christytomlinson

I always love today...

so there is a rule in our house.. that on your birthday.. you get to do whatever you want that day (as long as its within reason of course lol.. and doesn't harm another person! lol (or yourself.. okay.. you know what i mean!! Lol)

well today happens to be my 38th birthday.. holy crap. That sounds old coming out of my mouth. I feel like I am not a day over 21 (except I weight more and look a lot older).. but I FEEL that young. actually I think I enjoy life MORE now than I did when I was 21.. I know I do. It's awesome how time and age and life, and trials and happiness and heartaches and amazing experiences.. can change you and shape you and mold you! I wouldn't give any of it up.. and I have to say.. and say this HONESTLY.. today is my best birthday ever... why? Because Today.. and right now.. and at this time. I feel SO at peace and full of happiness with my life. With my relationship with my children, my friends, my Family.. My heavenly Father.. and the most important one.. my husband! can I tell you how much I love THIS MAN???  holy cow I love him. Truly the most kind, loving, forgiving soul. This year has been one full of many ups and downs.. but it's been truly a blessing how its all ended up. I am in awe.

SO today is a wonderful day just because it is!

Okay.. sorry got sidetracked.. so on our birthdays.. the rule is  you get to spend the day doing whatever you want! lol.. I always tell my kids and friends and family..

"its your birthday.. do what you want, eat what you want and be what you want today!" its YOUR Day!

so of course I am taking my own rule to heart! lol?? why not right?

So lately I have been sketching these girls.. She art girls.. some with faces, some without..kinda different.. indians, old world, ethereal.. different kinds. And so today I am finally going to take the time to paint some of them! I think I might start one or two.. probably one finish any of them.. but I cant wait!!  I wanted to show you a peak of some of them.. these are just scanned in from my sketchbook..

this is my favorite as far as hair goes..

 

I call her  "she had courage"

I am really into Indian/tribal inspired things right now. I find myself buying them for my home, for my studio.. jewelry (chevron earrings, arrow ring.. antler necklace... I love Indians because they remind me of strength, family, honor, commitment, to be still and quiet and listen.

Another word that describes them is Courage.  

I have also recently went through something that took a lot of COURAGE.. and I hadn't really thought of that about myself for a long time.. until a dear friend of mine.. Chrissy.. said to me one day a couple of weeks ago.. "you are courage" and I just stick with me.. I have decided it's my new word.. for 2013.. and I think we will just start it now.. :) I love my trues!

Next girl.. she is also indian.. but a little more simple.

 

She is called... .She was true

 

I just love how she looks like she is strong and steadfast.. how she has a cloak around her neck. She is humble and simple.. but she is TRUE!!

 

The next one.. is inspired by a movie i recently saw.... on tv. Gladiator.. I Love the girl/sister in that movie..

 

I haven't named her yet.. haven't decided what role to give her.

 

I don't know if you remember that movie.. but the girl that is the Gladiators love interest.. wants to badly to help him. She knows he is good.. and yet she is stuck in a position because her brother is the king and he is a wicked person. She kinda goes through this good bad thing and struggles with what everyone else thinks is right and what she KNOWS in her heart is rights.. shes gonna be a fun one to paint. Lots of emotions behind her..

 

This next girl.. she is just super fun. I saw  picture on pinterest recently and I fell in love with her hair. reminded me of I love Lucy for some reason? ..

 

She was vibrant and full of life"

really is there anything else to say? She just exudes life! She is bright and colorful.. I think I need to do her with her lips turned up a bit.. and a twinkle in her eye.. a calm lovely smile on her face.. that's for sure!


This last one.. as far as faces goes.. IS MY FAVORITE!!! I love her expression and how she turned out.. and she is truly SO simple.

 

Her eyes are so warm and loving and inviting.. and her smile is just so that she really invites you in. She is open yet she has something mysterious about her..  She is BEAUTIFUL yet she is truly so simple. Simple cotton dress, hair simply done. I think maybe even leaving the earrings off might be perfect for her too.  I dont know what her name is yet..  but It will come..

 

anyhow.. that's what I am doing today.. partly doing today! lol

My dear friend Margie.. came from Utah and is taking me out to lunch today and coming to see my new studio which is ALMOST FINISHED! like early next week will be done! (and oh my heck yes I can't wait to share pictures!!)

My other freaking amazing friend Meredith.. wanted to take me to lunch too.. so we are going to try and work something out for later..

Then this afternoon we have a church party to get ready for.. we are doing a trunk or treat for the kids.. and the young women are in charge of most of it.. so Allie and I are going to go over and help set that up. After that is over.. Ben is taking me and the kids and going to Barnes and Noble! We are all just going to get our favorite cup of hot cocoa, italian soda.. or smoothie and hang out and read and enjoy books! I HEART barnes and noble! my favorite place ever. I spend way too much money in that store.. maybe that is what I should have asked for.. for my birthday! lol.. (at least I wouldn't feel so bad every time I buy a new stampington magazines.. dang those magazines.. they are addicting!)

so today is a good day. Wonderful day.
AND today ben told me.. NOT to plan anything from friday at noon to Saturday night.. because he has a surprise.. I said.. OKAY as long as we can go to Bradens Semi Final Football game friday night.. I am GAME! lol (of course I wouldn't miss that.. even for a birthday surprise.. luckily ben had already planned that in)

I wanted to also thank all of you.. SO truly wonderful and feel blessed to have you all in my life! I feel very full today.. of love and gratitude.. thank you all..

 

happy tuesday!

 

Mugs, Iphone covers, lamps and more! They are in my store! wahoo!

Okay friends! Totally unexpected but guess what??

A lot of my product came this week for my etsy store!
wahoo!

I am still missing one mouse pad, a couple of art bags, and then my products from Carson (which includes some of the mugs, JOURNALS, etc..those will be in NEXT week)

BUT I just listed a TON of fun things!

AND because we need to celebrate that..

 use this code SHE12 

when you check out in etsy and receive 10% off!!

A note on Shipping: okay so because honestly I have no idea what these are going to take to ship.. I had to put prices high enough that it I could make sure to cover the shipping cost. HOWEVER when I go to actually ship your order, if it is under what you were charged, I will definitly refund you the money. If I had listed these in my Scarlet Lime store.. they would automatically know shipping because USPS figures that out for me based on weight.. BUT etsy unfortunatly doesn't :(.. so don't be alarmed at shipping cost.. like I said.. whatever actual shipping is.. that is what you will be charged and refunded the difference! :)

 

So.. want to see what came today? these are just a few.. not all

 

Iphone Covers

 

Mugs

 

Plaque/Ornaments/Desk sitters..

These cute ornaments.. can either hang.. from a door, wall, on a swat.. a tree. OR they have a fun little metal stand, so they can sit just about anywhere! Great gifts for Christmas!

 

Lamps of course (I have all of them :).. just showing one!

Assorted Frames with metal accents

 

Resin Coaster.. (three different styles!)

Wood Plaques (9"x9" in size.. with my printed artwork on them.. and includes a metal embellishment!) 3 different styles!

One shown below

And so much more! I also have and Aprong, Magnets, Magnet Boards

 

So much fun! So come on over to my etsy store!!  again.. now through tuesday (my birthday!)  10% off you entire order! use coupon code SHE12

AND good news! I fixed my video editing! yeah!! so we will have some fun stuff next week!

happy friday!
Christy

 

 

 

 

I want to frolic...

okay, starting to feel the weight of not having a current video editor.. having 4 workshops that start within 4 months of each other, trying to adding 100's of new products into the Scarlet Lime store.. trying to get ready to move into a new studio.. AND dealing with this dang fibro admist all these storms for fall. Yea.. so my blog is lacking. Sorry it sucks right now. lol

Monday.. if my hopes work that way I want them too, i will have a video for you on the October Mixed Media kit! wahoo!

So today.. this is what is on my mind..

this quote

 

LOVE this.. I found this quote on Pinterest (which I also love)...

 

that's want to do.. so I am going to put on my big girl panties and do it :)

I wish I had some fabulous new thing to share with you today (though I am proud of myself for creating something new (that isn't for one of my classes, that I can't share on here)..

do you realize that? do you know that in the last three months I have created over 40 new pieces of artwork? lol isn't that sad? but most of it's for my online workshops.. so I can't always share it here. I show snippets..but not full on pictures.

sad sad.. we are going to have to change that :)
Well okay I do have something to share today.. I listed some new Originals in my etsy shop! I can share those with you!! :)  and some new prints too!

AND guess what else?  Just came to my house??  NEW PHONE Covers and NEW mouse pads I had ordered.. going to get those listed too and share with you those on friday.. how about that :)  

 

yep.. okay.. this week is getting better and better already :)
here we go.. lol

 

She seeks truth...

 

Choose to Fly

 

wide open Spaces

 

Believe in the Possiblity

 

these are just a few..

also listed some new prints..

 

She felt blessed

 

Buttefly Collage

You make life sweet

She did what mattered most.

So that's it! new prints.. new originals.. and now back into the studio.. today I am painting a cute little Reindeer for the Whimiscal Winter Workshop next month :)

oh how I love painting animals right now.. thanks to Juliette Crane and Mindy Lacefield. :) thank you sweet girls.

well have a happy wednesday friends! GO FROLIC!!! please please.. do :)
love you.

She was created... a new she art girl..

hey friends! it's friday.. I was going to do this post yesterday and gosh darn it all to heck.. I am having MAJOR problems with my video editing software! It all of a sudden has chose NOT to work. Annoying.. and so after much frustration.. I decided to just post this fun she art girl without the video (sorry :( but when I get it done.. I will SURLEY share it! )

I wanted to give you a quick update. I posted this week about my new line with Carson and Midwest. If you are a retailer and want to carry their products, email me and I will send you their address! As for those of you just wanting to purchase something for yourself.. I have a huge order coming in the next two weeks.. that will include; mugs, magnet boards, the lamps, aprons, wood boards,
magnets, resin girls, clocks, art bags (for brushes or other art studio products), IPHONE covers and mouse pads! I know I am forgetting something.. but there will be a lot of stuff! so I can't wait to share! It will be listed in my etsy store and should be listed by end of next week!

So let me tell you about my week.. last week Ben's wonderful parents come to visit. They were here a FULL week and while they were here, Granny Annie (Ben's mom) organized and cleaned and dejunked my entire art studio! The one in my garage! It was the biggest blessing ever! I didn't ask her too and when she first got here she said" now Christy I know you will say no.. but I would
love to organize and clean your studio for you.. I know you hate letting people do stuff for you, but I love organizing, so can I please do it for you? " I sat for moment and wanted to say no..because I truly have issues with letting people serve me.. it's more because I feel dumb than anything. But in my HEART i knew I needed the help. I knew in a couple of weeks that I would be moving into my new studio.. and would need my current studio organized enough that I could easily move it. And let me tell you it was a MESS! lol. Does that surprise you? probably not.

So I let her... and can I tell you.. she did the MOST AMAZING job!!! I mean she sorted everything! and put them in their own baskets or boxes.. perfect ready for me to move into the new studio where I have lots of furniture with lots and lots of organized drawers for everything to have it's place!

Well later in the week she came and asked me if she could have one of the she art originals I had in my studio.. and unfortunately it was one I had already made for someone else.. and had actually borrowed it back and needed to return it! lol

So I said.. why don't you let me make you one JUST for you? And I was so glad when she said yes! So we decided to do a portrait of her! She is in her 70's and has the most gorgeous gray/silver hair.. she is really tall and lean. (opposite of me.. but totally where my husband Ben and my daughter allie get their height and long legs from). We walked about her colors, and where the canvas would go. We
talked about her life and what she wanted it to say and words she had in mind. She even picked out some of the papers I used. Then she said in a chair and watched as I went to work on her very own She Art girl. I can't tell you HOW humbling and fun that experience was! It was a little nervous.. because I wanted it to be perfect for her.. but I truly enjoyed the process. So I wanted to share with you the canvas I created for her!

but before I do.. I wanted share something else with you!

So.. after this process, i started thinking about how fun it was to just create something for custom for someone. I have never done a custom piece before, where they had input on the girl.. as I said.. and while I was super nervous.. I ended up loving the process! I thought to myself.. how fun it would be to
offer this to my own friends, customers and blog readers! Soo.. Just to let you know.. i have added NEW originals to my etsy store again.. just a few this time.. BUT also have listed a custom She ARt girl original for anyone who wants me to paint one especially for them.

This custom canvas would also include a skype or phone call sesion with me.. as I would LOVe to get to know you and the reason I am creating the peice for you! I want to learn about your story and your heart.. things that move you.. colors you love. Words or phrases or scriptures that inspire you. I want this to be a TRULY custom piece! So if you are interested in that! Check out my etsy store!!

and also check out all the new originals I Just listed!

My Etsy STore

 

so without further wait.. her is the She Art girl I created just for Granny Annie.. silver hair and all. what a beautiful lady she is!

 

Well that's it! Thanks again for letting me share! I hope you have a wonderful day!! and remember.. Bless this mess online workshop starts in just a few days! Hope you join me and Junelle for Wild Art no. 2!!

have a wonderful weekend!

THEY ARE HERE!!! wahoo!

okay so most of you know.. (I always say that.. like you are all my friends lol)

but most of you probably know that last year I signed a contract with an licensing agent and soon after my artwork was picked up several companies for artwork on their products for 2012. Well while we worked hard on all of that lAST year I have been soo patiently waiting to see the actual product as it only started shipping this fall!  AND LAST week to my wonderful happy surprise! boxes and boxes of fun stuff starting coming! From all the different people I did licensing with.. fabric from Studio E, mugs, resin girls, plaques plates, journals from Carsons, Frames Art prints with Die-cuts with a view (featured in Bed, Bath and Beyond! HOW COOL!),  and then my biggest line, mugs, magnets, keychains, mugs, wood girls on stands, canvas, clocks, magnet boards, paper weights, pillows, cosmetic bags (I think they would be great for storing art brushes or alchool inks!), aprons, lamps and more! All with Midwest.. seriously my living room is overflowing with stuff!! I took a few pictures with my ipone because I just had to share.. so they aren't that great.. but oh I wish you could all see it in person!

I have started having friends text me saying they have seen them in their local home decor stores (in Utah and Arizona and california!) So they are starting to pop up everywhere! They just started shipping about a month ago to stores.. so that is super fun!

anyhow.. I will be carrying some of the things in my etsy store. Mugs, iphone covers, journals, and probably the resin girls, maybe some magnet boards.. heck I want to carry it all.. but really don't have the room for all the inventory in our warehouse right now! But  I will carry a few things! probably be here in the next month or so!

I am also in the middle of trying to find another online store that carries my products.. all of them, since I won't be! BUT you can go to their website and click on find stores and put in your zipcode and It will pull up any stores near you! I just did it and surprised to find 12 stores in my area that carry them! I live in super small town! So that is awesome! Gonna have to go check it out!

Anyhow.. so here is a peak! SO FUN!!

 

so many fun things!!

fun little frames, keychains, coasters, journals!

large magnet boards and wood figure stands, jewelry boxes, trinket boxes.

LOVE the journals!

mugs, mugs and more mugs!

clocks!

SEriously LOVE these lamps!!! totally going in my art studio!

my favorite things.. the resin girls.. seriously favorite! (also have soft frames, night lights, tea-light candle holders, wow so many things!)

It has just been SO fun to go through it all! Truly!

So I am working right now on ordering stuff to get it into the shop and as soon as I have a link to any online stores that carry the different products, I will let you know too! We will be soon adding the fabric to our Scarlet Lime store.. in packs.. so watch for that!

okay so before I go I needed to remind you of TWO THINGS!!

one.. you can NOW sign up for the LIFE BOOK class for 2013!!! 

It is going to be an AMAZING year long course! There are 13 teachers AND even more guest artists too! Some of my most favorite artists.. Mindy Lacefield, Melody Ross, Julie Balzer, and SO SO many more! Honestly if this is one of the only classes you take next year.. you must do it! It is all about art journaling and honoring and celebrating YOU. Each month you will have new products, posts and more.. WEEKLY actually! From all of the wonderful teachers! SO PLEASE some join me and my friend! It will be hosted on Willowing arts.com

so not on my traditional sites.. but Tam is amazing! You will love her!

 >Click here to view more details

 

and my last reminder.. my newest workshop.. with Junelle Jacobson.. The Art of Wild Abandonment no. 2.. BLESS THIS MESS.. starts NEXT week!!!

 you still have time to register on the early bird price!!!! Seriously.. you will love her.. and love love love this class! I have been so excited to film the videos for it and working with her on it.. she is a keeper that girl.. for sure!
You can find more info about it by click on the link here

 

anyhow.. that's my news for today.. I also have to say THANK YOU for your wonderful comments and love last week on my post about moments. Each day has continued to be a challenge, but it has also continued to be amazing and wow ever so thankful! I have decided I love the challenges because they always seem to end in just a new perspective and a deeper love and appreciation.

I hope you all have a wonderful monday!

Wednesday or thursday I will be back with a fun video.. a she art girl video I did this past weekend for my husband's mom. Ben's Parents are in town and they have been amazing and helping us around the house, at the warehouse, with dinner. Well Granny Annie (ben's mom) cleaned my entire studio!! (my current one).. she organized it all so when I move in a couple of weeks to the new studio.. I can pack and unpack easier! SHE IS AMAZING! it took her three days! She has wanted a piece of artwork for a while.. so I decided to just go out and make her one.. just for her. A portrait of her. So she and allie sat and watched and we talked while I made it for her.. and she reminded me I should video tape it and share it on my blog! So I did.. SO I will share that this week!

anyhow.. have a wonderful day!
Happy monday!

 

There are moments..

When I think back through my life.. over the last 37 years
(almost 38) ... it's easy to pick out the moments that have truly
defined and changed my life. Easy because when they happened I knew in my heart
what I was feeling, or hearing or seeing was true. Either for good or for bad.
That is the blessing of our Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost. The simple
whispering and promptings we are given to know and feel truth.

The past few weeks my heart has been in limbo.. struggling with you know.. the beautiful
things we call trials. Those wonderful hard moments and struggles we are given
to help us grow and be humble, and be broke and mend and find our way back up
again.. stronger and more beautiful than ever before. This particular trial has
been one that has been on my mind for months actually but for some reason.. and
you all know what I am talking about.. there are times when moments before you
know the trial is about to really rear it's head.. that your heart is
struggling and feeling uneasy. We are beautiful women (and men) of our Heavenly
Father and have been given divine spirits.. and we KNOW.. we know when things
are going to happen. Whether it's conscious or sub conscious.. I believe our spirits know.

This past week for me was one of those moments.. when something I have been
struggling with and trying to figure out.. finally finally came to it's moment.
I was nervous and scared and anxious about what the outcome would be.. but I
KNEW in my heart that no matter what.. I was loved by my Father in Heaven and
that this too.. like in past with all trials.. would be one beautiful bright
and courage moment of love, clarity and truth.

and so it came.. and as hard as it was.. I have to tell you. the Lord TRULY loves us!!
I woke up today with the most beautiful feeling of love and peace and calm and
determination. As some of you know I am LDS, Mormon.. a memeber
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints... and there are things
that I TRULY believe in my life that bring my happiness and hope and faith and
charity and LOVE and closer to my Heavenly Father, my family and my Savior.
Some of those things include saying my prayers, reading my scriptures, being
faithful in temple and church attendances, giving service to others.. .. and so
many many many more. But what I find is that my heart goes through times that
while I BELIEVE and truly know I should be doing all of those things.. I slack
off.. I let life get in the way.. I let the daily life of making a living,
raising kids, cleaning house.. you name it.. it fills up our day so fast that
we forgot to do the most important things of all. And usually its not because I
don't want to do them.. i just FORGET..

but today when I woke up.. I had this DEEP DEEP DEEP!!!! sound resolution to strengthen
my testimony of the Gospel and of Christ as much as possible through praying
often, reading my scriptures DAILY.. giving service.. doing good. ALL of those
things that bring me closer to the Lord. To being a better person, a more kind
person, a more loving and forgiving person. and all of this resolution and
sound calm testimony has come from this trial I have been dealing with for so
so many months. So then it's such and wonderful things to think.. that EVERY
trail, every heartache, EVERY thing that is hard that we deal with, we go
through.. whether it's health related or a personal struggle or family
struggle.. or even financial struggle.. that ALL of those things.. IF WE LET
IT.. can teach us the most beautiful life lessons. They can strengthen who we
are as a person.. they can truly push us to do better and be better. They can
become those moments we remember and WANT to remember forever.

If we let them. Our Trials and our struggles and our mistakes can either break us.. or
they can build us. It take hope, and faith and COURAGE to decide how we will
let it affect us. Yesterday I have to admit.. that I was tinkering on the
other.. I was in a place where I felt despair and helpless and couldn't see ALL
of the good that was coming from this. Then a dear friend of mine.. called on
the phone and shared with me some of the most beautiful advice ever and
reminded me of what I already knew.. but just couldn't seem to remember..

To let my adversity teach me the most amazing things. To not cloud my mind with
sadness and helplessness or pain or beat myself up over things. but to look for
the tiny miracles happening around me and opportunities from this trial that
could and WILL change who I am forever. That will help me to be more loving,
kind, gentle, caring.. FORGIVING.. true.. faithful to my family.. my friends
and my religious beliefs. To be Strong and steadfast.. to be immovable from
what I know to be true.

what a wonderful wonderful reminder and lesson she gave to me yesterday. And as I
spent the rest of the day thinking about what she said.. I had this HUGE
burning in my soul that said.. you can do this! you can make it through this!
Everything will be okay and this will a great and wonderful thing you will cherish forever.

So that's it.. I just had to share that with you today. My heart is so full. I can't even
express to you how full my heart is. I know this trial isn't completely over..
but I have a new resolve to turn this trial into a time I can just soak in
learning and growth in my Testimony of what we as human beings are and should be.

Thanks for letting me share this with you!! I hadn't planned on blogging about this
today.. I know I have so many other things to share with you today.. but today
I just think I will leave this post as it is.

I want to also say THANK YOU.. so so many of you who email me on a daily basis with
your stories of courage and love and kindness. I have hundreds and hundreds of
friends that I have never met who give me hope and love and strength. I swear..
it happens so often that I will be feeling down about something or struggling
with something and I will get an email or a facebook message from someone I
don't even really know.. someone who reads my blog or has taken my class and
just shares with me something i NEED to hear.. it's amazing and truly beautiful
the Tender mercies the Lord gives us.. and how He works THROUGH us to help and
show HIs love to others.. amazing huh? I am also blessed with a TRULY amazing
family.. my husband is one in a million. We have had our share of trials.. but
wow. I could never imagine how truly Christlike someone could be. He is my hero
and I am in awe of who is is. My kids too.. they aren't perfect. They each
struggle with things this world throws at us. They sometimes fall and sometimes
have to pick themselves back up again.. but they have always been humble to
acknowledge their mistakes and then make the resolve to do better and be
better. just grateful for all the people in my life. My TRUES!!! I am truly
truly blessed.

I hope today you feel how much I love you all. How much I truly believe that we are
good, wonderful women (and men). Who have so much potential in this life to be who we should
be. To live how we should be.. to remember that no matter how hard a trial may
feel or what mistakes we make.. we will come out stronger and better than we
did before.. if we will let it. love you all.. truly and honestly.. love you all.

happy
wednesday.

 

Its a happy thursday isnt it?

hello beautiful friends! What a GOOD DAY today is! last night I was feeling SUPER crappy.. ate popcorn and that seems to make my fibro bad no matter what I take to make it feel better.. but it was just sitting there on the counter.. the GOOD kind.. from the movie theatre (my mom came into town to watch Ethan play his football game and celebrate his 10th birthday!) and she took my kids to the movies and brought a HUGE bucket home. Popcorn from the movie theatre is my weakness. I looked at it and looked at it and NEW i was going to cave.. and I did. AND ONLY one handful! and withing 20 mins.. sure enough.. oh had felt SOO crappy. So I took some medicine and went to bed.. and I had the best nights rest ever! Slept in until 10:00 lol. (that probably wasn't smart since I have a million things to do). but it felt good and I am in a great mood and today I get to see my sister!! and last night ethan made a touchdown (his first ever!!) and yea well life is good.

Guess what else I did this morning? I totally re-organizes my entire workshop page.. it seemed like it was so confusing and so many different things to sort through to find classes. so I created a page where all the class were on one page with links to each one if you want to learn more! So now when you click on the workshops tab.. you will see a beautiful organized page! wahoo!

 

  A few weeks ago I was telling you about a special collaborative class I am doing with some amazing artist.. it's called LIfe Book!!

and it starts Janaury 1st! Well you can officially sign up starting October 8th.. and if you want to know more about it.. you can check it out here!

Click here to view more details

 

 

 I will also send out an email reminder on the 8th about it!! it's coming up so soon!

AND my last "class update".. not sure if you saw my last post and facebook post about an amazingly fun "home decor" crafty, artsy online class that my amazing talented friend.. Marige Romney-Aslette is doing.. but its called Spooky Spark!

 and it's full of amazing beautiful projects for Halloween! Her style is so chic and vintage and classic.. perfect for home decor, parties and more.. seriously I got so many great ideas for my home this year! AND for halloween parties we have coming up! You have to check it out!! you can read all about it.. here!

Spooky Spark!

 

so ya that was fun.. a bunch of great classes coming up..

oh wait! there is one more starting soon too!!

MY NEWEST workshop!! With Junelle Jacobson!! Bless this mess.. the Art of Wild Abandonment No.2!

 It starts October 23rd! Less then two weeks away! it's going to be amazing! I have been watching her videos all week long, so I can make my projects for the class and I am BLOWN away by it's contents.. Junelle actually wrote a little blurp to me about it..

Oh yes, Bless
this Mess...

 

This workshop is
another wild jump into all kinds of creative possibility! 

Every sketch and
project is focused on encouraging you, they are little gifts of wild-whimsy to
inspire creating out of your own art-heart.  We want you to be the artist that
you are meant to be -- brave, filled with wild ideas, and ready for new
challenges!

We will start
with lots of crazy sketching ideas and watercolors. This will help us to bravely
step into new art journal projects you will love~ (Junelle is so excited she
started two new art journal books just based on week one!)   We will focus on
simple shapes/forms/lines that will build up our confidence, and for the experts
in the group -- you will have loads of new sketch/watercolor ideas to try.

Week two is
filled with "Bless this Mess" projects that are meant to inspire your new
sketching abilities and give you all kinds of ideas to try (in really big messy
ways).  We will mix and re-mix papers, paints, ephemera, and all kinds of
elements in our projects, showing you unexpected ways to create new projects
that are so...You!   

With travels
near and far, the last week will be focused on rural and urban sketching.  There
are ideas for travelling with your art, packing a kit of supplies, bringing your
experiences home with you, and seeing the great gift that "artist dates" can be
to your creative life!  (Plus you will meet all of Junelle's favorite sketchy
artists, too.)  Too fun!

Like the first
Wild Art Workshop, this one will be filled with lots of extras.  Personal notes
and ideas, extra projects, and a rocking facebook group that loves to share!
Junelle's plan is simply to be a muse for your wild adventure, and encourage
and bless your creative play, inspiration and personal style.

This will be
some seriously wild fun!  

********************************************

I told you it's going to be amazing!!!!! Junelle seriosuly rocks. You can sign up for the special early bird price still.. so check out THIS page for more info and to join us!!

Bless this Mess Class info!  

 Anyhow.. yes.. I know.. I am full of great info today huh?

okay.. I better get.. I am going to spend the afternoon with my sister and I can't wait! I only get to see her a couple of times a year, so I am super excited!  But before i go.. I have to tell you all THANK YOU!!

HUGE HUGE THANK YOU!!! I was soo nervous.. SOO nervous to start selling my original work in my new etsy shop.. and wow.. the response was AMAZING! I seriously cried I was so grateful. You are all amazing and wonderful!  some of you have emailed me.. so here is more info about it. I will be posted original artworks every week (probably on monday's) for the next few weeks.. that will be for sale.. and ALSO starting next week will be posting prints of my artwork. We will also be getting in some of my licensed products like my mugs, pillow, frames, wall decor, resin girls, etc and I will carry those in my etsy shop as well. So it wil be a fun place to get anything related to my own personal artwork. I can't wait :) Thank you again for your wonderful wonderful support of my creative life.. YOU AMAZE me! love you all!
happy Thursday!

well hello! i finally DID IT!

Well hello sweet friends! We are BACK!! What a fun and relaxing time we had. We pretty much did nothing on the cruise. and it was PERFECT! We kinda skipped all the excursions this time around.. and we didn't miss them a bit (not to mention we didn't miss the $$$ cost involved either lol)

So guess what? We are REALLY bad.. we forgot our video camera and our regular camera and my phone died the first day and I left my charger in my car.. didn't think I would need it and WE DIDN'T TAKE ONE PICTURE!!!!!  Actually I think Allie took ONE.. just one.. but it's on her phone and she's not really sure how to share it. lol

I can't believe it! I am like the picture taking freak! oh well.. we still have the memories right? I will have to write down in a journal everything we did.

and speaking of things we did.. guess what I DID?? I decided at the last minute to take my portable easel, paints and some canvas so I could do some art on the ship! and I actually did! I even created some stuff in my art journal on the plane ride too. It was fun. I NEVER take my art supplies on family trips. The fun part was my kids got involved and one morning, we had a painting session in my room. We had towels spread out all over the floor and we just painted. I only brought my acrylics, my water soluable pastels, my golden fluids, and my Neo Color Crayons.. so it truly was just painting.. but it was fun. I worked on one of my class projects from a workshop I was taking from Mindy Lacefield. It's a mini workshop called  (you can sign up here)

I am really into animals latley.. so I thought this would be fun and it WAS!

okay.. so did you happen to notice my header? YEP! that's right.. I changed it.. decided I Needed a facelift of some sort. I also added all of my workshops to the right sidebar over there.. so you could find them more easily. I am going to be changing some of my sidebar things very soon.. excited to update this old blog..

BUT did you notice my newest addition to my header? My new link?  My "etsy" shop? Yep! That is RIGHT!! I have opened a NEW etsy shop!! FINALLY! after a year of wanting too.. needing to I guess.. i  finally did it.

 

Christy Tomlinson Designs

Let me tell you why it took me so long though.. this is really personal.. so bare with me.

so you may or may not know that I don't sell any of my original artwork. I actually have only given away a handful of prints. All to really close friends and ONE I donated to an auction for another close friend. AND last year.. I took the plunge and did sell one of my original artwork pieces to a dear friend I had met through my classes.. she emailed me (love you laura) and she pursauded me with a very dear story about how one of my pieces had touched her heart.. I had such a HARD time letting it go.. but after hearing her story and knowing her funny and sweet personality through my classes.. I KNEW it was right and it would be going to a good home. So I sold my first piece of art.  Its funny because I teach my art.. I license my artwork, I have sold prints at some of my events before.. but NEVER my originals.

The reason being that they are so dear to my heart! I start to get this ancy feeling in my stomach about letting something I Love so much and that has a story behind it go.. and also selling it to someone I don't know. But latley as I have been organizing my studio to move to my new studio.. I realized I really can't just take all of it because I don't have the space for it. And right now it just sits in piles on shelves. SO then I thought.. well I COULD sell it.. and then again.. had a freak out moment.. of seperation from my art, and someone not loving it as much as I did. SO I stop and cast that idea aside.

Well a couple of weeks ago a friend of mine texted me about a piece of art she had seen on my blog.. she said she really wanted to buy it and told me the reason why. She said she had been going through a really rough time (which I had known about) and that this particular piece when she saw it, helped her to see things in a new light. It brought this ray of sunshine into her life and she really really wanted to purchase it to have as a reminder each day that there is hope and life is beautiful. After talking back and forth I decided to go ahead and sell her the piece. But it got me thinking.. this friend I mentioned was ANOTHER beautiful women I had met through my online classes.. someone who had taken my courses and through them I had found friendship. Then i started thinking.. you know I have found SO many friends through my workshops.. thousands of new friends.. women and even some men and children.. who have never done art before.. who have taken my online classes and other classes and through these have found themselves as artist.. I have countless emails of people finding thier voice and their joy through ART.. and it makes me SO happy!  These people are truly people who I care about and consider friends. All of you are friends. So that's when I decided to just go for it.. open up my etsy shop and start selling some of my original pieces.. KNOWING that while they have very special meaning to me.. whoever decided to purchase  them will love them just as much. I know because I have started collecting art from some of my favorite artists.. original pieces.. and they are VERy dear to me... and the speak to me and they have special meaning to me. LOVE collecting art from other people. So I have taken the leap and swallowed my anxiety about letting them go.. and realizing that they will be going to wonderful caring homes.. you might laugh at my anxiety over it.. but it's seroiusly a big issue with me.. lol. I'm a dork. I know :)

 

SO I am starting out small. Just listing a few originals each Week.. or every other week.  Right now I only have originals in my store. BUT in the next couple of weeks I will be listing prints as well. Anyhow.. so today is the first day of my shop being open! Yeah!!

I have listed 7 of my originals.. here are just a few of the ones I have chosen for this week.. (eek! I am SO nervous!!)

WHen you go to my etsy shop, i write a little bit of each of the paintings I have listed.. the story behind whey they were created. so you know a little bit more about me :)

 

Some of these you may have never seen before as they created and shared only in my workshops.. or some of them just for me..

 

 and probably my most favorite one  of the bunch.. one that I shared on my blog as a free print in THIS blog post.. and had a LOT of meaning to it..

so there you go! eek! this is exciting and scarry at the same time! lol.. who knows.. maybe that won't even sell.. but at least I am finally cutting some apron strings and letting some of these go.. and realize that through sharing these.. I am also growing myself!

I will let you know when I add new things to the shop! My prints will be coming soon. and will post about it here when they do!

Wednesday I have some fun things to share! So stay tuned!

Happy Tuesday!