FIRST ART JOURNAL ENTRY...

Happy New Year to all of my bloggy friends!!! I hope this year brings you all much happiness, creativity and love!


I am looking forward to what this new year will bring and I am hoping to achieve some of the goals (not resolutions) I have set for myself. As far as my artwork goes, I am ready for change. During the holidays, I created so many pieces for others that I really need a break. I have started an art journal (finally) and am so looking forward to creating art for me. I am ready to explore and find who I really am as an artist. Then I need to figure out what I want to do with it (if anything).


This will be the last year my son will be home with me before he starts kindergarten. The plan was always for me to go back to work when he starts school, but honestly I don't want to go back to that life. Until my son was about a year old, I had been in the work world since I was 18 (banking, mortgage) I will be 39 in Feb. What I learned is there are a lot of people that care only about themselves and getting ahead. These people will scratch and claw their way to the top and will destroy others in the process. When I left, I was mentally and emotionally drained from years of this. I started to become something that I never wanted to be...bitter.


When I decided to stay home with my son (January 2008), I discovered art. I was on a popular scrapbook artist's blog one day and she was showing pictures of some prints she bought from her favorite artist. The artist was Emily of The Black Apple. I was so intrigued with Emily's art that I started searching for other artists. I came across Paulette Insall (my very first online art teacher) and Suzi Blu. Because of these artists, I decided to pick up a paintbrush. I haven't stopped since. I have found my passion in life and can never imagine life without art.


The other thing I love about staying home is watching my son grow and learn. The new things he discovers reminds me of the good things in my childhood that I have forgotten (like the joy of Christmas morning etc.). He is the light in my life and I don't want to miss anything from his day.

I was raised by a single mom who worked really hard all night (graveyard shift) and she missed so much of my life growing up because she couldn't participate. I don't want that for my son. He has a mom and a dad and deserves the best from us both.


So back to the art thing. I would love to find a way to make a decent second income with my art, but the Etsy thing isn't really working for me. This is my last year to figure it out and I would really love any ideas you could throw my way. I don't really have a lot of support at home which really makes me sad, but that isn't going to stop me from making art. Thanks to you, I have the support I need, but I'm not really sure where to go from here. For now, I will make art for me.


Here is my first art journal page. I took the tools I learned from the amazing Misty Mawn and her first online class. I am starting another class with her in the middle of the month. The class will focus on painting faces (Misty style). I am looking forward to it.

This is the image transfer I used...
And it turned out to look like this...
Thanks for all of your encouragement and support!!! I really appreciate it!!
Shonna

Spread Your Wings And Fly!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I can't believe this year is coming to an end and we are going to be entering the year 2010 (it even feels strange typing that number). I am looking forward to the upcoming year and hoping that it brings happiness and positive changes for my family and yours!!

I was commissioned to do a painting for a friend's niece for her birthday. It was refreshing to paint something other than Holiday themed pieces.

The painting was done on a 6x12 wood panel. I wood burned the girlie and ladybug and used colored pencils for the skin and Golden Acrylics and Stuart Gill paints on everything else. I'm not sure if I want to put beeswax on it or not; any opinions??

Enjoy your week and have a Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!!

From my family to yours, have a safe and wonderful Christmas!!

JEDI MISSION: GIVEAWAY WINNER!

Our mission this week was to give away this hand painted journal...

Jedi Master Jordan will undertake this important mission (He's very serious about it too).

The participants...

Jedi Master Jordan searched hard for the winning participant...

Finally, Jedi Master Jordan located the winning name...

Congratulations to Kolleen of Heartwingsisters!!! E-mail me with your address and I will send your journal this week.

Mission Accomplished...

Thank you to everyone who participated; I really loved reading all of your holiday traditions and I might even borrow a few!! I hope you all have fun with your traditions this year and have a very happy holiday!!!


Shonna

The Elf On The Shelf and A Giveaway!!!!!

I finished my shopping and my custom orders, so now I feel like I can finally enjoy the holidays!! Having a 4 year old really helps you to remember how magical this time of year is. Teaching him what Christmas is really about and all of the other traditions has been so meaningful for me.


I have also introduced a new tradition into our home..."The Elf On The Shelf." I just heard about this from some friends and I thought it was the cutest thing ever. This cute little elf (Jordan named ours Ted) sits somewhere in your home "watching" the little ones and taking notes for Santa. At night when we are all sleeping, he magically travels to the North Pole with his report. The next morning he is in a new place in the home causing a little mischief along the way. My son is all over this!! Every morning he wakes up looking for where Ted's new sitting "spot" is. Ted always seems to knock something over in the process of climbing up to his new spot. This is so much fun!!! I purchased Ted at Barnes and Noble along with a book that accompanies him. There is also a cute website your child can play games and register your family's elf.


Here is Ted in his very first sitting spot (He is on the Christmas tree right now).

Jordan and Ted (Jordan got his face painted at Barnes and Noble). See how Ted is keeping his eye on Jordan making sure he's being a good boy...what a good elf!

Giveaway time:

Does your family have any holiday traditions? Leave a comment about your traditions and you will be entered to win a one of a kind hand illustrated Journal (made from recycled materials). If you don't have any traditions, leave a comment letting me know what you enjoy about this time of year (I would love get to know more about you).

I will draw a winner on Monday December 21!!

More Ornaments and A Journal Jar

I am almost finished with my ornament orders. I have 8 left and one portrait...yay! Here are the latest and a Journal Jar that was mailed out to an Etsy customer last week (that journal jar was a lot of fun to make).

A few more items in my shop!!

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I think I'm done with turkey for awhile and am looking forward to ham at Christmas...


I just wanted to let you know of two new items I just added to my shop. I actually made these last year and had them listed for about $40. I have reduced the price to $30, so come take a look. The description on each listing has more detail about how I made them.



Love ya!!!
Shonna