STUDIO HAPPY*MESS - christine echelbarger

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:08:55 +0000journalACEOcollageinspirationdetailprocessart therapycontrolhappymandalaobsessmushroomcollectinchworkskullOCDchallengeeyesmindnaturepatternsscraplayerorderconfidencedrawinggoallayeringparentingtherapySomerset Studioaddictedbiologychaoscollectionconsciouscopingdecisiondepressionneedpeaceperfectionrelaxvintagebeadsbirdcalmdesignguiltheartlistlossoverwhelmphasepostcardsrepetitionretroscaredstruggletreeboxescellschangecolorcommunicationcriticizecycledeathdreamsenergyfocusinputjellyfishletteringmemorymusicpaisleypassionpilespressurestrongsubmittan journalurgeveinworldswritingETSYPearlabstractaffirmationanalyzeanatomicalbirthblendingbloomsbluebooksboringbrightcarvingclaustrophobiaclearancecolored pencilconfrontcrazydarkexpectationsfearflickrhoardiconjunkmagicmarkersmedsmusenightmarenormalorganizepanicpermanencephotographpomegranatespreconceptionpsychosisrejectrelationshipsrummagesewingspacestuckstylesunvalidatewindowwoodburnCaran dAche neocolor 2LINKSalterbing crosbybookboardborschtcaterpillardeterminationdiarydimensiondisplaydonedriveeggsembroideryfishgeologyhallucinationheathydrangeainkirrationallandscapeslevelmagazinesmaniameaningminimoviesmutednegativenew yearoil pastelorganicpainpaper charmpaper gluepeaceboardpodplanetpooleypregnancypreventprintsprivatepsych wardpublishedpysankyquotesrawrecordsschizophreniashelvesskeletonslackingstoragesubstancesuppliesswirltransformationurchinwoodworkspaceSTUDIO HAPPY*MESS - christine echelbargerhttp://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (christine)Blogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-1570694536688186460Sun, 29 Sep 2013 00:23:00 +00002013-09-28T20:23:05.248-04:00challengeenergyhappyjellyfishmandalapomegranatesstrongnew favorites! suede 35 above and below (pages 35 and 36) are 2 of my new favorites. i'm liking using straight lines with imperfect and unbalanced forms, it feels strong...and who doesn't adore pomegranates? truly one of the prettiest and most delicious fruits in existence... this mandala is my fave because i went askew and used colors asymmetrically. i think it makes the whole thing move just a http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2013/03/new-favorites.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-2242004691584112148Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:32:00 +00002013-03-18T14:34:01.457-04:00art therapybrightcolordrawingjournalprintstherapymy second sale! :D my second sale - to a new collector! thank you, rowan, for buying my drawings! this lady is a lover of things on the darker side, and i am so glad to have shared some of my most organic pages with her. it has actually inspired me to go a bit deeper and to maybe draw some less pretty things....i am so afraid to show that side of me, so i mostly stay colorful and positive in my work. i have http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-second-sale-d.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-3628747006548699882Sat, 09 Mar 2013 22:21:00 +00002013-03-17T17:28:18.716-04:00bookschallengeobsessspacevintageworldssci-fi ♥ suede 29 and 31 so, i have an obsession with Doctor Who and all things science fiction....especially vintage sci-fi movies with aliens, martians, space, rockets and other worlds.... i was recently turned on to War of the Worlds by H.G.Wells and it's become my favorite book. i no longer have the patience required to read, so my friend and i listened to the audio version together, whichhttp://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2013/03/sci-fi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-4188282155263665004Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:58:00 +00002013-03-18T14:33:29.594-04:00biologycellsdrawinglayerlayeringnatureorderorganicrepetitionnew journal pages.... suede 26 nature has such a nurturing feel, organic lines that surround each other....                                                  &http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2013/03/more-journal-pages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-4895882000017892965Sat, 23 Feb 2013 22:43:00 +00002013-03-17T16:24:32.120-04:00addicteddepressionhappylayernatureobsesspeaceexposed my good days are more a matter of how few of my hours are spent in sadness or obsessive thought patterns. i feel very content in my corner of the couch, with my markers and ice water....TV on with some documentary or reality show that i'm currently addicted to.... sometimes content means only that nothing is irritating me (like voices that sound extra loud or a noise outside, maybe an http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2013/02/exposed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-2157097326671148842Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:32:00 +00002013-03-17T16:22:11.426-04:00anatomicalbirthcollectcontroldeathdetailfearmandalamindmushroomoverwhelmpaisleypatternsrepetitionskullreality suede 23 mandalas have a sort of rule:  you start in the middle and go around, adding, and making it grow - that satifies and centers me. it gives me the freedom to make the same details over and over and around, leaving me to just come up with colors and a way to finish it off. it's like following the lines of a street. i stick to the edge, working one layer at a time. it http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2013/02/reality.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-3095484962341585221Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:28:00 +00002012-10-03T20:28:04.214-04:00bluechallengelayermushroomnatureskullmore journal pages   journal page 15 another micro-worldy vision...  page 16 heavy on the blues for most of this post. i didn't like blue most of my life, but i find myself reaching for it all the time now, along with lavenders and aquas....    page 13  pages 14 and 12 i thought the patterns in 14 were like the curves of glaciers, so i went with anhttp://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/10/more-journal-pages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-5844854808984133853Sat, 25 Aug 2012 01:30:00 +00002012-08-28T21:47:03.179-04:00copingcycledepressionguilthappymindnormalphasestruggleemotional void - depression at its best emotionally flatlined. that's how my drugs make me feel. for the sake of clarification, i am taking effexor and geodon, with a side of ambien to sleep. all generic. i am now of "normal" affect, and reasonably sane. the racing, repetitive thoughts and bipolar mood swings are subdued. i don't know how to be "normal". i'm not unappreciative, but i really feel hollow and absent. the most http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/08/emotional-void-depression-at-its-best.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-4232644479810257092Fri, 03 Aug 2012 23:46:00 +00002012-08-15T19:49:01.717-04:00confidencefearjournalperfectionSOLD! i sold my first prints! thought i would chat briefly about the experience, it was stressful to say the least. i was physically not well for 2 days afterwards...perfectionism came out and frightened me, i thought i would completely misspell my name or drip a tear on one of them. had to quickly order some sleeves and post mailers, had to decide how to sign and make receipts, i want to do it http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/08/sold.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-6926859962718161208Sat, 16 Jun 2012 03:36:00 +00002012-06-15T23:36:19.835-04:00biologyjournaltan journal pages 7,8,9 http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/06/pages-789.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-4197510849491235997Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:58:00 +00002012-06-12T16:23:07.525-04:00abstractanatomicalbiologyboringcellsdesignembroideryinspirationpatternspostcardssewingvintagefew more postcards these are a few postcards i finished. above are inspired by pinecones and spores.... yep, lotsa the same colors.... same patterns... gets boring after a while. so i am looking at some embroidery sites and books to find new lines and  designs to use.... http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/06/these-are-few-postcards-i-finished.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-9174681266937607465Fri, 08 Jun 2012 04:01:00 +00002012-06-08T00:03:40.193-04:00birddesigndetaileyesheartinchworkjellyfishjournalmushroomstrongtreethe end of journal #1 page 52 i might have to count this page as my very favorite. unlike most of the freeform layers i do, i had no issues with what to do each layer. it just flowed. i will be leaving this one B&W.                              &nbsphttp://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/06/end-of-journal-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-1451290529526852844Thu, 07 Jun 2012 22:27:00 +00002012-06-07T18:34:29.989-04:00chaoslayerlayeringletteringmandalanatureobsessOCDpressurerepetitionveinwritinglettering and layers  page 49 even mandalas are layered! :) pages 47,46 the writing on the left is actually journaling, intentionally difficult to read, for my eyes only. still, using journaling in your artwork is a way to both detail a background and include the most personal part of yourself. the best part is you can be sloppy if, like me, you http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/06/lettering-and-layers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-5463090134005284877Thu, 07 Jun 2012 20:49:00 +00002012-06-07T16:50:04.033-04:00calmmushroomorderpaisleyperfectionrelaxcalm............. once in a while, i make a page that lands in my favorites file. that means i can't find enough mistakes in it to take away the calm it gives me. these are two of those. ♥ page 43, 44 http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/06/calm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-1694569400403709215Thu, 07 Jun 2012 20:47:00 +00002012-06-07T16:47:50.991-04:00changechaoscommunicationconfrontcontrolcopingcriticizedepressionexpectationsguilthappylayermindoverwhelmparentingpressurerelationshipsstruggleanti-social i just want to be alone. by myself. the only people who ask me to come around are my immediate family (well, besides my kids and husband). i can't stand the thought of all the layers of formalities when getting together with others. the surface excited-to-see-you top layer, accompanied by kisses and hugs...the next few layers of how long it's been (months, days, hours, minutes) since we last http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/06/anti-social.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-5821821253654521985Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:23:00 +00002012-04-06T03:23:50.132-04:00art therapycalmconsciouscontroldecisiondetaildrawingfocusjournallayeringmindorderorganizeperfectionpilesprocessrelaxtherapyprocess and focus this is page 41. the only page i drew horizontally. it really bothers me that i chose this direction, having the binding on the bottom, but it worked out cool. :) layering, as i have previously pointed out, helps organize my thought process. it forces me to go one strip at a time, therefore i focus. it also looks all neat and tidy, making me calm. funny, my method of organization is http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/04/process-and-focus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-1174054094647558655Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:15:00 +00002012-06-08T00:04:58.896-04:00affirmationchallengeconfidencecontrolcycleheartjournalobsesspermanencerejectrelationshipsscaredstrugglevalidateno relationships for me, thanks.   one of my recent relationships gone down under the weight of my OCD (page 37). i have severe trust issues, but still jump in when i find someone interesting. a new friendship is always refreshing: sharing and disclosing...then it hits. my overwhelming need to know it's permanent and that i can keep trusting. the need to know i'm really wanted. vulnerability pulls me into obsessive http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/03/no-relationships-for-me-thanks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-6236382525093986792Sat, 31 Mar 2012 06:46:00 +00002012-06-09T01:07:40.936-04:00bloomscalmcontrolneedorderphaserelaxrepetitionurgespliced lily & the need to repeat (pages 31-36) page 31 - not a fan of lilies or any flowers this shape, but as it appears to be a cross-section, i'm good. plus the coloration is very much to my liking (deep purply-blue makes me so mellow). and i think the background detail came out exactly as i would have planned it to. :) ...then the repetition comes back to me....(page 35) extreme need for mental order on these days....  http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/03/spliced-lily-and-need-to-repeat-pages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-2977412705401148959Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:56:00 +00002012-06-09T01:06:44.579-04:00art therapychaoscolored pencilhappyjournallayeringmindmushroompeaceretrostylesunworldspsychadelia & a little chaos this page (22, above) is one of my favorites from my black journal. i really love 70's design and this is a tribute to the freedom of psychadelia...it made me happy the whole time i drew it, but i was also more nervous about screwing it up the whole time too. would have also liked more 70's coloration, which would have meant pencil, but i still enjoy the outcome.   pages http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/03/psychadelia-and-little-chaos.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-3887189287168891437Sun, 25 Mar 2012 07:35:00 +00002012-03-27T03:45:17.934-04:00challengecollectconfidenceconsciouscontroldecisiondetaildrawinggoaljournalmindmushroomnatureneedpatternspreconceptionprocessscaredtan journaltreeon to journal # 2   These are the first pages of my new journal!  i'll be referring to it as the tan suede journal because of the faux cover :)   this empty book was begun a lot more easily than the first because i'm rolling on the confidence i collected finishing that one to the last page. (page 1 & 2 above, 4 & 3 below) for the first time in a http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/03/on-to-journal-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-1259354042381147135Sun, 25 Mar 2012 02:34:00 +00002012-03-26T20:59:13.014-04:00art therapyconfidenceconsciouscontroldetaileyesgoalinspirationjournalmushroomobsessOCDorderperfectionphaseprocessrelaxstuckMY ART JOURNAL - where input becomes output   page 14                                                             http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-art-journal-where-input-becomes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-8141341644632226854Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:02:00 +00002012-03-26T20:56:33.665-04:00analyzeconsciouscriticizedarkdeathdreamsenergymemorymindnightmaredraw your dream out... speaking of dreams, i had one the other night that is just one of the strangest ever for me...i'll share so you can get an idea of what my brain does with me. i was in a large school, and my son was there in kindergarten. there had been wolf sightings around the area, so some very large burly guys with bloody aprons took care of the problem by killing off the wolf pack. they became a slight http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/03/draw-your-dream-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-4969871988071896344Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:07:00 +00002012-03-31T02:09:51.539-04:00art therapychallengegoaljournalmandalalittle challenges (pages 26-30)  page 28 this was a challenge to not repeat  pages 26 and 29 these were challenges to leave a white background, then to use no black outlines    pages 27 and 30 a challenge to not fill-in the whole page, and to mandala the whole page using at least one pattern i'm not fond of  (in this case the leaf skeletons) http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/02/little-challenges-pages-26-30.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-4599510728254427849Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:56:00 +00002012-03-26T20:54:11.880-04:00addictedchallengecommunicationcopingcrazycycledepressiondrawingfocusguiltinputlevelmaniamedsneednormalobsessOCDoverwhelmdepression. OCD. bipolar-ocity. it's like this..... i have everything i need. i have a nice house, an extremely hard-working husband who says he loves me to death, and two amazing, smart and loving children. i have 2 cats and 2 hamsters that light up my days. i'm not very healthy but i'm not completely incapable of changing that either. i consider myself an artist because that is my passion, i want to do nothing else http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/02/depression-ocd-bipolar-ocity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060320871251832855.post-303913969959411954Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:38:00 +00002012-03-26T20:48:13.395-04:00collectcontroldecisionguilthoardpilesprocessthe guilt contingency    contingency. another life-sucker. every single thing i do every day is dependent on something else. in order for me to do something, it either HAS to be done or attached to something threatening or looming. that's a joy. i need to organize this before can use those new pastels. i need to clean out the office before http://studiohappymess.blogspot.com/2012/02/guilt-contingency.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christine)0