Well hello lovely friends!
I kinda took off the entire Christmas break from blogging.. just enjoying my family while they were home from school! We had a very special Christmas.. (many of you saw what we did on instagram and facebook).. but Christmas morning.. our kids woke up with only one Present under the tree.. baby Jesus, swaddled in a cradle filled with hay.
Let's just say it was a pretty cool experience for everyone. Obviously our kids were expecting presents from santa and mom and dad.. so it was a bit of a shock to wake up to just this present under the tree. I will admit there were SOME of the kids (or one lol).. that just wasn't happy about it.. HOWEVER once Ben and I got up and we all sat down and Ben gave a beautiful little talk about the TRUE meaning of why we celebrate Christmas.
The room filled with the sweet Spirit and all was good. We also wrote down our annual Christmas Presents to the Savior, then I we shared my sisters video with them.
After that.. don't worry.. we DID bring in presents for them to open lol.. Stockings as well.. so they had a wonderful Christmas all around. The Best Christmas YET!
During the holiday break, as we always do, ben and I sat down and just really went over our goals for the new year. Goals as a family, as a couple, for our Store Scarlet Lime, Our kit club, Art Retreats, Blogs and online Workshops. Things we wanted to improve on, things we felt like worked and wanted to continue you.. you know.. goals :)
One of my big goals for 2014 was that I felt like I wanted to offer more video tutorials on my blog for all of my wonderful customers, blog followers, and fellow artists (that's you! :))
I know I offer Online classes.. many of you take. But I think that doing some tutorials on the blog too, will help also keep you inspired.. help you in your artist journey as well! I plan do lots of different types of tutorials.. ranging from "how to" tutorials.. but also my favorite supplies, why I use something over the other. Keep in informed on NEW products that come out.. why you may want to try them or maybe in my opinion why you might not. MY GOAL is to offer 2 of these a month (hopefully more!)
As you know I also love posting on Instagram and facebook, sharing on a DAILY basis.. my blog just kinda gets neglected in that way.. so I am planning on sharing every friday or saturday.. my favorite instagram/facebook posts from the week. Just for those of you that don't connect on social media, you can keep on my whats new in my life as well! So I am excited for the blog and where it is heading!
I am also excited to be doing three new online classes for this coming Spring! DO you know that I have not hosted my OWN online workshop since last APril when I did the Behind the Art workshop? Last fall I hosted several workshops for some of my favorite artist.. and a colab workshop with the Artsy Ornaments workshop.. but it's been over 8 months since i hosted my own! Solo! So I am excited to bring you some this spring! (Plus a colab workshop as well).
I will be announcing those VERY Soon (after we get back from CHA.. which we leave for THURSDAY! .. CHA Is the Craft and HObby Industry show where we go and see all the fabulous new art products and mixed media products being introduce for 2014! We buy them for our kit club and for our store! So its always exciting to come home knowing new fun products will be coming soon to the store!) .
So watch for the announcement of those classes coming soon! They are SUPER fresh and fun and I am BEYOND excited for them!
Speaking of monthly clubs.. another fun thing I will be offering this year is an affordable monthly mixed media club (and possible a watercolor club if all goes well with the mixed media one)! This club will be just a mere $9.99 per month if you are a subscriber.. and each month on the 15th, you will have in your email inbox.. a link to fun create videos and projects for each month! This is NOT a kit club.. so it doesn't include a kit.. but I think it's even better.. as you will have monthly inspiration videos/projects delivered to your inbox.. to keep your creative juices flowing! I know there are some others of those out there right now.. but they charge $19.95-$24.95 and I just want this to be affordable to everyone! I will be announcing it officially on wednesday! You will be able to preview the next few months projects and sign-up! I will also offer one time purchases of the monthly mixed media club.. but those will be $16.95.. so it's just such a better option to subscribe! I can't wait!! It's going to be so fun and it will help you use develop your skill as an artist, spread your creative wings AND use up alot of the products you already have on hand!
Speaking of Products.. we are hoping this year to keep the store stocked with new products.. weekly! Ben is excited to be taking on this task.. of adding new weekly products, having weekly/monthly sales. Offering fun grab bag kits.. and just keeping the latest and greatest.. PLUS old favorites stocked in the store! We will be doing tutorials on the blog using some those products, so you can see before you buy, how to use them.. and decide if it's something you want to do! GO BEN! Super excited for this!
Of course with my art retreats.. my goals for this year are just to make them even BETTER than the time before. Always growing and learning from the one before. Making it a magical experience for EVERYONE that comes into my home, my art studio.. into our family. Both my september retreat and my mexico retreat were just amazing experiences.. and I now have wonderful new friends that I keep in contact with and just so LOVE the connection I have formed with them! I will be sharing my experience with the Mexico She Matters retreat here in a the next couple of weeks. It was an amazing one and I learned alot myself.. and to listen to my heart when it comes to teaching. it was truly special!
SO there you have it! lol.. it's a NEW YEAR!! I am so excited for 2014!! I have to be honest and say.. I am GLAD 2013 is over. It was probably the toughest year emotionally and physically of my entire life. I learned a lot about myself, and what I am capable of. I learned some pretty valuable life lessons and some very humbling ones as well. So for that I am grateful.. but I am hoping for a little bit brighter 2014 and going to really focus on finding the JOY in the everyday of life and in EVERY situation. That is my one little word for 2014.. JOY. I already have reminders throughout my house.. so I can always keep focused on finding the JOY.
I just want to say thank you again for a wonderful 2013.. my life would not be what it is without YOU. Truly. Ben and I.. and our kids are SOO SOO grateful for your support. My creative life.. is also the way we make a living for our family.. the only way we make a living for our family.. so we are beyond GRATEFUL that you love and support us as you do! We have a fun idea we want to do for all of you coming next summer.. depending on when our oldest son leaves on his 2 year mission for our church. But I can't wait!
So.. HAPPY new year friends! I wll see you back here on Wednesday with the debut of the brand new monthly mixed media club! I can't wait!!
love you all!!
xoxo
christy
Serafina.. sorry you feel this way. I actually have to disagree with you as we were present when this happened and our kids said it was actually their best Christmas ever. Our youngest Son, Noah(who is 8) was in on our plan, as Ben sat down with him the day before and let him know of his surprise and our Noah was SO excited about it and happy to be apart of it. Coming from a strong Christian background our kids already know the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it. It's mainly about Christ for us, not Santa Claus. (They also knew that we wouldn't let Christmas go without them getting some gifts from us) That being said, they actually said they thought it was super neat and the best Christmas they ever had. So for our kids it was a neat experience. So while you may not like it for your family, it was something that our family truly enjoyed and they were able to share with their friends after Christmas, which we felt was a great opportunity to share their message and feelings about Christ this year. xoxoxo
Posted by: Christy Tomlinson | January 16, 2014 at 04:52 PM
I am sorry but i think that was a terrible thing to do to your children on Xmas morning. You did not put yourself in their shoes. You should have prepared them ahead of tme, not spring it on them like that shsme! Especially thinking of the childlike joy snd anticipation they would have gone to bed with that night. It was feel good gor the grownups but the children had no option but accept.what was dumped on them on Xmas morning
Posted by: Serafina | January 15, 2014 at 03:19 PM
So sweet! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Krista | January 10, 2014 at 04:45 PM
Happy new year to you and your family!
Cool idea of a christmas surprise. I will surely come to visit and see your tutorials. You are such a great artist.
Posted by: myriam | January 07, 2014 at 04:16 AM
Hi Christy, Just watched your opening video from you 'She Had Three Hearts' class. The one where you share about claiming yourself as an artist etc. I was so moved by your words, transparency and authenticity. I just wanted to let you know how much your sharing encouraged me and I felt your 'heart' in that video very much. I have done several of your classes and feel like my life as an 'artist' is due so much to my finding your blog and connecting with you through your teaching, your work, your sense of humour and your generosity. Just wanted to say thanks and keep doing what you're doing - it's a gift!!
Posted by: Lori Follis | January 06, 2014 at 11:46 PM
So excited to see what you have in store for us.. I miss seeing your creative process on video.. I agree that it's great to see your unedited stuff because it keeps this all real :) after meeting you two years ago at CHA, I have blossomed into such a better artist because of things like your classes and videos.. I wish I were going to CHA again this year but my goal is 2015... My word this year is SHINE... I'm going to Shine this year definitely with the help of your teaching ;)
Posted by: the little details company | January 06, 2014 at 10:53 PM
I just lost my job but am joyful that I have your blog to uplift me. There will be a positive outcome from this new turn in my life. Thank you. Will you be in California for CMA? Would love to meet you in person.
Posted by: Jane Murray | January 06, 2014 at 06:59 PM
Happy New Year to you and the family Christy. Looking forward to following along!!
Big hugs from Scotland
Tracy
xoxoxox
Posted by: Tracy | January 06, 2014 at 03:31 PM
We love you, Christy!!! Thanks for you.
Posted by: Dawn | January 06, 2014 at 03:12 PM
Enjoyed your post! My one little word for this year is GROW. As a family at the end of the year we all write down our goals for the following year and take stock of how we did with our previous year's goals. One of mine this year is to take more classes, and I was holding out for one of yours! So glad that you will be doing more this year. I hope to get to meet in person at CHA later this week! :)
Posted by: Melissa Johnson | January 06, 2014 at 02:58 PM
I was also been blessed to have come to your home for the she art retreat. 2013 was a very hard year for both my husband and I. I am not sure what 2014 holds in store for us but since my word is believe for the year I have hope in that whatever comes our way we will be able to handle. I have taken most of your classes and love and learn so much from them. It sounds like you have new ideas and i will be glad to tag along on your journey
Posted by: fay copeland | January 06, 2014 at 01:57 PM
Happy New Year....I cant wait - you made my day! Thank you for the inspiration!
Posted by: Shannon | January 06, 2014 at 01:48 PM
You said "we didn't bring in presents for them to open lol.. Stockings as well.. so they had a wonderful Christmas all around." Did you mean to say that you DID bring in presents and stockings? Or, you actually did not have any presents for each child?
Posted by: Sharon | January 06, 2014 at 01:39 PM
I've missed your tutorial videos. So, yay for those new ones coming soon!! It is inspirational to see the products in use, especially by someone who is willing to be so real and not edit out the "process" - I giggle sometimes at your thinking out loud and comments when you don't care for something and choose to change it. LOL! However, in 3 weeks I will be watching and learning from you in person and I can hardly focus on anything but that right now!!!
Posted by: Rhonda | January 06, 2014 at 12:35 PM
What a wonderful Christmas idea! Thanks for the inspiration. Looking forward to creatively sharing 2014 with you!
Posted by: Andrea | January 06, 2014 at 12:30 PM
Oh my goodness Christy honey, I can't wait. I can't afford to take your online classes but squuuueeee re your video tutorials. Yippeee can't wait for the first one. Big hugs for 2014 and, like you, here's to a brighter 2014 (starting with a total hip replacement on my left side late Feb - I'm 51). Love and smiles from NZ xxx
Posted by: Philippa | January 06, 2014 at 11:43 AM
sounds awesome!!! Cant wait to see what you bring us.
Posted by: Sherry | January 06, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Ya can't wait for the new kit and for the classes!!! I will for sure be signing up. xoxooxox
Posted by: heidi hines | January 06, 2014 at 11:02 AM
Love the single gift that was under your tree on Christmas morning. Your children have no idea how lucky they are for the visual, under their own Christmas tree, of the true meaning of the season. I am so happy that you shared your personal Christmas morning experience. I want to come spend the night with your family next Christmas Eve! Blessings for the New Year Christy!
Posted by: Lori Souter | January 06, 2014 at 11:00 AM
You are such a dear, special soul! I look forward to learning more with you during 2014. For some reason just reading your posts brings a bounce in my step, a smile to my face and a warm fuzzy to my heart!!!! Thanks for sharing so generously!
Posted by: Sandy Combs | January 06, 2014 at 10:59 AM