I Cleaned!

Ok - before I forget! Happy 4th of July! I hope you have a great day and have lots of fun! We're hoping to go hang out with my evil twin tonight if I'm feeling good enough!

So last night I got ambitious and decided to clean! Now if I was smart I would have taken a "before" picture. But I wasn't smart. I wasn't thinking about blogging when I started cleaning. Just about cleaning!

My work space is a table that I share with my hubby for our computers, and then a card table next to it with all my beady stuff. I do try to put things away when I'm done with them, I really do, but I'm, um, very distractable. Especially when I have new ideas! (which is most of the time) So things tend to pile up and every once in awhile I'm forced to make myself clean so that I can keep working without completely losing my mind (which is mostly gone to begin with).

Part of the problem with my work space was that I had stuff that I do need to have around, and I do use, but there was really no place to put it. So it was just piled up on the table, and I tried to work around it. Well, I realized that I do have drawers I cold put them into, I just had to get rid of the junk that was in the drawers!

Did I mention I'm also a compulsive hoarder? I'm getting better since I've moved so many times in the last year, but it's still hard to get rid of anything that I could possibly find a use for. And since I'm such a creative person, I can think of ideas for just about anything! But last night I cleaned out a couple of drawers and reorganized so I could the mess in them. Ok, so honestly, some of it got shuffled to a box to that went in the closet, but I DID get rid of some stuff!

Next I cleaned off my workspace. I started that project last night, but ran out of energy so I finished it this morning. That meant putting things in the drawers I cleaned out last night, and putting away the detritus from many recent projects! Especially cleaning off my planning board.

My planning board is actually what started all of this. I have a custom order that I can't do with out laying it out - and my board was covered in the remains of old projects and pieces I want to use in upcoming projects! That's all taken care of now. Not only is my planning board clean (completely for once), but I can also see my desk! I even took a Lisol wipe to the top of it to clean off the dust and spare beads :)

Want to see my beady collection? I just have a few... 18 boxes of beads and 3 of findings and pendants...

Can you believe I'd love to have MORE??? I'm addicted...

And because this post wouldn't be complete with out showing off my lap top (his name is Jack)! See the blue in front of it? That's a bead mat. Yes, I generally bead in front of my laptop. It gets shifted around so I can work, but most of it takes place right here folks!

An Award and a Contest to tell you about!

My friend Kayla over at The Eclectic Element game me this humane award - thank you so much Kayla! I'm not passing it on tonight because quite frankly, I'm TIRED, but I feel very honored to have won it :)

Kayla's doing a blog giveaway right now! She's a wonderful person who does wonderful work - you should go check it out :D She's giving away something very similar to this bracelet:

Friday's Featured Artist - Curious Mess

I don't remember where I first stumbled across the shop Curious Mess - but I do remember that I instantly fell in love with her bowls! So I'm quite excited to be able to interview her for my blog and share her work with the rest of you :)

1. What type of art work do you do?

I love creating colorful and whimsical artwork. I like to paint on wood mainly. But I also enjoy translating my ideas and designs into art quilts, fabric bowls and most recently fabric pendants. Fabric intrigues me and I love trying to manipulate and play with it in odd ways.

2. How did you get started doing art work?

I've always loved expressing myself creatively. But only about 6 years ago did I start creating things. It began with quilts and just took off from there. After I started quilting, I discovered art quilts....which really intrigued me! The fact that you don't have to follow strict rules like you do with quilts.....fun!! As I started experimenting and making small art quilts, making and trading ATC"s was becoming very popular. So I started making smaller fabric ATC's to trade....which then led to trying out other mediums. ATC's and their smaller format really allowed me to experiment with mediums that I wasn't entirely comfortable with yet (such as painting and clay). After that, things just took off and I just started playing and having fun!

3. Do you do any other crafts?

Quilting was the first thing that got me started down the road of crafting and expressing myself creatively and it's still holds a special place in my heart. I don't make quilts that often but I do enjoy the process when I get the chance. I also enjoy playing around with polymer clay, although I'm definitely still learning when it comes to this medium. I'm having a ton of fun with it though! I find that crafting and being creative is just too much fun not to try all the different types of things out there. I certainly have my core artwork but I just enjoy playing too much not to at least try other things.

4. What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?

Right now, it's my "Expressions of Love" piece. It was a piece that wasn't pre-planned at all and just kind of happened, so I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

5. Where do you sell your work?

Right now I only sell on etsy, although I have an artfire shop as well, I just haven't had the time to fill it yet.

6. Do you blog?

Yes I do, and love love love it! My blog address is:

http://www.curiousmess.com

7. Are you on any social networks you'd like to share?

Facebook: http://artist.to/curiousmess/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/curiousmess

8. Do you watch or listen to anything while you work? If so, what?

Most of the time, when I work I will pop in one of the seasons of the Simpsons. I just love the background noise and it's something that won't totally distract me. If I'm not in the mood to watch something, I'll put my Ipod on shuffle. Some artists that are in the regular rotation are Jason Mraz, Damien Rice, Mika, and ANYTHING 80's! :)

9. Tell us one random fact about your self *wink*

I'm a tad OCD when I eat. I have to compose each and every bite. I guess my rationalization is that if I don't finish everything on my plate....at least I got the best out of each bite. lol Apparently this looks really odd because my husband caught me doing it one time and thought I had found a bug in my food.

Summer Equals Smoothies!

It's time once again for the Etsy Bloggers Carnival! What's that you say? I haven't done one on here in awhile? Well...that's true. See, I'm the kinda crazy girl who runs THREE blogs. So my blog carnival entries end up on which ever one I deem most appropriate for the theme. Lately that's been my Jedi Blog because the options I've chosen have involved more personal stories than anything to do with art. Since that's part of the realm of that blog - it goes over there! I also do a lot of book reveiws over there and share some of my writing. If any of that sounds interesting to you, be sure you check it out!

One of the options for this weeks theme was your favorite summer recipe. Now it's hard for me to do a recipe because I tend to mess with recipes. I very rarely cook anything exactly according to the original recipe, and once I start cooking something regulalry I often abandon using a recipe at all. I sometimes even abandon using measuring tools. I blame my mother. Which is aweful because I used to complain to no end about her cooking like that because it made it harder for me to learn to cook! Don't worry, I've since forgiven her now that I understand ;)

My hubby and I discovered during our first year of marriage that we LOVE drinking smoothies during the summer. (I can say that! I'm on my second year! LOL) In fact I get kinda sad during the winter because it's usually just too cold to want to make smoothies. Of course then I make lots of coffee and other hot goodies... Anyway, I payed close attention when I made smoothies to go with dinner tonight (chicken burritos!), so I have a "recipe" for you!

Needed:

1 blender

Juice

Fruit

Sugar

Ice

Yes, I know that wasn't measurements. I'll give you rough one's in the recipe - be patient!

1. Set up your blender :P

2. Pull out your juice. I usually use a citrus based juice. Pineapple, Orange/strawberry/banana, Mango/orange, take your pick!

3. My blender measures liters. I usually put in just over 1/4 a liter of juice. Now here's a secret - putting in extra juice is MUCH better than putting in too little! Too little and it won't blend well. So be generous!

4. Add your fruit. What fruit? What's in your fridge? During the summer I tend to keep strawberries in the fridge and that's my mainstay. I put 6 big one's in tonight. If they are big I usually cut them once or twice to make things easier on the blender, and don't forget to cut off the stems! You can add anything you want though, bannana, mango, blackberries....be creative!

5. Sugar. I don't put much in, maybe a two and half spoons? Tends to be just a little too tart if you don't add anything though.

6. Blend breifly until smooth.

7. Add ice. How much will depend on how big your ice container is. I tend to put in about 3/4 a tray. Experiment until your happy - these are yummy experiments!

8. Blend until smooth. This could take a bit. Depending on your blender you may need to stop it at some point and kinda shake or stir the ice down towards the bottom. This is where having used extra juice can help!

9. Pour and enjoy! (Serves two large cups)

Aren't you jealous of my nice Dollar Tree cups? You know you are!

Don't like my recipe? Too imprecise for you? I found a whole web-site of smoothies called Smoothie Web! They even have a section called "Crazy Smoothies" - I may just have to experiment :D

June's Contest WINNERS!!!

Now I have to admit - I'm laughing a little bit! I had a lot of fun with this month's contest, but the results look sorta, eh, familiar?

WINNERS!!!

1. Beaded Tail - 39

2. Memories for Life - 38

3. TiLT Creations - 28

www.beadedtail.etsy.com

www.memoriesforlifeb.etsy.com

www.tiltcreations.etsy.com

Familiar eh? Yes, that's right, that's last month's winners in a different order! So guess what? I love you ladies - but you are ALL disqualified for next month's contest! We're going to give some of my other readers a chance - k? Please keep commenting though - because I love hearing from all three of you!

I'd like to give a special mention to the two people who tied for 4th place this month with 27 comments each. A big thanks go to Splendid Little Stars and Little Studio Photography and Jewelry for your ongoing encouragement and bloggy dialogue!

Now for the round up of numbers :D I goofed up slightly on this >_> When I decided to give double entries for anyone who commented on their favorite items when I do my 9 item spotlights...well I didn't think to keep track of the extra points seperately >_> So that means this month's total comments are artificially inflated. I'll fix that next month! Don't worry!

Top Commentator: This Month - 39. Last Month - 35

Total Commentators: This Month - 68. Last Month - 71

Total Comments: This Month - 374. Last Month - 277

Just a reminder - this is what our winners won - and what you could win next month!

Top 3 Commentators - Write up on this blog :)

1st Place - $20 Gift Certificate to my Shops

2nd Place - $10 Gift Certificate to my Shops

3rd Place - $5 Gift Certificate to my Shops

Have a great day - and don't forget to check out my Artfire Sale!

Tuesday's Tips #7

A Sock Monkey Named Huff

Today I want to talk about inspiration. Where do I find it? Where do you find it? What do you do when the well runs dry and you have NO IDEAS???

There is a lot that can be said about inspiration. In fact, I'm going to be spending the next couple of weeks of tips devoted to the topic. Well, more specifically challenges to you as an artist that might help you when need to find inspiration.

So where we find inspiration? Here's just a few ideas I had when I was thinking over the topic (in no particular order):

1. Books

2. Music

3. Art

4. Artists

5. Conversations

6. Nature

7. More Nature :P

8. Old Pieces we've created.

9. Children

10. Museums

11. Malls

13. Materials

14. Blogs

15. Dreams

I'm sure the list could go on and on! In fact - I'd like to hear you stories! Where do you find inspiration? Tell me something that's not on the list! I know I find ideas in the weirdest places sometimes. Like one time I was in class and I couldn't focus because the pattern on these girls shoes was calling out to be made into a bracelet...

The item I featured at the top of the post is a great example of finding inspiration. Amy, of Mama's Little Monkey's, started making sock monkeys for her shop a little while ago. Somewhere along the line (no idea where, but she just rocks, so that's that) she thought it would be fun to pattern some of them after her friends! The one at the top is the musician Chris Huff, who has some GREAT music :) Isn't that a cool idea?

And yes, I know, there aren't really any great "tips" you can pull out of this post, but I do hope it gets you thinking, and it gets the ground work laid for what I have planned in the next few weeks :)

A Lovely Morning Surprise

There's been so much going on lately - that I can't tell you how much it helps me keep going emotionally when I get lovely surprises in my inbox! Look at this lovely treasury I'm in! I actually got a shot of it this time too (*pats self on back*). Thank you so much KraftyMax! You can find the treasury here. Mine's the third down in the right column. Inara's Cuff.