christytomlinson

something to share..

so as promised I wanted to share with you some of the things I made this past week at the

Nurture your Creative Seed Retreat!
Our First class was with the very talented Ms. Jeanne Oliver and I immediately fell in love with her collage lessons! First thing we did was collaged 6 watercolor pages, with vintage wallpaper, vintage ephemera, paints, and more! We were painting them to make them into a handbound journal at the end of the retreat.. this was SO much fun!

So we spent the morning creating those.. then in the afternoon Jeanne shared her techniques for painting her beautiful girls!

This was the one Jeanne painted for us! I took this picture during the process so she wasn't quite finished.. but I still love it!

So then I went to town.. finding my courage to create too! and this is what I finally ended up with..

I actually had put the patterned paper down on her hair and had planned on painting over it.. so I just had the pattern under the paint.. but once I got it down, i actually fell in love with the look and decided to leave it just as it was! I love those happy unexpected things that happen with art as you are just going with the flow!

So then we had the evening to just work on our journal pages some more.. but I had had so much fun doing girls.. and since girls is kinda of my thing, I decided to use my journal pages as 'backgrounds" for painting some more girls instead!

So I spent the rest of the night and ended up with these fun girls.

I don't know why but my girls all ending up on the right side of the journal page? lol

But I had so much fun just exploring and painting All night! I would have stayed up and painted the last three.. but I knew I would be tired and hurting the next day and didn't want to miss out on Mindy's class! Can I just say Jeanne was SUCH a fun teacher! oh my gosh.. that girl is SOO funny! I have been friends with her for years and I know she is that way for me all the time.. but during class she just has this awesome way of making you feel RIGHT at home and really making you feel comfortable! She is a great teacher too! helping you feel confident in what you are doing! LOVED taking a class from a dear close friend! What a fun thing to do. I mean I have painted with her many times.. but to actually take a class from her, was beyond my expectations! LOVED IT!!

WHich by the way.. I LOVED how different both classes were! Jeanne's is obviously VERY vintage and classic.. and Mindy's style is just whimsical and fun!

So the next morning we started out with the very sweet, adorable and tall (why I always thought mindy ws short. i don't know? lol) Mindy!  OH be still my heart! LOVE THIS GIRL!!

She had us start  the day be creating two our own handmade paper.. and then  backgrounds on canvas..

with Mindy giving us some really fun prompts to do! Fun things like "draw your favorite word but with your non dominant hand.. or scribble with your eyese closed with a watersoluable crayon. It was REALLY fun actually! She is an awesome teacher for getting your playful, let your hair down.. side out! We finished the morning by painting a cute little whimsical bunny! I couldn't get my page to feel right, so instead of trying to make my background mesh and fit.. I just created a second animal friend from the background.. and it seemed to work! lol

Mindy was TRULY an awesome teacher! It was SO so relaxing..

then after lunch we worked on the second canvas, and moved onto to creating a girl! (she started us with the bunny so we weren't so apprehensive about doing faces.. which was a VERY smart thing! lol.. it kinda helped ease us into it!)

So here is the girl..

she isn't quite finished. I didn't spend any time creating later that night because it was our last night and I wanted to talk and hang out with the other women there as much as possible! So she still needs some words, and some background issues and texture fixed.. but again.. Mindy just was so much fun!

so that's my fun weekend! Jeanne and Mindy were both amazing teachers. and like i said earlier this week was JUST so wonderful! I really want to go back! Like next week! lol (Serena can't you just plan another one for this spring? Lol)

anyhow.. just had a great time! Thanks again for letting me share!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo

 

Christy

 

Nurture your Creative Seed...

So I am back from the art retreat I attended last weekend. I blogged about going about a month or two ago. It was a small retreat that I was DYING to attend. Mindy Lacefield and Jeanne Griffin Oliver where teaching and the retreat itself was hosted by the beautiful  Serena Berry. It was called Nurture your Creative Seed

 

 

It was held on a small island outside of Seattle, Washington.. near on the water.

 If some of you are on my facebook page.. then you KNOW I almost didn't go. Last week was HORRIBLE as far as pain. I hadn't had one pain free day in like 4 days.. and it was coming time for me to leave and i was SO worried I wouldn't be able to handle the flight and drive to the island (we flew into Seattle then rented a car and took the Ferry over and drove another 40 mins to the beach house. It was only actually 15 miles away, but its a beautiful drive through small towns and gorgeous scenery). I was worried though! I thought, what if I wake up thursday morning, and am in complete pain, and my meds won't work and I get on the flight and I am dying and want to just lay and the floor and cry. So i had decided not to go, and then I got an email from one of the girl attending.. telling me that she actually was coming because I had said I was and she had been so excited to meet me and that is the reason why she was coming. Then margie kinda gave me a pep talk too and so did my friend Chrissy. I also knew if I didn't go, i would miss out on meeting Junelle for the first ime and I had been SO looking forward to it! And SO after thinking about it.. I was decided to put my faith in my Heavenly Father and take the leap and go! I KNEW once I got there even if I was in pain, I would be okay.. because I could just hang out.. it was only the traveling that was holding me back.  So I had posted that on my facebook page and SO many of you.. I think over a hundred comments and 200 hundred liked it.. and said you would PRAY foR me and all would be well and you were proud of me for doing it anyway..  and guess what? Miracles do happen and our Father in Heaven DOES love us. He wants us to trust and take the leaps sometimes so he can bless us. I woke up thursday, with SO much energy! I had gone to bed at 12:00 and got up at 4:00 am, and I still felt insanely GREat!

(this is a picture from the BainBridge Ferry heading over to the island from Seattles Port)

 

 

ALl day long, I felt wonderful. Granted I was still taking my pain meds, but they were actually WORKING and I felt normal! (recently I have been taking my pain meds and they haven't even TOUCHED the pain I have been in). And it was like that the ENTIRE week! I even took my oils and only used them ONCE! AND the even craizer thing is the weather wasn't warm.. it was actually in the hight 40's and rainy and I STILL felt wonderful!  I woke up everyday just feeling SO amazing, and normal and wonderful and I felt SOO blessed I had taken the opportunity to go and to be blessed by the amazing experience and women I met there! 

 So I wanted to share some pictures of it with you. I have to say TRULY, it was exactly what how I want my own personal retreats to feel. The schedule wasn't crazy busy. it wasn't jammed packed full of "stuff".. it didn't need to be. It was nurturing and warm and there was  sense of calm. We all pretty much just wore our pj's the entire time. and no make up. etc. I did the ENTIRE time. So you will see lots of pictures of me with hair up and makeup free.. but it's okay :). We woke up every morning and had a wonderful healthy breakfast prepared by Serena.. and were able to spend some quiet time before the day started!

this is a vew from my balcony of my room in the house.. I spent quiet a few moments here, sitting and reflecting and just listening to the ocean..)

(a vew of the kitchen from the living room.. our "gathering space most of the time)

then when every had had a chance to get "ready".. We made our way to the smaller cottage out back and created art with each of the teachers! Serena and the teachers, had added some wonderful personal touches to the space.. not over the top.. but just enough to feel cozy and inviting!

Jeanne wrote us all little messages on the tables! so cute!

of course getting messy was one of my favorite parts too!

We spent a day with each teacher and I loved it! it felt so relaxing! We had a wonderful cozy lunch in between, again SO healthy but it was just delicious. ( I had lentils for the first time  and I LOVE them!) and usually would take a leisurely walk on the beach or in the woods.

(junelle and Jeanne documenting the beautiful scene)

Me getting my "feet wet. don't you just love my sweats and boots lol. Totoally my outfit the whole weekend.

Found this "sand heart" on the beach.. and HAD to take a picture! always see God's hand in everything we do..

Junelle just bringing her JOY to the entire week.. LOVE HER!!

Then when everyone was well rested from lunch, we would head back into the studio to learn some more!

(this is Jeanne Oliver and Junelle .. LOVE the excitement and happy on Junelles face. SHE IS SUCH a happy person! always smiling and always laughing! LOVE HER!!)

Dinner was amazing and then after dinner we just sat around in the cozy house and talked, laughed, ate delicious HEALTHY snacks (there was absolutely NO candy present.. and I usually am a candy addict.. and i didn't miss it at all! Serena made us incredibly healthy snacks that fed our bodies and it was just what I needed!).

the "late nighters" as I call us  (we had earlier risers and late nighters. But us late nighters would stay up late each night painting and playing in the studio, and then every morning around 6:00 the early risers would get up and you could hear gathering downstairs, talking, sipping morning hot drinks, some even went for walks, etc.. before breakfast.. but it just felt SO cozy and at home. (I  was one of the late risers, and would get up, take nice hot bath, sit out on the cozy deck outside of my room, and then would saunter into the kitchen right before breakfast time was over and eat a wonderful healthy meal. Serena had breakfast for us, open between 8-9.. anytime you wanted to come so it accommodated both early risers and late risers (those who had stayed late painting :)). I truly found it SOO thoughtful that she would schedule it that way! it felt so relaxing and not pressured to hurry up and be somewhere at a certain time.

Serena also left us little notes all around the house and studio.. reminding us to love  ourselves and this time we had together!

She created a TRULY nurturing space for every ones needs. THE Only wish we all had was that we wished we had just ONE MORE day.. one day to just take in and soak in all that we had learned from the two days before, relax in the wonderful setting, take walks, explore, etc. We did a lot of that during the other days too between classes, but I would have loved one more day to do that as well. I was also very nervous going into it, to meet new people. I had originally planned to go with one of my closest friends.. Chrissy and she wasn't able to go at the last minute. BUT luckily Junelle Jacobson decided to go, and though we had NEVER met, I was SO excited and yet nervous to meet her! We text all the time and talk on the phone all the time, but what if in person we just didn't "mesh"? silly me.. really silly me lol. It was like seeing an old friend that I had known for a lifetime!

it was the same way with all of the women there! The first night, after dinner, we all gather around the fire in the cozy living room and shared what had brought us to the retreat, and a little bit about our creative path.. and I was BLOWN away by the strong, beautiful stories I heard. They all had such wisdom and positive outlooks on life and even though each one had been through trials that led them to art and healing from it, they knew that they were blessed and could see the good even from the trials they had. LOVED meeting and spending time with these women!

it was a really positive, loving, and nurturing group of women. I loved it. I fell instantly in love and stayed up late each night talking to them individually.. as much as i Could. I wanted to get to know EACH of them and know their stories! It filled my SOUL. The entire experience was something I have realized I need in my life. I NEED to take that time for myself. I came back so peaceful and rested and ready to take on everyday life again. ready to face my fibro (which by the way.. came back instantly the day I got home.. darn little bugger lol).

(This is junelle and the morning we were leaving.. don't we look so restful and peaceful!! TRULY! )

 It also gave  me some wonderful ideas for my own retreats. I guess I had always assumed that in order for a retreat to be successful it needed to be jammed packed with constant planned activities and it really doesn't. It just needs to be a quality experience, with a nurturing, creative place. Where you learn and are also given time to have quiet as well. It was the perfect mix. I LOVED It. I also LOVED meeting Mindy too. wow that girl has a sweet soul about her. She is one amazing creative person and I am so blessed to have her as a life long friend!

 

I also got to hang out with Jeanne Oliver who was already a very close friend and it was SO great to re-connect with her and just sit and talk and laugh. She is SOo funny. She kept us all just creaking up. OH man I love that girl!!

I already told Serena to put me on the list for next year. I want to come back. AND as I have said before, I don't want to travel very much to teach but that is ONE retreat I would totally teach at. She even made it VERY relaxing for the teachers as well. It just is the perfect environment for me. Can't wait to go back! I can't wait!  I encourage all of you.. to take the time and money.. which I know is so hard for all of right now, to justify spending stuff on ourselves.. but TRULY i would suggest saving your money and taking time from family, work etc.. to attend retreats like this. And everyone is different.. I prefer the relaxed, calm, quiet ones.. but there are ones that are bigger, jammed packed and full of activities all day long. But whatever suits your fancy go! I think the best way to find out about them is to just go to your favorite artists blogs and see where they are teaching at! that is what I did! I wanted to take a class from Mindy and found about this on her blog! It turned out to be just what I needed! I for SURe will post here when Serena holds her next one.. and also if she will let me come and be a teacher for one of them, (me and junelle thought it would be SO fun to come teach together).. I would in a heart beat too! I know I have my own personal retreats I am doing this year, but sometimes letting someone else plan and prepare for it, also helps the teacher have a nurturing experience as well.

So.. thanks for letting me share my experience!  I am going to share with you all the Art I created too.. but wanted to share with you first the nurturing and healing experience I had. I will share that on thursday! I was SOO blessed to go! It was a scary thing at first to think about going, not really knowing ANYONE, and having to drive a little ways to get there once I flew into Seattle.. but it so funny how you make things in your mind SO much more crazy and big then they really are lol. Catching the Ferry and driving to the retreat was a piece of cake and actually one of my favorite experiences as well! it kinda all fit together. can't wait to go back!! eek!! lol. Make me super excited for my own retreats this year! Excited of those of you that are joining me here in Idaho and also in mexico! can't WAIT!

well hope today is  wonderful.. NEXT week Junelles CLASS begins! the Art of SPRIng! So I will be posting probably next monday.. the sneak peeks of her class! (it starts tuesday) for those of you still on the fence about signing up! You are going to love what she has done with the class! We are also wrapping up the She Art Workshop no.3 but like with ALl of my classes, they are always still open.. and I SOO encourage you to join us in that one! I will be posting pictures in a next couple of weeks of things students have been creating and you will be blown away by it! TRULY amazing!

Have a happy tuesday! thanks for being apart of my life. xoxox

Studio Crescendoh, Art Saves and She Art Goodness

happy monday morning sweet friends! (afternoon to some of you i guess ;). The weekend was relaxing and non productive, which means I just spent time hanging out with my kids and husband and that is ALWAYS a good thing!

I just wanted to come on and write a quick post about two things!

First off.. TODAY is the LAST DAY to sign up for the 3 Spring online Workshop Special! This spring I have three e-courses I am offering..  She Art 3 (which starts in a week!)  Behind the Art and The Art of Spring with Junelle Jacobson! (you find the links and read about each one HERE on this page)

I have been offering a special where if you sign up for all 3 workshop, you receive a $15.00 discount, but ALSO receive a scrumptious kit in the mail that will have some of my favorite artsy products! INCLUDING an exclusive stamp! This kit with shipping is worth OVER $25 or more.. and ships out in mid-late march! (before the Behind the Art class starts).

SO if you would like to take advantage of this special.. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY! The value of this is over $165.00, but the cost is only $129.00 You can sign up here!

 

Now onto Studio Crescendoh! Last year my dear friend Jenny Doh,

(artist, owner, editor, writer and curator of the wonderful artsy community, magazine &  website, Crescendoh),

 

 

 asked me if I would come teach in her studio in California this coming year..

 I explained to her that this year I was not going to be traveling at all to teach.. just offering retreats at home and teaching online classes... BUT that because I TRULY adored her.. and what she does for the art community

, what she does for artist and for the creative soul.. I would be completely HONORED to come teach at her amazing studio! (if you aren't familiar with Jenny and her Art Saves mantra.. you will be so completely filled with creative goodness by getting to know HER, her website, her community and what she believes in and stands for)

  So April 20th & 21st,  I will be teaching a 2 day She Art Class! Jenny has done a wonderful job of writing up all that the class will include.. on her website, So I will link it here..

BUT I thought I should let you know, I put this on my facebook page last friday night and Saturday morning Jenny texted me and told we had already filled all but 4 spots! wow! Crazy! So.. I know there are still a few spots left if you would like to join us! I know my other retreats here, and the one I am hosting in Mexico (which again.. said I wasn't going to travel.. but man when I went there, I fell in love lol).. but those are all sold out now, and were alot more expensive. THIS is a great alternative to a full week retreat. It's just a weekend class and the cost is minimal! I would SO love to meet you and have you join me!

YOU can read all about that class, what the course includes, what I will provide, what FUN we are going to have.. on THIS PAGE HERE..

She ARt Studio Crescendoh!

I was telling Jenny Saturday morning.. I TRULY Do have amazing friends, blog readers, customers. TRULY. Just blessed and grateful and amazed at the support you all give me.TRULY TRULY grateful.. please know that. I would not be doing what I do without all of your support and love. My heart is very full for you all today. BIG BIG loves going your way.

okay.. now I am all tear-eyed.. lol.. it's a monday.. it's a good day for good tears right?

So whats happening this week? Well hoping to have some videos done for you with the January and February kit! one or the other :) and also wanted to share with you some girls I have been working on over the last month. So watch for that this week!

I hope you all have a wonderful monday.. I know how stressful they can be. They are my most stressful days.. not sure why. So I hope today is just pure magic and you give yourself a BIG hug from me today!

hope to see you in the Spring online Workshops and Hope to see you in California at studio Crescendoh!

xoxo

Happy Monday!

New stamps, NEW Products, new Art Retreats AND A SALE!!

wow.. this post is FULL crazy goodness.. a good thing for a monday.. it will fit right in with all the crazy that always comes with a monday right? (seriously you know what I am talking about).

so where to start? I have been posting sneak peeks and pictures of my new Unity stamps and new store products on Instagram and facebook for the last week or two.. (if you aren't following me on instagram, get the app for your phone and follow me! Im Christy Tomilnson :)). Sad to say with facebook I am almost at 5000 friends and they won't allow me to have more than 5000.. SO if you don't get a friend acceptance from me.. it's NOT because I don't want to.. it's because of darn facebook! So follow me on Instagram! I put everything on there as well!

okay..so back to the post :).. FIRST off.. I just listed our February kits! So if you have been waiting to sign up for a new Scarlet Lime Sub.. you can do so now on the kits page of Scarlet lime!

Scarlet Lime kit club

NEW unity stamp! You probably didn't know but I have been hard a work designing some new texture stamps for backgrounds and layers.. and they are FINALLY IN THE STORE!! wahoo! (Scarlet Lime store)

so here is a peek at them!
We have new Doodle stamps..

my personal favorite (I have two).. the whimsy border stamp..

and also the doodled doily stamp!

I also did a vintage line..

Grandma's Lace

and Grandma's Doilies

and two new FUNKY background stamps!
Butterfly Collage

and my SECOND favorite (and ben's new favorite stamp too)

Ikat Love

 

Fun huh?? and YES THEY ARE IN THE STORE!! and exclusively my Scarlet Lime store! (unity will not be selling them on their site.. so you can only get them here! wahoo!)

you can find them in our NEW section and my Christy Tomlinson Designs section in my Scarlet Lime store here

NEW stamps

AND as mentioned above..we have over 300 new products listed as well!
Last week I showed peeks of some of the new products.. The glitz washi tape, paper pads and the NEW GLITZ roller doodles!! (remember those?? they were gone gone gone and now 2 years later.. they are BACK! wahoo!)

 

We also have new art products like Oil Pastels, Liquid Glazing Mediums, New simply Simmons Brush sizes, new Montana 91 Paint MARKERS and more! LOVE new stuff!

 

 

AND of course.. we are having a Special sale!  it's a two Part sale.. One for Us customers and one for International customers!

For US customers.. Free Shipping on order over $30!

US customers use code

freeship13 at checkout!

For International customers.. you will receive 15% off your entire order over $30! use code

happyday13 at check out!

 That sale will be good for 2 days! wahoo!

so what else? Well.. I have officially opened my two fall/winter retreats for this year.. My She Matters retreats!

 

 

My May and June retreats sold out fast.. and so I opened up two more. I had a wait-list so both of those retreats are already half full, but now I am opening it up you my blog as well! AND the cool news is! My December MExico retreat will be a DOUBLE fun retreat.. as Junelle Jacobsen will be joining me in Sunny mexico for that retreat and will be teaching as well! wahoo!

SO if you are interested in joining me for either of those week long, intimate retreats.. here is the information on those..

 

She Matters September Art Retreat

She Matters December Mexico Art Retreat with Junelle Jacobsen

Fun fun fun! So many fun things today.. that's always good right? Don't worry.. we have more fun later this week too. I have to admit Fibro is still kicking my butt, but I do plan on filming January's mixed media kit video this week sometimes. It will probably post NEXT week.. but later this week I will be posting a fun step by step photo tutorial on a cool mixed media project I made the other night when Ben, the kids and I were at the studio! (hard to film with kids in the studio ;). So watch for that tuesday. I will also be posting Soon ALL the info on my two day class gathering in Irvine California with Jenny Doh at  Studio Crescendoh! Can't Wait!! That will be IN April and all the details will be posting SOON! I think this week!

So a fun week all around..

Thanks for sharing today with me! And don't forget about our sale! take advantage and load up on all those heavy things!! (paints, canvases, stamps etc!)

Happy Monday!

Back from Mexico.. some fun updates :)

well hello friends.. hope all of you had a wonderful new Year. Last week in Mexico at Hacienda Mosaico, was just way way way beyond my expectations. We had a fabulous teacher.. Jesse Reno and I will be honest and say. WOW. If you haven't even taken a class from him.. it should be on your "must" do list.

 TRULY must do.. Even if his style of art is not for you.. the way he TEACHES art and the things he helps you SEE and think about when creating art.. from color, contrast, size, depth, layers.. it's tRULY TRULY a breath of fresh air. He really thinks about the things he creates, He puts a lot of meaning in to them and not just emotionally.. but also creatively. Seriously if you can.. TAKE  A CLASS from this man! lol. ( i told him he REALLY has to start doing online classes.. for those that can't travel and I think he is almost convinced to start!).. but if not.. I know he has several classes coming up through the spring!  GO!! lol.

It was ben's frist time doing any kind of art like this and I can't even begin to tell you what a cool experience that was to watch ben find himself through the creative process.

 This past year has been a tough year for both of us.. and I have to say I watched a lot of emotions come to the surface and be healed through creating. I had planned to go and you know.. be in class from 10-2.. then swim, read, take naps on the hammocks, walk around town, go to the beach. shop even go golfing (for ben's sake). But You know whats crazy is ALL ben wanted to do was create ART!!  We only left the grounds of  Hacienda Mosaico three times our entire stay. three times! and twice was just to walk to get toiletries and some simple art supplies which took not more than an hour!   And the last day of class, Jesse took Ben and I  to this cool mask shop and a local Gallery where his art hung. Other than that.. ben was out in the studio painting! (it's a covered studio outside on the grounds. HOLY COW AMAZING!!).. I would wake up in the morning and he would be painting, between lunch and dinner he would paint.. and then he would stay up until 2-3 am each night painting. He was on fire!

here are some of the pieces Ben created.. some he still want to add to and details..and two unfished ones I didn't show here..

keep in mind these are all HUGE paitings like 3 feet by 4 feet at least..

 

 

 

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then.. here are the pieces I created..

 

 

 

and then here is one we did together.. and it's still a work in progress

 

 

 It was awesome.. truly awesome to watch and experience. We didn't even see the beach, or the hammocks, or the golf greens.. we were perfectly content to stay RIGHT inside the grounds of the Art studio. (which was about an acre total.. including the little "houses" where guests stay, the lush LUSH greenery everywhere, the pool, the awesome sitting areas both INSIDE and out.. and two huge art studios (one indoor and one outdoor). This place was truly amazing.

There is no need to leave but if you want to, every store you can think of is within walking distance (like literally blocks) and it's in such a great safe place. We walked everywhere we went. Even for late night tacos at 11:00 pm (they had two great taco stands across the street and a coffee shop.. not like a "city" street.. i mean this small little neighborhood.. cobble stone roads.. VERY very laid back and old town. I can't say enough good things about this place! When I first got there, Sam (the owner..she is SOO wonderful!!) she said she had been looking online at my websites and had seen i was also an artist and asked if I would like to come teach at her Studio. I thanked her kindly for her offer but told her I wasn't traveling much this year.. but by the end of the week.. I was in love. I was smitten! I really can't say enough about this wonderful little place. The food was amazing,

the service was amazing, the beautiful colorful ARTSY grounds

(every where you turned there was art in all forms. I mean EVERYWHERE.. even the lights were all handmade by artist.. both outdoor and indoor!

 So the day we were to leave I pulled Sam aside and said.. GIRL.. count me in. I would love to come back and teach! So I am planning a retreat there late fall/early winter. probably the 1st of 2nd week of December.. (my son's senior year will be this coming fall and he has football games until mid November.. and I will NOT miss a game.. not this year! lol). Anyhow.. I am excited! I will give details soon.. BUT also.. consider just going on your own! ANYTIME! She rents the rooms out.. I think it's like $100-$130 a night per room (you can put two people in a room and share it).. and as long as she doesn't have other classes going on that week you are free to use the art studio to your hearts content! the price includes breakfast BUT for a small fee you can also have her include lunch. HOwever there are SOO many taco places and even a fun bistro coffee shop.. that serves everything from crepes, sandwiches, danishes too salads, pies, and more. And literally you walk outside the door of the Hacienda and you are looking at it.  so I say.. grab a bunch of your girlfriends.. or maybe even just you and your hubby.. OR maybe just your daughters or whoever and GO!! People always get scared about Mexico.. but I can tell you (because I am one of those SUPER scared people who won't walk anywhere at night and CLING to my husband's arm during the day).. I felt SO safe there. and it truly was.. her place is nestled back in this fun little town with cobble stone streets and all sorts of little places to eat and get anything you need. Its only 5 mins from the airport and EASY peasy taxi ride! So go!!  Contact her on her website.. AND GO! tell her Christy Tomlinson sent you and she will take care of you :) xoxo ..take a trip to Puerta Vallarta this year and stay with Sam and take your paint supplies and your friends and go and PAINT and create or whatever suits you! (she also holds all kinds of art classes.. from Jewelry, to ceramics, painting, etc) OR come join me later this year for some TRULY relaxing fun!  

Okay okay.. lol.. speaking of art retreats I am OFFICIALLY announcing my FIRST very own Art Retreat..

She Matters   .... being held in Shelley Idaho in May 2013 (this year! :))  I  sent out an email to all of those who were on the waitlist  right before Christmas and we have only 4 spots left in the first week (no more spots left in second week). SO i am officially posting it on my blog for those of you that didn't get that email..  It's a 5 day retreat, ALL inclusive (food, lodging, transportation EVEN your paint supplies for the class.. plus lots of fun surprises and extras).. and it will be held in my personal art studio and you will be guest in my home :) I am SUPER excited about it! I have a wonderful talented cook that will be preparing meals for us and it will truly be the time of your life being taken care of and just creating and really REALLY connecting on a personal level. If you want to find out more about this retreat.. you can click on the link HERE! AND  YES i do take payment options!! So you can make payments on it.

anyhow.. check that out! :) HERE IS all the info! (or copy and paste the link below)

http://www.scarletlime.com/artweekend.html

so what else is new? Well I have been working hard on some new product for CHA with Pink Paislee and I am SO excited to share with you sneak peeks of the products! I will be posting about them on monday!! So watch for that blog post! I will also be posting a tutorial on something I made using the products! It will be fun!

ALSO next week I will be announcing three new classes for Spring..  1st. a  new She Art 3 workshop!! ( i can not WAIT FOR THIS ONE!!), it's been over a year since I did my last She Art class and i have to say that I have learned SOO many more things when creating girls, not just in style but also in using mediums and ways to shade and create depth and REALLy create a soul to my girls. I am excited to share a new way of doing She Art with you and also introduce you to some of my latest loves when creating and that is creating shes from all over the world from all decades. Finding my soul in what I do and taking from other places and creating She Art with meaning. I am really excited for this class. GIDDY for this class. My soul is burning to teach it!!

I am also doing a  fun new layers, techniques and backgrounds class.. that will be THE go to course you will come back to over and over again for reference in creating ALL types of art whether girls, or animals or things or objects.  (you will have three years access to this class).. but basically it will be ALL and everything you need to know to really just JUMP into any of my other classes knowing EVERYTHING there is to know about creating.  I will go over backgrounds, layers, paint and paste mediums, how to shade with lots of different mediums, creating texture, creating depth, composition, colors, etc.. ALL brand new videos and lots of new techniques that I haven't taught in other classes, but basically a course you can take and watch whenever you are stuck in another class of mine and want to just go back to just the basics. To find ways to make your art more creative or more interesting. To add more depth to them. In a lot of my classes i just jump right into creating stuff, but I don't explain why i do what I do and i certainly don't show the many different ways I can get the same looks. This class will be all about that.. LOADS of info! Great workshop to just have to use in all of your other workshops you are taking.

 AND then my fourth workshop will be a SPRING workshop! Featuring fun spring icons like bunnies, bears, bees, beehives, birds, butterflies, umbrellas, flowers.. ALL THINGS spring! My Fall and Winter Classes were such a huge hit last year I had many requests to do a Spring class.. so I am going to be offering that in March! Of course I still have on my list to do a business course and a few other FUN classes.. but these are just my first three for the year!   Each of them start at different times (different months).. but excited to get them announced and out there so you can start planning for the ones you want to take! I will announce those next week!

But for now.. check out the info on my Personal Art retreat in May.. I would love to have you come! only four spots left!!!

hope you all had a wonderful week! See you monday for sneak peeks of my new product and a fun tutorial!

happy thursday! xoxox