Trying to stay on top of things

Today, in the midst of preparing for Halloween festivities in our neighborhood, doing some last minute decorating outside ...and maybe getting those pansies planted..... i am focused on gearing up for the rest of the fall shows-- particularly my own studio show and sale.  Tomorrow is the 1st of November and my show opening is on the 30th of November.  My "to-do" list may be more overwhelming than ever!!  In the next few days i will post some pictures of my disastrous work spaces so that i can then share the "after" photos and they will have more impact!

For now, i will share the front of this year's show invitation which my friend Patty helped me with.  It is fun and colorful and i love it!

And here is the back, which i have modified to share online (blacking out my address) ...Not that people couldn't find me if they wanted to, but it just doesn't seem prudent to post it here.  Anywhoo, here it is:

Hope everyone is having a great day.  Best wishes to those folks who were affected by the awful storm this week.  My head is filled with images of its devastating effects and my prayers are with all those recovering from it.

Hump Day Giveaway at the Inkspot Workshop Blog!

Happy Wednesday everyone!!  

check it out!  and enter to win TWO 50.00 credits-- one to  my etsy shop 

and the other to Elemen O Pillows!!

Hump Day Giveaway – Happy Home Maker

Checking in

Well, the first couple of fall shows have come and gone- in a crazy blur!  The Yellow Daisy Festival in early September marked my 11th year of doing that show.  It was a good one, despite some foul weather and a leaky tent ;o)  I had some great sales, saw lots of friends and "regulars" ;o) and made many new friends.  I collected a lot of names for my studio show and sale mailing list, and at some point in the next week or so, i will be adding those names to the address book for my show/ sale e-vite.

I also did a show outside of Chattanooga in early September as well as another wonderful show here in GA- the Norcross Fall Festival just two weeks ago.  The aftermath of these shows includes unpacking lots of work from containers, washing table skirts and tablecloths, going over inventory, entering e-mails into mailing lists, photographing work to list online, editing photos.....   and of course, making lots and lots of NEW work!!  This year marks the 5th year of my studio show and i want it to be better than ever!!  So i am creating lots and lots of new pieces to share with the folks who come!!  Between creating work for that, my etsy shop and a few upcoming gallery shows, i am keeping pretty busy.  Here is a shot of a table laden with some of the pieces that i am working on right now:

Today i am busy taking and editing photographs and listing some new items for a cool blog feature that it happening tomorrow.  I will share the link on my facebook page-  facebook.com/charityelisedesigns - as soon as it is live.

Hope that you are all having a wonderful and productive day!  Another cup of coffee for me, and i am OFF!!

What a crazy few months it has been!  Usually things ease up a bit around here after the studio show/ sale is over....  but somehow this year, life seems to have accelerated in some ways.  Obligations at the children's school, my DH being out of town, multiple illnesses back to back.... have kept us hopping around here!  My daughter's birthday party was this past weekend and i am just putting the finishing touches on a large project for the school, so i finally feel like i can breathe a little bit.  .... though i won't breathe for too long- because spring shows are just around the corner and online sales continue to ramp up.  My stamp sales to other outlets- namely the pottery supply store here in town- Atlanta Clay- have gone way up and so i need to make a more concerted effort to keep them well stocked at all times!

All in all it is good, productive stuff.  Exciting things are happening....  a book with my art in it was just published and i continue to get painting commissions (to my complete delight!)....  now to get myself well....  start taking some more walks, say my prayers and get down to business!!

Thanks for reading.  leave me a comment if you feel so moved.... it encourages me to write more!

Here are the mosaic flowers and leaves for the school auction project that i mentioned.... in this picture we are laboriously gluing on each little tiles to get ready for grout.  definitely a labor of love!

This is a shot of the birthday cake from this last weekend.  I guess i have mosaic on the brain as the two projects contain a fair amount of visual overlap!  The mosaic here is made with colored and textured (with my handmade stamps ) fondant; the smaller note-book cake is covered with white fondant and painted with edible markers and watered down food coloring... the art palette and paints are made with white chocolate. It was a lot of fun to make and a fun, colorful tribute to a fun and colorful little girl!