A little bit of everything.

I am a moron.

I couldn't wait to share my new business cards on my blog. I was so excited to get them in the mail. I checked my box every single day. Today I checked it at least three times and finally they came!  There was only one tiny problem and it was one I could deal with... the left and right side of the card was framed in blue strip because it was supposed to be the bleed area but it ended up printing. No problem, I figured it would look intentional.  So when my husband came home I showed them to him and said there was only one error. I figured if he guessed the blue strips then I would know it didn't look intentional.  Instead, he pointed out that instead of the word Artist.... I wrote Arist.  NOOOOOOOOO!!

I still felt like it was something I could deal with.  Maybe I could joke that I'm an artist and not a speller.  But no.  J said I can't hand out cards that have my profession spelled wrong.  Derrr.

So more are on the way.  I can't wait to see what word I misspell this time.

In other this and that news...

I have been working on a slew of super hero masks for a superkid's birthday coming up. These have been a blast to make.  Here's a little sneak peak. Doesn't the top one look like a Ninja Turtle? Happy accident.

 My friend made herself one of these handy necklace holders and started making me one but got over the idea once she painted the board.  I met her halfway and put the rest of it together tonight. I love how pinteresty it is.

 And then I took a dreamy shot of the collections on my dresser.  My nail polish has some fancy storage.

 I'm working hard in my studio.  I've been so into making these little stick banners.  This new one might be my fave.  It's a lot tinier than the others and this little birdy is about to be glued to the top.  Thank goodness I have an overgrown apple tree outside with many sticks ready to be trimmed. Free art supplies!

What are you doing to prepare for fall? How many pumpkin lattes have you had so far? (I've had 2).  I can't wait for the cool weather. I'm getting all my sweatshirts and blankets washed and ready for the coming season. I feel like I should switch my color schemes in my work to warmer Fall colors but it will never happen. Pastels and neons forever!

xoxo

Etsy Sellin'

Some exciting things have been happening in my shop lately! I have said good-bye to some of my favorite pieces in the last month or so.  It's such a thrill to see that email letting you know something has sold.  And then there is the bittersweet moment of having to ship off some of your favorite things.  I'm happy to see them go to a good home, though, and am only inspired to make more and more and more.

 Today's little jar was shipped out looking like this.  Packaging is one of my favorite parts. I love for each item to be wrapped up like a magical present.  I have a drawer full of balloons and feathers and scraps of tissue.  I'm starting to think about how I want to decorate for my bags for my upcoming sale. I think it would be neat to pre-decorate them in all this fun ephemera.

My Etsy shop is not super full right now and I'm really debating whether to add more things or wait until after the sale.  As you can see from most of my blog pictures I'm not that great at taking product shots so that part is a little stressful.  I think I'm just thinking out loud. I should focus right now on making more and worry about listing later. Or am I procrastinating again?

I got a couple of great comments on my last post in regards to galaxy art tutorials. If you are interested go click on the links.  Some super amazing stuff.

Thanks, y'all! Have a great weekend.  Get a pumpkin white chocolate frap if you live near a Caribou Coffee!

And Another Thing

 I have so so so many things I need to be working on right now.

I should be doing more of this...

 And a whole lot more of this...

But what I really want to do is make galaxy art.  I have been noticing a big trend on Pinterest (follow me! abeautifulparty) lately with DIYs on making your own galaxy skirt but today when I was scrolling through Craftgawker I was super excited to see a tutorial for paper.  My internet was running slow on my phone and I had to finish the latest episode of Teen Mom (not apologizing) before I could use my computer so I spent the last half hour of the show daydreaming about what all I would do with my galaxy paper.  The excitement was building while I watched and learned just how tough it is to have a child as a teen.  Finally I was able to look up the tutorial for this exciting project and I was crushed to discover they are envelopes made of magazine pages. 

This is a great DIY, just not what I was looking for.

So I thought this was a good thing because I would get back to the projects that I had started and needed to be resolved.  But thennnnnn.... I thought I could find the skirt tutorials and apply those techniques to paper....  So far I have found a few DIYs for paper but they have been a little hokey.  I did find a pretty good one for a skirt.  The skirt came out beautifully.  I think maybe I could make this work best on canvas instead of paper.  If I spray bleach on paper I think it will just eat the paper. Eating paper is a bad idea...

Click the image for the tutorial.

Okay okay. Maybe this thought can wait.  Maybe I should get back to what I was doing. Maybe I'll just clean my studio and procrastinate a little, get to bed early, and try it all again tomorrow.

Probably that one.

If you have some good ideas for this galaxy paper project would you mind sharing?  I neeeeeed to know!!

Edited after posting: I feel like it sounds like I made a galaxy skirt and it came out beautifully. I meant the skirt in the tutorial. Don't want to give the impression that no procrastination was happening...

Nada Farm Barn Sale!

I am so excited to say that I have officially confirmed my spot in my first vintage and handmade sale.  Since I have started working at Cracker Jax I have had the pleasure of getting to know Anne Marie of Nada Farm.  She has a barn sale twice a year and my first visit was in the spring.  It was a magical place.  The minute you step on the farm you feel right at home.  There are animals to coo at and wonderful people with booths styled so well you would think you were in a rustic boutique.
I have been wanting to do Art and Craft Fairs with my own work for some time now but I was always so intimidated to step out on my own and just do it.  The magic of Nada Farm put me at ease and all intimidation was swept away.
I have been working hard in my studio gluing glitter here and applying paint there.  As I fall asleep I think of my booth and how I will style it.  Today I got my bags and tissue paper in the mail and soon I should get a fresh supply of business cards.  I am looking forward to the experience and know I can only learn wonderful things and grow just like the vegetables in the garden.
If you live in the area you should definitely check it out.  The dates are Oct. 19 and 20th.  It's such a sweet event and the crisp autumn air will surely make it cozier and sweeter.
Please check out Anne Marie's blog.  It's like a mug of tea on a breezy day.  Her family is fabulous and her day to day is so very dreamy.

And here's a little glimpse of the things going on in my studio. Forgive the lighting/phone camera quality.  My basement studio is giving me some lighting issues and while still only half unpacked here I can't find my camera!

Sweet dreams...

Finding Peace

  

Wow! It's been a long blogging sabbatical for me but a very fast summer.  So many changes in such a short time.  I missed blogging about it. I think I wrote more blogs in my head than I would have if I had just sat down and written. There was no time to sit down and write.

I did lots of thinking about changes I wanted to make in my little corner of the internet as well as changes I want to make in my little corner of life.  I hope to apply all those changes here and feel good and at peace.  

I'm so excited to start sharing with you again and seeing and reading and being inspired by you!

Here are some little sneak peaks of the summer with more detailed posts to come.

I got married to a pretty amazing guy who can slick his hair up way higher than mine will go.  The wedding was perfect.  Every thing I could have ever wanted was there. All my best friends were with me, all the little kids in my life were part of it, my sister couldn't walk well for a week from dancing and my Grandmother smiled more than I have seen her smile in a while.  Thanks to my amazing parents for helping to fulfill my every wish, it was the perfect day.

A few short weeks later we closed on a home and started moving our five thousand things in the middle of the worst heat wave ever.  Somehow we didn't melt and our house is starting to come along.  I have to admit buying a home has come with a lot of mixed feelings.  It doesn't feel like my home yet so we are in the courting process of our relationship.  We are friendly and getting to know each other but we haven't met each others' parents yet.  I'm taking this one slow.

I do love the studio part of my home. I have been crafting my little heart out and am getting ready for my first sale! More on that soon.  Here are some bits and pieces of what I'm doing.  So much color and paint and glitter!

Another thing I love about our home? We have a yard! And Bunny has an outdoor pen.  I never leave her out there alone so we use the time to soak up some sun while I work on my crafts. My husband (ack! weird! haha) is working on a fence for our back yard so once that's done Bunny will start getting more space to run around.  I'm hoping she'll make friends with the chipmunks and squirrels that hang out in our yard and we can film a Disney movie there.

 So that's where I've been.  I think I'm coming back with a healthier attitude and way less anxiety. I'm learning how to find peace.  I'm reading a book called Finding Peace.  Seriously.

So glad to be back in my part of the internet world!