Heartsies... friends & love.

They were calling me. Twelve sweet little "heartsies". 

Empty and alone, they needed some love. 

They needed to be filled up. They needed to feel whole.

Sadly, there were only twelve, but maybe that's what makes them so special.

So, I took each one and made them feel pretty. 

They each had their own personality that needed to be expressed. 

I listened to each one, and did what I could to empower them. 

They came away full.

  I reflect as we approach Valentines Day, on so many hearts...

a l l   

that "need our love". 

I am grateful for  a l l  who fill me up,

make me feel whole...

and pretty.

(you know who you are) 

Little heartsies were created to honor our bestie friends and those we love, that lift us up!

My sweet little heartsies will be in my etsy shop January 31st. 

twig2nestStudio

 

What a Treat! LA Art Show & Flying Lessons merge.

 

  Scribble ~by Linda Christensen

The LA Art Show came and went this past weekend. I was happy to be able 

to trek to the Convention Center, downtown, and take in

a slice of galley art from NY to LA to China.  

I just had to post a couple of my faves, to send out 

t h e   s e e d s  o f   i n s p i r a t i o n   

to everyone. 

 Long Weekend~ by Linda Christensen

Highlights of the day... Sue Greenwood Fine Art Gallery 

with Linda Christensen available to chat... 

and...

meeting a fellow flyer from KellyRae Roberts flying lessons course- 

Diana Mulder. 

Heaven in Downtown LA- for real!

 2 artistes (Diana & I)flapping our wings with excitement

in front  of  Malcolm Liepke's works 

(click the link to see a video of a few of his pieces)

It was such a treat to meet up with a "fellow flyer". Not only had that class been an amazing experience, but the connections with other artists, far and wide continues to be so meaningful. Meeting Diana, after following along through cyberspace, was a highlight to the day. Diana's work is just lovely... diverse, colorful and sweet~ so fun to be able to connect with the artiste behind the colors. I dream of being able to connect with more friends from the flying lessons course~ maybe a big workshop someday? How wonderful would that be?

And to add to the excitement, I had the privilege of chatting with Linda Christensen. I love when you go to a gallery show and you get to meet the artist. I have been following Linda's work for a few years and been so intrigued by her use of color, abstract shapes, line and figure. She's got all of the elements that I love, with a depth of expression that permeates all of her pieces. Sue Greenwood Fine Art in Laguna shows her work and many others that "are to die for".

Time to put some of this excitement & inspiration to work... 

back to the studio to see what evolves.

Checklist~ 2011.

I can't believe, we're already halfway through January~2011!

I love the way it feels to begin a New Year.  
And I always welcome making a list of  "n e w   b e g i n n i n g s".

I don't know if it's because the world is still 
spilling over its "j o y"

or if it's because there's that residual feeling 
of people looking inward...
  
 ... It's probably simply the result of "having taken a break" from life's routine.

Needless to say, I always feel inspired and recharged throughout this month. 
I am eager to define what I want to focus on during the coming year... so here's the list.

2011 Word List 
(the top five)

b a l a n c e

(try to achieve it in all areas of daily life) 

f o c u s 

(kind of is the second part of balance) 

c r e a t e   a r t 

(don't let myself get in my way) 

 i   a m  e n o u g h

(with God of course)

    

b e   b r a v e

(oh-yea- the true core of any artist)

 

What are your words?

(ooo- working larger-- scary-- b e  b r a v e)

So here are the actions...my words are represented with images below. 

I am trying to sketch~watercolor~ plan~ record~ journal~ 

ideas, more often and when they emerge.

 

I'm working on transforming these sketches into something very cool 

& mixed media style onto the larger canvases --focus & balance.

 

Doing multiples pieces at one time to see what kind of flow I can get,

a n d... to see if I can commit to painting more regularly.

create art   create art  create art

So what comes first 
 i   a m  e n o u g h

(with God of course)
 or

b e   b r a v e

(oh-yea- the true core of any artist) 

I think it's going to be an adventurous 2011. 
Aren't words encouraging?I think I like them as much as color! 

(And maybe about as much as this book I got over the holidays.)

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do 

than by the ones you did do. 

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. 

Catch the trade winds in your sails. 

E x p l o r e.   D  r e a m.  D i s c o v e r."

       -Mark Twain

 

Thinking Back on the Past 2 weeks...4 Thank-You's

I can't believe we are approaching NeW YeaR'S eve in a few hours. 

I'm sitting back thinking about the closing of the 2010 holiday season. 

WOW! So fast and so sweet. 

4   t h i n g s   that made this holiday so wonderful-- 

and continuous sweet undertones from this past year...

r e l a t i o n s h i p s ::  close family~ continued close friendships~

connecting with family near and far~ 

old cousins becoming "new cousins"~

making new "creative flying friends" that support & inspire...

a  c o z y   h o m e  :: after spending time on a continued basis, 

working at the   F r e e   M e a l s  program at Calvary Community Church, 

I have gained a new perspective on what a "home" is to me.

The "simplicity of a warm place to be" has a new meaning to my family. 

I have discovered a heart for people that don't have a home, that I never knew I had.

More to come on this in 2011...

Little Drummer Boy - Calvary Christmas Eve 2010 [HQ]

G o d   s p i r i t  :: Christmas Eve services are always a special treat for us- as a family. 

Sometimes it seems to be- the one time we are all together in the same place. 

This year, there was a drum segment to the music of "Little Drummer Boy" 

that took my breath away. 

I thought I'd share a video that was posted...

it will give you an idea of the creativity of the performance.

It totally made my Christmas eve~~ 

summing up the feeling of the holidays with 5 drums!

a r t :: Always so grateful to be able to be doing art. 

It was a year of trying many "new" things~

Finding my way down different path's of art that I want to travel on.

Enjoying the ride with many "new" friends and a lot of "older friends" 

who have been most supportive along the road.

I am sooooo amazed at the support, the inspiration, and the doors that are opening.

Here's a "toast"to friends old and new, and a wish for many many 

continued blessings in 2011 to all!

The Christmas Tea... a centerpiece you can make!

one of my   f a v o r i t e  things...

So this is what has been going on "In the Studio" this past week. I knew I wouldn't be able to participate in the ornament exchanges with my "fabulous flying friends" because of the crazy schedule I had set up for myself~~ but I am happy to share a fun way to display all those beautiful ornaments you may have received.

 Last week, was filled with complete craziness. Three Holiday Boutiques and a Christmas Tea at the end of it all. I had agreed to help do the table decor for the Christmas Tea, not thinking too much about the "sell some plates, make some plates concept". Oh- yes.. the happiness of selling my creations, blurred by the late nights of creating more for the next venue. 
Sell some--make some. It was great! 

At the end of the week, my friend and I had planned to prepare the decor, 

for a table at the Women's Christmas Tea. How much fun we had! 

We decided to take a "folksy approach " rather than the traditional elegant approach. 
We both   f e a r e d  the concept of waking up in the morning, 

setting up our table and thinking "what were we thinking??? 

Well, I am happy to say, our table looked quite lovely and was well received. 

We got a lot of "ooooh's and ahhh's" and questions on how to decor the plate stand. 
So... I thought it might be fun to share this little treat with everyone. 

It was easy to do, and you can just about go crazy 

on how you want to personalize your own.

You would need any kind of plate stand- 3 tier is most common. A couple of tree branches, trimmed clean, with a few pieces off of each stem to hang your ornaments on. I chose birch because it is quite pretty with the white bark. (Oh- and also because I had it). Make sure your branches are sturdy, as it's not fun to lose any ornaments. You will also need a spool of raffia (I chose white to keep with the birch feeling) or a ribbon of your choice. And lastly, greens, or in my case Christmas "picks" from any craft store --Michaels, Joanns etc. I chose 2 picks that look like they are encased in ice. It added a folksy feel to the decor. Any kind of greenery (real or not) would look pretty, perhaps some picks with berries to catch the red? 

Once you have all of your materials gathered, wrap your branches to the sides of the plate stand using the raffia. I first tied the raffia at the bottom and then I just did a criss-cross kind of pattern with the raffia. I went back and forth over it to keep the branches in place, tying at the top and going back down to the bottom. I also wrapped, with a little clear packing tape, in a couple of discreet places when I was done to make sure the branches didn't shift. (Tape...the big cheat- hey- really didn't want to lose any ornaments.) I then tucked my picks into place. (If you are using greens, you may have to wrap the ends of them with tape to be able to push them into the raffia area. Or perhaps tape them into place before wrapping with raffia).  I also added a stand of berries to the top, by wrapping it into place with the wire it was on. That added a nice little pop of red!

When the sides were complete, I just started to decor it as if it were a small Christmas tree. Be sure to look at it from both sides for balance, and try to allow for some air within the ornament area. Less seems to be better.   V o i l a !  (anyone can do it... and if not- send me a note- I'll take orders, afterall- nothing like keeping crazy!)

And my favorite part of the whole thing... I made 3 plates to go on the stand that I am listing on etsy today. They are simple and sweet. If you mention this code CHRISTMASTEA you will receive a 15% discount on any or all of these three plates. As a special treat-I've priced these plates a little lower than the usual. 

Merry Merry everyone! 

Order by the 18th of December to receive before Christmas with standard shipping fees.

~  h o p e     j o y    &    p e a c e    of the season~

Thankful Thursday...Black Friday...Sanity Saturday... Simple Praise Sunday...& Cyber Monday

 

Looking ahead, it appears that there are few days of importance 

following our wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. 

Day's that have their own "title", their own "brand"- 

Black Friday & Cyber Monday. 

I've added my own brands to the following few days...

t h a n k f u l   thursday

that wonderful day that we reflect on all that we are thankful for.

b l a c k   friday

the day that we are told we should be shopping for the best deals. 

(In honor of Black Friday I am running a few specials. 
Check "the nest" to see what the savings will be.)

s a n i t y   saturday

the day that I and others, will finally relax and collect our creative brains.

s i m p l e   p r a i s e  sunday
the day to think about, and honor, where all of our creativity comes from 
enabling us to be able to produce these artistic gifts for others.

c y b e r   monday
the day we are told that we should order online- especially from etsy! 


to all of the wonderful people who have supported me, shared with me, kept a watchful eye on me, and sent their friendship to me... I am  t h a n k f u l !

check out the specials at www.twig2neststudio.etsy.com
Coupon codes start on Black Friday through Cyber Monday! Look for the specials....

Forth Magazine - Around Town | Montrose Art Walk and The Happening Gallery Fine Art Show

~ g r a t i t u d e    p o s t  ~

So, every once in a while, we fall off the planet of "blogging". 

It seems so trite to say "I have been so busy with... and... and...." 

 ...but in this world of social networking, branding, & internet marketing- 
I am finding that sentence coming out of my mouth more often than...

"because I'm your mother and I said so!!" 
(which I swore I would never say!!!)

 It's amazing to me that so much time can be taken up with planning, 
with lists, and the business part of "a r t ",  in a way that 

I never experienced in all my years as a graphic designer. 

I am reminded every minute that I sit at this computer 
(rather than the easel, or the counter with my decoupage) 
of how the   w o r l d   i s   c h a n g i n g.

I am loving and hating this change all at once.


I've been noticing the seeds starting to grow~ 

with the sale of my "first" mixed-media painting 

at Ventura ArtWalk

 

 

and this lovely mention from Forth Magazine at the Montrose Art Walk.

 Forth Magazine - Around Town | Montrose Art Walk and The Happening Gallery Fine Art Show

I've been anxious and wondering if all the "technical time" will  yield something good and 
I am starting to see the  sprouts.

 

so...  g r a t e f u l  for seeing the sprouts