So, in the previous post, Winner Winner Chicken Dinner, I told you about how I’ve been getting lucky lately (pun, lol) Well, this week I’m back to share with you how I’ve been getting along, after reading:

This book was easy on the eyes, with it’s pretty photos injected into it. It was an easy read and really helped me tap into the core values that I want to portray in my art brand. For artists, this can really be a difficult thing to do… Especially, when we just want to make art. But…

If we want to make a business out of our art, it’s very important to consider the business side of things. (CLICK TO TWEET)

Some of my core values I tapped into are:

• Creativity
• Being genuine & honest
• A sort of Wanderlust in my art
• Reliability
• Courage
• Intuitive (seeing trends early)
• Leading the way
• Outgoing in nature
• Impactful
• Inspiring
• Nature loving

The business ideas, in the e-book, are easily translatable into real life use. I love that about it. The section on Trust really helped me to understand the bigger picture and the other areas showed me where I need to make adjustments.

April really spoke to my creative side, getting me to be thoughtful & creative, in my own business. I also liked that it didn’t have a lot of fluff. I don’t have time for that.

I’d rather be creating! (CLICK TO TWEET)

Speaking of time, I felt like it took no time at all, to go through the book, to get some ideas. I feel comfortable that I won’t be wasting precious time, when I want to come back and implement more ideas.

This book got me thinking about how companies have brands, and how they protect that brand. When we are working with large companies, our art becomes part of that brand, in a sense. So, it’s important for us to recognize that and the importance it has for that company.

After reading ‘Marketing for Creatives’  I have lots of new ideas to implement, but first I have to fill my portfolio!

Final Note: I am not being rewarded for doing this review. I simply did it because it’s a great book, that spoke my language. If you would like more proof reviews, check out With a K: Writing Services. There are much more detailed reviews on her blog.

Hi everyone,

My lovely art colleague Feng Liang has invited me to join artists, designers, writers, illustrators, and more from around the world. We are answering 4 questions on our blogs and linking up, so you can continue the hop. Here is an adorable watercolor she did!

If you’re new here, this is me:

Read more at my About Me page 🙂 I also have a small but growing portfolio,on my home page.

HERE on August 25th, to read what my friend Eva has to say on her blog: Twinkling Journeys. Here is a sample of her art, that I love:

Everyone wants success, right? We aim high and work hard, to accomplish success. For what? Why do we seek success?

Do we do it for money…for ego… for spirit? Sometimes we do it because we are passionate, or have an inner desire that pushes us. Your idea of success might be different than mine…

If your idea of success is to care for your family, raise your children with values, invest in people, then I’m willing to guess that you will look back and feel that you  have spent your time wisely. I know I never regret decisions that involve being with my family!

But… if your idea of success is following your burning passion, building amazing companies, climbing the long corporate ladder, I’m willing to guess that you MAY look back with some regrets. Why?

Today, I want to talk about the cost of success. What is that cost? Some would say the costs are the relationships that suffer, for others it may be personal care, health, or home.

My biggest cost is time. Yep, time. In order to say, “yes” to success, I have to say no to time spent on other things or with other people. In order to succeed, we have to apply ourselves daily, step by step.

“In order to say yes to success, do we have to say no to time spent on personal life, family, friends and children?” (CLICK TO TWEET)

This is why it is so important to break away from your burning passion, your obsession, your high goals,  to actually LIVE life. Because, if you knew you would die in 5 years, would you work even harder? I’m not sure I would. What would you do? hmmmm?

I know that I would still be creating because I have this innate NEED to make things… draw… create… but I also  know that I would spend more ‘quality’ time with my family. I would read my kids more books. I would write some personal letters to them, for when I’m not around. I would paint WITH them, not without them, I would take them horseback riding so they could have a taste of what I had growing up. I would enjoy their joy, that much more. I might jump out of an airplane, go do things, build memories, take pictures, and of course, EAT many:

… Because cotton candy rocks, that’s why! Haha.

The thing is, in 5 years, the ‘old’ you will be dead because you will be a NEW, 5 year older, you. Your children will be the new, 5 year older them, and our chance to live THAT moment will be 5 years too gone.

‘There will never be another day, like today, to LIVE life the way you want to live it.” (CLICK TO TWEET)

If we don’t make time to MAKE the best out of the time we have now, we will look back and wonder what we did with it. Don’t let this make you feel guilty. Don’t waste time on that. Just DO something, right now to make good use of your time!

Take a couple of moments to think of 3 things you would do this week, if you thought you would not be around to do it in the next couple of years… Write them down. Out of those 3 things, could you do one of them this week? Mine is to break away from art, and reading, and marketing, and electronics, to play pretend with the kids.

I suppose success would cost a lot less, if you are able to make good use of your time, by including your kids, family, friends… Sort of a time maximization. That way you are following your passion AND doing something on your list.

Build a happy life people, because you only have one! Our most important asset in life IS time, don’t waste it.

What did this post make you feel? Did you feel proud by the use of your time? Did some things come to surface that maybe you want to work on? Did it piss you off?  I would love to hear from you in the comments below, don’t be shy!

I’ve been meaning to blog about this fantastic news, for a bit now. I just feel like such a winner lately!!

First, I won a signed copy of this book. It was about a month or so ago!

Yay, so fun. Since I had already bought a copy, I decided to share the love 🙂 It was very hard not to write & draw in it. I was dying to follow the prompts, but decided to save it for my friend who makes the cutest little drawings on plates ‘n things.

If you love gift wrap and beautiful packaging like me, you’ll like this 🙂 Just threw in some vintage atc papers, raised stickers, a doily and some odd bits to sweeten the pot (poker reference there, anyone else like to play holdem?)

If you liked this, check out my Pinterest page on packaging!

After watching the best workshop ever, called  ‘Build a Successful Creative Blog’ by April Bowles, about improving your blog techniques, I joined in this blog train:

Here I actually won this awesome e-book called Marketing for Creatives! So much excitement because I don’t usually win anything 🙂 YAY! Aaaand, it’s perfect timing! Just what I needed to get this ball rollin’. The book is great so far. Easy to look at, easy to break down, not overly fluffed, and gets ya thinking. I’ll write a review in a couple weeks when I’ve finished reading it!

If you get a chance, check it out. I’m trying to follow the marketing tips suggested in her book and it seams to be helpful. A lot of it has to do with bringing out our own personality into your branding. The first advice I need to work on is to build my portfolio though 🙂 lol. I have lots of unfinished art that needs refining. You will love the tips on her website and the class was excellent! Click on the picture above to check it out 🙂

See the full review on Aug 19th, RIGHT HERE.

I’m back this week to share another painting in progress.

I was suppose to be painting THIS, but ended up making the fun mixed media painting (below) instead. It doesn’t resemble my delicious morning cappuccino or any beverage for that matter, haha. Whatever, goin with it!

Time to fill in some of the stark white with some more pink and blue. I added a distressing wash to set the mood. The white looks much creamier now, yay. I gotta put some raised diamonds and circles on this, just can’t help it.

This is fun, so I can’t stop now! Played with some silk flowers, but it’s just not right for this one. Maybe next time. I decide to make some of my own flowers, these red half flowers are just right. Painted a couple of wood pieces, shanked some white vintage buttons. Here’s a side view of all the elements.

Okay, looks like I’m about done. Needs a little bling! Ooh, and some stitching.  There we go. Here’s the close up view:

Alright… let’s see it in action! Here you have it, Bubblegum Dreams on canvas:

Hope you enjoyed this little show and tell. And…

‘Let’s be honest, I do have Bubblegum Dreams and Lollipop wishes, who doesn’t?’  (CLICK TO TWEET)

Be sure to let me know you stopped in, with a little comment below!

Pieces for my Portfolio

This months bootcamp challenge was to illustrate something I like to drink, on a product that I would like to use or have.  Tea or cappuccino? I’m faced with decisions right away, haha. It’s too early for this crap 😉

This is what my morning usually looks like. His and hers cups, awww:) … Tea NEVER goes in his cup….. EVER! haha.

Lets Start with Some Play

Started out with some loose play. I drew my tall cappuccino glass. I drink one almost everyday with a spoonful of sugar (plus we just love Mary Poppins) so I couldn’t resist  🙂  The glass has a cozy around it, that I sewed. I think I’ll put some cute designs on the drawing later.

You know? I live in Vegas and still like my drinks extra hot! Strange, haha! Whatever…

Ok, I’m diggin’ it but I’m itchin’ to paint.

Plan A

I started out with an idea to make an abstract painting to hang in the kitchen. Lots of pretty cups in rows, with one cup viewed from the top and a pretty design in it’s foam. Well, that painting decided to take on a life of it’s own, so I just went with it. Yep, it looks nothing like I had envisioned with it’s soft pink and blue hues…. but, hey, that’s part of letting it flow. (Let it flow, let it flow… I bet you can take one guess, haha.) I’ll share more on that painting next week.  Onto what I did create!

Plan B

I decide to just go with it now, I’m in the zone.

‘I love distressing… Inking, stamping, spraying, sanding, rubbing,  wrinkling, you name it, I like it!’ (CLICK TO TWEET)

So, I decide to start there! Call it the tomboy in me, It’s fun! Plus I love the vintage feel it gives.

I dig a few pieces of trash out of my studio bin; gotta do my part to upcycle 🙂 Yep, looks like it’s gonna be mixed media. …. A bit of brown acrylic paint and some inks, a pretty paper lantern from the last birthday torn up and glued down.

If you haven’t tried distressing something, you totally should, it’s so freeing 🙂

Ahhh, that’s more like it 🙂 Got some cups painted, did some hand drawing, distressing, coloring. Still needs something, some flowers perhaps… A title, still playing with that here… paint splotches and coffee beans… starting to get somewhere.

Add a title, some more line drawings and splotches, some more strips of paper and I’m ready to call it a day! Finished! Here’s the close up.Click on each picture to see the detail!

Below they are shown in my kitchen. Already getting a great response. It was suggested that I make this into a repeat pattern for fabric. I actually think I might do that, just to see how it would turn out.

If you could put these designs on anything, what would you do with it?  I think they would look quite nice as couch pillows, actually.

So, that’s the lowdown on my creating “Cuppa Java”. If you like this sort of post, be sure to let me know in the comments below and follow this blog for the next time!

Hi everyone! I have been working on following my passions, you know, like enjoying life. But what does that mean, following our passion? Well, in my soul searching, this question was posed to me:

What gives you energy?

Ooohh, good one right… What does give me energy? What gives you energy?

‘Some things, they are hard work, but they don’t suck the life outa you, right?’ (CLICK TO TWEET)

You wake up and actually feel energized to do these things. I hope you will take time to really think about this and even share in the comments!

Here’s my list, in no particular order:

• creating (art, painting, drawing, scrapbooking, cross-stitch, embroidery, sewing, on & on!)
• singing
• learning
• traveling
• leading
• giving advice
• thinking
• riding horses
• playing softball
• boating, skiing, wakeboarding
• walking and swimming at the ocean
• quiet time in nature
• the cool wind in my hair
• new adventures
• writing poems
• inspiring others
• being in a setting where I can be myself

I’m sure I’ve missed a few, so I will be popping in and out for the next week to update as things come to mind! PLEASE share yours below, I would love to hear about your passions!

Share your energy boosting activities below!

Oh goodness, are these the cutest little flip flops you have ever seen? Whistle & Ivy is giving away this free, ADORABLE, crochet pattern and I just had to pass it along to you.  I mean, look at those sweet little baby toes!

Here ya go, my daily.

This is where I sit in the morning to do some reading or sketching.  The berries in the bowl, there, are huckleberries grown from my tiny little, front yard garden. They are my reminder to make huckleberry jam, here pretty quick 🙂

Pretty much everyday, me & hubby drink cappuccino from tall glasses, with cozies I made from fabric.

If I decide on tea for the morning, I make it in that tall glass pitcher from Teavana (my fav tea store) and drink it all day in this favorite milk glass cup. He really hates tea… Seriously, what did it ever do to him? lol. I love tea!!

So, there’s a peak into mine, what does your morning look like?