christytomlinson

it's a new day.. so let's make it a GOOD one with a GIVEaway!!

you know you guys are awesome right? I just was reading through all the comments you gals wrote on tuesday and my ears welled up again.. but this time GOOD tears.. happy tears... not frustrated ones. Just apprieciate you all so much! THANK YOU!!!

so it's all worked out.. WHEW!  well except for a few stragglers.. but I figure after a week of waiting and not getting their log-ins they will email and then we can take care of it that way.. lol

all is well.. all is well.

SO holy cow.. busy week.. my LAST workshop for 2012.. STARTS next Tuesday!! it's probably one of my favorite "fun" workshops because it includes 11 other GUEST teachers!! wahoo!!

so I am busy getting ready for that one... uploading videos, pictures.. info about all the teachers.. etc.. truly can't wait for you guys to enter the classroom! Your gonna DIE when you see the projects! I think I showed you all a sneak peek a couple of weeks ago? I can't remember now.. all the days are running into one..

BUT if you haven't seen them.. I thought it would be fun to show them again..

Basically if you haven't heard.. This last workshop is my 12 Artsy Ornaments Workshop.

We did one last year too and it was a HUGE hit! People loved learning from 12 different teachers!!

Basically it's a 4 day workshop (which is open for an entire year).. and each day for 5 days, you get 3 new christmas projects from one of the 12 teachers!!  It's called the Artsy Ornament workshop.. BUT it doesn't just include ornaments.. it includes home decor, gift ideas and more! Each teacher gets to choose her own idea.. THE great thing about the teachers is they all have different art styles and backgrounds! Some are messy, colorful and bright! Others are vintage chic.. and others classic and old school. Some just mixed media fun.. But all different and ALL totally inspiring!
This workshop starts NEXT TuESDAY.. the 4th. (so if you have signed up or are signing up. that is the day you get your password and log-in and welcome info). 

So.. want some sneak peeks!! I know you do.. because it's always fun to see other peoples creative art.. I know I love it! here we go..

So we have a good mix of styles I would say..

you have the vintage style..

Margie, Gilded Girls, Chrissy & Jamie (though hers also shows you how to make them fun and artsy and colorful too)

here is a peek of some of those..

Fun christmas tree from the Gilded Girls..

a DANG cute  hanging canvas from margie (wahoo margie!!)

adorable Coffee filter wreaths!! from Jamie!

 

CLay Vintage Tags and Ornaments from Chrissy ( OH SO FREAKING ADORABLE!!)

I am so into simple white this year for christmas! so classic yet something magical about it..

 

 

Then you have some of the fun art techniques.. crafty style projects.. not so much done with painting.. but other art mediums!
These are from Alisa, Jeanne and Emily!

 

Felted Trees by Emily.. (made from old sweater scraps!)

 

Handcarved holiday stamps and homemade gift tags and wrap! From Jeanne!

 

 

 Hand stamped, Painted and doodled ornaments from Alisa..

 

and then we have to fun painted stuff! of course!!.

these are from Junelle, Juliette, Mindy.. (and of course me)..

cute fun painted owl canvas ornaments.. (oh be still my heart).. from Juliette

Adorable Girl Painted Ornament complete with gumdrops!  from Mindy!

Fun holiday burlap door hanger from Junelle.. totally her style!

and me? well I made 2 ornaments! lol.. trying to decide which one to include in the workshop.. and which one to post on my blog! so.. it will be a surprise! :)

 

So.. if you haven't signed up.. you still can!! and still get in on the early bird registration!
you can find out all the info here.. and also register HERE on this page..

Artsy Ornaments Workshop Page..

 

AND because we need some fun this week.. how about a giveaway?? I think it would be fun to giveaway five spots into this workshop!  All you have to do to register is post on this blog post.. with your name and email. (if you don't i can't issue you a password)..

and I will pick 5 winner next week!  IF you have already paid for the class, I will issue you a refund for it .. or you can have a $20.00 gift card to my etsy shop or Scarlet Lime shop. Which ever you prefer :)

.. fun fun!

So.. anyhow.. that is my week..

this monday..  on the drive home from boise and the funeral.. I needed something to do to keep my mind off things.. and I started writing and journaling.. all the ideas I had for workshops next year.. and I think I have all my workshops pretty much SET for the next year and I AM SOOO excited!

The first two will be in Janaury.. end of Janaury..

the first one, will be a fun Basic Course. So many people find me and take my current workshops.. but they are new to mixed media and don't know much about it. And while in my classes I show how to shade, do backgrounds etc.. I don't get into depth about the products and why i use them, what the difference is.. how to get same looks using different products.. or how to get different looks using the same product!  Why I use gesso sometimes and why I dont.. what type of Glue is good to use when.. what types of paints are good for what.

SO.. I am doing a Basic Course.. I haven't decided what I am going to call it.. Maybe Art 101..

but it will include all of that info. Simple technique videos showing you just about everything when it comes to backgrounds, layering, shading, using gesso's, paints,  mod podge, deco pauge or Matte Medium.. what the differnce is from canvas to canvas, wood to wood, etc. It's truly gonna have all the basics! We won't miss a thing! So if you are new to mixed media.. OR even an old seasoned pro.. it will just be a great course that will be one you will have you can always go back to for those techniques.  AND the good news is that class will be open for 2 years!! so once you sign up you will have 2 years access!

That is going to just be a mini class or a 2 weeks class.. so the cost will be low :)

I also am going to be starting a 12 month workshop.. all of you are familar with the one little word craze.. well is will be similar to that. it will be taking our selves.. and who we are.. and putting them into canvas and art journals. .. that will start in Janaury. Each month.. we will create a new project that is meaningful and VERy dear to my heart. This workshop will be a very very personal one for me. So basicall you sign up for the workshop, and either you can pay in full for the workshop.. or your account can be billed each month for it.. for 12 months.

Starts Janaury and goes until December. More details on both of those workshops will come in mid december..

so that will be my first  two workshop.. then I plan to do a spring workshop, a SHE art 3 workshop.. a couple of collabrative workshops, an Artology workshop (one where if you really want to take your art to the next level and TRULY learn about art values, and poperties and symbols and paints and products that will make a HUGe difference in what you are creating).. AND probaby my most favorite one.. and LONg awaited one.. 

a bussiness e-course.. on basically how I have started my art business, all the in's and outs.. of how I did, what worked for me, what didn't.. the rules and goals I gave myself, ways to advertise, where to start.. where to look for growth.. the standards I alway abide by.. the motto's and truths that I adhere to that I KNOW is why I have been successfull.. (i believe one of the greastest ways to grow is to give).. 

that one I think will be either in May or next September.. it will be probably my BIGGEST workshop yet. it won't be the for faint of heart.. thats for sure.

So I am excited! Lots going on in 2013!!!

but for now.. I am just going to get this 2012 Artsy Ornamaments workshop UP and ready!! wahoo!

So post below if you want in on the giveaway!! Class starts NEXT tuesday!

happy thursday!
xoxoxo

 

 

oh when it rains it pours.. seriously..

hey lovely friends..

okay.. so I am just goin to come right out and say it.. I want to scream, cry.. wake up from a bad dream.. and more today.. I swear when it rains it pours.

first off.. thank you for all the well wishes about my Brother In law.  He found out a week and half ago that he had 2 weeks to live and passed away the day before thanksgiving.. of cancer. So SO very sad. We were in Boise attending his funeral yesterday. His kids are all young (in their 20's) and I just remember what it felt like 2 years ago to loose my dad at such a young age. I just wanted to hug my niece and nephews and tell them all of the things they will experience over the next year.. and that it is OKAY.. to cry whenever they want.. to be upset whenever they want.. to stay in bed when they want to.. as time will heal all and gradually you will start to see tiny miracles and blessing from it all. This past year has been an especially hard one for me and I can say that I actually have been SO grateful for my dad's passing.. as I know if he was here I probably would not have confided in his as much... but this year I found myself talking with him SO SO many times.. in prayer and other ways.. asking for help and guidance.. and I KNOW that was a tender mercy from my Father IN Heaven.

So we are home.. and last week we had a huge black friday sale.. and this morning, I started getting emails from all the people who purchased the workshops while I was gone. That they hadn't received their links. Then after doing some digging.. I found out that paypal had a major glitch through black friday and over 200 transactions.. from people purchasing the workshops on sale.. DID NOT go through on my end. SO on their end.. it shows as unclaimed.. and now paypal is denying all of those payments and those 200 people have to resign back up again! oh what a headache!  SO if that is you.. YES you still need to resign up even if paypal has taken it from your credit card OR bank account. It still will be refuned and will not go through. AND they are not giving me the emails of those 200 people who signed up.. originally.. so I have to send out a mass email to everyone on my newsletter list.. announcing it and asking every one who purchased a "sale" workshop items.. to check their paypal account and if they see it as unclaimed.. they have to resign back up. Seriously what a pain? My poor customers are going to hate me after last week's sale! Not only are their payments being denied and they have to do it again.. but they have been waiting all week for the log-in details to the workshop and now they have to wait some more! 

AND PLEASE READ:  THIS IS FOR SALE CLASSES ONLY.. if you paid for the new 2012 Artsy Ornament workshop, the Winter Whimsy Workshop, PUmpkins and cider, Wild Art 2 Bless this mess. OR artsy Bangles workshop.. then YES IT DID go through)

it was only on the other classes that were on the sale page. (not my regular website)

(so if you are one of those people who signed up for my workshop SALES.. sorry.. you will have to do it again.. and you will see a refund back to your account by the end of the day for the first payment made) 

someday I just HATE paypal.. makes me want to cry. seriously.

that is not what I needed today.. coming home to a messy house.. (we left the kids home for the funeral).. got home at midnight last night and my three youngest were still up playing xbox?? what they heck??? it was a school night! Dang kids? talk about being grounded for the next week..

I have a million and one emails to answer back.. lol.. and a video I have to shoot for the winter whimsy workshop, a video to shoot for the november Mixed media kit..

I just didn't have the patience or the time for this huge paypal mess.

so I think right now I will make myself a cup of hot milk.. and cry for a minute.. and then put my big girl panties on and go on with my day.. lol

alright. Enough Complaing! I am done. I should look for the positive in this.. :) so grateful for family.. for the knowledge of eternal families. For the Gospel. Grateful for my customers who support me in my sales.. even when there are glitches.. AND SO grateful I have a business that allows me to stay home. Problems and all. Now.. I am still not so grateful for kids who destroy a house while I am gone, stay up late on a school night thinking we won't be home until later.. BUT i am grateful for my kids.. so I guess that counts. lol

anyhow.. so should we talk about something more positive?

How about art?  Lately I have been in the "christmas" winter creating mood and go to create a lot of new art for my winter whimsy workshop.. I wanted to show you some of the pieces I have been working on..

is that okay? maybe it will brighten my day to see  it :)

 

this one is one of my favorites.. a cute little bear.. with a red stripe stomach..

 

 

 

This mr. Moose.. I just had to do.. in the classic navy and red.. and argyle christmas wool sweater.. hes so fun!

 

This girl is totally inspired by a globe I saw at the store the other day.. it was a snowmen with a globe inside his belly! I thought how fun it would be to do a SHe art girl with a globe inside her dress!

 

 

This little guy is a Reindeer.. one of my newest obsessions..

 

 

and of course a penguin. I have been painting penguins for over 18 years.. hes fun too!

 

So anyhow.. thanks for letting me share! That workshop was SOO fun to do! I am excited to make even more.. thinking I will do a bunch of reindeer ornaments for my tree this year!

oh and yes.. you can still take this class. its called the Whimsy Winter Workshop..

.. I have had several people ask me.. you can take any of my workshops at anytime..

 

AND speaking of workshops and ornaments..

2012 ARtsy Ornaments of Christmas starts Tuesday!!

We have had some more sneak peeks come in.. gonna share those on thursday! so check back :)

okay.. see just looking at creative stuff has already calmed me down a bit.. ahh.. maybe I don't need that cry after all.. talking to you guys always makes me feel better.. so thank you!!

 

xoxoxo

Happy Tuesday..

 

 

 

HUGE Black Friday Sale!!!!

Hey friends! Are you ready for the BIGGEST sale of the year? OUR BIGGEST sale EVER? I mean like in 8 years?? well this week is the week!

This week.. from now until Sunday night!  Ben & I are having a sale on all of our Shops! 

Scarlet Lime Mixed Media Store, Scarlet Lime BeadArt Store, My Etsy Shop & my ONLINE WORKSHOPS!

SPEAKING Of online workshops! if you have a workshop expiring soon.. now is a great time to extend your class time by an entire year!! 

HUGE!!

Want to know what KIND of sale?? here you go!

HUGE sale right??

So of course that means you need the details.. the coupon codes, rules.. etc? right??

So below are listed each store and the codes and details for each one!

First off to NOTE:  because the large volume or orders from this sale and given we will not be back into the warehouse until Monday.. orders placed from our STOREs.. will may not ship until the week of December 12th. We will process them in the order they are received. 

ONLINE WORKSHOP orders.. because we are out of town.. those will not be processed and log-ins sent until Monday, November 26th! ALso if you are interested in giving those as a gift.. click on the link below for Online workshops with details of how!!

So here we go!

..........

 

Scarlet Lime Store 30%
off

   code: givethanks12

www.scarletlime.com

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Scarlet Lime BeadAt 60%
off

code: givethanks12

www.scarletlimebeadart.com

 

 

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Christy Tomlinson Etsy Store
30% off all Prints and Originals

(I have added 10 new
prints to the store! See sneak peeks below! )

code: givethanks12

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChristyTomlinson

(note: I have  temporarily taken out my other  home decor items such as mugs, lamps, journals,
etc.. as they are not part of this sale.. but we will be back in the store after
the sale is over.. PLUS new items!)

 

 

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my ONLINE
WORKSHOPS!

45-60%  off

USE   THIS LINK!!

(note: YOU MUST use this  PRIVATE link (you can also find it on my blog post for today).. to get the sale
prices. The links on my blog workshops page and my store workshops page will NOT
have the sale prices.. so please USE THIS LINK .

 

WORKSHOP SALE

 

 

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How fun huh?? So excited about this huge sale!

Oh and like i said.. I added over 10 new prints to my etsy store.. for the holidays.. they are ones that I created for my Winter Whimsy Workshop

 (if you like what you see.. you can still join me in that workshoP!!

Its still going on now and you can sign up anytime.. the link to THAT workshop is.. Whimsy Winter Workshop..

 

 

 

anyhow.. have a WONDERFUL thanksgiving.. I am blessed to be spending it with my family.. I am grateful for this year.. grateful for all of you.. and grateful to my Heavenly Father for all the blessing we have been given. TRULY blessed.

xoxox!
Happy Wednesday!

 

 

 

More Studio Sneak Peeks..

  Hello Hello friends!!! So today  i thought it would be to share with you the progress of my art studio... its still not quite done.. doesn't have any of my art supplies in it.. and my own art table isn't moved over yet.. PLUS I want to just create and put art all over the walls.. so let's just consider this a sneak peek? okay? Next week after thanksgiving.. I plan to move it all over.. so I will post probably the week after that with all sorts of FUN pictures!

 

so if you missed the sneak peeks last week.. here is the view from when you first walk in..

The white table you see, is the "guest" art table (one of two) it sits four, and the other sits four as well. So yea! 8 people having fun! wahoo! My art table will go right where that cream rug is.. and should be able for two people to sit at as well. I truly can't wait to start creating in that space!  The dresser that is yellow.. is like a curio cabinet.. full of tons of little drawers.. we got an auctions and then painted. Most of the furtiture we found at thrift stores and then re-purposed or re-painted it! Love it!
You can see the brick wall.. I started to paint it.. and got 2/3 the way up the wall and haven't finished. Yikes.. yes I will be finishing that next week. Then ben built me a mantel out of an old piece of wood he found. Lots of fun stuff.

This is a view from the left side looking over. The room where you see up in the right hand corner. that is called the "blue room" it has lots of blue storage pieces.. like an old post office box sorter, a metal industrial sorter for canvas (I painted blue), and  a blue file cabinet and blue old herb cabinet. It's also lovling called the "storage room". as it will have a big shelf on the back wall for big stuff that doesn't get used  much.. just more for storage. This room use to be the "Suana' room. We tore down the wall between it the main room.

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THis is just on the other side of the white art table. I found over the last 5 months some cool dresser and cabinets.. and ben  and Allie spent a day last week re-painting all of them. The blue cabinet, I wanted to do. So you can see that yesterday I grabbed a bottle of my favorite blue craft paint and seriously just started using my hands to cover it. Ben had literally JUST brought it in.. and was going out to get another piece of furniture from the garage and by the time he was back.. i had painted the top and one set of drawers. I didn't have a paintbrush.. so I just used my hands.. lol.  I was too impatient to wait and do it right.. I just wanted to see what the blue would look like. So yea.. gotta finish that now. lol

This is me doing it. Ben walks in and he just looks me and shakes his head.. and I am like what?? lol.. he took this picture and sent it to me.

(hahah.. seriously so impatient! )

 

 

This is a view into the kitchen area.. from the side of the white art table looking into the kitchen area. This used to be a large bathroom with a big romain tub in it.. but we tore it out, tore down the wall, and put in some old cabinets from the new/old house (Painted them green) and and now this is the Kitchen/Office.. sitting area. there are actually alot of comfortable "sitting" areas.. in my art studio. Three of them. I want when people to come over to TRULY be comfortable!  The red table is another art table for Guests and my kids. Its lower and will have benches under it to sit on (ben made some a few years ago for a big dinner table, but they are too long for this one. so he is cutting them down and then I will  spra paint them green I think). so those are coming!  The green cabinets actually came out of my kitchen in the old/new house. They were from the 1960's and SUPER outdated.. so ben brough them in, we spray painted them Green and built a new wood top for it. They turned out beautiful! Love re-purposing! I will show closer sneak peeks next week!

 

Another sitting area in front of the main front window..

Below.. This was our frist kichen table.. (the blue table) it was twice a big and wide.. and it was oak. Ben cut it in half for me, took the legs off and put them back on, and then painted it blue. The chair I got online (as well as the yellow seat above). it was on a deal of a day website I found earlier this summer.. and i used some money I had earned from my teaching trip to Sweden! they were pretty cheap too! the red chair was $150 bucks and then yellow seat was $180! so adorable! I had to get them!

 

This is the view from when you first walk in.. i have  large easil (one that I will use to paint big canvases on) right as you walk in.. and will swap out new art peices as I make them.. Next to it is the Yellow and Turquise seating area..

another thing I splurged on was rugs. I had a few I had used in my home that I had kept. but I really wanted the floor to be bright and colorful since I had decided not to stencil or paint the walls or floors. I kept the walls VERy nutrel with the wood walls and cream beadboard.. so wanted TONS of color in the furniture and carpet! That is why I painted all the furtnure bright colors! I think my family who saw it before in nice oak and wood pieces thought I was crazy when I said I was going to repaint it red, or yellow or turqouise.. but It had to be colorful! Its an ART STUDIO!

 

This is the blue room I mentioned above.. It was the sauna connected to this side of the pool house. So we left the wood slats and just painted it cream.  This is looking into it from the fireplace area. I have to say THAT is my favorite piece EVER!! the one on the left! it's an old post office box sorter! I got it at a local thrift store here in shelley called Treasures (actually I got EVER piece in my art studio from that thrift store except for the red dresser and my art table which ben built and my office table which was our old kitchen table. EVERYTHING else came from that store. It was $150! that is a sTEAL! I plan to make drawers for the slots and put all of my paint, inks, stamps, etc.. in it.

I found this adorable chevron rug to kinda fit the space too. Along the back wall, ben will build me shelves and I think I will have to paint them a light blue and then sand them down.. to go with the space! Or maybe do a pop of red? maybe? what do you guys think? we should do a vote and whatever ends up with the most votes. I will paint it that color.. so let's do it..  Post on the blog what color YOU think I should do?

Red, Yellow, Cream, Green, light blue, Blueberry Blue, Yellow or Orange?

Dying to find out how it will be painted! wahoo!

So anyhow.. that is just a sneak peek.. it will look SO much homeir and cosier once my messy art table is in it.. and all my artwork and the artwork I have been collecting is up.  I sent pictures to my friend Junelle and told her to PLEASE come have a "art weekend" with me so we can plan workshops for next year and she said "I am scared to go into it! I will get paint everywhere!"  i said.. GIRL! that is the POINT! I don't want this to look like a perfect cute little studio that no one can be comfortable in! I want it to be lived in and painted in.. and messy paint on tablers and floors. I already did one project on the white art table. Allie and I made wastepaper baskets. We mod podged fabric onto white plastic waste baskets we got at Walmart ofr $3.00. They turned out SO cute! ben asked.. aren't you going to put newspaper down on your new white art table? I was like.. NO??  lol  this is an ART table! It's being christened with Mod podge today! lol  and it was.. it was ALL over the table. Still is.. dried that way. and I LOVE it! :)

so anyhow.. that's .it I will take more after thanksgiving! okay? and seriously! if you have a vote on what color I should paint the shelves in the blue room.. tell me! I would love to hear!

Well.. better get working.. have a few things to finish up in the Winter Workshop! Week 2 starts tomorrow! If you haven't signed up for it.. you still can :)

have a WONDERFUL monday!

 

2012 Artsy Ornament Workshop! Finally here!!

oh you sweet sweet friends are always so patient with me! lol.. so many of you have been emailing me asking me IF and when I would be advertising this workshop!

If you were around here last year about this time.. then you know last year I offered a class called the 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas..

which included me and 11 guest artists collaborating together in mini class, 5 day workshop.. where each day, for five days.. you get 3 new projects/ornaments/homedecor.. by 3 different artist and teachers!

IT was a HUGE hit and everyone loved being able to learn from so many fabulous teachers in one space!

Well we are doing it again THIS year!! wahoo! and I am in love with the line up of this years teachers! Some old.. some new! So I can't wait!

So want to know the details?

First off.. what is the 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas..

well don't let the name fool you.. NO it is not just ornaments. This workshop is dedicated to decorating your homes and trees for the holidays. So it includes both Ornaments, Home decor and even some christmas cards. Each teacher does their own project and everyone kinda picks what is in their heart. SO you get a good mix of everything you need to create a festive fun Holiday.

This workshop starts December 4th! JUST in time for the holiday! BUT as with all my other workshops.. you can register NOW using the link below (or go to another favorite artist page that is teaching and you can register on THEIR site too! If you found this from their site.. please go back to their site to sign up, as they receive credit for the class when you sign up through them) xoxo

Okay.. so want to know who's involved??

I seriously KNOW you are going to love this lineup!

The teachers we have for this year are...

Alisa Burke, Mindy Lacefield, Juliette Crane, Emily Falconbridge, Jamie Soucey, Jeanne Oliver, Chrissy Gardner, Junelle Jacobson, Marige Romney-Aslett, Shea & Debbie from the A Gilded LIfe.. and ME!

What an amazing line up of teachers huh?? And just like last year.. some of the teachers will have kits availble for you to purchase that go along with their projects! So that will be fun!

While most of them are hard working and filming their projects.. I do have a few sneak peeks for you! can't wait!!.

This is Mindy's ornament.. SO adorable!

 

 

Here's a peak of Margies!

 

Jeanne is showing us how to create our own custom holiday stamps and then creating tags, cards and banners for Christmas!

 

Jamie is showing us how to take coffee filter,.. dye them, ink them.. paint them, stamp them (you name it) and create cute little wreaths out of them to hang on the tree! Or make bigger ones to hang on a door or in a window! So fun!

 

 

and Juliettes SUPER cute Girl ornaments! Her original girls that started it all.. I HEART!

 

Here's yet another peak at The Gilded Girls project!

Plus there is so much more!
Here are a few of our projects from LASt year.. so you can get an idea of what you can expect! ..

 

Just a good mix of all types of art!

 

 

So please! Come join us! It will truly be so fun!

You can sign up below.. or as I said again.. if you found me from one of the teachers above.. simply click on their name above and head to their website, and sign up on THEIR website.. to ensure they get credit for your registration! :) xoxox

Class is normally $24.95!
but if you register before November 28th, you can sign up for $19.95!  So get in on the early bird registration!

(note: this class starts December 4th and as with all my other workshops, you will receive a welcomem email, your log-in and password info, the day the class starts.. if you need a receipt of payment, paypal will send you confirmation once you sign up! Also some teachers.. like the Gilded Girls, will have kits available for their projects! )

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So.. what else is going on?  Well I DID take a few more pictures of the studio.. but I thought it would be fun to just do it's own post all together! SO I am writing one for monday with LOTS of peeks! Can't wait!
This weekend.. Tomorrow morning actually.. we are traveling to Boise to watch Braden, our oldest son.. play in the state football tournament! These boys have worked so hard and have an undefeated season.. and I just know no matter what. .if they play their best.. they will feel good about this year! Can't wait to go!

AND tonight.. Allie and I are going to the midnight premier of Twilight! Wahoo! it's a tradition.. we go to all of them.. we are going to go with one of my trues.. Meredith and her daughter (which is one of allie's best friends).  And yes.. sometimes we do dress up a little bit. Nothing fancy.. but sometimes where a shirt that MIGHT or might NOT say.. "I heart edward & jacob" lol. Yes I know. immature! But that's me! lol

So.. I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend!

The Winter Whimsy Christmas workshop is stil in FULL swing! We are half way through week one!  and I am loving all the fun stuff going on! It's fun to watch the process of teaching others and then seeing what they do to put their own spin on it! Its so fun for me to see and be inspired by my students art! TRULY inspired!

Okay.. really quick. I have had a couple of women email me asking me if I am doing a retreat for next year.. because they are planning their year budget wise and just want to know IF i am doing one. The answer is YES! For sure!

It will most likely be in May.. I want to make sure we have some budding leaves on the trees AND have our house done too (not just the studio).  I don't know the cost yet, but it will be 3 day retreat (thursday-saturday). It will NOT include hotel.. but there is one super close to my house. Just one exit away. and it's cheap. But meals will be provided. Of course creating Art projects, and learning new techniques.. but I will also be taking you to some of my favorite places to eat. To my favorite thrift stores and even do trips to Barnes and Noble. (which makes me think we might should make it a wed-saturday retreat). I just want plenty of time to relax and also play. To really get to know you all. I will ONLY have 6-8  spots available. So it will be VERy small and very personal.

AND then of course I will be hosting a giveaway next year.. at the first of the year.. where two people will win an all expenses paid trip to come spend the weekend with me at my art studio.. and just play and have fun!

TRULY going to be fun!

So yes if you are interested, I am doing a retreat! Cost.. unsure yet. But if you are interested of even being on the wait-list.. as it will only be 8 people at max (but I am thinking more like 6).. then email me for sure :) That signup won't be available until after Christmas.

Anyhow.. so that's life for today and this week! I am physically exhausted! lol. But ready for the weekend and going to sleep ALL the way to boise! (it's a 5 hour drive).. can't wait! lol

Happy Thursday!

Hope to see you in the 2012 Ornament Workshop!

xoxox

Happy monday.. lots of fun sneak peeks!

hey lovely friends.. you know how grateful I always am for all of you? so sweet.. this weekend I got a couple of emails and facebook message from people asking me if things were okay because you hadn't heard from me last week.. and I just wanted to say.. THANK YOU!! wow.. seriously feeling loved by you all.. concerned about me :)
You simply all rock!

and yes.. to answer your question.. I am doing wonderful :) just super busy... lol

Last week we were finishing up the workshop.. Wild Abandonment #2  and had (am having) some issues with videos. Or one video lol. Seemed as though I met my "limit" on capacity.. and while it's not a big deal.. you just request an upgrade.. it was the weekend.. and I was thinking today it would be fixed and then realized.. ITS a HOLIDAY! lol.. so yeah.. waiting waiting.. it's not my strong suite.

AN i have another workshop that starts TOMORROW..  A Whimsy Artsy Winter..  and I am stressing about that because it's on the same server and those videos won't load either until the capacity problem is fixed.. so I have my fingers crossed on THAT one! lol.. but it's all good!

AND on top of trying to get all of that done.. I had over 300 etsy orders to print, sort, pull, pack and ship.. (and still shipping.. ) from the week before.. holy cow I was overwhelmed and humbled by the amount of orders I received! I guess I didn't realize how trick etsy is to print out order.. with our Scarlet LIme System.. you put in the dates you want to print orders from.. click a button and it's prints ALL new orders.. Well.. yea with etsy.. not so much.  with Etsy you have to print EVERY order individually.. then once they area all printed, we had to alphabetize them.. THEN go through and find people that had two or more orders and staples those together, so we could combine those on shipping for the customers.. and refund shipping they overpaid.. and THEN go through and pull OUT the orders that all had pre-orders on them.. lol.. before we could even beging to working on just pulling the items. SO sadly to say.. we did get as far as PULLING every current order. Ben and I worked all day saturday to finish those up. NOW today he is packaging (with care) every order.. with so many breakable things.. yikes. And then tonight after I finish all my work here at the house.. I will go over and help him Ship them all. (print labels, etc)

Then tomorrow I start the task of refunding all of the overpayments of shipping.. lol. (which in my Scarlet Lime store.. it automatically weighs the package for me and charges you actual shipping costs.. etsy.. yea not so much.. it's a total guess lol)

yes.. holy cow that was a process. Ben asked me at one point " and what is the reason you didn't put your stuff in our Scarlet lime store? lol"   I said.. well I wanted this FUN place.. cute little etsy store where my customers could come purchase "my art".. not art supplies.. but my own personal art.. and etsy just seemed so "cute" and cozy. lol  I told him it was a "girl" thing.. and he wouldn't understand. lol. (But actually he does and was just teasing me).

SO friends.. if you have ordered anything from my etsy store from when I lauchned all my new products like mugs, and iphone covers, etc.. I truly apologize.. they are comign SHORTLY. and then all the pre-order stuff arrives this week and we get to do it all over again wednesday and thursday and friday! wahoo! Actually I had fun pulling those orders. It was a treat for me to see names I recognized order things that mean so much to me. I don't pull store orders, So I don't get to see the many of you that support us through our store.. So it was TRULY fun to see all of you that I know from my workshops :) THANK you again for your awesome support in my etsy store!

So THAT is why I didn't post on my blog last week.. I just was truly working hard.. every day all day and didn't want to waste time posting when I had so many things I needed to get done for all of YOU :) . xoxo!

BUt today I do have just a few minutes.. (while ben is packing all the orders.. i don't really trust myself to pack glass and ceramic lol)  So I thought it would be fun to show you sneak peeks of whats in store for my Winter/Christmas workshop that starts tomorrow! AND this week I have another sneak peek of another fun workshop.. The 12 artsy ornaments of Christmas No. 2 (2012) that will be debuting on WEDNESDAY!! (you are going to LOVE the line up of teachers this year!!!)

So.. anyhow.. can I share a sneak peek? would that be okay?
here we go..

so this workshop.. The Whimsy Winter Workshop..

 

is a 2 week workshop and it consists of two parts.. the first week is Christmas and Holiday.. and the second week is Winter and snowfriends..

Im not going to show you ALl that we are doing.. but here is a little fun peek at some of it :)

 

We have some Reindeer Friends..

Some snowmen friends..

Christmas Friends..

and more!!

 

AND SO MUCH MORE!!

that is just a PEEK! we also creating Santas, different types of snowmen, Birds, snow friends and we even have a segment for Christmas Cards and a Christmas wreath!

There is a ton of fun projects in this class.. PLUS some truly meaningful things as well. During the Christmas and Holiday week.. we take time to reflect on some of our greatest blessing and greatest gifts and what truly is important during the holidays. Some meaningful excersizes to stretch your soul for the holidays. It's going to be a FUN class.. and I have two guest artists doing projects in the class as well!
So.. if you haven't signed up yet! you have until tomorrow afternoon to sTILl sign up for the early bird price!

After tomorrow the price goes up to $34.95..

 so sign up today! You can read more about it here

! or sign up here! On this page..

so that is my fun stuff for today..

oh guess what ELSE happened last week.. Ben NEARLY finished my studio!! he only has the install the celing which I guess just came today! AND then the lights  in the art area. (can't install those until the ceiling is installed).. but he moved MOST of the  furniture in to it last week, as well as unpacked some of my pillows and blankets.. and yesterday we went over with the kids after church and watched a movie and took naps on the couches and floor of the studio.. while we got warm by the fire! AHHH! i can't wait to move into it! It's just really missing my Art table and all of my supplies!  I have to wait until this Christmas/Winter workshop is over.. I just do. I need to make sure my focus is ON this class and also getting those etsy orders out.. because I know I could totally got lost in my studio for days.. just unpacking  and organzing ALL sorts of art supplies.. and decoarting the walls with art that I have done or collected. I need to FOCUS.. lol. So I am trying to stay away from the new house this week.. cause the more I am there the more i don't want to leave! .. hey.. would you like a sneak peek of that?? why not? right? I will do another blog post next week with MORE peeks.. won't be the final reveal.. but something fun anyway.. (the final will have to be in early December after I move my red art table over and all my supplies..)

This is the view from when you walk in the front door (i still need to finish my brick wall.. lol)

The white table is one of the "guest" art tables.. my red table will go right in front of the fireplace on that cream rug.

I took a TON of more pictures from every angle but I want to save it for another post..

Okay.. here is ONE more peek..

but that's it! I don't want to show you the entire thing.. the space has "three" rooms to it.. The main room.. Art studio room, the "blue room (also known as the storage room) and the kitchen/Office room.
they are all actually open to each other. So it's one big great space.. but they all definitly have their own flair and purpose. So I can't wait to show you more!

Well.. better get cracking! Lots to do today!
Hope you join me tomorrow!! Please do! This Christmas Workshop will be so fun!

Big hugs and HAPPY monday!

 

Behind the Art video.. October MM project!

Hey friends! how was your Halloween? Ours was full of fun and business! Holy cow I filmed all day yesterday for the upcoming Christmas workshop (gonna show you sneak peeks on monday!)

and then trick or treating.. and then went to the warehouse and worked on the studio until 4 AM THIS MORNING!! (WHICh i A MOVING IN NEXT WEEK!!)

wahoo! I will post pics and a video!)  Ben and I both did! By the time we were done.. we were so hungry we decided to go to breakfast at Shari's.. had some good old fashioned pancakes and hasbrowns and walked in the door around 6:00 AM when our kids were just starting to wake up to get ready for school. So we went back to bed for a few hours.. yea.. Im a walking zombie right now! lol

Anyhow.. sorry for not getting this October video posted in OCTOBER.. holy cow.. that whole video editing thing is kicking my butt! I normally use my Imovie program to edit and it was just NOT working and so I finally decided to use my PC and downloaded Sony Vegas Platinum program. While it's pretty cool program.. it was DEFINITLY not straight forward like imovie is.. it took me hours watching youtube videos from other people.. on how to just add music, and pictures, and cross fades, and fast forward. holy cow you would have thought I had never edited videos before! I have been doing it for 2 years.. and it took me forever to figure it out. But now I know and now it should go smoother. Luckily I have hired my brother VK, to help me edit all my upcoming videos for my workshops.. that will help out a ton (since we always do like 15-20 videos per workshop! at least!!)

Okay... so onto today's video! before I start.. wanted to say first off.. THANK YOU for your freaking awesome support of my etsy Store! And an update on the store.. we just got in yesterday all the new Carson products (another manufacturer I worked with).. and So I have added those to the store.. and they were just starting to pull orders at the warehouse from last thursday and friday's orders and I said. wait! give it a day or two.. because I was thinking some of you may want to purchase some of these new things.. and this way I can combine shipping for you and refund some of the shipping and ship them together! So if you want to get some of the things below. I am going to wait to ship orders until Monday of next week.. and if you purchase anything else during that time.. I will ship it all together and refund overpayment of shipping! Just fyi.. okay.. so I have to show you what is new!!!

The absolute favorite thing.. (okay tied with the last thing I am showing you).. are the sketchbook journals! They are about 6"x8" in size.. and have brown kraft paper inside.. oh so in love!

Gorgous new Mugs.. (there are actually only four new mug styles.. but this pictures shows the mugs pretty much all the way around. Carsons did a great job with these! two are girls and two are different scenes (the last mug on the right has a girl on it.. but the picture doesn't show it)

 

 I love shapes of these mugs and that they have so much going on.. but the best part is the little surprise inside..

 

 

 

Dinner Plates! ( or you can use them for cookies, cupcakes, to hold supplies on.. anything really!

Wall plates and platters (again the wall plates could totally be fun to put cookies on, or your mug.. don't have to hang them on the wall.. USE them! lol)

And the my most FAVORITE thing from their line.. (okay.. this and the journals are pretty close..)

the She Art  resin figurines!  They are so cute and have demensional pieces all over them. The words, the flowers, butterflies.. they all are demensional pieces. These can hang on a wall, or they free stand. Just love em!

SO that's fun!  I wasn't able to list the art bags! They came in ( my own company was priting those) but they only printed side?? lol.. I was like.. um no.. these aren't going to work. So sending them back to have the other side printed. AND then guess what! So many of you have asked.. I ordered IPhones cases for the Iphone 5! So those are coming soon too!  We sold out of a lot of things.. Magnets, mugs, mouse pads, frames.. a lot of things.. so those are on re-order now too.

So THANK you friends for your support! oh and since these products just came in.. I am extending the 10% off sale!  the coupon is SHE12  use it at checkout! HEre is the link to the Etsy Store!

okay.. onto the video for October!!

I had envisioned in my mind this fun Fall but bright and bold flower pieces.. I know I love flowers pieces and do them a lot.. but I couldn't get this one out of my head.. (don't worry next month it's NOT flowers.. well and last month wasn't either? so we are doing okay! lol)

Anyhow.. Here is what I came up with..

this kit included fun banner from Glitz, washi tape from glitz (the chevron I used on the stems) and these awesome fun kraft flowers too (which by the way could totally be used as stencils!!) and so much more! I show in the video what is included!

So that's it! Super fun! The canvas isn't included.. it's a 6"x12" deep edge.. but you can use just about anything!

So anyhow.. onto the video! Thanks friends again.. for all you do and ALL your birthday wishes!!!!! truly i freaking LOVE YOU ALL!!! xoxoxox

Happy Thursday!