Time to Rediscover

Well the door is closed on the year 2010.  And I'll have to be flat out honest I am a little sad.  It has been a good year.....an incredible year in fact!!  In my first post of the year here I stated that I am not one for "New Year's Resolutions". But rather take the time to recognize the doors that have opened and closed, and those that need to be padlocked!   I also declared 2010 the year to "be incredible".  I know, this word means "hard to believe or too extraordinary".  I was ready for that kind of year though, one of unexpected joy, of over the top ideas and dreams loftier than I could possibly attain.  I was ready to be better than normal and begin opening doors that had "Principal's office" on them.  Yep. 

So incredible this year you ask?  Really?  There's so much I can toot my horn about with both my personal life and my art business.  And by golly I a going to share my business happiness:  207 blog posts, facebook fans hit 200, etsy sales finally broke 100, paintings sold and sold (I keep crappy inventory so don't know how many but it was a lot), blog following continues to AMAZE me (puffy heart you peeps!!), got my hopes up really high with a major licensing company (didn't work out yet, but the experience has been life changing),  featured articles in 4 Somerset Publications, had a career boosting trip to Art and Soul Las Vegas, met so many amazing artsy people this year who have inspired me to be more, and last but not least I finally feel like I'm in my space as an artist.  It's funny how through the years of navigating this art career I've looked over the shoulders of others to keep myself in check......basically compared myself to their careers.  And now, well I've got my own space.  My own space to reach, stand tall and grow into.  I can't thank all of you enough for being my quiet audience to share all of these joys, surprises and dreams with this year.  I think of you as friends, many of whom I will never meet, but your joining me on this journey makes my space that much more special.   Which leads me to this year, 2011.  My inspiration comes again from the little Hallmark book, Be INSPI(RED).

"Rediscover you. Admire yourself more often. You are as beautiful as your heart remembers."

This year I pledge to rediscover myself on many, many levels both personally and in my business.  I've got them written down.  And am ready to face the fears.  And I can't wait to see how the discoveries unfold in 2011!

Sometimes New is Good

I find that sometimes ideas consume my little head and until I get them out and onto the canvas, well let's just say I get a little loco!  I know, I'm such an artist.  So the idea swimming in my head was to make portraits of my children.  Now, I am not going to become a portrait artist...nope.  But the thought of my hands capturing their little personalities through paint really excited me!  I take thousands of photos a year with my Canon Rebel....seriously.  So I flipped through and found my favorite shots and turned them into these:

The photo of Mailey was of her in this year's amazing Halloween costume complete with Taylor Swift wig, thus why she has flowing blond curls and not red wavy hair.   I may have to change the color of her hair at some point.  It says, "Her spirit embraced them all".  Which it does, it really really does.  From where she started to where she is now, the one constant is her little spirit and how ginormous it is.  She freaks me out a little with the manner in which she embraces all things.  From humans and animals to her sweet dolls, she embraces each with such an open heart.

And then there is William.  The child Billy and I prayed for almost 2 years to come to us.  The child that came out quiet, that was gentle and kind when Mailey came with a fury.  The child that is so sensitive you look at him wrong through the hair you see tears in the eyes.  The child that saw when I was finally doing his painting smiled from ear to ear in flattery.  The child that "makes my heart sing".

This child is not really mine.  Well he sorta is.  This is my sister Molly's son Fielding.  I just puffy heart the photo of him I used for this painting.  He has this total routine with his smiling....it starts small, then the mouth goes wide open with tongue out and you can not help kiss and gooey all over him.  Seriously.  You can't see the words too well, but it says, "He will forever leave an imprint on your life".  Yep, that's what children do.  You know what I mean?  And not just from the second you see them being born, but from the second you know you are carrying their soul they imprint on your heart.  It's completely and totally unavoidable.  And since this child in particular was not in the grand plan, he has imprinted on all of us more than we ever imagined he could.

So this little painting time has completely and totally inspired me.  Getting completely out of my comfort zone has been a wonderful way to jump start the next series of paintings.  I have big plans up my sleeve for the next two months in the studio, most of which include the brush and paint.    I can't wait to share the journey as it unfolds. 

A Peek at our Christmas Story

I've been meaning to show you a few of my favorite decorated areas for the holidays.....I guess today is the day!  For Christmas Eve dinner we set the tables with our favorite little sparkly houses, daisies, green mums and of course place cards made by sweet Mailey!

 

In the den we always put out our growing collection of Byer's Choice Carolers.  I love these little joyful characters!  This year we received a baseball player!

Of course the tree is a focal point of the room.  The flocked multi colored light tree is so pretty at night.  I wish my camera could capture it better lit up.....you'll just have to imagine the large colored bulbs illuminating the room. 

 And then in the kitchen hanging from the fixture are those amazing Shiney Bright teal ornaments and a pretty sparkly bird.  I've had the burlap ribbon for years and love using it in the kitchen and sunroom. 

By the way....do you see the new kitchen wall color?  Once the counter tops and stove arrive I'll show the before and after pictures.  It's amazing the transformation already though!  Well,  this is just a glimpse of how we make our home special for the holidays.   Not too much, but what we do have is very special to the family.  I love that Mailey and William get so exited when we pull out the carolers and place them all over the den.   The ornaments on our tree are like dangling charms, each have a story.  And every year we add to the story.....creating our own Christmas story for years to come and years to share.

I'm Dreaming...Scratch that I'm Living the WHITE CHRISTMAS!!

HOLY TAMOLY!  Seriously folks.  Living above the Mason Dixon line you get snow.  I know.  But those of us living below it, like moi, snow is like magic.  It shuts down schools, major and minor roads, and even churches!  And look what came today!!!!  On Christmas Day!!!!   A white Christmas!!!!!  I am freakin' 38 years old and have NEVER HAD A WHITE CHRISTMAS!  I am like freakin' out, can you tell????

Ok, so it's not like snowboarding level, yet.  We've got some cool ripsticks and skateboards that can easily have their wheels removed though and don't think I'm not already scheming.....for tomorrow that is.  Tonight I think we'll keep the fire roaring (real wood one that is....yes not all Southerners have remote control fireplaces) and continue to roast marshmallows till our bellies explode!  Man, can this holiday get any more brimming with joy?  geeeeeeshhhhhh.  We are like a  bowl full of strawberry jello topped with a heavy layer of real whipped cream in the Horne house this holiday!!  Eeeekkkkkkkkkk!  It's snowing!   Ok.  I think I may need to get back outside now.  See ya later!! I simply can not stand it.  Bye ya'll!!

"raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens"

Maybe it's because Mailey has been watching The Sound of Music a lot lately, or just that my happy juices are in over drive this holiday season....but I have a few favorite things to share today!  We are just bubbling over this holiday, ALL of us.  My husband is being super secret about something he's doing and the kids are getting HUGE fun gifts that are secretly stashed at our neighbor's house, which is making her giddy.  This year the kids are getting less, but they are over the top!!  And the best part for me about the entire holiday, everyone is coming to OUR house for dinner.  I can't tell you how exciting this is for me.   Seriously it means more than any gift I'll be receiving.  So, on to my whiskers..... 

I can not get enough of this painting.  I don't know how I got all those colors into the composition without it looking messy.  This is a inspiration piece for the future painting series I'll be starting after Christmas.

The direction of my creative business is a huge "bright colored package tied up with string".  From the new logo to branching out and advertising .  I am really looking forward to 2011 and the ideas going forward!

And of course, a favorite spot.  I look forward to showing you the "new" look after the holidays.  It's amazing how having a place for spreading your creative joy comes into play.  I simply can not think straight when this room is out of order.  And right now, it is in impeccable order and my lists have been started so I can hit the ground running when school gets back in session.

So, a few other favorite things right now:

-my camera bag app for PC.  It's how I get the super cool pictures of my pictures.  :)

-this adorable book for sewing....i am a closet sewer, you'll probably never see me sell anything but birdies, but I sew a lot of stuff.  lots....

-everything in this etsy shop....hint, hint, I am creating a softer jewelry line for 2011 and many pieces came from this shop!!

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday week!   And I'd love to hear what a few of your favorite things are.....when that bee stings what do you simply remember?

Christmas Happy

I wanted to show off a little Christmas "Happy" I received this weekend from my little sister Molly:

The potter who made this adorable cream and sugar had a tent at the Country Living Fair we attended together in the fall.  I fell in LOVE with her work, ALL of it.....wonder why?  Molly loved her jewelry.  Wanna know something funny?  Well, this past weekend I gave Molly a piece of her pottery jewelry for Christmas, and she gave me this.  Oh boy was I tickled.  And it looks amazing in my almost remodeled  kitchen.  :)  By the way, the potter is Tasha McKelvey.  Head on over to her lovely little site and see why I may become a new "collector" of her work. (this is a puffy heart moment)

It's Party Time!

I am in awe that 2010 is nearing an end.  A crazy word to use....but seriously where did it go...amazing.  We say that every year I suppose around the holidays.  I found pictures of William's first Christmas recently where he was a mere 11 months old.  So innocent, had no idea what the fuss was all about, and certainly didn't ask for a thing.  Since that first year we've tried to create traditions with our family, ones that hopefully they will carry on with their own families.  William is 10 now and I am holding on to every last morsel of hope that he still "believes."   

Today our family is heading to LA....That's Lower Alabama folks.  Where the weather is warmer and southern comfort food is always a staple.  It's my Nephew Fielding's 1st Birthday!  And if Christmas wasn't enough to celebrate this month, this little man brings even more joy to the table of celebration Saturday.  We'll be tearing into fabulous presents with my Mother, Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Fielding and us!   My kids are beside themselves.   Love this part.  Like BIG PUFFY heart this part.

Oh, and I just HAVE to show off how super duper cute he is.  Man.  Didn't know I could love something so much outside my 3 little sets of legs.  Well, make that two little sets and one big set.  And perhaps 20 furry ones.  But you get the idea, right?  Love has this way of creeping into your body, not just your heart because man you can feel it in your bones sometimes.  During this time of year overwhelming joy, happiness and LOVE abounds in our family.  I hope it does yours too. 

PS.......just in case, I'm sending puffy hearts your way to use any way you like.