My Latest Obsession: Washi Tape

My latest obsession! I must get more!

Washi tape is simply masking tape in pretty designs and colors. 

How will I use Washi Tape? Decorating my sketchbooks, attaching notes to my Etsy sales, and adding a little extra support to envelopes. I'm sure Mazzy could come up with a few things herself!

What are you obsessed with today?

If I Could Think of Another Title

...besides "NEW ART!", then I suppose I would title this post something else, hah. It's early Monday morning, and I want to share what I worked on for most of Saturday afternoon. It started out as a sketch (Here's the Sunday Sketchbook post) and now it's a full-blown painting!

I used Sharpie markers for the lines, and colored it in with India Ink and Watercolors.

I'm thinking about getting prints of this one soon!

First Look into the Studio

I've painted the work area of my studio a bright teal. I can't even tell you how much I love that color! It's so pretty! Pictures and posters are being placed on the wall and I'm working through my to-do list bit by bit. 

Of course, when all of this is going on, I come down with some sort of stomach bug. Looks like life is saying, slow down, spend some time in bed. So I've been sleeping on and off all day. I've been trying to enjoy it, and relax a little but I can't help but think of everything I need to do. Oh well. So it goes!

Making Plans

Last week, Mazzy said she wanted a dry erase board. I wasn't sure what she would use it for. Perhaps she'll just draw on it? Well, I definitely didn't expect a to-do list! While I was putting away laundry this morning, I came across "Mazzy's Plans". How adorable is this? She's watched me make to-do lists for years and years, and she's now making her own. 

Sunday Sketchbook

Working on an idea for a new watercolor painting. I really don't need to start another project, but this idea had to get out before I forgot about it.

Foto Friday: Dexter Edition

My darling Dexter! He was napping on the couch and shivering so I covered him with a blanket. I couldn't resist taking photos!

Video Tour of the New Workspace

Yesterday I made a video tour of the new space. I'm so excited about it! My to-do list is growing everyday, so I'm trying my best to just be patient. A new leak was discovered in the front, you can see a bit of it in the video, so I've got to get the landlord to fix it asap. And then there's lack of funds! I'll be honest: I can be a bit impulsive at times and I usually just jump into things and hope a net arrives eventually. I totally did this with the new space and I have very little money coming in, especially after the holidays.

But! Oh well, everything will be okay in the end. I have no set deadlines with the space and I can have a grand opening this summer, doesn't matter. The good thing is that I'm taking chances and definitely believing in myself. I am not afraid of failing at all. In fact, failing isn't even an option. This will work and it'll be awesome. Just wait and see!

Moving In, Week One

I got the key to my new place on Friday and I've been so excited to start moving my stuff! This morning I shuffled in a few things and quickly realized...I have a LOT of crap! I guess I'll de-clutter while moving in!

I'm packing my stuff in these plastic bins. This moving process will take awhile, and I'm okay with that. There are so many things to do to the studio: paint walls, do repairs, replace some lighting, etc. So I cannot get settled in too quickly. I'm thinking I should be 100 percent in before the springtime.

I love love love these built in shelves under the stairs. This building is huge and old, but I'm only renting maybe 400 square feet of it. The space in front of my area is the Arts Council, where I work every Friday and the space behind is a flower shop. The upstairs is unoccupied.

You can see the flower shop through this window in the wall. My dad came by on Friday and I gave him the grand tour. He's a super handy man jack of all trades, and he was almost more excited than I am. He said it would take no effort at all to tear down this shelf and build another one. I'll put it on the to-do list, dad!

My poor little tree kept getting picked on by my cat, so I brought it up to the studio. This huge window is facing south and it gets a lot of sun. I'm pretty sure Mr. Bonsai tree will enjoy all the extra light. 

I'm trying my best to not spend a huge amount of money on new things. New Desk! New Storage Things! New Whatever! I have everything I need and more, so I'll just have to save my money and use it towards quality wall paint and the new shelf. So excited!

Friday Gratitude

Sweet kitty Flapjack on the windowsill.

Back in 2008, I decided it would be a great idea to make a small list of things I'm thankful for every Friday. It's been a long, long time since I've done a Friday Gratitude post...since 2008, in fact, and I think it's time to bring it back!

I'm thankful for:

• A short but sweet visit with my dad. I showed him my studio area and he's just about as excited about it as I am.
• Feeling capable and inspired.
• My darling daughter and her sensitive ways.
• My lovely hubby and our breakfast dates.
• And as silly as it sounds, I'm thankful for the mail and the USPS. We live in a very small town so we can't always find what we're looking for. So we end up ordering a lot of stuff online. Pretty soon, we'll know our delivery people on a first name basis!

What are you thankful for?

Creative Space Thursday

I can't show off the entire project, so these snippets will have to do! I'm painting a huge wooden sign for a buddy. I'm being very fussy with the lines and it's causing me to take my sweet time with this project. Thank goodness I've found the WTF podcast to listen to while I paint.

I need to wrap this up soon! I can see the finish line, yay!

Wednesday Wishing

Ever since getting the good news of my own studio, I've been looking up items to decorate my walls. Here's my current Etsy favorites:

Click the photo to go right to the Etsy listing.

I love all things Michigan. It's my favorite state, hands down! (Get it? Hah hah.) I also adore the color turquoise. And I love organization! So I totally need this, right?

Click the photo to go right to the Etsy listing.

Oh, how beautiful is this? I've always enjoyed going to the Butterfly Exhibit nearby and I always want to buy a framed butterfly but talk myself out of it every time. Maybe I'll buy this one soon? I deserve it!

Click the photo to go right to the Etsy listing.

My collection of tattoo flash is growing...slowly. This is an amazingly beautiful image, and would look lovely on my studio walls! 

What's on your wishlist?

Drawings by the Kiddo

As the daughter of an artist, it's a given that my nine year old Mazzy likes to draw. Anything artistic has been encouraged since the day she could hold a crayon. We have several sketchbooks full of her scribbles, drawings, and stories. Lately she's been creating her own comics as well as drawing from her favorite cartoons.

Her comics are almost always half finished, perhaps a bad habit from me, but they're always very creative.

She's been all about Adventure Time lately. 

She wanted pizza on this day? My silly girl!

She creates her own stories too. We might scan some of them in and make a video. We'll have to find a microphone for the computer first, so she can record the voices herself.

She has new hardback sketchbook but I couldn't find it this morning. I think she might've taken it to school. I'm hoping to make her art a regular feature on my blog!

Sunday Sketchbook

I've recently bought a huge set of different colored Sharpies. They're super fun to draw with!

The sketchbook is for doodles and working out ideas. It's not pretty, but it gets the job done. 

Foto Friday

Foto Friday: Where I upload all the recent pictures from my phone and share them with you!

 

Remember this Sunday Sketchbook entry? I scanned the image and made postcards!

 

This set was a Christmas present to myself. I haven't used them yet. They're going to be my reward for when I finish another large project. 

 

Mazzy likes to draw on her Nintendo DS. 

 

Here's a stack of Christmas presents. I kind of enjoy wrapping presents, especially when there's pretty paper involved!

 

Took the hubby out for his birthday! He enjoys playing pool and it's so awesome to watch him play. He's SO GOOD.

Things I Love Thursday

I'm Lovin': to-do lists, wishin' and hopin', Google calendar, evenings spent reading on the couch, my Kindle, Adventure Time watchin' with the kiddo...

The IngenuiTEA teapot from Adagio Teas. My new favorite thing in the morning. I actually ordered another one just so I can have one at home and one at the studio. I might be a little obsessed with tea. Just a little.

Small town livin': I got a call from the librarian yesterday. She said she came across a book full of pin-up girls and thought of me. She wanted to give me first dibs before putting it out on the For Sale table. Of course, I stopped by to snatch it up! It's awesome knowing almost everyone in a small town!

Also: huge packs of different colored Sharpies, gift cards for restaurants and chowin' down, textin' with friends, a new year and new opportunities, cuddlin' with Dexter...

Tumblr favorites:

Might have to get a business card like this one day!

Wise words, Jake!

What are you Lovin' On today?

On My Desk Wednesday

Otherwise known as: What I'm Working On This Wednesday!

I'm going through a bunch of stuff in the house, sort of a pre-spring cleaning and I came across this old shelf. I got it at a thrift store years ago and ended up painting it black. Why? I can't remember. I'm now covering it in Kilz and hoping to transform it into something cute. Hopefully it'll be hung in my new studio. It'll hold my vintage camera collection.

Here's a small peek at a mural I hope to finish soon. I mean, I NEED to finish soon. I started it in October 2011, and because of all the holidays I abandoned it to focus on life events. Thank goodness the owner is understanding! I should finish it soon and I'm hoping to make a progress video of the whole project.

There are a few more things I'm working on, here and there, but didn't take a photo...maybe next time?

What's on your desk this week?

Currently: January 2, 2012

Good morning! Got a cup of tea. Hopefully, I don't look too tired! :)

Current book: The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Life the Life You Want, and Change the World by Chris Guillebeau (Kindle edition)
Current album: Faithless Street by Whiskeytown and All Day by Girl Talk
Current shame-inducing guilty pleasure: Sleeping in every day of the kiddo's holiday break.
Current color(s): Grays and teals!
Current link: pinterest.com
Current drink: masala chai from Adagio Teas
Current wish-list: My own space! (Got it!)
Current favorite song(s): Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart by Whiskeytown
Current triumph(s): Getting through 2011.
Current Celebrity Crush: Ryan Adams, all day errrrrrr-day.
Current indulgence: Lots and lots of chai! And a bottle of wine on NYE.
Current excitement: My own space!
Current mood: Want to spend the afternoon reading on the couch.

Hello 2012!

This week I had an official meeting with the owner of this place. We walked through the space and agreed on a date to get my studio moved in. I feel incredibly grown up and very much like this is the next step in my artistic career.

In two weeks, I will be moving my stuff out of my basement and into a real space to work! It even has a small gallery space in the front! I can't wait!

2012 will be awesome! I don't have an official list of resolutions, or even a to-do list (yet!), but I know for the first month or so, I'll be painting the walls of the new studio and trying to figure out where to put everything.

Oh, the potential for awesomeness!