Fall French Market Review

Well the Market was a success! The days and weeks leading up to the show were busy - I completed nearly 200 prints and 6 new original paintings exclusively for the event. It was so much fun getting to meet you customers, both big and small, and sharing my art on such a public level. Plus, it was just the boost I needed to decide that next year, I will certainly be attending more shows - who can resist?!

Here is a wonky shot of my table - I dashed out and snapped these pictures during a lull in the crowd, but that meant I couldn't really back up too much!

Now it's the slow process of uploading all my prints to the shop - stay tuned for both those new prints as well as some paintings I've completed but haven't had a chance to share yet - yipe! Pin It

Come to a show!

Come see me live in my very first craft show! I will be there with my original paintings, new prints and a few special paintings I'm doing exclusively for this event. The show is Friday evening through Sunday afternoon - can't wait to see you there!!
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Prints in Progress

Lately, it seems like if I'm not parenting my kids or working on my other fun business, Crafting Connections, I'm painting. I paint during nap time. I paint after the little ones go to bed. I paint early in the morning before anyone else is up. I paint.

Why? Prints! I've been accepted into my very first craft show the first weekend of November (more on this soon!) and there is oh-so-much to do. I'm in the process of completing the entire alphabet on single canvas sheets, so that I can turn them into professional prints.

It's fun. It's exhausting. But ultimately, it is totally worth it! Pin It

behind the scenes: Is Bigger Better?

Last week I finally opened a box I should have opened much sooner - a box of 6x6 canvases.  You see, up to this point, all of my paintings have been done on 4x4 inch canvases - perfect to fill that little nook or corner needing a pop of color.  But I wanted to experiment with a bigger canvas, and I have to say, I'm really happy with this new size!

Look - I've put the smaller frame on top of one of my new ones - certainly a size difference 2 inches all around makes!  These bigger canvases still have the nice, deep sides that I love, and the backs are finished beautifully.

I got to work right away on several.  Instead of continuing my alphabet series literally, I've decided to do some of the images sans letter on the bigger canvases.  It is exciting seeing past images re-imagined into a larger size!

I have also been inspired to add some new paintings to the mix.  Hint: there will be French, there will be poetry, there will be a submarine.  It seems my happy problem of lots of ideas, not enough time to paint continues, a nice enough "problem" to have, if you ask me!

I can't wait to show you more in the coming weeks!

What have you been immersed in lately?

Stay creative,
A

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behind the scenes: Something is Brewing

Over the past couple of weeks we have been busy with summertime travels to visit friends and family.  Most recently I got to spend nearly 2 weeks in New Hampshire with the kids and my family.  I grew up in New Hampshire, playing in the woods, swimming in the lake - as a teen I thought it was "so boring" and now I luxuriate in nature each time I get to go back.  It's an inspiring place to be, creatively, since I'm surrounded with so much color and natural beauty. 

Indeed we had days and days of this...

Looking over part of the White Mountains and Little Lake Sunapee while hiking Kearsarge Mt.

Then it was time to leave and head back to the city - we left some amazing storm clouds behind us!

Curve of the world - amazing!

And now it's back to work - raising kiddos (OK, that doesn't ever stop), ordering supplies and new canvases (my favorites were recently discontinued - boo - but I found lovely replacements - hooray!), and working hard with a close friend and fellow artist on a new project that will officially launch August 1st!  If you have kiddos in your life, you're going to want to stay tuned for this new adventure.

Work and Lunch while the kiddos are resting.

But when all is said and done, I'm excited to get back to painting - I have a whole bunch of new ideas and not enough time, it seems, to get them down on canvas fast enough.  But in my book, that's an OK problem to have!

Have you been able to visit with friends and family this summer?  I hope so!

Stay creative,
A

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A big day

Today was a big day for me - actually it was the cumulation of many busy days - I applied for my first craft show (hooray!). It is days like this that makes what I do feel a bit more real. I started Glad To Be Here because I like to paint, to create, and I feel my style is different from others. I am happy my paintings are now in rooms across the country - adding a bright pop of color. This next step into the craft show world is an exciting one, for growing my little business means that I get to offer you more options! Get ready for prints and other fun surprises, all just around the corner (I swear). And if you think of it, cross your fingers for me - I'd love to start showing my work live and in person, so you can meet the woman behind the brushes and I can meet you!!

Stay creative,
A

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behind the scenes: Bits of Inspiration

Sometimes inspiration strikes unexpectedly, from the little things. I love to collect pretty little things - but with 2 curious little ones and a small space, I only keep what I truly love and what I can keep up high. Each has a story, and I find all of them inspiring thoughts of small, intimate, focused - feelings for my next paintings for sure.






















These are all small glimpses of my living room. Look around, are you surrounded by things you love? I hope so...

Stay creative,
A

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behind the scenes: What To Do...

Sometimes I'm inspired to start a canvas without knowing what it will become. This is one of those times and now this blue canvas is looking at me and I'm not sure where to go from here. Originally it was going to be a new spin on the letter R, but it didn't seem right. I think it will become a variation on W...or perhaps it's the perfect backdrop for letter Y. So you see, we are having a staring contest, trying to see into the future (when I figure it out I'll show you, I promise!)

What would you like to see?
Stay creative,
A
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behind the scenes: Lucky #13

It was 13 and then I did a recount and the number was 14.  Fourteen!  That's how many paintings I have in progress right now - yowzers!  Six are custom pieces that already have homes they will be settling into soon.  The rest are for the shop - most replace recent sales, but I do have 4 new pieces that I'm excited about (hint: you can see one right there in the top picture, do you see it?)!

So if you ever wonder what I'm up to, it's probably painting (actually, it's probably parenting, the painting happens in the quiet moments!)

Stay creative (and have a lovely weekend)!!

A

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behind the scenes: Sketches

Is there anything more beautiful than a well organized box of crayons?  I'm not sure how long I've had these (probably 20 years, wow!)  Grouping them by color has always been both efficient (no more hunting around for that specific shade of green) and satisfying.

I've been working on sketches for a couple of custom orders this week - it has been both fun and challenging coming up with new designs.

I'm excited to start on the actual paintings!

Stay creative,
A

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Bunting paintings (and a donkey)

It sounds vaguely like a crude joke, but really, bunting paintings and a donkey describe the new things you will see in the shop!  I got this little donkey before E was born, though I think I've always liked it more than she has.  One day while taking shop pics, I decided to have donkey lend me a hand - since his arms are so bendy, he was really fun to pose!  I think he may show up with more of my paintings.

The bunting paintings were something I have wanted to make for awhile.  Very pretty on their own, I also think they would look great flanking other paintings (oh so versatile!)  Plus they are a fun way to play with a range of tones and color.

I hope you like them too!!

Oh my, so cute!

Stay creative,
A

P.S. I've had many people ask where I got this cute guy (his name is Charley).  He's no longer available at the shop I purchased him from, since it was a couple years ago, but I did track him down HERE for you.  You're welcome!

P.P.S. Today is the last day to Enter in the Giveaway - what fun!!

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behind the scenes: The Craft Trunk

If you've ever peaked at my shop profile, then you know the story of my craft trunk.  It's old and banged up.  It weighs a million pounds and the squeaky wheels don't really work.  It holds all sorts of art supplies - sort of like Mary Poppin's carpet bag, but bigger (and heavier).  In a word, it's perfect!

Where do you keep your treasures?

Stay creative,
A

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behind the scenes: Whoooo are you?

After completing two similar "O is for Owl" paintings, I've decided to change it up and paint a different owl - a barn owl.  I'm really happy with how it turned out - it's always fun to see where my paintings will take me.  Many times I will "prep" a canvas with a base color, but won't know what I'm painting yet.  Generally I have at least an idea of what letter will go with a chosen color, but even then, it's not set in stone.  You may have also noticed some new decorative paintings I've added - I love painting the ABCs, but wanted to expand my range - I'm excited by these new directions, I know that even I will be surprised!!

Stay creative,
A

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behind the scenes: New Pieces!

After a busy weekend full of tissues (I was sick) and painting, I've added several new pieces to the shop.  I'm particularly smitten with the yellow zig zags - part of a new, fun and whimsical line I'm working on.

Stay creative!
A

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behind the scenes: In Progress

The waiting was killing me!  First, I ran out of canvases (thought I had more, apparently not!), then my new canvases were back-ordered, and when they finally arrived I was on my way out to New Hampshire for a visit with my family.  But now I'm back and in need of some shop replenishment!  I'm working on several paintings right now, which is what I like to do since each is painted in several stages and I have to wait for the paint to dry before starting on the next layer. 

Though I also use acrylic paint in tubes, these little pots of color are easier to transport.  

This is a little sneak peek at letter Q!

Paintbrushes at the ready - aren't they lovely?

Preparing canvases - still unsure what a couple of these are going to become, but that's half the fun.

Purple water!

Working on finishing the back of the canvases - I like it, do you?

Make sure to check out the shop next week to see the finished projects!

Stay creative,

A

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Behind the scenes: In-between

I'm in between projects right now, waiting for more canvases to arrive, but that doesn't mean I'm not creating - I'm just not painting.  With the unseasonably warm weather, I've taken up making some rompers for E.  I'm still plugging away at a pretty quilt made up of natural linen and vintage sheet squares.  I'm also working on an embroidered iPhone case.  Yes, you read that right!  All and all, lots of sewing going on - I'm impressed my studio space isn't messier than it is (since it's really quite small!)

Dried paint prettiness

Waiting for a new home

E got into some of my paint - pretending it was lotion (she wasn't able to actually open the bottles)

Rompers, palettes, and striped curtains!

A small glimpse of my fabric stack

Looking left into the room

Notes with blogging and painting ideas

A rainbow of permanent markers and such

Fabrics for another romper and a lion toy that's supposed to stay in the car

Stay creative!
A


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