This is my latest.... I am keeping it for the party I am doing in October..... I have a feeling it will end up on etsy by the end of the month. I like this tree..... it is pre fall. The leaves still have greens and the greens have turned the slight shade of yellow. I like this time of year, and I really do not mind the rain. I have started walking each morning. Sometimes I walk with a friend, but most of the time I am with just me and my thoughts. I can not help but feel a bit awkward ( I am very uncoordinated my excuse for not taking exercise classes). I even thought that perhaps I would get the old stroller out and put a stuffed animal in it , this way I would at least have a prop ...... my neighbors would be sure to talk however, since both my children are of school age now! Funny how we ( really me) seem to worry about things like this. I guess I will be brave and walk with just me and my thoughts and work on being o.k. with being alone and perhaps tripping..... learn to laugh at me and know that it is o.k. . I think the neighbors will still talk, after all it is the suburbs !

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

New little house

I just finished this piece and put it in my etsy shop. I hope to have a few more for next week.

Have a good weekend!

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

Keychains.....

I just finished these off and sent them on their way! They are going to a little shop in Illinois. I love working on small little things , and now I am energized to tackle something bigger.

The air is cool and crisp and I love it! Enjoy your day!

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

Here are some ACEO's I just finished. I plan on putting them in a Matte and framing them for a show I am doing. I love little things anyway , so working small is definitely fun. I think this way I can work on many things at once and not get overwhelmed by one big thing. Does that make sense? My sister in law is hosting a wine tasting /Art show for me at her home. I have done something like this before, and I am always a bit unnerved because I love being under the radar or anonymous . This is good for me though, and I highly recommend that if someone is to offer doing this for you , do it!!! I am trying to get work for that event and then to gear up for the holidays. My poor neglected etsy shop...... I have not updated that as much as I had liked. I am going to try to get something on by next week. I am loving this fall weather ...... my favorite season. It is bitter sweet however.... when my mother was ill , it was in the fall, and although her last months were filled to the brim with good memories , the crisp smell in the air reminds me that winter is coming and with that all things change. It is a reminder to me that although there is no permanence to much...... their is longevity in everything in our hearts.

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

Busy , busy, busy.........

This is a new piece that I am taking to The Muse tomorrow. I am experimenting with color or rather just pops of color. You can not tell from this photo , but their are several layers of white texture over French text. I really had to work on not wanting to add more.... less is more right?

I feel as if I am running and never quite catching the train...... I have so much to catch up with and I must say , it is stunting the creative process a touch. Funny thing , I would blame the lack of motivation to be stunting the creative process.... my glass is half full and in the blink of an eye half empty.

I am working on a piece for a gallery submission. My first attempt at a real "gallery" and I am so preparing for the rejection letter, but I will keep my hopes high. The work I am submitting is really different from my usual collages. It will still have my stamp on it, but I am not sure if it will have the likable factor........ and that is o.k., because it is good to step out of the box.

I am learning to say that " It is O.k. ". In the end ....... things are O.K. ............ in times of crisis and after the dust clears things can be again O.K. . Things may never be alright and sometimes we are left changed forever , but breathe deep and know that it is O.K. and never , not ever excuse yourself for feeling your truth. Deep breathe.....

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

Now in my shop

As promised, new work in my etsy shop. I hope to add 1 more at the end of this week.

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

Sunday Morning...........

Well, I got to sleep in ...... the kids woke up happy , which always starts the day off great.
I am on my 2nd cup of coffee, I made a strata and it is in the oven. I love watching old movies or my favorite " Little house on the prairie" while I make breakfast and wake up. My husband said he would give me some time to work today. The day will be good. Don't you just love waking up and feeling anything is possible. Enjoy your day!

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

Ever feel like your in a circus??

I think that must be what inspired these new pieces. They are on canvas board and I think I am going to go out and get some twine or rope to make a hanger. The pictures do not show the background very well.... it is French text covered in white wash with off white and white texture added ( I used my very expensive art tool..... bubble wrap!). I needed to work on something a bit out of my comfort zone to re-energize. I am surprised at how much I like these.

Yesterday was a very exciting day..... two gals from a gallery in Scotland ( yes , Scotland) stopped by . They had purchased some of my work to hang in their gallery. They were so nice and made me feel so at ease. I was a bit worried..... I do not exactly lead the " artist" life. To me that is not important , however that little voice that has attendancy to bring you down was slowly getting louder . Why do we do that to ourselves??? Anyway the voice stopped and it was a good day.

I am off to have a much needed catch up with friends. Enjoy your day!

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

New work hooray!

I love the way these turned out. The top is really a 10x10 on canvas. I like that I have tried a new hue of blue. The bottom one is some irregular planks of wood that I have attached together from the back. I really love working on wood. I love using the rawness as another element. I am going to try some more work on wood in the future. I think it gets me back into my roots a bit....... sculpture. I love making things totally from my own vision , maybe more boxes will be in store. I would love to put these on etsy, but I must wait . I have someone coming on Monday to pick up some things and they want to look at more new work. I am trying and I hope to have a shop update soon.

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

Rethinking , redirecting......

The kids have been back now a week. I have all day to work and do whatever I want. I was so looking forward to this time. The odd thing is that I am finding it harder to be productive. I was taken aback at first, not sure why I was not working with the fury I had with less time. I realized that I was always working before. I was creating the ideas in my head during all the mundain events, during all the car rides and school dropoffs and playdates in the park. When I finally got the time to be productive.......it was all right there. Now I struggle because I have the time , and I am not distracted ...... however I need to redirect my creative process. This is so much harder than I inticipated. I just need to put my feet on the ground and grasp this new life and not look back. I need to accept change.

Talk to you soon,

Courtney

Work ,work , work

Unfortunately you can not see the entire piece . This will ship out to Florida today. This is my first full week of the kids being in school. I have so much on my plate that I can keep myself busy enough to not miss them . I have been working on getting my work into more shop/galleries. A process that both scared me to death, and also very exciting. Now I have to follow through with the work. I also need to update my much neglected etsy shop. I promise by the end of this week I will have some things posted.

Hope you all enjoy your day! Talk to you soon,

Courtney