Prepping for the Art Fair

This upcoming Saturday is Wilmore's annual art and craft festival. This is the first art fair that I have ever entered and I am really excited about it!

I've been working on creating a shop front so that it will be easier to set up on the day of the fair.



Here is my display for some simple jewelry I made. I'm using the tea cup at the top as a place to store my business cards. :)


Come see me on Saturday! :)

Sunday Afternoon Painting

This week's Sunday afternoon painting is a simple yet bright still life.

What I really like about it is the texture. I painted over an old oil painting I did when I was 12 that had a lot of bumpy dried paint. It looks really good on this particular subject and gives it a worn look.

Detail shot:

I'm trying to think of a creative title... Any suggestions?

Welcoming Fall

Mornings gradually become cooler, the sky is a deep shade of blue... We are on the verge of autumn! Here are some projects I have been working on that remind me of beautiful Indian summer days.

I am currently obsessed with this paper line from Basic Grey (entitled "Indian Summer"). The colors are SO vibrant!

It's a bit hard to find, so I suggest that you hop on over to CloseoutGirl where you can find a pack of 36 - 6x6" papers for $3 (normal price is $6).

This size is perfect for making greeting cards.
To achieve this look, I altered the colors of the tree rub-on I created a couple of weeks ago and printed them out onto white paper. You are more than welcome to use this design for your personal use. Click on the image below for full-size.

Enjoy! :)

Remember Nhu

I want to tell you a little bit about the organization that benefits from the proceeds of my art sales.

Remember Nhu has been dear to my heart ever since I was introduced to it my sophomore year in college (3 years ago!). Back then it was just beginning. Human trafficking was something that was entirely new to me. This organization helped me understand the reality of the brokenness going on in the world around me. Better than that, it helped me see God's desire to provide redemption from it. What broke God's heart began to break my own.

I've had the opportunity to meet some of the people who are a part of the organization and their hearts are just so beautiful. For the rest of college I worked with a group that sought out ways to support Remember Nhu. Now, leaving college and entering seminary, I have decided to continue supporting the work that God is doing through this organization by creating art.

I highly suggest that you watch this introductory video (http://www.remembernhu.org/media/motion/videos/) to get a feel for what Remember Nhu is currently accomplishing.

Here are some artwork that I've done in the past to aid Remember Nhu:

Mr. Blue Bird's On My Shoulder...

Trying to squeeze in a few more summery artworks before fall sets in...


Materials: canvas, paper, ink, ribbon, wire, beads, buttons, paper rose, key charm

Evolution of a Painting: Ginkgo Leaves

Ginkgo is a leafy tree that is not only beautiful but is also beneficial medically. Its leaves have a certain grace about them. They are a vivid green color during the spring/summer but turn a vibrant gold during the fall. Here is the "evolutionary process" of a painting featuring ginkgo that I painted for a special friend of mine. :)


More views:

DIY - Rub-Ons

One of most favorite things to craft with is rub-ons. Versatile and impressionable, these little embellishments add the finishing touch to projects because they can overlay several layers of paper. Unlike stickers, they don't leave white around the edges. They almost seem to "float."
The problem with rub-ons is that they can get kind of pricey, especially because they can only be used once. You can either keep buying more as needed or become a little more creative...

Make Your Own Rub-ons
You will need:
A computer printer
Transparency sheets
A popsicle stick

Choose a subject matter. Search for graphics online or create your own. Here are some rub-ons that I hand-drew. You are welcome to use them for your personal use.P.S. If you are using text, make sure that you horizontally flip it so that the images will come out the right way once they are printed! :)

Print your text/images on the wrong side of the transparency paper. This will allow you to transfer them off. Let the rub-on dry for about 10 minutes so that it will not smear as easily. Then, carefully cut around the image you want to use, lay it over your area of choice, and firmly rub with the popsicle stick. Remove the transparency. Ta-da!

If you want, you can leave the transparency in-tact and simply wipe off the excess ink. It can then be reused again and again.

Here are some examples of what I did with the rub-ons I created:

Enjoy! :)