Holiday Pressures

Wait, did I say pressures? I meant Treasures, really I did.

*laughs*

Holidays are always fun around here, but this year I said I was going to make several gifts instead of purchasing store bought goods. I love putting my heart into gifts for others, but nearly all the time...that takes more time than I've got!

So how are your holiday preparations going?

Another submission sketch -Steampunk

This last round of submissions was for hatching. As it was a free for all theme I went to what I felt most comfortable with hatching.

I preferred this color set up but the request of others was a different color set. So I submitted it in Cranberry background color and gold lines. It ended up doubling the amount of votes the previous submission got, so yay!

There wasn't a theme for the week after thanksgiving, and then last week was a special round. This week's theme had me stumped, so I'm sitting it out.

Sketches

As of late my art impulse has been to sketch. I've been doodling animals, and peoples characters.
As well as working toward submitting some designs for printing.
This week the theme on one site is Robots which makes me grin like a Cheshire cat.

Here's some prelim sketches I've got working.

I've also got several ACEO's in the work with robots!

I need to get back to work on sewing but I'm giving my machine a rest as it just flew through several yards of fabric making costumes for the boys!

On the upside....I've learned how to make cute fleece hats and will be doing so for the kiddos in my family! *chuckles*

Just a few more days to vote!

As the voting to shape the Capture Arkansas book is coming to a close (only 15 more days!) I am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll make it into print.

I appreciate every vote!

Poppets and Steampunk and Swaps Oh My

Lately I've been crafting more for other people rather than for my shop. (which is like me saying....I'm in a slump -_-)

But I've had fun with it!
1st swap I did recently was a 44c swap. I may start one of these for our ArEtsy group soon as it's so simple and fun!
The deal was you had to see how much you could fit into a standard envelope and mail for just 44c. No overages, must be machinable, etc.
So here was my envelope!




I drew my first ever sugar skull and sent some fabric, embroidery floss, as well as several other things. 
And heres the awesomeness I received!

2nd swap was a Multi Themed Steampunk swap. Which I adored. I haven't gotten my goodies yet as it's still early in the swap but as I was raring to go on this one I sent wayyy early. And my partner received yesterday!
So here's the goodies I sent her including my newest Poppet!

The other items are a sleep mask (which is filled with a cold remedy herb mix) a journal and a pair of earrings. 
Plus, my big guy turned 6 this past weekend!

He asked for a pirate themed cake again this year. But was very specific that it needed a coconut tree, monkeys, to be an island with a pirate ship crashed on it and have a map. lol.

Capture Arkansas

Is up and running agian!
This time I've entered several photos and toughed it out til now hoping to garner enough interest without heavy promotion.
So now as the time for printing grows near, I ask for your votes!
I don't mind if you don't like them, feel free to vote how you feel! If you think it's book worthy I'd be honored. If not, thank's for your input. No really I mean it. I like knowing.



You'll have to join, but with all those amazing photos on the site from all around the lovely state of Arkansas, who wouldn't want to take a little trip! ^-~

Trendy Idea

I want to start a trend...or perhaps it's already out there...

Garden Parties.
All your friends and family come over for a day of yard restoration. Planting, weeding, rebuilding decks...etc, and grilling out. None of the Oooh I have to dress up and be fussy, or stand around and try to make small talk...lets just create a place to hang out! And do one once a month, or every so often. That way everyone who's invited gets a little yard love.

Or...
House Painting parties!
You prep the area to be painted, toss on some tunes and all your buddies get together and create a gorgeous new room. We all know what a new coat of colorful paint can do for a room and it would get done in no time!

Now yes, I realize this sounds like cheap labor or abusing your friends...but if you look at it as getting together to do something fun and you share the oppertunity with all your buds, you all could achieve so much more! How many times have you sat in a room overwhelmed (or your yard) and wondered if you should just hire some help. I know I have! Or had a project go on for ever! (*coughs* I've got a room that I painted backwards...I did the trim last......so it's still not fully finished. I've just lived with it for a while! *hangs head in shame*)

At least it sounds fun to me. Good food, good friends, and projects done in a jiffy.

Photo update

These shots all come from a hike we took this last weekend. The weather had just brought us storms the day before and so the falls we knew would be beautiful. Besides...we hadn't been able to go do this hike in two years.

So off to Petite Jean Mountain we went.
The boys thought the ride up was just too cool, of course we like to yell at cows as we see them, nothing rude, just Hey Cow! Of course, the rocks at the top of the mountain proved to be just as cool.
Afterwards we had to go explore the old building up there.
The wind was high so we managed to get close to a gorgeous butterfly who posed several times. My camera only caught him a couple of those times. The time he landed on Hubb's hand thought it missed. However the boys had fun trying to get a shot with their camera as well.
Afterward we headed over to the climb. We had a quick picnic at the top and the boys sort of posed for a shot for me at the top...
Of course they wanted a pic of me too. (Which...ended up being the stuff behind me. *chuckles*)
The hike was rewarding. There were little falls all down the path. And not just the knee scraping kind. Almost all the places where a large rock was cracked, you found a small waterfall. All converging to the path leading from the main fall at the bottom.
On our way, the boys spotted a rock that they thought looked like a pirate ship. We had to agree, especially with the tree that happened to be right where a mast would!
At the bottom, we got some great shots of the fall itself.
The puffy clouds above us gave us a small sunny shower for about five minutes of our time down there. Which was amazing to see, but not something I could capture in a still. I did get a video of it, but it's very hard to see. The raindrops looked like they were coming off the cliffs surrounding the falls.

The boys made it through the whole hike without a problem, so we took their picture next to the trail sign. We promised that soon we could go hike another trail and they could add it to their Adventure book.

I can't wait for our next excursion.

But first, lol, the paper! (Which if you've not checked out the post below, please do!!!)

Something New from me to You!

Ok, so I've got some big news! Hubb and I are starting a newspaper!

Yes, yes I know, blogs/sites/twitter and all that have taken a big bite out of the good old print, however were counting on the fact that it's A. free to you to read...and B. going to be a big community resource to help us out.

Now for the part that relates to you artists!
After much whining on my part, Hubb has agreed to add a portion of the paper just for artists! Were going to have a 4 page spread of aggressively priced ads just for artists and art related (shows, gallery spots, etc.) called the Artists Cafe.

Alongside this, we are going to be creating a site that will be linked to the papers main website, and will also be called the Artists Cafe. One more spot for advertising (which is included in the price of the orig. ad in the paper) as well as a bio. Were really hoping this spot will increase your sales.

Now here's what I need from you guys...... Yes you knew there was a catch right...^-~ Nothing much, just a comment about your thoughts!

I'd love to know what you think of the idea and if you'd be interested in a spot.

Each ad will be business card sized and will be $50. We will be circulating 10k copies in the first issue and are going to up circulation with the second printing. At the moment we are looking to have our first printing out as a very special edition to hand out at Riverfest!

If you don't mind, send this out to all artists in Arkansas that you know, I know there are a good number of us in the etsy group (and I'll be posting this to the yahoo group) but I can count on my hand at least (if not more) several artists in Arkansas who aren't an etsy member. The more the word gets out the better chance you've got of keeping this new artist resource growing!