Textile Show

 I was asked last minute to submit some quilted items to a textile show happening at the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery this month and next. Luckily I had just made 35 rice bags, and I took a few things off Etsy in order to have them in the show.

 

Here are some of the rice bags I made. I used a variety of different fabrics. When I was there setting up I couldn't believe how many people didn't know what a "rice bag" was! I've been using them ever since I was little. I love to use them if I have a headache, but mostly to toss in my bed at night.

 The photo quilt on the wall is the first photo quilt I ever made (using my own pictures). Obviously it's not for sale but I thought it would look nice there.

 

I definitely wanted to include some baby rag quilts. I only had a couple already made and I hated to take them off Etsy, but I didn't have enough time to make new ones.

 

If you live in the Stillwater area be sure to check out the show! There are all kinds of different items and it's really something to see! We're going to be having a reception but I'm not entirely sure on the date of that yet. I'll let you know when I know!

 

Hope you're having a great week!

Prints and Other News

Well this is what I have been working on today. I'm planning another trip to the gallery tomorrow and I wanted to bring some new prints along. I purchased a swanky new printer a few months ago and I'm actually able to make my own Giclee prints now. The printer is great but it's still a hassle getting the images just right. Although it still beats troubling someone else to do it for me.

I'm afraid that I may not be posting too many new paintings over the next few weeks. I'm nearing the end of my current college classes so I have final projects and exams coming up. I'm also getting married in June so I'm beginning to make plans for that. I don't want to lose momentum with my paintings, but there is only so much time in the day. :)

Gallery Paintings

Well I finally decided to choose which paintings I'd like to have in the gallery next month. For those of you who don't know, I will be represented by the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery in Stillwater Minnesota as of November 1st. Yay! :) I thought it would be more difficult to choose which paintings I wanted to frame and put in the gallery, but it really wasn't. I wanted to choose a range of works that consisted of different subjects and colors. Here are the ones that I've chosen:

"My Bleeding Heart"
"Sweet Tooth Smile"
"Summer Cherries"

"Shell on the Shore" "Multilayered"

"Heavymetal" "Drizzle"

I'm also going to have many prints available of these paintings and others, including some of my watercolor paintings. I'm just so excited about this and I can't wait to see my paintings on the wall among all the other incredible artists! :)

Puppies and Update

I thought maybe you were all missing the puppies, so I thought I would put up some pictures of them and update you on what has been going on with me.

Bentley posing nicely for the camera.
Cooper says, "Bentley, do you want to come down here and play with me?" Bentley says, "Can't you see I'm being photographed?"

Cooper has no idea why Mom is running around taking pictures of them.

" Mom, I don't know what you find so difficult about Biology, I find it rather stimulating."

I wish I had a new painting to share with you today, but I'm afraid I don't. I really haven't had any time to paint lately, and it's been frustrating. I'm at the end of another quarter in school, so I have final projects and finals due by the end of next week. I'm also trying to get a jump on my Fall and Winter quilts for Etsy. I made out pretty well the last holiday season with my quilted table runners, so I thought I would give it another try this year. Although, I'd much rather be painting than sewing right now.

As far as my painting goes.. I'm still getting everything ready for my gallery representation. Little did I know, this incredible opportunity was going to turn into phone calls to the IRS and appointments with an accountant to try and figure all the legal stuff out. So, I'm officially a small business owner, or self-employed according to the government. I'm excited about being able to write off my art supplies and all my other "business related expenses." Ha-ha... it just seems funny to say that.

Anyway, I hope to finish up these classes, get ahead with my quilting and finally have some time to paint. I'm gathering many beautiful reference photos for future paintings!

I hope you all enjoy what's left of Summer!

Exciting News!!

Well I have some very exciting news!! As of November 1st I will be represented by the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery in Stillwater Minnesota! This gallery has always been my favorite in the area, and to have the chance to show my art there is a dream come true! I haven't been represented by a gallery before, so this is very exciting for me. I will have a relatively small wall space, but it will be a great start. Plus most of my paintings are small, so it will be perfect.

I have a lot of work to do in preparation for this. I believe that I will select a few paintings that I've already done, that I have listed on Etsy, to start. I think I'll do a few new ones too. I have a little more than 2 months to get everything ready, so that should be plenty of time.

I'm so excited!!!! :)

I hope you all have a great weekend!