Snakes, yoga, cats, and Mercury Retrograde

Well, it is Sunday morning.  The house is very quiet.  I am in my studio, looking at my drafting table covered with prints and a mish mash of jewelry findings.  I have a show in about a month and I've got to get my butt in gear.  I know some of you out there follow astrology, so you know we are knee deep in the Mercury Retrograde haze.  For those unfamiliar, it is a period when all sorts of havoc tend to occur.  Lucky for us it only happens 3 times a year, but just as unlucky, it lasts for 3 weeks at a punch.  All sorts of wonderful things can occur, and most have to do with communication breakdown...or breakdowns in general.  My husband is not a big follower of Astrology, but he understands the Retrograde and gets just a freaked about it as I do.  I think I am rubbing off on him.  Most people can expect their computers to have problems, perhaps their cars, or mishaps with what they say or write.  But, like the word implies, Retro is a time to go back and rethink, revise, and reinvent.  Basically, it is the time to sloooooow dooooown.  Often, we have no choice in the matter.  At least that is my perspective.  I can't tell you how many times during the Retrograde Haze that I have been sick, or I am awaiting supplies that get lost in limbo land somewhere, my printer runs out of ink at the worst possible moment, or I just can't think of what I want to do next.  Fun times.  Just a few more weeks folks....hang tight.

So, I started a new me regime.  I began a primarily vegetarian diet.  That means, so meat during the week.  I still have the barbecue on the weekend, but I think I may be giving that up as well.  I really don't care for meat in general.  I stopped drinking red wine during the week.  Although, technically, that is not bad for you.  But, being 42, the extra calories were going to my ass, and I hated falling asleep at 8 pm at night.  I also started yoga.  I did it years ago and don't know why I ever gave it up.  Boy am I out of shape.  But, in the short time I've been at it, I do see improvement.  I can now touch my toes.  I've been trying to meditate more, and reading a slew of books on connecting with my soul.  I just finished a book by Penney Pierce called Frequency.  I highly recommend it.  In fact, I wish everyone on the planet would read this book.   Speaking of yoga, I came across this adorable video about yoga and wine....very funny.  It is by Harold's Planet.  Def worth the watch!!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxPuyrfHA3o&feature=player_embedded

Cats...I think my cat has a demon inside it.  Seriously!  Every night, around mid-night he becomes possessed.  He begins running around the house, jumps on and off the bed, and makes a general nuisance of himself.  I am a sleeper.  In the 16 years I have been married, my husband knows not to disturb my sleep.  Joxer (my cat) has not learned this lesson.  He's been with us for 8 years and should really know better.  So, each night, Joxer and I do battle.  He starts his thing and I grab the water bottle.  I chase after him, squirting and swearing like a mad woman, while he runs behind furniture, and hops gates to get away from me.  Eventually he ends up in the basement.  I have to lock the door and block it with a gate to prevent him from breaking the door down.  Believe me, he's done it before.  Last night, I decided to put him in the basement before heading off to bed.  I felt bad, but mama needs her sleep.  Perhaps a few nights of this will teach him a lesson.

And, on one last note...Snakes.  Yesterday, was St. Patrick's Day.  The legend goes, St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland.  Well, I found one in my basement yesterday.  It was a garden snake.  No biggie, but I would like to know how he got in my house.  Perhaps he was taking cover during the Retrograde Haze.

Sorry, no art this week.  Mercury and all....

General disclaimer...
(I do not own the rights to any of the images listed, and I'm not sure who they belong to as they came from a search).

Air

Just finished up the drawing for Air.  Think it would also make a good image for the sign of Libra.  Hope you think so too!  Original drawing is now available for purchase in my etsy store.
  http://www.etsy.com/listing/93346263/original-drawing-air

Air

The last few months have been nothing but a roller coaster.  At some point I may vent it all, but for now I just need a bit of air.  So, I started working on a new elemental piece tentatively titled, Air.  The image features a she owl with two crows beneath her.  The faces blend together into an optical illusion forming another owl.  I plan several other air images emerging from the top of her head.  Surrounding her is a gnarled tree in the shape of a V..a crossroads perhaps.  I've been working on the piece for a week and will work on it all day tomorrow.  I hope to finish the original drawing by the weekend.  Will post progress images soon.  Below is what I have so far. 

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!