Tuesday, March 24, 2009

There is a Method to My Madness... Socks & Monkeys

When my creativity starts spinning.... 



This is often the result.... 



For some this might look like a horribly unorganized state of craziness. But for me this is the norm, at least when I am in the studio.  As for my studio pal Krista, she is the complete polar opposite of me when it comes to keeping a neat studio while a creation is in progress.   She stops nothing short of alphabetizing her paint in accordance with the shade of color... Say what ??? I don't get it either.... that is why my craft table looks exactly as so.  I know exactly where everything is (after a good hunt)!   :)

Anyway, all that mess was not created in vain... 
I got 3 paintings out of it!  
Excuse the photos as they are a little blurry.

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil....
Not so true - Everyone knows Monkeys are the biggest Gossip!

And giving me my inspiration....
Now Showing -Sock Monkey Video!!!! 

Check it out - you will be tickled!

Also here is a book STRAY SOCK SEWING 
that inspired my little monkey business....
This adorable book takes you on a journey through 
the land of Make Believe, with little sock critters. 

Love it!!!!!  
What a great book to share with the kids.

Ok... so now I have a messy studio to clean up... 
And with that I bid you Good Night!
As always thanks for taking the time!  :) - Kim

Monday, March 23, 2009

I don't care what anyone says I love this gloomy weather!




What's there not to love about rain drops dripping down the window, tall green oak trees against the dark cloudy skies, and hangin' out in your sweats all day! I love it! Not only has this weather put me in a mood to get messy and creative... it's also given me some time to think about some things that have really been on mind mind like...

How possibly could anyone in their right mind think that it's okay to cut arts and sports out of schools! My life with Fast Boy (Jordan) would be unimaginable if he did not have sports and arts in his life. Having ADHD has been a negative but has also made him excel in these two areas! I can't imagine the little boy or girl whose parents don't have the money to buy art supplies or the time to sit and teach them how to draw... what a loss. For some school is the only way that these children can express themselves through the arts and sports! That is why I am diligently working on something to contribute... stay tuned for updates on that VIP project coming in the Fall!

I do need to go and get working, but I did want to stick with my commitment to blog more often. Hey and who cares if it's raining... let the kids get wet, and maybe you should join them too! We all need to remember how to look at the world through the eye's of a child! Enjoy the day no matter how gloomy you might think it is!

Oh and did my little friend Kim crawl back into bed?? Where are you?

-Krista

Friday, March 20, 2009

Alright fine I'll blog already!!

So I'm back from my VIP ventures as Kim put it, I do have to admit I've been quite busy researching, planning , and creating although none of which was painted or artsy in anyway! This is not to say that I haven't thought of many cute ideas to paint and create... I have!

I do love to blog and know that the more you do it the more you love it... does that sound like anything else?! The ideas and topics I have come up with are overflowing, the creativity and time just have not been there. So... today I have decided to keep my promise to Kim to blog this week. Yea anything checked off the "to do" list.

I know you all have been anxiously waiting to hear what my 7 favorite things are so here goes...

My 7 favorite Things in Life (aside from my Punkin, Boo & My Jer):
1) Finding that something you have been searching for has always been right there!
2) The beach... everything about it... laying on the hot sand, the feel of the waves & the sounds!!
3) Laughing so hard it hurts with tears streaming down your face!
4) Finally really knowing who your true and lasting friends are!
5) A really good prank on someone who is unprankable!!! You know who you are!!
6) Late night talks with friends about absolutely nothing!
7) Good News that comes in droves... I'm there right now!

So I'm back and ready to get to work... creatively!
Krista

Thursday, March 12, 2009



WOW - We got an award! What an honor it is to be recognized by a fellow blogger!  Thanks so much to Suzi at Art...With a Touch of Whimsy (who is super cool herself) for giving us this award. We are blushing!

Okay so I am told we are supposed to list the 7 things we love and then 7 other bloggers we think deserve this award. Well I can't speak for Krista (although I often try), she has been MIA with some VIP stuff for a little while, but she promises to grant us with her talent and witty words shortly...

So here's my list of 7 things I LOVE....
aside from my love for art and all things created which is a given....

1) lingering dinners with family and friends.
2) hugs, kisses & cuddles with my boys, my hubby included :)
3) soccer season with my boys
4) surprises (the good kind)
5) roller coasters (the loopty loo kind)
6) travel (the overseas kind)
7) little sisters and lady bugs (oops thats eight)


Now on to the 7 Blogs I love.  A post or two ago I listed a few of my most favorite bloggers.... Given this opportunity, I decided to do some exploring in Blogland and found plenty to add to my list of favorites.  So here are 7 of my new favorite finds. I hope they will give you as much inspiration and giggles as they do me!


As always Thanks for taking the time!!!!!!
:) - Kim, the Queen of Commas

Tuesday, March 10, 2009


(peacock design by talented artist: Hannah Braden)


Spring For Handmade Is This Weekend
This arts / fine crafts market will be held Saturday, March 14th, from 9am to 4pm. The event will take place in the front and side parking lots of Cottage Industry at 1600 Edgewater Drive, College Park. 

Featuring handmade arts/goods made by artists from all over Central Florida, you'll find amazing handmade jewelry, pottery, clay sculpture, paintings, baby goods, aprons, candles, and more. 

Designers Include: The 2U Collection, The Blind Squirrel, Bungle Bear Designs, By Elena, Coco and Milkweed, Cool Cat Creations, Creative Expressions, Crystalyn Bryan, Dreams of Clay Pottery, EverAfter Designs, The Flower Shop, Ferguson Pottery, Ginger Card Company, Green Art, Handmade by Patricia Valery, Hannah Braden, Jennifer Cora Jewelry Design, Julie Lawson Jewelry, Laura Riekki, LLC Creations, Love Ginger, Mary Miller-Weiner, ModCherie, Mootinis Handpainted Glassware and Gifts, One Lucky Baby, Paper Sparrow, Peace Love and Canvas Bags, Pillowtalk, Punctuation, Pure Bliss Candles, Silly Miss Lily, Soggy Dog Studios, Valerie Fordham, and White Peacock Designs.

What a great way to spend your day!
Support the Arts!

As always, thanks for taking the time!
xoxo
Kim & Krista

Monday, March 9, 2009

coffee

Hi Everyone... 
I've been a stranger to posting for the past week or two.
I wish I could say I have a grand masterpiece to show off, but honestly I haven't been working much in the studio this past week.  I have been working on a few art projects, but those are going to take some time.  Anyway, I felt it was time to at least drop in and say hello. 
I do have one thing I can share... a personal commitment. 

Ok those that know me well will probably assume I am fibbing, but those of you that don't know my dirty little secret - let me just clue you in on a very expensive habit I have.... Its called "Morning Take Out Coffee" MTOC..... Every single morning without fail, after dropping off my boys at school, I head on down to my local Dunkin Donuts and buy the biggest Cup of Joe they have to offer.  Its my morning ritual and I could care less if the line circled the building three times around.  Its my downtime.  Often I will use this time to make a phone call, read through a magazine or just stare into space - whatever it is -  its one window of time that I look forward to everyday.... until Tuesday last week.  Tuesday is when I committed to saving myself almost 3$ a day and sparing the world one less non-biodegradable Styrofoam cup.  Lets be honest here, cutting down caffeine was not on my agenda.
 
S0 I have committed to driving straight home and drinking (dare I say it) homemade coffee.   Unfortunately, this does not open the same window of time that my beloved drive thru coffee offered.  Instead I arrive home to laundry, dishes and hairy floors Oh My!  At home there's a list of must do's that stretch from here to yonder and it seems sinful to sit down and enjoy a sacred cup of coffee.  Shouldn't I be doing a load of laundry in between sips?    So after much self pity and debating my decision to save some money, save the world....   I have figured out a way to make my "self made coffee" SMC drinking experience more pleasurable....    

First, I considered the cup... the coffee mugs that currently shared the shelf of my cabinets, were Blissful Holiday Mugs from many years past.  These mugs didn't scream "relax for a moment" they screamed "Merry Christmas" and "Fa La La La".  What I needed was a pretty mug!   And I found them....
 

Birds have been flying themselves into my artwork lately and I figured why not continue on with my inspiration.... You'll also find one of my favorite new mugs shown here which inspired the new blog banner.   Mmmmmm My coffee taste better already!

I used to thumb through magazines while I sat and waited for each car to take it's turn.  But, in keeping with the theme of saving money, I haven't renewed any of my magazines.  Instead I read through blogs of other artists who inspire me.  Its now something to look forward to as each artist updates their blog, its like a fresh new magazine to flip through.  Crisp pictures, inspiring ideas and great humor.  Here are just a few of the bloggers I love... I encourage you take a look, but be careful they are addicting!


And finally...
(I do encourage those of you that receive our blog via e-mail to come take a look at the blogsite, you'll find other little goodies laying about and some great tunes to stream all day!

So now no more wasting time and being idle in the drive thru, I have better ways to spend my time. Now if I can just get used to the time change.... getting up an hour earlier yi yi yi!

I plan to be back in the studio this week doing what I love!  

We love hearing back from you all, please please leave us comment below!
And thanks for taking the time.

- Kim