In the Studio

1. emerging

2. developing

3. waiting

1. I LOVE her so far

2.  Is something wrong I asked her?

Look under the "FINISHED,"  to find out how these developing paintings worked out.

Quick Study

In the bouquet that was shown yesterday my favorite flower (or maybe it's foliage) is this green thing pictured here (I don't know the name of it either, if anyone knows what it is please leave it in the comments below, Thanks). I LOVE fresh flowers and Thankfully my husband understands this and surprises me randomly, "just because," but he was out of town for the week. But my mother-in-law was visiting so I bought these myself to add a little more spice to our kitchen table but when she left I moved them into my studio. This morning I felt the need to use my watercolor pencils and the bottom picture is my quick morning study and I know that this plant will show up in a future painting in a more whimpsical way.

In the Studio

This picture is just a random shot of one wall in the upstairs studio. What have I been up to? Well I have 4 new paintings going and I shot a lot of video that I need to upload to ArtsyLifeTV, soon hopefully. The girls are back in school and me and baby "Z" are trying to figure out how our days without the girls can work for both of us, she misses them so. When the girls get on the bus me and "Z" shower and spend time together first eating breakfast them playing, singing B-I-N-G-O AND Itsy Bitsy Spider (those are her two favorites at the moment, you should see her trying to do the hand motions with "Itsy Bitsy Spider," too funny, she claps and laughs a lot (I Luv her laugh) until she goes down for a nap. Then I'm off to the studio (the dining room next to the kitchen) to get my creative juices flowing I sometimes do small quick paintings (watercolor) or draw... rarely are these sold, they are mainly just for me to tryout something new or just plain old exercise.

This is a bouquet I made with colors that reminded me of autumn, cutting the flowers and placing them in this little tin vase (with a smaller glass vase inside) I had purchased at a dollar store years ago always seems to make it's appearance around this time every year. I do enjoy changing seasons but just not the long winters. If we could lengthen the Spring and Fall I would be very happy. So to ALL my friends on twitter, facebook, ArtsyLifeTV and new people that drop by this blog, Thank You. And we have a new Giveaway coming soon, be sure to check out all the above links and subscribe, friend me and Like me... but in the mean time answer one or both of the questions.... What do you do to spark your creative flames? and or what do you tend to do every year around this time?

Floral Burst Pendants- FALL colors

Antiqued Silver, Deep Teal, Grape, Cranberry, Antiqued Gold

You can take a look at the Promo Video Here It will be titled "Floral Burst Pendants- FALL

I do love fall with the leaves on the trees changing colors, it's just beautiful. We have been working on some orders for the stores that carry our pendants for that past few weeks. And although the quantities of each size of pendant was determined, that exact colors were left up to us and after looking at the Fall color forecast we chose to do three of the colors (our version) along with antiqued gold and silver. These will also be available in out Etsy shop, The Artsy Life Boutique soon.

The pendants are SOLD individually, they can be worn as a single pendant from a chain or ribbon, but our customers tend to buy them is sets of three or four, combining them with differents colors and or sizes to make your our custom "Bib Style" Statement necklace.









Each pendant is Hand sculpted so that NO TWO pendants are alike (they vary in peddle, rosette and bead placement) so your pendants are definately ONE-OF-A-KIND (ART Jewel) pieces.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for upcoming Give-a-ways: ArtsyLifeTV

In the Studio: While I slept

While I slept last night this idea came to me. I had to get it out of my head and into a 3D form. I like it but this is what I will call a rough draft in clay.
mmmmmm.... what is it??? You shall see in a future post.

"Being" a response to fellow artist Mystele

this painting is a work in progress for my "Afro Series"

This post is to add to the conversation that a fellow artist is having over on her blog and the topic is "being" who you are and yet continuing to still blossom in to who you are becoming. I think of this as understanding yourself and "being" open to the fact that in our
lives we all have the chance to turn from the caterpillar to the beautiful butterfly but.... like the caterpillar we sometimes have to sit still. The Still times in our lives may be times when everything we are going through is not what we wanted for ourselves but with a shift in retrospect we can look back and see how we were in our transforming state. Unlike the catapillar though we may go through transformation several times in our lives before we are our ultimate-selves (A Beautiful Butterfly).

I know that in my "being" I am in a transforming state right now and for me things are taking a bit longer to get to the other side (to the place where I have invisioned for myself). But I am thankful that I can understand that although I still get impatient from time to time, I have learned to take a moment, B R E A TH (meditate/ Pray) and proceed with caution (not for fear) because wisdom is being bestowed upon me. Wisdom.... Oh it's such a Great gift. Having wisdom does not mean I have all the answers... not at all.. but it does mean I will be equiped to deal with my lifes ups and downs with MORE patients and will seek to understand better, other than getting frantically upset like in past situations (which only made things worst). I am enjoying just "Being," living and loving life, taking the good with the not-so-good, just continuing to LEARN to be a better me.

Please stop by Mystele's blog and see what she's up to.

In the Studio: Color Joy

These are pictures of some old and NEW projects I've been working on. It's crazy how some works come to me and they develop and are finished fairly quickly and others seem to go on forever... every time I think they are finished I seem to glance across the room at them and find that one (LOL!) more layer needs to be added. And then there are those paintings or art project that you just know, this MUST be scrapped ( maybe not thrown away- It took me a while to learn this one), meaning painted over or torn apart. But in all I like to document the process as often as possible. Only one of these paintings is completely finished (I think, LOL!).

Quick ArtPlay

Just a quick exercise of the Art muscle this morning. It's water color and pencil.

Pinc Boutique

This picture is of Baby "Z" who is hanging out with the boutique owner Kimberely Pettey.










This is where my "Floral Burst" Pendants are being sold so if you are in the New London, Connecticut area stop in to the Pinc Boutique at 52 State Street and check out the many different local artists offerings from paintings to bath products, you are bound to find something for yourself and a gift. Here are a few pics of the shop.



I had the chance to meet a fellow artist that sells her beautiful jewelry at the boutique also, JenniferL. Johnson the Art Salad Studio, "fresh fused glass." You can visit her websit to see her jewelry by clicking on the link.

In the Studio: Discarded Pieces

A happy accident with discarded handmade beads that I hadn't been overjoyed with the color combinations for the earrings I was making for my Etsy Shop, they had been sitting for months in a bowl by my desk but somehow these pieces when all combined on one chain (instead of as pairs of earrings) makes a Beautiful Fun Ethnic Feeling Necklace that I just may sell ( ART Jewlery for $140.00 The chain is a combination of Antique Gold and Gun metal silver.) or enjoy for myself... I have not decided yet.

A Need to Create

These paintings have been considered "works in progress for over a year and now I have come to know I dislike this painting enough to just paint over it.
I read this post on Kristina's blog today and she had said she painted because she had a need to create in another post she titled "Rejection" and it made me think about my own need to create. I discovered my need to create when I was a young child, somehow having a pen, pencil, markers, crayons, scissors and paper always made me happy. It really is an unexplainable joy I get when I create something I am pleased with. Although there is a very small percentage of all of the items I have created that I truly love... I just enjoy being creative. I truly have a need to create, but the funny thing is there are days when the need is there but the inspiration of ideas are not flowing... crazy I know especially after claiming I have a need to create. I have found that my percentage of creating things I do not love has went down because I have found when I don't have the inspiration, I must not even try to create. If I do disaster usually happens (paintings above examples of this), this is the way I used to believe and reading her post changed my perspective on trying to avoid what I called my disasterous paintings and art projects. I understand that even if the percentage of things I create, that "I Love" are few that is OK and I am just fulling my need to create and this is just who I am and that is just fine.

This banner is from my girls school gym, but it is soooo.... what I am feeling like right now. I am working on some exciting projects to be revealed as they come to reality. I just seen this banner and it spoke to me as to how I feel the colors are happy and that is me.

Here is the link to see my children's performance with their class. Renny and Bell

In the Studio

These little beauties are no longer just a rough sketch in my artist sketch book, they are now available in my NEW Etsy shop called: The Artsy Life Boutique along with the new shop I have decided to rename this blog also "The Artsy Life." A new Logo will be designed and put both on this blog as the header and the Etsy shop along with the Youtube Channel, Artsy Life TV.

www.youtube.com/user/artsylifetv Please. Subscribe to the channel I will be uploading some new videos soon.

www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtsyLifeBoutique You can reach the Boutique with this link or by clicking on the Etsy Tab above.

And I want you to know, I Thank You For taking the time out of your day to visit my blog.

The painting is a quick exercise in water colors....they are a bit messier than acrylics but I like the suttle effect that layering the same color has after each layer dries.


In the Studio, I have been working on more "Rustic Glamour" Earrings, adding even more colors to go with those beautiful summer sun dresses and such. They will be on Etsy soon.

I can Dream.... Right?

Progression of the painting for the post, "In the Studio: Color Joy," stay tuned to see it develops.


I DREAM of being ready when a Licenser comes calling to sign me, for some main stream product design all while still maintainimg my small business at least until I get popular enough with the company that I am designing for in which I make an income that will contribute handsomely to our family... oh, lets say to start just $45to 50 thousand a year with the first ultimate goal being $60, 000 (you see how I am not trying to limit myself, LOL!).

I DREAM of first becoming a very successful Etsy seller, one that designs things that people can't wait to own (I am working on getting my courage up I have being working on product for too long and have not put a real effort toward uploading anything to sell in my shop). Becoming so popular of an Etsy seller that, I must hire an assistant to help me manifest the merchandise ideas that I want to sell, is my first goal.

The problem with this Dream is....

In reality, I have been stunded!! I have been blind sided by an unsupportive love one. All my life I have been told how talented I am and I actually start selling things I made when I was young, so up until now I believed fully in my talents and what I had to offer the world. It use to seem that I could (beautifully) make anything I put my full efforts into and people approved. But my confidence has been ground to a halt by words of discouragement from someone I love. I pray and I ask myself why am I not able to let this roll off my back and press on... I don't know.

I am still painting and crafting things, I just am dragging my feet when it comes to putting these things up for sale. All of the sudden I am afraid that what the "unsupportive loved one ," says is going to come true and that if this happends I will have know reason to ever paint or craft again (I have always enjoyed painting and crafting for not only my enjoyment but for others to enjoy and the selling part is my need for validation of my talents) I know this sounds very dramatic but I feel this just may be what I believe deep down inside... CRAZY, I know... but very real for me.

I am still writing my thoughts out loud in hopes of breaking this "spell," so that it is not just a DREAM.

In the Studio: Color Joy

That is what I am feeling like, "Color Joy." This painting is being done on a piece of card board that I am recycling in stead of throwing it out I chose to paint on it and if I like what I've done it will be a keeper. I feel my "Color Joy" today, it's exciting and refreshing to get re-energized again... if there was only a guaranteed way to stay in this zone I would be so there. But I will just rejoice and be glad in it today, Thank You Jesus.

The painting is making me smile the color combo at this stage is great but I know with the way my painitngs develop this is not the end I have more work to do I am just enjoying it at this stage.... ahhhh!

Oh, look close... can you see her?? I used graphite pencil to outline what's starting to appear. I am going to do my house work and if I have some more time today I will come back and see if there is anything more that needs to be out lined in the painting to be developed further... Although I think it is beautiful I know this is not done... there are some hidden deminsion to this that will be found.

Desultory: Rambling

Randon Pictures from my inspiration board.

Again I feel this need.

End result I immediately want to get to the end result. I must learn to enjoy the process of my art although I'd like to think I love the "creative" part of my art... some times I just don't know. What raises doubt is the fact that I am a procrastinater when it comes to just about everything in my life...why? I must get over this it's been to long. But I must say I just now truly understand that when I got things done in the past in a timely manner it was always because I had to do them, the pressure I felt as a single parent made me very bold and crafty, I would always made and sold things when it was just me and my oldest daughter... although I did not think it was because of pressure to make ends meet, now looking back that was the motivation and the dream of having my own Salon and Gift shop was there to keep me having a Ultimate Goal in life which served the purpose of keeping me hopeful for my future.

I am a mother, wife and artist, in that order so a lot of time I have many other responsibilities but my art is important to me. I have been an artist; creative/ crafty person ALL my life, I can not remember a time when I was not creating even if it was not physically, meaning that I could be shopping for anything food, clothes, furniture and the thought would cross my mind on how I could make it differently, what ever "it" was. Right now as a Work at Home mother I have time to reflect on my life and how I operate and frankly I am not exactly liking what I am coming to believe about me. You see I would like to have continued to believe that I am this BOLDly Creative individual that will let nothing stand in my way of what I want. But now the question is what do I want? The Gift Shop/ Salon that sells these hand made few of a kind gifts for: self and friends, with this great little 4 or five seater Salon in the back that specializes in healthy hair care, curly, straight or relaxed.... I think I still want this. But when??? I have not consistantly applied myself with the time I do have in between my children and husband.... Family first, Right? Or is this an excuse.

I am aware and now I shall put into place a workable way to get over this and change but how? I do want to be a SUCCESSFUL Artist and entrepreneur and wife and mother and YES,I can have it all.

Rambling Ahead

The titile says it all I just want to type what is in my head at this moment, it may or may not make since but you've been warned and yes you are welcome to read on or Not.

It is 12:40 after noon here in Connecticut and I have sat down to FREE myself and this blog of the stiffness that it has I guess this would be an excersize to loosen my writing joints if you will. I have always loved art and even the art of writing not saying I felt that I personally am any good and it, in fact I know I'm not but I have this dream of some day writing a book...Wow! I said that out loud. I have lots of opinions and thoughts but not the right words to place on paper to get people to "get it." My husband is a man of many words and he's good with it written or verbally. I admire that in him although at times it can also get on my last nerve.

Yesterday I started yet another painting, while I have yet to complete my "Afro Series" and the Butterfly Project and many other thing, like the rose pillow etc, etc. I LOVE CREATING, but finishing in a timely manner.... well that is another story. This is crazy to me I know procrastinating in not a good thing in fact it's bad because it doesn't allow for the BEST me to shine through in all that I do and can do. I must get over this I have been this way for way to long, oooh the wasted years and the sabotage I do to myself and the things that I say that I want, to be, to do, to have. It's no one but me. I Pray for strength to do what I need to do I Pray for will to accomplish my dreams, goals, etc.

Supporting Other Artist.

This slide show is a post just to direct you to a network of artist, mostly folk artist that are at the online community formed by a very impressive artist named Mystele, go take a look around maybe you'd like to join in and learn a new way of "seeing" how to develop your paintings. I love her art.

She will be conducting a FREE online class soon and I plan on taking this class, so join her community or visit her YouTube channel called "Little Gimpes," to see how she paints, she's been inspiring to me, lately.

The video below is of some stuff you have already seem and some you have not.


Find more photos like this on little glimpses studio

The Butterfly ProJect

For more details click on the title link above.

I thought this would be a great thing to encourage the girls to take part in. Their father is a history buff so he has informed them on what the Holocaust was all about. He has even shown us a couple of documentaries on it. The girls may get the opportunity to acually attend the event at the museum and see the butterfly they made.

We decided to make our butterflies out of recycled card board, by using a box that was used to carry our groceries from Sams Club. Our girls are studying the benefits of Recycling at school so they are alway talking about Recycle/Reuse/ Repurpose and Reduce.

We are always trying to find different ways to teach our children about life and this is just one of those opportunities.

I will show you all of our finished butterflies in a later post. But these are some pics of our beginning stage.







To GET INVOLVED!!! click this link.