Change in My Habits and My Kitchen

Today I did something I rarely do. I SAT at my kitchen table and ate my breakfast!

I admit I am one of those people who eats her meals standing over the kitchen sink. And today while I was shoveling in the yogurt and banana, I turned around and I saw my new kitchen table and chairs, and it spoke to me.

It said, "Dana. Come. Sit. Enjoy." So I did.

And it occurred to me that last week when my table arrived, I was busy with so much going on that I FORGOT to post about it! I FORGOT! Can you believe it?

I was going to do a whole before and after post about my kitchen, with side by side comparisons. But, well, a brief summary will have to do. Why?

• 1. Because I am not a perfect blogger. And
  
• B. I do not have time. And
  
• III. because I do not like the way Blogger uploads these pictures in crazy backwards order and that I have to pretend to know html to get them back in the right order.
  

So today, I'm posting in no particular order, the results of my kitchen redo.

New knobs on my antique pine buffet.

New table and chairs (view one, more views to come)

Got rid of the overabundance of color and mismatched accessories.

Added a few new things and kept some old. Focused on whites, greys and browns. 

Sounds yucky, but it works.

Straightened those pics above the cabinets and put white and grey stuff up there.

(Also for about ten buck and a hole drilled in the top of your cabinet you can have this ambient rope lighting too!) Hide it under the moulding and presto, it looks like a million dollar house... uhm, sort of.)

Some cheery new plates in my plate rack. Minimal color. They are the same ones you can get at BB&B for like gazillions. I got them at Ross for $7 each.

New draperies add the wow factor my kitchen was missing. A friend talked me out of putting curtains here when we moved in. She said it felt cleaner. She was wrong. 

She is still my friend though.

Another view. It's just like when a guy gets a new car. Pics from every angle.

You saw this already, but I like it and wanted to see it again. I have small touches of light green and also robin egg blue. Because I am NOT a "no color" kind of girl.

And my new rugs still look pretty good. No spaghetti sauce stains yet. Fingers crossed. It helps that we only have one kid left in the nest and he's the age where he is never home anyway. If I had bought them one year ago, they would have already been caked with peanut butter and chocolate ice cream. Timing is everything.

So, I hope you enjoyed seeing my kitchen, all done over. Isn't it funny, just when you think you have a room exactly how you want it, you see something else and think, ooh, that would look so good there! I am debating about a wire plate rack over my buffet that was a killer price and the grey color that I brought in. You never know, I might be posting about this again in another week.

Ta-ta ladies! And gents!

Nesting Place: It Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful

This relates well to the story about Heather, just below! 

Nesting Place: It Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful

A Closer Look at Heather of Audrey Eclectic

I met Heather through her blog, Audrey Eclectic,  just about a year ago. She's a rising star in our local art community, but also on a larger scale as she begins to gain national recognition for her collage and folk art paintings. Recently I asked her to interpret my ideas about my immigrant grandparents into a visual keepsake. This is the finished piece:

I just love it. The expressions especially! But she also hit the nail on the head with the "costuming" of our subjects. I LOVE how Heather added collage elements in the background that speak to the ideas of life in a new land. Post cards and patterned fabric, even the Statue of Liberty is a piece of collage ephemera!

I'll also recommend Heather without hesitation. She is  a really wonderful business woman. She is professional, fast, and a real joy to engage with. 

Always curious how others succeed in the business that is art, I had a few questions that Heather was more than happy to answer. This is what she was willing to share with me, sprinkled with more examples of her art work.

Heather, what defines the time when you began to see yourself as a working artist?

"I don’t know why but calling yourself an artist—especially to others—is hard. There’s always that ‘who the heck am I to say “I’m an artist?”’ feeling, but I have started doing it and its nice. I guess I first felt like I could call myself an artist after I did my first indie craft show. The whole transaction of handing someone my art and them handing me money, and having that real contact with people made me feel like it was for real and this was my job."

Have you received formal art training? If so where?

"I have received bits and pieces of formal training, whatever that means, really. I took art all through school, from middle school to college. I attended the Oklahoma Arts Institute for sculpture when I was a high school student. And I took art courses in college. However, I think I’ve learned more about following my own path and muse from art books and magazine publications." 

What has been the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself while pursuing a business in art?

"A pleasant surprise I guess is just that I’m capable of doing it. I am able to make things and enjoy myself and I am able to sell them. That has been a great thing to learn!"

Many artists struggle with the business details. Are there areas of your business that you sought help to manage, or would consider as you see an increasing demand for your work?

"What I’ve noticed as a complaint by most artists is that the ‘business’ of being an artist often gets in the way of their creative time or takes up the majority of their day until creating is very marginal. I am so so so lucky to have a husband who is not only extremely supportive, but also an accountant and so very business-minded and good with numbers. He has been fantastic to take that burden from me and just say “you go paint and I’ll handle this.” It’s awesome. He even calculates all my tax for me before art shows so I just have to look up pricing on a sheet. He’s such a help!"

What is your goal as an artist?

"Just to be able to make a good contribution to my family with my art. I love doing shows and want to continue doing that, and I’d love to have work published, and I’m working on that! I also love writing, and someday maybe I’d love to combine my stories and my art."

Heather, What is the most enjoyable part of your creative process?

"Just being in ‘the zone’ and being satisfied with what I’m doing. Art has always been sort of meditative for me and I love that feeling. With collage art there is a lot of prep-work, so I enjoy that time when I can just run free and paint."

Do you have advice for others who might want to start selling their creations?

"Create things that you enjoy and that you find beautiful and would want in your home. Don’t worry about what others are making and doing. Create for the joy of it and people will respond to that. And if you’re serious about selling things, get involved in the crafting community--- participate in a craft show or festival. Join an etsy group of like-minded sellers. Promoting yourself can be as easy as starting your own (free!) blog or MySpace page. The more you interact with others, the more your work will get noticed."

Do you have an etsy shop, Heather? And if so, have you found it a successful way to sell?

"I do have an etsy shop! It is one of my main methods of selling and it is so simple to use and both seller and buyer friendly. I highly suggest it. That said, just creating an etsy shop wont bring people in begging to buy your art. I bet mine sat for months with one or two sales. It’s the outside work--- such as blogging or attending craft events and handing out your business card—that drives sellers to your shop. Having the shop is a compliment to the work you’re already doing. I would say the most success I’ve personally had is with the blog. And from there, people find me on etsy. I’m now at almost 70 sales in my shop (not counting the craft shows or outside commissions I do) and its awesome!"

What other ways do you sell your work, and what upcoming shows do you have?

"I love the indie craft circuit in Oklahoma. It is so young and fun and very grass-roots. And people have been so sweet that I’ve met. I highly suggest that artist sell their work in a face-to-face method atleast every so often. It is a whole other experience than selling online. It is such a great feeling to see people react to your art and hear why they love it or why it means something to them. I feel so good knowing my art is going to a good home! My next show is the Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar in OKC on May 9 at the Oklahoma City Fair Grounds. Its going to a great event, lots of great vendors. Very hip and crafty!"

Heather, tell us more about the book we’ve heard you’ll be in. How did this opportunity come to you? When should we expect to see this book available to the public?

"Well, it just came out of the blue to be honest! Chrissie Grace has authored two other art books and wanted to do a book focusing on the new rage of group projects—such as round robins and collaborative projects that artists are now doing. The book is focusing not only on collaboration but on art projects involving fabric (which will be a new experiment for me!) There are 13 artists involved and we will all be participating together on projects and some of us will be writing up project instructions so that artists at home can also make the projects in the book. Its all just in the beginning phases now, but last I heard the book was set to publish in the autumn of 2010."

Is there anything else on your horizon that you'd like to share with us?

"Another exciting prospect in the works in the formation of a group called the “Early Works Mercantile” that I have just joined. It is a group dedicated to arts and crafts done in the early folk art style. I love folk art, especially Americana, and old folk toys. This is going to be a fun endeavor where I can work on some really earthy historical pieces. A lot of my day-to-day art is more whimsical--- with angels and little gnomie looking girls or tattooed flappers. This will be a nice change and such fun to research and be a part of. We’re hoping to have a group opening in the beginning of May, so stay tuned!"

Music Makes the World Go 'Round!

I've had some recent emails about the music on my blog. Some have missed it, some find the silence a breath of fresh air. Well, the old saying, "You can't please everybody," just doesn't apply here. I've added my music player back in the sidebar, with my somewhat eclectic taste in music, for your listening pleasure. BUT, you get to control it! Click play if you want tunes, or do nothing if you do not. I even re-sized it so the whole darn thing fits into my sidebar, including a slider for the volume!

Now the only one who seems a little upset about this solution is Miss Daisy who seems to think her picture deserves to be in the top position. Well, of course I can always offer her a little more lap time for her trouble. Now everybody is happy!

Enjoy! 

Love, Dana and Daisy

p.s. as always, feel free to leave your two cents worth about this critical topic. I'm surprised it is not on all the network news channels already! ha ha!

When Life Brings you Lemons...

or frozen tulips, whichever the case may be....

In other gardening news, I always heard to sprinkle poppy seeds on the snow in winter and they will be perfectly planted when the snow melts. I think I will give it a try. I hope it's not too far into the season already!

- - U P D A T E - -

My poppy seeds are mysteriously missing. In a garage where nothing is ever thrown away it appears they sprouted legs of their own and opened the trash can and jumped right in, all by themselves! Now this would not be so terrible except they were seeds I collected from my Aunt Gladys's garden last summer when I was visiting her. It looks like there'll be a trip to the nursery to BUY some poppy plants, instead now! 

I could cry, I really could!

Here is what we woke up to today. 

Still coming down, my amur maple was completely leafed out and is not holding up to the weight of the wet snow very well.
I remember my great grandma saying once if it snows before a freeze it blankets and protects the plants. I hope she's right. They look pretty cold to me.
I thought I could wait until today to cut my tulips. Someone hand me a tissue.
FYI, Oklahoma is known for March blizzards. I looked up these stats at noaa.gov yesterday.

Maximum snowfall in one month in our great state: 12.9 inches March 8-9, 1994

Maximum in 24 hours, the same storm,

Maximum in one month: 19.7 inches, March 24, 1924

Maximum in one season: 25.6, 1923-1924

It looks like it might be one of those storms today! I'm headed outside with gardening shears to cut some tulips anyway!

Is it Spring? Or is it Winter?

Knowing I might wake up to snow in the morning, I decided to record my tulips pre-freeze.
I got a great deal on these bulbs, 12 bulbs for $2.00 last year on clearance at Target. 
Yes, it was slightly past the perfect planting time, but I knew it was not too late! I should have bought every last box, but I knew it would be ME! on the long end of the shovel to get them planted. So I bit off only what I could chew in one day.

And Oklahoma's state tree, the redbud, brings a beautiful shade of rubine red to my back yard. (Yes, that's a real color, it's on the Pantone color chart.)

Which in some way makes my little old bicycle look right at home in the flower bed. My fancy-pants landscapers raised their eyebrows just a little when I said, "Yes, it's like a sculpture in the garden." Men, sometimes they just don't get it.

I'll try to wake up and shoot the snow in the morning before it all melts. That will be pretty early! Put an extra blanket on the bed tonight, it's going to be cold!

Dreaming of silk

Not so long ago, we were covered in ice.

But, soon the dogwoods will be blooming. 

The butterflies will be lilting in the air.

The pansies are in full bloom.

The tulips are bursting forth.

The vines are beginning to unfurl from their slumber.

And I am getting the urge to paint silks again.

And lucky for me, scarves are the fashion rage right now!

More from my weekend adventure

I'm feeling very cozy this morning drinking my coffee, sleeping a little later than usual, listening to the wind howl outside. It's good to be back home, but the memory of a great weekend is right at the forefront of my mind today.

Let me say that Jody Stephenson did not disappoint. She is a soothing, calm, generous and caring teacher. Such an encourager. She met each of us at our own level and gave us individual stepping stones to reach a new height in our artistic endeavors. There were four students, each with varying degrees of skill and confidence. I think we all four left with new knowledge and a feeling of sisterhood, having shared a special place in time with each other. ESSA is magic, I tell you! 

Okay, now for the slide show: The "mastah" of pastels, 

Jody herself. She's showing us just one of her tricks, acrylic underpainting. See with what ease Jody does this, hand in the pocket, shoulders relaxed. Zen in motion.

Here is Carol Dickie. She is a sweetheart of a lady. She's a real artist, too, you know, sells, and is in galleries and stuff. And she is so encouraging to others, uh hum, like me, who play at the idea of being an artist.

Now this sweet lady, this is Delnita, and she is an angel. For one, she keeps ESSA sparkling clean... and... if that were not enough, she also has been known to send a home-made cake to our board meetings. A jewel I tell ya! She let the sun shine into our little class.

And this is Janet. She's coming back to Eureka from a recent life in Colorado. She's hooked into the right place to stoke the fire of creativity. We'll be seeing more of Janet this summer as she's going to be doing work-study at ESSA. Janet used to rep art products, so she is the girl with the goods. And she is so generous and willing to share. I liked her from the start! 

And now, drumroll please: here is a little gallery view of what we did, just a small sampling. I'd say we each did at least five or six pieces in one weekend. But here are a few that stood out in the crowd...

The first is by Delnita, takes your breath away don't it?
Then Carol's, she's a whiz kid.
Here is a piece still in the finishing phases, our teacher, Jody's. Oh to be like her one day!
Here is a little technique I tried, rubbing out the image, then drawing back on top of it. Is it ghostly or ghastly? 

And these are Janet's. She worked on two at the same time. Some people have more talent than I have words for.
Thank you for attending this little art show. Hope you enjoyed it. Now I think I might go up to my studio and scribble some more.

Love, Dana and Daisy

Just in case you wonder...

Yes, I've been OOT, AWOL, OOMM, Beyond the 037.

Here's a peek at where I've been:

Here is the view from the studio:

And this is what I've been doing:

And in between all this fun, click here to see what has been filling in my down time.

Don't worry, when I get home, you know I will tell you all the particulars.

Love, Dana

Show Me Some Love!

Heather at Audrey Eclectic was so sweet to think of me when she gave me this award this week. Let me tell you a few things about Heather, in case you've never read her blog. First of all she has the most beautiful blonde curly headed girl you've ever seen, named Audrey. 

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!

Heather is also an artist, but not a wanna-be artist like me, no she is a real hard working, sells her paintings all the time, actually paints more when that happens, and soon to be a published artist in a book along with the likes of Claudine Hellmuth. Do you know her? If you watch much DIY or ever order craft books from Amazon.com, you do.

And the other thing I love about Heather is she is practically my neighbor. Yes, mom, I met her in real life too. And guess what? She does not bite! And we share a love for Eureka Springs, Arkansas. And as if that were not enough, she is painting something special for me which I don't want to tip my hat early... but it is going to be something fabulous I blog about in the coming days.

So, thank you Heather for passing this award on to me. I will wear it with pride. And now, I pass it on to a few of my favorites as well...

Jill, at Homemade by Jill

Jules at the Roost

Vicki at Hogscald Holler

Tracey at Frugal Luxuries

and one of my newest blog buddies, who also happens to be my 2nd cousin! Okay she blogs anonymously, but we'll work on that:

OK to VA's Tales From Virginia