Whoo- Hoo! I am on VACATION!

Happy Fourth of July everyone! I'm taking the next few days off to celebrate with family. Hoping you all have a great break and I'll be back soon!

Sometimes You Feel Inspired, Sometimes You Don't

There are days that I look at this blank screen and think "what can I possibly say that anyone else would like to read?" I feel tapped. Then I look at the list of past posts on the side of the page and I think how did I ever find that many things to write about? Some are just fun and frivolous, some are of news I'd like to share, some are etsy items I love, and some are about books I've read. Usually I'm attempting to share something with you. You may or may not be interested but I'll throw it out there in the hopes that because it interests me it might interest some of you.

Inspiration fuels all our creative activities,including blogging, but only sometimes does it take you out of yourself and make the creation process effortless. When I write with this kind of inspiration, I feel like the typist, not the writer. The words are given to me. You know how that is, it happens with art too. Sometimes every decision you make seems made for you. Every color or mark you make was whispered to you. You simply do as you're told. It's inspiration at it's finest. it.Those are the times that I feel like God is breathing the inspiration into me.

Today I don't feel inspired to write on any one thing or another so I thought I would write about that. But as always when I think about inspiration, one thought leads to a question that leads to another thought that inevitably leads to a question. So for the rest of the day I'm going to keep track of all the instances when I acted upon inspiration. Whether it was reaching for a red colored pencil or a blue- or composing a photo from a slightly different angle, or writing down my thoughts.

I'd love to have you give it a try as well! Then let me know if you were surprised by anything. I'll do the same and it'll be our little experiment! Thank you!

A Fashionable Escape

Every once in a while things get a little too hectic around here and I like to grab a little escapism time to roam the web in search of the fabulous.

This morning I found a link on fb for an online shop that was new to me- Shop Ruche. I love their vintage inspired modern, it reminds me of the things at Anthropoligie that make me swoon. But if you hop over, check out their prices. I haven't done any internet clothes shopping but I'm definitely going to check back here when searching out some new pieces for the fall.


Thinking fashion I have two other things to share with you. One is the new book Sew Serendipity. The eye candy here is amazing. I love (i.e. want) everything I've seen so far. I've been on a look out for a killer trench for a while and love this take on it (see above). If you visit the author's blog you can see another version of a coat she made and is wearing in this post. Super cute!

The other place my momentary escape took me was to Alabama Chanin's site. I've been a fan of this company's aesthetic, and design since I first happened upon Natalie Chanin's book, Alabama Stitch Book. She does a lot with detail and stitching that really captivates me. If you aren't familiar with this artist or her community it really is worthwhile checking out her book. Especially if you're someone who loves the hand sewn look or loves to hand sew.

My time is up- I hear a munchkin calling my name. :) Have a great day!

An Interview and the Release of my Book's Cover!!!!

I had a super pleasant surprise this morning when I found an interview I did last week on The Shop Bug's site. It was a surprise because she pulled a lot of images from my blog to go with the interview. Some of which I haven't seen for a while.

I really loved doing this interview. It was a lot of fun to think about some of the questions Rachel asked. You know, you don't think about some things UNTIL someone asks. She has a great site so I would LOVE it if you would follow the link above and check out the interview.

THEN I scrolled down and found she had my book cover. YES! MY book cover has been released!!! Here it is:

I am SO EXCITED (I don't think I've ever used so many capitals in a post before)!!!! I absolutely love what North Light did for the cover and don't think it looks like anything else out there. What do you think? Wouldn't this stand out on the shelf if you were browsing? Wouldn't it make you want to pick it up and see more? I think so... :)

Yay!! It finally seems like it's really all happening!

"My Mama is an Artist"

Photos taken by my son- J. Swift, age 5

I wrote this post in my head last night while I was putting my son to bed. I was thinking about a moment earlier in the day when he had my camera. He was snapping pics and said in this oh so serious voice, "Now I want to take a photo of the Artist with her Art." At the time I just thought how cute his little voice was when he said it. But later, as often happens, he was going to bed and I was going over the days moments in my mind. Suddenly I began to think of that comment in a different light.

My son is 5. He has never known the mama that was too scared to call herself an artist. The mama who wanted more than ANYTHING in the world to be an artist. He never knew the frustrated me who was always out of sorts because I had a dream with no idea how to realize it. He never knew the mama who was, honestly, scared to reach for her dream because there was risk associated with it.

The mama he knows is an artist, who makes art every day, who has business cards that say "artist" under her name. The mama he knows wrote a book about her art journey. He doesn't know anything different. I think I'm very glad that the mama he knows dreams big and reaches for those dreams. He's seen my work in magazines, he's seen me excited, he's seen me selling my work and goes with me when I ship it to places like Vancouver, Singapore, and Australia.

I wonder if he'll grow up ready and expecting to reach for his own dreams someday because of this. I wonder what kind of influence this mama will have vs. the me that existed before. And I wonder if maybe the timing of it all wasn't due to the fact that this me had become a mama. There's something about becoming a mother that clarifies your view of the world. That makes you more ready to stand up for your family and your self as an extension. Truly, I wonder if I would be the artist I am today if I hadn't become a mama first.

What about you? What has changed your life and are you ready to grasp your dreams? Will you be the person you want to be or the person you don't? What kind of mama or papa will your child know? Will she be an Artist? Will he see you frustrated by life, or reaching for your dreams in spite of the daily frustrations of life?

As always I'd love to hear what you think- so please leave a comment!

Local Craftiness: The Creative Connection

Ruth Rae's Family Keepsakes Album

The blog button's been there for a few weeks now but I'm starting to get a little excited for this fall's Creative Connection. It is a 3-day event here in Minneapolis, that will be bringing in amazing artist/entrepreneurs from all over the country. It was put together to be a girls only event that will have a pretty even mix of art classes (yay!) and business courses/panels for the artist who's trying to make her way. I first read of it back in March and got so excited I couldn't sleep the night I read of it. I just couldn't believe an actual to goodness art retreat was happening here in the Twin Cities.

I'd read for years about Art and Soul, and events that are similar and really really really wanted to go. It was and still is, a dream of mine. Now here was one that is completely unique in that it combines art with the business of art- and it was LOCAL. I wanted so badly to go. My husband made it happen. If any of you are at a crossroads with your artistic business, or just starting one, and if you're somewhat local, try to attend this conference. If only for a day. I really feel in my heart of hearts it will be worth it. It's a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. That's also the weekend of Junk Bonanza which I attended last year and have to assure you is another "can't miss."

If you do decide to come- let me know. I'd love to meet you!

A look inside my Sketchbooks

Ideas for mini art quilts

Art journals are all the rage and while I LOVE looking at the gorgeous filled pages, I can't help contrasting them with my sketchbooks. The visual journals are beautiful, stunning, colorful and works of art unto themselves. Mine are, well, not. They are less works of art and more of a tool for me to use as a collection point.

I've kept a sketchbook since my figure drawing class in college. The instructor was amazing and forced us to develop sketchbook pages as part of the course credit. I loved it and have usually had one at hand, or in my purse, or with me in the car, ever since.

One of my covered covers

I know several artists will actually keep several sketchbooks at once but I like having all my recent thoughts, ideas, and sketches together in one place. When I've filled that sketchbook I date it and then, start another. I ALWAYS decorate the cover, add ribbons to the side, whatever to make it personal. I consider a sketchbook a must have- just curious but what do you do to keep your ideas and thoughts together?


Here is a sampling of what I put into my sketchbooks.
      - notes on techniques I've been reading about

          -color combinations that thrill me

-my thoughts on the museum or art fair trip I just took
-inspiring quotes I've stumbled across
-visual lists of my products
-rough sketches of ideas for different projects
-photos to jog my memory of something
-articles torn from magazines
-to-do lists
-things I WANT to-do lists
-postcards of art I love with a note about why I love that piece

What got me thinking about this today was the new book, Journal Junkies Workshop by Eric M. Scott and David R. Midler. I really like how they sort of combine the "art journal" with my workhorse of a sketchbook. It's a great book filled with techniques and ideas- check it out if you have the chance! And let me know what you use. I'm super curious!

The Giveaway Winner!

CONGRATULATIONS JANEL!!!! You'll receive a set of three flowers in the distressed cream finish. THANK YOU ALL for participating!

Giveaway!

It's Monday and I'm excited. NOT because it's Monday but because today I get to announce my GIVEAWAY! By request, I'll be giving away a set of my Wallflowers.

If you've been looking for a way to add that sweet handmade look to your decor- This will do it! I have them up in my own home and LOVE them. They will come in a set of three, and in your choice of black, distressed cream, or rust colored.

They hang on a simple finishing nail and will go anywhere. I have them grouped around a piece of art, but they would easily go in a line across the top of a mirror, down that little tiny thin piece of wall you have in your hall, or scattered above the headboard of your little girl.

SO to enter, simply head over to my new facebook fan page and hit LIKE then, leave a comment under the status announcing this giveaway. Let me know if you would like your set in black, distressed cream, or rust colored. CONTEST ENDS ON WEDNESDAY, June 21st. I'll contact you on Wednesday via facebook if you've won. Good luck to you ALL!!!

Passing it Along- Fabric Time Keepers

Saw this diy ornithology clock over at going home to roost's site today. I LOVE it! She pulled it from design*sponge and the original contributor was Katie Pruitt. The bird theme is sweet, the feathers make it fabulous, and the fabric/embroidery hoop make it divine. So check out the tutorial here.


Strangely clocks are one of those things that have interested me lately. Just yesterday I was idly brainstorming ways to make a fabric and wire clock and how I would support it, the structure, etc. I don't know why this was on my mind. These things just happen sometimes. Then I find this gorgeous fabric clock and I swoon. So coming up with my own design is definitely a project to put on my "must do" list.

Now curious, I also did a bit of research on Etsy. This item is titled "Super Funky Fiber Clock" and is by Slapdash Designs. Super and funky are definitely the right adjectives don't you think?




Then there was the Fabric Watch by JSartist. They don't actually keep time but I thought they were cute. :) Cute- if you haven't figured it out yet goes a LONG LONG way with me.