okay so I have a few things to share today.. so bare with me! it's a LONG post! but worth reading!!
first off.. many of you already know that last year I signed a contract with licencing agent, Painted Planet Group. AMAZING AMAZING group!! I have to say! Love working with Jan!!
Well IF you are taking my living canvas class.. you also know that this year.. I had to really take a close look at my life and re-evaluate it. While last year was a whirlwind of excitement for me and SO SO many good things happened to me. SO blessed.. I also found myself involved in so many things that I didn't have time for the most important things to me.. family being one, my testimony, my trues. and myself I guess. I also realized (while working with a friend of mine).. that my passion in my work wasn't designing and painting for companies to put my artwork on products.. but my passion was TEACHING.
Sharing my art..
teaching others how to do my art..
both in person..
but mainly online..
helping others discover themselves through art and inspiring others to be and do better not just with art but with life in general too.
I realized that while i absolute was so thrilled to have licenced my art in the home decor and fabric world.. I wanted to focus on my teaching as well.
HOWEVER through the process of last year.. I was able to collaborate with some AMAZING companies to bring my own line of products out this summer.. and i have been waiting SO long to announce this!! I feel so lucky and blessed and EXCITED to have my first line of products coming out with a few amazing companies. I can't share all of them yet.. (will as they debut this summer).. but I one big company I did my largest line for was Midwest-CBK.
And I can't tell you what a privileged it was to work with them! In November of last year I flew out and met with them (which by the way.. TOTALLY loved their offices.. in this quaint little town out in this rural setting.. big trees and a stream running through their outside grounds.. simply amazing). We met and talked about packaging and ideas for my art to be licencing on and was so excited over the next few month to see it all come to fruition! Lampshades and pillow and mug and wall-art and paper weights and oh so much more! I remember coming home one day from a trip and they had sent me samples of all the things for me to approve and ben had laid them out all over our living room and dining room and I was in AWE of what I saw!!! So excited and SOO wanted to just squeal and share it with all of yoU!!! Lol.. but of course.. had to wait.. until the official launch.. (which happened last week and will debut at the july show in Atlanta).
So here is just a PEEK of what I did for them!
I wish I had taken pictures of the samples.. BUT the good news is that I am ordering a lot of these items to sell in our store and will also get samples of each one.. so when they do come will take lots of pictures and post them here! But I do have a catalog.. and took some pictures of it!
Super excited for this!!! Midwest was AWESOME to work with and really can't wait for this line to be in stores.. and my own store! We will carry alot of this on our Scarlet Lime website.. so watch for that late summer!
okay.. so now onto my second part of news..
last week I was reading my friend, Art's.. facebook page and he had just posted a new weekly challenge.. (He has been doing this awesome weekly challenge on youtube for the last month or so.. they are called initiatethechange... all having to do with changing your behavior to live a happy better life.
THIS one really spoke to me (well they all do lol) but this one in particular because I AM SO BAD AT IT!!! it is a media fast for an entire day.. meaning.. NO phone (meaning NO texting or calling), no internet.. which include facebook, pinterest (my newest obsession).. no checking emails.. NOTHING.. and INSTEAD to spend that day being PRESENT with those around you.. really SEEING them. Listening to them. Be IN The MOMENT with them.. (so goes along with our living Canvas workshop too)..
SO I have decided to do this challenge too! TOMMOROW!! which for me.. since most of my "work" is on social media.. I am going to take the day off and spend with those around me. HERE.. where I live.. being present with them. Think I might spend the morning at our new house.. helping Ben.. He is in the process of gutting the old farmhouse.. so he can rebuild and add on!( He is an amazing home buider so I can't wait to see what he does with it! I will post pictures next week on the before and during.)
Its gonna feel weird not to have my phone glued to my hands! lol.. but I can DO IT! (i hope!!) lol and speaking of Art and teaching.. Art was over yesterday and we were filming in my garage for week 6 of the living canvas workshop and he created the most beautiful canvas!! A few weeks ago I did an art day with him and his family and it was so fun because none of them had ever done mixed media art before.. and now I think i have them all hooked! It's been so cool to watch even him.. a guy.. really enjoy it and get into the process!
Lots of fun things going on here in little old shelley..
SO join me tomorrow. in the media fast! Can you do it??
See you monday! With pictures of our new/old house! :)
Happy Wednesday!