Fallish

Hello!
Welcome to my blog, where I like to show off my creativity and share a bit of SHINE in my corner of the world!

It certainly is Fall in the Midwest. Waking up to temperatures in the low 40s.

Not complaining, just observing.

We actually had a long and hot summer. I think most of July and August we had the air conditioning running constantly.  Mainly due to the high humidity.  I jotted down plenty of times in my daily journal about beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures. And not that beautiful weather gets tiresome... more so,.. when a new season begins... we welcome the change.

I don't know if you realize, but I create greeting cards!  Yup.... I have a passion for creating and a gratification of making whimsical cards that I can sell or give away.  If you like my style you can contact me prdesigns1@sbcglobal.net and I can get you some unique and one of a kind greeting cards.  Not in the mood for cards today?  That's fine... I appreciate you stopping by to see what is happening in my corner of the world.

Has Fall made it to your home?  It's a change of wardrobe here.  Long pants and socks.  Gone are the flip flops and tank tops.  Decorations with orange and yellow are dabbled throughout the entryway with scarecrows and sunflowers and pumpkins. And hot water bubbles through the Keurig making way for spiced Chai lattes!  Oh, and don't forget about the leaves.... soon on my list are hours of raking!!! Yup, I love fall.

See you back here, soon!

Nothing can dim the light that SHINES from within.

Write On!

Hey there!

I'm glad you stopped by!

I don't want to stump you with a silly question, but is writing an art?  And is there a difference from telling a story and writing it down, and drawing beautiful characters for letters to create a beautiful message to be put on display? 

WRITING:  is a medium of human communication that creates language and through the inscription or recording of signs, symbols, characters and letters. In most ...

ART: Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts (artworks), expressing the author's imaginative or technical skill, ...

I am so excited when I create something and it turns out how I wanted.  

So, am I doing writing, or am I doing art?

I practice... a lot... I certainly now know how to manipulate (in a good way) what I create... I don't want to say there are NO MISTAKES.... and I'm not reaching for PERFECTIONISM.... but if a creative opportunity  (an oopsie! drawing outside the line, a wiggle, wonky shape) comes along... I can 'hide' it or make it part of what I'm creating.... because when I practice... it's no big deal to continue on!!!

Check out my YouTube video creating a happy birthday doodle....

And then this is how it turned out.

You do know that you can pretty much write on anything, right???  I've shown this before, but chalkboard art decorations in your home are very popular.  I just watched a home improvement show they other day, and new home renovations actually have an entire wall painted with chalkboard paint... so the family can write little notes to each other!   Yeah, right!!!!  My chalkboard is a thrift find and I love practicing my hand lettering to create a fun seasonal sign.

So, sometimes I do use the computer to create a hand writing look.  I used lots of different art mediums to create a mixed media sign. This one is art, right?

I have found it somewhat confusing lately, that there are so many similar words being used to describe just ordinary things.  

Handwriting is writing created by a person with a writing utensil such as a pen or pencil. Handwriting includes both printing and cursive styles and is separate from formal calligraphy or typeface

For instance, handwriting is considered the art of creating letters and character by hand.... what comes to mind is calligraphy: decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering.

I guess any way you put a 'twist' on it.... practicing your handwriting is a really good thing for your mind and dexterity.  A Facebook friend mentioned that she was on a quest and had purposely practiced her handwriting for 600 days straight.  To some newbie that might seem overwhelming... some people really are naturals at some things.... but most of us need to practice.... not to seek perfection ... but to make it seem effortless and natural.  Seriously, anyone can doodle, draw, create.... some just have to practice more!

How many different things can you see to write on when you look above your computer screen ?!!!

Shine On

Doodle On

Write On

Right On!

Do You Attend Craft Fairs?

Happy Fall Y'all

It's a beautiful partly cloudy fall day here in the mid-west.  I'll take partly cloudy versus rain and mostly clouds.... any day.... just love to get the bits of sunSHINE!!!

A few weeks ago, I participated in my first craft fair!

If you go through my past blog posts, or get know me in person..... I would never admit that I am 'that' really positive person!  But I have spunk, I'm a realist, I try certain things over and over again, failure is not often in my vocabulary and I don't give up easily if I believe in something!!! I'm not generally a outgoing positive person, but I don't think I'm a negative depressed person either.  So...Go ahead, try to put me in a category!!!!!

Unfortunately, I'm sad to admit that my first craft fair was not at all a success! wah wah!!! Sad face :(

My partner MK and I, think we had a very cute booth!!  We had a beautiful wide variety of hand crafted items and we came prepared... with plenty of change, business cards, repair kits (for the just in case) snacks and a good attitude!

However, being my first craft fair and MK's 3rd.... we think the sponsor was 

1. New

2. Didn't advertise

3. There were other 'bigger' fairs going on in the area

We estimated that there were about 20 booths.... if... 125 people attended and maybe 25 people wondered into our booth!

I covered my portion of the cost of the booth with my one and only sale!  And if you think about it... I also lost a bit of money, because we were not informed that we needed to donate up to a $10 gift that was given away during the first hour of the event.

To say the least, I was disappointed.  My husband will ask me all the time.... are you doing this 'artsy thing' to make money?  Or,  are you having fun?

MK and I came up with a few reasons for our unsuccessful event.... 

•  We heard that there was a 'more' popular fair going on in the area, our booth was $40, this other event charges $350 a booth (What??)
• I guess we missed the boat on the sponsors 'packet of info'... so we don't know who or if they advertised this event, we didn't know we needed to donate a prize and a few other things (MK copied me on numerous emails she sent to the organizer asking questions that went unanswered)
•   My husband saw no signage to direct him into the high school where the event was taking place
•  The average age of the attendees was over 55... so craft fairs don't attract a younger age group?
•  Younger people are not into 'country' or homemade crafts like they used to be, they would rather buy new or on-line
•  A few quilts sold in the booth  next to us, she was charging $40-50 for small baby blankets... but our $5 greeting cards and other paper crafts didn't draw much attention, other than the disbelief that I can draw so well.

Will I do another craft fair?  

I don't know if I will do another craft fair. Wrong place, wrong time!  Right? I can't take it personally.... there wasn't enough activity to think the worst, that 'my stuff' was crap.  Seriously.... I get that! Selling at a craft fair is not the way to sell my products.  The fair was highly disappointing. But, I'll never say never again.

Will I stop creating paper crafts?

No, I love the challenge and satisfaction of what I create.  I honestly think (unless all of you have been lying to me!) that friends and family LOVE to get my cards as 'gifts' that they can pass on to others. My cards do truly.... Brighten Someone's Day

Will I become a famous artist or crafter?

No.  But maybe all this practice in creating, is helping me get to my next purpose.

Should you support local artists?

Yes!  If you see something you like. I think we all should continue a movement to support the little guy.  Buy from your local artists.  Buy gifts that come from the heART. Give gifts from the heART

I tried selling at a craft fair. No for me.   Let's see, what is next???

Stay tuned!!!

and

Shine On!

A little TWIST on SHINE

I've said this many times throughout my life... I love pretty things and clever words.

And what makes that statement soooo good, is when I find a connection and it works putting the two together!!!

I think that's why card making is so enjoyable for me.  I can combine the two and create something that makes my heart sing.

To stay connected... we all get involved in groups where we hope to find other like minded people.  If you scroll down or hop on to any blog post that is labeled with SHINE, you will see that for almost the past 8 years, I've had something to do with the House of Shine

To SHINE, resonates with me.  Although it's not always easy to do.... I enjoy doing it.... it brings me joy to: create, bring out the best in others, be present, use my strengths, keep perspective, realize the little things, reject mediocrity  be accountable, be relentlessly passionate and spread shine

And the best thing of all, is when I can combine 'all' of these things and feel like I really accomplished something that is so true to my soul.

As one of my personal challenges, I help to facilitate the DO52 Facebook page. I pull a verb each week from a special set made up for those participating and I welcome the word into my week.  Here is what I wrote about today....

WEEK ????.... something.... ha ha~

Aren't all the weeks, days starting to blend together. In the beginning of a new year, everything seems FRESH, new, exciting and now with FALL/Autumn here in parts of the country where the temperatures dip into the 40s and frost starts to cover the pumpkins... it's totally like what week is it? And WHAT? how many days until Christmas???

ARISE
:to begin to occur or exist

What I found interesting about this weeks DO52 word is that if you rearrange the letters, you get ARIES.... which is my astrological sign. Which is the first astrological sun sign, and a personality trait is "get something started and lead the way

Not to put a 'spin' on it (well, really I think that's part of the challenge) .... but the signs are always there, especially if you look for them. DO52 is an awesome way to open your thinking.... if you follow the House of Shine.... they have a program called RISE & SHINE... there is no reason not to re-start my existence..... I take on the challenge to get up and give forth with light!!!

Can you put a TWIST on something in your life today??

Brighten Someone's Day!

SHINE ON!!

I Create

Hello Friends!

Welcome to my blog!

If you are here for the first time... I'm glad you found me!!!!!

I'm a paper crafter.  

I love to create!  

I do A LOT of different things.

I am an artist!!!

Acrylic Painted Clip Board

I love to re-purpose, recycle & reuse all different kinds of artsty stuff. 

It's not that hard to get in touch with me.... if you like what I create!

Browse through my different card labels to the left here on the blog.  These are just some of the items I have created!  I do a lot of custom orders.  That is... you have something in mind?  I can create it for you!! Custom made, unique and one of a kind!

Character Personalized Doodle Card

All of this can be overwhelming!  But once you contact me, I can help you figure out what you like, especially if you like to find unique items for extra-ordinary people in your life!

Handwritten Canvas

My mantra is... Brighten Someone's Day!

Digital Doodle on the IPad

Contact me at: prdesigns1@sbcglobal.net

What can I create for you???