I asked my sweet friend Nathalie Kalbach to choose a favorite post from this blog's archives. Actually, it's because of this blog (and her blog) that we are friends! We started blogging around the same time and I gravitated towards her artsy style and she towards mine. We commented on each other's blogs and became friendly online. We finally met in real life at CHA (the Craft and Hobby Association Show) in 2010: And later that year, we shared a room when we both taught at an event in France. (Apparently I didn't understand how to take a selfie at... Read more →

In March 2012, I wrote: I no longer wanted to be swept along. I was spending so much time and energy getting work done (class samples, instructions, assignments from manufacturers or magazines, etc.) that I hadn't been taking the time to experiment and play and fail. And I was scared that I was getting stuck in an artistic rut doing the same old things over and over because I knew they would work. I happen to be a great believer that all success rises from the ashes of failure. Mediocrity is all you get if you never fail. And yet... Read more →

Today is the eleventh and final Second Floor challenge! Are you ready to take it to the second floor? The challenge this time around is to use all six primary & secondary colors. Whatever that means to you or however it inspires you. The prompt is simply meant to get you started. The level of challenge you aim for is entirely internal and up to you. Click here to see what Nat did. As for me, I brought back an old friend: beading. Beading was one of my very first loves in the crafty world. The first time I stumbled... Read more →

Today is the tenth Second Floor challenge! Are you ready to take it to the second floor? The challenge this time around is to use white cardstock. Whatever that means to you or however it inspires you. The prompt is simply meant to get you started. The level of challenge you aim for is entirely internal and up to you. Click here to see what Nat did. As for me, I followed the shiny ball. If you're a long time reader of my blog you've heard that phrase before. What it means is to let go of pre-planning and follow... Read more →

Today is the ninth Second Floor challenge! Are you ready to take it to the second floor? The challenge this time around is to use embossing powder. Whatever that means to you or however it inspires you. The prompt is simply meant to get you started. The level of challenge you aim for is entirely internal and up to you. Click here to see what Nat did. As for me, I am not a huge embossing powder user. I like the results, but it gets everywhere. I sat and thought for a while about all the things I could do... Read more →

So...last week I completely brain farted and forgot that Tuesday was the eighth Second Floor challenge and left poor Nat hanging. I'm going to blame it on all the travel. Yeah, it wasn't me. It was the fact that I was sooooo busy. (Okay, it was me.) But, my sweet friend Nat gave me a week to get it together and now I'm ready to take it to the second floor! The challenge this time around is to use 3 different stamps. Whatever that means to you or however it inspires you. The prompt is simply meant to get you... Read more →

Today is the seventh Second Floor challenge! Are you ready to take it to the second floor? The challenge this time around is to use just five items to create a piece of art. Whatever that means to you or however it inspires you. The prompt is simply meant to get you started. The level of challenge you aim for is entirely internal and up to you. Click here to see what Nat did. As for me, I struggled a bit. I decided that it would be quite easy to an art journal page or a canvas with only five... Read more →

Today is the sixth Second Floor challenge! Are you ready to take it to the second floor? What does that mean? It means trying something vastly out of your comfort zone. Doing something that might not work. Experimenting with a crazy idea. It's all about pushing yourself. If it works, awesome. If it doesn't work, awesome! The challenge this time around is to use a pencil. Whatever that means to you or however it inspires you. The prompt is simply meant to get you started. The level of challenge you aim for is entirely internal and up to you. Click... Read more →

Today is the fifth Second Floor challenge! Are you ready to take it to the second floor? What does that mean? It means trying something vastly out of your comfort zone. Doing something that might not work. Experimenting with a crazy idea. It's all about pushing yourself. If it works, awesome. If it doesn't work, awesome! The challenge this time around is to create something that incorporates or is inspired by a found object. What is a found object? From Wikipedia: "A found object, in an artistic sense, indicates the use of an object which has not been designed for... Read more →

Thanks so much for all of your titles and story interpretations on yesterday's post! I read all the comments with much joy. And you made me see things in the painting that I hadn't previously noticed. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And now to today's post... Today is the fourth Second Floor challenge! Are you ready to take it to the second floor? What does that mean? It means trying something vastly out of your comfort zone. Doing something that might not work. Experimenting with a crazy idea. It's all about pushing yourself. If it works, awesome. If it... Read more →