to just stop and snuggle and he laughs and does it even more because he knows it bugs me. and some mornings I think.. man I wish I could just sleep in an wake up in peace.. and SOME mornings.. even though he always means well and fun..  some mornings.. well I am not so nice about the way I say stop either. oooh.. don't catch me in a bad mood when i've woken up on the wrong side of the bed. My poor husband.

 Well last night as I went to bed I was thinking how I would get to sleep in peace  this morning.. wake up when I wake up.. instead of being woke up by him snuggle and nuzzling in my ear.  But as I rolled over and saw that emply spot.. I actually kinda felt a little sad.. it's thanksgiving after all and the one thing I am probably most grateful for.. is not right there beside me.

Then I came down and sat and read the paper in Ben's big comfy chair and again.. looked around at the house.. so quiet and clean and still... and I realized.. what I am most grateful for is the mess and the noise and the hustle and bustle and the sound of kids annoying each other and needing their mom to figure things out. I am grateful  for the crazy little chaitoc moments of having 6 kids, a husband who works at home with you and the messy house and crazy life that comes with it. I am grateful for my imperfect wonderful life. 

I knew today would be somewhat lonely for me and while I did have a lot of friends who offered to let me come to their house for dinner.. I decided last week that I really wanted to do something different this year. Something that I would not be able to do on any other thanksgiving just because I do have family. I thought the one thing I have always wanted to do was go serve thanksgiving dinner at the local homeless shelter and go visit those elderly at the care homes that don't have family. Take them a little gift basket or something.  I decided I was going to spend part of my day giving back... serving. Well even that hasn't turned out just like I had planned.. as I called around to the local shelters and left messages on phones.. I wasn't getting any responses.. no phone calls back.. no "sure we would love you to help" being left on my phone!.. and finally when I did get a hold of someone.. I found out that most of those places actually have a WAIT-LIST of people who want to serve and you have to volunteer months in advance to get on the list to come in and serve on thanksgiving and Christmas! I was annoyed at first.. but then I realized.. wow.. what a great community I live in! A wait list to SERVE!!  that rocks!  Then I called the elderly care center here in Shelley and asked them if there were people who didn't have family or weren't leaving for the holidays that I could come visit.. bring a gift basket too. I asked them if they could tell me their names or a little about them so I could make a fun basket that would be just personal for them.  The first thing that they told me was  that most of them were leaving as they did have family.. but even the ones that weren't.. had family coming to visit them.. and they told me that even besides that, they  couldn't give me any personal info as I was not family.. so while I could stop by and say hi to people, I couldn't have any info about them before hand.  Which totally make sense.. saftey first..   but this morning as I sat in that comfy chair I had to laugh as all my great plans to serve others today.. and spend the day doing something totally different.. just was NOT working out. So funny. and what a good lesson. I suppose if I was lost in service today, i probably wouldn't be sitting here being able to listen to the quietness of this day.. and realize what I am truly grateful for. I suppose there is a reason for everything.

So today, as a mom and a wife.. I just wanted to say.. that I AM GRATEFUL for that gift..  it doesn't always seem like a gift. Marraige is NOT easy.. it's hard infact.. it takes commitment and forgiveness and push and pull...  and being a parent isn't easy either.. kids are not easy. Kids make messes and cause havoc and need you constantly for things. and make decisions that make your hair fall out.. but in the end.. it's those little things that seem to require the most of you.. and take the most out of you.. that you are grateful for and would miss if they are gone. Today I am grateful for those things which take the most out of me but also bring the most joy I could ever imagine.  Today I am grateful for the everyday... my family

I hope all of you get to spend today with family and friends .. even if it seems like a crazy day of chaous and messy dishes and family in every inch of your house. Today I am going to go visit my dad at the cemetery and then work on these dang deadlines that kept me home in the first place.. so that the minute my family walks in the door saturday night I can spend the entire evening with them.. kissing on them, snuggling with them..annoying the heck out of them.. (hehe).

 

(this was a picture taken a few years ago at An amusement park.. just love it.. one of my favorites)

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope today is wonderful!

Behind the Art.. introducing our new mixed media kit..

yeah.. I know.. I changed my header! i thought this was a little more festive.. lol! okay so before I get into the today's art piece, I have gotten a few emails about my last blog post. a few of  you have asked me  where I got the butterfly on my canvas. It's actually just a piece of clipart I found on the internet. Sorry :(.  Second question was about the new Ornament Workshop, how long do you have access and is there a supply list or sneak peeks.  The workshop is open for 6 months! So even if you are gone the week it starts you can still watch it. at your own pace whenever you have time. The supply lists will be given at the start of each day for each projects. (and just to note. there are both ornaments projects and home decor projects). ANd peeks of the class? well if you look closely at the "image" of the workshop icon.. all around it are some of the things you will be making! I will post more next week too! if you aren't familiar with the new workshop.. check out tuesday's post.. or click on the workshop Tab above.  So hope that answered some questions!

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Anyhow!  as you most know.. we have a store.. Scarlet Lime. Most of you probably know it as a mixed media store, but before the store we are and have been for 4 years.. a kit club!For the last 4 years we have offered monthly subscriptions to different kinds of kits (papercrafting, projects kits, etc). And for the last 8 months I have been wanting SO badly to start a mixed media kit.. one that people could subscribe too and get delivered each month right to their door. Each month I would do a video using the products in the kit and make a fun mixed media project! So finally.. after saying for months I wanted to do. I just stopped long enough to finally do it! November debuted our first kit and it sold out in just two days! Crazy!  So this is our very first kit.. November..

thank you to the very talented and sweet Junelle for taking my kit photos each month! She is GREAT at it and is SO reasonable (she also does amazing family photos! ANd her prices are amazing! )

soo. back to the subject.. one of the commitments with the subscriptions was that I would provide a "Behind the Art" video each month that goes with the kit.. to give inspiration on how to use it (our deseigners also post some on our scarlet lime blog as well).

So this is the project I created this month.. it's another 10"x10" canvas..

a fun "scene" i did using all the products in the kit: Studio Calico Paper pad, Chicken Wire Stencil from Crafters Workshop, Mister Heuyes Spray, KaiserCraft Doily Rubons, Pink Paislee Mistalbes flowers and Unity's Primitive Wilderness stamp.  Like I said. the kit is sold out..  HOWEVER we also did just list in the store a few (Very limited) chicken wire stencil and the KaiserCraft Dioly Rubons.. so you can get those separately (or if you are like me.. you want more than one sheet of those freaking adorable rubons!)

anyhow.. it was fun and easy and something great to give as a gift! Infact I think I am going to give it to my daughters friend, Hannah. Her and my daughter surprised me friday night... I was so sick and my studio was a MESS. Seriously. It had been for months. (did I already tell you this??.. i have brain farts a lot and can't remember and I am too lazy to go back and read old posts from this week.. lol) Anyhow. While I was sick in bed they went into my studio/garage and cleaned and organized the ENTIRE THING. It took them over 6 hours! I wanted to cry.. it takes me a week to do that and I knew even though I had alot of art deadlines due.. I did not have the time to go in and clean like that! I mean stuff every inch of every tables and floor was covered in something. Suitcases not unpacked yet from teaching classes, the boxes and stuff I took down clear back in August when I taped all my videos for Art Redefined show on My Craft Channel,(which by the way.. another sidetrack! Today a new show is airing.. an art journal project with Chrissy Gardner! go check it out and all the other shows from the last 6 weeks!) OH and I still hadn't unpacked my art stuff from my trip to TEXAS in JUNE! that is how bad it was. And they organized it all and cleaned it spotless. It was the best gift ever. Hannahs is always asking me for a piece of art. so I thought she would enjoy this one. anyhow. totally off the subject but I thought it was worth mentioning. :) I will say that cleaning up is usually not like them though.. don't get me wrong. ALlie is NOT perfect. Lol she is usually the one contributing to the mess and so I was seriously IN SHOCK too. I wondered if she had a fever! lol I think it was Hannah's idea actually. so I am giving her most of the credit :)

Anyhow.. I'll shut up now. haha. okay so without further adue.. here is the Behind the Art Video with our first ever Mixed media kit.. Enjoy! and Happy Thursday!

 

Creatively Inspired... with Julie Balzer and New Holiday workshop!!

First of all, many thanks for everyone who signed up for the She Art Workshop No 2! AND seriuosly.. thank you to everyone who posted last week on my blog post about Beautiful Heartbreaks.. wow.. reading everyone's stories and heartbreaks.. was soul filling.. if you know what I mean. ALways brings things back down to reality for me!  I got so sick on friday.. strep throat and seemed to be doing better by saturday night (On antibotics) but then sunday came and wow. .it was like I was hit in the face with it all over again! so  sorry if any of my vidoes from this week, I sound like a frog! lol such is life!

Julie Balzer is one amazing girl. I had her on a while ago and featured some of her art, books, workshops etc. Recently she came out with a line of stencils with Crafters Workshop.. and HOLY COW! can you say LOVE! of course I ordered just about every single one of them for our store.. (you can see THIS behind the art video  (on our new fall suplies) where i show how I use a lot of them in projects.. )
But then a few weeks ago, she asked me to particpate in a blog hop this week using her Triangle Stencil along with some other very talented girls!

 

Of course I SAID YES! and it wouln't be christy style.. if I didn't do a how to vidoe on my creation right? Here is a look at what I did..I have had this on my mind latley.. and the words really have rang true to me for several reasons " she found trust in the unexpected".  I talked last week about a hearbreak  I was going through.. and its amazing how God seems to put people in your life exactly when you need them.. so I created this piece for her. I talk more about it  and her in the video...

You can see below, I used the stencil on this part with modleing paste and a roller stamp

On this part of the canvas I used the stencil as a guide to doodle on some fun triangle art.

 

did I mention the best part about this blog hop are the other great artists that are participating in it too! Check out their projects!

Suze Wienberg

Dina Wakley

Bianca Madity

Vicki Boutin

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

dont laugh at me in the video.. I kinda get a bit sidetracked a few times.. haha.. that's me! oh  If you love this stencil, we do carry it in our shop HERE.

Okay.. so I know I have talked alot about workshops latley.. But guess what? I have a brand new mini workshop.. just in time for the Holidays! (mini on time and mini on the budget!)

ANd it's unlike ANY OTHER workshop I have ever done! I have asked 11 fabulous artists to join me.. for this funfilled mini  workshop,

 The 12  Artsy Ornaments of Christmas... a five day mini workshop! 

 

Each Artist/Teacher will show you how to make a creative and handmade ornament or holiday decor using fabric, metal, paint, glass and more! All  in a full detailed videos.. plus we will have a some suprise bonus projects as well!

 It's a 5 day workshop starting December 5th! Each day for 4 days, 3 new ornaments will be posted by 3 new teachers.. and on day 5.. we will feature some bonus projects and downloads, exclusive to the workshop from the different teachers! This workshop will actually be availble for 6 months.. so you will have plenty of time to go back and watch videos!

This is the PERFECT workshop for to get your creative juices flowing for the holidays! I am excited to have on board with me some great friend...s as well as very talented artists! and here they are..

Donna Downey, Margie Romney Aslette, Jeanne Oliver, Chrissy Gardner, Shea Fragoso & Debbie Murray From the Gilded LIfe, Kaari Meng (from French General), Junelle Jacabson, Alisa Burke,  Danielle Donaldson and Kelly Barton!

 For more info about this workshop and how to sign up! Click on the link below!

12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas mini workshop!

 $19.95

  

or

REGISTER HERE

enjoy the tutorial! happy tuesday!

She Art 2 sneak peek.. and winners posted..

So as most of you know I have a new workshop starting MONDAY!! the SHe Art workshop No.2!  I am so excited for this class and everything  we are learning and making. Probably my favorite are the she art Pillows and Dolls. Can Not wait! I wanted to post a little sneak peek of this class.. these are from just week one (don't want to give away too much info.. but if you haven't signed up yet.. COME JOIN ME!! it will be something great you can do and finish over the holidays! You will have an entire 6 months to be in the classroom.. so plenty of time to create and learn and play! This class will close Monday night. And won't be available again until next year.. so come and get in on the fun! For more info.. check out the She Art No.2 Workshop here. (plus find out how you can take both she art 1 and 2 together and save $$). Here's just a peek!

 oh and there is so much more! Just for week one!
This weekend is the last weekend to register!

She Art 2 Workshop

this workshop is now closed and will be offered again February 2012 :) watch for info about this class and registration startin in Janaury!

 

 

and before i go.. just wanted to post the winners of Jeanne Oliver's awesome class coming up.. Creatively Made. She is giving away three spots to my blog readers. so here you go! If this is you.. email me and I will forward her your info!

Posted by: Karin | November 08, 2011 at 09:53 AM

Posted by: Stacey Siroonian | November 04, 2011 at 02:36 PM

Posted by: Heidi Myers | November 07, 2011 at 11:01 AM

 

Have a wonderful Weekend.. and hopefully I will see you in the She Art 2 classroom MONDAY! :)

  

Beautiful Heartbreaks...

okay... so it's been a while since I wrote a seriously blog post.. hopefully this is okay :)..but it's been in my mind lately..

when I was at CKU a couple of weekends ago, I had the pleasure of listening to Hilary Weeks give the Opening Keynote Speech. She is also a singer and songwriter.. has many CDs published in the Christian market, as well as travels and does motivational speaking with her music.

I also got to talk with her a bit afterwards and have since talked to her on the phone too. She is just truly a wonderful and positive person. A friend for life.. that is for sure!  Her message at CKU was so beautiful. It was basically about being positive and finding the good in everything.. even in heartbreaks.

As I sat and listened to her sing and talk (she did a lot back and forth ).. I just really reflected on my own personal life of all the "heartbreaks" I have had over the last few years.. and even throughout my life and wondered if I have always seen the good in them or if I still look back at them as a one of those experiences I wished had never happened. I mean I can go back to many of my high schools experiences and wish they had never happened (like being de-pants in the hallway at school, my junior year.. in front of a large group of my best "guy" friends... wearing my purple silk underwear.. seriously?).  They thought they were being so funny.. I wanted to kill them. I DO wish that never happened. But at the same time, I remember taking away from that experience that instead of  spending weeks being embarrassed and avoiding everyone.. I remember deciding to just take it like a man or a woman :).. and laugh like everyone else.(of course.. payback is always great too.. and I don't think any of them liked it much when it came their way.. hahah).

But if I think of more recent things in my life that seemed to be a heartbreak or a trial or experience that  was hard.. am I really looking at those experiences for the positive instead of the negative? I remember talking a few weeks ago with someone about my dad's death. Many of you know he died last year and I have told this story before. So sorry if you have already heard it.  

It was a weekend, we all happened to be together, at church blessing my baby brothers son. Five of my dad's 7 children (including me) were there, and 25 of his 27 grand-kids, as well as his wife and some close friends. We were sitting on the pews, shortly after the blessing and sacrament had been passed, I looked over to my dad, who was sitting next to my husband.. and he was having a massive heart attack. He died a few minutes later there in the church.. infront of his children, grandchildren, wife and friends. At the time, it was a horrible experience.. I couldn't image why on earth God would want to put my children and my siblings and I through witnessing such a traumatic event.. but throughout the year.. I have often reflected back and have felt SO BLESSED that actually we were all there. That we were able to spend the last few moments of his life with him.. watching him partake in special ordinances that we consider sacred. He also had been going camping a lot on weekends.. by himself in West Yellowstone.. in random places.. and if he had been alone that weekend.. somewhere in those mountains.. I can't image the heartache and guilt we  would have all felt for not being with him in his last moments of life. So while that was a very traumatic experience.. I can tell you that experiencing it together with my children, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews.. it actually  has brought us so much closer together.. the weeks and months that followed were those of true bonding amongst all of us. I thought my family was close before that experience.. but now.. i can't even describe the close bond we all feel. We also feel so blessed that we were there.. and with him at the time.

So that was an experience for me.. that at the time, seemed like a tragic heartbreak.. but reflecting back.. was actually a beautiful one. I can think of other experience over the last few years that at the same time might seem like experiences I want to forget.. but if I truly look at them deeply enough, I can find actually the good in all of them.. the beautiful blessing or lesson that I learned from each one.. that only builds onto my life experiences and builds character and soulful depth. It's not an easy thing to do.. always find the positive.. holy cow.. are you kidding me? Sometimes I think to myself.. really? What is the good in THAT?  but after listening to Hillary's speech last week and watching her final video.. I realized... i really could. I have found many times in the past year that some of my biggest heartbreaks have actually been lessons that I needed to learn. I have said this before.. but there is a huge difference between being empathetic and sympathetic and I have realized that sometimes in order for me to truly be non-judgemental and compasionate to others trials or heartbreaks.. I have had to go through them myself to learn that lesson. I know for me.. it's always a humbling experience. Don't get me wrong, there are mistakes I have made that I wish I could take back.. wish had never happened.. but not so much because of the consequences that happened to me.. but because of the hurt I caused other people. But then again... I supposed it has a beautiful heartbreak for both of us.. a lesson we both learned. I am always sorry for those mistakes.. but I  know I can learn from them too.

Anyhow.. just something I have been thinking about lately.. this summer I experienced a big heartbreak in my life with a dear friend..  and at the time, I just wasn't understanding what or why I was going through that experience.. the heartbreak still hasn't completely healed but the magical thing about it is that through the process, i have opened my heart to other friends..beautuful women and even my husband.. who I never would have.. and have strengthend those friendships more than I could have ever imagined. It was completely un-intentional.. but I can see now, I would have never let my guard down and let those people that close into my life.. if I hadn't absolutely needed it. So while I still am very sad over the experience, I am starting to see the beautiful heartbreak in it. At the end of Hilary's talk.. she played a video for us.. a song that she wrote and sang.. I want to show it to you, because it just brings this message closer to the heart than what I have to say, ever could..  It's a beautiful message.. about beautiful heartbreaks.  Hope you enjoy it.. and hope you can find the positive in those heartbreaks you may be going through too.

oh and ps. I was going to announce the winners of my last blog post for Jeanne's Class I think I will wait until my next blog post this week :) if that's okay :)

Happy Tuesday!

 

listening and something fun to share

Whew! I am back from a fast trip to Minesota. It was an amazing trip.. full of wonderful productive things, but dude.. traveling that much and so fast between plane rides.. sure did a number on my Fibro.. yesterday I got out of bed to work and my body hurt soo bad I couldn't even make it to the bathroom. I just laid in bed looking up at the ceiling.. going really? Are we going to start this again? This summer as been so wonderful.. I mean I had aches and some hurts.. but not the ones that make you want to stay in bed all day. the ones were medicine doesn't seem to help. Yesterday was just not a good day. I had so much work to do and I was in a panic that I wouldn't be able to physically do it. I actually started crying and my husband came in the room and said.. "you need to listen to your body". Sleep. Take it easy. This is your body's way of saying SLOW DOWN. So even though I didn't want to.. i decided to go back to bed for a while. When I woke up..I have to say I felt SO much better. yes I had wasted 3 hours of my day.. and now was SO behind in work.. but i couldn't believe how much better I felt. I mean good enough to sit in a chair and work. The pain was muted and bearable. My hubby had gone to the warehouse to work and I text him a simple: thank you.  So a little life lesson. Sometimes.. you just have to be okay with doing what your body needs. even if its not what YOU want to do. :)

I keep thinking my life will slow down.. but then more and more things come up! I have to travel again in 4 weeks to Puerto RIco for a teaching event.. which I am SUPER excited about.. but before I can go I have lots of artwork due to my agent for upcoming projects, I have the She Art workshop 2, to finish.. (which starts in 13 days!!! COME JOIN ME IF YOU AREN"T ALREADY SIGNED UP!!  You can sign up HERE or click on the workshop link above!) and I am DYING to get my etsy store up and running. Seriously it's been my goal for like 4 months now.. and I get bummed every time I am between "trips" that I can never seem to get it done. It's not a priority.. compared to other deadlines. so it always makes me sad when it gets moved to the next free week. but I AM GOING TO TRY and get it done before December.. because I have some fun christmas gifts and cards in mind that I hope you will LOVE :)

Anyhow.. speaking of workshops.. I just had to come in here and tell you about my friend Jeanne Oliver. Many of you know here.. she is creator of Jeanne Oliver Designs.. she does soft goods like bags, and purses, dresses, aprons.. AMAZING stuff.. each summer and fall. But she also is a mixed media artist.. and one SOULFUL girl. She has a new mixed media workshop starting in January..  Creatively Made. and it's not only about creating but about opening up and finding your heart and soul. I am actually a guest in her workshop.. a small guest.. but still.. can't wait! So I just wanted to come and share that with you :) I love Jeanne.. so I think you will too!  AND guess what? she is giving away 3 spots in her workshop on my blog! So if you comment on the blog post today.. a reason why you would love to take this class.. I will randomly pick 3 winners on monday :) so fun! Here is more info about this awesome workshop!

 

I just look at all these photos.. and can't wait to do this workshop! love her vintage style.. YUM!


So anyhow! there is all the awesome info about it!  You can also watch this video on what this workshop will include too! Yum!

Creatively Made E-Course from Jeanne Oliver on Vimeo.

WMake sure to visit her site for more info and to get signed up!

Creatively Made Workshop by Jeanne Oliver

and don't forget to leave a comment here to possibly win a spot!
Happy Friday!

Soulful Artist Retreat...

So last May.. when I was attending Donna Downey's Inspired event.. Donna and I were creating and having fun one night just really enjoying "creating" together.

(this photo was taken at Spark a week or so ago.. with Margie. Beautiful girls!)

She started talking about her and I maybe sometime in the future doing our own little event together.. an Inspired Workshop at her studio.. just a small intimate group.. and four days of pure messy creative play. Of course.. you say the word creative, messy and play.. and I am TOTALLy in. Plus I love and adore Donna.. she is just her own soul and creative and fun to be around. We sure laugh A LOT.  So for the last couple of months, we have been calling back and forth, texting, emailing.. planning all the details of her first "soulful" artist event.. where I would come and be her guest artist and together.. the two of us would team teach a creative weekend! Well I am excited to finally announce that registration is NOW open for this Inspired event.. The Soulful Artist!

 It will be hosted in North Carolina at Donna's Studio.. (I can't wait to be in this creative space!!)

 and will include 4 days of creative play, including creating a She Art Girl, A quilt canvas, art journals, creative tags, Utee Fun, stencils, masking, and more. PLUS it includes all your food too! You will spend the entire day with Donna and I, plus each night.. creating away. It's going to be an amazing and "cozy" retreat.. because there are only 20 spots for this inspired event. which means.. not only creating some amazing projects.. but creating life long friendships as well.

 

 I am really excited about this. While I love teaching at large events, I truly REALLy getting to spend time with other creative souls and getting to know them. This Soulful Artist Retreat will allow me to really get to know my students and make life long friends. I have wanted to do a retreat like this for a while now.. so this is something I truly CAN NOT WAIT FOR! Only having 20 students also allows Donna and I to do extra special things for each student.. like make handmade personal gifts and goodies. We have already starting planning all the fun little surprises for you teach day. THIS retreat is TRULY going to give you some much needed soulful artsy play and pampered goodness. I hope you join her and I!

You can read more about the Soulful Artist Retreat here.. and see the actual schedule and all the fun things planned. And you can sign up here! Remember there are ONLY 20 spots.. which is not much.. so sign up quick!

I seriously CAN NOT WAIT.

today I am traveling to Minnesota to see my agent and work on some fun stuff that I can't really talk about until next year.. and I can't wait to reveal it all to you! it's been a super exciting and blessed last 4 months with all the liscening opportunities.. and starting the first of the year.. I finally get to start sharing and showing you all of them! Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday.. hoping to post on thursday about my experience with Hillary Weeks.. and her video that truly spoke to my soul. You MUST see it. It will change yours too.
Happy Tuesday!