A Painting a day

I've been reading "The Sound of Paper" by Julia Cameron. It is a great book that talks about the everyday part of creating. She talks about how art should become as common as doing laundry. How it needs to be something that is done on a daily basis. I have toyed with the idea of doing a painting a day, or weaving a rug a day. If I was really ambitious then I would do both! :) A painting a day is basically an act of faith. You show up everyday to paint. You do not judge how it's going. If it's going at all then that is the point. It is a journey. Along the way you learn that there is something greater out there. You are just a small piece. You learn to trust that God is working through you. Your job is to show up every day, and trust that God will show you the way. So how have I been doing, you may ask. I have been painting a lot. I haven't mastered the everyday part. Sometimes things come up. But maybe that is the point. To find more room to make art where I didn't think there was any. So this is the first mixed media painting. It is paper glued onto canvas and then acrylics on top. You can find it here also http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39730068

SALE

I've marked down many of my beautiful cloaks. Cloaks for weddings, Christmas, and ren faires. Many are now $49.99. That is $10-$20 off the original price. Check them out at http://www.mwestdesigns.etsy.com

SALE 15-30% OFF

Huge sale going on this week just in time for Christmas. 15-30% off cloaks, rugs, paintings, polaroid transfers. All original art on sale. Check it out at http://www.mwestdesigns.etsy.com

Christmas Velvet Crafting Box

I have a new item in my Etsy store. It is a 5 lb box filled with crushed panne velvet in Christmas colors. It is perfect for crazy quilting, crafts, doll clothes, and many other craft projects. The colors included are reds, greens, gold, silver, white, and ivory. Check it out http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36132043

Country Cowboy Christmas Treasury

It always is such a nice surprise to be included in someones Treasury. This one is titled Country Cowboy Christmas and deusprovidebit. This is a beautiful treasury with snowmen and snowflakes. Candles and gingerbread soap which looks like fudge and I'm sure smells heavenly. I think my favorite is the Birch Bark Gift Tags by rusticblend. Very simple but also very cute. Thanks so much to Gramma Harv and Terry for including me!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=93887

One of my favorite quotes

I don't know who said this, but it is still one of my favorites. " To be an artist includes much; one must possess many gifts - absolute gifts - which have not been acquired by one's own effort. And, moreover, to succeed, the artist must possess the courageous soul. "

Creativity on a cold morning

Sometimes creativity is difficult. I suppose if it was easy then there would be no reason to create. Being an artist is gift and we are "born to make manifest the glory of God within us." But why is it that some mornings I just don't want to. We had our first frost and that means that it is cold in my studio. It's like I am a 4 year old throwing a fit.
But I think all this superficial junk is just fear. What if I was a successful artist? What would my life be like? There are so many stories of artists or musicians or actors who loose their way and end up in a terrible place or even dead. There aren't many stories about artists who lead happy, healthy lives.
The only way to deal with this fear is just by showing up. By going down to my studio and starting a fire and turning the heat on. And then just start something. Who cares if it turns out wonderful or in the dumpster. And by holding on to the dream or going to work just down the hill from my house. A short commute to my studio and days filled with creativity. Hold onto my dream and find the joy in the small things in life.