Creative Ruminations

Cameron's Zoo -- A Mommy & Me Project

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

When it comes to Mommy & Me projects, this one is at the top of my list of cool ones. Cameron (age 5 at the time) and I created this project together last year. It now hangs in a prominent area in the living room. We named it Cameron's Zoo for obvious reasons. Just so you can have an idea of the size of this project, the canvas measures 20x16 inches.

Here are a few close-ups so you can see the well-executed animals. Cameron is gifted, that's for sure.

This project may appear to be difficult, but it is actually quite simple and the materials list isn't too extensive either. Cameron drew and colored all of the animals while I cut them out (the crocodile was especially challenging with those spikes! And the tiger tails, don't get me started...). I arranged them (with Cam's approval) and painted the background. It probably took us about 6-10 hours total and we divided it up over a few days so neither of us would get too tired.

This project is perfect for the animal loving child. I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did!

Materials:
acrylic paint (I used DecoArt Americana in Foliage Green, Milk Chocolate and Spa Blue)
canvas (16x20 inches)
cardstock (white and tan)
charcoal pencil (You can find these in the fine art section of your local craft store.)
colored pencils (I prefer Prismacolor, but any brand will work.)
decoupage glue (I prefer DecoArt.)
pencil
Portfolio water soluble oil pastels (optional) (Portfolio is the brand name. They can be found in the art
section of your office supply store.)
small scissors (There is a lot of fussy cutting involved.)
spray fixative (I prefer matte. You can usually find this in your local craft store in the spray paint section.)

Technique:

Step 1: Decide on the desired size of each animal and cut your white cardstock down to size. To give you an idea of the sizes of the animals at Cameron's Zoo, the killer whale measures about 4x5 inches so the cardstock that I gave him to use measured about 5x6 inches. The elephant measures about 3x3.5 inches so the cardstock piece measured about 4x4 inches. Cameron had full creative control over which animals appeared in the zoo, I simply cut pieces of cardstock into various sizes and he chose which animal to draw. I gave him specific pieces of cardstock because I wanted all the animals to be relatively the same size for the project.

Step 2: Using colored pencils (or markers or even crayons) have your child draw as many animals as he/she desires. I noticed after a few animals that Cam's heads were always on the left side, so I encouraged him to try a few right-sided heads. This seemed to even up the orientation.

Step 3: Carefully cut out the animals. If you have an older child who feels comfortable using scissors, he/she can do this step alone.

Step 4: Decide where each animal will live on the canvas by placing them down (don't glue yet!). Once you are happy with placement, use a pencil and lightly draw where the paths, pond, and grassy areas will lie.

Step 5: Paint the canvas. Allow each color to dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next one.

Step 6: Glue down the animals. Create a zoo sign and glue that down too. Dry completely.

Step 7: Using a charcoal pencil, outline the animals and the areas where two different paint colors meet. (For example, the edge of the pond, or the border of the grassy areas.) Smudge the charcoal pencil with your finger or with a q-tip or with an official charcoal pencil smudger. (They look like paper that is rolled into a pencil shape. You'll find them near the charcoal pencils in the fine art section of your craft store. I know they probably have a name other than official charcoal pencil smudger, but I don't know it.)

Step 8: If desired, use coordinating colors of Portfolio water soluble oil pastels to add interest to the painted areas. (If you look closely, you'll see that the grassy areas are two shades of green, the pond is actually two shades of blue and the paths are two shades of brown.) Add a border of black to the edges of the canvas and smudge, if desired.

Step 9: Spray a few coats of fixative to keep the charcoal and oil pastels from rubbing off.

Step 10: Praise your little artist, praise yourself and hang your creation with pride!

I hope that this project leads to many hours of creative fun with your little artists!

xoxo
Bethany

January Book Reviews

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

I love to learn new things so I read a lot. A lot. I believe the key to busy-mom-reading is to take advantage of transitional moments and always have your book (or books) with you. I always carry at least one book in my purse. Often another one is waiting in the car. I've got one next to the nightstand and another on the kitchen counter. Waiting for water to boil? Read a few pages. Sitting at the table with children doing homework? Read a chapter. This does require a certain tolerance for interruptions (and some forgiving eaters when you burn the beans because you are in a very exciting spot in your book) which may or may not work for you. Personally, I've become pretty good at handling interruptions. (Except when I'm working on the computer, then I lose it a bit. I'm not ashamed to admit it.)

On to the book reviews...

It has been a long time since my last book review so I divided my list into sections to better serve your needs.

Self-Help

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let go of Who You Think You are Supposed to be and Embrace who You Are by Brene Brown was given to me by a dear friend for Christmas and it opened my eyes to the dangers of perfectionism, people-pleasing and shame. This short book calls into question cultural norms and is a must-read for every woman who struggles with embracing her imperfect self.

Non-Fiction

Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future by Chris Moony is a call for mainstreaming scientific topics. In a world where science is constantly progressing and technology is pushing open boundaries, the American public is extraordinarily uneducated. Ethical questions and future policy should be discussed in a public forum, however, most Americans remain ignorant (not always due to their own fault). Moony is pushing for governmental reform and equal media time for scientific reporting. In a culture where we discuss ad nauseum what brand jeans the latest celebrity is sporting, but ignore the discovery of planets with possible life, we've got serious issues.

Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Girls Must Fight the Addictive Power of Advertising by Jean Kilbourne is a difficult read. It took me about a week to get through this one because it is filled with statistics, facts and deep thoughts. This isn't a light book, but it is never boring or tedious. Kilbourne's dry wit and dogged pursuit of information make it fascinating. Even if you don't believe that your life has been affected in any way by the media or advertising, your mind will be completely blown open. You'll never look at another ad the same way again. Nor will you be able to watch another sitcom unaware of the negative messages you are receiving. (I believe this is a positive change.) Basically, this thesis is a call to media literacy and an excellent jumping off point for discussion and action. I wouldn't hesitate to say that every woman and teen should read Deadly Persuasion.

Fiction

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen could be described as grotesque and disturbing. Set in the U.S. during the Great Depression, this novel is a fascinating commentary on the life of rejects and outcasts. From alcoholism to sexual promiscuity to abuse to power to mental illness to loyalty, you can find it all in here. No matter what your station in life, you'll find something to discuss. As a reader, I didn't identify with any of the larger-than-life characters, but I still found myself mesmerized. This is a great book club book.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is an extremely quick read. Written in the perspective of a very naive 9-year-old German boy at the advent of World War II, you'll be tickled by his vocabulary and his unique way of viewing the world. When you find out that his father is the head of a major concentration camp, you'll be even more drawn in. While reading this novel, I predicted a dismal ending, however I was completely taken aback by the Picoult-like twist. I really liked this one.

Mixed-Media Techniques

Surface Treatment Workshop: Explore 45 Mixed-Media Techniques by Darlene Olivia McElroy and Sandra Duran Wilson is a fabulous book for artists who love interesting backgrounds. It is filled with techniques and creative methods. I was so inspired by this book that I plan on working alongside the authors in my art journal so I can practice and experiment with each new idea. This is a must-read for all mixed-media artists and scrapbookers looking to expand their horizons.

Plaster Studio: Mixed-Media Technique for Painting, Casting and Carving by Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise is right up my alley. I love exploring three dimensions on a two dimensional surface and this book is filled with ideas and techniques for my obsession. I was initially drawn to this book because I took Judy Wise's online Encaustic class and became a fan of her down-to-earth, intelligent and creative teaching style. This book does not disappoint. This is another book that I will follow page by page to improve my art.

Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium by Nancy Reyner was a big surprise to me. I've read and digested Patti Brady's Rethinking Acrylic: Radical Solutions for Exploiting the World's Most Versatile Medium so I figured this was pretty much the same thing. I couldn't have been more wrong. I see Reyner and Brady's books working in tandem. Where Brady leaves off Reyner picks up. Whatever Reyner omits, Brady includes. They are both wonderful resources for any acrylic artist. I was so inspired by Reyner that I'm currently developing online and local classes on acrylic paint.

Currently In My Purse/On the Nightstand/In the Car

I'm currently got the following books in my purse (either in the state of reading or waiting to be opened): I Thought it was Just Me (but it isn't): Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy and Power by Brene Brown, So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids by Diane E Levin and Jean Kilbourne, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, MOM, Incorporated: A Guide to Business and Baby by Aliza Sherman and Danielle Elliott Smith and The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationship s by Harriet Lerner.

Have you read any of the books I briefly discussed? What did you think?

xoxo

Bethany

DIY: Trendy Chalkboard Tote Tutorial

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

I think it's about time we had another tutorial! I created this Trendy Chalkboard tote using plain canvas fabric decorated with DecoArt's chalkboard paints and So Soft Fabric paints (which I adore!) I used a few Crafter's Workshop stencils too.

I love the size of this bag because it fits all my ~~overdue~~ library books as well as a few diapers and toys. Plus, the chalkboard on the front pocket keeps me on task. Here are a few close-ups so you can see all the details.

You'll see that I kept all my edges raw. I love the rough, funky look!

This project is an easy sew. As long as you are familiar with your sewing machine and how to cut fabric, you should be just fine.

I created an awesome powerpoint presentation that I converted into a video that apparently isn't compatible with YouTube. After a few hours of research, ~~massive~~ a bit of frustration, and a lot of talking to myself repetitively, I've decided to go another route. Alas...

So you'll get the tutorial here instead.

I also have a downloadable PDF available so you can have the directions at your fingertips as you create this project. Please note that this is my very first time creating a downloadable pdf so I have all my fingers crossed that this works. If it doesn't, please be very patient and leave me a nice comment so I can try to figure it all out. I'm a bit fragile about the whole-getting-technology-to-do-what-I-want thing.

**Please note that this project is for your personal use only. Please do not use the PDF or this tutorial to teach classes or to create totes to sell. Thank you for your honesty.**

Now, on with the tutorial!

Materials

DecoArt chalkboard paint (black)

DecoArt Americana paint mixed with Fabric Medium (Calypso Blue, Cherry Red)

DecoArt So Soft fabric paint (Fine Glitter Lemon Drop, Sizzling Red, Celebration Pink)

Sewing machine

Stencils (optional) I used The Crafter’s Workshop templates.

Canvas (unstretched)

(2) pieces 14x15 inches (the front and back panels)

(1) piece 42x10 inches (the side panels and bottom)

(1) piece 50x3 inches (the handles)

(1) piece 10x11 inches (the chalkboard pocket)

Technique

Step 1: Apply colorful paint to your fabric pieces in a loose mosaic pattern. Use stencils, if desired. Place a piece of cardboard under your fabric to catch any excess paint from ruining your surface.

TIP: Keep in mind how each piece will fit on the bag so while painting you can avoid any upside-down images once you sew the bag together.

Step 2: If desired, following the directions on the back of the Americana fabric medium, create a mixture with the fabric medium and the chalkboard paint. Paint the 10x11 in. piece of canvas with this mixture. You will need two coats. For the first coat, your brushstrokes should be vertical. The second coat should have horizontal brush strokes.

Product Notes: Mixing the chalkboard paint with fabric medium creates a final product that can be washed safely.

Step 3: Once the paint has dried, use your sewing machine and a contrasting thread color to add doodles, circles or outlines to random painted areas.

TIP: If you do not have free motion capabilities, don’t panic, you can do this without it! (I did!) Just go slow.

Step 4: Sew the chalkboard piece onto the front panel on three sides. Leave the top open in order to create a pocket. Do not turn the edges. Leave them exposed for a raw, interesting look.

Step 5: Placing wrong sides together, sew the 42x10 in. side and bottom piece to the back panel (14x15 in. piece.) Start at the top, proceed downward, to the bottom and back up again. Use a ½ in. seam allowance. Use a small stitch for strength. Repeat to attach the front panel. (See figure below.)

TIP: Don’t stress about the corners, just do your best and move on. They won’t be perfect, but most likely, no one will ever look at them.

Step 6: To create the handles, fold both raw edges on the longest sides in ¼ inch. Iron if necessary. Fold in half hotdog bun style. Sew closed. Sew along the opposite side, if desired. The strip should now measure 50 x 1 ½ in. (See figure below.)

Step 7: Cut the handle piece in half to create two separate pieces. Each handle should measure 25 x 1 ½ in. If desired, fold raw edges in ¼ in. to make a finished edge along the top and bottom of each handle.

Step 8: Place the bag on the floor, front side up. Take 1 handle strip and pin to the front panel 1 inch from the right edge and 1 inch from the top edge. Make sure the strip isn’t twisted and pin the second edge (of the same handle strip) on the to the front 1 inch from the left edge and 1 inch from the top edge. Repeat for the back of the bag. (See figure below.)

Step 9: Sew the handles onto the bag. Make the seams strong by sewing a square. Next sew an X in the middle of the square. (See figure below.)

And finally, another picture of the final project.

Enjoy your tote! When you create this project, be sure to post pics on your blog and link me so I can see it!

Happy Creating!

xoxo
Bethany

Getting to Know: Stacey McElyea

2012-01-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to introduce you to Stacey McElyea, owner of Shimmerz paints.

I was lucky to meet Stacey when I became a member of her talented Education Team and I've been a big fan ever since. Not only does Stacey make beautiful shimmering iridescent paints and mists, but she has the amazing ability to develop completely unique and creative solutions. I love that she thinks completely out-of- the-box.

Now, on with the chat!

BK: Stacey, tell me about yourself.

SM: I have been Dave’s wife for 21 years, mother to three amazing kids and the owner of Shimmerz Paints. I like so many women wear a lot of hats during my day. I homeschool my kids, work daily in my business, and try to be all and do all for my friends and family. I don’t often have extra time, but when I do I still love to scrap, rubber stamp and dabble in photography. My life is crazy, but full and wonderful. The Lord has given me more blessings than I can count.

2. BK: Tell us how Shimmerz, the company was born. What prompted you to start a specialty paint company?

SM: Shimmerz started in the back room of my store, The Stamp Pad. Back then Radiant Pearls were very popular, but my customers kept complaining that they wouldn’t dry. That got us thinking and while I was home sick and my husband, Dave was tending the store, he had a brilliant idea. He came home and presented me with Shimmerz. A water based paint that would actually dry. I was thrilled and was wanting to know what he used to make them. He replied that if he told me, he’d have to kill me. Of course he was joking! From that day he began to formulate and create colors for Shimmerz. He is still the keeper of the formulas. We still have colors today that are just as popular as they were in 1999. For instance, Angel Wings is still our most popular color after all these years. One product lead to another and while it’s been many years and we’ve tweaked formulas over those years we still make all of our products in the USA, and are very proud to do so. We believe that quality, a good price point that beats our competitors and good customer service are the keys to good business. We won’t step away from that belief. We are thankful for every order we get and eagerly thank each and every customer. They deserve that much!

3. BK: Can you tell us a bit about the Shimmerz manufacturing process? Do you mix the paint colors yourself? Do you have a factory? Where do you get your ideas for colors?

SM: As Dave would say. . . .If I told ya, I’d have to kill ya! Tee-hee-hee!!! We are a family owned and operated business. We do it all! We order in raw materials and make each and every product ourselves. We make the product as it is ordered. No one wants a product that’s been sitting on the shelf for 6 months. ICK!!! We make everything in what we call the “Man Room”. It’s a very large room in our house where the “Man” makes the paint. Our kids all take a part in the process too. From mixing, bottling, labeling, processing orders to shipping. . . . Everyone helps.

I am the one that gives the “Man” the ideas for colors. I try to go with what’s hot in the industry, or often times what feels right to me. Colors give a feeling. . .and I know when a color feels right. I guess it’s an intuitive thing. For instance, when I created the color palette for our new Limited Edition Holiday colors, I wanted happy, whimsical colors that maybe weren’t so traditional. I wanted colors and names that make the artist smile. We make a great team. So far, it’s been working for us quite well.

The Limited Edition Holiday colors are available only until January 30th!

4. BK: What were some mistakes you made when starting the Shimmerz business? What would you have done differently, looking back now? What were some of your successes?

SM: We have definitely made some serious mistakes along the way. We’ve attended the School Of Hard Knocks a couple of times. Many years ago, we signed an exclusive contract with the largest stamp company in the industry. That was my first mistake! When they suddenly went out of business. . . . so did we. That was before blogs and Facebook. We were all but dead in the water. It was so hard. Needless to say, there is no exclusivity offered by Shimmerz anymore. Like all other businesses, I’ve trusted certain people when I shouldn’t have. With each mistake then and now, I take a moment and thank the Lord for it, because that’s how we learn and grow. It hurts, but we should still be thankful for it.

My successes. . . ..hmmmmm. . . . Well, I think I have a fairly solid company. We keep our overhead really low, so we can weather the storm of a downed economy a bit easier. We’ve taught our kids how to work hard and run a business. We met so many amazing people and are so glad we did. We have THE BEST designers that the industry offers. They are not only extremely talented, but genuinely awesome people. We value each and every one of them and it’s our goal that when they know that they are valued. Each day that I have orders for Shimmerz is a successful day.

5. BK: When you choose the designers for your Education Team and your Design Team, what traits really stand out to you? In your mind, what makes a great video or DT application? Any advice for up-and-coming designers?

6. SM: Absolutely NO DRAMA!!!! I don’t supply little red wagons for a designers ego and if they already have one. . . I won’t pull it. I make that very well known. When looking for new designers, I don’t just look at their artwork, I read their blogs and look for that person's character. They aren’t just artists, they represent my company. They have to share my philosophy of the industry and keep it in perspective. We aren’t saving lives. . . . it’s paper, paint and glue. They have to keep it real. It can touch lives, but rarely save them. When I am looking at artwork, I’m looking for artists that aren’t cookie cutter artist. They have to think outside the box. They have to stand out from the rest. At the risk of sound cliché, I go with my gut feeling. It’s like creating new colors. . . .I get a feeling. Sometimes that feeling is wrong, but most of the time it’s right.

I believe that being a Shimmerz designer should be an easy, fun experience. We all have too much stress in our lives. I don’t ever want Shimmerz to add to the stress of my designers. So I try to keep it simple. They are important to me. . . .so again. . . . I want them to know they are valued.


Artwork created by Bethany Kartchner using Shimmerz products. As seen in Somerset Gallery Autumn 2011.

7. BK: Do you have any advice for small business owners? Upcoming designers?

SM: I was told many times, “If you don’t go to CHA, you won’t make it in the industry!” I’ve gone once, and don’t plan to go back. So my best advice. . . don’t feel pressured to follow the pack. It’s your business. You have to do what work for you, not your friends or other business owners. Be creative! Don’t over extend your business. If you can’t afford it now. . . don’t do it thinking that it will pay off later. Go with your gut! PRAY!!!! Take the time to learn about the business not just the craft. Reality is that if you are running a business, you most likely won’t have the time you’d like for the craft. Did I mention. . . Prayer?

As for designers, show me who you are as a person. Show me that you will be a great representative for my company. Show your art well. Have good lighting. You don’t have to be a professional photographer or videographer, but showcase your projects the best you can. Learn how to promote! Whether you are a designer for me or another company. . . .be ready, willing and able to tell your readers, and followers why the company you represent is a great one. If you can’t do that. . . . you are on the wrong team. Don’t just try to be on the “popular” design teams. Do your homework and make sure you want to represent that company.

I look for great artwork, but I also look very closely at whether that designer can really help me sell my products. It may sound harsh, but it’s business. I want to sell my products and want designers that will help me do it.

Artwork created by Bethany Kartchner using Shimmerz products.

8. BK: How do you balance your work and your family?

SM: My kids all need “Mommy Time”. Even my 20 year old needs Mom on a daily basis. My family ALWAYS comes first!!! No exceptions. I try to follow a very simple model. I may have a To-Do list that’s a mile long, but I will only accomplish in each day what the Lord as planned for it. Simple as that. I do my best to cross as much off that list each day, but over the years have learned that freaking out and laying awake at night worrying about it won’t change a thing. It’s easier somedays than others to remember this principle, but I do my best. So when do I work? I squeeze in emails while Gracie (my 7 yr old) is doing her spelling or reading. I set aside 2 hours each day to work in my office. . . hopefully uninterrupted by a kid. I work late at night when Sami, Kaleb and Gracie are in bed. I take my iPad to Gracie’s ballet class and work, or to the golf course while I wait for Kaleb. And. . . .gasp. . . . we work on weekends in between family events and activities. . . BUT only if absolutely necessary. I do try really hard (and this is tough for me) to “unplug” during the weekends. I try to tell myself that my laptop needs some time off too. Somehow, it all works. We work together as a family to get it all done.

9. BK: You were either the first company or one of the first companies to have a video team which makes you very cutting edge. Plus, you are always coming out with new and interesting products. Do you have any tips for others who would like to be on the cusp of the industry's future? How do you stay on top of things?

I wish I could give a clear and concise answer to this question, but honestly, I can’t. I spend time praying and asking for direction. I’m always trying to think ahead. I wish I could take credit for the inspiration that I’ve had, but I can’t. I owe it all to God. I don’t mean to sound preachy, but it’s the truth. I go with my gut. It has to feel right. I have been very fortunate and so far, things are working well.

Artwork created by Bethany Kartchner using Shimmerz products.

10 BK: Where do you see the industry heading? Where are the trends heading?

SM: I truly think that the industry is in a bit of a crisis. It saddens me to see so many good companies going out of business. I believe that there will be more to come. I look at it like a forest fire. Some of the trees have to burn, in order for new growth to take place. New companies will arise from the ashes and those companies that can whether the fire, will be stronger.

As for trends, I think all old things become new again. Going back to basics is going to be hot! Re-using items will gain in popularity. Buying basic items (like paint, i.e. Shimmerz, lol ) and using it in multiple ways will never go out of style. Hard times force artists and companies to be creative. That’s a good thing!

11 BK: Tell us about some of the challenges in your life and how they've shaped your character today.

SM: Personal challenges are more important to me than business challenges. Of course, I want my business to thrive and of course I will continue to have challenges arise, but it’s the personal challenges that hopefully make me a better person. I am always challenged not to worry. I tend to be an over thinker. I have a very nasty habit of taking on too much and my health pays for it in the direction of anxiety attacks. My biggest challenge is being able to cut myself some slack. I have to learn. . . . and keep learning that I am only one person. It’s about remembering that principle of my To-Do list. God has a plan for my day, my month, my family, my business. I have to rest in that plan.

Artwork created by Bethany Kartchner using Shimmerz products. As seen in Somerset Apprentice.

12 BK: What, do you feel, is your greatest personal accomplishment?

SM: Again, I’m sure it sounds so cliché, but I LOVE being a mom! I love being Dave’s wife! There is nothing more endearing to me than to have Sami sit on my bed and tell me all about her date and what a creep the boy was. Or sharing her dreams with me. I love watching Kaleb play golf like a young pro and hearing him ask me to listen to the latest song he taught himself to play on his guitar. Kaleb is classified as deaf, so that’s a big thing for me. And. . .it never fails to bring a smile to my face and heart to hear Gracie running up the stairs, yelling, “Mommy, I made this for you”, and it’s a picture or card or some other fabulous piece of art that she’s made. Those 3 kids are my most greatest accomplishment. They are such a blessing to Dave and I.

13 BK: If you weren't running the Shimmerz business, what would you be doing now?

SM: Hmmmmm. . . . I would most likely still be in the real estate industry. EEEK! That’s scary now too.

BK: Anything else you'd like to add?

SM: Thank you so much for the opportunity to ramble on. I am both honored and humbled to be asked to share my life, my business, and my thoughts with you.

Thank you Stacey, for chatting with us today! Remember, you have one week to ask any follow-up questions. Just leave a comment with your question and I'll compile them and Stacey will answer them in another post.

Have a great week!

xoxo
Bethany

Blog Changes

2012-01-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

Hello friends!

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a lovely celebration and feels as renewed and excited about 2012 as I do. I've set some adventurous goals and I'm raring to meet them. One of those goals is to revamp my blog. I don't just mean a pretty make-over, although that would be nice, I'm focusing more on content. I want to blog about things that really inspire me and hopefully you.

So...you'll be seeing some exciting changes around here. I'm talking about tutorials, book reviews, product reviews, videos and chats with friends. I have some amazingly creative and interesting friends and I've decided to interview them on my blog so you can get to know them too! I absolutely love the connection that I feel when I get to know someone well. I hope that these interviews help you (in some small way) to feel connected to these amazing artistic women. Even more awesome is that I've asked my interviewees to answer any questions that you might have after my official interview. (Whenever I read an online interview I always have follow-up questions that frustrate me because I don't have a way to ask.) So after the actual interview, you have one week to pose any additional questions. After that week, I'll compile the questions and comments and send them on to my friend who will answer them later in the month on my blog. Great, huh? I'll post my very first interview tomorrow! You're going to love this artist/business owner!

Buckle up! We're in for a great ride!

xoxo
Bethany

Studio Organization

2011-12-29T13:28:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I'm a lucky woman. When we moved into our new home 3 years ago, I planted my flag in the "media room" and called it my studio. Before anyone knew any better, I had thoroughly used every square inch. (I read Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own way back when and upon its completion, I knew that someday I'd have a private space of my own.) Anyway, this studio space slowly got more and more chaotic as I picked up new hobbies, products, projects, etc. Eventually, it was difficult to maneuver around the boxes and fabric piles and unfinished projects. It was getting so bad that my creative juices were being spent hunting for things and figuring out ways to enter the space. It was time to organize.

At first, I was lost. I knew that I didn't want to spend hours decorating like the artists do in those amazing Studio magazines. I also knew that I didn't want to spend loads of money buying organizational supplies. I needed to supplement what I already had. After touring the studio space of a good friend, Jill, I was set. I purchased two metal bookshelves and quite a few fabric boxes from Ikea and one week later, I was done. Here are pictures of the results.

As you can see, I concentrated the furniture and tables on the borders of the room. I like having a lot of space in the middle for projects, playing with the kiddos and general living. You'll also notice that the room isn't perfect. There are still paper piles on the tables and boxes scattered around. If I waited for the space to look perfect, I would be a very old woman before you ever saw a picture.

I really like these metal shelves. The are open so they hold loads of stuff and are wide enough for me to fit the red fabric boxes.

The red boxes zip up at the top and allow me to grab the ones that I need for a project, but prevent massive spills and small baby hands from discovering their secrets. Plus, they are bright red and add spice.

I've also got these plastic storage drawers from Office Max (or was it Depot?) they are great because each drawer is 13x13 so they hold large sheets of scrapbook paper nicely. I've got my paints organized in them and I love how I can see each bottle now.

Probably the most beautiful area is this low bookshelf filled with glass jars of buttons, ribbons and flowers sorted by color. (I purchased the jars from Wal-mart and Target.) Surprisingly, the children pretty much leave these alone. I'm not sure why, as a child, this area would have been my personal playground.

I placed my most frequently used stamps vertically in bins so I can find them on the fly.

I know this will sound crazy, but a big part of my organizational efforts was simply hanging my artwork on the walls. I'm not sure why I didn't do this before? I love this wall now.

My bulletin board holds small artworks, awards and gifts from my children. E is especially prolific in her creations.

I placed my mini-albums in a large basket so they are safe from little fingers and so I can admire their beauty.

I hope these pictures inspire you and offer storage solutions in your spaces!

xoxo
Bethany

Bubble Paper -- Children's Art Tutorial

2011-12-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, you are looking for fun activities for the kiddos during winter break. Here's a project that I did for a children's mini-class a few months ago.

I gave each child a rectangle of white cardstock about 3x5 inches, a bubble wand, and a piece of folded cardstock that measured about 4.5x5.5 inches.

Before class, I added ink to regular bubble liquid creating different colors. (You can also use food coloring.)I filled various old food containers with each color so we were all ready to go. The kids dipped their bubble wands into the colored solution and blew the bubbles onto the paper creating beautiful designs. I had them experiment with different wand shapes, the distance between the paper and the wand and with flicking the solution. It was fun for them to be so free.

Once they were happy with their paper, we added glitter to the wet liquid. This really made it special. Surprisingly, the it stuck pretty well too! Next, we stapled the paper to the folded cardstock and made a card. You can see a sample below.

This is a great project to do outside or over a plastic tablecloth. This project is perfect with children who can blow a bubble (starting around 3 years old in our house).

I hope that this inspires you to do some simple art projects with your little ones!

xoxo
Bethany

Quick and Inexpensive Candle Gifts

2011-12-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

As I was fiddling about on the internet, I came across this lovely video by Heidi Kelley. In it, she uses Shimmerz products to dress up inexpensive candles. I think her ideas are amazing and I just had to share them with you.

This photo was taken by Heidi Kelley.

After watching that video, I'm heading to the dollar store tomorrow to get a few supplies!

xoxo
Bethany

Whimsical Bird Art

2011-12-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

I've finally decided to embrace my love for bird images in my artwork and therefore, I've begun a series. This series is based on two different bird images and I'm having a blast with them. I've completed four pieces already and I know I've got a few more to go before I feel complete. Each of the following pieces will be on display at the Laveen Art League Gallery showing this week. So, if you are interested in purchasing one (or more) of them, please email me for details (you can find my address in the right sidebar).

Black Birds is created on a 6x12 canvas, quickly becoming one of my favorite sizes because of its length.

Red Bird Singing is on a 6x6 canvas. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of creating this piece. It was just pure fun. In fact, I created this piece in between working on Black Birds and Wild Scribbles (below) so when I completed it, it felt like a freebie.

Wild Scribbles is a bit different for me. I'm not normally so...well...bright and wild. Sometimes it's fun to experiment with new ideas, though. I think that I'll pursue this idea a bit more in the future. I actually started this piece months and months ago, got interrupted with other assignments and finally finished it. My favorite parts of this one are the acrylic skins. This is a biggie at 16x20 inches.

Finally, I recreated my Lovebirds for a technique video (to be released in the Spring). This one won Honorable Mention at the September LAL judged show. I was pleased as punch!

I just can't tell you how much fun I'm having working in a series. I highly suggest it!

xoxo
Bethany

Adorable Elephants on Parade

2011-12-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

You know how I've been talking about my creative burst of energy? Well, I've finished quite a few pieces and I'm thrilled to announce that I just updated my etsy shop with this adorable elephant wall-hanging! Isn't this the cutest thing for a new baby or a child's room? I'm in love with this little guy.

The listing is for a custom created 6x6 canvas. You choose the background colors and the elephant colors so it will match your decor.

You'll probably remember this cute orange guy. I've shared him before. My good friend, Sara, now owns him. Thank you sweetie!

I can't wait to share more with you next week!

On Thanksgiving and Fleur-de-lis

2011-11-29T13:56:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was very relaxing. I took a very low key approach. Cooked only the basics, bought premade desserts, ate apple pie for breakfast that morning and omitted the tablecloth. It was the first Thanksgiving I've ever prepared that I didn't want to scream at anyone who dared step foot into the kitchen and take a nap from sheer exhaustion around 11 AM. It was absolutely lovely.

My only mistake was underestimating the allure of the pies. I should have purchased at least 2 more. (I do so love left-over pie for breakfast the next morning! Alas, this year, I was thwarted in that little pleasure.) We did miss my poor father who missed his flight that morning due to very unfortunate circumstances involving naughty cats, (I won't go into the dismal details) but we did the best we could to enjoy ourselves whilst pretending he was present. That evening, we skyped with him (my very first time!) and that lifted our spirits immensely. Despite all of the family members missing, it was a good day.

The rest of the weekend was a blur of activity. We went miniature golfing which was all of my kids' first time. We discovered that Dani (10 year old) and Todd (old man) have true talent and we are now enrolling both of them in golf lessons. I couldn't believe that Dani could hit the ball in a straight line and Todd got so many hole-in-ones that I lost count. My personal strategy was to ricochet the ball off of various surfaces in hopes that eventually it would hit the mark. Sometimes I was quite successful. Quinn (3 year old) and Zoey (8 year old) were masters at ditching the golf club and kicking the ball toward the hole soccer-style. We all kind-of had our own little techniques that were more or less effective. It was quite fun for the first 10 holes. After that, most of the group lost interest and balls somehow ended up in lakes and on top of mountains and in random spots like that.

The rest of the weekend, I spent creating up a frenzy. I finished 4 new pieces and am almost done with another. I'm experimenting with my style, trying to define it further, and I believe that one of the keys to that is creating piece after piece. I'm trying to let loose a bit and really put myself into my art. Trying not to fret so much and just go with the flow. I'm having an absolute blast. A blast, I tell you. I haven't taken any pictures yet, but after all that teasing, I thought I'd share a piece I made a few months ago with DecoArt textures.

This is my first (and probably last) very graphic piece. In order to fit the 4 fleur-de-lis I had to adjust the stencil and do all sorts of measuring. (HINT: In order to adjust a stencil that is too big for your project or whatever, simply mask off the parts that you don't want by placing masking tape over them. Don't forget to place tape on both sides of the stencil so you don't have any sticky spots.) Because I'm not a very good measurer (there's a reason why I stay away from carpentry!) I am dissatisfied with the layout. I wish the fleur-de-lis were closer to the center. I feel like there is a big gap that takes away from the composition. Oh well. I learned.

I do however, love each of the fleur-de-lis and the background texture created by DecoArt molding paste.

The fleur-de-lis below was created by loosely mixing Americana Splendid Gold paint with DecoArt Texture glass.

This one was made with DecoArt Gold Craft Twinkles (kind-of like Ranger Stickles).

This is DecoArt Texture Fierro in gold.

Finally, this white one was made with DecoArt Glistening Snow-Tex. (Not just for creating snowy effects!)

I plan on photographing my newest projects by the end of the week. I can't wait to show them to you!

xoxo
Bethany

Sticky Art

2011-11-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

Leslie Riley write a short article on Sticky Art at Create Mixed Media. Sticky Art is the type of art that sticks with the viewer, causing him/her to think. If you are looking to improve your art, I highly suggest reading it. You can access the article here. However, when you've finished reading it, come back here because I have a question for you and I want your opinion.

Did you read the article? Yes?

Okay, let's chat.

I agree with most of what she says, however, I disagree terribly on the idea that you must limit your materials. I believe that if you have your own style and you have your message and put yourself into your work, it doesn't matter what materials you use. In fact, I disagree with limiting yourself ever. Yes, I see the benefits of specialization: the basketball player that focuses on his sport will ultimately be better than the baseball-basketball player who divides his time between the two. However, there is a danger in specialization. When we focus so much on one material, or on one artform, we lose the ability to interact with others. We become so specialized that we cannot relate to other fields. Take for instance, the microbiologist who specializes in bacteria flagellum. She becomes so specialized that she can no longer relate to other scientists in different fields. When we can no longer relate to others, we are unable to apply pieces of their fields into our own and come up with entirely new methods and techniques. That microbiologist can certainly specialize in flagellum, but she also needs to stay abreast of the goings-on of other fields completely unrelated. Artists, in my opinion must do the same. We can focus on one material because we love it so, but we should also incorporate new materials from different fields so that we avoid burnout, sterility in our work and becoming outdated in this age of quick change.

I believe that creativity is the ability to take something and make something completely new and exciting with it. If we purposefully limit ourselves to one medium, how can we possibly develop as an artist, creating new artwork by combining materials? The combining of materials, to me is the key to exciting and therefore sticky artwork.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your opinion.

Burning Tools

2011-11-15T19:20:00.000-08:00

You know how I chatted about my organization problem in the last post? Well, I totally jinxed myself because now I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in organizing. I'm getting more done in the studio, but the house is still languishing in a state of mild chaos. Oh well. Honestly, I can't blame my disinterest on my blog post, it really has to do with the reality of living with 6 children, 2 dogs, and various small rodents. I spent hours organizing various spaces with mild success only to walk into 10 loads of laundry waiting for me and a few very messy kid rooms. I simply felt a little...well...defeated. So, I'm going to wait until baby Wy starts kindergarten (in 5 years or so) before I attempt that ~~horribly massively terrible~~ little project again. I'm sure that it will wait for me. (giggle)

Now, on a more interesting note, I recently borrowed a wood burning tool from my creative buddy and had a blast burning a gourd shard. Have you ever played around with a wood burning tool? Oh, it is delightfully fun. Enough danger that you feel like you're living on the edge of safety, all the while safe enough that you won't burn your house down if you drop it. It is a great tool for the little rebel artist in me.

I borrowed this fun tool for a project in my online Encaustic Class. Here's a picture of my shard immediately after burning. (Pay no attention to the random toys on the floor, I've lost interest in cleaning, as you already know.)

I absolutely love the design. Love it. What I did with it after this picture I don't love. Nope. But that's okay. I'm learning. I'm going with the theory that the piece is in the ugly phase and it will improve with a little more layering. Unfortunately, I don't exactly know what to do so I'm letting it sit while the creative juices simmer.

I must confess, I have an entire drawer in my studio of pieces in the ugly phase waiting for those creative juices to simmer. This shard may end up there if I don't hit some sort of inspiration soon.

I'll keep you posted.

xoxo
Bethany

Mosaic Heart

2011-11-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

For some reason, the organization bug has bitten me. I'm obsessed with cleaning out, trashing, and donating. Could it be the holiday season approaching? Could it be the fact that we've lived in our house for about 3 years and I've yet to organize my closet? I don't know, but I'm getting kinda nutty and I'm not doing as much creating because I'm so crazy about seeing the floor in my studio. Up until this week, I didn't even know what color the carpet was in there. Light tan, if you are wondering. ("Light tan" is a quick reference to a line in Nacho Libre, one of the funniest movies of all time. I'm just saying...)

Enough of that, however. About a month ago, I fiddled around with DecoArt's awesome textures and created this mosaic heart. It was done on a 12x12 inch canvas with only DecoArt products, sheet music and a graphite pencil.

I'm intrigued with the idea of doing a mosaic-texture thing. I definitely want to explore this idea further. I love the idea of dividing up a piece into sections and working on each one separately, all the while keeping everything connected via the color palette.

I'm also intrigued by the whole light/shadow thing and am excited to explore that further. I attempted to do this in my mosaic heart with limited success. (See the light source in the top left?) Ever since I read The Tale of Despereaux, I've been interested in chiaroscuro which is an Italian term that means light-dark. I'm sure you've seen this technique in fine art paintings like this one by Gerrit von Honthorst (swiped from Wikipedia).

I love how this painting has a very prominent light source that draws the eyes immediately to the focal point of the piece. Along with this prominent light are intense shadows that provide mystery. Love this idea. I think that applying it to my work will take a bit of practice as I'm not used to such contrast, nor am I very aware of exactly how shadows fall. Chiaroscuro certainly merits further study, in my mind.

Do you have any techniques that intrigue you? Any artistic experimentations?

xoxo
Bethany

Christmas Charm Bracelet -- New Video

2011-11-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I must have been a good girl this year because I was lucky to get my hands on the newest Shimmerz Winter release colors!

It is hard to say which colors I like the most because they are all so beautiful. However, I have to point out that Jack Frost Enamelz is really amazing. It isn't like your ordinary embossing powder. It is chunky like bits of mica flakes and it is a dream to work with.

These colors are so bright and happy that I wanted to make something whimsical and fun with them.

This Christmas charm bracelet fit the bill. Christmas trees and snowballs, oh my!

Even though this project looks complicated, it really isn't.

And, because I think that creating homemade wrapping paper is so fun, I also included a quick demo on how to decorate plain paper. Now, you can create a cute charm bracelet and wrap it beautifully!

I hope that you enjoy the video! And while you are watching and learning the simple techniques, think about different shapes that you could create for your charm bracelet. What about cute Santa hats? Or presents? The possibilities are endless!

These colors are only available for a limited time so hurry over to the Shimmerz Shop!

xoxo
Bethany

Wacky Hair Day 2011

2011-11-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

I've got a thing for wacky hair day. I don't know why I love this small school fun day so much, but I do. Each year I have to outdo the year before. It's kind-of like the model solar systems that my father helped us build in 5th grade. Mine (as the first child) was pretty cool with the styrofoam balls painted and glued to the poster board. My brother had one with the styrofoam balls suspended by a wooden dowel. Another brother had a model built in miniature in a shoebox and you had to look into a small peephole in order to enter the galaxy. Each sibling's model got progressively more complicated and more amazing until I believe the last child (#7) won the Nobel Prize for her submission. That's how wacky hair day is for me. Luckily, my kids seem to be as excited as I am.

My oldest, Danika, has very long hair and therefore is prime real estate for this school activity. Last year, I attempted an updo that required a wooden dowel. It was a disaster and apparently quite painful. So, this year, I reigned myself in and focused on soft pipe cleaners. Thanks to some internet inspo, here's what we did.

Dani's was supposed to be cat ears, but with her long locks, they morphed into Minnie Mouse ears.

Zoey's was a little more involved with multiple loops and braids. She's my experimental hair girl.

For Cam, we focused on color and I created a quick stencil using junk paper for the polka dots.

Now that I've discovered the joys of pipe cleaners, I can't wait until next year's Wacky Hair Day!

If you have any cool ideas, I'm always game. Are you as crazy about this silly day?

xoxo
Bethany

Autumn Decorating: Simple Garland Tutorial

2011-10-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

I'd love to tell you that I decorate my home for every season, but the sad reality is that I really only decorate in the fall and winter. I've got a few spring decorations that are my very favorites, but they are frequently forgotten in the New Year rush and bumble. And summer in Phoenix is just too darn hot to do much of anything including decorating. Because we (meaning the kids and I) are so proud of our efforts, I thought we'd share a few decorating ideas. Of course, it is getting a little late for Halloween decor, but you can certainly apply these ideas to other seasons.

We'll begin outside with my beautiful fall foliage.

That's it.

Now, we'll proceed inside with my bookshelves that we recently moved together. You will probably notice that I include a lot of potted plants in my decorating. I love plants. They add such a beautiful, organic feel to my home.

As you can probably surmise by the bricks and children's artwork, I believe in integrating kid stuff with adult stuff. I think it adds to the overall loving and accepting ambiance in our home.

Now for my crowning glory in decorating this year...I am so proud of this chandelier that I just might burst confetti puffy hearts. It was very difficult to photograph because I didn't want too many distracting elements in the background and I also didn't want to take everything off the walls. (I only have so much time to stylize my photos.) I hope you can get the idea. If only all of you lived near me, I'd show you in person.

I thought that the garland was enough until Zo came home from Brownies with these awesome-dawsom paper pumpkins. I quickly swiped them up, added strings and hung them. Now, we are complete.

Let me share with you how I made the very simple garland because everyone should be as happy as I am. (giggle) The title to this tutorial is a little lengthy, but I think it sums it up exactly

How to Make a Very Simple Garland
and Achieve a Sense of Serious Pride

in Your Decorating Talents

Materials
Double-sided paper
Hole Punch (optional)
Paper punches
Scissors
Sewing machine and thread OR embroidery floss and needle
Any other objects you'd like to incorporate.

Here are a few ideas for shapes: ghosts, cupcakes, any basic shape, leaves, hearts, flowers, letters, suns and moons, animals, Santa hats, pencil shapes, building shapes, shamrocks, birds, strips of paper or fabric, flags, superhero symbols, cars and trucks, etc.

Other things you might add: playing cards, tags, felt items, bulky flowers (like Primas or tissue paper flowers), ephemera like ticket stubs, maps, paint chips, crepe paper, etc.

Technique
1. Punch or cut out the shapes you'd like for your garland. You'll need about 2-4 pieces of 12x12 double- sided paper to make a nice size garland depending on the size of your punch, of course. (I personally used scraps from other projects.) My two oldest daughters (8 and 10 years old) helped with this part. Don't forget that you can use fabric too! Just use your scissors with fabric.

2. If you have a sewing machine and would like to use it, load up with your favorite color thread and begin to sew for about 6 inches with nothing in the machine, just get a little tail going. Next, place your shape into the machine and let the feed dogs take it in. Continue to sew for about an inch after your shape is integrated into the garland, then add another. Repeat until you are happy with the garland's length. If your thread breaks, don't panic. Just start again on the last shape and continue. Snip off any extra threads at the end. You can see a close-up below. I varied sizes of circles and was quite loose about how far apart they are. You can either randomly add each shape or you can do an ombre thing by starting with a light color and getting darker or you can keep each color together. You decide.

3. If you do not have a sewing machine, punch two very small holes in each shape at the top and thread a needle with a long piece of embroidery floss. (You want your holes to be big enough that the needle passes through easily, but small enough that the floss stays in place and your shapes don't eventually migrate to the center of the garland.) Go in and out of each shape adding it to the garland. This will take longer than the sewing machine method, but will have a homier feel. If you turn on the TV or listen to a podcast, you'll be done in no time!

4. Immediately after finishing with your sewing, hang your garland and enjoy the fruits of your handiwork. You rock!

Paper Strip Pumpkin Tutorial

Materials

2 Brads (any size)

Double-sided patterned paper

Hole punch

Scissors

String (optional)

NOTE: You don't have to make these spheres into pumpkins, they could also be Christmas ornaments or abstract globes or hung like lanterns for a fancy dinner party. It all depends on what kind of paper you use. What would happen if you used sheet metal? WARNING: Be careful with sheet metal as the edges may be very sharp and cut your hands!

Technique

1. Cut strips of paper out of double-sided paper. The strips should be about 2-3 inches wide and about 7-12 inches long depending on the size pumpkin you'd like. You'll need about 8 strips per pumpkin.

2. Stack the strips and punch a hole at the top and at the bottom of the all strips. If you have a Crop-a-dile, this will be easy. Make sure that you don't punch too far off the edge and the paper rips.

3. Insert the brads into the two holes.

4. Separate the strips to obtain a beautiful spherical shape. Do this carefully so you don't rip the paper.

5. If you'd like to hang your pumpkins, tie string to the brad and hang.

6. Enjoy!

If you have other ideas for cool garlands, please leave me a comment, I'll add them to this post. And, if you have any picture links, please share those too. Now that I have my cool chandelier (thanks Jess!) I'm very excited about decorating it.

xoxo
B

Zoo Trip

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, the kids and I went to the Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park, AZ. If you are in the Phoenix area and have a day, this zoo is well worth the visit. (FYI: You can get half-price coupons in Hickman's egg cartons sold at Target.) The animals are so close and so awake that it is thrilling for all ages. We got there right when the zoo opened. In fact, we were the first ones in. (We were more than excited about this adventure.) Can you blame us? When I get pictures like these?

Yes, that is a lion cub awake! And yawning. So cute. And the paws were so big!

Check out this guy in the aviary.

The rhino was so close, I could have touched him if I'd just stretched out my arm a bit. I decided that I wanted to live, so I didn't.

The camels were full of chat. They moaned and groaned for a good 5 minutes before we were pulled away by the warthogs nearby. They were asleep.

I don't have a very good picture because they were moving so much, but the black leopard and the spotted leopard held our attention for a long time. They were pacing and growling and even playing. It was amazing. I've never seen a leopard awake. Ever.

We also rode the zoo train and giggled over the bird that ran alongside us.

It was a fabulous day.

Winner of a Free Seat in Mixed-Media Memory Boards

2011-10-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! As usual, I'm a smidge late on announcing the winner of a free place in my Shimmering Mixed-Media Memory Boards class. Unfortunately, that's how I roll sometimes.

I've been working on class content without stopping all week. I did draw a name on October 20th, but I failed to announce that lucky winner! So without further ado...

The winner is...GMS! Congratulations! I've emailed you with directions on how to redeem your free place. Class begins on October 27th!

Thank you to everyone else who entered the giveaway! I know that you didn't win, but I've got some very exciting plans for this blog and for the newsletter beginning January 2012. As soon as I've got everything in order, I'll divulge my extremely ambitious plans. I know you will love it lots.

xoxo
Beth

Giveaway Winners

2011-10-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone!

Friday is my favorite day of the week. It is ripe with the possibilities of the weekend and represents the end of the stress of the work week. Wonderful day.

I've got a few giveaway winners to announce! First off, a few weeks ago I asked you to divulge a bit about your creative pursuits. I loved reading your comments. Each of you is so creative and I'm pleased that you felt comfortable bragging a bit about yourselves. Each of you has inspired me to live more creatively. Thank you. The winner of a little something from me is lexid. She went totally out on a limb and started, picked out and resewed a quilt. Good for you girl! Also, I was moved by SuZeQ's comment about working creatively with her therapist to solve her leg and foot pain. Good for you for taking action and thinking outside the box. As a recent (within a few years) knee injury survivor, I know how pain can debilitate and I'm sending loads of positive pain-free vibes your way. So instead of one, I'm sending out two packages. As soon as you two email me (kartchnerfamily @ cox.net). I'll pop a little one of these into the mail for you. (Yours will look slightly different from the one pictured.) I hope that this little bluebird brings you joy.

I've also got a winner for the issue of Mingle!

Before I announce that, can I just tell you how much better I felt after reading your recent party stories? I thought that I was the only one who had cold-feet when it comes to entertaining and now I realize that I'm simply part of big group of cold-feet-ers. Thank you everyone for your candid thoughts. I'm now totally at peace with my hostess anxiety.

Now, the winner. Completely randomly chosen by Random.org is commenter #2...Sue!

Congrats! Email me your snail mail (kartchnerfamily @ cox.net) and I'll pop your issue of Mingle in the mail!

Congratulations to everyone and again, a big fat thank you for your lovely comments. They always make my day brighter.

Also, there are only 5 days left to enter into my giveaway for a free spot in my Shimmering Mixed-Media Memory Boards class! See this post for details.

xoxo
B

Mingle Magazine Giveaway

2011-10-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about Stampington's newest magazine, Mingle? It is filled with ideas for entertaining and gathering with friends and family. Not to mention the eye-candy. Good heavens...the eye candy, people!

I have to admit, at first, I wasn't interested in this particular magazine because I don't host very many parties. My life is so busy (heaven's to Betsy, with 6 littles, every single meal is a raucous party!) that I really don't have the opportunity. Plus, I feel very comfortable creating artwork for my walls, but when it comes to cooking and decorating, I've got some seriously cold feet.

However, when I actually sat down and began reading, something amazing happened. I was completely inspired by every. single. article. I'm not kidding. Not only that, but I didn't feel completely overwhelmed by the magazine. Sometimes when I read decorating or entertaining magazines, I end up chucking them at the wall because they make me feel...well...cruddy. I get feelings of inadequacy and all I want to do is lick my wounds and feel sorry for myself. (I usually stay far away from party/decorating blogs for that very reason.) Not so with Stampington's Mingle. Yes, the articles are all about amazing parties and amazing hostesses, but they didn't make me feel hopeless. The overall spirit of the publication is positive inspiration. How refreshing! And doable. Even for hopeless hostesses who don't like to cook for anyone other than their immediate family. (Like someone you might know...)

Oh, let me say a little about the photography too. The pictures are absolutely divine. The color schemes, the little details, the sumptuousness in them was amazing. Simply amazing. All and all, this is a great magazine. Perfect with a hot drink and perhaps a little something sweet. You're going to love it. I know it.

And...thanks to Stampington's generosity, I am hosting a Mingle giveaway!

I'm just so excited to send a lucky winner a brand new copy of this magazine courtesy of Stampington! If you'd like to win, leave me a comment telling me about the last great (or cruddy) get-together that you hosted (or attended). I'll choose a winner on October 14th based on the comments that I receive.

It's only fair that I begin so...my last get-together was with a few neighbors. I set up a baked potato bar (I thought myself quite decadent when I had both bacon and sour cream available!) and we got to know each other better while our children played outside. It was very simple. There weren't any fancy decorations or invitations, but we all enjoyed ourselves.

Okay, your turn!

So Much to Learn

2011-10-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm in a state of transition right now. I've been working on improving my art, setting up my business and learning all I can about things like small business taxes, LLCs and marketing. At times I feel completely overwhelmed and I have serious thoughts about giving it all up. (This usually happens after I've been trying to figure out the whole accounting thing. ack.) But, then I'll sit down and create something and I'll remember why I do what I do. I love making pretty things. The End.

A few days ago, while chatting with one of my besties, (to steal a bit of lexicon from Big Bang Theory) I asked her how she gets everything done. (I was in an overwhelmed phase) and she told me that her new philosophy was ONE. Whenever she has an entire day of activities (and believe me she is busy), she tells herself to do one thing and then focuses completely on that one thing. For example, in the morning, when she needs to clean the kitchen, take a shower, dress the kiddos, etc. she tells herself: shower. Then she focuses on that shower. That is the one thing of the moment. When she finishes that, she focuses on one more thing. Eventually, she gets everything done and she hasn't gotten herself all in a dither doing so. I really like this advice. I have a tendency to focus on so many things at once that I get my head completely turned around and I can't even tell which way is up. Surely, I'm not the only one, right?

Anyway, back to self-improvement. I've found a few resources that I wanted to share with you because I love to share cool stuff.

First, I've been listening to CraftyPod like crazy pants. Each podcast is under 30 minutes and filled with interesting tidbits. Plus, the show notes are a wealth of information. Sister Diane covers everything from macrame to publishing to taxes to leftovers. I love how diverse she is. When you have 19 minutes, check it out.

Second, I've discovered a very interesting class that begins in January by Tamara Laporte. It is called Life Book. It is a year long class with over 14 incredible teachers. I took Tamara's free course a few months ago and learned tons and tons. I can't imagine what I'll learn in this 365 day class! My mom and I are planning on taking it together. Let me know if you sign up and we'll add you to our cool-dude class group. (giggle).

Third, I've always been obsessed with beeswax. I'm not sure why. Maybe it is the whole flippant "none of your beeswax" statement that I picked up in 6th grade? I don't know. It could be the whole texture thing. I love playing around with texture. Anyway, I want to learn more about encaustic art and now, thanks to Judy Wise I'll have a chance! Unfortunately, I'm on my own in this class. My mom isn't into beeswax. Bummer. Let me know if you are enrolled so we can swap notes, okay? Judy's class begins soon so don't fiddle around trying to decide.

Fourth, you may have noticed that I've added a few links to small business information on my left side bar. If you are interested in starting your own business, you may find these helpful. If not, just ignore them. I mainly put them on my blog so that I could personally keep track of these resources. I wanted you to be aware of them though.

Okay, that's it for now. The kids are off of school for the next 2 weeks so we've been quite the busy little bees. We decorated for Halloween (pics to come soon) and we moved all kinds of furniture. Don't you just love doing that? If you come to our house, you might run away screaming because of all the black plastic spiders in the front porch area. There are 100 to be exact. Along with quite a few webs. We are very proud of our creepy front area so on Halloween, make sure you comment. It is about as scary as we get. Even the spiders were a bit much for little Quinny. He wouldn't touch the web stuff and only after he saw all the older kids handling them safely would he touch one. This is the same kid who will easily jump from a 10 foot ladder. Funny boy.

xoxo
B

Playing with DecoArt Chalkboard Paint

2011-09-30T14:47:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I fiddled around a bit with DecoArt chalkboard paint. (You can find it in the paint aisle of your local craft store.) It comes in pink, blue and black, but I only used the black for the following projects. Because I like to push the envelope, I wanted to see just how far this paint would go. I tried it on fabric as well as metal and it behaved very well on both difficult surfaces. I absolutely love these projects.

The first is an errands bag with a chalkboard pocket in the front.

For the chalkboard, I did two coats of paint. The first coat was the chalkboard paint mixed with the fabric medium and the second coat was only the chalkboard paint. (I ran out of fabric medium and was too excited to make a craft-store-run.)

I designed the bag using one of E's bags as a guide. However, I added a few inches here and there to make it even more useful for library books. I used plain canvas for the fabric and I dolled it up with DecoArt So Soft fabric paint and Americana paints mixed with fabric medium. I also used a lot of stencils from Crafter's Workshop. I can't say enough about the So Soft fabric paint. It is amazing. It comes in basic colors as well as glittery ones and the fabric maintains that lovely move-able feel when you use it!

To add more texture and interest, before I sewed the bag together, I did a bit of freestyle stitching on the fabric. My machine wasn't behaving properly so I didn't do as much as I would have liked. Darn machine.

The bag has held up marvelously well to multiple library runs and I'm so pleased.

The second project is a chalkboard necklace. Wouldn't this be the perfect gift for the teacher in your life? Zoey fell completely in love with this necklace and swiped it up as soon as I finished snapping the last picture.

This picture makes the pendant look huge. It is actually only about 2 inches wide.

I'm thinking about doing tutorials for both of these projects. Would that interest you? Let me know.

Have a lovely weekend!

xoxo
B

This Week

2011-09-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

This week has been one wild ride.

Todd has been out of town for work so the kiddos and I have been on our own. It wasn't pretty, people.

To start out the week...Cam and Zoey went to a late doctor appointment on Monday night because Z had an earache and C had walking pneumonia. Antibiotics and breathing treatments later, they are both doing fine.

Z's hamster died on Wednesday night. I've had numerous sad talks about death with numerous sad children. We held a graveside service in the backyard before school yesterday morning which made us almost late.

We've eaten at a fast food joint twice this week. (Normally, fast food is a once every 3 months or so treat.) We've eaten hamburgers three times and spaghetti twice. I've thrown away bags of produce because I forgot to use them. Apparently, my cooking skills go completely bonkers when I don't have another adult to serve.

The house is a complete wreck and we are all very tired.

However, each of the children is happy and healthy. They all received three ~~square~~ rhomboidal meals a day along with a few snacks. The dogs were fed every night. The fish, I'm not so sure. The dishes are almost all washed and I managed to create a flyer for local fall activities. So...all in all...the week wasn't a complete disaster.

But I'm sure ready to see Todd again.

Girl Power

2011-09-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

As a mother of girls (and boys, too) one of my main objectives is to instill in them a sense of self-confidence that will aid them in making good decisions in their lives. I want them to grow into strong and capable women who know of their self-worth. I think this is one of the most important things that I can do as a mother: provide opportunities for them to gain confidence. In order to do this, while they are young I've emphasized qualities such as intelligence and kindness over physical qualities like beauty and fashion. Of course, they also know that they are beautiful, but we try to focus on more lasting values. As my girls mature, I've started giving them situations in which they can be independent. For example, I send them into a non-threatening store to pick up a few items while I wait in the car with the little ones. I ask them to walk the dogs around the block or I have them "babysit" while I finish a task.

I have also been working on really listening to them and showing empathy when necessary. I can't possibly fix all of the problems in their lives. (For goodness sakes, I can't fix all of my problems, how can I expect myself to fix anyone else's?) But, I can listen intently, offer advice when appropriate and have compassion. Since I am still in the middle of raising them, I don't know if this approach will lead to self-confident daughters, but it seems to be working thus far. (I'll keep you posted.)

Sometimes, I find something that helps me in my quest for confidence outside the family and I'm grateful for that. The kids and I are avid YouTubbers (pron. u-toob'-ers) and this video (Jar of Hearts) by Christina Perri is one of our favorites because it stars a strong woman. I think we've watched this one a million times. The choreography is amazing as is the drama and special effects.

I hope that you enjoy this one as much as we do.

xoxo
B

A Need for Creativity

2011-09-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think we mistakenly limit creativity to arts and crafts. We see a beautiful piece of art and remark that the artist is "so creative." We forget that creativity really applies to all aspects of life. From the landscape designer putting together a beautiful garden, to the doctor who combines medications to help the ill patient, to the banker putting together an interesting account package, to the mother homeschooling her 5 children, to the researcher who comes up with a cure for a dreaded disease. Creativity is necessary to all our lives. Where would we be if creativity was truly limited to art?

I always cringe when I hear people state emphatically that "they are not creative." To me an equivalent statement is "I don't breathe." I want to shout, "Of course you are creative! Have you ever solved a problem? Have you ever figured out a way to do something? Then you are creative." We are all creative. Sometimes we don't recognize it. Sometimes we don't have very much experience with acting creatively. Sometimes we don't trust ourselves enough to act on that creativity, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. I think creativity is an inborn part of being human.

Sometimes creativity is born out of necessity. Perhaps we don't see that type of creativity because it just seems like solving a problem. However, it is the same process. An artist and a problem-solver work in exactly the same way. They have a vision and they set about realizing that vision.

May I propose a case in point? My good friend, Debbie, posted this video on her FB page and I was incredibly inspired and humbled by the creativity in this man. It is a short clip and very worth the 3 minutes.

I hope that we all recognize the creativity in our lives. It certainly makes the world a brighter place.

I'd love to hear of your recent creative exploits. Please leave me a comment boasting of something you've done recently. I want serious boasts people. Of course, they need to be true too. Don't be all shy. Let your creative light shine. In a few days, I'll choose someone at random and send them a little something because we all need a little something in the mail every once in a while. (For heaven's sake, that's why I order so many things online! hahaha)

xoxo
B

Craft Gawker

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Shhhh...I'm about to let you in on a major secret...

Ready?

This site, Craft Gawker, is my new favorite place for inspiration. Whenever I have a few minutes and need a quick boost creatively, I travel to Craft Gawker. It is definitely worth checking out.

Have fun!

xoxo
B

Getting Big

2011-09-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

Unlike all the other artists I know, when I found out that I'd have loads of wall space to fill at the Laveen Art League Gallery Opening on Friday night, I panicked. All of my art is small. Like 12x12 is the biggest I've ever done. How could I possibly fill feet of space with my little minis? I decided that it was time that I got bigger. I pulled out the 16x20 in. canvases and got cracking.

Initially I attacked these big guys like I do my minis, but I quickly learned this wasn't the best idea. Working big requires a whole new approach. Once I got that in my head, I felt more at ease with all the space. Now that I've got a little bit of experience, I've got loads of ideas swarming like little bees in my brain. I can't wait to get them all on canvas.

Here are my first two.

The first is Spring Sky. It is going to be on display at the Laveen Art League Gallery opening on Friday. If you live in the Phoenix area, the gallery is located on the corner of 51st ave and Dobbins in Laveen. Our gala event begins at 6 and I'll be there walking around with the kiddos. I'd love to see you.

Here are a few close-ups.

The second one is However Long the Night. As of this moment, I haven't decided whether or not it will be at the gallery. I'm still going back and forth. Thoughts?

I'm quite excited about the possibilities that working big offer. I find it creatively stimulating to try something new. But, don't you worry, I'm still loving the littles. Like this Orange Elephant (6x6 in) that I finally finished. I made this background at least 3 months ago and finally settled on a subject. I think this guy is just adorable. He'll be in my booth too. I think he is the perfect addition to the loose jungle theme that I've got buzzing about.

Along the same theme is Jerry Giraffe (appearing on Friday night too). He's exactly what I love about sculpting. He measures about 11 inches tall.

While I was taking his pictures, he insisted in going outside for an extended photoshoot. I tried to convince him otherwise, I mean, it's like 120 degrees right now, but he wouldn't be swayed. Once I took this picture though, I thanked him for his stubborness.

He looks like he's really in the jungle. He felt so tough until a little ant crawled up his horns and freaked him out completely.

The final piece in my jungle theme is Wild Thing. This is another one that took me months to finish. I sculpted the lion forever ago and could never figure out where to put him. This piece will not be at the show, but it will appear in my etsy store next week. I'll update you. I've got a massive update planned as soon as this show is over. This piece is 8x10 inches not including the wire hanger.

I think this is perfect for the busy little boy.

As you can see, the lion face is 3D. I love combining 3D elements on 2D pieces. It just seems so contradictory and I like that.

I'll catch up with you again next week!

xoxo
B

On Mean Inner Critics

2011-09-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

About a month ago I had a very vivid dream in which I met my inner critic. I knew that I had a very negative voice in my head, but prior to this dream, I hadn't personalized it in any way. It was an absolutely fascinating journey into my psyche.

My dream was set in the Phoenix Art Museum. I was there for an exhibit when I happened upon the curator. (In reality, I could bump right into the curator and not know, but for some reason in my dream I recognized her.) She was of average height, dressed in a mauve wool suit and pencil skirt with straight blond hair that just hit her shoulder. Impeccable make-up. Not a hair or thread out of place. (So unlike me with my zany curls and chipping self-done pedicure.) She was probably in her 40s. (I told you this dream was vivid!)

I approached the curator in order to follow up on an email that I had sent her of my portfolio. I mentioned that I was an artist and that it was one of my goals to be included in an exhibit. I reminded her of my email and asked her if she had received it. She assented and then immediately began her destruction. She ripped my artwork apart completely. Told me that I had no talent. That I was obviously untrained. She told me that I had absolutely no chance in making it as an artist. I was an idiot for even thinking I could. She said all the things that I tell myself when I'm fragile. It was beastly.

In my dream I began to cry after her tirade. Then, something remarkable happened. I wiped away my tears and looked at myself in the mirror and realized that I was at a critical juncture in my life. I knew that I had two choices:

1. Agree with her and give up art. Retreat and risk nothing.
2. Disagree with her. Go whole heart. Risk everything. Prove her wrong.

I decided on #2. And I woke up.

When I was a kid, whenever I came home devastated because of a critical comment, my dad would advise me to Blow them away quietly. He was so right. The best course of action against critics and naysayers is to prove them wrong. And you don't need to go about proving them wrong in an obnoxious way with trumpets and drums. Simply excel. That's all. Your excellence will quiet their negative comments.

Many years ago, when a talented young man applied for medical school he was told by an adviser that he wasn't doctor material. He should give up and try something else. The young man decided that his critic was wrong. He studied, retook the MCAT and got into med school. He graduated top of his class and went on to become a very well-respected physician. Later, this very same adviser presented him with an award for excellence in medicine. Remarkable. He blew him away quietly.

Michael Jordan was cut from his 8th grade basketball team. He could have put his basketball in the bin, never to be touched again. But he didn't. He worked harder. Risked everything. And went on to become one (if not the) best basketball player in the world. He blew the world away quietly. (Okay, maybe not so quietly...)

I know that I'm not the only woman with a nasty inner critic: constantly telling me that I'm devoid of talent. (Whether it be in art, mothering, intelligence, cooking, organization, whatever.) She's really, really mean. Sometimes she puts me in a dark place. But she's wrong. Absolutely and positively wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

And I'm going to blow her away quietly.

I certainly hope that you'll do the same.

xoxo
B

A Magical World

2011-09-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Anyone who tells you that magic isn't real, isn't a mom. As a mother, I witness sparks of magic quite often. You know, all those little sparks make up for the tough days when I drop into bed exhausted after the daily battle for sanity. (I'm not exactly sure who's winning that battle, however. Is it craziness or sanity? Talk amongst yourselves...)

Yesterday contained a magical moment that I felt I should share because sometimes all we need is a little spark, right? Well, perhaps you recall this post in which I chat about sacred P.B. (pink blanket) who is absolutely beloved by a certain 2 year-old resident of our home. If you've never been introduced to PB, go and read and come back when you're done. I'll insert a picture here of Q for those of you waiting.

Back? Great. Well, we now have 2 PBs: the original "little PB" who is the favorite and "big PB" who is more like a comforter-sort of blanket and who stays on Q's bed. Yesterday afternoon, little PB was missing at naptime which was sad-ish, but somewhat routine. Little PB was found a few hours later by a rocking big sister who proudly handed him over to a grateful Q. Here's the conversation that followed.

Elyssa: I found PB!
Mom: YEAH! (Jumping up and down, and making quite a fool of herself. See above question regarding the battle for sanity.)
Quinn: (happily) Sanks Wissie! Now I have little PB! (tone changes to somber) Big PB doesn't talk.
Mom: (slightly confused) Huh. Big PB doesn't talk?
Quinn: (matter-of-fact) No.
Mom: Does little PB talk?
Quinn: Yes.
Mom: What does little PB say?
Quinn: He says.....I love you....
Mom: (wiping tear and subsequent runny nose on a ~~sleeve~~ special hankie) Oh. Wow. I love you too.

Magic. Just melts my heart.

On Vanilla Sandwich Cookies, Wonder Pets and Other Small Tidbits

2011-08-31T15:08:00.000-07:00

I'm about to get very personal here so buckle up.

I ~~think~~ know I have a problem.

I'm hopelessly addicted to Fresh and Easy's Vanilla Sandwich cookies. They are kinda like Vanilla Oreos only better. I can't just eat the suggested serving size of 2 cookies. Oh no. I end up eating an entire sleeve. Gone. Like that.

It's like I have no control over my fingers. And my teeth. They are the perfect combination of crunchy cookie shell and creamy goodness inside.

It is serious and I'm thinking that I might just have to ban them completely from existence in my home.

And to make it worse, I like to eat them while we watch The Wonder Pets. If you have small people living in your home, you may be privy to this delightfully quirky show on Nick Jr. Quinny (2 y/o) thinks that this is just the best show ever and therefore, so do I. They sing a few songs that are stuck in my head at all times. One is a phone song. It goes like this...

The phone. The phone is ringing.
The phone. I'll be right there.

You can only imagine what I sing at the top of my lungs every time the phone rings in my house, huh?

Oh, and the Wonder Pets' song is also in my head and sung about the house by both Quinn and I. Sometimes even simultaneously.

Wonder Pets. Wonder Pets. We're on our way. To save the (insert whatever animal in trouble du jour here)...
We're not to big and we're not too tough, but when we work together we can get the job done.

So now you know the real me. I'm just a big dork. (giggle...)

On a more serious note, T and I made a great discovery a few months ago. Have you ever tried Edwards brand frozen key lime pie? Holy moly people. It is delish.

Picture from the Edwards site.

So is the Hershey's creme pie. (Also made by Edwards.) Check them out if you dislike cooking, but want something awesome for the next potluck function. You'll have everyone asking for your recipe. (giggle...)

If you are chomping down on your pie and wish you had something lovely to read, I just finished Little Bee by Chris Cleave and really enjoyed it. The theme (of being a female refugee) weighs heavy, but is important for those of us living very different safe lives. While reading it, you'll wonder why you worry about all those small details (like how many vanilla sandwich cookies you eat in a day) when much more serious things are happening in the world around you. In that way, this novel is a great wake-up call. Plus, it is so poetically written that you will find yourself mulling over certain beautiful passages long after they've passed. I loved the color imagery. Especially the scene where one of the characters leaves the detainment center with a ziploc baggie filled with the color yellow. Such a pretty idea. If you've read this book, leave me a comment because I'd love to chat with you about it. Let me know if you liked it too.

On an artistic note, I recently purchased Flavor for Mixed Media by Mary Beth Shaw. I loved the visual stimulation that this how-to book provided. The techniques are gorgeous and Shaw's artwork is stunning. In this way, I will use this book for many project ideas. However, I found the organization of this book a little loose and the writing a little flimsy. Yet, the artwork is absolutely worth it. This is one you'll enjoy perusing.

Have you read any other good technique books recently? Leave me a comment because I'm always on the look-out for new ones.

On that note...Have a great day!

xoxo
B

New Online Mixed-Media Classes and Giveaway

2011-08-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

We just returned from a very busy morning of sports. C had his first practice football game in 114 degree weather. (Don't think that I'm exaggerating.) While I sat and watched him, I felt sweat drips rolling down my back and face. It wasn't very comfortable and I got a little cranky. (Just a smidge.) Don't worry though, I'm feeling better now. Air-conditioning and ice water are my new BFFs.

D also had her first volleyball camp and enjoyed it except for getting hit in the face twice. She came home with very crooked glasses. I've got some work to do this afternoon on those babies. Let's just hope I don't make them worse. (Fingers and toes crossed.)

Anyway, I promised you all kinds of special surprises and I'm excited to finally divulge...

This fall, I'm teaching not one, but TWO new online courses at My Creative Classroom! I know! Best news ever!

The first class is called All About Halloween and I'll bet you smarties can guess what the topic is....

Yep! Halloween! I knew I had the smartest bloggy readers ever! (giggle...)

Trick or Treat! Do you love spooky ghosts? Goody bags filled with candy corn? Funny spiders and spectacularly scary mini-albums and layouts?

If so, All About Halloween is for you! In this jam-packed course, taught by three amazing teachers: Kim Parkinson, Bethany Kartchner and Jennifer Priest, we'll be creating everything you need this spooky season from cute Halloween cards and goody bags to whimsical home decor to fun layouts and mini-albums to document all the precious memories. If you need inspiration this season, look no further. You are in for an entire bag of treats! No tricks!

I'm team teaching with two VIPs and each of us is taking two weeks. (I've got weeks 3-4.) The entire class is six weeks of seriously rocking instruction. I made a fun video to introduce you to the energy of the class. It contains quite a few sneaky-peeks...

Now that you are all psyched...let me tell you more about what you'll be learning in class. Here's the class syllabus.

· Week One with Kim Parkinson: Fabulous gift bags and cards using alcohol inks, distress inks and embossed metal. We'll explore ways to highlight certain areas of a design using watercolor effects with UTEE.
· Week Two with Kim Parkinson: Create a spooky coffin mini book made from cardstock. It even has an easy stitched pamphlet inside! We'll discuss embossing on metal or pliable aluminum. If you do not have access to embossable metals, no worries! Kim will give suggestions on using other household items for embossing.
· Week Three with Bethany Kartchner: BOO! This week is all about spooky ghosts. You'll meet Zeke, Spooky and a whole gaggle of adorable ghosties. We'll create not just one, but three different home decor projects based on these transparent haunts using Creative Paperclay and supplies found at your local craft store.
· Week Four with Bethany Kartchner: Silly spiders are all the rage as we further explore sculpting with Creative Paperclay. Four unique projects involving our eight-legged friends are on the docket including a Halloween wreath with a spider named Jimmy, napkin holders and Miss Samantha, the most fashionable spider in the whole arachnid kingdom. Eeek!
· Week Five with Jennifer Priest: We'll explore innovative ways to create spooky effects on three unique scrapbook pages using googly eyes, paint, ink, and more. We'll also experiment with color and quirky embellishments for a mix of "scary" pages and whimsical, child-focused pages.
· Week Six with Jennifer Priest: Memory preserving continues as Jennifer shares several versions of mini-albums to lock up all of your spooky memories using leftover decorations to create up-cycled embellishments. To top it all off, we'll create custom "spooky" woven ribbon binding using the Bind It All machine.

If you are a new scrapbooker or crafter, don't worry! We will be covering all the basics along with more advanced techniques in video demonstrations, narrated presentations, downloadable pdf tutorials, forums and a student gallery.

The second class is called Shimmering Mixed-Media Memory Boards and Shimmerz is my rocking sponsor.

Are you tired of creating beautiful scrapbook pages only to place them in binders never to be seen again? Do you have way too many awesome pictures and chunky memorabilia to place in a mini-album? Would you like to create meaningful and unique home decor?

If so, Shimmering Mixed-Media Memory Boards is for you! In this jam-packed course, sponsored by Shimmerz paints, we'll be creating beautiful mixed-media memory art to display in your home. This is scrapbooking taken to a whole new exciting level! Once you try it, you'll be hooked!

Here's a quick video introduction.

· And the class syllabus.

Week One: Introduction to Mixed-Media Memory Art, Prepwork
Week Two: Creating and Designing The Board
· Week Three: Designing a unique mini-album using paper
· Week Four: Designing a unique mini-album using fabric
· Week Five: Catch-up Week: There will not be any new technique lessons, but you will still be

inspired by our creative discussions.

· Week Six: Art Journaling Basics
· Week Seven: Creating Interesting Embellishments and Fun Stuff to make your project shine!
Week Eight: Catch-up week. Tearful parting.

Again, if you are new to mixed-media art, don't worry! We will be covering all the basics along with more advanced techniques in video demonstrations, narrated presentations, downloadable pdf tutorials, forums and a student gallery.

Now, here are the details about registering for my classes.

1. Go to My Creative Classroom and register on the site. It is free and this allows you to check out all the class offerings. Do the whole verification email thing.

2. Once you've registered on the site, go to THIS LINK to register for my classes.

3. Check out the materials lists and start gathering for classes!

Here's some more cool stuff including a GIVEAWAY!!!...

When you register for Shimmering Mixed-Media Memory Boards, you'll receive a discount on your Shimmerz order. (The details will be in the classroom.)

In celebration of the start of my online classes, I'm holding a giveaway for one spot in my Shimmering Mixed-Media Memory Boards course. This is a $45.00 value absolutely free!

All you need to do to be entered into the random drawing is to become a follower of my blog. That's it!

And...

If you want a second chance to win, simply sign-up for my free newsletter! You can find the sign-up link on my left sidebar. Or you can sign up below.

Subscribe to our newsletter

My newsletter is the third bit of exciting news. I'll be sending it out every so often and it will include announcements like new artwork in my store, new class offerings, tips and tutorials, patterns and projects, book reviews and creative inspiration. I've got all kinds of ideas brewing in my brain that I can't wait to share. I've always wanted to be a magazine editor and this is my chance! Lucky me!

I'll draw a winner on ~~September~~ October 20th. If you win, but have already registered for the class, you'll receive a refund for the entire registration fee. So don't worry about that, okay? I'll take care of it.

Happy Creating!

xoxo

Quick Video: Art Smock T-Shirt

2011-08-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

This summer a group of local artists (and I) decided to teach children's art classes. Well, you certainly can't do art classes without smocks, right? We had some t-shirts left over from a community event and I took on the challenge of converting them into smocks for the kiddos.

Since these needed to be completed in a pinch, I didn't have time to shop for ribbon ties. I needed to use what I had at home. Therefore, I developed a quick pattern that uses only a t-shirt and thread.

I'm quite pleased with how they turned out. Plus, they really withstood quite a bit of abuse.

If you are interested, I created this very quick video demonstrating my process.

The classes ended up being an amazing success and I had a blast teaching. They were so successful that we are planning on offering more in the future. If you live in the Phoenix area, we'll be teaching in October (hopefully!) and again in December and March (during school breaks). I'll update as soon as we have our curriculum in place.

Oh, and on an entirely unrelated topic...I have some very exciting news to share with you this week! Actually 3 bits of exciting news. Stay tuned!

xoxo
B

It's Good to be Back: New Shimmerz Video

2011-08-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

Hello! Everyone! (Waving wildly!)

Photo by Sara Jarvie

It is so great to be back! I know that I planned on taking a break until September, but I just couldn't wait any longer. I missed everyone. I have oodles of noodles to share with you, but I won't inundate you all at once. Goodness, you'd never finish reading.

I hope that everyone had a lovely summer. Even though it is still over 100 degrees here in Phoenix, summer is long gone. The 3 oldest sweeties have been back in school for 3 weeks now and we've settled into a pattern that seems to suit us well. We are busier than ever with Cam in flag football, Lyssie in gymnastics and Dani starting volleyball soon and Zo's soccer starting up shortly. My afternoons are spent shuffling people here and there, creating very quick meals on the cuff and helping with homework. Luckily, just prior to the commencement of taxi/meal service, I've got a nice 2 hours of naptime to create my little heart out. I live for naptime. (Ahhh...)

Anyway, while I was on break, I guested for the Shimmerz Education team. Boy, do I love Shimmerz. I did a very quick project that provides instant satisfaction.

I created these beautiful flowers using Shimmerz mists and plastic flowers from Hobby Lobby.

They are beautiful as accents on belts as well as hair.

Enjoy the video!

Happy Creating!

xoxo
B

On Focus

2011-05-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

Focus....it is a hard thing for me to do.

I seriously think sometimes that I might have adult ADD. I go from project to project. Starting things left and right. It's the finishing that causes me issues. I'd like to blame it on the kiddos, but even when they are asleep and I'm on my little lonesome, I skip about chasing butterflies until I find myself completely lost in the daisy field. (Figuratively, of course.)

I can't be the only one this happens to, right?

Recently, I've been inspired by a Melody Ross post about taking a 90 day FB break and a email blast from Visionary Mom in which she had me answer the question: "What isn't working for you?" As I pondered the these thoughts while watching children in the pool, I came up with a few deep thoughts about my blog. Which, lately, has been hemorrhaging energy like crazy-pants. Poor thing, it's been limping along without direction for a few months now. It needs a new vision, but that vision hasn't manifested itself to me yet.

And I need time to figure it all out.

I also need time to figure out how I want to run my new small business: Creative Ruminations. I started it about a month ago and all I have right now is a logo.

Cute, huh? But, a business needs more than just a logo to work. It needs direction and ummm...focus.

I also just signed on to teach classes at My Creative Classroom in the fall which I'm majorly excited about. Like so excited that I can't wait. I'm developing this whole new concept in scrapbooking/mixed-media that I'm just itching to introduce to the world, but I need time to flush out the details. To refine it. (Hop over to MCC and sign up for their newsletter so you don't miss any of the amazing classes coming up in the fall. They have a really awesome faculty that I'm thrilled to be joining!) I need to focus.

Oh, and there is that brave thing that I did last week that I'm waiting to hear the results of and if it works out, I'm going to need a plethora of time and...well...focus...to pull it off. I'd love to share more, but I'm still too nervous about it.

Because of all these reasons, I've made a big-girl decision. I'm going to take a summer break from blogging. Yep, that's right. I'm going to take the next 3 months off. I'll still be updating my FB account and my YouTube channel so if you haven't befriended me or subscribed, now would be a great time. I'll still be working on my art and I've got plans to produce more video tutorials, but I won't be posting anything here until September 2011. However, I'm sure that I'll be popping in to renovate so you may see changes in the design or organization.

I'm hoping that this will allow me quiet time to define the direction of Creative Ruminations, develop my classes and actually focus for a change. Plus, it certainly couldn't hurt to catch up on months...months, I tell you, of unanswered comments. How did I get so behind? Oh yeah, I had my 6th baby and I'm the mother of Quinn, 2-year-old-extraordinaire.

Anyway, I hope that you have an absolutely lovely summer break and I'll see you again in the fall.

XOxOoXxoO (extra points if you know the reference...I'll give you a teeny-tiny hint...Nacho)

Bethany

Great Find: Free Sewing Patterns

2011-05-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

While checking up on my favorite blogs (which unfortunately doesn't happen as often as I'd like) I stumbled across Free Pattern Month going on at the Grosgrain blog. If you sew, you are going to go absolutely crazy here. I can't wait to get started on this skirt pattern for my girls.

and this pattern for my boys. Don't you LOVE those stripey pants on the right? Good heavens!

There are actually so many patterns that I want to try that I'm just itching from head to toe with excitement.

I hope that you have a great long weekend!

xoxo
Bethany

Meet LeeAnn

2011-05-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

Sweet LeeAnn loves to dance. She's been a ballerina since she turned three. She tries so hard to do each position perfectly. So hard that sometimes her mouth gets all screwy and her eyes glaze over in concentration.

She's been told by other more classically trained ballerinas that she didn't have the typical ballerina's body. The she would never be good enough. That she should quit.

LeeAnn doesn't let their ignorant words stop her.

She just keeps on dancing.

Simply because it makes her so very very happy.

LeeAnn has danced her way into my heart and my etsy shop.

A Bit of Baby Advice

2011-05-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

I would never ever claim to be an expert on babies. Yes, I have some experience, but I make so many mistakes that I could never pretend to know more than the next person. That being said, I do have two small tips that I believe are worth sharing with the world. Who knows, maybe these little nuggets of (what I deem to be) wisdom will help another baby momma struggling to answer two of life's important questions.

A picture of me taken in 1976

1. How the heck do you clip a baby's fingernails without catching their little skin?
2. How the heck do you get a baby to sleep through the night?

It took me 6 babies to finally figure out how to clip fingernails without clipping tender skin too. (I'm a very slow learner, people.) When little Zo (now 7) was born, I tried to clip her amazingly long nails and ended up clipping her skin too. Made me feel absolutely terrible. I'll never forget that experience. Luckily, she has long since forgiven me. However, it made me very queasy about trying again. This lead to many scratched faces until I tried something new with baby #6. (Lucky boy!)

What I do now is instead of positioning the clippers parallel to the baby's nail, I position the clippers perpendicular to the nail. I make one vertical clip in the center of each nail. Then, I peel away both sides of the nail with my fingers. This prevents me from catching any skin and makes the whole procedure much less scary for me and less painful for baby.

Sleeping through the night....every newborn parent's dream. Yes, I think that it is possible before the child is 6 months old. In fact, I developed a theory that I tested on two of my babies with wonderful results. Keep in mind, however, that my babies are freakishly large (the smallest was 7 lbs 8 oz) and quite healthy. I don't have any doctor's orders telling me to feed my child ever 2 hours and I've never dealt with a preemie.

My theory is that a baby needs a certain number of calories in a day. The baby's body internally regulates this need. Meaning, once a baby reaches its proscribed calories for the day, he no longer feels the desire to eat. So what I do is I try to feed the baby as much as possible during the day. I don't let him nap for longer than 2-3 hours without waking him to eat. Anytime he fusses, I feed him. During the day, I'm an on-demand nurser. Sometimes, when the baby is very new, I'm feeding hourly. (Somewhat exhausting, but worth it when I get a good night's sleep!) When nighttime rolls around, I feed him one last time, then I let him sleep as long as he desires. Using this method, Q slept through the night at 3 months and Wy slept through the night at 2 months. (From 7 PM to 6 AM is my definition of "sleeping through the night.") They could be anomalies, but two in a row gives me some confidence in my theory.

Again, I'd like to reiterate that I'm not an expert, but I thought that perhaps some sleepy scared-to-clip mother might get something out of this post.

If these tips do help, it would mean a lot of me if you let me know. (Plus, it would give my set-calorie-theory more credibility.)

Happy Clipping and Snoozing!

xoxo
Bethany

A Bit of Chat

2011-05-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

I feel like doing a chatty sort of post today just to catch you up on all the little things that I've been doing lately. It has been quite a bit of time since I just chatted.

This morning, I went to Wyatt's 6 month appointment. (Can you believe my baby is already 6 months old? Where did the time go?) The verdict? He is quite healthy and insanely tall for his age. Like inches off the top of the chart which makes his tall momma proud. Quinn didn't fare so well. He was diagnosed with an earache. Poor guy.

Now back to Wyatt...he has joined the thumb-sucking team in the family (making it a total of 3 children. I too sucked my thumb, although I've long since quit that habit for other, more fun habits like eating chocolate and biting my nails when I'm nervous. Yeah, I know...) I find it fascinating that my three suckers all suck their thumbs differently. Wy has a side suck thing going on.

Probably later when he matures, this side-action will allow him to freely pick his nose while sucking. Accomplishing two things at once. WTG potential future multi-tasker! I can only hope...giggle...

Anyway, after his visit, I rewarded myself for keeping both him and his very rambunctious brother, Quinny, (along with 4 other busy bodies) alive for 6 months straight by visiting the art store. (After all, a mother must celebrate every little victory, right?) It had been quite a while since I stepped foot into a real art supply store and it was like walking straight into heaven. I found so many wonderful things that all I wanted to do was toodle about, reading labels, touching paintbrushes and fingering paint tubes. Then Quinn (safely tied up in the stroller) grabbed a glass jar of ink and swung it about. Luckily, I have reflexes like a semi-lame cat and I snatched it from his little hands before disaster struck. After that, I kinda sped up my walk though heaven while Wyatt, safely in a pack on my back pulled on my hair and Elyssa chatted about various subjects at random. Let me tell you people, heaven ain't peaceful.

Anyway, that was pretty much my morning. This afternoon we are off to Hobby Lobby to pick up a few supplies for the sewing projects that I've undertaken. I'm currently sewing a dress for Zoey's upcoming baptism and confirmation, and two skirts and a tunic for moi using the following Amy Butler patterns. I won't be able to wear the tunic until Wy is done nursing in about 6 months, but that is about the time frame I've given myself so it all works out pretty well.

I set up a large table behind my couch for my sewing. Yes, I've exploded out of my studio. You'd think that three tables in my studio would be enough, but it isn't. The sewing table in the family room allows me to indulge in a bit of t.v. while I sew which I find to be a lovely way to pass the evening hours. I love watching a little something while I sew. My favorites are British movies like Jane Austen films. There is something about their accents that make me feel so homey and a bit exotic. Plus, these are movies that are just not appreciated by the general population of the household. Cam once summed up Pride and Prejudice in these words: "all they do is walk and talk." Yes, they are so not appreciated.

I suppose that is all for now. I hope you have a lovely weekend! Ours will be spent working on a science fair project on tornadoes. We'll be making a real-live tornado in a few pop bottles. It should be very fun. Too bad explosions and live animals were deemed illegal by the school judges. Now, a little explosion would have made life quite exciting. Don't you think?

xoxo
Bethany

Inspiration Thursday: Take A Break

2011-05-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I undertook a few projects that really challenged me creatively. I decided to incorporate colors that I normally don't use, combine mediums that I normally don't combine and I found myself feeling very frustrated at the end of my studio session. So frustrated that I put everything down and didn't touch an artistic thing for an entire week. After my week of rest, I came back to those projects rejuvenated and relaxed with fresh eyes. I realized that my stuff wasn't so bad after all. In fact, it was salvageable.

Sometimes breaks are all you need to recharge the creative juices. I highly suggest them.

One project is still in the incomplete stage, but the second one is finished. It is called Believe in the Dream. It is a reminder to always follow your dreams and believe in yourself.

The girl is modeled after my own Zoey with her brown hair and eyes.

The stars are dimensional with the gesso technique that I taught in my live UStream class.

I just listed this piece in my etsy store if you are interested. It is my very first listing and I'm pretty excited!

xoxo
Bethany

Inspiration Tuesday: Scramble Through

2011-05-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

You may (or may not) have noticed that I haven't posted much artwork lately. For that I apologize. I would love to share my recent creations with you. However, lately I've been creating for a very specific purpose. It is a grand scheme that may (or may not) pan out into anything, but I've got to give it a go.

Unfortunately, I'm not quite ready to share what I'm doing. The idea is still so fragile: its wings are still weak and wet. Once it grows stronger, I'll shout it from the rooftops and you will certainly be among the first to hear its echos.

This idea is something that I've mulled about for quite some time. At first, I was too nervous to act upon it, but I decided that anxiety for possible failure was no way to live a life: too nervous to pursue a dream. Silly me. I've got absolutely nothing to lose. Nothing.

"The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can." --Robert Cushing

I'm jumping in, baby.

Inspiration Thursday: On Boulders and Muscari

2011-05-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Nature has a way of combining colors, doesn't she? I'm taken aback by the vivid violet on these little muscari that I discovered growing near a bolder in Pueblo, Colorado.

Combined with the neutral of the rock and the vivid green, it makes for a lovely color scheme. (I'm a poet and I didn't even know it...giggle)

Inspiration Tuesday: Swimsuits

2011-05-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

I'm not normally into swimsuits. In fact, I find shopping for them an incredibly painful experience and try to avoid it at all costs. However, when I came across Shabby Apple, I learned how beautiful a swimsuit can be and now I really really want a new one. My fave is this sweet one in teal called Isola.

Or this one with the bottom ruffle. How cute is that?

Actually, I could see myself in most of those pretties. Don't you love the sash?

And the tie?

Lovely.

Road Trip to Pueblo, Colorado

2011-05-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we took a short road trip to Pueblo, Colorado to see my exhibit at Buell Children's Museum. It was so worth the 24 hours in the car with 6 small people.

First of all, Buell Children's Museum is amazing. The curators have done a fabulous job making it inspirational, child-centered, and organized. I can't emphasize enough how impressed I was. Every one of my children had a fabulous time creating and exploring. We spent over 4 hours there without even realizing it. A sign of a great place, I'd say.

Second, the adult gallery attached to the Children's museum is filled with gorgeous artwork and the sweetest docents you've ever encountered. Usually, when I walk into a room with 6 small children, I get rolled eyes, frowns and someone following us around to make sure that my children behave properly. (Of course, I know this is their job and I don't blame them. However, I work tirelessly on discipline and on teaching my children how to act properly so when I get automatic frowns, it is a little disheartening.) I am so appreciative of people who give me the benefit of the doubt!

Third, the town of Pueblo is amazing itself. The residents are obviously putting a lot of time and energy into making it beautiful with a new riverwalk, stunning architecture and artwork scattered throughout. Quite impressive. The older 4 kids and I took a walking adventure in the late afternoon and had a blast. (Of course, the candy/magic shoppe added to the general enthusiasm of the group.)

Fourth, the people in Pueblo from Buell to the town were so nice! Even the children noticed and commented on how kind every was to us. I felt right at home there. Great place.

Because I know that you are dying to see my exhibit in person (giggle) I created this short video for you. The music just seemed to fit the energy of the group perfectly. I hope that you like it.

On a personal note, I can't tell you how amazing it was for me to see my artwork displayed in a museum. It was pretty surreal. Five years ago, I never ever in a million bajillion years would have even thought it possible. This experience has taught me that you just never know. You can't possibly put a cap on your own (or anyone else's) potential. You are capable of greatness. Everyone is. I have proof.

Inspiration Thursday: Fabrics in Italy

2011-04-28T06:27:00.000-07:00

This video made me see clothing designers in a new light. It is a quick watch, but I love the idea of searching for fabrics in Europe. (I found this video here.)

Wouldn't you just love to touch those gorgeous books? And the fabrics? My goodness.

Have a great day!

xoxo
Bethany

Recent Publications

2011-04-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a smidge behind on posting my newest publication news, but that's just what happens sometimes. I'm not sure how your April went, but mine sped by lightening fast!

I'm quite excited that I appeared again in Somerset Apprentice as one of the Pros! (I think that I fell off my chair when Jana emailed me about being an actual PRO. Don't worry, the bump on my head didn't hurt too much. hahaha)

The article is a mini interview of my creative process and I'm pleased with how it turned out. Thank you again to Sara Jarvie for taking that awesome pic of me!

Here's a pic of the layout. I didn't realize how wordy I was until I got the magazine. Whew!

I'm also thrilled that I appeared three times in the last Somerset Studio.

Here are the projects.

Oh, and I forgot! I'm also in the latest Somerset Memories!

Here are my projects.

Boy, I'm a lucky girl, aren't I!

Inspiration Tuesday: Jealosy vs Inspiration

2011-04-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

This quote has been floating around FaceBook for a bit. (I snagged it from Sasha Burns Holloway.) I found it quite insightful and wanted to share it with you.

"To be jealous of another is to see their greatness and want what they have. To be inspired by another is to see their greatness and suddenly realize you have it within you as well. Jealousy keeps you stuck where you are while inspiration opens your mind and heart to new and unlimited possibilities. Be inspired by someone today." (Reposted courtesy of Nicole Zass)

Have a great day!

B

Giveaway: Miss Arts Subscription

2011-04-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how much fun I had chatting with everyone during my class last Wednesday! It was so stimulating that I had trouble sleeping. I seriously love teaching! I hope that everyone that attended got just half as much out of the class as I did. If you missed the class, you can view it on UStream. I recorded it so it will be available forever. Yipes!

This is the last week before Miss Arts opens on May 1st! Yeah! Unfortunately, this means that today is the last day that I'll have a giveaway for a free month's subscription to Miss Arts. Make sure you leave a comment so you'll be entered. I noticed that most people's fave supply is paper! So tell me your fave paper company in your comment. I think that my fave would be My Mind's Eye. Anyone else love them lots?

I'm so excited to announce that last week's winner of a month's subscription to Miss Arts is RUTH! Yeah! Congrats! Ruth, email me and I'll hook you up.

My class is winding down, but the famous Stacy Cohen is next month's teacher. This girl is so talented! And so sweet! She accidentally received one of my layouts in the mail (long, strange story) and when I sent her a check to pay for the shipping costs to return it to me, she tore it up. (I'm just abiding my time. She will get reimbursed...someday...giggle.)

Anyway, here's the description for Stacy's class. I'm so intrigued!

There once was a girl who found her escape in a secret garden. While she worked to bring the flowers to bloom and the garden to life her soul was refreshed, and her creativity was sparked. In “The Secret Garden” Layout Class, teacher Stacy Cohen brings you layouts and techniques inspired by both flower gardens and by the “Madeline’s Song” Miss Art’s Papercrafting School kit.

Join Stacy in this 201 class to learn techniques for creating a shadowbox effect on your layouts, adding dimension through layering, and creating beautiful floral clusters. You will also have the chance to see a step-by-step demonstration on how Stacy creates her crocheted pages. Join Stacy in “The Secret Garden” on May 1, 2011.

Have a great week!

xoxo
Bethany

Inspiration Thursday: Easter Bunnies and Pretty Dresses

2011-04-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

I won't believe you if you tell me that you didn't sigh when you saw these adorable bunnies.

Seriously people. Aren't these just the cutest? They are snagged from the Purl Soho site which, by the way, is a major source of inspiration. Just the colors on the banner have my heart flippy flopping.

Oh, and since we are on the topic of inspiration, check out Lily Pulitzer's design house for some beautifully unique clothing using these gorgeous fabrics. (Insert sigh...)

Aren't those cakes (in the top left corner) just delish enough to eat?

Good Gravy, I love spring!

Happy Thursday!

xoxo
Bethany

Today's the Day!

2011-04-20T05:00:00.001-07:00

Just a quick reminder that tonight is my FREE LIVE mixed-media memory mini-class. Whew. Try saying that three times fast. We'll be starting at 7 PM Pacific/ 8 PM Mountain/ 9 PM Central/ 10 PM Eastern.

I'll be demonstrating a cute boy memory project then I'll open up for questions.

All you need to do to participate is to follow this link.

See you very soon!

xoxo
Bethany

Inspiration Tuesday: Just Be You

2011-04-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

I was recently directed to this talk given by Caroline Casey via a good friend, Ruth, and I was so inspired that I wanted to share it with you. It isn't too long and it is well worth listening to.

Did that bring tears to your eyes? She certainly is gifted in the art of speech.

I found this video of Caroline Casey amazingly inspirational because of three main reasons.

1. I'm awed that her parents were able to raise her without labeling her or coddling her. Kudos to them.
2. Her resiliency when she discovered her limitations at age 17.
3. Her amazing spirit of adventure and fearlessness.

I feel like a stronger person today. I hope you do too.

Join Me Wednesday

2011-04-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday I'll be teaching a live class for Stash-to-Treasure at 7 PM Pacific. (8 PM Mountain, 9 PM Central, 10 PM Eastern) So exciting! Here's the project that I'll be demonstrating.

Here are a few close-ups.

It is a boy memory canvas. I think that the world needs more cute boy stuff so I'm trying to do my part. (giggle)

Miss Arts will be having live classes and chats each month which I think is really awesome. I love the idea of "meeting" other artists and gleaning great tips from them. This is sure to be a program that you don't want to miss.

Make sure that you leave a comment for a chance to win a free month's subscription to Miss Arts! I think that this will be a wonderfully creative site! Because I'd like to get to know you a bit better, when you leave a comment, please tell me your favorite art supply. Do you like paint? paper? clay? glitter?

See you on Wednesday! Be there or be square...

xoxo
Bethany

Just Call Me Tiger

2011-04-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

My boys have a thing for tigers. Q spends most of his time growling and roaring while crawling on the ground. C is only slightly less obsessed if only because he is aware of the opinions of others. So when we went to a cool-dude birthday party last week that had a face painter, C requested a tiger face. Boy, did he get one.

Is that not impressive? I think I may have found a brand new medium to explore...

Another Miss Arts Winner

2011-04-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

I'm so pleased to announce the lucky winner of a month's subscription to Miss Art's...Becky! Yeah! Congrats!

Tune in next Monday for another chance to win!

xoxo
Bethany

Live Mixed-Media Memory Class

2011-04-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to announce that I'll be teaching a LIVE mixed-media memory class April 20, 2011 at 7 PM Pacific time. (That is 8 PM Mountain, 9 PM Central and 10 PM Eastern.)

Here's a sneak peek of the project that I'll be demonstrating.

I'll post the entire project later this week.

After the demonstration, I'll be opening the floor to a question/answer session. Now is your chance to ask me all your creativity questions. (I'll do my darnest to answer them all too!)

As if the thought of chatting live with me isn't enough.....giggle....everyone who attends will be entered into a giveaway for a free bottle of Shimmerz Coloringz in my favorite color: No Yolking.

This is one hour you won't want to miss. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 20, 2011!

Here's how to get into the virtual classroom. Follow this link on 4.20.11 around 7 PM Pacific and wait to see my lovely face. (I'll be wearing a brand new gorgeous green flowered apron that my momma just made for me strictly for TV appearances.) No password is required. This mini-class is free to everyone!

See you soon!

xoxo
Bethany

More on Miss Art's Papercrafting School

2011-04-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to chat a bit more about Miss Art's Papercrafting School.

Miss Art's Papercrafting School is a virtual academy for every student who wants to learn the latest
techniques from the industry's leading experts. Subscriptions to our monthly classes start at $5.00 and include live online chats and personal email responses from your favorite designers. Consisting of 2-12 videos with unlimited monthly access each class is the perfect blend of individualized crafting and supportive learning. You may purchase our reasonable kits to compliment your course or pull items from your
own stash using our detailed supply lists. Learn why going back to school has never been more fun at Miss Art's Papercrafting School.

Here is a breakdown on prices.

$5 201 Subscription

Miss Art's 201 classes are composed of 10-12 videos, and are perfect for the crafter seeking to learn new moderate to advanced skills and detailed techniques. In these monthly classes, our industry-leading teachers bring you 8-12 videos taking you through a detailed project, and teaching you every technique they usealong the way. As a 201 student, you will have the unique opportunity to participate in a live online chat and receive personal email responses from the teacher.

$10 101 Subscription
Miss Art's 101 classes are posted every 10 days, and are designed for the crafter who loves having a constant flow of new ideas, fun tips, and techniques. These classes are video based, and range in length from 2-6 videos. As a 101 student, you will have access to live online chats with some of your favorite designers and teachers, as well as personal email responses every time you have a question.

$15 Extra Credit Subscription
Miss Art's Extra Credit subscription includes access to all of our classes, at the 101 and 201 levels, providing you with a total of 4 new classes every month. As an Extra Credit student, you will also receive a
Library Pass, which will enable you to see classes that have been posted for 90 days and archived in the library.

The class that is ongoing right now is All About Me (my class!) which is considered a 201 level class. Here's a basic description for you.

We all want to be remembered for the vivid and complex lives we have lived. In the All About Me 201 level class we will go beyond everyday journaling to convey our emotions and personality, while we create an album that will project who we are to those who will wonder years from now who we were. From selecting the perfect embellishments to learning customizable mixed media techniques, I will guide you via more then 10 videos on a voyage of self-discovery, teaching you the fun and crafty secrets of leaving an honest and truthful legacy all along the way.

Stampington's Create With Me

2011-04-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

I've got very exciting news! Check out this link!

Here's the info copied directly from the site. (I don't think they'll mind...)

New Publication Available July 1st!

Summer 2011

The premiere issue of Create With Me brings together a wonderful variety of fun and
inspiring artwork from artists of all ages. Six-year-old Beech Love sent us his softies, which
he designed and machine stitched himself. Bethany Kartchner and her daughters, Danika
and Zoey, are sharing their Power Plaques — pieces of mixed-media art that celebrate
self-esteem. Pictured here are handmade art portfolios made by Lilly Grace Oles and
Olivia Oles for a safe and special place to keep their treasured works of art. Within the
pages of Create With Me you will also find inspiring blogs, ideas for artistic outings,
heartfelt stories, and much, much more. Share the joy of art with a child in your life,
and pre-order Create With Me today!

I can't wait until July 1st! If you are interested, you can pre-order Create With Me right now.

Miss Art's Winner

2011-04-06T05:35:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all of your supportive comments about Miss Art's! I'm so pleased that you like my class! I randomly chose a winner from the comments so....

Congratulations to Melissa W! She is the winner of a free month subscription to Miss Art's!

Be sure to check back next Monday as I'll choose another winner.

See you soon!

Miss Art's Papercrafting School

2011-04-04T03:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wished there was a school which only taught your favorite classes, that had the best teachers and where tuition was so affordable it left you plenty to buy the most stylish school supplies?

Miss Art's Papercrafting School is a virtual academy for every student who wants to learn the latest techniques from the paper crafting industry's leading experts and it is opening its doors for the first time in 26 days.

Subscriptions to our monthly classes start at $5.00 and include live online chats and personal email responses from your favorite designers. Consisting of 2-12 videos with unlimited monthly access each class is the perfect blend of individualized crafting and supportive learning. You may purchase our reasonable kits to compliment your course or pull items from your own stash using our detailed supply lists.

To countdown to our grand opening select teachers and staff will be participating in a month long blog celebration. Be sure to check back each Monday as I will be sharing information about Miss Art’s with you.

Right now my class, All About Me, is running. We are making a personal mixed-media album and I'm really excited about it! Here's a little tiny sneak peek.

You can see more sneak peeks in my video.

Here is a sample lesson for your perusal. (This lesson is not part of the 16 videos that are included in the class.)

Nervous about trying something new? Most new students have a few first day jitters so we want to give you the chance to get to know us better.

Here's the important stuff! Read the next part carefully!

Each business day (Monday-Friday) in the month of April we will be giving away one free monthly all access Extra Credit subscription to a lucky winner who leaves a comment on the staff member of the day’s post and posts our count down blinkie in their sidebar! You can pick up the countdown blinkie right here. (Just copy the code (Control-C) and paste it into your sidebar using the Add HTML/Java option in your DESIGN tab in blogger.)

Miss Art’s Papercrafting School Blog Celebration Schedule

Monday: ME!

Tuesday: Heidi Kelley

Wednesday: CarrieAnne Deloach

Thursday: Stacy Cohen

Friday: Alyssa McGrew

Thanks for stopping by and celebrating with Miss Art’s as we count down to the best first day of school ever!

Today's the Day!

2011-04-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of my All About Me online class! If you haven't signed up yet, head over to Stash-to-Treasure to do so!

Because I had so much info, we had to divide my class into 10 days. Also, if you purchase Shimmerz for the class, please let them know that I sent you. (Just mention my class in the notes section of the order form.)

I hope that you enjoy class!

xoxo
Bethany

Flying Time

2011-03-31T14:53:00.000-07:00

Good Gravy! Has is really been more than a week since my last post? As a child, I never believed those adults who consistently stated that time flies. For I had great proof that time in fact did not fly: it seemed almost an eternity between Christmases. After all, it was almost 10 years between the Christmases of my youth.

Yet, here I am as an adult...adamant that time really does fly. In fact, Christmases have sped up considerably over the years and now they are only about 6 months apart. Tragic really. I never can seem to catch up. I am always caught in a state of recovering from Christmas and preparing for the next one. The only consolation is that it seems that everyone I know is stuck in that same time-warp-loop.

I really do have a great many excuses for my more-than-a-week hiatus. First, my mother and littlest sister were in town for a few days. I spend every single spare moment chatting with them. I love having another adult living in the house with me, even if it only lasts a few days. It is so nice to have someone politely speak back to you, in complete sentences, as you babble about during the day. Another perk is that there is someone around to verify that you aren't going crazy as you run from task to task. It really is refreshing to know that the things that you find difficult like driving schedules, really are difficult. You are not just a wimper-bimper.

Second, baby Wy is in the midst of teething which means that he isn't taking a regular afternoon nap as required by law. He's fussy and needy from the hours of 1-3 PM which is my only time to do things like blog, work in the studio and think clearly. I'm finding my thoughts scrambling like little fruit flies over an overripe apple. Quite disconcerting, I might add.

Third, I came down with mastitis once again. It seems to be a regular thing now. Every 6 weeks I'm achy and moany for a few days until the antibiotics kick in and restore me to my happy self. Such a bummer.

Fourth (as if I need to explain myself further) in those rare moments of somewhat solitude, I've been working on our taxes which isn't one of my favored activities. Doing the taxes puts me in a crabbish sort of mood. I'm sure you understand.

Fifth, I've been busy planting our vegetable garden and working in our flowerbeds. (Oh! How I love growing things!) We just planted 8 rose bushes, a fruit salad tree (nectarine, peach and plum branches grafted onto a trunk) and I'm currently building a raised garden for each of the children. Although I find this work to be exciting and replenishing, it still sucks up much of my open hours.

Finally, I've been busy planning new adventures that include starting up a youth theater in our local community, starting a new program at the kids' elementary school and starting my own business. Yes, I'm crazy. Completely and thoroughly crazy.

But, I can take a lovely picture of Peace, one of my new roses. Let me show you.

I love how the children are as invested in the gardens as I am. They know each of the roses by name and eagerly refer to them like members of our family. "Mom, have you seen Mr. Lincoln today?" They'll ask me. "He's got a new bloom! So red!"

They each took one perfect bloom to their teachers yesterday. It was a very thrilling adventure for each of them. We carefully wrapped each of the cut stems in a wet paper towel and placed them in a sandwich baggie. The presentation may have been primitive, but their feelings were quite tender. I smiled as I dropped each of them off, carefully clutching their beautiful rose, backpacks on their backs. Good gravy, I love these people.

All About Me: Sample Lesson

2011-03-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

In case you weren't excited enough about my new Shimmerz class: All About Me...

I've got a sample lesson for you to view! This sample lesson is not included in the 16 videos that are in the class. So you're getting a little bit extra.

In this short excerpt, I demonstrate how I created the peek-a-boo page on the cover of my mixed-media album.

Enjoy!

You can register for my class at the Stash-To-Treasure site. What you need to do is register on the site. Then, once you are registered choose to become a subscriber. The entire class is only $5.00. Class begins April 1, 2011.

See you there!

xoxo
Bethany

The Point of Being Alive

2011-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

I think that I'm kinda in a midlife re-centering. I'm not sure exactly what brought it on. It isn't like I focus a lot on my age. In fact, sometimes I have to think about it when someone asks me. Yet, lately, I've been evaluating myself more than usual. It is like I'm rediscovering me: what I enjoy...what I don't...

I'm amazed by all the things that I've forced myself to do over the years simply because I thought that I was supposed to. Things that I thought would make me a better mother, wife, daughter, sister if I did them. Things that I don't enjoy at all. Things that aren't me. For example, I don't really enjoy cooking. Yes, I do it because my family likes to eat, (darn them!) but I've felt guilty for years because I'm not the woman who always has cookies coming out of the oven or fresh muffins for breakfast. I don't volunteer to make meals for people very often. My kids make their own lunches. Get their own snacks. (Horror!) I've tried to like it. I've tried to make hot breakfasts each morning. I've tried to make myself into Betty Crocker, but my feet are too wide for her shoes. They give me blisters. However, I'm pretty good at teaching. I like to answer interesting science questions and to do experiments. (Bring on that toy volcano!) I like to fiddle around in the garden. (Giant pumpkins, anyone?) I like to take pictures. I like to read.

I'm finally learning that it's okay to let the cooking slide a little: buy the muffin mix instead of making everything from scratch (even though it probably would be much healthier and more economical) so that I have the mental energy to chat about the ocean floor for 20 minutes with a 5 year-old. Or plant a garden with a 9 year-old. Or read a book. Or take an impromptu picture of a double rainbow. Yeah, that's much more me-like.

"The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be. I believe you can only do this when you stop long enough to hear the whisper you might have drowned out, that small voice compelling you toward the kind of work you'd be willing to do even if you weren't paid. And what you do once you turn down the noise of your life and hear that call? You face the biggest challenge of all: to have the courage to seek your big dream regardless of what anyone else says or thinks. You are the only person alive who can see your big picture -- and even you can't see it all." --Oprah Winfrey

I'm learning to listen to that whisper.

Learning to let the guilt go.

Gathering my courage.

Just to be me.

Registering for All About Me

2011-03-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've had quite a few inquiries about how to register for my All About Me: A Personal Mixed-Media Mini-Album class and upon visiting the site, I can see why. It is a little confusing, but here's the 411.

1. Go to Stash to Treasure.
2. Read through the information. At the bottom of the info, just before the ads, there is a link to log in or register.
3. Click on the register link.
4. You will register for free.
5. Once you are registered, choose to become a subscriber.
6. My class will be available on April 1st.

Here's the link to the info on becoming a subscriber.

If you have any other questions, please email me or leave me a comment.

I hope this helps!

Local Class Reminder

2011-03-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to remind you of my Paperclay Face Sculpting class in Phoenix, Arizona this Saturday, March 19th. There are still a few spaces available!

For more information or to register, please visit the R2 Designs website.

I hope to see you there!

All About You -- A New Online Class

2011-03-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to tell you all about a new online class that I'll be teaching April 2011 at Stash to Treasure. The name of the class is All About You. In class, we'll be working together to create a personal mixed-media mini-album all about you. Yes, you.

Watch this short video and you'll know why I chose this topic.

The class consists of more than 12 videos, prompts, inspiration and mixed-media paint techniques galore. You'll be getting all this for only $5.00. Yes, for only the price of a lunch at MacDos. (My class is sugar-free and fat-free too!) giggle...

You can register for class here.

I hope that you join me!

xoxo
Bethany

Nice Accessories

2011-03-09T04:37:00.000-08:00

I don't know of any other nine year-olds with accessories like Miss Dani: this girl has the most beautiful nails and hair I've ever seen. She could be a hand model. They are that beautiful. (She didn't inherit my achy-breaky nails, that's for sure...)

Check out the little finger on the left side of the picture. Yeah, I know, pretty amazing.

And her long locks. Gorgeous.

What a beauty.

Soccer Star

2011-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

We really enjoyed soccer season this year with 3 children in the program. It was Lyssie's very first year in the four year old group. (She was so proud to be big enough to play!) She loved running around waving her beautiful ponytail behind her. I have to admit, she was one beautiful princess soccer player...

Cam and Zo were on the same team which was really fun. (Too bad Zo moves up to the older league next season.) It was amazing to see how much each of them improved by the end of the 6 weeks.

The last game of the season for Zo and Cam's team was incredibly exciting. They really played hard and by the end of the game the score was tied 1-1. So they lined up for penalty kicks. I was a nervous wreck (bye-bye fingernails!) when Zo was chosen to defend against the other team as the goalie, but I needn't have worried. She blocked every single kick: with her hands and with her chest. It was amazing. Nothing got past her. I was so proud of her!

Then, as if I needed more...every player had finished kicking his/her penalty kick and the score was still 1-1. That is everyone except for Zo. She was the very last person. The ball was placed on the ground. She backed up. Focused. Ran toward the ball. Kicked it with all her might...the ball soared...and...

She SCORED! Winning the game! I shrieked with joy! (And, I caught the game winning shot...yeah me!)

Whew, just writing about it, makes my heart thump a bit faster! I'm one proud momma.

Best Mail Day Ever

2011-03-04T11:51:00.000-08:00

This week my momma sent me a wonderful package filled with home sewn goodness. It was really fun to open a box filled with such love.

She made me the best diaper bag/purse ever. It is big enough to fit almost everything in my life: diapers, changes of clothes, toy trucks, wallet, phone, sketch pad, books and magazines. I totally love it. Plus, it is really mod and the straps are wide enough that they don't cut into my shoulder. I'm seriously styling now!

She also sent the cutest pants ever for baby Wy. You can't tell me that this bum-bum pic doesn't make you smile. I simply won't believe you.

And these cuffs are to die for, n'est-ce pas?

Plus, the pants are reversible which makes them even more fun. I've already placed another order for at least 3 more. (giggle...)

This week has been a busy one creatively even though I can't share any completed projects yet. I've been working on a few pieces as a contributor for a new technique book coming out. Pretty darn exciting, I must say. Although, I'm feeling a slight bit of pressure. I'm also finishing up my April class videos and getting that all organized. Sometime next week, I need to edit 3 hours of footage which is slightly daunting, to say the least. All I can say is that when you sign up for my class, you will certainly get your money's worth! It will be packed. I'll share some sneak peeks at the end of next week. Be on the look out!

Have a fun weekend!