Ashley's Art Closet

Dream dream BIG

2012-02-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

A little sketching, pastel pencils, paint, ink stamp

all inspired by

Kelly Rae Roberts book

Taking Flight!

Frame

2012-01-13T08:48:00.000-08:00

I am posting these four Frame videos so a
friend can have easy access for viewing them!

They are videos from
last year that hold so much truth and no
matter where you stand in your life, I feel
there's something in them for everyone. Even
for me there was something in each one of them,
points of views that even 10 years ago I didn't look at!
Boy see, there is an advantage, beauty to getting older.

We just have to continue to seek and leave room to grow...

Everyone view 'em if you like even leave me a comment,
click on the like-inspiring button,
or you can email me!
I would love to hear from you.

Have an awesome weekend...

Framing Your Marriage (Part 1) from Pinelake Church on Vimeo.

Framing Your Marriage (Part 2) from Pinelake Church on Vimeo.

Framing Your Family from Pinelake Church on Vimeo.

Framing Your Work from Pinelake Church on Vimeo.

Camera Creation

2012-01-08T21:52:00.001-08:00

Getting ready for a Halloween party in the Fall of 2011, I needed a camera for my costume.

The hubby wanted to go as a hunter. So I went as a wildlife photographer-his photographer, pretty sassy, right!? Being a wildlife photographer for real is something I would really love to do, but hey just alittle dress up will do for now!

I started with a wine box and a book from Hobby Lobby, painting them black.

As you can see, I had a picture printed and one of my lens out for alittle inspiration to pull this one off.

I also put the red rubber ban around the end of the lens.

Gluing the book and the wine container together, I began to add other bells and whistles.

The neck strap is an old belt the hubby had in a bag for goodwill.

Being dressed as the hunter and wildlife photographer we were sure paid off in the warmth department. It was an outside event.

And it was COLD!!!

People kept mistaking it for a real camera all night! I didn't want to be caught

actually using one of my cameras due to the weight of them. That would not have been fun.

As you can see, I had to come up with a way to attach the belt to the camera base.

I needed to do this and it be really secure. I didn't want it around my neck pulling and tugging ripping the whole thing apart. So, I made like a braid type weave out of twine. This part inserted in the camera was secured with some really cool glue found in the craft department of Hobby Lobby and Walmart. It comes in a yellow tube. Actually in a post to come in a few days, I have a picture of it! I'll point it out to you then.

I continued by adding the different bells and whistle by the different object that I had on hand that could pass for what I was trying to pull off. One being the circular dial, I used a waterbottle cap.

To bad we rushed out at the last minute and I didn't capture us dressed, yikes!

Let me know what you think!

I just finished

2012-01-08T21:07:00.000-08:00

Unfurling by Misty Mawn

Unfurling is a workshop in book form, offering a unique mix of inspiration and technique exercises.

The book begins with art exercises in drawing and painting that include portraiture, contour drawing, backgrounds, layering, and working with still life, followed by collage and image transfer techniques.
The second section offers exercises and projects in stamp carving, paper pottery, sculpture, origami, paper doll making, and surface design. These tactile explorations offer an enjoyment of the process as well as wonderful handmade projects. The last section shares a variety of approaches to visual journaling. There are instructions for binding your own journal, prompts and ideas for working on your pages, and a variety of exercises using photography and poetry as ways to inspire and inform your journal keeping.

Misty Mawn is a mixed-media artist, a vocational photographer, international workshop instructor, and passionate mother. When she is not busy singing out loud in her studio, she is most likely found amusing her two children, inventing in the kitchen, or looking for treasures. She has been published in a variety of magazines and books, and she writes the popular blog mistymawn.typepad.com.

Sneak Peek

2012-01-02T20:44:00.000-08:00

Into my art studio, what's in the making....

Since my diving-in post back in August 2011,
I've been somewhat busy at work!
Well, with what LITTLE time my schedule
has allowed me! I was so hoping to do more
in my art studio than I have. But because my first
and foremost job is being a full time
wife and mom, I do my best to fill
those shoes first!

Family is everything to me...
I have a good sense of when I need to put
the paint brush, camera, writing tools down.

A lot of my time in the studio was not
just about creating but learning myself,
growing, learning new things,
being inspired, trying to really
find myself as a true artist. That when others
walk in the room they can see a piece of my
work from across the room and say that's
Ashley Murphy's.

And this is what I said to myself during
the beginning of this process,
"I might not always know where I am going,
but I find myself when I get there..."

Abstract has always been a favorite
of mine but I don't want to limit myself. I like messy.
I am learning messy can be beyond just
abstract! It has been so much fun! A great time
for learning while growing. I learned years ago
along my photography journey there is always
something new to learn. Kinda like life, I am
a woman who loves to learn new things in all
areas of my life. Because I know I am allowing myself
to grow! And when I grow, I am more of
that shinning light for others....

I am dedicating my art time to creating pieces
that resemble, "who I am, where I've been and
where I am going!"

As I continue to build my collection,
please pray with me that I will
find great sales outlet!
I am looking at Etsy, local shops, my blog, etc.
As I have said before yall, "my readers make me
who I am!" Thank you

I like a clean fresh start !!!

2012-01-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

This Art Journal page is titled Good Mail Day

It was inspired by the Good Mail Day book I found

at Michael's craft. I was drawn to it merely because my love

of stamps and mail since childhood. My dad and I had a stamp collection

and I had several pen pals as a child!

Looking for a "clean fresh start" here

at the new year, I am posting my last two

art journal pages as well! I hope you enjoy...

The above page is titled Tags, inspired by my tag collection.

As far back as a child, I can remember liking cool looking tags.

As an adult, I have held onto several of them, making a collection.

I copied these on my copier/printer. I didn't want to use

the originals. I printed, cut and pasted! Using two paint colors, fresh foliage green

and Indian turquoise, I smeared along the white spaces that appeared

between the pasted tags. I then outline some areas with a dark brown marker

and hand wrote the word "Tags" with the same brown marker.

The above art journal page is titled Button's,

even though I left the s off the big pink word

Button!

Button's

Something else I have liked since childhood!

On the right side of the page I wrote what buttons

mean to me:

buttons remind me of my grandmother

I collect buttons

my childhood dogs name was buttons.

I spent alot of time in the material store with my grandmother

growing up. Due to her being handicap, smocks were really easy

for her to wear on a day to day basis. A friend of hers

would make them for her once she purchased the material

and buttons.

I made copies of several of my buttons from my

own personal collection to use on this art journal page.

Here is a look back at each page from my art journal

from start to finish. I still have lots of empty pages left,

but when the time arises I will fill them with lots

of good created ideas, engery...

Thank you for following me on this journey.

If anything, I have gain a good sense of who I am as an

artist and where my little creative learning mind is going.

Repin Daddy's Briefcase

2011-12-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

With the holidays and all can you believe
I haven't been on Pinterest much!?

If you have time repin Daddy's Briefcase, in books, for me!

Click her to see Daddy's Briefcase on Pinterest for repining

Want to know more about Pinterest, you might like
my post Pinterest!

Thank you so much!!!

One thing I am hoping for in 2012

2011-12-30T22:13:00.000-08:00

To gain more outlets for book sales
on Daddy's Briefcase!!! I have a few
local ideas. If anyone has any ideas,
if your a book reviewer or if your a fellow
blogger looking for a guest, let me know!

I am happy to have so many
readers so far, but please remember if you have read
Daddy's Briefcase and would like to share a review do so
over at Amazon.com-click on here. This helps others
as well as helps me in more than one way,
one being with more outlet sales. Meaning,
if someone sees there is an interest in me,
in my book they will be more willing to help
out with the additional outlets. Whether it be a magazine,
another bookstore, etc....thanks so much! Yall are
a BIG key to this success TOO!!!

I am not sure just how many sales will
ever be enough, it's really not about the
"sales" it's about me reaching out to others,
who are looking for some ray of light, hope!

Other ways you can help:
-by clicking the like but at the top
of the Amazon page-posted above.
-Also on that same amazon page you can scroll to the bottom
where it says, Tags Customers Associate with This Product
click on the ones that apply and/or you can create
your own words as tags, where it says create your first tag!

Art Journal Page 12

2011-12-18T18:55:00.000-08:00

another page inspired by our visit to New Orleans this summer

The New Orleans Audubon Zoo

Art Journal Page 11

2011-12-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

(click on the image for an up close look)

WE took a small day trip to New Orleans one weekend this summer!

I kept the maps to the zoo and aquarium which are used

here on this art journal page!

Puppy Chow Recipe

2011-12-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

I entered in on a chance to win a Jeanne Oliver
camera bag over at Christy Tomlinson's blog!

I had to share a family tradition and the first thing that
came to mind is the famous PUPPY CHOW. We make it
every year. My youngest daughter would eat it all year if
I let her...so I wanted to share the recipe with you!

Puppy Chow

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
9 cups of Chex cereal(whole box/any variety)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

In a large bowl, melt the choc chips, peanut butter and butter
in the microwave on high 1 minute, stir. And then 30 seconds or until
mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla.

In a large bowl place cereal.
Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, gently stir
until evenly coated.

Then pour your powdered sugar over and gently stir until evenly
coated. If the bowl has a lid you can shake it around for a fast easy
coating...

You also can find this recipe on the back of Chex boxes
this time of year. Some people call it Muddy Buddies!

She Art fun

2011-12-04T21:35:00.000-08:00

Remember the online art class She Art

(click on images for an up close look)

This one was done in my art journal on my youngest daughters

birthday. Both my daughters made one as well, they were

really cute!

Knowing Christy was offering an ornament workshop soon, it got

my wheels to spinning...so I created this ornament! Isn't she cute!?!?

and then some She Art face ornaments, cute!

all of these ornaments are on my tree this year, they look great

along with everything else!

Art Journal Page 10

2011-12-04T14:28:00.000-08:00

Oh, I had a lot of fun making this one!

(and if you haven't been following my art journal pages

these were done this summer)

McAlister FREE tea day...yummie, and I don't even drink tea!

Fun, fun stuff!!!

Hey, if your looking for an art journal online class to take hop on over

to Christy Tomlinson's page

for her art journal class

Three Hearts

I am currently taking her She Art and She Art 2 class

and just signed up for the

12 Ornaments of Christmas.

Oh, boy! I am about to be a busy girl, right!?

Art Workshop

2011-12-01T19:58:00.000-08:00

In an effort to continue to find me,
myself as an artist, I purchased the
She Art and She Art 2 online workshop
combo by Christy Tomlinson.

This is the first workshop
I've ever done! I found Christy's workshop through
another artist friend. Christy's constant style
of mix media art is so ME!
If I were to tell you of someone
who totally inspires me it would be
Christy. You can visit her over at her
blog, http://christytomlinson.typepad.com/christytomlinson/

She has a few videos under tutorials
you can watch of her work - Christy's tutorials
I watched all of them in no time. That's one reason
I choose to purchase these workshops, so that I
would have something to watch that held my attention
while I walk on the treadmill. My mother says there's
no way, she doesn't understand how I do such stuff on the
treadmill. But hey, if it works, it works!

Seeing her work, even prior to purchasing the workshop,
has shown me a different path to my art-stuff I already knew, but
has encourage me to apply. Usually, I am all
about abstract. It's been good! Mix media allows me
to be messy, like with my simple abstract and I like MESSY.

I hope one day to use some of my photography for some
mix media projects!

Christy's badge
from the workshop

Art Journal Page 9

2011-11-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

I didn't really have a plan on this day, I just jumped right in.

My kids loved it...

Have I ever told you !?!?!

2011-11-23T14:11:00.000-08:00

Have I ever told you I like to make dressing, really I do!?!?!

Have I ever told you we are not called to happiness, we are called to Him!?!?

Have I ever told you the movie Game Plan is a cute movie between a father and daughter!?!?!

Have I ever told you that I've forgotten what music is on my ipod, that's how long it's been since I used it!?!?!

Have I ever told you how thankful I am for my life!?!?

Have I ever told you that if your on my facebook friends list you prob just read all the above!?!?!

5 Mix Media Artist Who Inspire Me

2011-11-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

Julie Nutting

Christy Tomlinson

Lisa Kaus

Kelly Rae Roberts

Jeanne Oliver

you can click on the artist names to see more about them, see more of their work

2011-11-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

What is Pinterest!?

At it's best it is a virtual pinboard which lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. The pinboards can be used to plan a wedding, decorate a home, organize favorite recipes etc. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing the pinboards is a way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interest.

I know what your thinking, I don't have time for that!

I said it too when a dear friend told me about it. With it in the back of my mind, I stopped one day long enough just to browse. As a person who constantly looks for inspiration and a collector at heart, pinterest is now my new friend! It allows me to sort and shuffle in a clean, fast, organize manner!

Here's a video of the founder, Ben Silbermann, watch as he explains...

A helpful video of how to use Pinterest

and another

Here's a list of board ideas:

places to visit
travel
recipe
Holiday crafts
nail polish
weddings
words
nature
DIY
photography
art
organize
dream work space
music
books
people
fashion
home
furniture
deco
party ideas
kids crafts
recycle
trash to treasure

I am going to warn you, pinterest is addicting!

Sketch 6

2011-11-16T20:06:00.000-08:00

The last sketch of the week of sketches.

By far, this one is one of my favorites.

She reminds me of a few people,

one being Jennifer Aniston.

The others, people I know who look like Jennifer Aniston.

A painted version....

This is a scan copy painted, you may remember it from

headshot 2

I used it on an art piece that I just

recently finished. I will

post the finish product soon!

* a glance back *
at the week of sketches
click on each picture to see larger

Art Journal Page 8

2011-11-16T19:52:00.000-08:00

Oh boy! This one is one of my favorites. It was inspired by

a card I picked up one day, but never used. Fun, fun...

Art Journal Page 7

2011-11-09T20:34:00.000-08:00

This page was done 4th of July weekend!

Pretty plain and simple, just what I like...

Sketch 5

2011-11-07T15:53:00.000-08:00

(click on the image to see larger view)

Isn't she a beauty!? This was night 5...

Yesterday, I lost a friend-due to FHC!

2011-11-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

My biggest point of starting this blog a few years ago
was to have my voice heard in the FHC community. FHC-
Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma is a rare form of liver cancer
that usually occurs in young adults. Because it is so rare,
finding others with it is like finding a needle in a haystack. And for
those who know me well, know I am a 11 year FHC survivor!

August 10, 2009 I got the sweetest comment here on my blog
from a girl named Jessy:

Jessy said...
Hi there!! I found your blog and wanted to introduce myself and share about my blog (www.canswercolumn.blogspot.com) because you're the only other person I've met with FHC and it just thrills my heart to finally meet someone else who understands completely my cancer (though I truly hate that you have it at all). I was diagnosed two years ago, five days before my twenty first birthday. Anyway, thank you for sharing your thoughts and pictures in a blog...YOU have totally inspired me today. :))

Sadly, Jessy lost her battle yesterday!!! :(

Jessy was the first of three with FHC to find me through my blog,
although I had connected with other FHC people elsewhere.
And you can tell by her comment how happy she was to find me.
I remember finding my first FHC person, the connection is one no one else
can have unless you have been there. It's a feeling of feeling less alone!

As time went on, Jessy and I stayed connected off and on
through facebook. It was so funny when I looked her up
on facebook and sent her a friend request,
her accepting. In my message, I explained who I was, "You left a comment
on my blog...ashley's art closet...I am a FHC survivor.....
Thanks for your comment, talk more with you later, just wanted
to make sure u knew the connection, have a great day!"
She confessed she was a little confused of who I was, being a blonde,
but was so glad I reached out to her. I was strikingly busy finishing up
my book but I watch her facebook status from a far,
she was living a busy life
of treatments and planning her wedding,
which she did in fact marry the man of her dreams.
Oh to hear her tell her love story was just stunning,
she too was a writer and a dang good one at that!

This summer when I became more active in a group called
Fibrolamellars of the World Unite, I added Jess.
Everyone who was in the group at the time racked their brain
to add those touched by FHC that they had come in contact with over the years.
Jessy was so glad to be apart of the group. Only, I didn't know just how
bad her health had really gotten. She came right into the group sharing
her FHC story, just like everyone else in the group had done
and was doing-each story is so different but has shinned such light
to educate and help others. I could go on
for days how people have been able to connect,
pointing others to counselors,
local groups, lodging paid for,
meeting face to face another FHC person,
sharing doctors info, treatment info, ask this question,
take someone with you,
and "oh, no they didn't" etc...!!!

I would see Jessy connecting with others. She was a true charm!
A very Godly woman, she had faith till her very last moment-
her husband even shared that with
the Fibrolamellars of the World Unite group
late last night. It just breaks my heart because if anyone
fought hard to find answers, healing she did.
She wanted more than anything to have children of her very own,
hers and her husbands. But just couldn't due to her health.
I know she is in a better place and will suffer no more,
but a piece of me knows she is mad as heck that she wasn't able to
prove cancer wrong here on this earth-she tried so hard!!!

My heart so aches and my thoughts and prayers go out to her family,
her husband, her friends, to anyone touched by her!
She was just awesome,
I will forever miss you JESSY
but never never forget you.
I too will live a life full of faith and possibility
just like you did my friend, lots of love!

click here who-have-you-inspired-lately
to see the actually comment Jessy left me...
and to help you better understand the stress
in my life at that moment was me trying to fully
release everything in my book. Me and my sister
had talks about things we had been through together
that we had never talked about. Turning loose of thoughts
and feelings is awesome....very healing, which makes you
that much stronger!!!

Reminder: a portion of my first year sales of Daddy's Briefcase:
My Journey through Liver Caner will be donated to FCF-
Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation
as a part of the Ambassador Project.
Click here ==>Proceeds donated to the FCF
to see my right up of offering my donation!!!

Or here to see my story on the Faces of Fibrolamellar.
Other ways you can help FCF!

Also remember if you have read Daddy's Briefcase
and would like to write a review do so here.

Sketch 4

2011-10-28T06:59:00.000-07:00

Night 4 of my week sketches, I can't wait for you to see night 5!

Art Journal Page 6

2011-10-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

this is one of my favorite pages

my youngest daughter had a butterfly stain glass thingie from school last year that inspired this page

we used watercolor, which I don't use alot

but we had alot of fun with this one

this picture just doesn't do it justice

here's some tips, I found

art-journaling-101

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16