Spring and Summer Table Runners

I've gotten into a new routine - painting in the morning and quilting in the afternoon. It's kinda nice! Lately I've acquired some spring/summer fabrics and decided that I had to make table runners. These are so bright and fun - perfect for this time of year. Sometimes all you need to punch up a room is a little color! These "table runners" don't even have to go on a table. You could put them anywhere - on a bookcase, island, entertainment center, over a chair, or even on the wall!

Currently these are all for sale in my Etsy shop. I'm also going to be adding some original paintings and prints daily, so check back for them!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Welcome Spring! New Pastel Painting

I just completed this pastel painting, "Welcome Spring." I used a combination of Mount Vision pastels, and pastel pencils to complete this painting. It is done on 6 x 6 Ampersand Pastelbord. The reference photo I used for this painting is from my Great Uncle Mike. He and his significant other, Kay, are wonderful photographers and graciously allowed me to use some of their photos as references. You must check out their website - http://www.klbenedict.com/.

This painting was a little different for me. I typically paint pretty loose, but I didn't want to use that approach with this painting. I was striving for a realistic look. I'm still learning what my style is, especially since recently changing mediums from watercolor to soft pastels. In watercolor I like to be very loose. I suppose it depends on the subject I'm working on as well.

I enjoyed this painting so much that I'm planning on doing others using a similar style.

Please check my Etsy store for new items!

Thank you and have a great weekend!

New Embroidered Table Runners

I've added yet another item to my Etsy shop - embroidered table runners. These feature a piece of embroidery in the center, with borders sewn around it. Of the current table runners available, there are embroidered flowers, a hummingbird and a butterfly. I am planning on doing holiday ones and several more like the ones that I already have. Perhaps even some with several different embroidery designs in the same piece. Choosing the colors of the embroidery threads and fabrics to match is so much fun; I love anything to do with color! I've searched Etsy and there isn't anything quite like these on there. I think these would be really fun to collect!

Taking a Little Break

Well it's been quite a while since I last posted an update. I have been taking a little break from painting, and I've been focusing inward. I've rediscovered my love for yoga, and I've been dedicating a lot of my time to my practice. I'm even thinking about going through yoga teacher training so that I can teach. I would really love to teach yoga to young people. You can tell just by watching the news lately that there is so much anger in today's youth. I think if they had a healthy outlet, such as yoga, they could better manage the stresses in their lives. So, for now, I'm working on my own practice, and trying to find a deep inner peace.

I'm on a little break from school right now, and I do hope to make some time for painting before I start some new classes. I will be sure to share anything that I'm working on. :)

Latest Pastel Paintings

"Evening Reflection" 5 by 7

"Purple Twilight" 5 by 7

I was graciously given permission from Sharon (this is link to her blog: http://mynewenglandlife.blogspot.com/) to use her beautiful photographs as references for my paintings. I chose to do this set of paintings from her pictures.

These paintings were done on heavy watercolor paper that has been primed with Colourfix Pastel Primer. They are 5 by 7 and were done with mostly Sennelier's, but some Mount Vision pastels as well.

These two paintings are now for sale on my Etsy page, for $40 each, and they come framed in a beautiful wooden frame.

New Pastels

I finally got my 2nd Dakota Art Pastel box and got all my new Mount Vision pastels organized! I had to tear the paper off of 350 pastels as well as inventory them! Buying a full set of Mount Vision pastels was quite a leap considering I had never even tried them before! I had just heard such good things about them. After receiving them and playing around with them a little bit, I'm slightly disappointed. For a "soft pastel" they're a little harder than I was anticipating. I've been using Sennelier's a lot (but a full set is way out of my price range) and they're very soft compared to the Mount Visions. But I'm sure after I use them more I will just love them. I can adapt to just about anything :). Now I have my heart set on a few sets of Terry Ludwig pastels. I have the Maggie Price Greys set, and love it! They are a very soft pastel and I love that. You can never have too many pastels! Right? :)

Pastel Paintings

"Solitude"
8 x 10 on Pastelbord, using Sennelier pastels

This is a painting that I did for my Grandma. I did one for her a couple weeks ago of this lake and she wanted 2 more to match. She grew up on the lake in Michigan and a painting I did took her back to that. I was happy to do these for her.

"Wispy Clouds Over the Lake"
8 by 10 on Pastelbord, using Sennelier pastels

This was my second time doing this painting, the first time was for myself, and of course this one is for my Grandma. She hasn't seen these yet, and they will be mailed out to her tomorrow. I hope she is pleased with them!

Art Spectrum Colourfix Primer

I recently discovered this amazing product, Art Spectrum Colourfix Primer. I am fairly new to soft pastels (transitioning from watercolor) and I have been using Colourfix pastel paper a lot. I really like how pastel applies to the paper and the fact that you can layer a lot of pastels. When I found the Colourfix Primer, I was so excited. The primer can be applied to almost any clean surface. I have gobs and gobs of watercolor paper and I don't plan on giving up on watercolor completely, but I wanted to use some of the paper up. So, I bought the Colourfix Primer and applied it to my watercolor paper (only the paper that was 140lb and heavier). It dried quite quickly, and it's amazing!! The surface is exactly like the Colourfix paper that you can buy. Let's face it, pastel paper can be quite expensive, especially if you paint a lot or depending on the pastel surface that you like. I bought a small container of the primer (in white) and I applied it to probably 35 pieces of watercolor paper and canvas (of various sizes) and I only used up half of the container. So if you think about it, it's much cheaper than buying sheets or pads of pastel paper. The primer comes in many different colors, including clear. Give it a try!

Wispy Clouds

"Wispy Clouds" is my latest pastel painting. I couldn't seem to get a good scan of it, therefore the colors are not perfect. The colors in the original painting are beautiful. I took this picture at my Great-Grandma's house on the lake in Michigan. I remember spending many summer days there with my Grandma. I used to fantasize about what was on that island (in the painting). As a little girl I used to think there were people living there! I have many other pictures of this house on the lake, and I plan to paint some of those as well.

Tomorrow I am expecting my complete set of Mount Vision pastels! I've never even tried them, so I hope I'm not disappointed. I have been using Sennelier pastels and I love them, but cannot afford an entire set. They're about $3,000! I've heard many good things about Mount Vision so, I'm sure I'll love them!

A Day Away

I finished this painting yesterday and I'm quite happy with the way it turned out. This is only the 2nd soft pastel painting that I've ever done. The photograph that I used as a reference was from Mackinac Island. My family and I took a day trip there and I snapped this picture of my little brother by the waters edge. He doesn't know it! I'm hoping he thinks it's "cool" that I painted him in a picture.

Anyway, Mackinac Island is probably my favorite place and I have hundreds of reference pictures from my trips there. I sense a series coming on! :) I don't know but we'll see!

End of Day - Finished Painting

I finished my first soft pastel painting! I have doodled a little with soft pastels, but this is my first completed painting. It was difficult to scan and the darks didn't quite show their true colors, but you get the idea.

I named this painting "End of Day" because I took this picture just before sunset at a park near my house.

After completing this painting and having so much fun doing it, I think I'm really on to something! I actually bought a complete set of Mount Vision soft pastels today! I can't wait to get them. I have a few smaller sets, but I've been wanting a complete set.

Hopefully I will posting many more paintings that I'll be doing with my new pastels!

Untitled - Unfinished Pastel Painting

This is a pastel painting that I was working on today. The reference picture is one that I took at a park not far from my home. The way the sunlight in the reference picture just dances across the field is beautiful and I tried to capture that in the painting.

I don't have much experience with soft pastels, and I'm still getting used to them. I have used oil pastels in the past and just loved them. I'm finding that I'm loving soft pastels as well. Once you get past the mess that they make, they're a lot of fun.

So after leaving the painting for a while and going back to it I can tell it needs some more darks. I think if I just darken the darkest values, that should do it. It could also use some other small changes.

I'm feeling like I'm not all that prepared to complete a pastel painting because I don't have all the supplies that I need. All I have are a few sets of Sennelier Pastels, no pastel pencils, blenders, or brushes. So, doing detail is pretty much out of the question, until I purchase these supplies. But I have enough to play around, and that's what I'm doing! :)

Just a little reminder - For the next couple weeks in my Etsy shop, I will be donating 100% of every sale to the American Red Cross to help those in Haiti. If you were going to donate anyway, this is a great way, because you get a little something for doing it!

Shop Etsy For a Cause

Starting today, and for the next 2 weeks, I will donating 100% of my Etsy sales to the American Red Cross (more specifically the Haiti Aid and Development Fund).

I feel so helpless in this situation and just donating money doesn't feel like enough. So, I thought I would just contribute all of my sales to the cause. So my buyers get some art or something hand made and are helping those in need at the same time.

If you can find it in your heart, help in whatever way you can. People think that even donating some amounts of money isn't going to make a difference, but it does!

Thank you!

Sale and New Item of the Week

Hi all! Happy New Year!

I'm currently having a sale on all of my quilted items in my Etsy shop - they're all 50% off, until the 15th of this month. This would be a great time to stock up for the next fall and holiday season! I will not be having another sale like this!

Also, my item of the week this week is an embellished photo storage box for $22 and free shipping! It's a rather large box, and you could really put anything in it. I have the exact same box in my studio (not embellished) and I have paintings in it.

Have a great week everyone!

Free Shipping

I'm having a sale in my Etsy shop until December 22nd - Free Priority Mail shipping on all quilted items! If you want to make sure that your item will arrive before the holiday, please order by this Saturday (the 19th). Happy Holidays!

Facebook Fan Page

I just created a Facebook fan page that will feature my art and other handmade goodies! As a growing artist and quilter, I will be showing works in progress and other items that are for sale as well. I think the page will grow with me! :)

I just listed three more quilted Christmas table runners to Etsy today. They seem to be selling like hot cakes! Nothing adds more warmth to your home like a quilted table runner!

Happy Holidays!

Hot Air Affair

My item of the week for this week is a small framed print of my painting "Hot Air Affair." I was inspired to do this painting after attending the annual "Hot Air Affair" in Hudson, Wisconsin a couple of years ago. It was so incredible watching the balloons going up and floating away. Anyway, this small framed print is $10 this week, with free shipping in my Etsy store.

This Week's Item of the Week

This week's item-of-the-week is a newly listed item; a framed embroidery picture of some beautiful blue flowers. This particular picture is 5 by 7 and in a beautiful frame. I think framed embroidery is a different form of art and would look beautiful anywhere. The regular price for this item is $30 but the sale price is just $22! Plus, you will get free shipping. This offer is only good until midnight this Sunday, October 18th. Thank you, and have a great week!

My First Quilt

So there it is, my first quilt! I haven't come up with a name yet, but I will soon. It's about 55 by 60, and I finished it in just a couple weeks. I'm not the type to start something and just work on it here and there; I work on something until it's finished. Actually that is a bit of a problem for me because I always seem to be working on many different projects all at the same time! :) Card making, painting, sewing, quilting.... I think I have too many interests. But if you would have told me a year ago that I would get into quilting, I wouldn't have believed it. I was so intimidated by the process, but I'm glad I got through it, because I love it! I have so many ideas for more quilts.

Anyway, I do plan to make some table runners, place mats and maybe even some quilts for Etsy over the next while, so look for them!

New Item of the Week

This week's item-of-the-week is a hand painted cigar box with red and purple fuschia flowers. This is actually one of my favorite cigar boxes. It is being offered at a special discount price of $17, and will be shipped for free. It's not too early to be thinking about holiday gifts for your friends and family :). Have a great week!