Cry and wail?

Get angry and rage at the world?

Become so confused and burdened that the simplest things are “too much”?

Well, in the last couple of months, I’ve done all of those.

It just seemed like we were, as a family, going through a season of hard news and even harder decisions.  Big decisions.

One of the things I did as a result was to avoid blogging.  I retreated and withdrew.

I’ve missed it so much…more than that, I missed the readers who would stop by and comment with kindness.  I let a community of support pass me by and I truly regret that!

Grief is not a quick boo-boo that someone can kiss away.  Sometimes it stays in the background, complacent to let you go about your day in relative normality.  Other times it rushes to the forefront of your mind and heart with a vengeance, delighting in the havoc it is wreaking.  For me it usually commences with the havoc wreaking when I’m stressed about other things….fun, right?  I’m sure some of you know exactly what I’m talking about!

My mom’s birthday is this week.  I still miss her every single day.  I still slip and say things like, “Oh, we’ll have to tell Ammah (what my boys called her) she would like that!”.  She’s not here to tell things to anymore or to laugh with anymore or to give me a dose of her grace and logic-filled wisdom.

Like I said, I miss her.

I hope that this doesn’t come across as whining.  I hate it when I do that….

Having said all of that, I will share with you that I’ve had some much needed wake-up calls.  Reminders of what’s important and necessary and what can be let go of.  Oh, how I’ve needed those reminders!

So, I’m hopeful that I will continue to blog and not withdraw…for the love of blogging and of being a part of such a wonderful community!

Blessings,

Anna K.

I think I’ve written at least a hundred posts in my head!  Even the Hubs has noticed that I haven’t been able to blog and asked if I was missing it.  That man knows me, y’all!

My favorite class so far has been the Typography course.  Hands down.  The pic below is of a poster we had to do using figure-ground confusion (is the white the background color or is it the blue?) and it was one of my favorite projects.  Families reading together is also very near and dear to my heart.  The quote by Emilie Buchwald is perfect ~”Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” (or aunts, uncles, grandparents…you get the idea!)

I’ve been hopping around the bloggy-verse and checking out what some of y’all have been writing.  I’m telling you, there are a lot of talented, wise, funny and awesome bloggers out there!  You know who you are….

Blessings,

Anna K.

This is an older photo but I converted it into b&w.  I liked it (I’m an artist…I like art supplies!) but my SOOC shot was lacking some “oomph”.  After it was converted, it had a completely different feel.  I love that about photography!

I was drawn to this photo to begin with because of my mind’s wanderings earlier today.  I was re-working the layout for my art show booth on some graph paper and had a hard time finding a clean sheet to draw on.  The notebook was originally my Hubby’s and I have hijacked many of that man’s notebooks over the years!

Then it hit me~

Whether it’s an art piece, a design project, or my grocery list ~ it all starts with a pencil and paper.

When Anna K. Originals was just a whisper in my heart, I drew my ideas and longings on paper.  It made those whispers have weight and substance.

When the weight of grieving my Momma became staggering, putting pencil to paper in my journal lightened my heart.  It helped to open a dialogue between me and God when I didn’t have the words to express how I was really feeling.

Pencil and paper.

Simple tools.

Powerful effects.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

{I’m linking up with Darcy over at My 3 Boybarians for Sweet Shot Tuesday.}

I’ve really enjoyed stretching my creative wings designing logos, fliers and the CCAC Guild’s newsletter.  I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’ve enrolled into the Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s online Digital Design course.

I’m so excited!

I’m soooo nervous!

Of course, I felt the same way when I took a leap and started Anna K. Originals…..and I treasure having my little business and pursuing my passion for creating art.

So I’m leaping, with eyes wide.

Ready to soar.

P.S. Thank you to my awesome Hubby for sharing the GI Bill love with me!

I’m all for taking a leap.  I’ll cheer and clap, hoot and holler.

As long as I’m not the one doing the leaping!

Today, I leaped.

I took some of my art down to a local gift store called Red Willow’s Gift Shoppe. I’d been told that the proprietor, Willow, was very welcoming to local artists and would be open to selling my art.  As soon as we pulled up to the store, I loved it.  Art was everywhere!  The side of the building, the front window and even a painter doing a fresh mural on the inside of the cafe portion of the shop.

The lovely Willow was so easy to work with and put this newbie at ease.  The ladies working in the shop and cafe swarmed around us and welcomed us like long time friends.  The Hubs even met a lady who is from the area he grew up in. So cool!

So here I am.  Feelin’ blessed.

Thanks for stopping by!

Anna K.

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I’m all for taking a leap.  I’ll cheer and clap, hoot and holler.

As long as I’m not the one doing the leaping!

Today, I leaped.

I took some of my art down to a local gift store called Red Willow’s Gift Shoppe. I’d been told that the proprietor, Willow, was very welcoming to local artists and would be open to selling my art.  As soon as we pulled up to the store, I loved it.  Art was everywhere!  The side of the building, the front window and even a painter doing a fresh mural on the inside of the cafe portion of the shop.

The lovely Willow was so easy to work with and put this newbie at ease.  The ladies working in the shop and cafe swarmed around us and welcomed us like long time friends.  The Hubs even met a lady who is from the area he grew up in. So cool!

So here I am.  Feelin’ blessed.

Thanks for stopping by!

Anna K.

]]> http://www.annakoriginals.com/2011/01/taking-a-leap/feed/ 5 http://www.annakoriginals.com/2011/01/studio-whispers/ http://www.annakoriginals.com/2011/01/studio-whispers/#comments Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:35:00 +0000 Anna K. http://www.annakoriginals.com/?p=475

I totally enjoyed our laid back Christmas and New Year celebrations.  Sharing the joys of the holiday season with family and friends was a balm for this little girl who’s still missin’ her Momma.  I was blessed.

Now that the festivities of the season are over, I’m ready to get back in my little studio!  It’s been whispering to me.

I’ve been sketching out ideas for new projects and I’m more than ready to snag some time in my oasis of creativity.

So bring on the paint!

I’m linking up with Darcy over at Life With My 3 Boybarians.

Thanks for stopping by,

Anna K.

My first Holiday Arts and Crafts show was in November.  After my first ever show this past May, I was ready to get my feet wet with the Christmas scene.

The venue was indoors this time around, so I didn’t have to worry about a tent…or bad weather.  A definite plus!  I’m still playing around with how I arrange my booth space.  Visually, I like this set up but I found that some people are more hesitant to come in and shop as opposed to a set up closer to the front of the space.

I loved how many people were curious about mixed-media, what I draw inspiration from and even what my favorite materials are to work with.  A few people really connected with some of the pieces…that’s so very cool for me.

All in all, for me, it was a success.  I sold some of my pieces, I made connections with other artisans and shop owners and learned a few lessons.

I’m hopeful that in the coming year, I’ll be able to take part in more shows…maybe even get a few items in a shop!

I’m hopeful…

I, too, have been one of the many who’ve partaken of those awesome and inspiring posts.  There are some seriously talented folks out there!

Simplicity was the name of the game for this year’s Christmas decor at our house.  With a curious toddler in the house, the Hubs and I decided that our living room tree didn’t need ornaments.  Lights and some ribbon for garland are all that grace our tree this year.  We like it and the little one has left the tree alone. Thank Heaven!

Our “mantle” in the kitchen was where my creative side got to play.

Natural elements ~ Twigs from the yard, moss, burlap, starfish (in the shadow box), sand-filled ball ornaments

For some sparkle ~ Beaded garland, white and silver ball ornaments, shiny green ribbon

This twig arrangement was part of my Fall mantle decor.  With the addition of some white ball ornaments, burlap trim and a bright green bow it’s all dressed up for Christmas.

A couple Christmases ago I filled a few clear ornaments with beach sand and iridescent glitter.  I loved them so much that I’ve used them ever since.  The fun part about them?

They stay wherever I put them because the sand weighs them down!

{Comes in handy when they’re up on a shelf.}

I cut out a scalloped garland from some scrap burlap.  I like how it adds contrast to the shiny beaded garland that I picked up for a few bucks from Wally World.

To continue the burlap and green to the other side of the mantle, I wrapped a white candle with those elements…a dab of hot glue was all that was needed to make them stick.

White and silver ornaments with touches of green moss fill up one of my favorite glass containers and add a little something extra to my glass pedestal where I placed the white candle.

***

Like I said, simplicity was the name of the game.  The only thing I purchased especially for this was the silvery-blue beaded garland.  Everything else came from what I already had on hand.  Love that!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

♥ Merry Christmas!

But before I get to the business of selling my creations there’s a lot of prep work to be done.

For me that starts with lists.  One of my favorite things to do, y’all!  I tend to work better if my thoughts are on paper.

I put the final touches on any paintings or any other creations that I want to sell.  Pricing and taking inventory of everything comes next.  If you’re wondering, my inventory is on the small side.  I’m a one-woman operation and, for right now, I don’t spend hours a day in my little studio painting away.  I have two children and a Hubs who is recovering from surgeries to both arms.  The fam always comes first with me.

I like to do a dry run on my display set up.  The last show we did, it was an outdoor event and we were required to have a tent.  We set everything up in the front yard the week before the event just to make sure everything worked together.  Honey, the neighbors thought that a show from HGTV was getting ready to film.  I got the biggest laugh out of that when they asked!  I was so focused on the display that I never realized how a big white canopy tent in the yard would look like!  This show will be indoors so the tent will stay home…Yay!

Packing is also a biggie.  Making sure everything is gathered, packed and loaded is a big deal.  I try to make sure I have everything I need so that I don’t have any emergencies the day of an event.  A little toolbox full of small tools and other items I need for my display comes in very handy.

What you see up there has been one of the fun parts of my prep work the last few weeks ~ my business card.  With Vistaprint I was able to upload some of my own images and, thanks to a tricked out discount offer, get a batch made before this show.  I also had a small banner made in the same design.  They both came out wonderfully!  I love that I was able to include my own elements for a truly customized look.

All in all, I’m looking forward to the new experience of a holiday show.  Now I’m off to get more stuff checked off my list!

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Well, mantle and home in my case.

We don’t have a fireplace but we do have a “rescued” wooden mantle that we use for display…or just a place to put something out of our toddler’s reach.

Anyway….what was I saying?

Ah, yes.  Mantle and home.

What with the holiday season around the corner and an upcoming visit from the Hubby’s fam around Thanksgiving, I’ve been snagging moments here and there to add some Fall touches around the house.

Pumpkins are my fave way to bring that Fall feeling to life.  The color and the shape bring instant fun and life to any arrangement, porch step or table centerpiece that they’re included in.

Keeping in mind that I have a very curious -and tall- toddler in the house, I set out to make a movable centerpiece of sorts.

Materials included~

{clear glass container}

{bags of dried beans}

{moss}

{mini pumpkins}

~The hardest part of this was cutting open the plastic bags that the dried beans were in.  I used two different colored beans and layered them.

~Once I’d reached the height I wanted with the beans, I layered in some moss that was leftover from another project.

~Topped off with some cheerful mini pumpkins, this project was done.

This only took me a few minutes to do and I’m quite pleased with the results. I like that this is open to variations.  I can see it using strings of beaded garland and glass ball ornaments for Christmas or even Easter candy and some decorative (faux) Easter eggs perched on some paper grass….Oh, the possibilities!

So far, I’ve used it on my entry table, my kitchen table and even as a centerpiece at my Dad’s birthday party.

When I said I wanted a “movable” centerpiece, I meant it!

As for keeping it away from the toddler~

So far, so good.

Blessings,