Painting Bliss

Your 2012 Bucket List Giveaway Time!

 

Last year my brother and his girlfriend wrote out a bucket list for the year of 2011 (they completed it btw). I had only heard of bucket lists being written as a list of things you wanna do before you "kick the bucket"... not  just for one year! I think  this idea is fantastic, fun, glorious ;)

Soooo... to celebrate the New Year I am offering a print of my own mixed media bucket list!

I never thought my sewing machine would become part of my artwork, used more on paper than fabric but it has... and I don't see many pieces on the future not having thread running through it.

 

 

Here is MY bucket list for the coming year :)

 

I digitally added my ambitions as to not ruin the blank original. A blank version will be available in my Etsy shop super soon!

You can write, number, and prioritize your expectations for the coming year with this lovely bucket list/mixed media piece of art.

Frame it or hang it so you can see and stay on top of your dreams.

 

(Print measures 9x12)

 

What you can win~  A print of my original "Bucket List" created by me :) You may choose to have me digitally insert your list of 2012 do's or you can choose to create it yourself!

Who can win?~ Anyone! winner will be chosen at random Friday evening January 6th .

 

All you have to do is...

Share one of your 2012 resolutions in the comment box below. 

Want extra entries?~

* Follow me on twitter ashlie_blake and Tweet this...

@ashlie_blake is giving away a bucket list art print - Go here to enter: http://www.paintingbliss.typepad.com/blog/2011/12/Your-2012-Bucket-List-Giveaway-Time!.html

* "Like" me on facebook if you already haven't

* Post about this giveaway on your blog (leave your link in the comment box below).

 

Good luck and Happy New Year to come!

 

 

Holocaust Museum Butterfly Project

 

I am  very eager to take part in any call for art, I just don't know where to look for them. While hopping around in twitter land I per-chance found a fellow mixed media artists video segment showing the creation of a butterfly. She then went on to show what it was for and I looked up the website right away.

The Butterfly project is being organized by the Holocaust Museum in Houston TX. They are collecting 1.5 million hand made butterflies in an effort to remember the 1.5 children lost during the Holocaust. If you want to send your own butterfly, or your child wants to make one or two or three you have until December 31st 2012 to do so.

I spent the first half of the day working on my buttefly, the whole time thinking about the children that lost their lives during this tragic period in history. Not only jewish children died but also gypsy children and the mentally disabled. Brand new babies were euthinized, children too young for labor were medically tested upon. We now have organizations that protect animals that are tested upon... children? Can you even imagine?

 

I can barely stand when my child runs a high fever or is put on the bus for the very first time... let alone have one or all of them ripped from my arms after birth or taken awayon a train never to be seen again. I can not fathom my children tattoed so young or wondering why their hungry bellies hurt so.  While painting, chalking, and drawing this butterfly I thought of the parents of these children. The mothers who felt helpless, unable to save their children from the horrors of World War 2. The constant lump in their throats and fear in their hearts. They must have shed tears until there were none left, due to dehydration and/or the emptiness of giving up.

We live in this time of freedom, an era of being able to provide even when it is tough. Economic stress, pinched pockets, and tents on wall street really can't compare. Those people complaining can keep on complaining because at this point in my life, though money is not what we are comfortable with... we have each other. No one is taking my children or guiding me into buildings for a mass and fear filled murder. We may not have extra cash to spend, a fancy car, or huge house... but what we do have is everything else... and that everything else makes me thankful.

 

I spent an hour researching and reading about children in the Holocaust. I am not jewish, I know nothing of the war other than what media has put in front me. Reading about these children, seeing their pictures, imagining their pain... was more than I could bare. I honestly had to stop looking and reading, and just sit at my studio table.

This butterfly I created with paper, antique book papers, chalk, colored pencil, ink, clear gesso, pen, gel pen, and other various materials symbolizes a child lost during the Holocaust.  Thoughts danced and bumped into eachother inside my head... and there, a quote appeared between these ears... "In heaven they traded tears for crowns of gold". Those children deserved the arms of God or whoever is there when we die to comfort us. Little kings and queens... innocent bystanders to someones broken cross symbol flying on a red, black, and white flag.

 

 

The music note background is only there for scanning. This butterfly is actually cut out directly to the shape. This exhibition is scheduled for spring 2014. I don't care if my butterfly is seen, I just care that it is there and can symbolize a fallen child... that it can be one of the 1.5 million butterflies being collected. How I wish I could see the exhibition in person!

Thank you for your visit today. Thank the universe for your life today... for the life of your children if you have any. Be thankful for the simple things such as water and food. Re-evaluate your situation when you picture the ones you love being taken away. It's easier to take off the rose colored glasses when something is put right into your view.

Tutorial Thursday - New Years! Hurrah!

 

( The tutorials you don't have to be "truly" talented for)

 

Happy almost New Year!

No matter how your celebrating, or maybe you just plan on snoozing through... I thought some New Years themed tutorials would be super fun!

4 tutorials for the 4th day of the week

As always click the picture to visit your tutorial

~Thanks & Enjoy~

 

{{ New Years Party Hats }}

These are a free printable template! Nice and easy :) embellish them any way your want... wanna get super crafty? offer decorations to your guests, and they can decorate their own hats.

 

 

 

{{ Star Drink Stirrers }}

We ALL feel special when there is something sparkly and pretty in our cocktail, don't we?

 

 

 

{{ Jolly Rancher Vodka }}

Ok, so now you need something to stick those pretty stirrers in! I didn't know you could do this, or how it will taste... but it looks pretty cool to me!

 

 

{{ New Years Cupcakes }}

So cute! and it looks like it is not as complicated as it appears. Mmmm... cupcakes... drool!

Just make sure yours say 2012~

 

I'm aiming for an awesome 2012.  Hope you are too!! Start thinking about what you want on your 2012 ambitions list! Mostly cause tomorrow is giveaway time and your gonna need to know! ;)

 

 

 

Sister Paintings for Sisters

 

As you all know my artwork is currently up at Bistro on Main in Oneonta N.Y. Hanging my art up was a dream and showing it to the world liberating and reassuring. It showed me that my art is good and people enjoy what I do :) 2 paintings have sold from the set and I felt incredibly blessed knowing I could provide a better Christmas for the kids.

A week after selling the two paintings, to two people having lunch together (that's all I knew at the time)... I got a lovely and touching email from the woman who purchased "Perhaps Time".

 

 

She told me her and her sister journeyed home to Oneonta, as their mother had passed away. She told me they were struck by my work, talked about it through their meal, and both walked out with a piece. Further more, she expressed to me that my paintings comforted them during their time of grief  and that her being the sister that drove (not flew) was the sister who was able  to purchase the piece. It is quite large and wouldnt make a flight home. They were both touched by the quote on the painting, wishing they could have a few extra moments with their mother.

She requested that I paint a similar painting with the same quote. An honor I was happy to oblige.  Of course I agreed right away! I never duplicate a painting... but I did used the same colors, papers, idea, and quote. This painting I made a night time painting as the original is a day time painting. A sister painting, for sisters. Sister canvas to another canvas... sister, sibling to another sibling.

I found it so thoughtful and sweet for the one sister to want the other sister to have the painting too. I'm glad I could make these woman happy in their time of grief.  I will be sending this painting directly to the sister it was intended for. I imagine her smile, her surprise, perhaps her  tears.

 

 

The word boxes are sewn together :) I am loving incorporating thread into my work.

The quote hangs like tags on a banner.

Hope you like my sister painting for two sisters!

Have a great day and thank you for the time you spent here with me.

 

 

Favorite Gifts this Christmas

There is nothing like the laziness of time off, time off from your regular routine where you can go and do as you please. Each family member co-existing in the same house, yet all completely... ok pretty happy (them kids are restless!) doing their own thang. Yes I said thang, not thing :) No typo.

This was a great Christmas. It seems the older the kids get the more of a kid I become at the holiday season. There excitement is infectious and spreads through us faster than the common cold. We all couldnt wait to see where our Elf on the Shelf had put himself each day, all counting down the "sleeps" until "Santa" came.

Here are some of my favorite gifts! First, a cupcake tart burner melting lavedar tarts. My studio now smells wonderful! Did I mention I let the cats keep their box in my studio? yeah... loving my tart burner! Loving that it's a cupcake!

 

I really love my new jersey knit barn owl scarf and grey knit newsboy cap. I have been wearing them since opening them :)

 

 

I used to keep all the paper I use in my artwork in a basket on the floor next to my desk like this...

 

 

Not anymore!! I am SO excited about this! especially cause I uncovered paper I forgot about as I was organizing. This is a wonderful thing!

 

There were other gifts like an owl t-shirt, a big pink cozy blanket, and a new Ipod nano cause my old one got slammed in the car door. :) This is a happy girl feeling spoiled this Christmas! what were some of your favorite gifts?

 

 

Winning the fight - Sketchbook Project

 

My time is filtering through the hour glass and I need to finish my Sketchbook Project sketchbook. 34 days until it has to be in the hands of the Art House Co-op in Brooklyn N.Y. but really I want it in the mail by mid January so I know that it gets there with plenty of time.

The slow postal service won't hold my sketchbook from arriving!

 

Everyday I try and do a page, or  at least most of a page. Some days I am really on a roll and manage to complete two. I have used this sketchbook as my playground, giving no prior thought to what I will do on the page until I am sitting in front of it. It has been so much fun, and I feel so free doing it! There are some pages that have come out so well that I plan to take the idea from the pages I want and do a real and expanded piece for them.

This one, I especially love and would love to do a bigger piece of...

I still need to add a quote to this one.

 

As much progress as I am making, I still have so much to achieve! so many pages to go!  And of course I decided to make my book near an inch thick ;) the original was maybe 1/4 inch thick.

I am definitely signing on for next years Sketchbook Project. In fact, I want to get it purchased and my theme picked so I don't procrastinate this year! no no procrastinating Ashlie Blake, no no!

 

The pages below, I dreamed up. Not the imagery, but the peep hole idea. Sometime in the night last week I dreamed that I should cut a hole out of the center of a page and correlate the art on both sets of pages. This is what I came up with.

I LOVE it!

I love how the bird is caged on the one page, and on the next... free.

 

 

I really can't stand this next page... I tried something new called the paint over method where you take a face from a magazine, coat it with clear gesso and then use it as guide while you paint the face. I don't like it because well, if I'm being honest she looks like a MAN baby! a MAN! ugh... too late now though. I like the idea of the piece, re-done again with my own style face it could be great... but as I said this book is my playground.

I love the words that I found for it. "don't go far, Love we are going home now".

 

 

I just love the colors on this next page. I have started to write down color combinations during the day where ever I am and that I see  (usually in nature) that I love. There are so many amazing color combinations right in front of you, just waiting to be noticed. The blue, lavendar, and pink of the sky at 4pm... the sage green and grey brown of moss on a tree, and the brown of trees against the blue grey clouds of a rainy day. I am writing them all down, for future use :)

Nature is the most talented artist, to it I could never compare.

 

 

I think I have a lot of practice to do with my decorative hand-writing. That it could be so much better than it is. I got an awesome book on hand-writing from my hubby for my Christmas, and I am also taking an online course in the month of February from another artist/blogger. I can't wait to see improvements! It can only make my work look better.

 

 

And that is it so far, I have about the same amount of pages shared to go! If you have any motivational inspirational or artist quotes you would like to share with me please leave it in the comment box below :) Thanks!

Do you think some of these would work well as prints in my etsy shop even though there is a page seam in between?

Have a wonderful monday! If you are on winter break, soak it up and relax yourself. You deserve it.

 

 

My Christmas Obligation

 

Ok folks, it's time for me to set aside all the warm and fuzzies for the moment and talk to you about something that I think you all need to hear... grab bag party rules. This is my obligation to you this Christmas... to set you straight on what this festive holiday game is all about.

Every year you go to a grab bag party, at least one. Either it's with friends, at the office/work place, or possibly in your church. Wherever it may be this is what the grab bag party is NOT... ;) They are not places do dump a bad gift. I think sometimes gift bringers feel they can't get something good,  for a low price. But that just isn't so. Better to bring less of a well spent gift than over spend on cheap things that end up in someones trunk or in the trash. You might as well eat your $10! or maybe perhaps you would like to just throw dollar bills out your car window as you drive.

 

The do's and do not's :)

{{ DO NOT }}

 

1. Re-gift the crud you didnt want in the first place.

2. Raid your pantry

3. Buy Summer supplies on clearance and gift them. WHO is gonna want outdoor solar lights in the winter?

4. GO to the DOLLAR store! No, no hand slap NO! (stink eye... yeah you)

5. Look around your home for something that looks "new" but isn't and wonder if it can pass as a gift.

And last and most important

6. Do not ever, ever bring something you wouldn't want to receive yourSELF.

 

I know I'm getting all capital letters on ya, but I just have to be the person this year that puts her warm booted foot down. Say no to bad gifts!! Just because know one knows who brought your bag doesn't mean it should suck! that's right, I said suck.

The grab bag gift doesn't have to be over-spent... a grab bag gift should be around $10-$15 and be something you would love to have yourself. If you love it, most likely someone else will to. You don't go to a grab bag or naughty santa party, bring a poorly bought gift then hope to bring home a great one. It's wrong and just not fair. We have all been the person stuck with the toffee popcorn or dish towels.

So okie dokie, your DO list :)

1. Do buy something you would want for yourself. Pretend you are buying a gift for you. Would you like coffee? yup, buy it! pair it with a nice eco-friendly to-go mug and you have yourself a darn good gift.

2. Do give $5 gift cards to places like Dunkin Donuts, Gas, and fast food. Who wouldn't love getting this? I would! who hasn't been in the car and wanted a little something something but didnt stop because you said to yourself you shouldn't spend the extra $5?  And you really wanted a hot cocoa to comfort you after your stressful shopping trip... :( And who hasn't been on E and drove home praying to the great Lord above that you'll make it!? I have!  Having that little $5 gift card might make someones day!

3. Alcohol is always a good grab bag gift depending on the crowd. I would not however recommend you gift this at church... unless you have some kind of cool church I don't know about then rock on!

4. If you are you going to gift food, please bake it yourself and if you can't go to the bakery. A couple of yummy cookies always makes someones happy!

 

There arent many rules on the do list other than this... if you feel guilty even the littlest bit about bringing the gift you picked out, don't bring it... and if you aren't sure, ask a friend! friends are great for opinions. That's what they are there for :)

Now that I got that off my chest, have an awesome and most blessed Christmas with the ones you love! I hope you don't end up with a stale fruitcake :)

I will be taking off from blogging until Monday December 26th ;) until then hop around the long list of tutorial thursday's and get your craft on!

 

Truly Talented Tutorial Thursday

 

YAY! It's Thursday! you know what that means....

Truly Talented Tutorial Thursday ( you don't really have to be "truly" talented *wink*)

(As always click on the image to visit your tutorial)

Some weeks I have given no thought to tutorial thursday because well, it's a busy week! especially this week as it's the week of Christmas! so much to do, so many gifts to finish up and wrap. There are little boy school festivities to attend, cookies to bake, a house to clean... so I just sit here staring at the computer screen thinking... what should I hunt for this week?

 

How about...a few themed crafts from a favorite Christmas poem? Not all of the lines, that would be a really long tutorial thursday!!

 

"Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a..."

{{ Cute Felt Mouse }} Gift for your cat?

 

The children were nestled all snug in their...

{{ No Sew Fleece Blanket }}

 

 

Tore open the shutters and threw up the...

{{ Curtian Tie Backs }}

 

 

Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!

{{ Magic Reindeer Food }}

 

 

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of...

{{ Homemade  Jam }}

 (thanks to The Owl Club <3 )

 

How's that for flying by the seat of my pants? pretty good I think ;)

Enjoy your Thursday and maintain your Christmas sanity! Easier said than done, right?

Tomorrow will be my last blog post until Monday the 26th. It's Christmas weekend after all :) I need a break and time to love up my family.

 

A Recipe For You

 

Since this is the cookie eating time of year I'm sharing my Jam Thumbprint Cookie recipe. Maybe I've shared it before, I can't quite remember... but here it is again!

Jam thumbprints are my favorite cookie hands down, or thumbs! hardy har har :) I love how simplistic the recipe is and how quick you can get them made. They are the perfect cookie for mass gift production or those huge amounts you need to share this family, friends, or office parties.

Jam thumbprints taste buttery sweet, they are comfort food. I love them for their soft texture, because they are mostly butter they melt in your mouth. You can use any jam or preserve you want (not jelly), but I recommend something a little tart. My jam of choice is raspberry, I love raspberry jam.  A tart fruit really copliments the sweet and buttery lightness of this cookie. I find when I use strawberry it becomes overly sweet... but to each his/her own, so if you want strawberry by all means use strawberry! This year I am using cranberry/strawberry preserves and peach preserves (husbands request <3).

There is nothing like a trip to my favorite farm stand to get me in the homemade mood. Even more so, the Christmas mood. I like the chill in the building, for it used to be a barn built in 1910 and has either little or no heat. There are dogs that greet you when you walk in and one of them waits patiently by the bakery door hoping to fullfill his loving admiration for cider donuts. This morning we arrived at Soons, thats the name of our farm place at just the right time as the cider was just being pressed (we had to wait for a gallon, my pleasure!! indeed!) and the donuts were still piping hot as they were walked out the bakers door over the dog and onto their resting place.

 

Waiting for our gallon of cider my sons and I shared a free sample of hot cider, well I did... my son had a cold sample :) he tried the hot, but spit it back into my cup... HA HA!

While savoring our sample we made happy chat with the woman who works there. She was having her breakfast and shared her only piece of bacon with two black dogs that could of been twins.  I sipped and chatted, the baby meandered about in his footie jammies stacking our jars of preserves in and out of the hand basket, and Sam (middle son) wondered why the farmer wasnt in his barn.

Leaving, I felt happy and excited to pass out our hot sugared cinnoman donuts to enjoy on the ride home. I felt Christmasy and happy. I felt in the holiday mood.

Nothing like getting back to basics to get you feeling festive. But anyhow!! your cookie recipe!

 

{{ Jam Thumbprints }}

(This recipe doubles very well)

3 sticks butter room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg beaten as a wash

 

First and foremost... let an adorable little boy unwrap your butter! If you don't have one, steal one at the grocery store when you purchase your ingredients.... oh dear God, NO! I'm just kidding! I am not responsible for your kid nappings! also, a girl will do if need be ;)

 

 

Cream butter and sugar together in a bowl then all other ingredients. I use a stand mixer, if you don't have one no problemo :) Just cream together by hand or with a hand mixer... until the flour makes it into dough then you'll need your good ol' fashioned wooden spoon.

 

 

I use this awesome tool... I think it's a melon baller, but I use it for making cookies. It makes perfectly sized cookie balls.  About an inch across.

They look like little balls of vanilla ice cream on your pan.

 

 

press your thumb into the cookie making a indent, then fill with your choice of  jam or preserves. Seperate white from yolk of your egg and brush your cookies tops. This gives your cookie a nice shiney and golden sheen when done baking.

 

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until edges of bottom are golden brown. Pull them right out when they are or you'll have a burnt mess. They don't taste yummy when their black... or maybe you are one of those odd souls who prefers burnt baked goods! then rock on with your bad self!

All our ovens are different so you watch the first batch and learn how many minutes you need to bake your yummy goodies.

Take out, cool, serve, eat, gourge, give, gift, enjoy!

 

 

 

My Somerset Arrived! I am Published <3

 

Somerset Jan/Feb 2012 arrived in the mail today and there I sit with it  in my hands :)

 

I will frame it, hang it, and look at it whenever I am doubting myself and/or my artistic abilities. Take that inner critic and THANK YOU Somerset for choosing me out of so many other artists. I am proud to be on these pages along side other very talented individuals.

Look for me on the Expression pages, bottom left hand side of the page. It's me! Ashlie Blake Unionville NY!  I'm like a little kid in a toy store!! eeeek!! * Jumping up and down *

There it was in it's nice plastic bag with a congratulations paper atop... My first publishing.  My heart swelled, a feeling of being blessed fills me, and I am very very thankful. Even more thankful because I will be able to say this all over again in the coming March/April issue.

If you would like to purchase your own copy you can visit Somerset Studio or any bookstore such as Barnes and Noble or Borders.  Somerset Studio's and it's other sister publications can also be found at local arts and crafts stores.

Watch out Somerset, here I come :)

 

I won't stop sending my work :) I will keep pushing myself, creating, painting, being who I am. This big wide world is setting off fireworks telling me I am doing the right thing, and I listen with open ears. I have always wanted to be able to put on my blog a little picture of the Somerset Magazine I am published in just like other artists. Now I can!

Thanks for listening to me while I am giddy, excited, and proud.

Enjoy YOUR day!