It Takes A Village...

Hello out there!

How is your week going?

All is fine in my world. Just anxiously awaiting Spring!

I guess I needed to bring some bright cheery colors into my recent painting since the real world is still so Wintery grey.

I also had the urge to work on a long, skinny canvas. This one measures 8" x 24". I've yet to add flowers throughout the village, but today I'm done painting.

I was in the art studio at 7:30 this morning working on this piece...

For hours.

I did make a trip to the grocery store and took my shower, of course...

The rest of my time was dedicated to painting.

After adding the bushes, I knew that it was time to stop for now. Walk away from the canvas. There comes that time... For me anyway. I feel it. Rather than rush through my art or begin resenting it because it is taking too long to complete...

I will greet it tomorrow morning with a smile and most likely, fresh ideas to enhance it!

I will call my painting, "It takes a village". Why? (You may wonder). Well, only because I couldn't get that saying out of my head as I was painting! So, there you have it.

I haven't any other stories to share with you today. Oh, wait! It has started to rain here!!! Oh, how I love that sound. It does make me want to curl up under the blankets and take a long nap... But it's now too late in the day and would disrupt tonight's slumber.

So, I shall sip on some hot coffee with Cinnabon creamer. Oh my... Have you tried it? You must!

I will have some stories soon!

Until next time,

Stay warm!

 

Hello, February, 47...and MORE snow!

Hello, friends!

What have you been doing to pass these Winter months?

Possibly it is not cold where you reside...

but it was a mere 14 degrees in my world today, with another fresh blanket of snow.

Even our pond is covered in white.

Beautiful, it is.

Even more beautiful when one can peek at Winter through windows of a toasty, warm house.

Although we do have both central air and heat in our home...

we prefer to use our wood burning stove for heat.

Hubby works hard to cut enough wood to get us through an entire Winter.

Now that I am working from home, I have taken over his job of waking in the middle of the night to stoke the fire and replenish the wood so that the house will remain warm by morning. This allows him to sleep through the night. (I squeeze in a day time nap, if needed)!

I feel like a real pioneer woman.

I love country living.

We are such home bodies, us two.

When I asked him what he would like to do to celebrate his 47th Birthday on Saturday, he replied, "just stay in". I sighed with relief.

I put a roast in the crockpot along with potatoes, onion, and peppers....

and of course, I had already purchased a German chocolate cake and candles. (Too busy with painting to bake this year's cake)!

The party was on!

It was a lovely party of two.

I also did some painting.

 

I love, love, love these boho colors!

We ended Birthday night with a pay per view movie of his choice.

Hello, February and another year of celebration...

and another round of snow.

I will see you again real soon!

 

ACEO's and a Dash of Color!

Hello, friends!

I am typing this blog post from my warm bed! Yes, a cup of hot coffee is sitting on my night stand. It's seriously cold here, in our neck of the woods! I am a person who could easily burrow all Winter long and never leave the house! (It just might be that way now that I've left my day job)!

Even the view from my art studio has been rather blah. A dusting of snow on the ground. Grey skies. Poor, dead trees.

I need color!!!

I have been dabbling and creating my own sunshine, of course.

Do you do the same?

I absolutely love playing at home!

This week I have tinkered with many of my toys...

Gelli plate, clay, gouache, acrylics, watercolors, graphite pencils, my cameras.

Although I long to bounce around on the land again, with the sun beaming down on my skin...

I am enjoying this Winter, just fine.

I finished this 8"x10" acrylic painting from my last blog post!

I'm crazy in love with the colors and texture!

She is available now in my etsy shop!

Moons make me smile! Do they you? I want to paint many more moons and stars!

Sometimes I prefer to work with tiny art.

This little gal is an ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals). She measures only 2.50"x3.50".

I remember when ATC's (Artist Trading Cards), became all the rage here in the United States. I was involved in several online groups for swapping these small works of art. What fun it was! I received trading cards from Spain, Italy, Japan! I met so many nice people who were passionate about art and ATC's!

ATC's are for trading only.

ACEO's may be sold.

I miss participating in the ATC swaps. I just might get online later today and see if there are still active groups...

And jump back into the game!

Possibly you know?

For now, I'm listing ACEO's in my etsy shop.

I'm in the mood for small today...

And may make oodles and oodles of them!!!!

Wishing you a colorful day!

 

Fun, Warmth, & Comfort...

Hello and Brrrrrrrrr!

Is it extremely cold in your little part of the world?

It's 10 degrees here on the prairie and surrounding areas.

I cannot complain though. I'm home, in my sweats, and have no commitments or places to go. We have power...

And a fresh pot of coffee!

Oh, and plenty of art to pass the time. Yesterday I had the pleasure of painting with my darling sister-in-law from Iowa. Both she and her husband (Paul's brother), came for a sleepover! I love it when the four of us get together. We blend perfectly! She loves art and even coordinates major art events in her city. It's her job. She is also a collector of art and every wall in their home is covered with art pieces in which she has purchased through the years. Us girls play and visit while the brothers engage in their common interests. Of course, we all gather for meals and last night, two movies, back to back! We were up very late and I'm feeling it today...

But am still painting.

Little by little.

Layer after layer. (Acrylics).

 

Along with coffee, there are hot cups of cocoa, overflowing with whipped topping and chocolate syrup.

The picture was taken Friday night from the city casino where hubby and I dined. The hot chocolate was so yummy, not to mention, pretty...

We went to the grocery store and picked up all ingredients for home!

It went quite well with our Friday night desserts.

It's been blowing and snowing here.

There's nowhere else that I'd rather be...

Than right here...

At home.

That's where the fun, warmth, and comfort is!

Wishing you a warm day!

XO

 

It's A New Year!!!!

Hello, dear ones and Happy new year!!!!

It's pretty calm around here. Last night as well. Hubby and I sat in our new recliners, in our lounge wear, watching a scary movie! I tend to work on something creative as I sit because I'm really not a good sitter and my attention span is short. My mind never rests and yesterday I was just a bit excited about an accomplishment! A goal in which I had been pondering for awhile now. I decided to go ahead and begin the new year by re-stocking my etsy shop, now that I am settled into a permanent home and my vagabond has stopped and unpacked! It's tough after a divorce and not really knowing where home will be. Starting all over. Roaming. That was me a few years back. One certainly cannot maintain any kind of business in such chaos. I let go of many things during that time, including goals and dreams. Art supplies were in plastic tubs that traveled from Southwestern Kansas to the East coast, then Eastern Kansas!

Aaaaaah. At last I am at peace and have my life back...

A much better one than before, in fact!

So, I'm back up and running on etsy. I may never succeed there...

But I won't ever know until I do give it my time and commitment, right?

Here's the link to my shop, "La La Vagabond". I do hope that you'll stop by for a visit!

I like variety and will continue to list everything from original paintings, ACEO's, sculptures, greeting cards, holiday goodies, and always surprises! Always!

A pretty princess original watercolor painting that comes with a chocolate matt!

I try my best to price my art at reasonable prices that will allow everyone to afford, if they desire to purchase a piece.

My shop accepts credit, debit cards, paypal.

All is up-to-date, confirmed and verified! Yay!!!!

All of that alone took many hours, so for me, it's something to shout about!

Don't you just love that magical feeling that seems to arrive with the new year?

It's as if we have been given yet another opportunity to challenge ourselves and continue to create the lives that we so want.

I do not do resolutions. I just continue to improve and grow. It's always important to me to live a creative life, every single day.

I like to keep things colorful and make believe!

(A lot of glitter too)!

 

So, on that note, I shall say goodbye for now...

 

Wishing you a magical and wondrous 2014!

May dreams come true, goals achieved, and love shared!

Until next post,

XO

 

Visions of Sugarplums Danced in Her Head...

Hello, my friends!

I do hope that you had a wonderful Christmas!

Ours was very different this year since we did not travel or have time with our families. We stayed home, just the two of us....

Watching movies, snacking, sipping our usual java. It was quiet.

My family will celebrate Christmas in January, here in our home. We are very much looking forward to that!

I still felt the Christmas spirit, despite the fact that I wasn't with family...

A holiday ham has served us several yummy meals, gingerbread men were all gobbled up, and Christmas lights are turned on each morning and bounce off of the walls through the night. Visions of sugarplums have danced in our heads.

Much clay sculpting while sitting here in our recliners!

Joy, joy, joy!

Hubby even helped me "frost" more faux cupcakes. He likes being needed!

Aren't these kissing bunnies adorable?!!!

I made only one. It was very involved.... But oh, so worth it!

The creative ideas just kept on coming as we sat through Christmas... eating popcorn and chocolates (in addition to the ham and the home baked treats from a neighbor).

I thought to myself, "Alice In Wonderland"!!! I want to do a series of Wonderland sculptures!

So, let me introduce to you, the very first in the series...

The white rabbit titled, "Sweet Wonderland". There are only seven available. Love the gift box in which each one comes with! (I ship anywhere in the United States, message me if interested).

I've really had fun creating these!

Are you ready to ring in the new year?

I'm ready!!!

Remember, I'm posting frequent studio updates and photos on my "Missy Trent Art & Offerings" Facebook page! I do hope that you'll drop by and give me a "like"!!!

Stay warm, darlings!

I'll see you again very soon!

 

Pink, Pink, & Pink!

Hello, dear readers!

How are things in your world?

All is going well from my little corner of the universe! Hubby and I are both experiencing something odd. We have been waking up at strange times- anywhere between 2:00 am to 4:00 am. Our eyes just pop open and we are wide awake! He prefers to brew his coffee, sip a cup and watch tv until he feels that he can sleep for another hour or two. I usually get up, brew my coffee (we each have our own coffee pot), read my favorite creative blogs and then head to my art studio for some painting.

Funny. When I was employed, I would become so frustrated if my sleep was interrupted. Now that I'm able to work from home, I welcome creativity at any time...

Even 3:00 am.

I'm on a "pink" kick, or so it seems. Pink dresses on a ornaments and a 4"x4" canvas. Texture. Lots of texture.

Tiny cupcakes sculpted from clay! Although ornament sales have really slowed down, I still sold one of these the very day that I completed them! I'm going to continue to make ornaments because I love it so!!!

Ornaments do not have to be just for Christmas. I think that they look cute just hanging on a wall or from a shelf peg. They also make wonderful "gift tags" on packages! These are a very nice size.

Hey! I did something brave yesterday!!!

I'll give you a hint...

I promise to show you the "after" pics soon. I'm pleased with it and it was kind of my way of celebrating life as an artist!

Don't you just love our local hair salon? Just look at that old brick. The floors are all wood, and yes, the building itself is very old. Sissy is my hair stylist and she is also one of the very first people whom I became acquainted with when I moved to this little community. She's a doll! Love her!

Ok. That's all that I have for now but I will return soon!

Good day to you!!!