Saturday, December 29, 2007

Good Tidings To You and Your Kin


me and mommy, originally uploaded by livefunky.

(This is a picture of me and my mom last year at our Jack and Jill party.)

I finally did it and upgraded to a pro account on flickr. This means I can upload as many pictures as I want and make as many sets and collections of images as I want, too. I'm adding a bunch of personal shots as well as art and art related photos and I feel like 'why not?'. It may seem unprofessional, but I always think it's cool to see other artist's "real life" pictures in their flickr account along with their wares.

May our smiles give you some holiday cheer. Happy New Year to all!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Monday, December 17, 2007

Silent Night

The sun just set red over the valley below and now the world's turned blue. I took this picture looking out our kitchen window to the backyard, the snowflake was from a Christmas crafty day here with the fam. I've got some time before the whole lot comes home and it's very peaceful sitting here, listening to the wind chimes outside and relaxing for a moment.

I hope everyone is allowing themselves some moments of peace and quiet in the mad dash of this next week. Take a deep breath. Look at the pretty lights you worked so hard setting up. Enjoy this moment with family or friends, a pet or by yourself.

Peace.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Etsy In The Press

Check out the NY Times article about the Handmade Pledge and Etsy's role in the movement.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/magazine/16Crafts-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Preparing for the New Year

Howdy folks. I've been fighting a beast of a cold for the past week. Knock on wood the worst is over but I still need to take it easy. I can't stand being sick and I can't stand being slowed down! But I obviously needed this break. I just want to be better for Christmas.

Since painting hasn't been an option (no energy, dizzy standing) I'm working on reorganizing my Etsy shop. I've got a sale section now which you can see by clicking here http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=102895&section_id=5247974

Basically I am clearing out some older work to make way for new paintings and prints. My plan is to create a new shop on Etsy just for my "gallery collection" of original fine art. This will feature only the best of the best. I'll be working in series with the highest quality paints and materials. I'm going to hold off on telling you the link name until I have set up the shop, but it's something I am very excited about.

Since I've had such success with livefunky, I'm keeping that shop too - but of course! Livefunky will feature all affordable art, including prints, ACEOs, sketches, etc.

The reason why I'm doing all of this is to make some sense out of the mounds of artwork I have accumulated! Cleaning out the studio was the wake up call of just how much work I've got. I need to seriously go through everything and make a few piles/stacks.

Art that I don't want to sell because it's special - That should either be hanging in my own home or passed on to someone I love.

Art I don't want to sell because it's not good enough - I need to figure out what to do with the loads of art I have held onto that's just random. Sketches that never went anywhere, paintings that have a tear, you name it. I can't sell it but I can't part with it either. I guess the only answer is to find some sturdy tupperware bins and just store them away. Who knows, maybe my random sketches would be worth something to my kids someday?

Art that I do want to sell - These go to Etsy, and if they've been on there for a long time and haven't sold, they go on sale or get taken off to be part of a collection of "give away" art since I always include freebies for buyers.

That's my plan for all of my finished artwork. My plan for art that is yet to be is this...

MY PASSION - Time to raise the bar with my paintings. Invest in higher quality materials for new "gallery collection". Paint in series/groups. These will be my babies... :)

MY EVERYDAY - Even though I'll be raising the bar (and prices, by the way) of my fine art paintings, I'll still be doodling, sketching and doing little experimental watercolors and paintings on paper. These will be my livefunky puppies, ready for an affordable price tag and perfect for a little dorm room, apartment or workspace.

MY SIDE PROJECTS ONLINE - I'm going to continue developing my clothing lines through Zazzle www.zazzle.com/babukins* and www.zazzle.com/artjct*. These will have special illustrations and digital designs. Expect some more of these special product lines in 2008.

There's a lot to look forward to in 2008, but for now, I need to take a nap! I need to get better to get back to work!

Friday, December 07, 2007

All Sassed Up


I scored a Treasury List on Etsy tonight and dedicated it to dressing up for a night on the town.

Check it out here! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=17925

It will be live through Monday.




Thursday, December 06, 2007

Modern Art Apparel on Zazzle


a few examples from my online apparel line....

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Oh Happy Day

I had an amazing day today babysitting for a relative's daughter, I'll call her Lil' K. I had to post this just because I'm so moved by my experience with her. Lil' K is the sweetest baby in the world. Am I biased? Yes, but it's still true. From 8:30 to 5 only one cry - and it was for a trip and fall I might have cried over too. Just a little singing did the trick to get that smile back again. My favorite part of the day? Post nap, warm bundle of love snuggling up against me, staring into my eyes with her big brown beauties and long lashes, smiling - uh, total peace.
I love you so much Lil' K! Thank you for filling my heart with sunshine!

Monday, December 03, 2007

Two Clothing Shops on Zazzle

Modern Art Apparel - www.zazzle.com/artjct*
Tshirts for Men and Women


Babukins - www.zazzle.com/babukins*
Tshirts and onsies for babies and kids