Two Special Coupon Codes

I am currently running two special coupon codes in my etsy store....

Shop for Valentines Day this week!!! January 29th-February 5th, use coupon code LOVEBLING upon check out and receive an extra 30% off handmade JEWELRY ONLY!! Coupon code CANNOT be used in combination with any other coupon code in the store! And remember, all jewelry ships FREE within the USA! [link] CANNOT BE USED TOWARD ANYTHING ELSE IN THE STORE.  JEWELRY ONLY!!!

And...For a limited time, use coupon code HEARTSAFIRE and get extra 20% off for anything in my etsy store. [link] can be used towards prints, original art, sculptures, etc.  However, it CANNOT BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH ANY OTHER COUPON!

New Art/Old Art

Just finished up a new ink and watercolor piece.  Actually, it isn't new.  I created the image, Oceania last year.  I am just now getting around to giving it some color.  I decided to do something a bit different and perhaps a little radical.  The image is not the original and yet it is.  I have the original drawing for sale in my etsy store.  What I decided to do was duplicate the original onto 9x12 watercolor paper.  I then painstakingly went over in ink.  I then used watercolor pencils and gouache paint to give it color.  My intention is to create 5 of these pieces.  So, that being said, they are limited edition and rare.  It took me several days to complete this from start to finish.  I do not know when I will begin the second of the five limited pieces.  It could be a month from now, or a year.  But, my intention is five total and then no more.  The first one is available in my etsy store.  In my opinion, the first is always the best.  Prints are available of this image as well.  That being said, you can expect certain pieces to retire soon and other ink/watercolor limited edition originals to emerge.  Please go to http://www.innerfae.etsy.com to get a closer look at the image, as I have several detail shots posted.

At last!

Sometimes I drive myself crazy trying to find myself.  Ever do that?  I've been creating for as long as I can remember.  I started out in clay...actually, I started out by making wreaths and decorating glass balls for Christmas.  But, as an "artist", I began in clay.  Way back in 2004 I started by making mushrooms.  I still make them, although not as often.  That is another blog all together.  I then bridged off into jewelry design, which I still do.  It is a good bread and butter item for me at shows.  After that I experimented with watercolor paints, but will admit that I lacked the drive to perfect what I was doing.  I delved into digital art, which I love, and still use.  However, my true love has always been drawing.  I love to draw, and always have.  So, a few years back I bought myself a nice set of Derwent pencils.  Loved it!  But, I stopped there.  If I wanted color, I painted digitally.  I know some people think digital painting is not "real painting".  I'm not here to argue anyone's beliefs.  All I have to say is, don't judge a book by the cover.  It is hard, HARD!  Anyway, I will get into debates about this at another time.  Actually, the purpose of this blog is to say, at last!  I think I may have found an art form that really speaks to me and gives me the best of both worlds (drawing & color).  I bought myself a nice set of fountain pens and a set of Windsor & Newton Inks to go with a set of Derwent watercolor pencils my parents gave me for Christmas.  The other day I sat down and began to use the inks and pencils.  Let me tell you.  I have never been so motivated!  I felt myself immerse into an orgasm of creativity.  Yes, I am using the big O here-LOL!  Fellow artists will know exactly what I am talking about when that happens.  It is an extraordinary feeling.  An AH HA moment.  First, I have always loved the idea of using inks.  It just screams of another time to me.  I have a beautiful old ink well I purchased years ago, and always imagined who might have used it...the letters that may have come out of it, or perhaps the drawings ;).  I've only begun the journey into inks, and watercolor pencils, but I feel it is a relationship that will last a life time.  Below are two images.  Both are available in my etsy store.  The first is called, Where balloons go.  I imagine there are children up in heaven just waiting to catch all those lost balloons.  The second image is from a series of holiday illustrations I just finished up.  Originally, I scanned the original drawing and painted them digitally.  This is the pencil original redone in ink and watercolor. 

You are what you...

I'm certain that most people have heard the statement, you are what you eat.  I'm also pretty certain that most people believe it is a true statement.  After all, if you eat things that are bad for you, you will gain weight, and develop all kind of negative health related issues.  Vice versa, if you eat a healthy and balanced diet, you will look good and feel great.  Pretty simple and straight forward.  Pretty easy to believe.  So, why is it so hard for people to believe the statement, you are what you THINK?   It really is the same concept, isn't it? Now, if you don't believe me.  If you think this is a bunch of mahoo, than let's look at something a bit more concrete, shall we.  We know that every action causes a reaction (Newton's Law).  This is proven.  No one doubts it.  So, if this is the case, we are what we think is pretty much the same concept.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it?  I had a long conversation with someone this weekend about how our thoughts shape our existence.  On the surface, he believes this is true.  But putting this concept into action is a challenge.  I'm no expert.  I will admit,  I have spent several years trying to understand why certain things happen, why certain patterns exist in my life, why I fall down the rabbit hole, and why I often have trouble getting out.  It took me years to realize it was all due to the way I perceive an event, a person, or a particular situation in my life.  I have lived a great deal of my life in fear of the "what if".  Much of this stems from conditioning.  I've allowed people to tell me I can't.  I've taken on another person's fear in a situation and put that into my own.  I've even passed that fear on to others.  I could have chosen to ignore all of this, but I didn't.  So too this person.  He's in the midst of a scenario he has seen time and time again.  Old knee jerk patterns are emerging, negative reactions, beyond my control convictions, I can't say, I can't do, etc.  Excuses are made and control is given away.  Time and time again,  a no win situation is perceived and a screw it attitude is developed.  While I understand life and the people we deal with on a day to day basis can be the cause of great stress, I do not believe it is beyond our control.  I often question why certain people are in the positions of power.  They are in these positions, because we have allowed it to occur.  Now, this person I am speaking of certainly didn't put this individual in a seat of power, but he is allowing this person to have power, because he is relinquishing his own.  He is thinking, I have no power.  I have no control.  I cannot afford to speak my mind for fear of what it might bring me.  Sound familiar to anyone??? How many times have you done this?  But, I can hear you all now....What if I loose my job?  What if I make a mistake?  What if I fail?  STOP IT RIGHT NOW!  SHUT OFF THE VOICE INSIDE YOUR HEAD!  GIVE IT A TIMEOUT!  Yes, something you may not like could happen.  But, did it ever occur to you that when one door closes another opens. Instead of perceiving a situation as hopeless, or negative, change your conception of it.  Change the way you perceive it.  Play the outcome in your mind in a positive way.   If you can conceive it, you can achieve it.  That is the beauty of thought.  If you want to live your life believing the voices, believing the negativity, falling down the same hole, etc, more power to you.  That is your choice, and thus the power of your intentions.  You thought it into being.  This world is is a world of your choosing and will continue to lead you down the road you choose, because you inspired the thought process.  It was and is your intention.  When you give the power of your thinking away, you give yourself away, and you give your control away.  Let go of fear.  Release your thoughts of negativity.  They do not serve you.  Embrace the power of your positive mind.  Anything is possible.  Furthermore, forgive yourself of what you have done to others, what you have done to yourself, and release it.  Let it all go. What kind of life do you wish to live?  Do you want to live a life of limitations, because somewhere along the line someone, or even you told you your thoughts were foolish, your dreams are foolish.  If we change the way we think and perceive our world, we can ultimately change our world.  But, you have to start with what you think and how you think.  Own your own thoughts.  Stop listening to the negative voices inside your head...the ones that tell you, you can't, what if, I'm not good enough, I can't afford to, I don't have enough money, or I need money to get from A to B. You are what you think....so, think yourself into the life you want to have.  Think yourself into the kind of person you want to be.  Think and achieve!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!!! I'm very excited about 2012.  I think this going to be a magical year for us all.  I feel it deep in my gut and I always go with my gut.  I'm not a believer in the dooms day theories, which have been circulating for a number of years.  Personally, I think it is a bunch of BS and a way for people to make money off of fear.  Screw that!  Yes, our planet is changing, and yes we are changing...waking up.  But, I pretty darned sure we will make it past 12/21.  As my mama always said, "You could walk out in the street and get hit by a bus tomorrow."  So, don't sweat it.  Off my soap box.  Now, what is on my agenda this year?  I've been refocusing and doing some introspection.  We Libra's have a knack for that kind of thing.  I've been setting some short-term and long-term goals.  I've created a wish list of sorts, and hope everything comes to fruition.  Yep, there are some pretty big wishes on this list, but anything is possible if you believe.  And, as always, I am thinking about my art and what I want to do next.  I'm always trying to find myself, and I think I may be on track this year...let's hope.  I'm stepping away from the world of clay for a bit and working a lot with paper.  There are many reasons for this, which I might go into detail about later, but for now I've become rather fascinated with papier mache art and sculpture.  I've got some interesting things in the works coming soon.  I'm also delving deeper into my passion for circus/carousel themed images.  I think you will see more of this in sculpture, but also in 2D imagery.  I've also just purchased a set of artist inks and nibs.  Should be interesting to see what comes out of this.  I've always wanted to get into pen and ink, so I'm very excited about the prospect of where this could lead.  I plan to continue my Fairy tale themed art images and motifs, as well as some new Enchanted Mushrooms.  Keep an eye out for those.  New jewelry designs are in the works, but I am thinking of more eclectic pieces, that are a bit other worldly.  Not sure how much traveling and shows I will be doing this year.  I think that may once again take a back seat until the economy improves.  Like last year, I plan to focus a good bit of my energy on improving my skills and exploring my imagination.  This is our year!  Let's make MAGIC!!