Joyce Shelton's Blog

December Hi-lights

Another Christmas has come and gone and while there have been many joyous events over the past couple of weeks, I have to be honest, I'm glad it's all over. I had a difficult time getting all merry and bright this year. I am so blessed and so fortunate and I'm really not sure what that was all about.  Maybe it's the economy? World events?  Congress? (X#%#$Q*****!!!)  the jobless, the homeless, the scary state of the world?  Crime and the lack of concern for fellow man?  Financial worries..our artistic careers and our futures? Yikes! I don't know but for whatever reason I found myself in a funk - just sort of going through the motions and promising to make some positive changes next Christmas... like how about starting to prepare a little earlier, Joyce???  I know, I know... what are the odds of that happening?! Focusing on the positive couldn't hurt either.  Anyway, enough said. Today the tree and the trimmings come down and attitude adjustment begins.  I look forward to a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! (along with a cookie-free diet)

Now this was fun!  Visiting with Mom, Deb and Jan, Kate and Brian at the beach condo... let the party begin! Sunny Jensen Beach weather and great family... lots of laughs!

Hard not to get in the spirit with Brian and Kate leading the party.  Hats for everyone!

Our very own deer in the headlights

Back home for Christmas Eve dinner and presents with our kids.  Heidi liked her new slippers and undies!

Oh... and how cute is this???!

Courney was Honey's Secret Santa this year and look what she made for her!  Crafty... and a cutie too!

Our English-lit teacher got new shirts and ties in his favorite Gator colors!

Jeff dressed up in his tuxedo t-shirt and Michelle is donning her new scarf from her secret Santa, Leann

From one extreme to the other... Too funny not to photograph!  Courtney and PJ

It's all been way too exhausting...

Less stress please!

Congratulations Leann!!

DECEMBER 15, 2011

Here she is!  Our Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale Graduate!!  I'm doubly proud of her talent and her choice of schools as AI is my alma mater!  She has so much talent and I know better than anyone else that she's facing a challenging journey.  But I also know SHE CAN DO IT!!!

 

(this photo credit goes to her roomie... Kayla)

We Love you Leann and we're so proud of you!!!

 

 

 

 

Thank you David Darrow!

I would like to take just a moment to thank a really nice guy... and a really talented artist!  We're talking both sides of the brain working here! So THANK YOU DAVID DARROW - first, for creating a PayPal button that works so well and second, for helping me work out the kinks within my own system.  You stuck by me until we got it working and I couldn't be more grateful.

S E R I O U S L Y... this thing is ingenious.  It allows you to input all the information about your painting or piece of art, gives you code to copy and paste in your blog and best of all, when the button is clicked by a shopper, they are taken right to your paypal account where they pay and voile'!! It all works fabulously perfectly!  My favorite feature is that since we are dealing with one-of-a-kind art, once it's purchased, if someone else tries to buy it, they are told the item has been sold so no worries-only one person can purchase your one-of-a-kind piece.  You can check it out HERE and watch his quick, easy to follow tutorial.  Again, my thanks to David. Nice guy, talented artist, and he's a jazz fan too!

Don't forget to shop for one-of-a-kind gifts now through December 21st.  Buy American, By Handmade!

 

Joyce Shelton, where have you been?

Oops...you may have noticed I've been MIA since last May!  No sense droaning on about the specifics.  Suffice it to say life happens.

Back on track and channeling my creative powers once again, I have decided to focus on more than one of my artistic passions.  A new blog is in the works which will feature a painting a day, but for now, I have decided to make use of the thousands of beads upstairs in the bead room and focus my attention on the gift-giving season. 

From now until December 21st, every day I will be posting a new creation available for sale on my jewelry blog

So, check it out!

Think I can make some fabulous baubles out of this mess?

Okay. Since my last post was soooo many moons ago, I feel it's necessary to say a few quick words about the two main exciting events this summer.  First the birth of my great nephew, Evan Joseph Smith.  Here he is at 3 months old... is he the cutest little man or what?

Equally exciting, and pretty darn cute, themselves, the adoption of our own little darlings, Dot and Tess.  These two are plenty busy and have given our home it's silent soul once again.  We are totally smitten with all our new babies!

So,once again, take a peek...

Please remember to shop small AMERICAN businesses this holiday season...and handmade, is best!

Surtex, 2011

May 13, 2011

Months in the making!  I learned so much about creating these panels digitally on my little 24” computer monitor. Here they are, all blown up to 8’ X 10’.  I am amazed and so grateful!

More thanks than I can even express to my dear friend, BJ and her wonderful husband, Jamey for all their help! 

 

Set up day!  A few glitches getting it to fit.  Nothing that couldn’t be solved with a trusty exact o knife.

I took a big chance this year by plastering large, splashy art on my walls instead of the usual bits and pieces of patterns and art examples.  This art was fun and created purely from my heart - not totally dismissing the fact that they needed to be licensable, of course.  Thankfully the response great!.  My goal of increasing my client list was achieved... we’ll see where it goes from here, but so far, I am sure it was the right choice and I am on the right path!

 Bj's stunning booth!  Went up without a hitch.

Okay.... we're ready... so where is everyone??!!!

Miss Liberty lighting up the misty river.  So beautiful!

Kick off cocktail party at Battery Park between the raindrops. Ahhn the camaraderie of fellow artist friends.

 The BIG WINNER!!  "Who me?"  Cograts Amy Biggers - Louie Award Winner Extrordinaire! 

Alas, the teardown is done and all our remnants have been dragged back to the hotel through the soggy, NY city streets.  Wet, tired, bags under the eyes - ahhh... it sure feels good to have it all behind us.  Great Italian dinner, a little whining, some real wine-ing... most of all, Joyce and Bj celebrating our treasured friendship!  

 Next year?  Uh, maybe ... Too soon to tell!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Growth

Alas! Spring is bursting with new growth, and after a long, dormant season, so am I.

I knew the day would come... the day I would have to poke my head out of my cozy winter den and face this forgotten blog.  Okay, so it’s not such a bad winter here in Florida.   We pretty much continue to see the sun every day and there’s no snow to shovel, but have pity... after all, my winter uniform changes drastically... from tank tops and sweats to the dreaded polar fleece!  A girl tends to get a little testy when she has to trade her flip-flops for wool socks and slippers... month after endless month!  Who wouldn’t?

Where to begin?  Where have I been and what have I been doing?  Well, to be honest, I’ve been in a FUNK!  My family and friends are feeling deserted (sorry) but my poor husband, being a creative soul himself (thank God), has not deserted me!  He nurtures, waters and feeds me as I once again go through yet another soul searching phase.  Yep, it’s time.  Just about every 8-10 years I find myself at the re-inventing stage.  What will I be next?  Always an artist, of course... but what kind?  What medium? What venue?

It’s a never-ending story.  The ageless question.  “The Journey”.  For now, I’ll be happy to make my own unreasonable deadlines and have something new and exciting to show at Surtex in May.  After that, well, who knows? 

New growth can be just so... well, so.....

 

 

Marimekko meets Metz

Well it's been a long time coming... this upstairs guest bathroom re-model. We have pretty much been remodeling and updating our home on a steady basis for over 7 years now.  One major project after another including the stuff that's not fun, just expensive... like re-plumbing and replacing the air conditioner.  Suffice it to say, my demolition man has learned more than he ever wanted to about ripping rooms apart, so if you have any questions, just ask him!

I can't believe we lived with this ugliness for so long! 

And worse... inflicted it on our guests!

The man can do some ripping apart, I tell you!

Then he made his first mistake.  He left the country for three weeks and left me in charge.

Poor guy never knows what he's coming home to!

 

Well, you can't give an artist a blank white wall and expect anything less.

New white tile, new tub, fabulous black cabinet with black granite top, roomy cabinet above the toilet (coming soon) and...

VOILE!

 

Welcome to our new bathroom!

(In case anyone was wondering what I've been up to!)

Meet Elizabeth St.Hilaire Nelson

...and her paper paintings extraordinaire!

To say nothing of that killer skirt she's wearing!!  

My friend and fellow artist, Loreen Leedy found Elizabeth's stunning work in a St. Augustine gallery during a recent trip with her hubby.  She did some research and found out Elizabeth lives right here in our own back yard!  We were both so taken with her colorful collage work and eager to get some pointers from the pro herself, so we signed up for a short 4 hour workshop which we attended on Saturday at the home studio of Judy Segall, another talented artist who makes the most beautiful hand made papers.

Our assignment was to arrive with an apple loosely painted on a wooden panel and a variety of painted papers in the colors of the apple.  Turns out that leaving this assignment til the last minute (some things never change) was not so bad.  On Friday, I found myself frantically painting papers with no time for much thought.  Before you know it I was stamping and splashing and spattering with reckless abandon and having a blast!  WHY?  Because I did not have a set plan or any expectations of a masterpiece!  I was having so much fun making a mess with these papers, time was running out and I had not yet painted my apple on the board!  By 10:30 Friday night I was finally packed and ready to go with the painted apple, lots of painted paper and all my supplies needed for the Saturday morning workshop.

Elizabeth's demo apple painted on a wooden panel board with acrylics.

Here she is applying bits of torn colored papers, carefully matching the hues and tones as closely as she can to her apple painting. 

(Not to obsess but... is that a KILLER SKIRT or what?!!!!!)

How quickly time flies when you are having fun. Our time is up and although this is not finished, you can get an idea of how nicely her apple is progressing.

So much fun!  Thanks, Elizabeth, for sharing your process.  You are as lovely a person as is your art and I so enjoyed meeting you and having fun creating - just for the sake of creating! And thank you Judy for hosting the workshop in your studio!

To see some of Elizabeth's amazing work visit her blog and just for fun, sign up for a workshop in your hometown - do it for the sake of pure enjoyment!

Atlanta Market

Yet another summer Atlanta market has come and gone.  Always fun, exciting and inspiring, not to mention exhausting. It's good to be home again and I'm feeling refreshed and excited... anxious to dig into the next project!

Three new collections made their debut in the Giftcraft showroom.  I had not yet seen samples of them and I must admit, I was pretty excited to see how well they turned out!  It's always fun to see my art come to life- from drawing board to finished product and it's especially nice to visit with all the wonderful people I don't get to see in person often enough.  I am very blessed, indeed!

Here are a few photos I snapped in the showroom of the newest collections.

 

Easter Party, Girl's Night In and the Accessory Collection ... all coming soon!

The added bonus of meeting up with good friends... tired good friends! Sorry Beej - you had to know this would end up on the blog!  Good wine, good friends...the reward at the end of the day. 

Me, Carol Eldridge and BJ Lantz

Meeting for cocktail hour... some of our Linked In group.  

Jane Maday, Terri Conrad, Martha Collins, me, BJ Lantz, Phyllis Dobbs, Sue Zipkin and Carol Eldridge

And now... back to work!

Kelly Rae Roberts "Taking Flight"

 

Kelly Rae Robert's e-course is over and thankfully I took the time to print each post as I went along because I often fell behind.  Also, something about reading on the computer screen does not compute with me... know what I mean?  No comprendo.  Printing and organizing in a notebook so I could go at my own pace and highlight points of interest was definitely the way to go for me.

I thought I'd try to sum up what spoke to me most as sort of a little review for myself and anyone else who might be interested.  If you took the class and are interested in sharing your high points, by all means, feel free to leave a comment below. If you didn't take the class and wish you had, I know she is offering PDF's for sale, although I'm not sure if that is only for people that signed up for the class or not.  You can head over to her site and ask her about that.  If you are like me and you just need a good kick in the seat of your pants, I highly recommend you read her book.  I find her enthusiastic writing style uplifting and soulful, which is why I signed up for the class in the first place.  That - and the girl's got the whole marketing thing going on!  Which brings me to my review list.  Of course there is much more, but these are the stand up and take notice ones for me, personally:

•  BLOGGING is the single most important marketing tool we can use to try to promote ourselves, our products, or just good will among other like-minded souls.  Websites - a close second.  
• FACEBOOK another important tool! ... I know... who knew?  I thought the only thing it was good for was for keeping up with my busy kids and my active nieces!  So I now have a FB "biz page". (see my widget over there on the right?) All I have to do now is learn how to navigate this!
• SETTING GOALS and scheduling every step needed to accomplish them- Mucho important!  Of course I already know this and Lord knows I've attempted it on more than one occasion, but the big epiphany is I am not a failure if I should happen to fall off the schedule!  Everyday life can sometimes kick us off track.  But you need to schedule time for every thing you want to do in your daily life.  One scheduled step at a time - it's the only way to accomplish goals. 
• TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE  This really is a "given", but if you are anything like me, you either have a difficult time figuring out what your own true self is, or you allow yourself to get beaten down by comparing yourself to the success of others.  Knock it off! 
• LISTEN TO THE WHISPERS  Focus on the ideas that keep tugging at your heartstrings and you will find your way.  There's room in the world for every creative soul so be true to your heart's desires.
• CONNECT with community.  Take a retreat,  some workshops, hang out with other like-minded souls in your area or on line - especially if you work alone... we need each other!

Of course, there were many other points of interest along the way.  Lots of reinforcement for the wavering soul and many links and suggestions for marketing, selling your work, managing your time, etc.  All in all, I am very happy to have had the opportunity to learn from someone whom I greatly admire.

Thank you, Kelly Rae Roberts!

More on my self discovery journey later!

Thurston House ~ Maitland, Florida

I got up this morning and promised myself I'd do a new post.  If I got nothing else done all day, I was going to do some blog posting, by God!  So while putzing around all day, wondering what subject of interest - if anything -  I could blab about,  I remembered an article that Eddie pointed out to me in this morning's Orlando Sentinel about a wonderful place, near and dear to my heart, right here in our quaint little town of Maitland, Florida. There was my topic and I could even illustrate it!

It's hard to believe that it was 18 years ago when I met Carole and Joe Ballard who turned a sad, old, dilapidated, historical house into this beautiful bed and breakfast Inn.  When I tell you they had "vision" I do not exaggerate!  I remember walking through the rubble of this run down mess thinking , "No way!"  When Joe got transferred to Florida, Carole, who is an amazing and talented visionary, decided that it was time to leave her Fortune 5oo corporate job and make her dream of becoming an innkeeper come true.  They both worked tirelessly, with great stamina and conviction, to bring this beautiful home to life. Lucky for me, they hired me to create their brochure.  Not only did we become friends, but Eddie and I had the privilege of being married right there in their front parlor 10 years later!

So CONGRATULATIONS Carole and Joe on the 125th anniversary of your home!

 

Next time you are considering a visit to Central Florida, check in for a quiet,  relaxing stay with Carole and Joe at Thurston House.  I promise warmth and hospitality beyond compare... and a really great home cooked breakfast to get your day started! 

"The smallest feline is a masterpiece."

Leonardo da Vinci

 

This is a little watercolor I did several years ago.  The calico in the bottom left corner is Mollie who moved on to kitty heaven four years ago.  The chubby one on the chair, is Wheezie.  Since Mollie left, she has been "The Queen".  Although I loved them both, I must admit Wheezie was always my special baby...my favorite.  If you are a cat lover, you understand.  We love them all, but every so often one grabs that special corner of your heart... that none other will ever occupy...and claims it for her own.  Friday I had to let her go.  It was one of the most painful things I have ever had to do.  I miss her so much my heart just hurts. 

Are there worse things happening in the world?  Of course. I know this. I also know I will get through it.  I'll have to.  But for now I must allow myself time to maneuver through the  loud, sad reminders that she is not here.  I will no longer wake up to her little song and dance in the morning as she waits impatiently for me to fill her bowl.  I will sit on the couch with my morning coffee and experience what was once our special quiet time together - alone.  Her food, water bowls and litter box are all gone.  My whole house feels so empty.  I just went out to my studio to try to do some work and could not stay there.  She is not draped across my work space, drinking my dirty paint water, or lying on my palette.  How can I ever again  be creative out there?  

I promised I was not going to do a blog post about this.  It would be too painful.  I will be strong.  I will keep this little heartbreak private.   But today, as I tried to sit at my drawing table I realized, it's not all about me and my feelings.  For 16 blessed years she has given me unconditional love.  She knew when I was sad and needed comforting.  She knew when I needed to slow down, take a break and have a cat in my lap to pet.  She listened as I babbled when she was the only one here to talk to and she kept Eddie's side of the bed warm and cozy, nuzzling up close to me when he was away on a trip. She was always just a few feet from me no matter where I was in my house- just in case I needed her company.   I can not let her go without shouting to the world how much she meant to me and how much I am going to miss her.  She deserves at least that much.

Maybe my words will help wash my sadness away with my tears.  Maybe soon the hole in my heart will get a little smaller.  But you can rest assured, that one little corner she claimed there will always belong just to her.

Now I am reminded, how really lucky I am.  My loving, thoughtful husband, who not only has a huge heart but also occupies the biggest part of mine,  has just come home from the store with not only dinner ingredients, but this beautiful flower arrangement to cheer me up.  Where in the world did this man come from?  And how did I get so lucky to land him?!   Love you, baby!!  Thanks for always being there to share my sorrows, my joys... my life.

Safe and happy 4th of July celebrations everyone! 

Back soon with cheery posts, I promise.

Ever feel like...

...you're swimming upstream? Lost with no direction?  An odd duck - or in this case an odd fish?

Well, this would be me these days.  I've been to-ing and fro-ing a bit too much lately.  Travels have made me weary and unfocused.  Time to settle down, get out to the studio and zero in on creating something - anything - for more than a minute!

I have been following along on Kelly Rae Robert's e-course hoping to pick up a few pointers and so far, I'm re-learning everything I already know.  But I'm not disappointed.  Review is always a good thing.  Her positive reinforcement is nudging me to explore new techniques, mediums and colors.  I am encouraged by her lively spirit to make sense of it all with a collection of works that "look like me"... and feel like something I want to do more than one of.   Where is that one style and medium that makes me anxious to get up and get painting in the morning?! 

I'll be heading to Atlanta in mid-July for market and the goal is to re-organize my portfolio for a meeting or two. It's just a few weeks away, but I'm nothing without a looming deadline.  Anyway, for the time being, I've decided to go within, limit the outside distractions and focus on the tasks at hand. 

I will be keeping the shop closed for a bit longer - until after I return again to a multi-tasking environment. 

For now.. just quiet reflection and the on-going search for the right direction. 

Here's a great quote - and I really don't know who to give the credit to, so if anyone out there does, please let me know.

"Be yourself.  Everyone else is taken."

Hello Blog...

Remember me?

1630 Etching by Rembrand tvan Rijn "Self-portrait in a cap, with eyes wide open"

 Eddie and I love this!  We got it at Rembrandt's house in Amsterdam - you've got to applaud his sense of humor!  The expression just seems to say it... no matter what "it" is!  Think of the many captions that go with this look!  What?!  Who?  Huh?  You're kidding!  No,.... really?  I didn't do it!  Yes,... I did.  You ate what?  Holy S***!  and my personal favorite...You want it when?  Well, you get the idea.  Somehow, his expression seemed an appropriate way to begin this long, overdue post.

Whoo boy.  This won't be easy... getting back to work mode.  It's taken a week just to get back to USA time.  What a trip... what a glorious once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!  My photos are still on the laptop or I'd post a few of the highlights, but they can be viewed here on our travel blog.

I'm refreshed, relaxed... the house is clean, groceries are in the fridge, the piles of laundry are done, the book-keeping is caught up...so, what now?  Good question.   I've signed up for Kelly Rae Robert's e-course, Flying Lessons.  I feel like I need a kick in the butt.   Still trying to catch up on all the great info this young, successful artist is sharing.  I read her book and so admire her spirit.  There's always something new to learn.

Yesterday I actually  got out to the studio!  Happy to be working on something new and exciting... keep you posted on that too!

Dorothy was right... there's no place like home! 

Have a marvelous Sunday!

 

 

 

 

Let The Adventure Begin!

I have no idea where half of March and all of April went, but I have been a very bad blogger, indeed!  Today I am off to meet my honey in Amsterdam for a fabulous trip mixing work with a lot of pleasure.  Well, I won't be working and really if Eddie tells you he's working, don't buy it.  I can't call beating on the drums work!  I will be painting and sketching, though and I really can't wait to being this adventure.  We are so very, very fortunate and ever so grateful!

Anyway, we are going to keep in touch via our travel blog so feel free to check in now and then to see what we are up to!

Take Good Care,

Finally a glorious, sunny day!

Friday, March 19th -  My Dad's birthday

Now this is why we live here!  What gorgeous weather we had on Friday!  And boy did I need an outing. I've been stuck inside for days on end working on a project with a tight deadline.  Felt so good to get out with Eddie and walk through the Winter Park Art Festival.  Met up with some wonderful people I have not seen in a while, old friends and artists I know - and saw a lot of great, inspiring art.  We even had a sausage and pepper sandwich in honor of my dad, who's birthday it is today.  I miss you Daddy.  Now... back to the real world.  Chubby Easter bunnies and Chicks all over my drawing board!

Hope you enjoyed a little sunshine in your life today!

Don't you just love it...

.... when the UPS man comes?

I got some new pastels... Wheezie got the box!  aahhhh... life is good.  :~))

New Samples

A quick hello!  Seems like that's about all I have time for these days.  So grateful to be busy - best of all... making a living at what I love to do.  I'm working on two new collections for Giftcraft to be released sometime next spring, but in the meantime, it's always exciting when the new samples come.  Usually I have completely forgotten what they look like since we work so far in advance, but I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of these guys and although I have not had time to completely unpack the entire collection, I can't contain my excitement at how pleased I am with the outcome.  For you cat lovers, this collection is called "Cat's Meow" and will mix and match nicely with "Tea Party".  Is he cute or what? I'm just sayin'....

Many thanks to all of you who are patiently waiting for my shop to open, I'm still working on the shopping cart and all I can say is it's coming along.  It just takes forever to photograph, scan and plug it all in.  I'm close though and anxious to get it up and running.  Thanks for your understanding.  I have saved each and every email and will notify you as soon as it is all in place and working properly.

(Where is my "Goddess Of Getting It Done?")

In the meantime... back to work!  Hope you all have a bright and sunny day!

Trendsetter, electronic junkie...

...got to have it first...not words that describe me.  By the time I'm liking a fashion trend, it's on it's way out.  We have 5 televisions in our house and not one of them is a high def. flat-screen. (yet) I know, I know... this is a trend that is not going away and eventually we will have to jump on that bandwagon.  But for now, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  That's the motto around the Metz house.

for the most part.

I have had my old Motorola Razor phone for at least 4 years.  It works great, it's small, efficient... I know how to operate it.

i-phone?  Eh? Eddie got one a year and a half ago.  Nice, honey.  The last thing I need is another time waster. I don't want it, don't need it, see no point in paying an extra monthly fee for it, yes, it looks like fun...

... she's a beauty, ain't she?!

Believe me, this was no easy decision.  Before making the big plunge, I thought long and hard about how I was going to justify this new toy.  Do you find yourself looking for reasons to justify an unnecessary indulgence? 

After all, I don't have to support smoking, drinking or excessive shopping habits and Mom desperately needs a new phone (and loves my Razor), and I do work hard (most of the time) so there you have it. It's done.  No regrets.  I'm with the program now and I'm loving it!  An app for this, an app for that.  Email, facebook, find your way around any town, check the weather, search the web anytime, great photos, all my i-tunes and Pandora Radio...games...How did I ever live without it?

All this and the pièce de résistance...Imagine my thrill when I discovered this protective cover comes in my favorite color...baby-poop-green! 

Off to the drawing board to support my unnecessary indulgences!

Her rhym-n' keeps a shine-n'

Maybe some of you do this, but I, myself, rarely take the time to read all the comments left by others on the blogs I visit.  For that reason, I am posting this comment made yesterday by my "sista" Diane in case you missed it.  I have a file of all the limericks she has written for me over the many years of our treasured friendship but this one...well,...too cute not to share! So cleaver and creative!  Love you too, buddy!

Enjoy your day and treasure your special friends! 

 

Stepping back in time

No pump intended!

There's a new project in the works for Giftcraft and it's taking me back to the beginning. I began my career as a fashion illustrator.  First for a department store in Miami, then for Belk here in Orlando.  I loved those jobs! Go to work in jeans, paint fashions all day... a regular pay check with bennies and a 401K... ahhh....I thought I would never have to do anything for the rest of my life in order to be happy.  And I would probably be there to this day if the job still existed.  My gosh! Scary!!! look at the opportunities I would have missed had I not been pushed out of the nest by the use of photography in ads instead of art! Well, everything happens for a reason so they say.  But I digress... let's step forward into time.

I am blissfully immersed in a new project today. The holidays have passed, the company has finally subsided and the roadie gig with Eddie is behind me. I'm thrilled to report that yesterday I had the first productive day at the drawing board in a long, long time!  I must admit, it was a little frightening! It's been so long since I sat down with a paintbrush in my hand. Could I still do it?  Would it come back to me?  It's not that I haven't been creative over the last several months in other ways, but dipping my brush in the paint...wow... I didn't realize just how much I missed it. True confession... about a month ago I cleaned and reorganized the studio and I actually had to search for my gouache!  Note to self: visit work area more often.

So.. back to the project at hand. I can't divulge it all just yet, but suffice it to say, this collection of shoe and purse illustrations will be going on a variety of products. This is exciting to me because it's a step out of the nifty- gifty products and tabletop I usually design for Giftcraft.  Not that I don't love doing that, but variety is nice.  We are still working on "the look" but here's a sneak peek at my first go of it. It may end up looking completely different, but it's a start...and best of all it was FUN!!

Well, at the risk of shocking anyone (who might be paying attention) with a post two days in a row, I'll leave you with the hopes of another successful day as I step out to the kitchen for another cup of joe.  Have a wonderful, creative day!

Confessions of an absentee blogger

Hello...my name is Joyce. 

It has been two months, twenty nine days and forty eight some-odd hours since my last post.

I confess, I am way too busy to blog about why I haven't been able to blog! But still, (::Sigh::) just like my old friends, diet and exercise, once I let so much time go by it's ever so difficult to get back on track.

Why do we feel that we need some grandiose re-entry...complete with apologies and explanations after these long blogless spells? My friend and fellow artist/absentee blogger, Beth Logan and I, had a conversation about this just yesterday. I mean, really... do we think anyone cares? After all, Brad and Angelea are splitting up!!!!  Now there's some newsworthy chit-chat.

To be honest, the last thing I need in my crazy, busy life is one more thing to stress over!  So, in lieu of worthless New Year's resolutions that I probably won't keep, I am going to proclaim that from this day forward,this blog will remain "Guilt-free".  That's right.  You heard it here. Totally guilt free!  C'mon Beth, and all you other guilty bloggers, make that commitment!  I propose we start our own 7 step program... anyone in?  

Catch up soon... (promise)!

And the winner is.....

My unbiased winner-picker, Heidi draws the winning name!

CONGRATULATIONS...

... SHARON, from TX!!

Please email your address to me and your mug will be on it's way to you.  :~)

Thank you all, so much for participating.  It was fun... I think I'll do it again!

  

Holiday Blog Hop

Welcome to day four of the Holiday Blog Hop!

MY TURN!

I'm honored to be among the talented artists who are participating.  Thank you Terri, for organizing us!

Here is the lineup once again: 

Terri Conrad Designs                 November 14th
Brenda Pinnick                           November 15th
Tori Higa                                   November 16th
Me                                             November 17th
Phyllis Dobbs                             November 18th           
Cherish Flieder                          November 19th
Joy Hall                                     November 20th
Barbara Johansen Newman        November 21st
Sharyn Sowell                           November 22nd

I'm not much of a paper crafter so I really had to step outside of my comfort zone to come up with  something crafty to share.  Here goes.... I love beads and I love to set a fun table so I have combined the two and made these simple wine charms from 6 of my small rectangular designs in the downloadable pdf below.  I simply cut around the shapes with my exacto knife and glued them to a rectangle cut from heavy green card stock.  I punched a hole in the top, finished it off with my grommet tool and attached a wire s-hook that I made out of inexpensive silver wire.  I then played around with a longer strip of wire, adding beads and charms and wrapped it around the stem of the wine glass.  Easy enough! (Please... replace my silver and red balls with real wine!)

 

Here's the PDF for you to download and print.  I used a good quality presentation paper or you could use photo paper so the colors come out accurate and bright.  Have fun, but please - this is for personal use only.  I ask that you respect my copyright and do not use my art for any commercial purpose with out my permission. 

Download Wine Charms

For the next part of the blog hop (the most difficult) I'm asked to answer a few questions, so here goes:

Five things we might not know about you that you'd like to share

1. I sometimes have a difficult time focusing and completing a project.
2. I could easily eat some kind of pasta dish every night for dinner and I'm not talking that yukky whole wheat stuff-give me the trashy white kind, please!
3. If you want directions to somewhere, just ask me, then go the opposite way.
4. I am a loyal friend. If you tell me something in confidence it goes no further.
5. I am useless without my morning coffee...in my favorite red cup.  Ahhh... nectar of the Gods!

Five things going on in your creative world

1. New collections always in the works for Giftcraft.
2. A fabric collection for Henry Glass that was just picked up by Hancock's.
3. I enjoy working with free-form crochet and recently I'm learning a new technique.
4. Beads, beads and more beads!  Working on jewelry designs to sell on my website.
5. Continuous experimentation with new painting and illustration styles.  I am easily bored and must play with a variety of mediums and styles - or die!

Five things that really inspire you

1. The smell of an art supply store.  I just love walking in and breathing it all in.
2. Color!!!!  Without a doubt it's the one word that describes my motivation to create.
3. The impressionist painters.  All of them!
4. Jazz... really good straight ahead jazz like the kind my husband plays.  The real deal.  No smooth jazz... definitely NO Kenny G! 
5. Other artist friends are always an inspiration.  Nothing like getting a bunch of us together for a brainstorming and art supply swapping session! (or BLOG HOP!)

So there you have it.  Leave me a (nice) comment and you will be registered to win one of my Christmas travel mugs.  Winner announced on the 24th.  Remember to visit each of the other artists, comment on their blogs, and post our invitation with our links on your blog if you have one.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Blog Hop

What is a blog hop, you ask? (curiously, so did I)  In a nutshell, here's how it works:

Each of the talented artists below, licenses her art for a variety of different products.  There will be some fun projects, crafts, maybe a free pattern or "how to", and some give-aways on each blog for the next 9 days.  All you have to do is visit each blog and leave a comment.  That's it... then you're in for the  goodies!

This is a first for me.  I'm hangin' out on a limb... a fish out of water... jumpin' off the high dive... still wondering what "exciting" project and give-away I will come up with... yikes!  Anyway, the fun starts tomorrow with Terri Conrad so please join in and spread the word.  If you have a blog, you can even lift the "Blog Hop with the Artists" invitation and post it on your blog - the more who post, play & win, the merrier!  Remember, just leave a comment letting us know you visited and then on November 24th each of us will randomly select a winner from those comments for our give-aways!

1.   Terri Conrad  http://www.terriconraddesigns.typepad.com/ (nov 14)

2.   Brenda Pinnick   http://www.brendapinnick.com/blog/ (nov 15)

3.   Tori Higa   http://www.torihiga.blogspot.com/ (nov 16)

4.   ME   http://www.joyceshelton.typepad.com/ (nov 17)

5.   Phyllis Dobbs  http://phyllisdobbs.info/ (nov 18)

6.   Cherish Fielder  http://somethingtocherish.com/archivepage (nov 19)

7.   Joy Hall   http://joyhall.typepad.com/ (nov 20)

8.   Barbara Johansen Newman 

      http://johansennewman.typepad.com/designrocket/ (nov 21)

9. Sharyn Sowell  http://www.sharynsowellartblog.blogspot.com/ (nov 22)

Off to the drawing board to come up with something wonderful.  :~) 

Have a great weekend!