Stick to It

a paper mache bowl and bead pass the moisture test

I am almost out of instruction stickers. In my micro business, before shipping, I often slap little info stickers onto my pieces. Some to indicate materials used, some to help people find me, and some to recommend how to use (or not use) my work. 

Hidden Talents: A la Carte

 As an artist, commissioned work has served as both a learning opportunity and a proving ground. In my business, where I offer both original creations envisioned by me and custom commissioned pieces, I sometimes provide "off the menu" options.

For Keep's Sake

If you've ever encountered my work, you may know that recycling, reworking and reusing things is kinda my thing. Recently I took a gift given to a loved one and turned it into something else they'll hopefully continue to enjoy. 

Aspirational Auntie

My name is Renée, and I'm blessed to be an aunt to a number of young people. Three of which I have within my immediate grasp and influence.

I sometimes like to think of myself as a junior or "bonus" mom. And I do my best to show and teach my nieces and nephew (5, 14, and 15) things I think could be useful and pertinent for them in life. That includes how to have fun.

Balancing Act

I'm taking a moment to reflect today. It is now late July and therefore more than halfway through the year. We have yet to reach the dog days of summer, but I'm looking out on a muggy, cloudy afternoon, watching for the latest round of storms to hit and thinking about how quickly fall will descend on us.

Tuesday: Things I Make for Me

 This one is a little different. Because this TIMFM post is about something different I make for me: space.

Tuesday [Things I Make for Me]

It happened. I'm surprised that I evaded it this long. Time and time again, I have been regaled with others' horror stories. And my own experience lived up to the grave descriptions.

Different But the Same

The days of sameness are passé. We are human beings. Individuals. And what makes us interesting are our differences.

I recently read a book that discussed evolutionary psychology. It talked about modern man's reasons for certain behaviors and choices and how they are linked to survival instincts we've had hardwired into us for millennia. It also touched on the possibility that some of those behaviors may no longer serve us.

Give and Take

 April was Earth month. And in honor of Earth Day (4/22), I shared one way I try to do my part as a concerned inhabitant of this planet. I strapped on a funny harness thing to hold my camera and went to pick up trash from a small creek near my home. 

I filmed myself fishing old toy balls and other trash from the creek.

Week's [Rear] End

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot." - Michael Altshuler

My week had a dizzying clip to it. I think I blinked and it was Friday night.

Things I Make for Me: Glasses Wall

As a creative person, I often find myself falling into DIY projects for my own needs and for others. While I'm not on the level of doing things like electrical work, I can do a mean faux stone wall, make a lamp, or set up a decent home theater. 

Twenty Twenty Forward

 Happy New Year! 

Did you hit the streets for the holidays? Me? Lolol oh, absolutely NOT. I saw the new year in from the comfort of home. With champagne glass in hand, I opened the vertical blinds of the back porch wide, turned off all the lights, kicked up my feet, then enjoyed fireworks courtesy of my neighbors...

Reading into Things

I try to be intentional with gratitude every day, but today, my gratitude meter has been hovering even higher than usual. Yesterday (on Christmas Day) I enjoyed family, food, and a fun gift exchange.

A Look Up

Protecting the Process

As a creative, a lot of my projects go through the "ca ca" stage (not my word- a classmate once used that to describe my project back in art school). I'm at peace with that, especially on those occasions where the finished work turns out better than I even planned. 

Autumn Artistry

The natural world is a common source of inspiration for many artists. We find endless amounts of color, texture, and form in nature to inspire our work. For me, being outside seeing trees, bodies of water, wildlife, and the changing seasons, will always and forever feed my soul. Whether in exotic far away locations, or natural beauty found close to home, there's just... a thing about nature. Something that is healing, centering, nurturing. 

Up, Up, and Away

A few weeks ago I decided to raid my inventory of stored work to find something to put in an empty spot on a wall. These are paintings that are (or have been) available for purchase online or elsewhere. 

The Seeker: Tech-knowlogy

My 14-year-old niece recently declared "You know a lot of stuff!". 

This was after I'd told her something I thought might be useful for her to know in life. I don't remember what tidbit of info I'd given her that particular time...

Chaos > Stagnation

If you walk into my studio, you might wonder why I have SO many projects going at the same time. 

Almost everywhere you look in here, there is a work in progress. Some just begun and some just a few mere steps from completion.

Consistency

 The longer I live, the more I realize the common denominator to success in practically any endeavor in life is consistency. 

From my observation, consistency seems to bear more weight than passion, talent, or other resources in terms of realizing any level of success.