What's on My Work Desk-Update!

It's my favorite Blogging day of the Week...What's on Your Work Desk Wednesday!! Love that we get to see what crafty girls are up to all over the world.

Do you remember this from last week?

My daughter's desk she didn't want in her room anymore. I must admit I was quite happy to hear her say that as I have always secretly wanted it. I just knew it would make a delightful art desk...and it has!

It has a cork board built-in which I plan on filling up with everything that inspires me....birds, words, quotes, bight flowers and all kinds of happiness:)

See that CUTE little blue square to the left? Here, take a closer look.

Isn't this the CUTEST thing you have ever seen? It's an eraser board with pretty magnets. I found it last Friday at a garage sale for 50 cents!! Can you believe it?! I'm using it to list what art projects I'm working on at the moment. LOVE it!

More views of my space...my "other" work desk-LOL.

Now that I'm in the guest bedroom the bed is making a great place to sort out all my projects. I am a visual person, you know.

Speaking of projects...currently I am in Week 4 of Soul Restoration 2. I am behind a bit...still on Week 3 and building my "Life Journal". Here is what it looks like so far...

Here is part of my Mission Statement. That's one of my fave pics of me.

More of my Mission Statement. That photo of my family reminds me to choose wisely.

Soul Restoration 2 is all about designing and making goals to help you live the life you've always imagined.

Here is one of my Brave Art Girls. Her name is Mary Jane. She is a Birthday gift for someone special to me....

I created this over the course of several weeks. It was so relaxing for me.

What do you think of Mary Jane?

And finally on my work desk this week is my Pink Challenge for the Summer of Color. It's not finished yet but I'll share what it looks like so far...

Be sure and stop by Julia's Blog for over 100 Work Desks this week. So fun!!

Summer of Color-GREEN

Creativity is a type of learning

process where the teacher

and pupil are located in 

the same individual.
Arthur Koestler

I am in the process of learning

and growing

and becoming.

This is my GREEN project

It seems like the more I create

the more creative I become.

And the more 

creative I become

the more receptive I am

to the learning and growing

process.

Each day

whether I'm busy or not

I read something about 

Art.

From the Summer of Color challenge

Maybe a new technique

or book on creativity

or finding your inner artist.

Sometimes it's just a quote

or a blog post 

or something on TV.

We are in our 2nd week of Color

I try to soak it all up.

I make creative lists of

all the projects I want to do.

I surround myself with quotes

and uplifting images 

to feed my creative 

Spirit.

I had a terrible migraine the day I created this

I am taking classes to 

not only learn

new techniques 

but to find my

Voice.

What is it and

Where is it I

am Going to?

This was very theraputic for me to do

To make my creations

truly 

my

Own.

She knew she could fly

I am drawn to Words

and 

Birds

and 

Houses

and 

Flowers

and 

Sunshines.

She is perfect just the way she is

I love

collage

and

painting

and 

layering

and 

gluing

and 

using

Words

in 

My

Art 

to 

Uplift.

 Be sure and stop by the Summer of Color Challenge at "Twinkle Twinkle" to be inspired. Thanks for looking:)

Art and Meet Joyce....

 

I have been busy working on backgrounds for my Art. 

Soooo many thoughts and ideas running around in my head....

Birds, houses, girls, hearts, words....

I am loving all this creativity.

A few weeks ago one of my friends and Blog readers won one of my She Art Girls...

Meet Joyce....

As soon as I get back from Camp she will be headed out to meet her new owner:)

I hope you like her, Joyce!!!

How is your day going so far?

What I'm Looking Forward To...

Happy Monday! What a beautiful one it's gonna be. Woke up early to blue skies, sunshine and NO WIND! Ready to read some blogs, catch up on FB then head to Curves for my daily energy fix. It's truly gonna be an amazing day!:)

Speaking of amazing...with Summer just around the corner....I am looking forward to having more time to do so many fun and amazing things.....and since I'm a list maker....thought I'd share my list with you.

What I'm Looking Forward to this Summer

1. Not having such a tight schedule

2. The smell of coconut tanning lotion {takes me back to my childhood}

3. Soul Restoration Part 2 {starts June 6th}

4. Kristen's Color Challenge {June 6th}

5. Getting in shape at my new gym Curves!!

6. Watermelon!! It's my FAVE food of all time!!

7. Late night summer walks with Em

8. Creating!! I have sooo many plans {that's another list!}

9. The Summer Movie Art Journal Challenge coming up right here {June 21st}

10. Staying up late watching old 80's movies with my kids...it's a summer tradition

11. Heading to Chicago and Wisconsin in August...hoping to meet a few Blog friends!!

12. Girl's Camp in June. I am Co-Director this year...should be interesting...

13. Garage sales with my Mom every Friday

14. Summer Blockbusters with the Family. So fun!

15. Announcing a HUGE and soooo inspirational Give Away right here that it will Blow you away!!!!!

So there's a taste of what I'm looking forward to this summer...it's gonna be such a good one...I can feel it!

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

What are you looking forward to this summer...I would love to know!!

Artist Trading Card Fun

So with my new blog schedule {go here to read it} Wednesdays are the day I share my creative projects, ideas, photos, etc. with you. I have been saving this latest undertaking of mine for a few months now. So happy to show it to you today!

Artist Trading Cards!! I first heard about these cute, little creations 5 or 6 years and have wanted to try them ever sine. But for whatever reason I kept procrastinating and never got around to it.

Then as fate would have...last July while Em and I were roaming around Micheal's I found a set of 10, all neatly packaged, ready for me to take home!

Creating these teeny cards was so inspiring...

I painted the backgrounds one afternoon then came back whenever I could squeeze a few minutes here and there in. I used stickers, an old Winnie the Pooh book, punches, acrylic paint, brads, chipboard, markers, cra-pas crayons and colored pencils.

There is a really great book called "Artist Trading Card Workshop" by Bernie Berlin that I used for my inspiration.

Find this eye-popping  book here.

It is FULL of techniques, photos and sooo many ideas!! Everything can be used in art journals, collages and scrapbook pages.

The thing about these cards is I'm supposed to trade them with someone else...I'm having a bit of a hard time with this as I truly do enjoy them.

However, they are called Artist Trading Cards sooooo....I had this crazy idea that if YOU would like to try your hand at creating one of these adorable cards that maybe we could trade? If you're interested leave me a comment to let me know or email me at leslieackman@yahoo.com

So, I want to know...have you ever created an Artist Trading Card {ATC}?

Going Retro this Week...

Howdy, girls!! You know that old Johnny Nash song..."I Can See Clearly Now'"? The one that says It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day? Well, that's me...NOW...after much contemplating this weekend on my life and what is important to me at this time in my life.

It was like blinders had been covering my eyes making it nearly impossible for me to see what was right in front of me all along. I know now what it is I must do and what it is I can do to bring more order and peace to my world.{and do so with a smile on my face}


I intend on writing out some very clear intentions for myself this week. I promise I will share this new found "enlightenment" along with my intentions later in the week.

I am excited to be participating in a Blogging Challenge this week from one of my favorite communities "The Secret is in the Sauce" or as they are more fondly known as SITS. Don't know about SITS? Click here to find out more and read what I'll be up to for the next 5 days. ;)

I am ready to kick my blog up a notch...so get ready...

Here I Come!!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday...

Award, I'm tired! {Day 23}

Without enough sleep, we all become tall two-year-olds.  ~JoJo Jensen, Dirt Farmer Wisdom, 2002

Okay, so while I am getting enough sleep {most nights} I feel myself getting edgy, restless and like I'm on the road to Crankville {you can read about this magical place here}

It has been awhile since I've had alone time.


Time in my home to blog, to clean, to do laundry, to fix lunch, to watch my favorite afternoon show {a post coming soon} and to create without the blessing of my family present.

You know I love my family. LOVE them.

Most of my days are filled serving them, loving them, laughing with them and cheering them on.


But I must admit. School sounds really good right now.


I enjoy having my home all to myself 6 hours a day.


I love puttering around...listening to my tunes, doing what I do.


School starts Thursday...;)

I just gotta tell you....my sweet, talented and awesome blog friend Angie gave me this last week!!!

Now I have to share with you 10 random facts about me. Too fun:)


1. I am an 80's movie junkie. Some of my favorites include:

Urban Cowboy
St. Elmo's Fire
Breakfast Club
Pretty in Pink
An Officer and a Gentleman
Halloween
The Jazz Singer {just re-watched over the weekend}


2. I am scared to death of water. I mean I get CRAZY scared on bridges or whenever we are on a road and there is water around us...I FREAK out!! I can barely drive across bridges...seriously.


3. While I'm on the subject of freaking out I have a worse phobia than water and bridges...I am totally FRIGHTENED by anything BIG. Like planes, bridges, tall buildings...it is really BAD when I'm driving by something big. I get vertigo. True story...last summer in Utah I was driving on I-15 in Ogden headed to the mall. I took the wrong exit so I needed to get back on the freeway. I was doing pretty good. I turned my blinker on to go left to get an on ramp. Now keep in mind traffic is NUTS!! I go to turn left when BAM...I see not one, not two but about FIVE HUMONGOUS airplanes. It was an Air Force Base and in order for me to get on the ramp I was gonna have to drive towards the planes which, by the way, were facing the interstate. I began to sweat, I shook and I SLamMED on my brakes!! With rush hour traffic! My family was like what the heck! I froze. My heart was racing!! Dave had to talk me out of my panic. All the time cars were honking and whizzing by me. Eventually I calmed down and made a right to a gas station. It was horrible!


4. I don't like chocolate much. Never have. {i know Angie and Leanne have a hard time being my friend with this fact-LOL}


5. I had every lead in every play in High School.


6. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays!!!


7. I have too many purses!


8. I have a collection of those little tees with silly sayings. That's what I wear most days. {another post!}


9. These awards mean so much to me! 


10. I think I talk too much;)


Okay...so now that you know I'm half crazy...I get to pass this award on to FIVE blogs!! 


Now, girls. This is always the hardest part for me. You see I love all your blogs. Each and everyone. But I must pick 5 so here goes...


1. My new bloggy friend Jodi from The Opened Door. I have been inspired so much by her art, her faith and the fact that she is conducting her first e-course this September {which i am taking}


2. Cindi from So, That's Why. I met Cindi through my blog friend Leanne. Cindi has inspired me to just be who I am when it come to my art. I don't even think she knows that;). But she has. I love her digi-art and hearing about her family.


3. My sweet Soraya from My Heartful Life. I met her through Kelly's e-course and my world has been so different. I see things in a way I hadn't before. She writes from the heart and her art is so gentle and sweet.


4. Twinkle, Twinkle is another blog I found through Kelly's class. Kristin creates, writes and speaks out of love. Just a magical place!!


5. Finally Bev from My Awakened Heart. I love her story...about how she came to creating. It is so inspiring. I love her work and she has become a dear friend.


Like I said...it is so hard to narrow this down to 5 of you. I read each of your blogs and am a better person because of it!




On to today's challenge. Only a few more days left of the Challenge!

Creative Challenge Day#23: First of all...is it school yet? I am ready. It has been chaotic the past few days...I NEED some ME time!! Desperately...Today I want you to take ME TIME and do whatever your soul is longing for. Maybe a nap. Maybe a movie. Maybe your journal. Maybe a good book. Maybe creating. Let your soul decide.

 

What does your soul need?

Ta-Da! {Day 19}

 Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things."
"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
(Through the Looking Glass, Chapter 5)


This has always been one of my favorite quotes. I think how many times have I been like Alice, refusing to believe I could become a runner.

I could finish a marathon

I could swim.

I could write a column.

I could finish college.

I could believe in myself.

Thank you to my dear, sweet and very talented friend Leanne from "Chaos Comes Happiness" who designed my Blog header and made everything about my Blog just better. You are amazing, girl!:) 

I love today's Challenge. Not only is it sooooo fun...but it's ongoing. It's something you can do while sitting on the couch watching your favorite TV show. And it's something you will use in so many of your projects:) 

Creative Challenge Day #19:Today I want you to begin collecting WORDS. Find a manila envelope, a folder, anything you can put your WORDS into. You can jot down words on paper scraps or find them in magazines and books and cut them out to use on your projects. I have found some old books at yard sales this summer for a ...quarter and enjoyed going through them, cutting out words for future projects. Have fun!

 

I am having one of those brain lapses today. I just KNOW there was something I wanted to share with you...but for the life of me I can't remember. Hmmmmm...maybe tomorrow-LOL

 

In the meantime...I have my WORDS to post from the past few weeks and more projects, too. Those will come sometime next week. Also I have a NEW "Make My Monday" interview you won't want to miss.

Don't forget about my give away, girls!! A bag filled with handmade tags, shapes, ribbons and WORDS! Leave me a comment, Like me FB and become a follower for multiple entries. I will draw a winner August 24th.

I will leave you with a bit of inspirations from Gail McMeekin. Last week we talked about one way we can "enthuse our muse" is by listening to music. Today's tip is...

"Pracatice Suspension". Postpone all judgements and send your inner critic on vacation. Give yourself the freedom to make mistakes and to take positive risks with your work. Approach your creative process fearlessly. Ask yourself what "out of the box" strategies you'll try next." -Gail McMeekin

 

This is a hard one, huh? 

 

How many times do we think about a project, get all excited by it then when we do finally start that voice in our heads says "What the heck do you think you are doing? You can't paint, or draw or__________!!"

 

I am bad about this. Especially the "making mistakes" part. There are so many new and exciting techniques and mediums I want to begin playing with...but I'm scared. Scared I'll just create one big mess. 

 

This Challenge has helped silence that critic a bit. Painting my backgrounds, using charcoal and sharing each day with you has really been like telling my inner critic to GO TAKE A HIKE!

 

 

What about you? What does your inner critic tell you? What are ways you silence it? Please share...and be sure and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing! As always, girls. I appreciate you and look forward to reading and learning and growing from your blogs!!

On Being Creative{Day 11}

"I am always doing that which I can not do in order that I may learn how to do it." -Pablo Picasso

These past few months I have been learning.

I have been growing.

I am stretching myself so I can begin calling myself an artist.

An artist of what I haven't decided yet :)

I am drawn to painting and words and spiritual thoughts and butterflies and birds and collage and jewelry and inks and tags.

I picked up an old edition of "Artists Sketchbook" magazine from a yard sale last week for 10 cents. And while I won't use much of the content I LOVE the article "How to Enthuse Your Muse". The author {Gail McMeekin} lists 7 ways you can give some "oooomph" to your creativity. Throughout the rest of the 31 Days Challenge I will be sharing these practical and energizing tips.

 "Start each creative session with music. You may want your music to reflect the mood of the art you're working on, or just pick inspiring and uplifting tunes."


Do you create with music or without? 99% of the time I have music playing. We have Sirius Radio on our TV so it's easy for me to just turn a particular genre on and work away. Depending on my mood I listen to anything from 70's, 80's, light rock, old country or big band. Occasionally I'll play 60's or classical.

Lots of years ago there was this old AM station called "Magic". It was the BEST. They played some big band, some late 50's, lots of 60's and 70's and a few early 80's. All lighter stuff. The best part though was all the static from the AM radio:). Sadly they moved on the radio dial and I can no longer pick it up:( Lots of good, creating memories from those Magic days.

So I would like to know...what kinds of music {if any} do you put on when creating? Please leave a comment below!

Here's a bit of what I've been doing this week...

1. visiting new art blogs
2. made a list of new art materials I want to try {gel medium, old clothes patterns for collages, old kids books and matte medium for sealing my art.
3. Wrote down a few ideas for collages.
4. Re-arranged and creatively displayed photos and other decorative materials in our home.
5.blogged and took lots of photos
6. created a two page layout of Jacks inspired by my 50 Things I love list
7. Created a darling layout of Em with one of my homemade background papers and butterflies
8. Have written daily in my journal.

Lots of creativity going on here. Sometimes {most times} in bits and pieces but I am creating and I am finishing projects. It's so exciting!!

Here is today's Challenge!

Challenge #11: Let's do another journaling prompt today. I find when I write anything I become refreshed. This particular prompt is inspired by an old edition of "O" magazine..."Convinced you don't have the hours to make a life {creative} change? Make a time map of your day's activities to see how and where you spend... your days. Where could you reclaim half an hour?

Ladies, I promised you that as soon as I hit 100 Followers we would have another give away...and we will!! Next week I will post what's up for grabs:)

Also if you are participating in the 31 Days Challenge I have a surprise for YOU:)

Decorating {Day 10}

So yesterday, I wrote this 45 minute long post only to have Blogger lose it. Grrrrr....but I must say, I was impressed with how how handled it. For a few short moments I was MAD. Then, I began to calm down when I realized that, in the realm of things losing a blog post wasn't that big of a deal.

Let's try this one again;)

This Friday one of my dearest friends from my childhood is coming to my home. Rhonda and I have known each other since we were 2 years old. Unbelievable. Throughout grade school and on into High School we spent many nights cruising around in her red Mustang, listening to the "Footloose" soundtrack and giggling about boys. So many memories...

Now, I want things to be just right in my home. You know how it is. Perfect. Not a thing out of place. Pretty towels in your bathroom, clean sheets on the beds. The minute they walk in the door I want them to say "Wow". {and not in a "wow, this place is a mess" kind of way}. I want the whole place to smell fresh, like a field of fragrant flowers. I want them to think they've walked into the pages of "Southern Living" Magazine...

I've had lots to do this week. And since I happen to be in the middle of the 31 Days Challenge I thought why not combine the two? Put some creativity into my home...re-arrange, re-purpose and re-do. I've had so much inspiration from Angie and Nikki...it was a snap:)

This is my Baby Grand Piano. {btw, i didn't take before photos...what I was thinking...i have no idea}. Before there were too many photos and it needed a nice polishing...

I re-arranged as well as took a few photos from other areas of our home and put them here. See that orange painting? That's mine:)

Here is the fireplace that's in this same room. That Family sign is one of my favorites!

A few weeks ago I shared these flowers with you...here is the entire look.

It's my dining room. What I like best about this space now...zero clutter. This table tends to accumulate folded clothes and paper piles. NO MORE! That framed piece of art is a fave piece I purchased several years ago at an art fair. It is a clay sun with the word "Blessings" below it.

This is my "new" living room wall. Probably my favorite re-do of all. My husband was trying to help one day and surprise me. He hung the Ten Commandents on this wall {too high} then directly under that a large picture of Christ. That was it. He had this large space to fill but did that! I didn't want to hurt his feelings so I left it like that for 2 years. Finally, a few days ago inspiration struck and I took photos and that wreath and word plaque from others rooms in my home and created what you see here. Much better!

Sometimes all we need are fresh photos in frames. That's what I did here. Love the results! Again, I took photos from other parts of the house and put them here.

Other goals I have for our living room include...

*new throw pillows {i found EXACTLY what I want yesterday. The CUTEST turquoise pillows with funky circles in it.}
*one of those vinyl wall sayings on my big wall
*I really want to "trade-in" that black shelf for something bigger and nicer

I have never been very good at decorating. Really, I need Angie from Treasures here. She would know what to do!! 

I will tell you though I am getting better. I mean since I started being creative everyday I'm noticing that I DO look at things differently. I am taking what iIlove to use in my collages and my scrapbooking and finding ways to incorporate them into my home. Love that.

Finally today here is my finished piece I created using my THREE favorite words:

write
faith
be

A closer look...

I gessoed a piece of cardboard, then took bubble wrap dipped in red paint and put on the right side. On the left is some ripped scrap paper. There are "Word Fetti" stickers {my very fave stickers}, chipboard pieces, pattern paper bits, flowers, brads and the words were created by foam letter stamps and acrylic paint.

How are you coming with your THREE WORDS art project? Please let us know if you're finished and if you've put it on your blog leave a link in the comments section.

Here is today's Challenge...

Challenge #10: Go through a stack of photos. I have sooo many that aren't organized. Who am I kidding...none of my photos are organized!! Anyway, start with a stack and sort them out, put them in in photo albums or leave a few out to scrap. Just by doing a bit each week eventually you can get them all safely put away t...o enjoy later on. Be sure and jot any memories down you may have while sorting.Enjoy!!

Thoughts, an Interview and {Day 8}

Here is today's Creative Challenge...

Day #8: Make sure your list of 50 Things you Love is finished. If you haven't picked out a subject from that yet and created a scrap page...work on that today. 

It is hard to believe we are on Day 8 of the 31 Days-Wow! Thought I would share what I'm doing and learning on this creative journey and then you are in for a treat! I have an interview with published artist, Kristin!! Lots to share so settle in and let's get started.

 

**What I'm Learning and Doing** 

On Day one of the 31 Days I promised myself that I would so something creative everyday. It didn't have to be in my art space and it didn't have to be art or scrap pages or sewing or knitting or anything crafty. No, I wanted to begin changing my perspective on what creativity really is. To me it's about seeing my life, the world around me in a whole new way. Like everything is a possibility. Like something magical is just around the corner.

"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral. " ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Flight to Arras, 1942

Here is a breakdown of what I've done everyday since the Challenge began last Monday.

Day 1- blogged, worked on a 6x6 album of Em's toddler photos

Day 2- I made my first homemade spaghetti sauce with tomato's from our garden, blogged, took photos, gathered my 3 words for my art project, made a list of art supplies that speak to me:), ventured to the Dollar Shop for funky, new tools to create backgrounds in my art journals and checked out 2 inspiring books at the library.

Day 3- Painted a bunch of new background pages. So fun! Played Monopoly with Jacks. I wrote this in my journal..."The thing is, thinking and doing all this creative stuff has me feeling so good. Like I can just keep doing more and more. I love my Life!:)"

 Day 4- Blogged about my background pages, shopped in St. Joe intent on finding something for our dresser. I am trying to spruce up our home during the 31 Days. I bought art supplies today and 2 art magazines. Also 2 small canvass's!!

Day 5- Played Monopoly with my kids. {hey, you gotta get pretty creative trading properties with Jackson!}, sat on the couch and wrote down 50 Things I Love.

Day 6-Em and I just hung out and shopped somewhere new in a tiny town near Maryville. We found the cutest clothes. I bought something totally different from what I normally wear! I am wanting to dress more "artsy":) Here is another excerpt from my journal..."Gosh, things are different. I feel more centered-more at peace. Like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Life is good. Heavenly Father sure does bless my life:) I love Him." Today I encouraged Em to make more of her cool bracelets and I spent a lot of time thinking about my blog and my Art. What direction I want to take. I also finished up my 3 Words sign.

Day 7-Blogged, looked at both of my new art magazines and wrote down stuff that inspired me in my journal. Also wrote down all the blogs and on-line stores that were featured in them. Checking them out this week. I also worked more on displaying various photos, trinkets and other stuff in my home. Trying to make it cozier:)

So there ya' go, girls. A sample of what I've been doing to live a creative life. I sure hope this helps you. Enjoy this Challenge!!!

Let's get on with our "Make My Monday Interview". Meet Kristin from "Twinkle, Twinkle". Kristin was recently published and is a wealth of creative inspiration!

***ALL photos and artwork throughout the interview are from Kristin's Blog "Twinkle, "Twinkle"***

I found you through the Artistic Mother's Group. From the first moment I found your blog I was like-WHOO HOO!! A collage/mixed media artist!!! First tell us about your blog and how long you have been posting.

First let me thank you for thinking of me - I'm honored to be a part of your Make My Monday interviews! To answer your question, I started Twinkle, Twinkle as a way to spread the word about our family's hope to adopt another child. We were looking to tell as many people as possible about our desire, and I thought that a blog could be a great way to accomplish that. The only problem was, I didn't know what to do with it! So I decided to join the challenge site Mixed Media Monday as a way to get people to see our plea for help. That was almost a year ago and I have been participating ever since. A few months back, I took on another challenge by joining The Artistic Mother's Group and have been overwhelmed by the support and camaraderie I've found in other artists and mothers who are also a part of the team. Of course, what I didn't know when starting a blog to find a baby, was how much my creative life would change because of it. Before the blog, I thought about creating. With the blog, I was actually doing it. And I have never felt more fulfilled, as both an artist and a mother.

What drew you to the art of Mixed Media and Collages? How long have you been creating your works of art?

I spent my career as a makeup artist. I did everything from selling behind a department store counter to, before our daughter was born, having my own on-location makeup artistry business. I loved what I did, but would never have considered myself a real artist. It wasn't until I started scrapbooking the birth of our baby that I discovered how much I loved paper and paint and how - surprise to me - all of those years working with color, contour and texture translated into a clear understanding of composition and color theory. I started reading everything I could about the subject of paper arts and when I found the line of Stampington magazines, including Somerset Legacy (now Somerset Memories) and Somerset Studio, I was hooked. I've been playing around with mixed media and collage ever since, but only on a regular basis since I started my blog. 


I know you were recently published in one of the Somerset Publications {my faves!!}. Can you share some details? Was this your first time being published? If not where else??

It is a first for me. One of the tasks of The Artistic Mother's Group (an online group of women who are completing the 12 projects outlined in Shona Cole's book of the same name) was to create an Artistic Vision Statement in which we were asked to write down our artistic goals and objectives. It was a dream of mine to be published, and I intended to submit some of the pieces I made in the last year to Somerset Studio, but it wasn't until I committed to doing so through the project (and shared it on my blog for all to see!) that I actually took the chance and did it. I sent in several pieces hoping that something would hit and was surprised to hear from the editor less than two weeks later. 

What does it feel like when a magazine editor calls? Share your experience with us!:)

I was checking my email one day when I saw "Somerset Studio" in my Inbox. I didn't know what to think and to be honest, my heart skipped a beat. I remember being alone with my 4-year-old in the living room and I started to scream. She looked at me with big eyes and said, "you okay, ma ma?" I told her that I was crying happy tears and that I was perfect. Turns out, not only was I going to be published in the next issue, but I was selected to be on the Last Page and was asked to write an article, of 100 words or less, about my discovery of mixed media. I spent the entire two days I was given writing page after page of I don't know what in an effort to write the equivalent of one paragraph! When the magazine came out (at the beginning of this month), I was honored to see that the box that I mailed my pieces in was also published on the Letters to the Editor page.



How do you mix your creative life with life as a Mom?

Depends on the day. Our daughter goes to pre-school 3 mornings a week, but as most of us know, a lot of that time is spent running errands or visiting my second home, Target. So I really work when and if I can. I try to incorporate her into what I do, creating art side-by-side as much as possible, but sometimes it is done when she is busy with other things, like watching Dinosaur Train on TV or playing with her Daddy. I know that I'm lucky to have a flexible schedule that allows me to do that. 

What 3 books have most inspired your creativity?

1. I have really been loving Shona Cole's The Artistic Mother. I'm exactly half way through the 12 projects and am so grateful for the push - through The Artistic Mother's Group - to complete them all. Shona Cole is an inspiration as an artist, poet and mother.

2. My newest purchase is Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts. I adore this book and have learned so much from her techniques, especially how to create luscious backgrounds.

3. Lastly, one of my all-time favorites is The Art of Personal Imagery by Corey Moortgat. It is a beautiful book filled with personal photos and symbols and one that I turn to again and again.

Anything else you want to add?

I appreciate the opportunity to share a bit about myself and want to thank you for your time. I would love to add that my husband, Kendra and I are still looking for a possible Birth Mother in hopes to build our family by way of adoption. If anyone you know would benefit from an open-adoption scenario as much as we would, we would be more than grateful if you could pass the message along. . .

Thank you so much Kristin!!

One more thing...what have YOU been up to?