Vivid Life Studio

experimental sketchbook drawing...

2011-12-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

"transition" painted: 12/10/2011 acrylic and ink

I've been drawing and painting in my sketchbook again lately in the last couple of days in anticipation of a six week painting workshop that I signed up for in January...

Reoccurring themes in my work are beetles, birds, metamorphosis, life cycles of insects, nature, truth, transition and water creatures... You'll see larva like objects along with budding plants and other floating water creatures in my work... I love abstract objects mixed with color, layering and not knowing where my painting will take me... i love to dance in magic and mystery...

Horse Nebula

2011-12-07T12:38:00.001-08:00

I'm proud to announce that I am currently being featured on artid this month. This is an encaustic painting that I did about a year or so ago and its one of my favorite paintings.

Please feel free to check it out here.

Have a great day!

This Week-end:

- fill healing monster orders (more sewing)

xoxo - kari

thank you... thank you... thank you!

2011-12-04T15:09:00.001-08:00

thank you so much for everyone that came out and made this my most successful year ever! i had so much fun meeting new people, seeing repeat customers and loved that people from my "job-job" came out to support me... it meant a lot to me!

have a great week! oh! i'm really pooped out!!!

xoxox kari

WinterFestival 2011... Winding Down...

2011-12-04T11:54:00.001-08:00

Today: Phinney Winter Fest & Crafts Fair!!

2011-12-03T06:56:00.001-08:00

Saturday, December 3 & Sunday, December 4, 2011

10 am-5 pm each day

Admission:

$2/PNA member, $4/general public

Children 12 and under free

PLUS bring a can of food to donate to the Greenwood Food Bank.

This year's event will feature 115 artists and craftspeople, hundreds of musicians and dancers, a quilt raffle, bake sale and lunch items. The fair is open on both days from 10 am-5 pm and the price of admission ($4 for adults, $2 for members, and a can of food - children 12 and under are free) supports PNA programs such as the PNA Hot Meal Program (formerly known as the PNA Soup Kitchen), before and after school childcare, the Greenwood Senior Center, the tool library and the art gallery as well as community projects for neighbors in need and the Greenwood Food Bank.

While you're at the Festival be sure to check out Lauri Serafin's potholders, made of recycled socks. All of the proceeds of the potholder sales will go to the Capital Campaign. (Thank you, Lauri, for more than 250 hours of work on behalf of the Campaign.)

monsters monsters everywhere!

2011-11-22T20:35:00.001-08:00

sneak peek

i'm in my studio this evening taking photos of the healing monsters i have made so far... i still have many more to make and necklaces to make also! i'm taking next thursday/friday off so that i can complete the rest of the stuff i have to do...

here's a little sneak peak of some of the monsters i'll have for sale at the Phinney Winter Fest in two weeks...

have a good day and happy turkey day!

xoxo -kari

Winter Festival Coming Up Soon!!!

2011-11-15T17:45:00.001-08:00

okay! its just now hitting me! i have a craft show coming up in about three weeks!!! ahhhhh!!!! i've been plunking along cutting out patterns... creating each individual monster and laying it in a pile to be sewn... right now it doesn't feel like i've done much and i still have to make necklaces, design a booth, create some business cards, take photos, upload new work to my etsy store!! okay, okay... deep breaths... breathe in... breath out...

i'm excited to report that the latest Phinney Ridge newsletter is out and i am in it (along with many other amazing artists this year)! it shows where my booth will be (same as last year... downstairs in the main building, in the red room by the window... loved it!)

last year in the main bldg, downstairs red room in the corner!

i will be posting more healing monsters and stories as i complete them and experience them! have a fantastic week!

xoxo kari

In The Studio This Week-End...

2011-11-06T10:08:00.000-08:00

This week-end I'm making more healing monsters for a craft show coming up soon at Phinney Ridge Community Center... They are so fun to watch as each one of them comes to life... They're getting kind of crazy in color and in patterns... Some have one eye and others have three! My favorite so far is the scotchie bunnie! He was made yesterday and I'll share photos of him later when he's all filled with stuffing and done! I've also got a scotchie kitty coming to life too...

I hope everyone has a fantastic week! Stay warm!

scotchie kitty and scotchie bunnies coming to life...

little monster mouths

getting ready for assembliage!

Healing Monster: Rockie

2011-09-28T19:52:00.000-07:00

Rockie (9/28/2011)

Meet Healing Monster, Rockie! He just came in to being a few moments ago and I wanted to share him with you... As you'll notice he's a bit of a ham... And very photogenic...

Enjoy!

French Princess Pinkie

2011-09-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

french princess pinkie 9/27/2011

I just wanted to take a moment to introduce Ms French Princess Pinkie. She's a healing monster that came in to the world just moments ago... She's happy to be here and is going to go to work with me tomorrow so that I can introduce her around... She is the first of many that I will be producing for an upcoming holiday show that I will tell you more about later...

Here are a few photos of her transition into this world...

just a few days off and some photos to share...

2011-08-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

Getting Ready To Turn The BIG "4 5"

2011-07-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

i've been craving painting lately... i've decided to start working in my sketch book again so that i can at least get started on some new ideas i've been obsessing about... and to start getting comfortable drawing again...

i've been running and power walking as much as my body will allow lately... this morning i got up and did 5.4 miles... its just beautiful out in the morning and i just love starting my day out looking out at the Sound... i set my intension for the day, i let things go that have been bothering me and i get pumped for the opportunities coming my way...

next week i'm turning 45! its surreal to hear myself say it... can i really be that old? i feel good... i'm, overall, in a good place mentally and physically... i'm staying close to a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle and i have my life in front of me... all good things...

this morning i walked down to my favorite coffee shop and saw a lab that made me want a dog BAD!!!

i hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week-end and be good to yourself next week... the weather is good here!

xoxo - kari

Running Again...

2011-07-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

hello everyone... in the last couple of months i've continued to eat raw/vegetarian meals, go for walks, take pictures, go to the beach, sneak off for a week-end or two with my man and start running again... i've been getting up at 5:00 am every morning and have been walk/jogging for three or three and a half miles each morning... today i got up, plotted a course for five miles and power walked it in an hour and 10 minutes! i got this cool app called MapMyRUN for my iPhone... i open up the app each morning and this woman talks me through how fast i'm going, how many minutes into my run i am, how fast of a mile i'm doing, etc... its really cool and i love how i can continue to listen to pandora as i have this app open...

this is a little movie i shot of a beaded heart while watching the sunset near where i live...

love streaming through my car windows watching the sunset on a beautiful day...

i've personalized my new laptop at work with these really cool decals... you can find them at etsy.com and you'll have to search under the laptop or computer you have and then decals... they should pop up and i think they were under $10.

i've generally been out and about trying to enjoy my life, looking for interesting shapes and colors and learning so much new stuff at my new job... its overwhelming but all really good... i love my job.

have a wonderful week and please be good to yourself, eat right and get out and enjoy the beautiful weather! :o ]

xoxo kari

The Cleanse Is Over!

2011-05-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

i've been done with my liver cleanse for about a week now and i'm feeling pretty good... maybe too cleansed! one of the reasons i started this cleanse was to clean my liver and also to find out what my food sensitivities are. the way you find out what you're sensitive to is to eliminate your food intake down to very simple alkalyne balanced foods (for about 3 weeks) and then when you start to reintroduce foods back into your diet your body tells you what you're sensitive to so here's what i'm sensitive to:

dairy!
soy milk
alcohol
coffee
foods high in acid like
- tomatoes
- kiwi
- strawberries
- onions
- pineapple

there was pretty much no doubt in my mind that i had sensitivities to these items because i either broke out in a rash, barfed, or couldn't sleep from having a latte earlier in the morning (had it at 10:00am and couldn't go to sleep that night until about 2:30 am or 3:00 am!)

its just more evidence that i should be moving towards a more raw alkalyne balanced diet...

i started my raw foods immursion class a couple of weeks ago at thrive and i am just loving it! i'm learning how to manage our kitchen, plan for meals, knife skills and i just bought a vitamix blender... everything is new and foreign to me right now but i'm trying to keep practicing and modifying recipes to my own tastes. next on my list is a dehydrator, a spiralizer, and a sprouts jar.

latest readings:

Going Raw: Everything You Need to Start Your Own Raw Food Diet and Lifestyle Revolution at Home

Judita Wignall

Sweet Gratitude: A New World of Raw Desserts

Matthew Rogers, Tiziana Alipo Tamborra

I Am Grateful: Recipes and Lifestyle of Cafe Gratitude

Terces Engelhart, Orchid

you can find out more about becoming raw vegan here:

Day Eight & Nine Of Liver Cleanse!

2011-04-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

So far so good. I'm on day 8 of my liver cleanse and I'm feeling pretty good... I found out Wednesday that I'm severely deficient in vitamin D (you're supposed to be in the 150 range and I'm a 9) so my doctor has me on 8,000 units of vitamin D per day for a month... I've been feeling REALLY good as a result of that! I feel so much happier and talkative... Its amazing how much of a difference that is making for me. Here are the foods allowed for days 8-9 on my liver cleanse... Its getting pretty restrictive now... almost a liquid diet but I'm ready for it! :o) (two more weeks and I'm done!)

day 8 - 9

1 protein shake per day (1 scoop only)

also detox capsuls: 3 caps 2x a day

choose from the following foods anytime:

alkaline broth
fresh raw fruit
raw or steamed veggies (low carb)
non-gluten grains: buckwheat, potato, rice flour, rice bran, tapioca, soy flour, corn or maize
healthy dressings
pumpkin, almond, sunflower seeds
ground flax and seasame seeds
rice milk
almond butter, tahini hummus
herbs, seasonings
spring or purified water (at least 6 glasses)
freshly juiced fruits or vegtables (1/2 diluted)
herbal teas

Have a great week-end!

xoxo - kari

Day Four Liver Cleanse & Bike Ride To Work This Morning..

2011-04-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

this morning i rode my bike to work! it felt good... it was dusky and dark at 6:30 am, cold and raining but i had rain pants and a rain jacket... NO EXCUSES! my ride takes me along the water almost the whole way there and it is so lovely to see so much water on my ride to work (and almost no traffic).

i've been on a liver/allergy free diet for four days now and i'm feeling pretty mellow this morning but good... i'm looking forward to the three weeks being up so i can get back to normal... its definitly been challenging at times... mostly just stopping my old habits and unconcious eating.

have a wonderful week!

xoxo kari

Twas The Night Before Cleansing...

2011-03-31T09:11:00.000-07:00

photos taken on 3/30/2011 & 3/31/2011 "the before photos"

i have to admit to myself today that i have not been taking very good care of myself lately (ok... for longer than i would like to admit). time has passed and day after day i chose not to exercise, i chose to eat in a way that did not support a healthy and comfortable body weight for me. i have not rested well nor have i been kind and nurturing to my soul. all of this changes tomorrow, friday 4/1/2011. tomorrow i start my three week cleanse and i start riding my bike to work. i start meditating, lighting candles, eating simple, good food and nurturing my soul. we all deserve these basic things. (especially you)

if you'd like to join me please see a physician first, i did. i went to my naturopathic physician and had blood work done and we found a plan that will work for me that incorporates protein drinks and good nutrition.

here is what i will be eating for the next seven days (week one)

day 1-7

1 protein shake per day (1 scoop only)

also detox capsuls: 3 caps 2x a day

choose from the following foods anytime:

alkaline broth
fresh raw fruit
raw or steamed veggies (low carb)
non-gluten grains: buckwheat, rice flour, rice bran, tapioca, soy flour, corn or maize
healthy dressings
pumpkin, almond, sunflower seeds
ground flax and seasame seeds
rice milk
almond butter, tahini hummus
herbs, seasonings
spring or purified water (at least 6 glasses)
freshly juiced fruits or vegtables (1/2 diluted)
herbal teas

wish me luck! love to you and please take good care of yourself.

xoxo kari

My First Video (its not great but its my first!!) :o)

2011-03-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

hello everyone!

okay, i decided to share my first attempt at shooting and then editing video with my new camcorder (see previous post)

go ahead and click below and it should play... you might need to hit pause and let it load all of the way first...

this is a good exercise in "beginners mind". be brave, try it, put it out there! woo! you can do it!!!

New Camcorder!

2011-03-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

oh! i'm SO excited! i just purchased a new camcorder and i'm supposed to get it today sometime! i'm going to be practicing video diaries and then i'm going to be practicing for my online workshops coming up here pretty soon... i want to feel comfortable and as natural as possible in front of the camera (its going to take awhile my lovelies!) so i'm going to practice, practice practice!! if anyone else out there has video that they would like to share to introduce themselves and talk about what they're working on, i would love to see it... feel free to leave a link in the comments section of this post so we can all visit your site and get to know you better. (i would absolutely love to meet new creative people)

i'm also excited because i am expecting a dvd on encaustic techniques to be arriving today as well... its by paula roland. i'm saving up to buy my very own hot box to work with... (they're spendy but it will be worth it!)

i'm just now feeling better at the end of my fourth week with this STUPID terrible cold... MAN! it was a mean one! i highly recommend, if you're getting this terrible cold, that you go to a naturopathic physician and get magic nasal spray! next time i start to get a cold i am definitely going right in and getting it! i think it would have shaved some time off of how long i was sick.

i hope you guys have a wonderful and creative week-end! talk to you next week and hopefully, i'll have a video to share! (gulp')

xoxo - kari

sounder fc tonight!

2011-03-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

Its going to be another awesome season! Wooooo! Go Sounders!!

Gage's Memorial 3/11/2011 @3:00 pm (pacific time)

2011-03-10T12:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/gagedole

view recorded service here

Feeling Better!! Woooo!

2011-03-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

OMG! I have had the worst cold the last couple of weeks! I've been miserable! Its amazing how good it is not to feel like that anymore... phew!

Okay, so I signed up for a free workshop through Strathmore On-Line Workshops and I am having so much fun cutting up my own sketchbook, adding pockets, decorating and prepping it for text art and journaling. My secret wish is to be teaching my own online workshops by this summer... stay tuned!

This is just a quick post this time to say hello and also to let you know that you can support the Children's Healing Art Project through the purchase of jewelry with Gage's artwork on it! This would be a way to honor his life and support a charity near and dear to his heart.

Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP) brings the healing power of art to children in crisis and their families with a mobile team of teaching artists working in Portland’s children’s hospitals.

In 2009, CHAP worked with over 10,000 children and their families. A portion of the proceeds from every necklace and bracelet sold will benefit CHAP.

Heaven Received A Super Hero Angel Today

2011-02-14T17:14:00.000-08:00

Gage Dole

"Monday, February 14th, 2011 3:42 PM

At 3pm Pacific time today Gage's battle ended. Lauren let me know and asked me to post to let you all know. He was much loved by many and to pass on Valentine's Day marks his impact on us all. We will remember him forever as a bright shining star, a warrior in his fight, and model for all as we confront life's challenges and make our way through our struggles. Your thoughts and prayers have helped and you may not know how much. Caringbridge is a gift and it has enabled us to support Lauren, Trux and Gage through their journey.

Thank you all.

This was written by Robin and Becca - we are Lauren's sisters."
...
-- Love to Lauren, Trux & Gage (super hero/angel extrodinaire)

xoxo - kari

Encaustic Paintings: Beetle Girl Series

2011-02-12T18:36:00.000-08:00

Encaustic Painting: Beetle Girl Series - SOLD

This week-end I've been taking more photos of my encaustic paintings and updating my etsy shop. I'm excited because, with my new photo cube, I have really been able to take much better photos of my work... Its such a relief because it was really getting to me not being able to take the kind of professional looking photos I've been wanting to take...

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my paintings... I'm hoping to upload about ten more photos by tomorrow... phew!

I'll talk to you again on Sunday.

xoxo kari

Encaustic Painting: Beetle Girl Series - SOLD

New Necklaces In My New Etsy Shop

2011-02-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

i've been making LOTS of necklaces!

I just wanted to let you know that I have just filled my etsy shop with new necklaces! Come and get them while their hot! :o) I've sold 4 already... Wooo!

I hope everyone's week is going well so far... Keep busy and have fun!

Love to you!

xoxo - kari

circle series

sheep series

crow series

circle series

New Photography Room...

2011-02-06T18:48:00.000-08:00

new portable photography kit

i've been practicing taking photos for several years now and i've never truly been happy with the results until today! justin and i found and then bought a photography kit that comes with two lamps a large collapsable white, cube and several different colored backgrounds... it works SO well!! it took a little while to find the right angle for the lights and just the right settings on my camera... (yes, i had the manual out and had to do a little brush up on manual settings for my camera!)

i took more photos of my necklaces today which i am sharing here and if you are interested in purchasing you can go to my etsy store... my model this week is 'Bee' she is a bunny that we got from a friend of ours and i think she did quite well for her first time out...

"Bee"

next week i'm going to be sewing more "healing monsters". i have about 12 patterns already started and partially assembled so now i just have to sit down in front of the sewing machine and start cranking them out! here's a little preview of my new plushy, soft monsters...

for those of you that don't know... my healing monsters are something that i recently started making after being inspired by my friend's son, gage. he's been battling cancer for many years now and i've watched him through emails, photos and through his mom and dad, bravely fight this disease with great strength, courage and grace... my friend asked all of us who have been following gage's story to write in and leave a note about how gage's story and life had affected or inspired us... it took me a while to really put into words and action something that i could express that would mean something and maybe be helpful to other people... so the healing monsters are the beginning of an idea that i have to somehow contribute or help people who are suffering or need support and healing in some way... the monsters all have zippers for mouths so they are very good listeners and won't speak while you're talking to them... my idea is to some how incorporate inspiring words onto them at some point... i'm still working on this but will share more with you later as i iron this out... anyway... at some point i would like to take a portion of the sales made from these monsters and start donating it to different cancer research organizations that help support research for the elimination of cancer... especially ewings sarcoma.

healing monster for susan

healing monster for "beans"

healing monster for mom

healing monster for emily

healing monster for kristin

healing monster for...

healing monster for ...

healing monster eyes...

i hope everyone has a fantastic week, stays warm, dry and healthy... loves to you all...

xoxo - kari

in limbo...

2011-02-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

clock link

have been feeling a little bit in limbo...
trying to just go with it...
don't like it... but its fine for now...
waiting to come out of hybernation along with everyone else...
its hard when every day starts to look the same and all of the weeks are going by so fast...
seasons are coming and going and we're feeling our age a little more each year...
what happened to our 30s? we were just jumping, playing and defying death without a thought...
precious is the word that comes to mind...
each day given to us is precious...
living by a thread... all of us given a world to borrow for a short time...
not knowing when we'll be leaving but hoping that its not too soon...
so much to do... so much to learn and explore...
i've had a lot of ups and downs and i'm feeling a new type of settling coming over me...
giving permission, letting go, taking my time...
the life we've been given is not to be wasted but to be cherished...
please cherish it...

2011-02-03T13:57:00.001-08:00

standing room only, bus ride...

Working On A Sewing Project

2011-02-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

i just wanted to write a quick post this morning to say hello!

i've been getting excited about making more "Healing Monsters" for my new Vivid Life Studio, etsy store! Last Sunday I cut out the shapes from various bits of donated fabric (thank you Susan, Mom & a few other people!) and semi assembled 12 of them so that when i'm ready they'll all be lined up for me and ready to sew sew sew! i'll introduce them to you individually as i complete them and give them names... i can hardly wait to show them to you!! eeeeee!

i am loving this etsy shop this morning! it makes me want to make my own sets of paper/envelopes.

i hope everyone takes it easy this week and does something nourishing for themselves... you deserve it!

xoxo -- kari

Upcylcing

2011-01-16T16:29:00.000-08:00

so i've had a few old cashmere sweaters waiting for just the right project, neatly folded away, in my yarn bag. recently, justin bought us a new sewing machine so for the first project i made a healing monster... i love him... he's so cute and so flawed... so lovable! i ended up making all of the women in my life one for Xmas! i'm happy to say that i'm getting better and better the more i make them.

today i just finished making a couple of hats and two scarves from my sweaters and i have enough material to make a few more skinnier scarf/tubes. (i'll share more photos after i finish)

tomorrow i have the day off and i'm going to spend the day in my studio taking photos and uploading items for my etsy shop. i will make an announcement when i have it ready to go for people to purchase items there.

i hope you have a wonderful week... hugs! xox kari

Welcoming 2011

2011-01-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

this morning i got up a little early to watch the sun rise, write a little and read a little. i feel so content when i get up and have time to myself before everyone else rises... in a little while dogs will be tearing down the hallway, playing, barking, people will be taking showers, making coffee, talking and figuring out what to do for the day... for now, the sun is rising, there's a heavy, whispey layer of foggy clouds on the surface of the lake that makes the lake look like its frozen solid or not water at all but land. i feel content and happy in this moment.

i've not really thought about my year, last year now, very much. normally, i'm all over it! i know exactly what i've done, what i've accomplished but looking back i'm thinking that maybe things are calming down a little... i'm feeling a little more settled into my life, where ever its taking me. i definitely set goals and there's always movement but the urgency to make it completely and utterly successful is not there as much. i read a good book recently called, "Manifesting Change" by Mike Dooley. I got it as an audio book so that I could listen to him read his own book in his own words... i like that very much, actually. :o ] in the book he talks about manifesting change by visualizing every day, just a little in the morning before you start your day and then not focussing on the outcome. i'm trying to just live and enjoy my life without forcing what i want... so every morning i visualize peace, total financial abundance and happiness and i imagine how that feels as if i have it now. this helps align me with that time when this is true and moves me towards it.

this year, this month justin, my life partner and i, have know each other for over 10 years and i'm glad to be on this life adventure with him by my side. we've been through a lot together in the last couple of years and i'm looking forward to another 10+ years with him.

some of the things i did that i'm proud of:

winter fest
worked for a temp agency
started a portrait series
painted encaustic paintings
was a data analyst (what a smarty pants!)
took on a new coaching/consulting client (love!)
revised my website
opened a new etsy store (more about this later)
studied photography, practiced taking better photos
wrote more on my blog
got a new sewing machine
taught myself how to use it and made "healing monsters"!
i showed my work for artwalk in three or four places this year, successfully
i made it through another holiday season

things i'm looking forward to in 2011:

making more art
meeting new people
working on collaborative projects
sewing projects
encaustic paintings with new techniques and materials... papers made in thailand from a far away artist friend
finding us a new place to live where we can have a king size bed in our room and have family stay with us more comfortably
letting life unfold and enjoying the ride a little more
being at peace in where i am right now
finding a balance between supporting my creative passion and finding a job that has enough flexibility and stability to fill in the rest for now
sunrises and sunsets
traveling a little more
going to the beach a little more
painting, photography, reading, writing and coaching
spending more time with my family
workshops, new techniques

that's my list for now... today i'm just enjoying the very first day of 2011... its mellow, snowy, blue sky, puffy clouds and bright, bright sunshine. it feels good... happy new year to everyone! :o]

Another Healing Monster!

2010-12-20T16:10:00.000-08:00

I made another healing monster last night! Oh! I'm really enjoying making these little guys... I'm going to start offering them for sale some time after the holidays if people are interested. These little monsters have special powers and are REALLY good listeners... note the zipper for a mouth so they are built to listen to all of your troubles and woes and NOT interrupt you while you're talking.

My focus for this week:

get through the holidays
make all of my gifts this year
focus on staying stress free and available to listen and support
spread more love and joy into the Universe! :o]

Have a joyous and happy holiday season. I'm pumped for 2011!!!

xoxo

HOLIDAY ART & CRAFT SALE!!! In Edmonds This Time!!

2010-12-08T18:32:00.000-08:00

Please Come Join Us This Week-End (we'd love to see you ALL!!)

Doggie Coat by Susan Butler of Hot Tog Designs

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/ats/2102912576.html (artists)

WHAT: Holiday Craft Sale

WHEN: Sat and Sun 12/11 & 12/12 from 10:00 am -- 4:00 pm each day

WHERE: 23616 Edmonds Way, Edmonds, WA 98026.

Beautifully handcrafted gifts for the entire family! Children’s hats, blankets, socks and booties. Eco friendly fabric shopping bags, fine art prints, handmade jewelry, cute coats for dogs plus travel blankets, crate pads and more!

DIRECTIONS: 23616 Edmonds Way, Edmonds, WA 98026

If taking I-5, take the Edmonds exit and follow 104 West toward Edmonds. We are on the corner of 236th on Edmonds Way at the traffic light. A cream building with limited parking in front of the building. There is a Spa/Massage place across the street with so many Christmas lights you can't miss it! Extra parking located across the street.

I'm HERE!!!

2010-12-04T11:03:00.000-08:00

I'm here at the Phinney Neighborhood Winter Festival & Craft Show and MAN! there are a lot of people here today!! Below are some photos of my little, simply decorated booth... I'm shooting for "simple elegance" (I also feel a little inexperienced next to all of these pros!)

If you're around I would love to chat! I'm down stairs in the main building (the blue building) in the red room downstairs. Hope to see you soon!! :o)

Working Hard Today & Tomorrow!

2010-12-02T17:17:00.000-08:00

I've been working hard, meeting/exceeding my goals of having a large amount of inventory for this week-end's Winter Festival & Craft Fair. I've decided to think big and to be open to wild financial abundance!! :o) (hee-hee)

I'm mostly looking forward to meeting lots and lots of new people. I love the social aspect of going to a craft fair. I always meet really cool vendors and then the people who come to shop for their holiday gifts are always friendly and ready to spend!

Please feel free to sign up on my mailing list if you would like to receive coupons, free gifts and generally trying to keep up with where I'm showing my work! ;)

I hope to see all of you this week-end at Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center.

xoxo

My etsy Pledge

2010-11-28T15:20:00.000-08:00

hello everyone!

okay, things are slowing down a little and this week i will be focussing solely on inventory for my holiday show coming up this week-end and then i will also be filling up my etsy store with new photos and new pieces for sale for the holidays and beyond... i'm all set with a new shipping area in my studio and a place for my inventory too!

i'm also taking a pledge for the etsy boot camp that i've joined:

I, Kari J Young, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!

i'm excited to get going and to share everything that i've been working so hard on! i'll share more as i can...

have a fantastic week!!! :o]

I Made An Empathy Monster!!!

2010-11-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

We got a sewing machine at Cost Co. on Friday, figured out how to use it this morning and made an "Empathy Monster" (note the zipper mouth so that he is a good listener) just an hour ago! Isn't he cute? I used an old cashmere sweater that I've been saving for a sewing project, some buttons, a zipper and some scrap cloth AND my new sewing machine! I'd like to put him up in my etsy store if anyone is interested in purchasing him... I'll let you know when he's up! Here's some more images of how he came to be... I'm naming him "Birdie" and I hope you like him!!

Out At The Beach House Today...

2010-11-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

I'm out at the beach house today in Long Beach and I' can't believe how warm it was today. It was about 74 degrees when I arrived at about 1:00 pm. As soon as I unpacked I got myself a wine glass from the cupboard, filled it with a nice Shiraz and sat outside on the deck. I just sat outside until I felt like doing something else. (it was a while)... Its so nice to decompress from the every day stresses of life... The ocean is my favorite place to go, my healing place, my creative writing, painting place.

I'm here for the next couple of days so that I won't have any distractions... I'm making necklaces for my etsy store, my Phinney Ridge, Winter Fest show and a couple more that I will tell you about later...

Tomorrow I will be joined by my mom and dad and it will be a creative day for sure!

Hot bath tonight, good sleep and then up tomorrow early to work, work work!!! Wooo!

Updating My etsy Store!! :)

2010-10-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

mixed media original

Hello Everyone!

I have been hard at work this week-end updating my etsy store with new prints made from my original, mixed media paintings! Woooo!

OMG I'm tired! So far I've uploaded over 80 prints to my store and I'm about ready to keel over and sleep on my computer. I just wanted you to know though that if you are interested please free to pop on over and check out my new stuff.

Have a fabulous week and I'll talk to you again soon! Lots of prepping for holiday shows right now so I've been busy, busy busy!

xox -- kari

solo show at the q cafe' (woo!)

2010-09-30T17:24:00.000-07:00

Effective Redhead Constructed 12"x12" encaustic painting

Hello Everyone! I'm excited to announce that I have a solo show coming up on yet another Art Walk for October this time, next Thursday from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Q Cafe. They have Stumptown Coffee there my absolute favorite coffee in the whole world! :) I hope to see you there!

Here are a few more photos of the Q Cafe' and some of my artwork currently for sale there. If you would like to purchase paintings you'll need to do it through them. You can call them or go and visit in person from now until possibly the first part of November.

Have a wonderful day and thank you for viewing my blog today! :) -- kari xox

my very first portrait

2010-09-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

my very first portrait... more to come! :o]

my first time wiring my own paintings!

2010-09-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

just moments ago i wired my first painting! wooo!

fuel for the day...

2010-09-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

this lovely plate of yummies fueled me today

getting ready for my solo show at gary manuel salon

2010-09-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

hot wax + pigments = encaustic paints

keeping the paints on the griddle keeps them liquidy and usable

layer upon layer gets built up over time to create the painting

almost a finished product

2010-09-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

me in the morning light waiting for my bus to go to my temp job

this morning i woke up and i felt tired... this is different from my get up and get going attitude i usually have in the morning. i decided to stay home today (from my temping job-job) and just take care of myself. my back has been bothering me and i've had a bit of a headache for a couple of days now. last week-end i painted for three days straight and in addition to my new vegan lifestyle have brought yoga back into my life... quite frankly... i'm pooped out!

the exciting news is that i have two solo shows coming up. woooooooo! :o) the first one will be at (drum roll here) the very shee shee foo foo salon Gary Manuel Salon in downtown Seattle. I have been working with heather by e-mail so far to make sure i'm prepped and ready to start hanging my work in their salon on monday. heather had attended one of my holiday shows at annie's art and frame earlier this year and saw some of my work there. i got an e-mail from her shortly after asking me if i'd like to show some work in their salon. i replied with a huge grin on my face YES!! so here i am pooped out because i've been preparing pieces, finishing them, wiring them for hanging, getting an inventory list together, title cards/pricing, business cards, etc... phew! all the while working 8-5 at a temp job trying to support my passion as i make it happen every day a little bit closer... one more step each day...

the second solo show i have coming up i will tell you more about when we get closer to the date... coming up in just a few more weeks... stay tuned! :o)

good things:

signed up for susannah's on-line workshop that starts later this month called Unravelling: Living In My World (there's only a few more spaces left if you'd like to sign up... you have to have taken the first course Unravelling: Ways Of Seeing Myself first). I can hardly wait to start this course. Its about photography, writing, self discovery all kinds of juicy soul searching topics!
i started going to my shakti vinyasa yoga studio again i crave it from the moment i get up to the moment i go to sleep at night.
OMG! i have two solo shows! one for september and one for october! i'm scared nervous and excited all at once!
i've been cooking all of our meals with fresh veggies, whole grains and fresh fruits and i feel SO healthy and good inside and out.

let me know if you are showing work anywhere and i'll show it on this post. lets all support each other as we move closer to our dreams! woooo! :o)

take care and if you're feeling warn out or pooped out please take the time to take a day for yourself. you need to recharge and relax every once in a while.

xox

storm brewing in chelan, wa right before a spectacular thunder & lightning storm

my baby brought me white flox... they were so pretty

He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not... He Loves Me...

2010-09-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

Shakti Vinyasa Here I Come!

2010-08-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

8"x8" encaustic mixed media painting

5"x5" encaustic mixed media painting

about a month ago i went to visit my aunt in jacksonville, fl. while i was there i took two shakti vinyasa yoga classes, sweated myself to pieces and realized what i've been missing in my life, besides the company of my aunt, of course! :o-] i love yoga and i've missed it terribly! this evening i had my first intro class at my new yoga studio. i have been craving the whole mind/body, spiritual/physical piece in my life. it is essential in my new creative life to help keep me grounded to help creative energy flow and i want that "yoga" body that i see in the majority of the people who are practicing there! thursday is my second class in an eight part series and i'm already looking forward to it. after that unlimited yoga plan a month! wooo!

more painting
more finishing paintings
new paintings
order "floating frames" for some of my work (frames look VERY slick with encaustic paintings dropped in!)
more good, healthy, vegan eating, drink more water
loving new "O.N.E." Coconut Water! (yum! electrolytes and everything!)
keep going with the creative life coaching and take on one or two new clients!
sign up for new on-line workshop this week-end "Unraveling, Living In My World" (combines, photography, self discovery, writing, fun into an on-line course) Susannah rocks! (hi!)

i'm getting into the swing of things again... a new routine, healthier than before... we'll see how it goes...

have a wonderful day and please let me know how you're doing today! I love hearing from you! I REALLY do!! I want to know what is inspiring you today...

xox

Phinney Ridge: Winter Fest Application

2010-08-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

Well... I did it... I applied to the Phinney Neighborhood "Winter Fest"! Of course, TODAY was the deadline... I guess I like to push it a little bit sometimes... It gets my heart pounding! Here is what I will be selling in December (+ a few more surprises that you'll have to see in person!) I'll have more information closer to the date. (that is, if i'm accepted)

If you would like to enter the Phinney Ridge Winter Fest you may do so here. Good Luck!

I'm currently finishing up a collection of work for a salon downtown and I will be sharing more about that around the first couple of weeks of September! Wooo! I'm excited!!

Happy Monday!

Finishing A Few Pieces Today...

2010-08-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

encaustic painting 5"x5"

I've been working away in my studio this week-end and have finally finished a few more paintings. I always feel a little bit anxious right before I finish a piece because with encaustic paintings, until you buff them with a soft cloth, they look very dull... Its nerve racking to think that I put so much work into a painting only to have it look dull and lifeless!

I've been Creative Life Coaching a lot more lately and I just love it! I love watching my clients get excited about moving towards their dreams and watching them as they achieve success in their lives. I would love to have two more clients so if you are interested please let me know. I usually work with creative people who are just starting their own business. I have lots of resources and can help you with getting a website set up and can teach you how to upload your images yourself or just do it for you if you prefer. You can read more about coaching here.

Artist I'm in love with right now and recommend you visit! Marisa Haedike. I'm on her mailing list and I just love getting her little "paintings a day". I feel like I'm getting a little present in my inbox everyday. She's also now teaching an e-workshop that I'm thinking about taking too. I'll let you know.

I'm applying for the Phinney Ridge Winter Festival to sell prints and jewelry in December. The application is due tomorrow so wish me luck! :)

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Inside My Studio This Week...

2010-08-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

i've been painting and painting this week-end... preparing for the holiday season and for a couple of places i've promised new work... (i'll write more about this as we get closer to september and october...)

here's what the inside of my studio looks like right now... its kind of messy but its GOOD messy! :o]

encaustic painting today...

2010-08-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

raven photo by: linda j young

a collaborative encaustic piece with my mom linda j young

rest, relaxation, yoga and family

2010-07-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

pushpa and kari

i just got back from a trip to jacksonville, fl to visit my soul sister (aunt), pushpa... we first met when i was about two or three years old and she was about six or seven and we've giggled and stayed in touch ever since then...

kari and pushpa (st augustine, fl)

she's the person that i call when everything is going wrong and when everything is going right... during my trip i had amazing home cooked indian meals, we did yoga, we walked on the beach and talked and talked and talked... we took road trips and went to a psychic! its so nice to get away from my life every once in a while and just live a different life for a while... another bonus was that i got to get to know my cousin, kaliyani and my uncle glenn better... i felt very spoiled while i was there.

thursday's artwalk, neptune beach, fl

i participated in the artwalk in jacksonville, neptune beach... it was great to socialize, meet new people and i now have a shop or two that will be selling my work! (yeah!)

i'm back now and getting used to the time difference again and climate change...

things i'm workin on right now:

building my on line store
painting
relaxing

i'll let everyone know as soon as i have new work up and have my store up and running for my originals. if you'd like to buy prints or necklaces you can go to my etsy store for now.

next week... i'll be out in chelan, wa painting up a storm... no distractions just painting, painting, painting!

working the cute out...

2010-07-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

I often find that before I can get to the more serious work I want to produce I have to make some cuter paintings to get me warmed up and away from intimidation... So, here are a few paintings I produced in the last couple of days.

I will be in Jacksonville, FL for about a week to visit family, rest, start exercising again and I've also been invited to participate in the local artwalk there. I think I should be able to write off part of this trip now! Yeah!!

Anyway, enjoy your week and I'll send photos of my artwalk adventures, I can't wait!

july in the studio

2010-07-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

starting to paint again in my studio after a couple of weeks of having a VERY bad cold! i didn't sleep at all last night because i've been so scared to start painting again. i'm not sure why i do this to myself but i try to accept it as a part of my creative process and bring it along with me. i began painting this morning.

i've been working on 5"x5" boards, 8"x8" and a few other combinations of sizes and i am painting sheep. right now they are backgrounds and some type mixed in but the sheep will be making their appearances very shortly... i will take more photos so you can see... for now here are a few photos in and around my studio to show you how things look now in my beginning stages.

background images for sheepies

text for paintings

palette with acrylic paints

new work on etsy

2010-06-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

"waiting for kitty treats"

"i said... kitty treats, please"

- if you are interested in purchasing prints of these two new paintings you may do so here.

lunch & a little walk today...

2010-06-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

vegan burger at Hillside Quickies

i always try to find a little piece of nature where ever i am...

dear diary...

2010-06-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

my dismantling

2010-06-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

i believe that i am in the middle of a dismantling of sorts… it is a letting go of ego (as much as that’s possible) and an ever growing belief and trust that what the universe is allowing, showing and providing me is exactly what i need… it IS possible to trust, receive and allow the magic and mystery of life, to come into my heart and to trust that where i am is exactly where i am supposed to be… i am allowing trust… this is my dismantling.

Kari J Young
http://www.kariyoung.com

camera effects...

2010-06-05T17:02:00.000-07:00

just outside my studio...

i've been experimenting with some new camera effects i got a while ago... here are a few photos i took today out and about in the sunshine...

maggie

i made wishes today and watched them float away...

this is my sacred wish bowl

justin's plants on an old tray

glass gifts from justin

a fox glove outside our door

our welcome sign outside our door

home sweet home

Still Organizing & Clearing Space...

2010-06-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

i continue to organize and clean this week-end (after i go for a walk on this beautiful day!) and it feels SO good to be doing this!

cucumbers and celery from my macro lens setting

last night i made sushi and went to bed early... its been so busy at my job-job and i'm so ready for my summer vacation to start... its nice to make good food for myself when i get home... it makes me feel nurtured inside and out.

my on-line workshops are awesome! i'm getting so many new resources to use to grow my business and i'm surrounded by classmates who are all moving towards their dreams... its VERY exciting to be around so much good creative energy!

i'll post some photos of what i find on my walk in a little while... have a great day where ever you are!! :o]

Clearing In Order To Create More Space...

2010-05-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

oh dear god! it got worse than this!!

i've been feeling really good lately... i'm taking a couple of workshops that seem to be helping me with all of the things i've been procrastinating on... i feel like i'm cleaning up and preparing for my life to start awakening to where it should be...

on sunday i started pulling everything out to the center of my studio floor! i mean everything! the mondo beyondo workshop i've been taking has us working on creating a physical clearing in order to make space for more to come in to our lives... i want REALLY big things to come in to my life so i am doing a REALLY big cleaning!! trust me it has gotten a lot better since i took this photo... i will take some "after" photos so that you can see the difference... i can't tell you just how excited i was to start pulling art supplies and drawers filled with beeswax, pigments, brushes, paints, tools... i've gotten a little out of touch with my creative side this year... its been a little crazy with a full time job and other family things going on... the dust has settled now and my summer is starting in 30 days!!! i'm going to be ready for it!

in two weeks my goal is to be painting again and tomorrow i am going to be sketching in preparation of painting...

organizing templates

a real shipping area!

oh! the smell of beeswax! i love it!

oh the plan for making more necklaces is BIG BIG BIG!!

the peonies have bloomed outside the studio and they are my favorite!

my mondo beyondo list:

okay! i'm going to be really brave and share my mondo beyondo list with everyone... these are my secret wishes and bravest dreams, for now...

to be able to make a living from my creative career
to stay true to my values and dreams in all decisions that i make
to have a tricked out VW Eurovan (or equivalent) so that justin and i can go camping and road tripping whenever we want to
i want a home of our own that we can remodel exactly the way we want it... it has the space outside for a garden and has a large patio for entertaining... it might even have a pool! and we have an amazing view... workshops are taught out of the "mother-in-law" house we have on the property and we have enough land that we might get a few goats or chickens... a few dogs...
i would like to be able to live in different homes throughout the year... a home closer to my parents for 3 months, one in chelan and another that alternates... san francisco, new york, maine, france, italy...
i would like to be gifted a VERY large sum of money that would enable us to pay off all of our debt and buy a house outright... we would only have to worry about the next fun thing we were going to do... what photos we were going to be taking of the cool barn tour that we would plan out...
i would like to be donating artwork or creative services to help raise funds for various charities... there are so many good charities to donate to...
i would like to help women realize the strength they have in making their dreams come true... dream it believe it and take action... you can do it!! we all can!

that is basically my list for now... i'm putting it out there and we'll see what happens...

Intuition On My Creative Journey

2010-05-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

About three years ago as I was approaching 40 years old my intuition slapped me across the face and shook me... I had been working in the corporate world, working so hard to please and get everything done and get it right, to be a team player... play the game... always striving for praise, perfection and the hope for more money or a promotion... then I would truly be happy. I had always had good reviews, the 401k, the profit sharing, bonuses and the people I worked with were really nice... I had never had that in a job before and I thought I should be grateful for everything that I had achieved but I was not happy... The truth was that I was playing a game, maybe "the" game. I was doing what I was "supposed" to be doing in my life. Any creative thought that I had had was immediately dismissed (by me) and shoved down deep as a passing interest that would just distract me from my 24/7 job. And then it happened...

A few months before my 40th birthday I went to see a Life Coach and I liked it! It felt good to focus on myself for a change... I went to her because I was tired, unhappy and I had begun to have whispers of a life that had not been fully lived... Ultimately, I didn't know how to pursue my passions and I was feeling stuck. Through my coaching, I started to say out loud, "If its possible for me to give SO much time and energy to a job that I have absolutely no passion for, then what would it be like if I threw that kind of energy into something that I whole heartedly believed in?" OMG! but... OMG! How was I supposed to do that and what did I really want from my life?

I knew that I wanted to be an Artist. That part was clear to me and I had already, off and on over the years, been painting kind of in mini spurts as I had time on week-ends and had time off but I had no idea what the hell I was going to do with myself. I felt lost and scared again but still excited at the idea of pursuing this bubbling volcano inside of me.

So... I quit my job... OMG! I quit my job!!! I was elated and absolutely terrified all at once! What had I done? I took a year for myself... It was the first time in my life I had ever done something for myself that big... Like Andrea, I became a Creative Life Coach and it was the best gift I could have given myself... I coached, I painted, I traveled, I panicked and I panicked again, my parents thought this time she's really gone off the deep end! (I thought they were probably right too!) I painted some more and started selling my work here and there and this scared me even more! It seemed like the more I got closer to what I wanted the more I almost shut down in distrust of my dreams... I was fighting myself the whole way and I did not understand that negative "show stopper" in my head... I have learned (still learning) to walk with this part of myself on my journey towards my creative career. I've learned that it is there to protect me but doesn't always know what's best for my creative career. So I try to acknowledge its presence but take a step with it. Sometimes its really hard to keep moving towards this dream when I don't see results for a while or life gets in the way of it... My focus right now is to "savor" appreciate what I have right now... keep following my intuition, its my advocate, my biggest supporter and my new compass.

pulled in two different directions...

2010-05-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

kari j young

i've been struggling a lot lately with defining who i am as an artist (i think this might be a common theme among us artists!)... its seems the harder i try to move in one direction only in my work, the more confused and anxious i become... for some reason i feel that i must choose one way of painting right now... i have a side of me that is SO playful and likes to draw and paint with child like curiosity, simple shapes... sheep, different characters, birds, simple drawings, etc. and then there's the side of me that wants to paint and explore abstract shapes, work large, exploring colors and textures. i want deeper meaning and connection which is more on the fine art side...

i love both ways of painting and i think that i am realizing as i write this post that i am trying to put myself into a box again (i hate it when i do that!!)... my box has many doors and windows... i can leave the box and get into other boxes and i can come back to the box, break down the box and create a new one if i want to... i need to paint for me damn it! i think ultimately, i am an artist first and i am going to paint what is speaking to me at that particular moment... this is my struggle right now... what's yours? do you have a similar struggle? it would be great if you want to share it in the comments section of this blog... maybe it will help someone else in their creative struggles... thank you!

from the series: sheep patterns

another workshop!

2010-05-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

violets on my walk the other day

I did my first video diary this morning and it was easier than I thought it was going to be! :o] It was kind of fun and a little bit emotional as I spoke about people who have influenced my creative journey in the last year or so... and how my week was last week (SUCKED!) and how its better now looking down the home stretch to June 30th... I'm doing a lot of cleaning, organizing and preparing for my summer off... I want to hit the ground running with the projects I have brewing and I want my creative business more clearly defined and working more smoothly.

another workshop i'm taking starting this sunday

I've signed up for a second workshop that starts Sunday! Its called Mondo Beyondo and there is a "badge" for it if you scroll down a bit on the right hand side of this blog. I like to have a lot of things going at once and I find that I've been needing something to push me back into the excitement of my life and my blooming creative career! This workshop is about dreaming bigger and bravely taking steps towards that dream(s).

love my waffles with hot maple syrup and roasted walnuts and fruit for breakfast!

tulips for justin

This is my second month vegan and I'm still excited about better health, better skin and my body is still feeling better and better inside and out. I continue to lose a pound or two a week and its funny how hopeful this makes me feel... It seems connected to everything that I'm doing right now. My mind feels more open to the possibilities in my life and I love experimenting with new recipes and making REALLY yummy desserts that I can eat guilt free!!

Goals For This Week:

Work hard at my job-job to get everything done before summer starts and keep things more balanced with better communication, compassion and empathy...

progress...

2010-05-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

another tasty sandwich from "hillside quickies"

veganism:

its been almost a month now since my new vegan lifestyle began and i can't tell you how good i feel inside and out. i've had a few people comment on how mellow i seem and i know emotionally i feel more balanced. i was really getting to a point where my inner voice was just anxious and unsatisfied all of the time (it was torture!). i was having several dips of low energy every day which fed my addiction to more coffee or the bowl that sits in front of me (at my job-job) filled with mini candy bars. (yes, i was sneaking them all day long... just one or two here... and one or two there...) my skin looks more hydrated and overall is looking and feeling better. for right now, in my first few months of this new way of eating i have given myself permission to eat as much whole grain and vegetables as i'd like. i'm eating a bigger breakfast, having miso soup and whole grain toast and tea. it fuels me for the start of my day. for lunch i've been eating whatever i've made for the week on sunday... this week it will be lentil stew and whole grain rice... my cravings have stopped completely and i don't have dips anymore at all... for dinner justin and i have salads, wraps or whatever sounds good after a long busy day... this is my favorite part of my day when i get to sit down and have a nice dinner with my life partner. :o]

another nice side effect... i've been losing weight at the rate of a couple of pounds a week... so far i've lost seven pounds and i'd like to lose another ten... i'm just going to wait and see what happens without expectation...

maui:

we went to maui a week ago to release justin's dad's ashes into the pacific ocean near where he and anne were married... it was a trip filled with relaxation, anticipation, anxiety, love and release... it was one of the most special and powerful memorials i've ever been to and i feel grateful to have been a part of such a lovely ceremony.

I'm looking forward to going back under different circumstances and staying for much longer... it was a difficult trip.

my challenge:

i'm restless... what is it that i'm not learning from life... how do i connect more and make my life more valuable here... how can i help? maybe this needs to be my new mantra... how can i be of service here in this life time... how do i feel more valued and like i'm contributing my life to the greater good globally...

joyful:

i have signed up for a 5 week online course with kelly rae roberts that starts later this month called, "Flying Lessons, Tips & Tricks To Help Your Creative Business Soar". i'm already meeting new people from all over the world and it feels really good to be connecting with like minded people who are trying to create a life more in line with their passions.

day 8 and 9 of my new vegan life! :o ]

2010-04-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

i'm on day 9 of my new vegan life style! today i treated myself to a saitan sandwich with potato salad on it!! at my favorite vegan cafe hillside quickies (funny name, awesome food).

last week on day 4 and 5 of my detoxing from dairy, coffee and white processed sugar i got slammed (HARD!!) with an overload of dairy toxins trying to leave my body! I had every symptom of having the flu... i was boated (ouchie!), 101 degree temperature, nausiated, couldn't sleep, i was in agony! i guess when you've gone your whole life believing that dairy is what you're supposed to be eating for optimal health, calcium, protein and well being and then you take it away... the body is going to reward you with a pretty harsh detox! i got some macro acidophilus and finally felt amazing and renewed completely well on day 6... almost glowing...
:o ] (yeah! i made it... but MAN! if i would have had any knowledge of how bad that was going to be i honestly don't know if i would have done that!)

there have been a lot of really good changes in my body and my moods since i committed to this new vegan journey... i was really worried that i would have dips in energy in my day and that i would be tired all of the time... i have never felt so clean both inside and out! i have not had any dips in energy at all starting on day 6 and 7... not even at 3:00 pm my usual dip time! i find that i have a lot of excitement around eating right now. everything that i'm eating is a new adventure and education in what vitamins i'm getting and how i can mix it with whole grains or soups... i'm using the recipes from the kind diet and haven't really found one thing that i'm not open to trying at least once... whole grains are my new best friend and fresh yummy produce from whole foods or the farmer's market (yeah support your local farmers!) i have recently purchased a beautiful black rice called "forbidden" rice... i feel SO naughty! its really good mixed with the short grain brown rice and jasmine rice and its pretty to look at too...

we're getting ready to go to maui for justin's dad's memorial so i'll be out of touch for a little while but will be back with tropical photos and hopefully very rested and ready to start a new chapter in our lives...

take care and i'll share more soon...

A Transition From Vegetarianism to Vegan

2010-04-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

I finished the book I was reading by Alicia Silverstone called, "The Kind Diet". I am now officially in love with being a vegan. Today is my official start day... kind of like a birthday... Happy Vegan Day!!! I like the sound of that!

Over the week-end I carefully poured over each recipe in Alicia's book and created a one week plan for myself. I then made my first venture into Whole Foods Market I hadn't realized it but I actually spent almost two hours there looking at all of the yummy foods that they have and I was able to get almost everything on my list for my new vegan pantry.

Last night after I got home I made quinoa with basil, roasted pine nuts (GOD! these are expensive little buggers!!! $29.99 a pound) and olive oil. I also made the brown rice treats which are a lot like rice crispee treats (better!). They have a few non dairy chocolate chips that I sprinkled on the top yum! I also had an amazing mixed green salad and a cleansing tea made from shredded carrot, a japanese plum and white radish that I drank the broth from last night before bed.

This morning I'm definitely feeling the detoxing... No more coffee, no more dairy or other animal products... I think it will mostly be a smooth transition though... Join me if you'd like! We can share our stories here if you'd like... I'm in full support of anyone who would like to become vegetarian, vegan or otherwise... healthy eating here we come!! Woooo!

Now down to business: And the winners of my first big blog giveaway are (place drum roll here):

Emily: embracing unknown
Mylinda: endless possibility
Sherrie Posternak: open heart
Kristin Gannon: beginners mind
Janene Larson: girly giggles

Please contact me with your mailing addresses and I will send out your prize!

Thank you so much for everyone's participation. It was actually difficult to pick just five! I will be doing another giveaway very soon!

Stay tuned for more vegan adventures coming soon...

quinoa

First BIG Giveaway!!!

2010-03-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!!

OH!!! I'm SO excited!! This is my first big blog giveaway of items that will soon be available in my new etsy store!! (stay tuned for my GRAND opening... coming soon!)

Okay, so here are the rules:

I want everyone to leave just one comment and it can be only two words... (yes, that's TWO words only!) Please answer the following question:

What is the best thing about your life right now?

That's it GO!!!

The deadline for comments is: April 4th (midnight) and the winner will be selected shortly there after, by me. I will be selecting five winners! Each winner will receive one of the following prizes:

prize - necklace/1" glass tile
prize - magnet/1" glass tile
prize - necklace/1" glass tile
prize - magnet/1" glass tile
prize - necklace/1" glass tile

Good Luck and I will announce the lucky winners after the April 4th deadline. (here are some of the prizes that I will be giving out! (woooo!)

necklace (front) necklace (back)

magnet (front) magnet (back)

a week-end to myself...

2010-03-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

this week-end is the first week-end i've had to myself in so long that i can't even remember... i turned off my cell phone, cancelled all plans and just... did nothing... nothing, that is, but anything i felt like doing... i've been making necklaces and trying to perfect my technique... these little guys have been getting a lot of attention and i haven't even officially introduced them to the world yet! i'm finishing up a good amount of them today and then i'll have to spend the week writing descriptions and taking photos of my work... i'm going to offer a small amount first in my etsy store to see how they do and i'll be having a giveaway on my blog too... (shhh! its a secret...) i'll let you know a few days ahead of when i'll be doing that... its going to be so fun! i can hardly wait!!! :o]

i went on a walk this morning down to the beach... its kind of grey and sunny and cool... here are some photos from my walk... and YES!!! those stairs were killer on my hiney!! three sets of them and YES!! i did it and will be doing this on a more regular basis to get ready for our trip to hawaii in april...

have a wonderful, productive and hopeful week... SPRING IS COMING!!!! (yeah!!!)

steps #1 (looking up them)

steps #2 (looking up them)

steps #3 (looking down them)

prickly... kind of like me this week-end

beautiful horse tail by a small creek

i love sailboats and blue

its amazing to me just how far out my camera can zoom in...

macro image of a snarled root of some kind along the beach

rusty rock

i love water images

snarly weathered tree on the beach

learning curve...

2010-03-01T10:01:00.001-08:00

focus for the week...

i finally got my "glamour" glaze (it only took two days but it seemed like an eternity to me!) from Annie Howes (thanks Annie!!). I love this glaze very much because it also works as a glue for my necklaces and i highly recommend this product to anyone who is making glass tile jewelry right now. :o)

i'm finding that with this new adventure comes a little bit of a learning curve for me... each piece i make i learn more and want to make another one to do it even better... i've decided to make my first batch of necklaces into magnets for our refridgerator because i've come up with an even better and more perfect way of making these necklace that i'll soon have for sale... i don't want to put out a product that i'm not 100 percent happy with so i don't mind making people wait just a little bit longer before i start to fill my etsy shop (sorry!).

i truly love being able to make something from my artwork that i can have around my neck and look at whenever i want to... i also like being able to give something new as gifts for my family when their birthday's come up or just because...

i will be posting more images after i finish with the next round of necklaces... have a fabulous monday and week!

PS: i'm very excited to be getting my new laser printer some time this week... (i had previously ordered one but it was the wrong one so i had to send it back. aarrg!)

Making Necklaces!!! :o)

2010-02-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

I've been experimenting with making necklaces from images of my artwork. I've been using 1" glass tiles and I've already got a small shop along the beach in Florida interested in carrying my work! As soon as I finish the rest of this group, scan the images and write descriptions I will be selling these cuties in my etsy shop!

Here's a little sample of what I've been working on:

Martin T. "Marty" Butler... You'll Be Missed...

2010-02-09T08:48:00.000-08:00


MARTIN T. BUTLER July 9, 1947 - January 27, 2010 Marty Butler of Vancouver, WA, passed away on Jan. 27, 2010. He was born in Seattle, WA and lived most of his life in Edmonds, WA. His promotion with the Washington State Patrol brought him to Vancouver in 1992. Marty served as a Captain in the Army and received his Bachelors degree from University of Washington. He had a distinguished career with the WSP for over 28 years, retiring in 2003. Retirement brought Marty to a new calling as a driver with Volunteer Chore Services (Catholic Community Services). He cared deeply for his clients and volunteered for over five years until his recent illness prevented him from continuing. Marty is survived by his wife, Anne, at home in Vancouver; his sons, Justin (Kari Young), Jamie and Kristin, Seattle, WA; and Anne's son, Chad Schwendiman of Vancouver; siblings include his sister, Joan Evans (Tom), Brier, WA and brother Scott (Cindy), Republic, WA; nephews, Mike and Ben Evans; niece, Christine Walker; and special recognition to his cherished little nieces in Vancouver, Jessica and LuciAnne Denison. On behalf of the entire Butler family our special thanks go to Tim Greene, Bob Terrell, the medical teams at Legacy Salmon Creek, and the staff at Ray Hickey Hospice House. A memorial service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens on Thurs., Feb. 11, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. Donations in Marty's memory may be sent to Volunteer Chore Services, 9300 NE Oak View Dr., Ste. A-2, Vancouver, WA, 98662. Please sign his guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

Here's The Other Painting I Sold Last Week-End

2010-01-26T17:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks Paula!!

SOLD! More Paintings Sold Over The Week-End! (woo!)

2010-01-25T11:22:00.000-08:00

I sold another couple of paintings to really nice, cool peoples over the week-end! Yeah!!! :o]

Here they are!

she looks very happy in her new home! thanks chris!! :O)

PUBLISHED!! Bricolage

2010-01-22T15:49:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share with everyone that my artwork has recently been published for the first time at the University of Washington through the Literary Arts Journal called Bricolage. Here's the publication (#26) and the image they used of my artwork, metamorphosis. (p. 59)! :o] (yeah!)

Bricolage Issue #26

Metamorphosis 8"x8" Encaustic Painting: by me!

Beeswax Team Holiday Exchange (part II)

2010-01-21T09:46:00.000-08:00

Beth Billups With Her New 6"x6" Holiday Exchange Gift "Sheep Patterns" by me! :o ]

There are more images posted now with my encaustic group The Beeswax Team. This holiday exchange was so fun that I hope we do it again VERY soon. I loved making the 6"x6" piece I made for Beth and it was so nice to receive a piece from someone that I've never met before...

Please take a moment and check out the other encaustic paintings that people got:

CLICK HERE

Have a great day!

Encaustic Holiday 6"x6" Painting Exchange: update

2010-01-19T19:45:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays I participated in one of my Encaustic Painting Groups, "The Bee Team" for a holiday exchange. The person who ended up painting a painting for me was: Tirzah DeCaria

Here is the painting I received... Thank you Tirzah, I love my new little painting. Its hanging on the wall in my hallway.

6"x6" untitled encaustic, mixed media painting (front)

me holding my new painting! (love it!)

I'm looking forward to seeing other people's pieces and will post more images after Wednesday.

Creating A Triptych: Part II

2010-01-12T06:59:00.000-08:00

I've moved on to the next couple of layers with an additional design. Stay tuned for part III, IV...

phase II triptych panels

More information coming soon... Have a great day!

Creating A Triptych

2010-01-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a triptych encaustic piece this week-end. It is my first time painting one so I'm pretty excited about it. I'm going to be submitting it for an exhibition that will be coming up later in the year. I'm in stage one which is doing the first couple of layers with paint... I have used acrylic paints and water so far and will be adding wax and pigment in the next stage... I also bought several 8"x8" boards that I will be painting more sheep on... I'm really enjoying these little guys... They make me smile! :o)

Here are the images that I worked on last night in my Seattle studio. I hope you enjoy them! I'll post more images as I progress along and then let you guys know if I actually get selected to show my triptych!! (eee!)

in the studio

untitled triptych center panel

untitled triptych panel I

untitled triptych panel III

More to come soon...

Dreaming About The Year Ahead...

2010-01-07T20:26:00.000-08:00

I've been dreaming about the year ahead of me and I've been feeling excited and hopeful... I feel the momentum of a small dream growing day by day and feel myself getting closer to the life that I've imagined and am living in my head... I'm also careful to appreciate what I have now and one of my challenges is to enjoy the process along the way to accomplishing my goals.

I wanted to share four encaustic paintings that I painted a couple of weeks ago with you... They are made with beeswax, pigment, tissue paper and oil paint. The size is 8"x8" on board with 1.5" cradle. These sheep I originally painted as oil paintings about a year or so ago and all of them sold. I've been missing their cheerful little faces so I brought them back in a little bit different medium. I hope you enjoy them! :o)

sheep patterns I

sheep patterns II

sheep patterns III

sheep patterns IV

Happiness

2009-12-30T08:44:00.000-08:00

mr. kitty & domino snuggled together on daddy's bed... my happy place for today

today's word is happiness... here is the definition from "dictionary.com"

pleasure, joy, exhilaration, bliss, contentedness, delight, enjoyment, satisfaction. Happiness, bliss, contentment, felicity imply an active or passive state of pleasure or pleasurable satisfaction. Happiness results from the possession or attainment of what one considers good: the happiness of visiting one's family. Bliss is unalloyed happiness or supreme delight: the bliss of perfect companionship. Contentment is a peaceful kind of happiness in which one rests without desires, even though every wish may not have been gratified: contentment in one's surroundings. Felicity is a formal word for happiness of an especially fortunate or intense kind: to wish a young couple felicity in life.

reading the definition of happiness actually makes me happy... its everything i want for myself, everyone and more... its my goal for the new year and for every moment in my day... its just beyond my reach at times and then suddenly i'm surrounded by it... i love it when its here and miss it when its gone... its a lot like love...

Phew!

2009-12-28T12:01:00.000-08:00

the last couple of weeks have been a crazy blur of events! justin's father in the hospital, the holiday season, lack of sleep, stressing out, a few tired and cranky arguments and just plain surreal shifts in my every day routine.

i loved being able to spend time with my family. it made things a little more tolerable...

x-mas eve at my sister's house 2009

the blur, the yells of excitement, the frenzie of present openings

family photo opp x-mas 2009

this is the time of year where i start to look back at the year and start to get excited about the new one coming up... phew! it was a doosie in a lot of ways! i watched people, family, friends and the nation work through being layed off, dreams altered, health issues and i think we should all give ourselves a serious pat on the back for making it through one of the toughest years since 2000!

i've been feeling very hopeful about 2010... i dare say, i'm even feeling a little bit excited... excited to have 2009 almost completely out of the way and hopeful about what the coming year might bring. i'm getting started already... i have a new encaustic painting "social networking" group that i am creating and will be announcing to the world in a couple more weeks. i have lots of plans for group exhibitions that i have already started buying supplies for. i have been marketing in a new more efficient, community oriented way and i continue to tweak and make my website a nicer place to visit.

i am also excited because for the first time ever i'm going to be offering prints and other items made from my artwork... more to come about that in a later post...

anyway, i just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been following this blog and thank you for sharing your lovely e-mails of support and encouragement as we all make our way through to more happiness and bliss in our lives! happy new year and congratulations on making it through another big year!

look out 2010 here we come!!

Coping With Illness

2009-12-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

my boyfriend's father, marty has been in the hospital all week with liver failure and other complications associated with his bad liver and it has been a very stressful week for friends and family. now that i'm back to work for a few days it seems surreal and strange to have to be here... i don't like that i feel pressure to be somewhere i do not want to be... i have to continue keeping a brave face and working to bring an income in... so i'm here in my safe little bubble working today and tomorrow and will go back down to vancouver again on wednesday to support justin and his/my family... we have to take it one moment and then one day at a time...

xmas is marty's favorite time of year... he's like a little kid who can't wait to see his boys and to have family all around him... he decorates the tree, wraps the presents, tells the stories, shows the tricks and gives the kitty-treats to "Mr. Kitty"... he's surrounded by people who love him and who have been touched by him in some way... they either have worked for him or just plain love him... we all love him and hope that he finds a way through this so that we can keep sharing his love of life and this holiday season... may he know no pain, fear or sorrow... i love you marty...

Scary Santa

2009-12-20T09:57:00.001-08:00

ok, i'm sorry but this has to be one of the most deranged looking Santas that I have ever seen!!!

Justin & I are in Vancouver visiting his father in the hospital and we stopped off somewhere to get a quick bite to eat... And then we saw it, right as we walked in... Welcoming visitors as they came in to eat...

More about our Vancouver adventures to come...

- Posted from my iPhone

A Curious Photo Of Maggie

2009-12-18T11:35:00.001-08:00

On high alert... An intruder, perhaps... hmmmm She stood frozen like this for a full 30 seconds... very un-nerving! :o]

- Posted from my iPhone

"Pocket Quilts" For The Holiday

2009-12-17T09:51:00.000-08:00

Just came across this fantastic story, and wanted to send it to you while it was so timely, respective to this holiday season.

Sociology Professor Barbara Reskin and Lynn White (another UW PhD) have been making “pocket quilts” for homeless kids. The idea is that kids will have a place to keep their stuff and something of theirs that can keep them warm.

Barbara is going to try to deliver the quilts this weekend to an agency that will get them to children and then will begin on the next dozen. She is looking to get more pockets—their biggest challenge by far. A number of students in the Sociology department have already donated some (during finals week!) but Barbara and Lynn are looking for more, along with donations of things to put in the pockets: “essentials” and toys for homeless kids to keep safe, while the blankets help keep them warm.

The idea for the pockets was Barbara’s idea. She and Lynn White had been buying cotton shirt fabric for quilts at thrift stores for several years, and she’d saved the pockets. When the homeless epidemic began, it occurred to her that quilts for homeless children would give kids a place to keep their stuff and something of their own to cuddle up in. Only later did she decide to fill all the pockets which is why she finds herself needing some “essentials” (e.g., pencil sharpeners and small flashlights) at the last minute.

Here's how you can help:

Contact: Barbara Reskin at 206/323-1753 or cell is 478-4710, or email reskin@u.washington.edu

Contact: Patricia Gray, Community Relations Manager at Wellspring Family Services, 206.826.3038 x 115, or email pgray@wellspringff.org

Donations of pockets and small items to go in the pockets can be directed to: Wellspring Family Services, 1900 Rainier Ave S, Seattle WA 98144. Phone: 206-826-3050.

Advise On Blogging...

2009-12-15T18:11:00.000-08:00

mandala beetle girl (mixed media paper)

Below is a question I recently received in my in box and I decided to blog about it. Its a question that I get fairly regularly (and love to help with). And I know a lot of people have the same questions about starting out in the scary world of blogging.

"I write to see if you would be willing to give me some advice. I know that you have an absolutely wonderful personal internet site and that you have a blog. I want to set up my own blog and wonder if you would be willing to give me a little advice as I try this. I thought I would go to blogger.com and use their template as it is reputed to be free - what do you think of this? I have an open-ended question and that is: is there anything that I should be aware of as I start this (mainly looking looking for little tidbits of advice before I fall into a deep black hole, HA!). Hope you will be willing to communicate with me if I have questions."

--------------------

Hello! I would love to answer any questions you may have about blogging or... whatever I can help you with! :o)

It has taken me a while to find my voice for my blog and I expect it will continue to develop as I'm moving into this new vulnerable world of blogging.

I have an account with blogspot/blogger and wordpress is equally as nice... free is good and I don't think you should ever have to pay for blogging.

Regarding the writing… I have read a couple of books that have really helped me to find my voice and also to tie everything (my website, gallery and blog) together.

The first book is "The Sound Of Paper" by Julia Cameron. She talks about something called “morning pages” I have been writing them almost every day (actually, I've come back to them after a long while of not writing them very consistantly after reading her first book called the artist's way, another AMAZING book that got me started on my artist's journey).

Two is Art + Money... I have blogged about this book because it has set my soul on fire again and has reaffirmed my instincts for creating a web presence, including blogging.

I have found that blogging is kind of the marketing part of what you do... its almost the soul of what you do with your business... its the part where people get to see the inside scoop of who you are and how you create... its marketing without feeling like marketing... its where you let people get to know who you are, even if its just about the restaurant that you went to last night and something funny happened... the trick is you have to write from your soul... NOT so easy at first (and quite vulnerable to put this out there)... this is where the morning pages come in handy for me... I found that when I was writing from my blog I could feel people watching me... when I write from my morning pages which is at an undisclosed location... I name names, I write from my true voice... When I am done, if its blogging material I want to share, I copy and paste my words into my blog and then edit it from there... It still comes from my heart/soul but it is tapered to what I would like to reveal and share in my blogging space...

I think the most important thing is to get clear on who you are and what you want to share with people. The blog needs to be a space for sharing not selling really… Its about information giving and sharing of resources and sincerity.

I hope this information is useful for everyone! Please keep asking questions and I will do my best to help everyone! :o)

A Fantastic Book For Artists!

2009-12-07T09:23:00.000-08:00

So! An artist friend of mine recommended an artist's marketing e-book to me last week called, "The Unconventional Guide To Art + Money". (for more info please view sidebar----->) I got it on Friday and finished it by Sunday... I gobbled it up and I loved it. It was filled with so many resources for navigating and finding the services you'll need for a successful on-line presence.

The book is an e-book that you can download and it comes with artist interviews that you can download and listen to also. It was so nice to hear how other artists with non-traditional backgrounds in art (like me) who are beating the odds and making it happen. It was very encouraging and gave me the confidence that I am definitely headed in the right direction with my art career.

The book also covers setting prices, how to drive people to your sites and social networks, creating galleries and networking!

I would highly recommend this e-book to any artist starting out in the scary cyber world! :o)

Annie's Art & Frame: First Holiday Retrospective Exhibition

2009-12-01T15:49:00.000-08:00

http://www.anniesartandframe.blogspot.com/

I will be in an exhibition starting in December at Annie's Art & Frame in Seattle... The information is below and I hope to see you there. :o)

"Annie's presents our first holiday retrospective exhibition, combining the work of most of the artists who have exhibited here this year and the work of Annie's employees. Fourteen artists will have original work for sale ranging in price from $5 to $100, and most work will be pre-matted to standard sizes or framed! Paintings, drawings, silk-screen, intaglio, and linocut prints, photography, sculpture, and functional ceramics will all be here! This year, treat someone to a gift of original art and support local artists and local business. Represented artists are Andrew Crawshaw, Barbara Dunshee, Sam Hamrick, Demian Johnston, Julia Kuskin, Susan Martin, Yoshi Nakagawa, Tom O'Brien, Maron Resur, Chris Smith, Sarah Takahashi, Jose Tenorio, Cathie Joy Young, and Kari Young."

Working Through The Panic

2009-11-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

"allowing" encaustic painting 8x8" beetle girl series

i did it again... i had a really big wave of panic hit me this week-end... well, honestly its been building for a while now... defining what success is for me is a constant battle... when things aren't going well financially or when i talk with someone who defines success the way i used to define success (corporate job, money, house, children, cars, 401k) my insecurities flare, when i feel like i should be farther along than i am... it hits me deep and big... what's helping me through has been talking about it with trusted friends, fellow artists, my partner... and looking back at where i've come from... i feel buoyed by their confidence in me and my dream... i created everything in my life for a reason... i have created everything in my life around me so that i have the energy and time to create and paint... and now its time to take a big breath, again, dust myself off and allow for the next thing to come in to my life... this following your passion thing is the most mentally challenging adventure that i have ever been on... its all new territory and my goal is to keep connecting with people out there (yes you!) that are on similar journeys... we need to stick together and support one another when we can... help each other through when we lose faith in our dreams... and keep pushing through the dark times...

hang in there WE can do it!!

Teacher Tom: Our Encaustic Monoprints

2009-11-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

Teacher Tom: Our Encaustic Monoprints

Hanging In There...

2009-11-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

encaustic pour with transfers, oil paint 8x8"

lately, i've been going over some of the experiences and changes i've made in the last two to three years... phew! there have been some really big changes in my life and i'm trying to acknowlege my acomplishments... i've gone from a corporate job at a bank wondering how i was going to make art more central in my life to taking a year or so off to travel, paint and see what would happen... i also became a creative life coach, workshop facilitator and full time artist... when i realized that art sales here and there were not going to pay my bills i worked as a temp at the UW until i found a job that was low stress (relatively) and would support my art career... in my current job i get jul/aug off every year... this sounds fantastic in theory but again i'm restless and not enjoying living paycheck to paycheck ($20k a year, owch!)... other skills that i have developed over the last couple of years are my website/development skills (i was doing this on the side for new, mostly women, business owners). these skills plus my office management/operations skills i hope to some day translate into something that pays me a higher salary, is flexible and allows for even more time to paint and teach workshops (without having to go back to office management positions (boo!))... i find that every few months i stop, take a look around, see what i like in my life and what i don't, what i want more of and what i don't and reset my goals accordingly... i want to keep dreaming bigger, look around, reassess, dream bigger, look around, reassess (repeat) :o)

the most important thing in my life right now is to keep the momentum moving towards my art career, creating a better work (job-job) situation that utilizes the skills that i enjoy using and has a higher income to allow for more art career time... i hope you all are moving towards your dreams too... (hang in there you can do it!!) : ]

encaustic pour with transfers, oil paint 8x8"

Living In The Now

2009-10-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

i've been feeling really good lately and i hate how that feels suspicious to me somehow. i feel filled and content in my life right now. i'm always moving towards the next thing but it seems like i'm kind of getting "it" that i need to be living in the "now". i've been practicing "now". i do it if i'm feeling a tightening in my tummy. i do it when i'm enjoying music. i do it when i wake up in the morning. i'm actually doing it right "now"!

i've been enjoying the sunrise on my busride in the mornings. i've been enjoying the colors in the trees and the birds and squirrels that accompany me on my 1/2 mile walk across the uw campus on my way to work in the mornings. another strange thing is that i actually caught myself the other afternoon saying, in my head, "i love my job" it was a dreamy kind of voice. i stopped and said HEY! who said that!! and then i started thinking about it and i'm realizing that i have actually enjoyed coming back after my summer vacation. we have a new director who has implemented new ways of working that are actually creating a stress free environment for me and everyone else to work in. i feel taken care of and respected. two things that are requirements for my happiness in life where ever i am.

i've been practicing my encaustic pours lately and i'm very happy with the results... its VERY neat and clean and i love the results... i've also started to use laser ink jet photo transfers in my work... i've been using copies of my artwork and i'm really enjoying that too... i'm figuring out how to combine everything and have ideas for my next series of paintings... i'm hoping to be painting this week-end and i'll have some images up of what i came up with when i have them...

The Sound Of Paper: My Wish List...

2009-09-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

this image is from the internet

since i'm reading The Sound Of Paper and doing the exercises and writings i though that, well... i thought i would take a deep breath and put my wish list out there for all of the world to see... i think until i can do this without hesitation, i'm going to make myself just do it... i'm hoping that it will inspire others to make their own wish lists and wish BIG!! maybe if we all put our wish lists out there the universe will start to bring opportunity closer... so... here it is!! (drum roll... prrrrummm prrrrummmm ppprrruuummm....):

to be independently wealthy
to help a variety of charities with donations of artwork as well as monetarily
to have an amazing home with separate space for a studio/workshops and work areas for J. we have a view of the water and trees surround us
to purchase a van that has a pop-up top for camping and it is brand new... it has everything we dreamed of for camping and road tripping
to spend three to six months out of the year playing, camping, exploring and travelling with J
to be able to take care of my immediate family so that they never have to worry about finances again
to have the olympus stylus tough camera that i've been dreaming of... it would go nicely with all of the traveling, camping and roadtrips
to have an amazing espresso machine: Jura-Capresso 13185 Impressa F7 Espresso Machine, Silver Metallic
to be able to run my business from the compfort of our new home, in the studio, where there is plenty of room for all of our business needs... shipping, etc. also to potentially have an assistant who takes over for us when we're on vacation/travelling
to have a personal assistant who is a perfect match for me and the way i do business. she is wildly enthusiastic and excited about working for an artist and hopes to be able to do the same some day
to be able to develop property (chelan) or be free from it and purchase our own "good energy" piece of property
to create a great space for (our kitty) to be able to climb, be challenged and have other animals around her to keep her stimulated and happy
to be connected in a real way to women, artists and friends who love, support and want only the best for me... my artist community
to contribute in some way to helping people find their passion and always be moving towards it... they may look like workshops, books, i'm not sure yet
that my family lives a long, healthy and happy loving life... i wish only the best for them because i love them so much
to completely pay off all of J's bills so that he may rest in his life without worry of finances or working in a job that he doesn't love
that J would find peace and abundance in his life... that he would spend his time making the terrariums that he loves to make and working with the soil (nature/earth) in some way that he finds satisfying
to always be inspired to paint, explore and write
to write books on how to and painting techniques, a book of photos/paintings... or whatever decides to come through me that is inspiring and contributes to the world
to be in a world that has evolved consciously into a way of thinking and being that reflects non-violence and loving support always... we all help, love and support one another... no one goes hungry or doesn't have a home or needs to suffer alone, etc.

this is my wish list for now... it changes and evolves as i change and evolve... i wish only the best for everyone. peace, love and hapiness - kari

learning from the past

2009-09-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

the book i've been reading (the sound of paper by julia cameron) on the bus in the morning has been talking about how we learn from pain and our past. i have learned a great deal in my life through the pain i've experienced. an abusive marriage, being on my own and alone at barely 18 yrs old to fend for myself. i've come a long way and now appreciate the rough experiences i've had in my life. because of my experiences i'm self-sufficient, calm and i have good coping skills. my lesson right now is to focus in on what makes me happy in all things that i do. i've been trying to find a way to sell my artwork that is unique and feels like something "i" would do and i'm not entirely confident that etsy is feeling right for me. i'm thinking that this is a good experimental place where i can post new items to see what kind of response i get. i guess it would be more for marketing and light sales. i would also use it for lower priced items like prints and jewelry. i'm happy making a few items at a time per day and then posting it for sale whenever i feel like it.

i have been feeling very overwhelmed by the amount of work i've needed to do - post painting. it would be different if i wasn't working full time during my day now. i would have the energy and the time to do all of the detailed repetitive work that needs to be done and I would use my assistant (who i cannot afford at this time).

this week two really nice things happened. pratt fine arts (favorite place ever!) invited me to sell some of my work at the annual holiday sale that they have and annie's art and frame in ballard invited me and 10 other artists who participated in the ballard artwalk in 2009 to sell as much work as we want for their holiday/artwalk event coming up in november or december... that makes me feel really good... sometimes after i paint i have absolutely no idea what i'm supposed to do with all of the work and i'm trying to just let it happen and trust that opportunities present themselves when its time. today is a good day.

note: I have a new blog that I'm playing with (check it out!): www.paintingsaday.blogspot.com

slowing things down a bit...

2009-09-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

today is the first day of autumn and its going to be close to 90 degrees today. i started reading the book the sound of paper by julia cameron and i'm reminded to start writing my morning pages again. its to help get the junk out of my head and to plan my day in some way, every day. i think i've mostly been focusing on where i am right now and trying to stay conscious of being in the now... recently, i become overwhelmed when i focus on all of the things that i need to get done in order to get my work out there to be seen and to have items for sale. i end up intimidating myself and start to shut down. so i'm trying to just take it easy and wait for the next wave of inspiration and energy to hit me. that's one thing about myself that i've come to trust deeply... i am creative and i have a process. when i respect that and take care of myself creativity always comes back to me. if i don't... its very bad news...

my goals this week are to switch to tea and have latte's only as a treat on the week-end, walk more, write more, relax more, sleep more and be present more.

i thought this cup of tea was so beautiful... i found it on the web

this looks like the latte i get at cafe' fiore' down the street from me