MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD TIME

My Christmas wish is very simple,

may we laugh, eat, dance and make merry

with family and friends over the holidays.

May our New Year be overflowing with health, wealth and happiness.

xxxx Susan

Perfection

Here is the owl piece completed and ready for the 8th Annual Artist Showcase this Friday and Saturday. I will have two other pieces in the exhibit as well. Look for pictures from the exhibit hopefully on Sunday.

what i'm working on

I'm taking a little time to show you what I'm working on right now. Christmas cards, and a new piece for an art show this weekend. Yes, this weekend, hope I get it completed.

Thankful

I'd like to take a moment to share what I'm thankful for in my life. I'm getting off the merry go round that is my life to say, I'm most grateful and thankful for the love of my husband and children. Without their constant love, support and encouragement, I would not be the person I am today. My children teach me everyday the meaning on unconditional love, and my husband's love, inspires me to be a better wife, lover, woman and friend. I'm grateful for all my family members as well as the old and new friends that have come into my life. I'm thankful for the challenges and hardships that have come into my life this year, requiring me to dig deep into my being to find the hidden treasures of who I am, and who I can be when I put aside my fears.

On an artistic note; I'm so thankful for being published this year and completely overwhelmed to have my own rubber stamp line by Stampington & Company.

Most recently, I was asked by the owner of a local coffee shoppe to put some of my aprons, christmas cards and ornaments in her cafe. Over the last couple of months I have meet some wonderfully creative women.

It's been a great year, and I look forward to the changes that the future holds. Maybe?

Below are some pictures of the cafe where my artwork can be purchased.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Cheers

Hand Lettered Ornaments

Yesterday I received my complimentary issue of Somerset Studio magazine, and was thrilled with all the beautiful artwork. I'm delighted to be in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue, it's been a wonderful year for my artwork. I've been working hard developing my own style, and am thankful for the opportunities that Stampington & Company have provided. Here are some pictures from the magazine. Make sure go out and buy one!

Pictures are of: 1) Cover 2) My hand lettered ornaments 3) My alphabet stamp line

Today's Inspiration

I learned this word Hozho in Crafting My Best Life with Jenny Doh. One of my fellow students used this word in an assignment. She told us the word "hozho" is navajo and is usually translated as beauty but it also emcompasses balance. Love it, don't you?

Fancilful Outlines Alphabet Stamps By Yours Truly

I'm so thrilled to introduce my line of alphabet rubber stamps by Stampington & Company. I just received my complementary set in the mail. So, how do you get yours, just go to Stampington & Company and click the Art Stamp button and order your Fanciful Outline stamps. I'll be posting some artwork using these stamps real soon. Love It!!

Pictures

Here is a picture of the other calligraphy pieces I made for the Bride and Groom. My family had a wonderful time at the wedding. The bride was beautiful, of course and the groom very handsome. My husband and I really enjoyed watching our teenager dance at the reception.

A Gift for the Bride

My best friend's son is getting married Sept. 4th and I was honored when my friend commissioned me to create a keepsake handkerchief for the bride. The plan was to buy a few ladies handkerchiefs to play with, but they are not easy to find and are expensive. So I turn to the fabric I already had in my studio, which was soft muslin. Next step was to antique the fabric, then I use my alphabet design for the lettering. I painted the branches on (similarly to the artwork on the wedding invitation), added the lace trim, small pearls, and the blue rose.

This handkerchief will be presented with a special gift for the bride before the wedding. I hope she likes it

Blue Jean Fun

I do love my skirts, however who doesn't love a good worn out pair of blue jeans. These jeans had been sitting around with a huge whole in the knee, waiting to be repaired for so long that they no longer fit my son. Yes, they are boy jeans -- my son doesn't need to know. Anyway, I was inspired to experiment on them with my fabric paints. Of course, as you know with one idea, the flood gates open and I start pulling out fabric pieces already painted, stamped, and incorporating my "ART SAVES "panel for CRESCENDOh, and adding a ruffles. The lettering is my own alphabet design, named "Fanciful Outline" and can be purchased at Stampington & Company. I had so much fun, fun, fun.....I think I'm going to paint my jean jacket next.

News

I'm excited to share with you that my "Fanciful Outline" clear alphabet stamps will be avialable to pre-order at Stampington & Company. All you have to do is sign up at the link below: Post Script newsletter at Stampington & Company.

Happiness is a Journey

Here is my news apron, it's almost complete. But you're the first to see it, not sure if I'm going to listed it on my Etsy store. The name of this apron is "happiness".

Chandelier

This unquie chandelier was given to me by my aunt, who had unfortunately misplaced the crystals many years ago. After spending several years in the basement wrapped in a box completely forgotten I decided to hang this chandelier in my newly painted studio. All I needed were crystals, but the crystals I wanted were way to pricey. "What would I use in place of crystals?" While out shopping one day I saw a table top chandelier in a hardware store with a plastic shade. This gave me an idea! However, ironicaly, this plastic can't be bought in any hardware store. Thanks to the internet I found a

company in CA that made this beautiful vinyl material for various types of lighting aplications in many different colors. I selected this beautiful yellowish, red, gold color, punched out the circles, used earring links, and jump rings to hang each circle from the metal rings. I love the way it looks.

My Studio Space

I'm so happy you've stopped by to check out my studio. Several years ago my husband encouraged me to turn our empty formal living room into a work space. After reading WWC magazine, I was inspired to repaint my studio a warm yellowish color that creates a constant feeling of light an warmth. I've surrounded myself with my work as well as the work of fellow artists. My continued exploration of calligraphy has sent me down varies paths, examples of which are all around my studio. I have many projects in the works for the empty spaces you see. Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment and come back again.

I'm delighted to share the news about how my apron did at the auction. It started at $25 and went for $50. I was thrilled and so was Kimberly, who is modeling her new apron.

Flowers & Friends

I hand made this apron for a charity event I'll be attending for Children's Hospital. I made each flower, and lettered on the muslin pocket before sewing it on the apron. I do hope the ladies like this apron and bid high. After all who doesn't want both flowers and friends in their life! Please sign up to follow my blog and leave a comment, I do love to here your thoughts.

Letters In My Life

New wall hanging, the colors are much brighter then in this pictures. This is for my studio:)

Music notes for the senior band members.

April

Where did the month of April go, it zipped by with lighting speed. We had spring break, then prom for my boys, and my husband's birthday. Jacob and his friend Sarah made the tux and prom dress out of duct tape. We did spend some time getting this done, and of course it was all last minute. They look wonderful don't you think! I learned a few things about colored duct tape and the things you can create. I couldn't end this without including a picture of my son Alex and his date Elizabeth.

Sunny Day & Green Colors

It's an absolutely beautiful day, I've enjoyed sitting outside, listening to the birds singing and the sound of young children playing. As my thoughts drifted with the light breezes that passes

my mind notices all the colors popping out of the earth. The most obvious color is green. Its like being in one giant green room. This inspired me to hang up my Bali lantern to see how it would be illuminated by the green background. Here are a few pictures.