Snow Day!

Earlier in the week, we'd had a tasting of the snow that was to come. It tickled our noses as it fell and was most fun to dance around in, but it didn't stick and we had to go to school the next day. Then on Saturday, the real snow came, and boy did it come! Down here in Georgia snow is quite the novelty. We are more known for our ability to wear flip flops and white way after labor day than a pair of snowpants and shoes! Heck, I don't even own an ice scraper for my car window! This past Saturday the snow came, during the middle of my Saturday workshop no less. I had 20 eager little artists ready to get home to build their own snowmen masterpieces in the front yard!
We hung out downtown for awhile after my class, ate at the Redneck with half of Newnan(I guess we weren't the only ones with a taste for the Redneck finery!), went to the grocery, and then headed home to play, play, play!

This was the first snow for several family members; Mailey, Lily, and Eli had never seen this white blanket on our grass before. Mailey was thrilled, helping to build the snowman, throwing snowballs, but mostly she just ate it. Those of you that know her well know that she LOVES to eat, all the time. Snow was a delicacy we might not have around for another 5 years, so she ate and ate! Lily didn't want to touch it, I held her most of the time. Doesn't she look adorable in her pink parka? William was the snowball king, and with his baseball training, his balls hurt!




Last thing we did before defrosting our fingers was build a snowman. William rolled the balls, then we all made decisions on his attire. We decided an Auburn snowman was the best idea, and so here he is. Aubie in the snow! We even had a carrot for the nose. It's Monday and he's still standing strong. The ground around him is a bit like a marsh, but he's still smiling, hat and all!
I hope those of you that had snow your way had as much fun as we did. My favorite thing the kids did were the snow angels. I forgot to take a picture of them, but they were so cute laying there swishing their limbs back and forth to make little angels.

My Art At the Opening

If you've not read my past posts, then to get you up to speed, The Naked Art Gallery in Birmingham now has my bird pendants AND art. I was viewing their most recent artist opening pictures online of Tina Kirk's adorable art when I saw this photo. No, those are not famous people. That is my art behind those people! Yipee! It's kind of fun to see my art somewhere other than my garage!

Been Awhile!

I just realized it's been awhile since I last posted! The store was busy busy during the holiday season plus, I attempted several small shows with Mattie. I've learned a few valuable lessons during this time. The first being no more school shows at Christmas, only a big one (hopefully Marist) during this time of year. I spent way too many hours setting up and attending the shows for very little return. It was great exposure however, and a very good lesson to learn. I have found in my 35 years that some lessons must be learned by failing.

Good news though, The Naked Art Gallery in Birmingham has accepted my paintings! Vero tried out my pendants during November and December, and decided that she wanted the paintings as well. So I loaded up about 10 and drove them into town on my way to Christmas with my Father. If you are ever in town, please check the place out. It is way cool....very funky and edgy art, jewelry and more. She's located on Clairmont Ave. next to The Silvertron, an old favorite restaurant of my family and across from Marilyn Wilson Art Gallery.

In the meantime, my new goal is to really focus on the etsy store to sell more work. The website is great, but not getting much in the way of hits. Also with etsy I can keep it current with new products and images easier than on the site. So be on the look out for new things on the horizon. My second goal is finding a great outdoor spring show to submit my work, Wish me luck!

Busy..busy...

So things are going quite well for Mattie and Her Social Circle. I set up a booth at the Beackonsville neighborhoood Wine and Cheese Bazar last Thursday and made quite a few sales. I also have my wares for sale in the store (The Vintage-Flea) and now at the Naked Art Gallery in Birmingham, Alabama. I imagine this time of year is going to be the busy season for sales, Christmas gifts for this person and that person. Not that I mind or am complaining..buy..buy.. buy! It tickles me to death to think of my little birds around any one's neck from your favorite Grandmother to your son's teacher. The tiles are going over well too, as long as they are framed. I've got to come up with a better way to show the tiles and what to do with them. Everything comes with time I suppose!

Some upcoming events where you can see the items in person: White Oak Elementary School's crafting with Santa on December 1st from 10-4pm and then Sunday, December 2nd at Serenbe community from 12-5. If you happen to be around either of those areas, I'd love to have you stop by and see me. If you've not been out to the Serenbe community, I'd definitely put this one on your calendar of December must do's! There are about 20 artists setting up behind the Blue Eyed Daisy (A totally yummy restaurant) to sell their handmade goodies. Valerie and I are setting up together for this event. This community is beautifully designed for those wanting to escape the "city" life they endure during the week. For directions google Serenbe and I am sure they have them on the website.

So, this week is a holiday for the children in our town. I'm hosting art camp both Monday and Tuesday. I love doing camps, so I am in total teacher focused mode right now and not really concentrating on anything new for my personal art. Maybe after the break I can dive into some new paintings. I've got several new ideas jotted in my handy dandy sketchbook! Look for those to appear soon on the website!

Meeting Eric Carle

Living about 1/2 hour from Atlanta has many advantages. One of the best is the High Museum of Art! Last Sunday the museum offered a Family Fun day complete with booksigning by Eric Carle! He is one of my artists/authors. So my sister Molly, Mom, Mailey and I headed up around 11am. If ever you have this opportunity I will say to arrive early, the line was quite long. But very worth the wait. We got 5 books signed, most for teacher gifts, but one Very Hungry Catepillar now has a special place in our home.

Taking Mattie on the Road

This weekend the Newnan Coweta Art Association is hosting its' annual Christmas Art Show and Sale at the Train Depot in historic Newnan. I did the show last year with Valerie with not much luck. We showed mostly our art art. This year, since I now have my beloved Mattie and all her little friends, I decided it was time to get her out of the garage and let her go public! So this weekend I busted tail getting things organized, painted, painted and more painted! As a store owner, I constantly mull over displays and creating a "mood" for the products we offer. Same thing applies with my art. So I've got the "mood" in my head and have a little slice for you here of the process. This picture is of my art desk in the studio. I laid all the tiles out and decided what needed a frame and what needed to be packaged for quick pick up sales. Eli is the rather robust kitty on the table managing the process. I've not talked about her before, but I rather think of her as my muse. I swear she was a famous artist in a past life because she is always in the garage digging through my art things. She also loves to lounge on the desk. And if I happen to leave a painting resting on the table, she curls up and sleeps on it. Yep, she was definately a former artist!

The Art Assocation provides these white grids to hang your work on I decided to forgo. Instead, I painted these 2 luan doors bright white along with everything else I am using to display. My thinking is that it will make all the little images pop right out at ya when you walk by having the contrast of white and all the blues I use in my paintings. I intend to create a little slice of Mattie's world in my booth!
Here are my quick pick up sale marble tile magnets. I thought it would be most clever to use paint chip cards as my background and price tags for this show. Love Martha and her celedon pottery green cards!


I hope some of you will come down and see me at the depot. The show runs Friday-Sunday. See ya there!

Big Sis's Room

After I finished the Oo...La...La.... room I headed upstairs to Kayla's room. Rebecca (the Mommy) said Kayla wanted to travel and see the world. She is also a teenager and needed a more "grown-up" look for her mural. So I took the names of some of the places Kayla said she wanted to see and created this collage of countries and places. She too has the most fabulous custom bedding and window treatment. Her room is a nice pink with black trim, yes black. And it is sooooo cool. Very big girl looking. Rebecca also had me paint an inspirational quote over the doors so that when she laid in bed she'd see it as soon as she woke up. Never underestimate the power of words!
Off to her bathroom she had a coordinating shower curtain with these bubbles on it. Rebecca wanted this fun inspirational quote, but it needed a little extra, so I added the bubbles and tada! We have instant art and motivation!