Sunday, March 31, 2013

HoPPy Easter!




My friend, Jenn and I love vintage bunnies; especially with big tall ears, so this year we decided to do an bunny swap. We also thought it would be fun to make handmade bonnets for our bunnies. This is the bunny that Jennifer sent me (along with the darling little wicker basket/doll purse!) My bunny just finished her egg hunt and was quite successful in her finds. I forgot to take pics of the bunny I sent Jenn, so hop on over to her beautiful blog to see hers. 

Happy Easter!







Friday, March 29, 2013

Healing



Recently a good friend of mine sent me an email discussing some things she has learned in therapy. I was so impressed by the email and what she had to say that I asked her if I could share it on my blog. I felt it was a good read for anyone. So with her permission, I share:



About a year and a half ago I was able to find a wonderful therapist that has helped me work through some issues that I have carried with me for many years.  Some issues for a lot longer than I even realized. 

I had not realized how many of the communication dynamics had affected me and how I was still allowing them to do so.  I have suffered through very deep depressions, suicidal actions/tendencies, physical/mental/emotional abuses, self-loathing, total lack of confidence….etc., etc., etc.  I can be honest with you all because you have been there with me either through it or during the direct responses to it and I can honestly say that without the help/support and love of most of you I would not be where and who I am today.  Literally.

So now the good part.  J  I’ve learned that what has happened before can’t be undone.  Whether the relationship has been friendship or family -  I can’t change how they have treated me and I cannot change what my response to it was.  Then. 

Lessons I’ve learned are these….

I have a responsibility to treat those that I choose to have in my life with respect, love and caring and just as importantly I have a responsibility to make sure that I am receiving the same from them.  We are all worth it and worthy of it.

It’s okay to surround yourself with people who love you and care for you as you are. 

It’s okay to expect to be treated well by people.

There is never a need to “buy” someone’s love and/or acceptance.

If someone continually puts you and/or your feelings last on their list or nowhere on their list it’s okay to take that as an indicator of where you rate with them and to more forward accordingly.

Most importantly I’ve learned that I’m a good person.  I’m not perfect but I’m a good person.  I am special in my own way just as we all are.  Not everyone will like or love me but I don’t need them to. 

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happy Friday,

kecia

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Love tokens


I've been making these little cotton felt hearts, which I have dubbed, "Love Tokens".  (and i'm going to do a little tutorial at some point).I like to give them out to people I meet in public (strangers) who look like they are having a bad day or maybe they work one of those jobs that none of us want to do (like cleaning a public bathroom). Or I like to give them out if I received excellent customer service (a rarity these days!) 

I recently handed one to a toll booth attendant. She wasn't very friendly and you could tell she was just go through the same motions again and again (probably bored out of her mind, i get that.) When I handed it to her, I explained that I was giving it to her to let her know I appreciate her. She got the biggest smile on her face. It was fun to shock and surprise her. And hopefully it made a difference in her day. 

I'm getting ready to leave for 2 weeks (taking miss sophie with me) doing some teaching and traveling  to Nashville, TN (Art-is-You) and Saluda, NC (Random Arts) and I will hand these out along the way. When I stop at rest stops, I also like to put them in the return dispenser on candy/gumball machines!












Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I'm in the spotlight this week!


Artful Gathering Event Registration is Open!



I'm the Spotlight Artist for The Artful Gathering 2013 Blog Hop!


Follow along with me for fun, creativity, and a chance to win a
$200.00 Gift Certificate for The Artful Gathering Marketplace Opening Soon. The winner can apply the certificate toward any 2013 online art workshop(s).
*kits and dvds not applicable.

Register to the event here


I'm presenting Two of My Brand New Workshops at

Online at Artful Gathering 2013!




Come Hop With US!

Hop Rules:


If you would like to hop with us and meet all the super awesome Artful Gathering 2013 Art Instructors, and have a chance to win a random drawing prize in our random drawing, then hop with us! Each week, I will announce the blog for you to visit, and off you go to meet them, and to pick up the newest secret word.
  1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those participants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
  2. Only one winner will be randomly drawn. The winner will receive a $200 gift certificate for a 2013 Online Video Workshop(s). *Not applicable to workshop kits or dvds.*
  3. This weeks word is .....what

    Next week, I'll announce the next person to hop to. Good luck!!!

Saturday, March 23, 2013

new puppie!

Meet Sophie! She is a 3 month old Chiweenie (chihuahua + dachshund), we adopted from a rescue in Pennsylvania  - she's got big floppy ears and looks like a little kangaroo joey. She's very sweet and mellow and is adjusting quite well. Kashie and Gracie are getting use to her. Gracie is a little too big for her, but she really likes Kashie who is starting to be her little protector. It's funny seeing them all play together. Everyone was a little depressed after we lost Pepper, so we are happy for a little sunshine running around the house again.












Wednesday, March 20, 2013



Celebrating Artful Gathering 2013 Online Art Retreat

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!


From June to August 2013, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share our knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.


Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate towards an Artful Gathering 2013 online video workshop(s).

(Gift certificate applicable to 2013 workshops only and does not apply towards kits or dvds).


Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:
  1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those participants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words.

  2. Only one winner will be randomly drawn from the list of participants who have collected all the secret words.

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawing!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing
Riki Schumacher

http://rikijewelry.blogspot.com/

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

blog hop continues



Celebrating Artful Gathering 2013 Online Art Retreat

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!


From June to August 2013, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share our knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.


Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate towards an Artful Gathering 2013 online video workshop(s).

(Gift certificate applicable to 2013 workshops only and does not apply towards kits or dvds).


Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:
  1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those participants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words.

  2. Only one winner will be randomly drawn from the list of participants who have collected all the secret words.

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawing!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing
Mary Jane Chadbourne

Friday, March 8, 2013

More snow!



Can't complain, we've had a pretty mild winter! 









Wednesday, March 6, 2013

hop continues!



Celebrating Artful Gathering 2013 Online Art Retreat

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!


From June to August 2013, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share our knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.


Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate towards an Artful Gathering 2013 online video workshop(s).

(Gift certificate applicable to 2013 workshops only and does not apply towards kits or dvds).


Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:
  1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those participants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words.

  2. Only one winner will be randomly drawn from the list of participants who have collected all the secret words.

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawing!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing
Mary Beth Shaw

Monday, March 4, 2013

A thought...........





A thought:

While some of you might know me from facebook, I'm not sure what that exactly means to you. Do you think that I am a successful artist, raking in a lot of money because everyone seems to know who I am?

I'm just going to let everyone know, that as an artist, I don't make a lot of money. No one is rushing to my etsy shoppe to buy my work, not because it isn't worthy, but because in these times, I suppose, they'd rather make it themselves. Times are tough and many artists are struggling. 

And are we artists by choice? Well yes and no. Some of us have chronic illnesses that prevent us working a "real" job. Some of us are caregivers (me) to a severely disabled child. Don't judge us because we are artists. 

So if our art isn't being purchased, then we do what comes next and that is  to "teach it". So we spend a lot of time developing classes that everyone on fb "wants to take". And trust me, this isn't something that just takes a few days. Developing classes takes thought, time, energy, hours on the computer, making samples, taking photos and then submitting the work. It's very tiring. The last set of classes I proposed was over the holidays and I felt that I didn't really get to enjoy the moment of the holidays because I was so preoccupied by keeping up with these deadlines. Then throw in "real" life like mine, where I am a 1/2 a caregiver for a severely disabled child. If he even gets sick for a moment, I can't do anything until he's better. The stress level can get high.

Then we flash forward to the future where those proposed classes for retreats are now online for regisration , but hardly anyone has signed up for them. There is no one to blame. It is a sign of the times. It's easier to take classes online than to travel. I constantly get messages, " can you do this in an ecourse"? It's a frustrating process for an instructor. Some instructors do quite well with their ecourses. But others say they have the trickle in effect of business. It's a difficult choice to make with my very spare precious time to create art. Continue with retreats, mainly go online? After Tucker's last illness (in Oct), I've had this overwhelming urge to just disappear. Would anyone miss me? Would my art be missed? The pressure to keep up with all the current economical factors facing an artist are overwhelming and I am already overwhelmed as it is. 

Just for the record, I'm not raking in the dough. I probably spend more than I make and the hours I spend creating samples for classes, I don't think you couldn't put a dollar sign on it. So what is my point? I'm not sure. Maybe I just want don't want to be so committed to doing my art for the sake of teaching it. I pondered this tonight and I worked on some gifts for some art friends that I will be seeing soon. To me, that is what is gratifying. Creating art for those who I  know will just get it and love it and also reciprocate back to me. I've done more than my  than fair share of giving my art freely ( for some reason, expected of any artist/donations). I've put in my 1000 hours and I work damn hard. I'm not sure there is much more I can do, but in the end, to  decide what makes me happy and shine my art in that direction.

Thanks for listening. As always the direction of an artist is an ongoing journey.

xoxo,

kecia

slide show!