Out of the Dumps

I've really been pulling myself out of the dumps lately. So far the best cure has been my day with my good friend Joanna. We got to have lunch last Thursday and do some major catching up. Joanna has been busy all summer making lots of neat things for an art sale she did with her boyfriend Don. I was not able to go to the sale so she brought me a bag of goodies to make up for it. It was such a great treat to see my friend and score some awesome art! Definitely inspired me to get into my own studio and just start making stuff.

Here is the screenprinted bag Joanna and Don made for the store. They really paid attention to every last detail.

Joanna recently took a felting workshop and now she is making these cute popsicle felt pins.

There is also this handmade, hand-drawn pinwheel that is super adorable.

And Flags! As you can see Joanna has named her shop Prairie Dog Museum and I'm being told an Etsy shop is coming very soon.

While Joanna and I were out to lunch we stopped by the Farmer's Market and I treated myself to these flowers. They are so beautiful and really freshen up my place.

So that was my wonderful Thursday. I have more goodies from Joanna and Don but have not photographed them yet. Be on the lookout for them. They are making amazing stuff.

Don't forget today is the last day of my fundraiser. Go to the site to snatch up some awesome work that is priced so so low. I scored this beautiful piece by Kristen of Knotted Nest. Never-you-mind the blurriness of the photo... But seriously, the money is all going to a great cause. You can't beat art and good causes. Go take a look!

Oh! And Happy Labor Day! I forget it's a holiday. I actually have to labor today but it's okay, I love my job!

Closing Soon

Hey guys! So I'm going to be wrapping up the art fundraiser very soon. There are still some beautiful works for sale at very affordable prices. Don't forget all the money is going toward a very good cause. Sarah is still in the hospital and baby Caroline is, too, but she's growing quickly! With chemo Sarah has been doing better but still has little set-backs here and there. You can continue to follow her story here. Check out the fundraiser here.

I'm so happy I did this fundraiser not just because I wanted to help but because it's been amazing seeing how kind and generous people are. It certainly gives me a new way to look at the world just as I was becoming a bit jaded. I will not let that happen again, I guarantee it.

See something you would like to purchase? Email me at abeautifulparty@gmail.com

More Fun Art

More goodies up on the fundraiser blog.

A beautiful mixed media collage by Kristen Wulff.

Ollie and Ginger, cute felted animals by Jennifer Hugon.
Buy art at affordable prices, all for a good cause!

In the Studio

Yesterday I got some good studio time in. I'm almost finished with two paintings and am starting on another one.

More studio decor. That is the sewing machine that is intimidating me.
This one is almost finished. I think I need to add a bit of color to the houses first, though.
a detail.
This one is almost finished, also. I'm working on a few houses to collage in and then I think it's all done.
I just started this one. I'm going to use a picture of cupcake icing as a cloud for the rainbow.
I'm loving swishing paint around on paper. I hope that's all I do this weekend (besides work. wha whaaa).

Today on the fundraiser blog I updated it with some Jerry Phillips print magic. Also, today is Sarah's birthday! Celebrate by wearing pink and buying some art! Go take a look!

Have a great weekend!

OH!! And major thank yous to those who helped me out with my twitter page. It's still a bit confusing but I'm figuring it out. Follow me! My name is abeautifulparty.

One More Time!

A new piece has been added to the fundraising blog! This comes all the way from Germany and is made by Tari June Goerlitz. Click on the link to see more!

I'm sorry this whole week's worth of posts have been dedicated to my fundraising blog. I'm just excited about doing this and really want to raise a good amount of money for the Gardner family. I've been whiney lately about my own circumstances and I keep having to step back and look at the bigger picture. I have no right to complain right now. Sure, I'm going through some big changes but they are not a big deal. Running this fundraiser helps me focus on the more important things in life.

Some people have expressed interest in donating. Here is the post with all the info. Thank you all so much for your generous support!

Two New Pieces on the Fundraiser Blog!

Cassie Edwards and Christian Arrecis have both generously donated artwork to the Art To Help Fundraiser. If you are new to this fundraiser you can read more about it here and here. Don't forget, to purchase a piece email me at abeautifulparty@gmail.com. All proceeds minus shipping go directly to the family. Once a piece is sold I will mark it as sold on the blog. Go take a look and buy some art for a good cause!

Cassie Edwards, You Are Loved, watercolor, 8" x 11" on 11" x 15" paper. See it here.

Christian Arrecis, Garden, 9" x 6" More info here.
Hope you all had a great weekend!

Art2LOVE Kelly Lynn Allen

Today's artist makes beautiful gauche collages that are so hyper realistic I first thought they were magazine cut-outs. I had trouble getting images to post on my blog so go to Kelly Lynn Allen's website and see many more beautiful paintings.

Don't forget to check back in with the fundraising blog. You can follow it and get updates when more art is put up for sale. Many more fabulous pieces are coming that way.

Have a great weekend!

New Work

Nice Hat was just added to the fundraising website here. Thank you, Jane Ryder, for this lovely print!

Besides working on this website I've been working in my brand new studio. Here are some images of what I've been working on. I just bought a pad of vellum paper and I've been trying to create little imaginative landscapes that are lush and colorful and water. I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate my ghost girls in to them. Any feedback? Thanks!

Fundraising Info and Blog

I have my fundraising blog up and going and the first piece up for sale. See it all here.

This is the plan, to those of you who were so generous to donate I think the easiest thing for everyone is to do this:

1. Send me a couple of jpegs of the piece with description and price suggestion. I will put this directly on the blog. Email this info at: abeautifulparty@gmail.com

2. Mail the piece to me and I will take care of shipping once it had been sold. If you would rather ship it yourself that is fine, too. I can email you once the piece has been sold and let you know the shipping address.

3. I plan on keeping the blog running as long as it is successful and pulling in steady sales. Once all items are closed I will shut down the blog. I tried to create a separate pay pal account from the one I currently have but as I only have one checking account I was not allowed to create two pay pals so I will keep up with the funds and it is my hope to directly transfer money from sales to a pay pal account set up with the family.

4. If you have any questions at all please email me at abeautifulparty@gmail.com

Thank you all so much for being part of this. I can't wait to get all the work up on the blog!

Please continue to keep the family in your thoughts.

Tents

how absolutely gorgeous is this? Found here. Originally found here.

The response for my fundraiser is getting better and better. Thank you so much! Read here to learn more about the fundraiser I'm organizing.

Happy Wednesday!

Last In The Studio

I'm moving out of my studio at school and this is the last in-progress piece hanging up on my wall. It's sad to move out but I'm hoping my new studio will help me finish this. This is a mixed media painting on 30" x 40" paper.

I've had a pretty good response to my fundraiser. I'm still trying to get more art pieces donated. If anyone is interested please read my last post and get in touch with me. I got word from the family that every day has it's own challenge. This all weighs heavy on my mind. I feel for this family and am so glad to know there is at least something I can do to help, even if it's just a little bit.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

fundraiser

I recently found out about a girl from my hometown who is going through tougher times than I could ever imagine. She has been battling a brain tumor for some time which seems to be getting worst. She and her husband were given approval by doctors to try to have a baby and not long after she found out she was pregnant she also found out her tumor was getting worst. You can read all about the story here.

She had the baby a few months early but the baby seems to be healthy and doing well! Now the mother is battling a brain tumor while the rest of her wonderful family have come together to help with her and the baby. Her husband seems to be a truly wonderful person as does the rest of her family.

I have been reading from their hospital journal online and every day I feel more and more helpless. This family is going through such a tough ordeal. Their home recently flooded so now they have that on top of medical bills and day-to-day expenses to worry about. I have been trying to figure out what I can do to help. I thought a fundraiser/art sale could be a nice way to help raise some money to go toward all their expenses.

I will put together a blog and set up a pay pal account for this as soon as I can get art together. If you are interested in donating a piece to this sale please contact me through email at Abeautifulparty {at} hotmail.com{dot} com.

I really just want to help out any way that I can. If you know someone who may also be interested tell them!

Thanks for your time.