Pics of Christmas orders!

Here are a few Christmas orders that wrapped up my 2011!

Woodburned

Woodburned

Manzanita branches for jewelry tree below

 I lightly torched the manzanita branches then hit them with a light spray of copper paint then many coats of spray lacquer... secured the branches in the urn with plaster, leaving room for river rocks to top off the urn (not pictured)

♥Michelle♥

New year, new...

I love the beginning of a new year because it's like a brand new dry erase board just waiting for me to make my mark on it!!! Plus the beginning of the year is a beautiful reminder that spring/summer are just around the corner and I can slowly start to emerge from my winter hibernation :-) So as I was checking in on all the blogs I follow I found quite a few where, instead of  designating resolutions, they embrace a word as their theme for the year. I love love love this concept but I'm having a seriously hard time narrowing it down to one word... So I decided to choose a series of "new" words that speak to the vision I have for 2012... new energy... new moxie... new courage... new determination... new spunk... new fearlessness...  new artistry...

My desire is that my art, my disposition, my family, my productivity, my relationships will all be reflections of these words! Can't wait to see what God has in store for my family and friends in 2012!!!! Below are a couple of pics I took this past year that just continue to inspire me... a beautiful sky is always a reminder that God envelopes me with beauty and Love... and He does that for you too...

♥Michelle♥

Holiday Open House at The Art Barn!

Okay so The The Art Barn's  Holiday Open House was this past Saturday! If you didn't get a chance to check it out in person... don't fret! I took some pics on Saturday when the hubby and I stopped in... so scroll through the pics but don't stop there... head over to The Art Barn's website to get the scoop on  upcoming events, specific info on the artists with items showcased in the gift shop, plus available workshops that you won't want to miss! And if you're feeling REALLY adventurous head out to The Art Barn and check it out for yourself... because as amazing as everything looks in the pictures... the beauty of it all is expressed much more effectively in person... (warning... lots and lots of pics... enjoy! Click on the pic for a larger view!)

If you do plan on visiting in person regular hours will start January 7, 2012, and will be:
Tues, Weds, Thurs 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Fri & Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Closed Monday
... until the 7th they will hold limited hours so give em a ring before you head out  (615-722-1026 or 615-722-1033)

Me* Dawna * Tracie

 Lamont (My hubby)  * Joe (Dawna's Hubby) * Ben (Tracie's Hubby)

♥ Michelle ♥

The Art Barn... Cultivating art in Middle Tennessee!

I'm trying to remember the last time I was this excited for a business to open... 

of course it's probably because the business I'm referring to is much more than just a" business"...  it is a dream materializing before the owner's very eyes!  
It is called the The Art Barn, and through it, Joe and Dawna Magliacano are set and ready to cultivate the art scene in middle Tennessee.  
My friend Tracie and I have had the spectacular pleasure of being able to catch glimpses of the Barn as the finishing touches are mindfully positioned! And though we have only known Dawna and Joe for an incredibly short period of time we feel a special connection to them through our shared passion for, not only creating art, but also encouraging others to embrace their creativity through it as well.  

In addition to offering amazing workshops allowing others to learn methods and techniques she's found effective in her craft, Dawna, the resident artist, will have her studio set up in the loft of The Art Barn inviting visitors to observe her as she creates.
Just a few of the classes and workshops available include...

Oil Painting               Art Quilting
Encaustics                  Sewing
Mosaic                      Knitting
Block Printing            Watercolor
Jewelry Making          Acrylics 

She will also be offering home school art classes for grades K-12.  

 The Art Barn will highlight all aspects of art from every different medium... from live music... to poetry and storytelling... as well as juried and featured art shows... you will never run out of reasons to visit the Barn.

The Grand Opening is January 7th, 2012 but there is a Holiday Open House on December 10th, 2011, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. where you can stop in and browse the gift shop, meet the artists, and try some samples while you enjoy fresh hot coffee, cider and cookies.  You can also register for your favorite workshops and classes while you're there... or purchase gift certificates for workshops/classes for the special  artist on your Christmas list!

I hope to see all of your beautiful faces out at The Art Barn... I believe it is so incredibly important to support local business and this is a great opportunity to have a hand in cultivating art in Middle Tennessee right along with Joe and Dawna!

♥Michelle♥

Made with Love and Creativity...

"Buying handmade shows our children that not everything in this world  needs to be mass produced.  It teaches them to love and appreciate  the unique and the imperfect.  And it inspires them to do their  own creating as well.  You are not just a customer  you are a fan, a collector , a supporter of these ideals." - 101 Reasons to Buy Handmade

Currently available...

ALL signs are created with salvaged and reimagined fence boards that tell their own story of "wear and tear"... adding to the individual character of the sign.  Each is a one-of-a-kind...  I make it a point not to duplicate anything exactly.  If I ever create something that has duplicates I will make extra effort to point that out.   I feel very strongly about creating unique and individual pieces of art... it's just a thing of mine LOL... 

okay so I hand sketch the font that I feel works best with the words... then I burn the words into the board... then hand paint &/or embellish to finish the piece off...

"Redeemed" - 20" x 18" - $60

"Undeniable" - 20" x 18" - $60

"Believe" -17"x 5 1/4"- $15

"Love You More." - 38 1/2" x 6" - $30

"Once Upon A Time" - 40" x 6" - $30

"Merry Christmas" -46" x 6"- $30

 "Sleigh Bells Ring" - 46" x 6" - $30 

 "Candy Canes" - 46" x 6"

♥Michelle ♥

The fog of procrastination has lifted... until the next deadline...

Okay so I'm finally coming out of my Christmas on Madison Avenue fog... the show went fabulously and I CANNOT wait till the spring show!!!! Shows are really important for me considering that my art can be such an isolating activity.  So many of my projects begin in my head and I'm the only one who can see the end result so as I create and construct, I do most of it alone.  A show gives me the opportunity to... one... actually carry out human conversation LOL... but ultimately I get the opportunity to hear what people are drawn to,  what catches their attention, and also what didn't work. For my first show as Inclined to Improvise, I consider it an incredibly successful experience.  I met so many creative and inspiring people!!! In this post I'd like to highlight just a few of my favorite pieces that sold! I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to release a piece of my work to someone... it was very exciting at the same time to know that someone loved something enough to invest in it!!!

 

♥ Michelle