Blog revamped and other news

Hello Blogland!

One of my goals this summer was to get better at blogging, and I decided to have a bit of a makeover to start things out.

A wonderful gal by the name of Trudi at Two Dresses Studio did a wonderful job at creating my new blog banner. She was wonderful to work with....and made the entire process so simple for me....so she gets a definite 2 thumbs up from me!!

Also, I have finally updated my Etsy shop again...with loads of stuff for your art needs...

In an earlier post, I said that I get so lost sometimes in blogland, and completely forget where I find some great sites...so, if you would like me to add your blog to my list of favorites, send me an email with your link and I will add you.

Also, I would love for you to follow me on my blogging adventure....so, sign up to follow my blog!! I have a few fun things in mind this summer....a swap, and of course some giveaways...so, follow me to keep up with the happenings

Now for some fun.....to unveil my newly designed site....lets have a giveaway....

Leave me a comment and you're entered... I will draw on this coming Thursday, July 2nd!!

Until next time,

Ophelia

Pure Chaos!!

It has been crazy here at the Staton homestead....lots to do and so little time. With the start of summer comes tons of sleepovers, and hungry, bored kids.

Once I get everyone settled, and before more fighting breaks out or someone gets hungry or thirsty again....its off to the studio for some creative play....

I have been enjoying my Layers of Love online class, and have really enjoyed using a smaller paint brush to do my pages. Before beginning this class, I would select the biggest paintbrush in my collection and cover the page with a single color....now, well, its a smaller paintbrush, and lots and lots of colors!!!

Otherwise here, its summertime, and that means you will usually find us at a baseball field....long, long days of baseball. My son made the All Stars team, so life is full of baseball games, practices, and more games!!

And....it seems that I have a new companion in the studio these days....I just love watching a child paint....no worries, no woes....just pure painting for the heck of it....and that is what we have here...sheer joy!!

I hope you enjoy the bliss and maddness that summer brings....I sure do, although at times it is chaos...

Until next time,

Ophelia

Art Overload!!

Its day 7 of my summer vacation, and I am having the best time in my studio.

Playing around with all of my art supplies does wonders for a tired soul. I am now on overload. I have searched blogs until I have gotten lost :).....but blog reading is so much fun. There are so many exciting things going on in other peoples studios....and their blogs give little snippets into their worlds....so I read on..

I have gone shopping too, for new paints, papers to paint....just plain art overload...

While blog surfing, I ran upon (I'm not even sure of how I found her site) Julie Prichard. She has an amazing blog....just full of eye candy, and her work is incredible..I was lost there for hours. She is teaching a Layers of Love class online, and I had to sign up!!

Here is what I did for Lesson One: Talk about fun..

I am signed up for another online class with Jodi Ohl in July from my local art group. Her blog is Sweet Repeats and she does amazing work. And, right now, she is having a sale over at Etsy on her prints!!

Her class coming in July...

The internet provides so many amazing possibilities....we can take classes in our homes from artists that we may have never made contact with. I love how the classes are videos, so its so easy to just watch and learn...

This promises to be an amazing summer!!

Until next time.

Ophelia

Painting Day of Play

As promised, I wanted to show you what I did at our Art Group day of play that I posted about on yesterday. I am still shocked at how much I loved these paints...one can never have too many paints...so some shopping was in order.

I basically took ripped up sheets of watercolor paper, and bristol, and just "decorated" them...I ripped up sheets of ledger papers, used mark making tools such as a wood grain tool, bubble wrap, sheetrock tape (I think that is what its called)....all sorts of stuff. Basically anything that I had at my table or that was shared by others went into the creation of these pages.

I will now take these little beauties and put them into my artjournals....I'm not sure yet of what I will do with this little girl, but she seems to need to fly solo...so maybe she will be framed somehow or something.

One thing that I learned about play dates is that you go in with an open mind, ready to experiment, play, and just have fun... You might be pleasantly surprised by the results. I was!!

Until next time,

Ophelia

A Do-Over

I decided that I wanted to re-do my Creative Awakenings Visa page again... I just wasn't feeling the first one or something...so a do over was necessary. I just love this image of this little girl and I find that I use her alot. For some reason, she speaks to me, so, my do-over....and beginning my journey could not be complete without her.

On Sunday afternoon, I had a wonderful day of play with an amazing artist Kim Maselli. She came to our art group play date representing Chroma to demonstrate the Interactive Acrylic paints. Oh, I had the best day ever. I quickly fell in love with these paints and made alot of background papers for my artjournals. Kim was an incredible instructor. She showed me how to make them work for me to actually paint directly on my journal pages. I was a bit afraid since the open time of these is what the magic is.....but, I am now in love, and well, you know me....I went shopping.

I will show you the papers I created as soon as I unpack my bags....yeah, you know me!!

Anywho....since I am now officially on summer vacation I am looking forward to some long days of sheer creative play in my studio...well, that is my intention anyway.

Until next time,

Ophelia

Creative Awakenings!!

I recently purchased the book, Creative Awakenings by Sheri Gaynor, and I have to say, its one of my favorites!! I feel that the book was written especially for me. I have even spoken with Sheri to tell her of my love for the book and have found that she is a creativity coach. This is definitely one for you to check out!
I created a Dream Journal.



For this journal, I used a plain black hardbound journal, and made a cut out where I then used my new tools and metal from Ten Seconds Studios. I had a lot of fun doing this, although I must say it was a stretch!


Inside the book there is a Visa.....to be completed to begin your journey....and, well, here is mine..

A Journal of Discovery...
I joined Sheri's Ning group http://sherigaynor.typepad.com/creativeawakenings/june-read-one-book-one-community.html where there are quite a few of us that are sharing this journey.

My daughter is recovering from surgery so I have not had the time that I desire to play yet, but this is going to be a boatload of fun...not to mention, a true experience of self discovery...so I can't wait. Would love for you to join me!!
Until next time,
Ophelia