Coming Home.....The Show

Hey GUYS!!!!  I'm BACK.  I had to take a day to absorb all that happened this weekend.  Because it...was...amazing!!  Seriously.  We drove in from Atlanta Friday afternoon and got to the gallery around 4pm.  It was ALL ready, all set, and all so beautiful together!!  I know, I painted them so I am a little biased.  But to walk in and see the work I'd poured my heart and soul into for 6 weeks weeks straight finally on the walls and not the piled up in the garage,well it was a teary moment.  Actually I had many teary moments.  Let's see one was when I realized I'd received flowers from 4 different people (awwww), once when I walked in on Saturday and found Atlanta peeps standing in the gallery to surprise me (soooo cool) and last, that first glimpse into the room.  At that moment was an overwhelming sense of proudness.  A feeling that tingled all over my body that finally, I'd made it.  I've made history with my sweet paintings of birds, trucks and bikes.  Wow.

The gallery is in an old house Vero has renovated. My work filled the walls of the front left room.  The opening was 5-9PM Friday night at 1-6PM on Saturday.  So many friends and family members came  despite the horrible weather!  In fact, many of my friends from childhood have never seen my work in person.  Seeing as how I was the singing dancing chick in High School, the paintings are a new thing for them.  I liked seeing their expressions and hearing their comments.  Warmed my heart so!  Even parents of high school friends came to support me, and BUY!    Many of my parents friends came to support the show, and BUY as well!  We like that word, Vero and I.  :)

Flowers from BFF Aimee. 

Saturday I demonstrated my texture technique.  Those around were very intrigued, with many questions.  I actually got a little nervous....and I don't ever get nervous even when singing in front of hundreds!  The painting turned out adorable....look for it later in the week.  Hint:  there will be a give away!!!

I literally have 100's of pictures from the weekend.  Many with family and friends that attended.  I'll attempt to get those onto Facebook later this week.  Right now though, my Dad is here at the house and we are finishing up tons of projects around the house to get it on the market by the end of the week.  So I guess I should head on now.  Paint is calling me...and trim. 



JOY

This is absolutely the best word to describe today.  Seriously.  JOY.  No one can take it away, nope.  Because it's already been imprinted onto the day.  Today we leave for Alabama.  To the show.  THE show.  The one I've anticipated for months.  The one that I prepared for once and didn't get to have.  The one that snuck up on me and made me paint for dear life non stop.  The one that has tested friendships.  The one that has revealed true friendships.  The one that I can say is my "First Solo Show".  The only time ever that I can say that.  And it gives me so much JOY to share it with the gallery that believed in me first.  That gave me the first, "OK, we'll try your work out and see how it goes".  It's funny how life takes you down different paths.  I wouldn't trade any of it.  Nope. 

Yep.  Today is a joyous day.  Thanks for hanging in there with me the past 10 days.  Man they flew by, right?  So wish me luck....and lots of sales!  Here I go..................

Tandum Bike Fun

I've never ridden on a tandem bike.  But think I might.  Especially one that is pulling hearts as big as the ones I've attached!!

Following Your Heart

These words just spilled onto the canvas the day I painted this.  And how true are they.  We so often lead with our brain.....going through the motions of what it tells us we should do.  I have so many crazy emotions swimming in my head right now.  From the show opening, teaching, deadlines for shows applications, trying to get our house ready to sell, etc.  I am IN OVERDRIVE.  Seriously.  It's at times like this where I tend to back away from everyone and get in the mode.  The "I don't need anyone" mode.  Nope.  Not me.  But in actuality, I do.  I need to be nurtured right now.  I need to be called and checked in on.  I need "happies" on my front door wishing me good luck!  I need the help packing.  I need to know you are there behind me when I am at my craziest.   So I THANK YOU all for the calls, the good lucks, the well wishes, the offers to help.  You have no idea how much it makes my heart want to explode with gratitude.  I am getting better at accepting these tokens.   At this moment I am the luckiest gal in the world.  Because ALL of my little wishes are coming true in one big happy filled March.  Yep.  Giant puffy heart moments.  xo  Jenni

This Is Where Their Story Began

Another old church from the back roads of Alabama.  I love the way this church sits upon four brick piled corners.  And although Billy and were married in a church significantly larger than this, behind the doors the story begins the same.  Two people in love and a preacher surrounded family and friends who love them.  The happy couple leaves the church with a pocket full of dreams and the anticipation of years to come.  Billy and I, as we've been packing our house to sell, have actually begun to talk about "when we retire".  15 years ago we started our story in a church, then filled the pages of many chapters in our little house.  I absolutely can not wait to start the final chapters in the new home.  Seriously.  Can not wait.

Ernestine and Sally

Oh the adventures these two old girls have together!!  So I know I promised more art and less talk these 10 days, BUT I do need to remind you of a few things.  THIS Friday night 5-9PM is the opening of my show at The Naked Art Gallery in Birmingham, Alabama.  If you read my blog and live nearby, please come say hello.  It'll be so nice to meet you!!  Then Saturday the meet and greet is from 1-6PM.  I'll be demonstrating my texture technique from 2-3 and 4-5.  If you are interested in learning how I get that dreamy carved texture in my paintings, then come on by!  And yes, I am BEYOND excited.   I have the perfect outfits, just had my hair done, toes on Thursday and car cleaning Friday morning.  Looks like all things are a go!  Hope to see you there.

Poppy Love

Totally out of character for me....but my daisies were not working out and they turned into giant yellow poppies in milk jars.  Actually are there yellow poppies?  Huh. Well, I love this painting.  Yep.  

Given an Opportunity

Thursday night we took the kids to the circus.  I think this year marks the 7th year in a row we've gone.  No, we are not crazy circus people, rather we are given the opportunity to go each year with a group of peeps, so we take it.  And now our kids look forward to it each year.  Anyhoo, I tell you this because of a conversation that came about during the circus watching. 

So here's the scene:  Mailey is of course in my lap maintaining she can not see over the people in front of her.  In all honesty I think she can't stand that William got the seat by me first.   Yes, my children have "Mommyitis".  The first act involved the ENTIRE arena air space.  Seriously I didn't know exactly which spot to look, but they were all doing sorta the same thing so I focused on the ones directly in front of my eyes.  Picture women dressed in spandex body suits (sparkly of course) suspended way up in the air in hula hoops.  They were wiggling around and making magic moves in these hula hoops.  I was freaking out a twinge at A. the height they were suspended in the air given my fear of certain height thingies and B. that they were wearing SLIPPERY spandex gliding in, out and all around the hoops with ease. 

I must have said something aloud because Mailey said, "Mom, they have grippies all over those suits."  "Oh, like the socks I got with the frog pj's....you know the green ones with grippy dots?""Yes Mom."  So I was feeling a little better about the situation knowing that the grippy dots, like the ones on my frog pj socks, were indeed keeping them from falling to their deaths.  I must have said something aloud again about NEVER wanting to do my own hula hoop act because Mailey then said, "OH I WOULD DO THAT!"  Just as confidant as if she were saying yes, she would go to the American Girl Store.  Of course I was a little taken back at her certainty of doing such acts in a hula hoop.  And then she said, "If given the opportunity that is".  Just as plain and simple as that.  "If given the opportunity".  Wow.

Have you ever given a thought to what you would do if "given an opportunity?"  I can't seem to get the words out of my head.  And I suppose more than anything I'm thinking about the opportunities that were given to me that I let slide by.  Dang it. 

As I spent literally hours Friday compiling artwork for the show I thought back to the day Vero emailed me this amazing opportunity to show my work as a Solo Show.  I remember the butterflies, the anticipation, the excitement, the joy.  It's an opportunity I seized and will be forever grateful for.  It's an opportunity that quite honestly I may never get again.  I suppose that's why I've been so crazy emotional around everyone I love right now.  It's not anywhere near as BIG a deal to them as it is to me.  But this is not a show in a church or a school or on the streets of Atlanta.  This is in a gallery.  And all the attention will be on the body of work I've poured my heart and soul into since January.  I can't wait to share the joy, love and this opportunity with my friends and family.  Because if you really study the images on the canvases, that's what they are all about. 

The Red T-Shirt

So as you can see below today I wore the famous RED t-shirt that I blogged about here.  And yes, I am jumping for some serious joy in my red t-shirt.  No, not because I am wearing the red t-shirt....although the fact that it is finally warm enough to wear it is one reason to jump up and down on my front lawn..  But for other reasons completely I am jumping.   Want to know why????

Well.........................our family has decided to put an offer on this:

before we can move though,  we have to sell this.......................

Which means I started doing lots of this......................

Although I REALLY need to be doing more of this.........................

Because this HUGE amazing event is in 15 days........................

Can you believe it guys?  A Solo Show!  Me.....in the gallery's special room.  It's finally here.  Finally.  And right now, with our family making these ginormous puffy heart decisions, the theme for the show "Coming Home" has even more meaning.  In fact my head is swimming with even more painting ideas that may have to be added to the walls as others sell.  Unless, my little adorable cottage sells quick and we are......oh my goodness.....MOVING!  So please keep our little family in your thoughts and prayers.  And of course, if you need a home that has been built on nothing but love, email me.  Because I've got the perfect address for you.  :)

Going Where I Never Thought I Would

2 years ago when I started this journey as a full-time artist and you asked me, "so when is your next show?"  Never in a MILLION years would  I have thought that this time the response would be....."Well, I have a Solo Show Opening in August."  Yep.  That's right.....all by myself.  Solo.  Hanging on the walls, just me.  Wow.  I am a little more than excited right now that it's finally close on the horizon.  She asked me exactly one year ago this weekend.  So I've had time to process, but now it's HERE!

So here's the nitty on the show.  It's being held at the Naked Art Gallery in Birmingham, Alabama.  It is meaningful in more ways than one having it here because Vero was the first gallery to believe in me.  And boy, we've come along way since my first mailing.

Here's what the show will look like:  40 paintings at least and 30 functional pieces.  I can get the paintings done right away.  The ideas are kind of swimmy right now.  But the functional pieces, well that is Vero's thing.  And kind of what the gallery is known for....functional art.  I can send jewelry, but it counts as 1 item because it will all be in a case together.  So 29 other items.....yikes.  I have some frames I can paint up, and my new jewelry can count as another because I plan to make stands for those.  So I have some thinking to do right now.  All the pieces are due August 1st.  That gives me about 8.5 weeks.  I can do it.  This summer is devoted to it really.  And I am so ready to get started.  And you know me, I've made a timeline of projects and what has to get done.  I've got two large custom orders to finish first.....and then I am hoping the ideas will explode!  I'll be sharing the journey of course.....so get ready.  And I almost forgot, the opening reception is Friday, August 20th 6-9PM and Saturday, August, 21st 1-6PM.  Hope I can see you then!

New on the Horizon

Sometimes things just come together so nicely. While cleaning out the studio I found this little silver bezel that Valerie gave me to try with my porcelain pendants months ago. I never really liked the shiny silver patina, so I never pursued finishing off my pendants in this manner. But now, I have potions....fabulous potions that make shiny things very dingy, very quick. And now, well let's just say I am anxiously waiting for my round and square bezels to arrive from China!! Here's the sample of what's to come:

Today I headed to my new favorite bead shop and stocked up on all the beads and shiny silver findings I need to complete the necklaces. I have about 20 shiny bezels (see below) I've ordered and received already. Now I need to cut wire and chain, magic potion the parts then wire the beads together for the chain. The bezel will also be darkened and my artwork carefully placed into the bezel for a very new look with my jewelry. I am just about beside myself with the outcome and can't wait to start putting them all together! Hopefully I'll have some available by mid-June in my Etsy shop. But really they are the icing on the cake for my SOLO ART SHOW. Yep. A very big thingy I've been wanting to share with you bloggers for a year now. And now, it's almost HERE! Yahooo!!! More details very soon on the show. For now, let's just drool over the candy drop beads in this jar why don't we?