Re-Inventing Yourself

I have so much to write about that I don't even know where to begin!
This trip began as one thing and turned into something much, much more!

I went to The Creative Connection with the intention of business.
I went as a vendor, and to possibly network as well.
I was nervous, like I told you before...I was intimidated by all the well-known artists, afraid of what kind of reaction I would get about my work, and a little anxious that I was wasting my time and money on such a big trip.

God had so many more plans than business for me while I was there.  :) 

 (my vendor booth, 8 x 10 feet)

I met the most amazing people while I was there. 

People were kind, supportive, and fun!  They were genuine, friendly, and so creative.  The inspiration was a huge buzz...

I went to a panel discussion one morning that featured five women, including Kelly Rae Roberts, Melody Ross, Leigh Stanley (Curly Girl) and Susan Branch.

They were discussing their stories and how they got where they are today in the creative business.

And the main thing I kept hearing was the story of authenticity.

That they were just themselves.

That their art was an extension of their own life stories, not bits and pieces of anyone else's.

And I felt affirmed, I felt validated, I felt like I was "enough"...

I realized that God had brought me to this place so I could really settle into myself...that I could feel comfortable in my own skin, that I could celebrate me!  That not everyone is going to love my art, and that is totally okay...

It was such a freeing moment.

 (custom pillow wall)

I've been working as an artist for over 10 years now.

I have gone through so many phases..

It wasn't until just this year that my work became faith-based.

Did you know that?

I finally feel like I am in my groove...

I finally feel like this is the work I was meant to do...

and the fear of turning away people who aren't Christian is gone.

It's okay.

I am not here to please everyone, I am here to please my Lord and Saviour, and my prayer, everyday, is that his truth and light shine through me as a vessel. 

What a life-changing realization...

 (wall of prints)

I think I had it in my head somewhere that I had to be this certain person.

I'm not quite sure who that person was, but the thought of re-invention in your late 30's seemed sort of ridiculous to me.

I realized this weekend that we are all constantly re-inventing ourselves.  Our tastes change.  Our feelings change.  Our outward apprearances change.

And that is actually a great thing!  A fun thing!  A time to celebrate seasons in our life and the possiblity of growth.

("Take your Time", new pillow)

So, here I am at home now.
Back with my beloved family and children.
Feeling re-charged, inspired, and blessed.

I have lots of new products to list in the esty shop: new checkbook covers, list makers, and pillows.
I will start listing them soon!
But I am going to paint today!  I have to celebrate my new inspiration with some new scripture prints.

Thanks for being part of my journey.
My blog is a big part of my whole creative process, and I so appreciate all the support I receive here.
xoxoxoxo

New Pillow Designs

I am getting ready to leave for Minnesota very early in the morning, but I thought I'd share a couple of new pillow designs with you before I leave.

I actually have ten(!) new designs, and I'll show you the rest when I get back.
Please note that they are custom orders :)

First up, inspired by the wonderful book The Help:

I love the crazy color combination!  You can order any color pillow background and flower center, and I will pick out the rest to make it colorful and eclectic.

The words are handpainted and the pillow cover measures 18 x 18.

Available here.

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Next, a new take on the original.

I'm using gray fabric instead of white, and my own free form handwritten letters.

Also an 18 x 18 pillow form.

Available here.

Well friends, I'm outta here for the rest of the week.

Be back on Monday to share my travels with you :)

Have a happy and blessed week.

Locks of Love

I went last week and cut all my hair off.
A 10 1/2 inch ponytail...going straight to Locks of Love.  :)

Sorry for the bad iphone pictures...but here it is!
The girl who cut it was very nervous...her hands were shaking and everything.
I even said, "Are you ok?"
She said the last time she cut off a ponytail the woman sobbed the entire time she was there.
I promised her I wouldn't!  I was totally ready for a change :)

I do love it but when I woke up the next day to wash it, it was big and curly!

So curly!  I have tried to straighten it a couple of times, but I just can't seem to do it like they did it at the salon.  So most of the time I scrunch it with some mousse and use a diffuser to dry it.

Did pregnancy (or any other hormonal drama) change anyone else's hair?  Mine used to be stick straight and blond, and with every pregnancy it got wavier, thicker, and darker!

Scrappy Rainbow Quilt-a-long Finished

I finished!  I decided yesterday to bite the bullet and machine bind it.  I really prefer hand-binding, but there just wasn't enough time.  I'm pleased enough with it.  I'm so glad I chose pink.  I was going with green, but my 11 year old son (of all people!) suggested pink and I think he was right on!  :)

 Little Miss Ava has claimed it as her own.  She luuuuurves it...

Oh!  Here is the back:

Happy Monday!  :)

Getting Ready

I would be lying if I told you I wasn't feeling overwhelmed.
I leave on Wednesday to attend the Creative Connection.
I am very excited, but nervous as well.
I am really stepping out of my comfort zone...flying alone, setting up the vendor booth by myself, meeting new people.  I am feeling slightly intimidated, but I am also proud of myself.  Sometimes we have to do things that feel overwhelming and intimidating to grow and stretch.

But I still have a lot of things to finish...see my to do lists down there?

I did finally finish quilting the Scrappy Rainbow Quilt.  I used blue painters tape to quilt diagonal lines, and I am super pleased with the way it turned out.  But I still need to bind it!

I've made lots and lots of new quilted list makers and checkbook covers.

When I get home I will list what I left in the shop :)

I also finally found a great way to organize all my prints.

Although it took me almost 2 full days, I signed them, put in clear protective bags, and made files for them.

In the end it will save me lots of time.

Wish me luck this weekend as I finish preparing!  :)

I hope you have a blessed weekend!

Sponsors

I've thought on and off for awhile about having sponsors on this little ol' blog, but never quite went through with it.
I've been thinking about my friend Amy as she and her family go through the process of adopting sweet Davis.  Now that I've wrapped up "pillows for Davis", I had a thought about how we could all do something together.
With the holidays approaching, I'm going to offer sponsor ads for the months of October, November, and December.  It will be $20 a month, or $50 for all three months!  The best part?  I will donate 50% to the Jupin family for adoption costs.

If you are interested, please email me:  gracechrissie@yahoo.com
Let me know if you'd like to do a give-away as well.  :)

The Mixed-Up Chamelon Art Project

I am volunteering  in the elementary classrooms every other week this year doing art projects with the students.
Ashton is in 2nd, and Ava is Kindergarten, so they will all be early elementary based.  I thought I'd share some of them with you, in case you were looking for different ideas to do art with kids!  :)

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Ashton's class read this book last week in class.  Eric Carle is such an inspiration that it was easy to come up with this project!

I made this drawing and included the sentence on the bottom.

I loved all the answers they came up with them...  :)

I came in and worked with five children at a time.

Each child got a paper plate palette with a variety of colors.

Each color was painted a different color, and while the paint was still wet, I taught them how to use a toothpick to scratch different textures.

Feel free to download the template I made.

Right click to save it and make some cool mixed-up chameleons of your own

Have fun...:)