W O R D S

I've been incognito for awhile and uber occupied with refashioning my studio.  Out with the OLD...in with the NEW.  I've been in quite a purging mood this year and am finding the most unusual and fun things stored away!!  Some will travel to new homes for a second chance at life, and the rest will be fashioned into fabulous free decor and projects...since I'm 'shopping' in my own house anyway.  

This post is simply going to feature a list of my favorite words.  There is a document on my desktop that I've been adding to for awhile.  Think it's up to about 60 or so.  I view it to be inspired and sometimes close my eyes and point to be the starting point on a new project.  A sneaky random way of challenging myself.  You can always count on the good ole Thesaurus too.

WORDS MAKE ME HAPPY

 

• ·       Brassy
• ·         Glittering
• ·         Ornate
• ·         Kitschy
• ·         Brazen
• ·         Splashy
• ·         Pizazz
• ·         Ritzy
• ·         Snazzy
• ·         Showy
• ·         Vibrant
• ·         Vivid
• ·         Lively
• ·         Adorned
• ·         Bright
• ·         Brilliant
• ·         Lavish
• ·         Luscious
• ·         Sparkling
• ·         Fanciful
• ·         Whimsical
• ·         Funky
• ·         Cheerful
• ·         Quirky
• ·         Idiosyncratic
• ·         Wacky
• ·         Unorthodox
• ·         Unconventional
• ·         Sublime
• ·         Outrageous
• ·         Abstract
• ·         Glorious
• ·         Gorgeous
• ·         Lofty
• ·         Chivalrous
• ·         Bold
• ·         Brave
• ·         Ecstasy
• ·         Dazzling
• ·         Delightful
• ·         Opulent
• ·         Gleaming
• ·         Luminous
• ·         Lustrous
• ·         Incandescent
• ·         Shining
• ·         Beaming
• ·         Unique
• ·         Avant garde
• ·         Quaint
• ·         Peculiar
• ·         Fanciful
• ·         Extraordinary
• ·         Unusual
• ·         Weird
• ·         Remarkable
• ·         Mysterious
• ·         Esoteric



B U S Y B E E

It's going to be a great year.  I can just smell it.

I've spent the last few months crafting non-stop, creating and learning.  I'm full steam ahead.  I tend to hibernate in the winter, (despite many attempts to change this) but since this past fall I've learned a lot by researching and experimenting with ways to branch out my business.  Here are some things I've accomplished recently.

• I've linked my Etsy shop to my new Facebook page.  Hooray!

• Added lots more items to the shop.  It's been fun playing with my Canon options for the best pics possible to showcase what I create.  I might have to upgrade soon.  I've been bitten by the Photography Bug and love capturing things that inspire me.

• Designed a brochure from scratch that encompasses what I do and who I am.  It's definately a work in progress of course because I'M a work in progress.  I have no background in design, but my attention to detail and color comes in handy.  Time to head to Kinko's.

• Ordered new magnetic business and post cards at Vista Print (among other cool personalized items like T-shirts, pens, etc)  They have such great deals and a wonderful format to design exactly what you need.  Highly recommended! 

Pin Up Girls

:: Cheesecake Pin Up's ::

I've always been awed by Vintage Pin up drawings.  They're beautiful, alluring, colorful and fun.  The photography and illustrations were so diverse and interesting.  Pin up art has been around since the 20's, but most famous to me were the gals from the 40's and 50's like Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Bettie Page, etc.  More can be found here about those beauties.

Notable Pin Up Girls List

Earl Moran is a favorite artist.  He worked with a young Marilyn Monroe in the late 40's and took some gorgeous photo's. 



Earl Moran

Harry Ekman

Gil Elvgren

Joyce Ballantine

I'm inspired to go all Rockabilly now!  Maybe a dress up photo session in my studio is in order.  Time to "Rock the Middy!"

K I N G

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. Martin Luther

Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God. Martin Luther

You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.
Martin Luther

I'm grateful for the outspoken, risk taking, courageous, rule changing individuals of this 21st century and all of the envelope pushers of the past.  Thank you for paving the way for myself and future generations to hopefully someday live in a world where humanitarians and peace makers are the majority...not the minority.

C R E A T I N G

I'm a craft addict.  Well, more of a  create  addict. 

Buzzing around my studio and supply closets like a bumblebee.  I am giddy when an idea pops into my head.  "Come on right side brain!  Time to go to work!" (whistling seven dwarfs tune) ...jotting down the jist of it...the tools and ingredients that will be needed...clearing a space on my work table...and losing track of time.  The freedom of letting your imagination run wild.  It's just the best.

Here are a couple of the projects that I have lined up at the moment:

*Retro Vintage T-shirts - all cut and waiting to have a love affair with the stuffing fluff and sewing machine.

*Brightly Colored packs of Femo Clay - finished conditioning and being turned into kitschy jewelry.

*My new Springtime Skinny Scarves - on the knitting needles in shades of pastels.

*Paper Mache Animals - a giraffe, bird, werewolf, bee and monkey at the moment.  My first in the series was Mr. Shivers the Penguin.  I absolutely love turning poor sad discarded dolls into quirky little animals with personalities.

*Beginning stages of my first Zine (pronounced 'zeen') - 21st Century Common Sense Survival: A Humorous Guide.  I'm really excited about this one!  My artistic side has never ever EVER delved into the world of mass production.  I have journals galore, but never seen by the general public.  There's a learning curve and it's a lot of fun writing in such a non formal way with your own handwriting and pictures / doodles.  Muy Liberating!

Below is a pretty well known Zine author who is quite the cartoonist of comics and definately gets her message across.  She's great.

The Single Girls

Amy Martin

The scarves, jewelry and anim-dolls will soon be posted on my Etsy site Bright Earth Studio, but in the meantime I'm having a wonderful time dreaming up more and more and more....sigh....so gratifying.

Post Holiday Blinking

It's 2011 already?  Twenty-Ten was a sneaky little thing.  It was a year of changes, contemplation, inspiration and creativity.  And it flew by like an overhead Boeing!

Some things I accomplished in the last twelve months:

*brainstormed a wonderful business name that fits me like a glove

*strategically remodeled my third floor studio & organized supplies

*dabbled in lotsa lotsa artistic mediums to find my niche

*decided I don't have or want a niche

*opened an Etsy shop (and Blog of course!)

*learned photography tips to make my products look their best

*reconnected with lotsa friends thanks to good ole Facebook

*spent a lot of alone time...just me and my psych

*finally embraced the fact that I'm artistically strange and unconventional

Now, honestly there are days I can't focus and might have 8 projects going on at once...all layed out...supplies, tools, clay, papers, jewelry...and sometimes the line between said projects starts to blur a bit.  I'll probably spend the rest of my days in a tug o war with my creativity brain and scatterbrained brain.  At the moment they're holding hands and smiling.  Tommorrow could be a studio door shut tight while pulling my colorful knitting basket to my feet.  For a day of scarves, cowls and hats.  There are ONLY 4 skeins on needles at the moment.

Speaking of yummy yarn...what's next on the List to master?  Crochet animals and toys of course.  Cuteness overload in my book.

Fondness for Fall

Carlos Porto



There is just something about the way your brain switches gears when the seasons change.  Not the physical temperature of it all, the mental.  The anticipation of holiday planning, opening windows for fresh air, changing the house decor, and the colors...oh those colors.  I just wanna hug em.
 
This was a long hot one.  Lots of sweating,  trips with the girls to the Beach Waterpark, panting between air conditioned houses and cars, suntans and sun tea and sun squinting.  Summer's rock.  But it has some stiff competition with Mother Autumn.  I mean swapping out your closets is like a free shopping spree every year.  There never fails to be a load of sweaters, cool hats and other cozie's that were forgotten when packed away last Spring.  If I really plan ahead, a sneaky placed $20 or $50 will be found tucked in a pocket somewhere.  Now that's a way to start off Fall!!  A little saving's account minus the six month interest.

• So my jackets and colorful scarves are hung on hooks.  Waiting. 
• The leaves are looking down at me and can't wait to drop off and get crunched on by my cute boots.  (it's true.  I can see it in their little leaf eyes winking at me.)

Right now I'm just hungry for some good ole crisp air and autumn goodness.

Catherine Hadler

Next up:  FALL ACCESSORIES and thinking outside the box.