A good team!

Just recently I teamed up with Polarity-an Etsy site that uses recycled auto parts to create these fabulous little lockets!  They are so cute, and she puts artwork on them and they are adorable...well our creation together ended up on the Etsy Storque page!!!! Super Cool!  I guess we make a pretty good team! :)

So cool! Another treasury!!!!!........

Yipppppeeeeeeeee!  My artwork made it into another Etsy treasury!  Take a peek-this is a beautiful collection!

AE quote...

He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.
Albert Einstein 

I WISH...

Newest piece finished and just listed prints on Etsy!   I WISH...

Answering a question....

On The Brave Girls Club blog, there is a post that puts out this question.  "What was the hardest thing you went through this last year? And if you were 100 years old, what would your advise be to others about it?"
This was my answer:

The bravest thing I had to do during the past year was say goodbye to my son who started college. September of 2009 was very difficult. Jacob was moving two hours away to live in the dorms at the University of Oregon. I know it doesn’t sound like such a big deal. I know it’s all good. I know it’s all wonderful actually, but at the time it was very hard. Not for him…he fit right in and loved it all. But for me it felt like our family unit wasn’t a unit anymore. It didn’t feel the same without him under our roof. I cried so much during those first few weeks. It almost seems silly now, but at the time I was a wreck. The thought of not being able to hug him or just see his face each day was killing me. I turned to mush and was such a big baby. I even missed out on going to an art retreat that I had signed up for, because I just plain forgot all about the fact that it was right when I was in my funk!
Well fast forward to now. We have gone a full circle year, and he started back up this week for his sophmore year…and guess what? I haven’t even shed one single tear! I’ve realized that nothing; not time away, or miles apart can weaken our bond. I even feel closer to him now than ever before. He is growing into such a wonderful, smart, caring man and I am so, so proud of him. Nothing will ever break that family bond. It is such a relief to know this.
If I were 100 years old, I would try to tell all the Mothers and Fathers that it’s okay to cry, but to know deep inside that it’s a wonderful thing to watch your child fly. It’s a dream come true. Now please, can someone remind me of this next September 2011 when my daughter moves out to start college! I’m sure I will be a total wreck! 
P.S.  The Brave Girls Club is an incredible, powerful, uplifting and inspiring place.  If you haven't visited this blog, you really should.  Everyone in the world should have such a lovely and safe place to visit....

A little more progress...

Just a little more progress on this little "wish" piece.

I'm OVER THE MOON HAPPY....

I'm so so excited about this new challenge in my life!  Please send me lots of good mojo so that I do a good job! :)  I have so much to learn and I really am going to have to connect both sides of my brain to do it right!  Not an easy task-hahaha.  But I feel ready and full of enthusiasm for this adventure!  Hope you'll join me for the ride-I think it's going to be wonderful in so many ways!

Thank you Jenny Doh, founder of Crescendoh and beautiful human being, for having faith in me!  I won't let you down.  I'm so proud to be a part of what you are doing!

Love, Kelly

P.S.
Hold on tight!!!!!! Cuz here we goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just clowning around with Cooper....

Just had to share.....

Happy day everyone-Love from Cooper <3

Riding a big wave....

I have lots of creative challenges on my plate right now.  Feels wonderful-like I'm surfing a giant wave!  I'll fill you in real soon!

growing up....

Why is it that I always feel like the youngest one in the room?  And I'm not talking about looks here people.  I'm talking about ???????  I'm not quite sure really.  Is it confidence?   Is it experience?  Is it education? or lack of?   Is it innocence or naivety?  Possibly...or is that just me romancing the idea of inadequecy (sp?) (I couldn't even look this word up correctly in the dictionary) (OMG) That makes me think it must me the latter!   But noooooooooooooo.....I don't want that to  be the answer!  I want to be as capable as everyone else, and common sense tells me I am, and so does my instinct....but still I question myself always.  Will I ever feel like a "real" grown up?  Do I even want to?  I don't know...what I do know is that I want to feel strong and confident.  I know I CAN!  I CAN! I CAN! I CAN!  I BELIEVE IN MYSELF, at least I beleive in my creative self.  I LOVE MY CREATIVE SELF.  She is the best!  But I don't want to refer to her as "SHE" anymore-thats ME!  When will I give myself the credit I deserve?  SOON!

This is how I currently see myself....I hope I do another self portrait soon....

An art doll?

I'd love to make cloth doll, but I am a horrible sewer!  If I could find a "blank" doll, then perhaps I might give it a try...any suggestions?

A fun new partnership...

I have a brand new friend and partnership with a creative, lovely soul.   Her name is Cat and she makes these wonderful, unique lockets.  She has linked up with many wonderful artists and all the lockets are just adoraable.  I'm so honored to be a part of her work.  Thank you so much Cat for letting me be a part of your creations!  I'm so proud :)

Her line is called POLARITY.  Check out her Etsy site here.  These would make wonderful, unique gifts for anyone in your life, and you can even put photos inside!

New piece started....

I started on this new piece today.  It's about making wishes.

Excited...

Heard some exciting news (artsy news) today, actually not really "news"...was asked to participate in something amazing...I'll post more as this unfolds, I promise!  Life is good!

Possibly...

Possibly a trip to Paris at the end of October....I'm so excited.  I've never been to Europe before.  I hope, I hope, I hope!

Another cool treasury!....

Two of my artworks made it into this beautiful treasury!  So exciting!  Come take a peek....

EACH MOMENT

EACH MOMENT--just posted print for sale at my etsy shop!
Original 16 x 20
mixed media
acrylic, ink, pastel, collage, antique lace, beeswax

Work in progress...

I've been working on this new piece and will probably finish today.  So far I just love it.

New art print at Etsy...

Newest print for sale in my Etsy shop...
PERFECTION, MORNING ANGEL
mixed media
acrylic, ink, collage, pastel

MIRACLE

MIRACLE 8 x 10 print now available in my Etsy shop...

CELEBRATING WITH THE SUN

New art at my etsy shop....CELEBRATING WITH THE SUN.
16x20
mixed media
arylic, ink, pastel, collage, beeswax

A HAUNTING WE WILL GO...

Just added this little 8x8 piece to my Etsy shop-in time for Halloween Season!

Lucky am I....

I am the winner of this wonderful give away!  It just arrived in the mail and what a treat to open this package!  This is the beautiful painting of Joji.  How generous to give out an original-I feel so very lucky to be the winner.  Thank you so much Joji-it is just lovely, and full of happiness.  If you havent met Joji, you need to go to her blog.  She has a colorful, happy, folk style that is sure to make you smile.
Thank you so much Joji-your beautiful painting is here in my studio so that I may draw daily inspiration from it.  Love to you!

All finished....MIRACLE

MIRACLE

16 x 20

mixed media

acrylic, ink, pastel, collage, beeswax

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT....

YOU MUST READ THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT-but really it is a good one!  I think I have figured out how to get those white gel pens to work!!!!!!!!!!!  I have so many white gel pens that look as if they are still full of ink, but they just never seem to want to work for me, or they will work for a couple little strokes, and then they're done...so frustrating!  Well, I think I have cracked the code...are you ready for this very top secret information?????? Ok, here it is...you know those shiney magazines, like pottery barn catalogs or victoria secret catalogs that come in the mail???  Well keep one of those next to you next time you are working with your gel pen, and when that little boogar decides to stop writing, just take your pen and softly, and lovingly, write on the shiney magazine-WALAH!!!!  Thats it!  It will get your gel pen going again!!!!!!!
So...you are all very welcome for this incredible, important information-it has been my pleasure to crack the secret code and share it with you my artsy friends!   xoxoxoxoxoxox

Newest painting-in progress....

This one is a work in progress...

idea

woke up this morning with an idea to use in my latest painting-love it when that happens!

CELEBRATING WITH THE SUN

CELEBRATING WITH THE SUN
18 x 24
mixed media
acrylic, pastel, ink, collage, beeswax

All finished and framed...

Yummm-BBQ salmon dinner!

It was such a pretty evening with fall already in the air last Thursday.   BBQ'd some yummy salmon for dinner-it was delicious!

me with my littlest baby-Cooper

And here's a pic with a couple of my favorite guys....

xo

PERFECTION-MORNING ANGEL

PERFECTION-MORNING ANGEL
24 x 40
Mixed media
acrylic, ink, pastel, collage

Hurray, this one is finally finished and all framed up, as of today!

A very interesting thought....

In the New Somerset Apprentice magazine, Pam Carriker has these words that she shares.  I just thought it was so cool to think that we, as artists, are leaving a legacy.  How fun to think that possibly future generations will find our artwork; examine and study it; talk about it and treasure it as a piece of the past.  I love that thought-it feels so magical.

"Sharing techniques is not just something 'nice' to do, it's really our job
 as artists. Art is a movement, it doesn't just sit still but moves in new directions,

 constantly redefining itself , constantly moving. I heard
 somewhere that there are no new techniques, just the same things being used
 in new ways. That's an interesting way to look at things. It helps us to see
 that 'we' are just vessels that the techniques flow through and what comes
 out from our hand has its own unique look to it because we each bring our
 own muse to the table."  PAM CARRIKER

Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine Sept/Oct 2010

Today has been a really rewarding art filled day!  I just opened my mail and found this magazine sent to me from Interweave.  I had sent this piece in months ago for their calender contest.  It made it to the finalists but didn't make it into the calender, so I just thought that was the end of it-but surprise!  It got its little spot in this magazine!   I'm so excited!  So much fun to see!  My little "LOVE FOREVER" is on page 70.....

Kindess...

Someone sent me a message on my Etsy site this morning.  It was so kind that I wanted to share it here on my blog.  I am constantly amazed and touched by the wonderful people I am meeting through this creative world.  I'm feeling blessed right now-Thank you new friend.
She wrote:
I just wanted to let you know that I have continued to watch your shoppe since you started. I actually did contact you in the beginning. I am pleased to say it looks like my predictions were right on and you are doing very well. I am so pleased for you. I have really enjoyed watching your style and palette evolve through the short time your Etsy shoppe has been open. So....Congratulations and keep up the beautiful work! I hope you are enjoying your new phase of life. I am sure enjoying watching your skills continue to get just more delicious all the time. Will continue to watch you grow, and hope you continue your artistic ride with joy.

Best of luck,
A virtual friend,

My little "Vintage Halloween" guys are in the new Somerset Studio!!!!!

So exciting!!!! My LITTLE WITCH, LITTLE GHOST, AND HALLOWEEN GIRLFRIENDS are in the new Sept/Oct Somerset Studio magazine!!!! Yipppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

A new treasury on Etsy!!!

My little baby butterfly made it into this fun Etsy Treasury!   Yipeeeeeeeee!  Come take a peek!