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

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!

1) Suze at Pink Crayon Studio

2) Danita at Danita Art

3) Heather at Audrey Eclectic

4) Anne Julie at Ma Petite Theiere

5) Summer at Artful Life

6) Sarah Jane at Sarah Jane Studios
7) Thelma at Paintings By Thelma

As always Thanks for taking the time!!!!!!

:) - Kim, the Queen of Commas

(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

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!

Noodle & Lou Studio

Red Shoes

Suziebeezieland

Duda Daze

Billy & Button

Aah Suprise Delite & Joy

Time With Tascha

The Devil Makes Work

And finally...

Soggy Dog Studios

(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

Life Squared Exhibit at City Arts Factory

Given a French title Reverie (daydream), this lady in red proudly hangs upon the wall at City Arts Factory Gallery in downtown Orlando.  What a great honor it was to be accepted into the Life Squared Exhibit along with so many other talented artists.  The Life Squared Exhibit consists of artwork measuring 24" x 24"and will be on display February 19th - March 14th.  

Scoop up some culture at the Third Thursdays Events of the month at City Arts Factory.

As always - thanks for taking the time!

:)

- Kim

xoxo

Making each day count in memory of Mom!

It has been 8 years since my mother's untimely death at age 49.

I was 28 at the time and even though I was all grown up I felt like a lost little girl when she passed.  Like a flash flood, I remembered all the things I should have said I was sorry for and all the things I should have shown more gratitude for.  

When it came to raising my son Dylan (whom was only 3 at the time of her death) my Mother was my rock.  She knew just what to do when a fever came about, and how to remove chewing gum from hair and markers off walls.  She was the best "Me-Ma" any grandchild could ever wish for.  I am very sad that she would never meet my son Owen who was born after her death.  She would have been head over heals and known just how to tame him.

My mother also left behind, my younger brothers Andy & Danny and my sister Emily, who was only 9 at the time.  Emily and I share a special bond and although I am almost 20 years older - sometimes you would think that we were only months apart.  

This year when my sister turned 18, we got ladybug tattoos in memory of our mother.  Ladybugs weren't necessarily our Mother's "thing", but based on stories that would take forever to explain we are certain that she sends ladybugs our way to remind us that she is about.  My mother's sister Terri, a permanent make-up artist gave us our tattoos, which added to the sentiment.

The picture above is not the best in quality, but it is my most favorite of us two together.  I believe I was only 5 at the time.  I wish I could re-visit this moment.

I try to live in my mother's memory everyday.  Her death was way too soon and as I approach her age in the short years ahead, I am aware that we are really only here for a brief moment and we are given only one chance to make our life count.   Let us be thankful for those in our lives and let them know we are so grateful to have them while we still have the chance.  

Thanks for taking the time!

:) - Kim