Craft Social and Cupcake Stands

Every once in a while, I get together with my friends and participate in a craft social.  I began organizing them as a way to facilitate and allot some creative time in my life.  And what's more fun than socializing with friends over food, drinks, and crafts?  Sometimes when we get together we have a specific project in mind; sometimes we just end up hauling our craft scraps over to a friend's house to see what we can make.  Either way, we have a good time and have goodies to show off when it's all said and done.

This past weekend, we got together at my friend Cree's house (Shannon's mom) to make tiered cupcake stands.  We got the original idea from the blog, Giver's Log, but ended up having to change some of the necessary materials in order to put the whole thing together.  (We just couldn't find the proper candle stick holders anywhere!)

We got off to a good start, drilling holes in each decorative plastic plate we had purchased for the project.  The drill bit got pretty hot during this process... I think I even saw it smoking a little.  Yikes!



But as we came to the step of assembling the stands, we realized that the threads we purchased were too long.  Boo.

Shannon, Cree, and Beth try to assemble the pieces.

Back to the drawing board...

Luckily, Cree's husband, Robert, was able to use his hack saw to shorten it.  Once we found the right length, Beth, Alfonso, and Jason shortened the rest with a little team work.

Beth takes a stab at the hacksaw.

Alf gives Beth a hand... or should I say foot?

Jason is the missing piece.  Success!

Although we were happy with the results, the project was one of the more labor intensive projects I have ever done.  Now I just need a good cupcake recipe so I can test out my finished product... Mmm... Any suggestions?

"Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first."

- Ernestine Ulmer

Summer Pierre Rocks!

When I first began this journey of pursuing my creative and artistic dream, I looked for role models to inspire me.  Surely, there was someone out there who understood.  I searched for others who we going through the same struggles and challenges that I was going through.  Through the gift of chance, I discovered Summer Pierre.  An artist, a writer, and a singer/song writer, this amazing lady pursued her artistic dream and did so with a day job.

Back in November 2007, Summer created her own 'zine called "The Artist in the Office: Living the Dream with a Day Job."  It was her manifesto that challenged the notion that in order to be a true artist, one had to be a purist, pursuing only art full time.  Her 'zine featured words of encouragement and had endless examples of well-known artists who pursued their creative dreams with a day job.  That 'zine was a source of inspiration for me.  It made me believe that, yes, I, too, can be an artist and not feel guilty that I have to have a job to pay the bills.




So you can imagine my happiness when I saw this video post from Summer's blog last year.

Announcement from Summer Pierre on Vimeo.


A year later, her book entitled "The Artist in the Office: How to Creatively Survive and Thrive Seven Days a Week" was released in February 2010.  I promptly picked up a copy... and LOVED it.  I have even convinced people who aren't pursuing an artistic dream to read this book as I find its message can apply to anyone.  Here's a woman who not only believed in what she preached but made her dreams come true.




Summer Pierre is my hero.

"You're going to be fine.

Your timing is perfect.

And yes, we are all so proud of you."

-Summer Pierre

Words to Live By: Weeks 41, 42, & 43

My friend Jeanine is surviving and thriving after breast cancer.

Jeanine has the biggest heart of anyone I know.  She recently started a walking club of sorts for family and friends on Facebook.  The group is called "Walking to Afghanistan for Ben".  Ben is our nephew who is currently serving as a Marine in Afghanistan.  To show him our support, Jeanine is collecting donated miles from group members until we have collectively walked enough miles to reach Afghanistan.  The goal?  Well, as Jeanine puts it: "As a show of support, I am trying to organize a group of people who are willing to donate their daily mileage (walking or running) so that we can get to Afghanistan to give him a great big hug. Think of it this way- A mile a day while Ben's away."  How awesome is that?

Jeanine has big dreams on the horizon.  I mean BIG.  It's exciting to talk with her and hear her ideas of the kind of legacy she wants to create and leave in the world. It makes me feel honored and inspired to know her.  She is such a charismatic person and can energize you just by speaking with her.  Nothing seems insurmountable or unattainable.  Her optimism is contagious.  I dare you to try to ignore it.

Although she is this vivacious, talented, and wonderful woman, there is something that is looming around the corner...  her husband's foot surgery.  As Jeanine describes it: "As a woman who has not lifted a finger cleaning the house, doing dishes, laundry- just about everything for the past 9 months.....I am being pulled out of my fairy tale land next Wednesday when Terry has surgery and will not be able to walk for 8 weeks. What a good man! What a horrible Wednesday it will be! By the way- if anyone knows anyone willing to do all of these things for free- you're hired!"  Best wishes to Terry and Jeanine next week (and for the next eight weeks)!

Week 41

Week 42

Week 43

Art for Charity

I'm a big believer in giving.  The mere act of giving can help one recognize their own humanity and can make someone else's world a little brighter.  Giving, if done for unselfish reasons, is a liberating and freeing thing to do.

I recently decided to give of myself the best way I know how - through my art.  My best friend, Angela, is an assistant principal at a junior high school, asked if I would be willing to offer my artistic services to her school this month for Relay for Life.  Originally, she asked if I could do caricatures at the event to help raise money, and, although I enjoy drawing people, caricatures make me nervous.  I proposed, instead, to donate eight paintings to be auctioned off at the event.





The paintings have been keeping me busy for the past couple of weeks.  I began by painting several canvases, each with a different color and background.  I then began drawing a unique illustration for each canvas, sometimes drawing girls and sometimes drawing imaginary creatures.  I then colored the drawings with watercolor pencils, carefully cut out each illustration, and Mod Podged each drawing to a canvas.  Each painting was created using a 12x12 canvas and features a handwritten quote.  I hope people find them interesting and worth taking home.





If you are interested in any of the paintings below, they will be available for purchase at the Relay for Life event at Triton High School in Erwin, NC, on April 23rd.

My New and Improved Space

When Jason and I first began searching for a new home, I dreamed of the day I would have my own space -- a space for creating and producing my art.  When we finally purchased our home in the summer of 2008, I was just giddy with excitement.  I cordoned off one of the bedrooms and converted it into my own art studio.  Though it was a little small, it was cozy and all mine.

Fast forward to 2010.  Brace yourself as you bear witness to the state in which the studio was kept...  Eeeeeek!

Clutter, Chaos, and Wasted Closet Space!

I knew something had to be done about this hot mess.  The state of chaos often forced me to do work in the dining room or living room.  There just wasn't space to do anything creative in the actual studio.  The lack of organization left me with an icky feeling, especially when I had to go in there to use the computer.

So I decided to take action and ask for help.

I went to Lowes and purchased a Rubbermaid closet organization kit.  With the help of my friends Beth and Shannon, the new closet was installed in about an hour and a half.  Once the closet space was reclaimed, Shannon put on her organization hat and forced me to go through various piles I had avoided for months (she's one tough cookie).  After five hours of cleaning and organizing, I ended up with the following heavenly results:

My Dream Come True

I'm so happy with the space now.  I feel just like Julie Andrews spinning on a mountain top singing my heart out.  What would a girl do without the help of her fantastically organized friends?

"Maria, these walls were not meant to shut out problems. 

You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live."

-Mother Abbess from The Sound of Music

Scherenschnitte Under the Sea

There once lived a mermaid trapped in the mind of an artist.  All she wanted was to swim in a beautiful sea.

The artist heard the mermaid's lament and decided to set her free.

The artist drew the mermaid on some pretty paper and cut her loose.




The artist also gave her a sister so that the mermaid would not be lonely in her new world.




The artist covered the sister mermaids in glue so that they could be safe and secure in their new ocean home.




But the glue proved to be a bit unforgiving... Oopsie.




The mermaids forgave the artist.  Afterall, she was setting them free into a beautiful underwater home.  Their only request was to be made pink (their favorite color).  All was forgiven and they lived happily ever after.

“A mermaid found a swimming lad, 

Picked him for her own, 

Pressed her body to his body, 

Laughed; and plunging down 

Forgot in cruel happiness 

That even lovers drown.” 

-William Butler Yeats

Words to Live By: Weeks 38, 39, & 40

My friend Jeanine is surviving and thriving after breast cancer.

Wow...  Has it really been three weeks?!  Holy smokes.  A lot has happened  since Week 37...  For instance, I got a bad case of the stomach virus that incapacitated me for a few days.  Getting sick definitely through me off my creative schedule.  I feel like I am just now getting back into the swing of things as far as my art is concerned.  But enough about me...

Jeanine and I got together the first week in March to have a long deserved Girl's Night and watched Spring Awakening at the DPAC.  Despite being pumped to see the show after receiving several assurances from others that the musical was amazing, it fell short of our expectations.  The cast was definitely talented and the music was very entertaining, but the story just did nothing for us.  C'est la vie.  (To make up for it, we're planning to have another Girl's Night with our fellow Patten women to see Wicked in Charlotte.  Yippee!)

During the second week of March, Jeanine had to go to the doctor to get some tests run for recurring head pain.  After many tests, nothing could be pin pointed to explain the headache-like symptoms.  In the spirit of looking for the silver lining, at least the doctor didn't find anything serious.  But it still pains me that she has to experience any pain or discomfort.

Last week, Jeanine took her son to his first middle school dance.  Can you believe it?  My, how time flies.  I remember when Jake was just a wee little lad when Jason and I first started dating.  Now he's taller than me and growing into quite a handsome young man.  I know that he is one of Jeanine's greatest accomplishments and inspirations in life.

Here's to hoping many good things for Jeanine in April and the months to come.

Week 38

Week 39

Week 40