art and stuff.

I painted over a wooden "vintage" fruit crate label wall hanging to do this mixed medium piece. It's got everything from sequins to silk flowers on it. 

Amongst all of the vintage things I have up for sale in my Etsy shop is some of my own original art... the pics of the pieces here and in my shop are actually things I've made for around the house, and although I am on the fence about selling any of these pieces I hope that someone will be inspired and want me to make something custom for them. I've always been a little artsy I guess... used to paint a lot when I was younger - big SCARY stuff that freaked my mother out (usually involved naked ladies - ha!). I had my son when I was 21, so I didn't have a lot of time in my 20s to "find myself" or explore different ways of expressing myself artistically. Since I've opened my shop, I've kinda wanted to step out and start creating some small pieces to sell alongside my vintage items.

I made this for Shiloh's bedroom/nursery before she was born. I was inspired by this. Paper from magazines and random card stock scraps mounted on layered tissue paper.

Ideas I've had involve purchasing old canvases and sturdy pieces from thrift shops (since I can't really afford to buy new stuff), acquiring lots of magazines and scraps of this and that, glue, flowers, glitter, paint and whatever else I can piece together, to make whimsical, one of a kind pieces for folks to enjoy. I've also thought up a few different and fun craft kits for people who want to do handmade themselves, but don't have time to shop for all the pieces.

The biggest problem right now is finding TIME to do this. I suppose I spend so much time on the internet, blogging, researching blogging, things related to improving my shop, etc... that I could dial that down a bit, and have enough time to push out maybe on piece per week (or more). To be completely honest, it is so overwhelming to me the time REQUIRED spent online and effort that you have to put into becoming MORE plugged in (more tweeting, more Facebook-ing, more advertising, perusing, comparing, spending) in order to grow your blog. I DO want to grow my blog, I DO want to make money by being creative, I won't lie to you. I am trying so hard to use the work of my hands to benefit my family. I don't want to go back to the corporate world. I want to know that by my own true grit, blood, sweat and tears, we pay our bills... because the alternative is a trap that I fear if I am lured into again I will never escape it. But there's this hope against hope that I can do all of this blog growing organically. I have some precious supporters who have done so much for me already, and it means so much to have them behind me as I step into this creative unknown. I have SOOO much going on right now in my life, in our lives... so much to share, so much transition and change. I just have prayed and asked God to please bless my efforts. Please, bless what I am doing, bless my desires to support my family, even just a little. Bless my creative juices... help me to create something beautiful when I sit down in front of my materials. But I am rambling again...

...this one has lost a little of it's beading but it still sits proudly on my shelf.

So what do you think? Do you think it's better to have something already complete in my shop for sale that someone can see and visualize on their wall versus having to imagine something based on work I've already done? I am open to candid feedback.

this one is very simple... I wish it was matted, but anyway, it was another piece I made for Shiloh's room. I have been back and forth about it honestly, but I like the birdie, so it stays.

My goal is that within the next thirty days I will have created at least one piece to add to my shop... there's SO much going on right now, some of which I will share later, that may impact EVERYTHING I am doing here... not just my ability to create. But I am hoping that we have time, and I will be able to follow my persuasions and get back to being a bit more artsy.

Love B