A lifestyle I’d like to continue to pursue, more than a goal.
Completed my biggest canvas. Quite happy with it. A blend of conceptual, cutsy, and abstract. Very Me….
I Used it as the focal point of my tent at Arts & Crafts.
Took 2 weeks (weekends & nights) and I’ll definitely be painting big again.
I’ve actually met a few of my goals lately and just need to post. Life is so busy and balance is so hard. It is good to see progress.
I need to resort, hopefully this weekend.
I’ve been wanting to do this for quite awhile now but everything was always so far away making the expense (travel, lodging, supplies, + retreat) impractical. But I found one in Nashville around Easter. I was going up there with family anyway so shared travel cost and since my brother lives there no hotel cost. Yeah!
I would love to own a gallery/studio and teach art and architecture related subjects then actually create an art retreat one day. BUT first I guess it’d be a good idea to go to a retreat and see what it is all about then who knows maybe a new long-term goal could come out of the experience.
I bought the big canvas as my Cyber Monday gift to myself (even though I actually went to the store) Michaels had a 2 day Only 70% Off Sale. Amazing, I now have enough canvas for the coming year.
The big canvas is 60 inches by 48 inches. Took an large SUV to get home. The biggest they had. Now I need a super 70% Off Paint sale to cover the monster. I’m pretty excited and can’t wait to get started. I think that because it was reasonable priced, I’m less nervous about painting on it. Less personal pressure to make it perfect. (and it is that perfection prblem that can totally stifle the creative spirit)
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
I have laid the entire porch and am now just finishing up the steps. It looks awesome if I do say so my self. Funny what I thought would be a couple month project is now a two year project but good things take time and I’m ok with that (today anyway) I’ll take pics on the next post.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtfulBitsAndBytes
I’m open and still filling it up. It took much longer than I thought to get everything set up. I think I have a system down so I copy all the text from the previous items and just modify and add new pictures. I also joined 3 teams (as it seems that is important to get folks to look and like your stuff) I also made 2 treasuries (same reason) That’s fun but alas more time. I’ll truly consider this done when I’ve filled my first page. I thought I would also say make my first sale but there is so much stuff on etsy that it may be crazy hard to get noticed so I think I’ll make that a separate goal -tomorrow, got to get to my paying job now.
Getting some items completed. Replacing some damaged wood. Replacing damaged windows (have quote -just need to put down the money) Almost completed the mosaic. Slowly but surely (very slowly)
Market is a little better. Hopefully before Christmas (?)
OK,
after totally not focusing on this goal, its back. I would like to take my test by the ned of May. I have started studying again -this past week was Sustainable Sites and Water Efficiency. I’ll start studying the next two tomorrow.
(The upgrade in priority is mostly because my work will pay for the exam now -as long as I pass it)
I really need to do this -not just for my 43 things goals but for real.
I have a tendency to just glide. Not always bad but this is life. We only have one time here on this earth. It should matter. I’ve heard the quote (something like this) if you aim at nothing you are sure to hit it. I don’t want to bulls-eye nothing. Life goes up and Life goes down. Ebbing and Flowing like the Tides.
Lately, It’s been my time in the valley. Since the start of 2012, the garage, office, and studio burnt down with minimal insurance (still so blessed the rest of the house did not go up in flames) work has been insane (contractor going bankrupt on one of my biggest jobs, firm identity crisis, more midnight hours than I care to count, .... I could go on and on) not enough money then a severe incident of vertigo -enough to send me to the hospital and lingering enough to make even walking painful.
No excuses but I am just plain tired and ready for a bit of a break. I am almost ready to re-evaluate some of the hard goals, the ones I’ve been putting off. I am also excite to try and figure out how to make some others more real.
I do know even through it all, God’s hand has been and is ever present. I am grateful (even if I sound sort of whiny at the moment) I want to make the most of my talents, gifts, and interests. I want to share and not hoard what life has given me -even if some of that is just experiences that allow me to empathize with others going through this same journey.
So soon.
Ok, I’ve been before. But this time, spur of the moment hopped on a MegaBus (So Cheap!) and visited a girlfriend. Went to the Modern Art Museum, then the High Museum, IKEA, went Beading, Chilled in a Hot Tub with Chocolate Tequila Coffee, and much more then back home.
Will be doing more Quick Spontaneous Trips Soon. Meeting friends in New Orleans in a couple weeks in fact. Life’s Short, Live It Fully!
I didn’t quite make it through the entire Old Testament. I still have many minor prophets yet to go but I’m happy. I’ll finish up this year. I’ll also reread the New Testament. This isn’t a one time deal anyway. The ultimate goal is to listen as God speaks and to be available as he reveals new ad wonderful things through His Word. Peace!
I didn’t quite make it through the entire Old Testament this year. I still have many minor prophets yet to go but I’m happy and will continue. This years goal …. Reread the New Testament and finish up the Old.
Started my big (36×48) canvas! Color is now over the whole thing. Actually I am slightly tempted to leave it as the big abstact it currently is. The colors really pop wonderfully -but I’m not. It’ll probably after Christmas before I can get back to it s I’ve got to finish my smaller paintings for Christmas presents first.
I also am about half complete on my other large painting. It’s 48” tall but not as wide. Pretty happy so far on it.
My dear friend Monica died this evening. She was ready even if we were not. My heart hurts.
I was able to visit this her this weekend. We laughed and joked. I know she is now truly home -being comforted by her Jesus. The pain was so intense and I am glad she is free but the tears still sting.
Some blessings are hard to accept.
The need to sell my house has increased. Unfortunately, I will probably need to borrow a bit of money to finish up a few necessary items. Life is a little scary at the moment. I hope to have the house on the market before the end of March. I am truly ready to have a smaller house possibly with an attached gallery.
I have lived pain and my life can tell: I only deepen the wound of the world when I neglect to give thanks for early light dappled through leaves and the heavy perfume of wild roses in early July and the song of crickets on humid nights and the rivers that run and the stars that rise and the rain that falls and all the good things that a good God gives…How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us?
When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin and deep crevices, life grows. How can this not be the best thing for the world? For us?
From Ann Voskamp. It is late and I was sneeking in just a bit more reading and I had to share. Sometimes words shout and you can’t contain them. There is a soul connection when someone else’s words are really your own.
I am still in a really creative mode. (Thank you God for this awesome blessing) and feel almost ready to tackle a BIG canvas. I tend to paint, draw, whatever pretty small. This is my comfort zone. little & light. But I want to be fearless. BOLD BRAVE BIG
I’ve been working up to this from 3×4 (yes, really) to 8×10 to 12×16 to 30×40 (little pride here) to 36×48. Ok, I haven’t actually unwrapped the 36×48 canvas yet but it is in my studio. Barely fit in my bug. Bought it 50% + an additional 15% off at Micheal’s today. I have been waiting for this sale. No excuses. I am pumped. No clue what I’m going to to do with it yet??? Finishing the 30×40 canvas and actually liking my painting helped in the confidence arena.
After I complete the 36×48, there is one size larger canvas in the store ($99 buckaroos -I will definitely need another big sale to purchae it) either I paint that one or my own MDF atleast that big -about 48×60 and I will consider this goal complete.
Now that my babies are off at college, I really want to update that side of the house. Most of the rooms need either repainting or major paint touch ups. How there are footprints on the ceiling I’m not sure I want to know. Anyway, I got new bedding for one of the bedrooms. Its pretty in soft blues, greens, and oranges. I want to do a large painting for over the bed (one more project to add to the ever growing list) I would also like to use a twin bed in my youngests room as she will be taking her queen off this Fall. The room is sort of an attic room with cool ceiling lines and skylights. I’ll keep the basic color scheme of blue and brown just declutter and simplify.
