It's raining Cats & Dogs!

Silver Cat & Dog Earrings

Silver Dog Earrings

Silver Cat Earrings

Back of all 3 Earrings

So, I think I've covered the dog and cat earring lovers! I did have one special request pair that included extra paw prints.

"Express your love." by Madi

My 2012 Sketchbook is digitized!

 

My 2012 Sketchbook from Art House Co-op is available to view digitally! Here is the link: 

"My Artist Path Begins". It is really fun to look at my sketchbook online. I did sign up for the 

2013 Sketchbook project, just haven't started it yet. I decided to try and have an artistic summer this year once the kids get out of school. Looking forward to working on my online art classes and sketchbook.

"Color in your life." by Madi

Friendship Gift Ideas

I just finished this colorful photo transfer friendship bracelet and listed it in my Etsy shop. I thought I'd share a few other friendship gift ideas with you.

Silver Friend Earrings

Silver Friend Charm

Blue Beaded Friendship Ankle Bracelet

Silver Telephone Heart Charm

"Friends are kisses and hugs from God." by Madi

Cool Photos by Madi

Madi and I went for a walk around the lake by our house this weekend. She brought her Ipod Touch and captured a few beautiful images. We really are lucky to live in such a gorgeous place.

"Nature is art alive." by Madi

Wonderful Mother's Day & Life Book

What a wonderful Mother's Day! My day started out with a trip to Starbucks with my hubby for a mocha. Then it was great homemade gifts, chocolates, and some of my favorite music recorded on CDs.  Perfect and thoughtful gifts from my family.

After a great walk with my hubby and dog, it was off to the studio with my daughter Madi to have fun with Life Book.  I can't say enough about how awesome this class is.  Even though it started in January, if you can do it, I would highly recommend joining. It's the kind of class that you can start anytime and do as much or as little as you like.

The lesson we picked to work on is called "play-full layers" by Mystele.  We created layers with paper, writing, paints and gesso. Next, we looked for the design or face in the base of the artwork.  It was so cool how when you really look, you could see something! I first saw the wing on the right side of my woman's dress, then I sort of found the rest of her. Madi found her woman's cheekbones first and the rest just kind of showed up.

The studio was a beautiful mess most of the day and I loved it. It felt so relaxing just playing all day. My wonderful hubby did the grocery shopping, laundry and cooking for the day.  I'm one lucky girl.

This month Tam's lesson included creating a daily calendar to express your thoughts on.  Here is mine so far this month:

I hope all of you Mom's out there had a wonderful day and found some time to just play.

"Art = Joy" by Madi

Tangled up in Blue

A fun Zentangle theme treasury. Enjoy!

"Find the pattern of life." by Madi

Here is why I've haven't posted lately...

So, this is what I've been up to....lots and lots of jewelry! I finally got shipments out to The Mystic Jewel at the beach and The Waygoose. Also had a great trunk show at The Muse .

Now, I'm hoping to have a bit more time to blog and work on some of my online art classes.  Of course, I still am be creating more jewelry.  I am working on one more shipment for The Mystic Jewel and restocking my Etsy shop after my show.  Hope you are having a wonderfully creative day.

"It's not for the money. It's for the fun." by Madi

Artist of the Month - Madi Spencer

This month's artist is my 10 year old daughter Madi.  Madi loves to create, sing, dance and act.  Today we are going to view some of her artwork and talk about her creative process.  I interviewed Madi last week on take your child to work day.

When  I asked Madi how she knew that she was interested in art, here is what she had to say:

"First I only used to draw stick figures. Then my school counselor said not to draw stick figures, but try to draw to more detailed figures. So, I thought “This is fun.”  Of course, the other person who got me interested in art is my Mom."

Madi began her creating her beautiful and colorful artwork when she was just about 2 years old.  She and I would spend hours together in my jewelry studio.  She loved to paint with watercolors and would sit for a whole afternoon just painting.  As she grew, I introduced her to different techniques and art supplies.  Above is a Zentangle that she created over an alcohol ink painting.

I asked Madi how she comes up with her designs.

"I honestly don’t think about them too hard. I just draw what I want to draw.  For colors, I pick what I like and they usually go together.  For example, I like blue, orange and yellow."

These are Madi's favorite art supplies:  sparkle spray, alcohol inks, Copic markers and Pitt markers.  Madi has joined me in a few lessons from different on line art classes.  Here is a piece that she did for Life Book:

Over the years Madi has participated in many different charity events, selling her wonderful artwork and donating the money to charitable organizations such as Lily's Hope.  I'm so proud of her in so many ways.  I'm proud that she is so dedicated, creative and generous.  I have to say she is the most inspirational person for me personally regarding my own artwork.  She always has something positive and motivational to offer.

Speaking of motivational, some of you may remember Madi's famous quotes.  I asked her how she comes up with such amazing and interesting quotes.

"Well, I take the happy moments in my life and in other people's lives and put them into quotes. Then I think, why is it a happy moment? What is happy about it? And I put it into quotes.  Sometimes I just lie down in the grass and look at the sky, feel the breeze and think of quotes that way."

For those of you who may have missed Madi's quotes in previous posts, here they are again.

So, what does the future hold for this talented girl?  

"I’ve always wanted to be a quadruple threat:  actress, singer, dancer and acrobat.  I plan to try to get famous by practicing all of these talents anywhere I can.  Right now I am taking 5 different dance classes and would like to audition for the FX dance company which is part of my dance studio.  I would like to audition for a commercial when I am older, maybe in 10^th or 11^th grade.  I don’t want to get famous when I’m young, because that’s just a pain in the butt."

 

"If I didn’t want to be a movie star or a pop star, I’d totally want to be an artist.  My Mom said when I was little, I had so much creativity in me, that I didn’t know how to express it."

 I asked Madi what advice she would give someone who is interested in art, but afraid to try to learn new things.  

"My teacher for dance says, if you try to do a stunt and you are afraid, you will fall.  If you are out there and want to create art but are afraid, just create a piece of art. No one is going to see it, if you want you can even put it in the trash.   Don’t let your worries get the best of you."

 I hope you enjoyed getting to know Madi and her artwork a little better today.  Thanks so much for joining me for the artist of the month post!

"Sometimes we get so caught up in our art, we forget to enjoy the journey." by Madi