Whats been keeping me busy....

Sooooo much to say...It has been a busy busy spring and now summer has finally arrived and I am still going going going!

I'm not sure where I left off or even where to begin. I wanted to share a few things that have been keeping me busy and at least give you the excuse as to why I am horrible at updating my blog. : (

Last month Steve and I traveled to Chattanooga Tn for a folk art show which was so much fun. Since then I have been selling some of my work here or there with full profit going to Jude's recovery.

I started selling my work at Bell's Handcrafts and now I am selling at Corner Arts Gallery downtown Newnan. I have sold two pieces so far and that just puts a smile on my face and I hope whom ever has bought too!

We went to the beach the last week of May and had a great time just being a family. Got to soak up the sun at one of our favorite beaches Steve and I used to go to when we lived in Florida. Now we get to take our girls there.

We had swimming lessons two weeks ago and last week was VBS! Me and my good friend Jodi always teach the crafts.....exhausting but so much fun! I claim her every year cause she is a real teacher and knows how to run a class. LOL

We are still homeschooling but because we go through the year we are doing four days a week right now. So excited about starting 1st grade soon. Emma amazes me and makes me laugh everyday.....not all days are perfect though. : )

Well just a few tidbits about what has been happening at the Smith's house! We are having a blast and excited about the future. I will post new work as I make it.

Happy Summer my friends!

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Who-fest 2012

OK, so I am really late on posting any pictures from Who-fest this year but I got tons of excuses.....just maybe not good enough ones. So here are a few pics of our fun weekend. Unfortunately we had to leave Sunday morning due to the rain so I did not get to visit or take as many pictures of my friends as I normally do. Bummer!!!! We did have a great time and appreciated all the hard work involved in making this a successful show. Looks like a Who-fest too is coming this September and if all goes well I plan on being there.

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Some of my new work

A few of  my favorite new pieces I made for Who-fest that sold. We had such a good time and I just love seeing people walk away with my work and a smile! : )

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Painting for Jude

It has been such a beautiful spring! I cannot believe that June is just a breath away. Trying to keep up with homeschooling and domestic duties keeps my time pretty much filled but I thought I would sit down and type a bit about what has been going on.

Well, first off I posted a few weeks ago that my brother's little boy Jude has been diagnosed with leukemia. It was a shock to all of us and especially to them. Jude has been in and out of the hospital with a few complications but we are reminded daily God has him in the palm of HIS healing hands. Their baby girl is due this Friday so I will have a niece which is their first girl! I know they are really excited about that but weighed down with new responsibilities and stresses. They have a long road ahead but seem to be handling things well. They are very blessed to be surrounded by so many that care for them and are able to help. I wish I was able to do more but we live too far away so we do what we can and pray! If you are interested in keeping up with Jude's journey to recovery here is a site my brother is updating as he can. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jbgriffinhttp://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jbgriffin

A few weeks ago I felt led to paint this painting. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but by the end of the day I really liked what I saw. So I posted it on my facebook fan page and a friend of mine saw it and said she wanted to buy it. I told her all profit of this particular painting will be going to Jude's medical expenses. A few minutes later another friend said she wanted one too so I decided how ever many of these particular paintings sold I would donate the profit to Jude. After a day another friend contacted me and requested one too. lol

We were at Who-fest in Chattanooga TN. a few weekends ago and I sold another painting in honor of Jude. This is the painting that sold.

Felt Flower Hair Clips on etsy

Life has been pretty busy lately! Blogging has been put on the back burner as I posted a week or two ago. I miss it yet feel like some things in life take priority for me right now. However I wanted to take a minute and post a few of my new felt hair clips I have been working on. These are now on my etsy shop. Please check them out.

Thank you for being a friend, follower, or maybe a bit of a fan! I am blessed!

Don't for get to check me out on

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Precious Hands

A few years ago I decided to make over our bedroom. I needed it to be a place where I could get away. Everything I do and anywhere I go involves my babies. I am not complaining, but in the evening when they go to bed I don't want to look at toys and the product of our day. I just felt like making my room a get away with calm tranquil colors would be awesome! However I wanted to incorporate something of theirs that tied my theme and design together. So I took a few old frames. I painted them a dark umber brown and distressed them. Then I made three separate collages to put in each frame to hang above our bed. The far left one is a cut out of Emma's hand with her name and the word "faith" on it. The middle one is two birds with the word "Love" on it. The one on the right is a cut out of Abbie's hand with her name and the word "Hope" on it. I love these pieces dearly and will always cherish them! Just wanted to share!

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Crochet flower ring with painted button center

I wish you could see my kitchen. Because I do not have my own studio yet (hopes for the future) I create mostly in my kitchen with my girls at my feet, in my face ALL day. No complaints cause I know it won't last forever. Anywho, I have several unfinished projects lying all over my counter tops and table. IT IS SPRING, that is what I do....create! I saw a flowered crochet ring somewhere lately and I thought I can do that and decided to make my very own. One that went with my own style and colors. I am extremely excited about this, I love big, funky jewelry. (I have some favorite pieces of my jewelry I plan on posting about later.)

I painted a wooded button and then sewed it onto the crochet flower and super glued it to the ring.....fun and easy huh!

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Felt Monster (Boo)

My two year old calls this "Boo". This past Halloween she really became aware of things. During that season there are so many monsters, witches and pumpkins and her older sister would say "BOOOOOOOO" to her so she started associating all things Halloween as boo.

I am not the best sewer or even great with stitching but this was just something fun I made one day sitting outside while my girls were playing in the beautiful weather. His name is "Boo"!

Easter Egg project with acrylic paint

Easter Project

We are going to make paper Easter eggs to decorate our front living room window.

 My sweet girls precious hands after our project. We had such a great time!

This is how we did this project.

supplies needed; acrylic paint, cut out paper eggs about 2 inches in length, Styrofoam plate, clear plastic wrap

First thing you do is let your child pick out their favorite colors and squirt them around the edges of the plate in a circle. Then squirt white in the middle. Place a sheet of clear plastic wrap across the top of the plate with enough to tuck under the bottom.

Then you let your child take their finger and stir it around and around in the plate over the clear plastic wrap. Sometimes you may have to push the paint more to the center but it should begin to look like this. Don't mix too much or it will blend too much and not be pretty.

Then take the clear plastic wrap off the plate and lay it aside. Take your egg and lay it into the paint and tap your fingers all along the backside of the egg. (Yes you will get messy so be prepared and HAVE FUN!!!)

Pull the egg up and lay it out to dry and VIOLA you have beautiful looking eggs. Emma and Abbie had so much fun doing this project. I am thinking of making a paper tree and letting the eggs hang on it for a pretty decoration for Easter. Dern, I love this kind of mess.

A shot of the eggs drying.....I will post pics of the end result another day.

If you want to see where I got this idea from and see some other fun projects to work on click HERE.

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XOXO owls mixed media

While Emma worked on her math and writing I painted. That is one reason I LOVE homeschooling. I haven't painted owls lately and so I wanted to do something with owls. My supplies were scrap paper, acrylic paint, felt, buttons, and some stamps to add texture and more layers.

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"Masterpieces" Display is finished.

Oh my word I haven't posted in a few days. Yikes! I got sidetracked with this beautiful weather and besides playing outside with my kiddos I have been painting!

I posted a few weeks ago about wanting a cute way to display my kiddos artwork. Well it is finished! I received my vinyl letters in the mail I ordered from my friend Brie and it made the piece complete. I decided on the word "Masterpieces" since everything my children create are masterpieces and I am sure you feel the same way with yours too! I just love it. This hangs in our kitchen and I can change out the girls latest art and put the new art up.

If you want to see how I made this piece you can see my last post on this project HERE. If you want to check out Brie's website and see what she offers you can click Uppercaseliving. Here is her email address brie.aitchison@gmail.com

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My friend Ashlie Blake with Painting Bliss

I am so excited to pass the word along about my friend Ashlie Blake with Painting Bliss. She has been an Internet art friend for several years but we have communicated more in the last few months and opportunities are popping up everywhere for her. I am so happy and keep watching in amazement on what is happening in her art career. Her work is centered on nature and life and the beauty she sees in it. I am drawn to her and her work because of the colors, her use of texture and style....oh and SHE LOVES HELLO KITTY so that means she is definitely a sista to me!



This is one of my favorite pieces! I love birds. Another reason I am attracted to Ashlie's work so much.

Ashlie

Check out her about me page.

Ashlie is a Kindred Spirit and I am so lucky to be her art friend! Check out her newest adventure with her blogging and art Here.

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chirplove shared an Instagram photo with you

Hi there,
chirplove just shared an Instagram photo with you:

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"It is official. With much thought and somewhat turmoil I have closed citygirlstudios.com. I have evolved and grown so much as an artist from when I first started city girl studios in 2004. It is a chapter closed, but with that a new one begins. I am so excited to be starting my new, fresh chapter. I will be updating my blog as best I can. I am a stay at home mom and stay busy with keeping up with my home, homeschooling my 6yr old and my art. I hope to keep you coming back to see what I am doing. I hope we can grow as kindred spirits. xoxo"

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

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Work in progress

Golly gee, I am not finishing any projects but keep starting on new ones....lol that is how I roll. I like to have several going at one time.

This is a "masterpiece" in progress. No literally. I plan on hanging this in my kitchen so I can display the girls latest artwork on it weekly. I am having the letters "Masterpieces" in a whimsical font designed to put above the work. I am so excited. I will have to post a picture when it is finished. I am still trying to figure out how I want to hang each piece of their art.

Starting to paint the frame, which by the way is a recycled frame from the door entry to my closet my dad and Steve took out a few weeks ago. My dad made this for me to go around an old bulletin board.

Frame painted

This is not done. I am waiting on vinyl letters and still trying to decide on how to hang the art.

Keep checking back to see how it turns out. I am so excited to be able to see my girls work but displayed in a stylish frame. Cuts down the clutter on the fridge.

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