Sometimes there's a story

A number of years ago I opened an Etsy shop. August of 2008 actually. In 2009 I put up a number of things, most greatly different from what I now sell. Lots of handmade cards, lettering art, etc. Nothing sold, I got discouraged and busy and let Etsy fall to the wayside for a while as I focused on other things. When I came BACK to Etsy I changed what I was doing and never relisted the things that had expired.

A couple weeks ago I was contacted by a VERY close friend. She linked me to post on facebook where a piece of art, a lettered quote had been shared and she said it looked like my work and asked if it was.

I looked and it was. It was one of the cards I'd placed on my Etsy shop during that first go round.
It was a card I'd made for a friend who was very interested in heritage and history and legacy, and I'd used an amazing quote by Linda Hogan.

I never marked it in any way. Someone saw it, liked it, saved it and eventually uploaded it to Pinterest, where the links lead.... nowhere, and yet it was shared all over the internet. Lesson learned.

So I've relisted it. I even made a bigger version for those that wanted larger prints and scanned it at a higher resolution and it's quickly become the most popular item in my shop.
Here it is in my shop.
Weird huh?

Anyway, just a little note about watermarking things or putting your info on them at the very least.

Chalkboard art for my studio

I have a space in my studio where I wanted a piece of chalkboard art, but it's up high so I didn't want a real chalkboard.
So... I made some chalkboard art.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out

It's really the perfect quote. It ties into Zentangle, it celebrates life... I love it! That was actually the hardest part, finding the quote.

I did in fact draw it without an eraser and 95% of it is ink, not chalk. (The chalk was mostly to make it look chalky and give it a "look"

Sometimes things go exactly the way you want them to!

(I've had a lot of moments lately where little tiny things derailed projects so this going smoothly came at exactly the right time)

Chalkboard art...

I have a large number of chalkboard areas in my studio.. so getting my quotes and chalkboarding just right is high on the list of things to do. There are a couple that I'm doing permanently (because they'll be up high.. and I'm short) so I especially want those to be right.

So lots and lots of practicing.
I love the look of mixed fonts though, so I'll keep playing til I get it right.  I like this one but it's not just right.

I love the way wet chalk stays n place once you put it there! :D

I like the way the letters turned out but it was only for practice. I don't like all capitals on it.

I have a ton of quotes, yet I feel like I need more... because I haven't found one that is PERFECT so if you have a favorite quote or inspirational saying please feel free to share!!!! I'd really appreciate it.

Affirmations

I used to work with a wonderful man named Darren when I worked in the corporate world. It feels like a lifetime ago...
I learned a lot from him and one of the things that stuck with me was the affirmation that would be said before big events, meetings, etc.

It called out to be put on an Opus tile so I can hang it over my work area.

I'm not sure if I will add color, if I don't then it's done. 

This is my first large stacked tangle. 

I think I'm hooked. 

And as it says... 

I am excited, by what this day will bring. 

I hope you are creating something wonderful! I can't wait to see!

Jar of Wishes Giveaway

Origami stars are nothing new, I used to make them back in high school and sometimes I still do. Every so often I make one of these to inspire a friend or as a pick me up... each of the stars has a little note.
This month I'm making one as a giveaway for one of the #whimsybykelly2015 participants.
You DO have to have commented on this post (even if you don't have an entry for today just drop me a comment) and you have to have participated at least once this month. (Still 2 days left!)

It's Friday. YAY for Friday! Over in Square One they have issued a new challenge, to use SeZ. I'm going to try to get to it, but I keep missing stuff. :) I have a lot going on and I've been picking and choosing the things that excite me these days!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Stay warm, stay safe, make something awesome!
Tell your friends about the contest and get them to dive in on the challenge with you!

A little inspiration

On facebook I've been participating in the Wacky ZentangleWeekly challenge group, (Seriously this is fun, go check it out!)

This weeks challenge I could do 90 times!
Here is it from the group...
"We all like quotations or inspirational notes, so here is your chance to share your favourite ones with this amazing group.  I will leave it up to your interpretation, whether its writing the quote and tangling around it or tangling the quotes!  i can't wait to see what people come up with."

I simply adore quotes, especially ones that inspire me.

This is what I came up with last night. I don't LOVE it, love it.. because it was a very fast tangle and I wasn't trying to make it perfect, I was just kind of experimenting. I was playing with a tangle that I *think* is actually MINE (I'm still looking to see if it's listed anywhere else).

I actually have the infinity symbol with the quote drawn on my sketchbook and I really love that which was why this was my first attempt at this weeks challenge. I may do more. I love, love, love this challenge. 

We'll see how much time I have this week!