It's all Gouach-y and such that is..

Pinkham

2.5x3.5"; Gouache on matboard

Fundraiser, Part Deux

This little piggy has gone to market.  eBay auction!

If you haven't read my post from earlier in the week about the little ornament painting, it will read similar to this one. I am repeating myself for some fortuitous reason.  Ah, I know! It's because I have been listening to a Spanish composer well know for his repetition in themes.  I need another cup of coffee, because I can't remember his name any longer.  It was yesterday. That day has come and gone and today is what matters (besides, as I age, the storage capacity is getting used up.  I need to free up some disk space, or defrag perhaps. Do they do that anymore?)

This is my very first attempt at painting entirely in gouache!  I admit that on occasion, I have used gouache for a highlight on an ink or watercolor painting. (is that cheating? maybe)  I was chatting with some friends on Facebook about gouache and that got me inspired to try them.  I was determined to learn the technique, so I dove in.  There is a distinct learning curve with this medium as it wets itself each time you touch the paper!  You can apply watercolor techniques to a degree and, they say, oil, but truly, this medium stands alone as one not to be compared to others.  It just is what it is and what it is, is frustrating.  I wanted to chuck it, but I know that after time and layering I eventually get results..so, I stuck with it until, after many, many, many layers, I began to achieve a look that I could be satisfied with.  But hey, first time out there are bound to be a few lessons to learn!   I found lots of demos on Youtube.com.  I'm patting myself on the back for seeing it to the end. 

I'm going to donate the proceeds from the this painting to help someone in a very special way.  A different kind of help this holiday season.  I am going to help an artist be, well, arty!  Someone who creates and is destined to create, through no choice of her own.  Shucks, those are the cards she was dealt!  It's just something we artist types have to do!  I have a girl in mind, the 9 year old daughter of someone who works at the local grocery store, who I know is a budding artist.  Her Mom could not stop talking about her talents from the moment she found out that I am an artist.  Her exuberance has struck a chord with me!  When I was young, I didn't realize this would be a choice for me and although my parents knew I (and my brother) had some talent, I don't think they thought that art would be something we would pursue as a profession.  My brother got his education in fine art and education and became a school teacher.  I got my education in fine art and French!  I'm not a translator, so where did that leave me? Well, here!  I think I chose wisely.

It would be great if this painting earned enough to buy some decent supplies for the kid!  (It should be worth a mint if you include my time, but learning is time consuming. Oink!) Fuel the passion!

Our little ebay groups (Aceo artists - art card, editions and originals) creates and sells these tiny little works of art that have become highly collectible worldwide!  We wanted to up the anty and introduce are tiny art to some new fans and collectors!  Every other month or so, we, as a group, list for one week a bunch of these aceos at auction, starting at a penny!  It's called Pennyfest!  Please go to eBay and search "pennyfest" to find this listings!  This week, there are 5 pages of them, originals and prints. 

Go to the Auction

Kudos for getting to the end of this post.  You get the good humor award!

Have a nice day, Rebecca

It's all Gouach-y and such that is..

Penny Fest Bidding Frenzy Good Will Gesture!

Our little eBay group that creates and sell tiny little works of art called ACEO (Art cards, Editions and Originals) has thought up a fun way for the general audience to begin collecting.  Every so often, place a bunch of Aceos up for auction, beginning at a penny $.01!

I took some time to paint this little piece today so that I could offer it up for auction tomorrow in a 5 day auction, ending on the 17th.  

I'm going to donate the proceeds from this tiny painting to help someone in some way. Perhaps it will purchase a bag of food (or more) at the grocery store for the food bank, or it might make enough to buy a gift for the Toys For Tots program! 

Visit the auction, click here!

It might also help someone you hadn't thought would need help.  An artist!  Someone who creates and is destined to create, through no choice of their own.  It's just something we artist types have to do!  I have this girl in mind, the 9 year old daughter of someone who works at the grocery store, who I know is a budding artist, but the Mom is single and on a limited income.  It would be great if this painting could earn enough to buy her some modest supplies for her to create!  Fuel the passion!

Have a nice day, Rebecca

Penny Fest Bidding Frenzy Good Will Gesture!

Illustration Friday

#8 Fashinista Rhino

Bold and Daring! -Smelly Rhino Studio

This is from my 31 days of Rhinos, but I thought it would be a good day to show her to you again, as she is my logo girl!

News in the world of the Rhino this week was not good as the Western Black Rhino was officially declared extinct, and extinction made possible by ignorant humans.  The hunting of the Rhino worldwide continues, the senseless slaughter of an ancient and incredible animal for no other reason than for their horns which are believed by Eastern cultures to be medicine.  Well, they wont have their medicine anymore.  I hope that the killing will end now, I hope enlightenment will come soon to the people who continue to commit these atrocities.  There's always Karma, and what a bitch she can be when you harm others - perhaps poachers will pick them off, one by one.

For more on the 31 days of rhinos series, please search the blog!

Happy Friday!

Have a nice day.

Illustration Friday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

wordless wednesday

found on the web.

wordless wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

(Re-) New Product (Re-) Release

I re-released a new product a couple of months ago and it has been doing very well at the open air Saturday market where I set up shop twice a month.  These are fine art prints which I have mounted to wood panels.  My first edition of prints like these was about 4 years ago when I mounted the prints to 6x6x2" deep cradles that appeared like blocks and sat on a shelf.  This time around, I am using 3/4" panels and offering numerous sizes and shapes to accommodate the growing image collection in my studio.  They are more wall friendly, and will also sit nicely on an easel.

When people visit me and flip through my print rack, I often hear, "Oh, so and so would love this, but I don't want to buy them a gift that they will have to pay to frame."  AHA! I listened. Well, NOW, I have these ready to hang with no more fuss!  Easy peasy and everyone's happy.  You get a great looking inexpensive proud to give print and they get instant hanging appeal and hopefully, some joy.

My process is a lot of steps, but worth it. With a lot of love, I have sanded, painted or stained, mounted and, finally varnished by hand each and every little panel with my hands.  On the back, a small paper label is mounted with information about the print and my studio, and then I add a wee hanging wire inside the cradle edge so it will sit flat on the wall or unobstructed on an easel.

There you have it; gorgeous ready-to-hang long lasting ink jet giclées, sealed and protected for display anywhere, even in humid environments (like a bathroom!)

Sizes offered are: 4x4", 6x6", 5x7", 8x10", 11x14", 12x16", 10x20" and 16x20".

These fun print panels are coming to my shops on Etsy and Artfire by September, but are currently only available at the Marietta Square Artists Market (http://www.artistsmarketmarietta.com/) and Dootique, the shop next to the DooGallery in Reynoldstown, Atlanta, off Memorial Dr. and Holtzclaw. (https://www.facebook.com/Dootique)

Have a great day,
Rebecca

(Re-) New Product (Re-) Release

Martha, an American Maker!

If you don't subscribe to Martha Stewart Living newsletter, you should! It's full of great recipes, tips and this contest, for the maker!  Don't forget, she is an American Maker herself!  Below is her email from today.  At the bottom of the page, you can sign up for her newsletters!  Hopefully, Martha will forgive my sharing of her article, since I am also promoting her!  Have a nice day, Rebecca


Here's the article (links below and in print, which I have copied from her email), via Martha Stewart...
http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade?xsc=eml_american_made_2013

"Hi,

My story is the story of a maker.

Years ago, with a leap of faith and a little luck, I took the first step in building a dream based on ingenuity and craftsmanship. Like with so many others, making marked the beginning of my story.

As my process has evolved and grown over the years, the maker mentality continues to define and inspire me. That's the beautiful thing about making: It carries you as far as your imagination can go.

Out of this passion came the foundation for American Made. It's a movement that elevates the maker, supports the local, and celebrates the handmade.

Right now we are accepting nominations for the 2013 Audience Choice Awards. Send in a nomination today:

http://connect.marthastewart.com/Nominate-American-Made-Awards

In truth, there are few things more meaningful than celebrating our country's greatest makers. That's why the winner of the Audience Choice Award will stand alongside editors of Martha Stewart Living at our annual American Made event in October and be awarded $10,000 to support his or her business.

By sending in a nomination, you will join a chorus of people who have newfound appreciation for local craftsmanship. And with the launch of American Made, it's my sincere hope that more stories will be heard and shared.

I believe it's time to bring the focus back to the maker, to the tinker, to the crafter. It's time to connect dreamers and doers. It's time to showcase the next generation of game-changers. It's time to start a movement.

If you know of a creative entrepreneur worthy of the American Made Award, encourage him or her to send in a nomination:

http://connect.marthastewart.com/tell-friends-about-american-made

Thank you for being part of American Made.

Your friend,

Martha"

To sign up for Martha's email, please visit her subscriber page: Sign up here

Martha, an American Maker!

Happy Birthday Maurice Sendak!

Happy Birthday to the illustrator of the kid in us all.

I love the way he thought...
“I’m trying very hard to concentrate on what is here, what I can see, what I can smell, what I can feel – making that the important business of life. Just looking out the window at the colors that I see, reading Charles Dickens at night for an hour, little rituals I have of listening to Mozart.”

Here's a nice little article in the Washington Post today just in case you haven't already read everything else!!  Go to article.

I miss you Maurice. Thanks for making me want to draw!

Let the wild rumpus start!
Have a nice doodly day,
Rebecca

Happy Birthday Maurice Sendak!

Just do it.

"We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons"—Jim Rohn

A friend of mine posted this quote on his page the other day and I just love it.  What a way to motivate on a Monday morning.  

and if you think you're too old to follow your dreams...

Sister Madonna Buder, known as the Iron Nun, is living proof that age is no obstacle to discovering new talents. Buder, a 82-year-old Roman Catholic Religious Sister from Spokane, Washington, is the current world record holder for the oldest person to ever finish an Ironman Triathlon. Although she didn't begin training until age 48 and was 52 before she completed her first triathlon, Buder has now completed over 325 triathlons including 45 Ironman Distances. Throughout her sporting career, Sister Buder has also raised money for various charities and, as she has stated, strives to use her talent "for the greater good."

Have a great day,
Rebecca

Just do it.

Catch and Release, (please?)

I created this piece yesterday for a photo challenge in the ACEO artists group on eBay. The theme was "things in a jar" the photo inspiration was a jar into which someone had placed a little Tinkerbell figurine.  It was up to the artist to interpret the photo any way we wished. So, here is sweet Tinkerbell outgrowing her jar! I hope someone lets her out!  This piece is on auction now on eBay. Week of May 21st.-28th. Thanks for looking!  

Catch and Release, (please?)

ACEO 2.5" x 3.5"

Watercolor, gouache, ink

Here's the photo inspiration for the challenge:

What does ACEO stand for?  Art Card Editions and Originals.

An ACEO is a 2.5" x 3.5" work of art (an original or a print edition) made for sale.
Originally traded between artists (called ATCs or art trading cards, because they are traded not sold), they have grown in popularity and have a huge following by the masses and so now anyone can own them!

I think ACEOs are little treasures, the same size as baseball cards, so they are really fun to collect and display in baseball card sleeves or frame to go anywhere! It's been 7 years since my 'little' obsession began, and I still buy them like crazy, because I adore seeing other artists' work! This is an affordable way to collect art, and when you really like an artist, you can feel comfortable with a tiny commitment and go from there! I hope you enjoy looking as much as I do painting!

It's fun! Have fun collecting!!

Have a nice day, 
Rebecca

Catch and Release, (please?)

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

You have my permission to have something lovely!

Public Service Announcement

On behalf of the Festival Arts World and all Artists everywhere!

"Souvenirs de ma jeunesse
"5x7" mixed media
Available, click here for purchase information

It's OK, you are allowed to buy art and enjoy it! You have my permission, you are no longer relegated to some weird tribe of lookers who repeat time and again, "Wow, I want that!" ...but then never buy..

anything!

Imagine how awesome that would be to actually have in your hands and in your home!

Why not just buy it and enjoy it? You deserve it! It probably wont even cost that much! I routinely have people in my booth at the Saturday market LOVING a $15 print but don't want to "blow" the money on something frivolous, yet, they may be holding a $5.00 latte. Lattes are wicked great, I know, but ART is a lasting treat that you can really savor!

Support Artists and support handmade in the USA. Buy Art today!
You will cherish it for years, and it might help an artist continue to create. Your purchase will also help pay those tent fees so you can come and browse in the first place! Without sales, eventually artists will stop coming to the festivals that you enjoy and the festivals can't continue without us. We are paying to provide your fun, literally. Plus, where will you get funnel cakes and strawberry shortcake then?

It's not just a beautiful treasure you receiving, but we get to eat too! Just think, double bonus, you get something awesome and the artist gets to thrive and make more awesome art!

Most Saturdays, you can visit me at an open market! ... at the Marietta Square Artist Market 2nd and 4th Saturdays through November and at the Beltline at FarmArtket the first Sat. of every month through the Summer in Reynoldstown neighborhood of Atlanta!  Please contact prior to going to make sure I'm in town that weekend.  

Have a nice day, Rebecca

You have my permission to have something lovely!

The mad mad mad mad mad mad mad world...and me.

Mirror Mirror

5x7 Mixed Media Collage, framed

Click on Haley's head for purchase information!

Happy Thursday, and here's to an unremarkable day! 

PLEASE oh please!

So, it's been rough the past couple of weeks, dealing with my family emergencies, but I'm happy to report that after some crazy sleepless nights and hours upon hours (which added to entire days on occasion) of waiting in hospitals and doctor's offices, the road to recovery is looking optimistic, really good even!  

During this period, I have had very little sleep, to the point of exhaustion and you know how you can make yourself sick that way!  I'm feeling upbeat today though, filling a few orders and feeling like things might return to a good clip by tomorrow.  It's a good thing too, because I have been invited to be a featured artist in an upcoming art walk downtown in June!  yay me! (and thanks Doog Becker, you are such a great supporter of the arts! xo)


This collage is another piece from my new (Insomnia) series inspired by waking and dreaming thoughts. Each component of the artwork is also hand made and embellished by me. This piece is called "Mirror Mirror", completely original collage art made from components that I also made; including hand made and painted and embellished papers (though not all the paper is made by me), Venetian plaster, polymer clay, jute, paint, glaze, and pencil.  100% art. and affordable!

This collage series will be available online in my Etsy shop and locally in Atlanta, Georgia at the Saturday Market in Marietta Square, 2nd and 4th Saturdays beginning April 13th and the Farmartket (Atlanta Belt line Saturday Market) 1st Saturday all Summer.  This series may also end up in a couple of boutiques and galleries and I'll let you know where they spring up if they do.


So, gotta go do a bunch of stuff now to play catch up, so enjoy the art and I'll see you soon,
Rebecca
(oh yea, don't forget to have a nice semi-normal inconsequential day!)

The mad mad mad mad mad mad mad world...and me.

Love. It's for everyone!

"Hang your heart where you are welcome!"

5x7 mixed media collage
Available on Etsy

Celebrate love.  Honor equality!

This is another from my Insomniac's File, a collage series inspired by my moments of restlessness.  If you're lying in bed tossing and turning, you might as well just get up and do something, you may be surprised what comes of it!

I took some of these to hang in my Saturday Market booth this weekend and this one sold right away. Well, now they have decided to get a tiny personal tweak in there, so this one is actually available. It's just a sweet sentiment and a personal tribute to marriage equality.  There will be more with similar ramblings and the little hangers (I have a few more) and the lighter colors with white, natural and red frames.

Have a nice day,
Rebecca

Love. It's for everyone!

Entries from the Insomniac File

"The Key"

5x7", Mixed Media Collage on paper

Sold.

"It was a dark and stormy night in February..."

In January, I had asked friends of mine in one of my artist groups to participate in a friendly Valentine swap of any kind of art they chose to create for the occasion.  In all, about 5 of us agreed to participate.  Well, as I grew closer to Valentine's Day, I still could not come up with the inspiration for the little Valentine I would make for my randomly selected valentine, my friend Jules.  I realized that I may be the last one to get my Valentine in the mail, slacker. 

I had begun to experience insomnia recently (too many cookies and espressos?) and hard as I tried, rolling over and over again in bed to the point of insanity was helping me sleep about as well as the caffeine after 8 pm! In these precious quiet moments creativity is stirring. I'm not alone lying there with my lucid dreams, imaginings, fantasies, nostalgic sentiments...smiles come easy, if only in my mind since the body hardly responds in those hours in between late night and early morning.

Finally, I got up figuring I would wear myself out with Law & Order or something on the TV. But, it was still pretty darn cold in early February and we live in a very high vaulted home that doesn't keep warm air in the living room, so after a momentary debate of how cold I might be trying to bundle up virtually with New York's detectives who handle the major case squad and their stories, I opted instead for my studio where I have a little space heater, lots of lighting and a radio.

The art supplies came out, feeling the paper give in to my tugging and tearing was pleasing to me. Glue got involved.  Writing integrated itself as it often does into my medley of artsy goodness and by 10 am I had created the beginnings of quite a few of these sweet little mixed media collages.  I felt good that I could make so much out of one sleepless night rather than lying like a mosquito on water.

These pieces have been waiting for a month for a framing solution, and I finally settled on adding a raised border to the outer edges, recessing the main image to create delightful little shadow boxes and voila, a new series is born.  "The Insomniac File"; dreamy sentimental mixed media collages. My awakenings, if you will, put on paper.   

Have a nice day, 

Rebecca

Entries from the Insomniac File

Wordless Wednesday

Resize

5x5" Art Print

(Populating my ebay store on a beautiful

Spring evening in Georgia.)

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Monday, rainy Monday, cloudy Monday...Get over it!

It's raining, it's cloudy, it's a little cold.  People are down.  That SAD thing is just awful.  This dreading Monday thing is awful-er.

But hey, Google featured a cool logo today to honor Douglas Adams, so all you Monday can't say it was a total waste to get up today!

I will leave you with some of Douglas Adams' thoughtful words!

“A learning experience is one of those things that says, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.” 
― Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt


“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” 
― Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

So, get over your Monday blahs and end the day with the sweet thought of a funny, talented author with a huge giving heart, whose birthday we are celebrating posthumously because he died way before his time and couldn't write any more silly stuff to keep us laughing.  Stupid heart attacks.

You just never know, so, make every day the most, and stop wasting 1/7th of your life lamenting that it happens to be the first day of the fracking work week. Geesus, don't you have better things to do?

"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."  -Voltaire

Monday, rainy Monday, cloudy Monday...Get over it!

Wordless Wednesday

Found at the Happyologist

Wordless Wednesday

Illustration Friday

Since it's Illustration Friday and also the birthday of the late Edward Gorey, I'll leave you with some of the fun images of the man who paved the way for the contemporary gothic illustrator.  Prolific writer, illustrator, creator of the whimsical and macabre, Edward Gorey... influencer of artists, musicians, poets, film makers, costume designers and beyond.  The illustrator who even won a Tony for costume design himself!  Happy Birthday Edward! You inspire me.

The Doubtful Guest

Alphabet Book

Gorey with his cats

You can visit the Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, Mass. They exhibit throughout the year and you can become a member and even shop online here: Edward Gorey House

Have a nice day,

Rebecca

Illustration Friday

#4; 29 Faces, Nervous Laughter

Fun distractions are these little cartoon art pieces. It's good to doodle and sketch between paintings. Exactly like journaling, only completely different.

Nervous Laughter
Aceo, watercolor and ink
Go to auction

Nervous Nelly was a nervous bot.  

A jumpy bot.

A curious bot.  

She gazed awkwardly, not having reached her own peak, smiling with a nervous, longing, hopeful curiosity at someone special...

wondering if he would notice her...

if only..

I hate those moments.  

So, will he ever notice?  Maybe it'll be one of those things where 25 years later, she runs into him again, only he's a little rusty now. For her, he will exist forever as the shiny young bot with plenty of character and a good heart, only now, he notices her back. That's how I might write the story.

I've been up to all kinds of no good.  Well, some good. I made cookies using brown rice flour.  Edible, for sure. I should say so, I ate the whole batch.  

Gotta go find some salad.

Have a nice evening, 

Rebecca

Nervous LaughterAceo, watercolor and inkGo to auction

There will be up to 100 cartoon robot aceos for this series throughout 2013, available exclusively on eBay, all starting at $1.00.

#4; 29 Faces, Nervous Laughter

She Loves me, she loves me not..#3; 29 faces

"Nervous Nuts and Bolts"
ACEO; watercolor and inkGo To Listing

Well, what the heck is it anyway?  Does she love me or not?
Do I have to leave it up to the number of petals on this daisy?
AUGH!


Here's #3 of 29 faces.  Hope you like it.
This is my first ACEO listing on ebay in almost 3 years!  I've decided to start these sweet little nuggets of fun illustration art at $1.00 for the fun of bidding and collecting!  I hope you enjoy the bargain at any price. ;)

Have a nice night,
Rebecca

She Loves me, she loves me not..#3; 29 faces

#2; 29 faces

Wow, another day, another face.  Would you believe it already?  lol

Cassie in progress
To order your own, visit my Etsy shop

This one isn't quite done, but she's getting close enough I can post her and go memorize my lines for my acting class tomorrow.

While I'm on a roll, I'm on another challenge worth mentioning. No wheat!  (hahahah, on a ROLL! get it? flour?! ok, never mind.)  To top that off, for giggles, I've also "mostly" eliminated the other white starches: sugar, potatoes and rice are relegated to just one day per week.  I'm on Day 6 today and feeling rather fantastic!  Can I get a woot woot?  Eric just handed me a sugar free cocoa with marshmallows. (I didn't say I'm perfect, pretty sure I made that very clear!)


Have a good night,

Rebecca


“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” 
― Anne Frank

#2; 29 faces

#1; 29 Faces

Maxmillion

Custom Pet Portrait on an ornament
Order a custom ornament

It's time for repetition!  Go!  Do the same exercise for a month straight to get you into the groove, thereby creating a good habit! In this case, it's double habit forming bonus month!

How so, Rebecca?

Easy. (lqtm). Paint every day. Blog every day. There, 2 habits. But, best of all, you have to show up, every day, and we know showing up is half the battle.

A group of fellow artists are on a kick this month to blog every day in February and post a new face with each post, creating 29 faces to post. I heard it takes 27 takes in a row, over and over and over, before your action becomes a habit.  

So, in my typical non-committal fashion, I'm joining the challenge with only 24 days left to make all 29 faces, so I wont alter my personality too much by forming any good habits.  I'm no stranger to challenges, though.  Remember 31 days of rhinos?  That challenge, which is also educational to the reader, is still only at 23 rhinos. But, I'll pick it back up in March again and finish it this year and have a little show somewhere, sometime.  Another very memorable challenge I did a few years ago was to write a novel in 30 days; 1500 words a day, 50,000 words in a month (for the NaNoWrimo, National Novel Writing Month). I actually completed that epic challenge!  Talk about proud!  However, would you believe that not only could I not write for months afterward, yes, it destroyed my blogging for months, but I even lost interest for a while in checking my email!  hmmm...this exercise might have some medicinal benefits. (curing a habit?)

LOL.

Well, here you, my first face.

Have a good night, 

Rebecca

#1; 29 Faces

They Paid What?! Top 10 Absurd Paintings that Sold for Millions (from ArtSumo.com)

Thankfully, someone else wrote this, so I don't have to take flack for saying it out loud.

Here's the link to today's funny and interesting blog on the big bucks business of selling psychology in art to rich people.

They Paid What?! Top 10 Absurd Paintings that Sold for Millions

posted by Naysawn Naderi | filed under The Art World is Ridiculous |

enjoy. (lqtm)

Have a nice week,
Rebecca

They Paid What?! Top 10 Absurd Paintings that Sold for Millions (from ArtSumo.com)

The Pen-ultimate Declutter List You'll Ever Need

It's Winter and we want to stay inside and bundle up.  We have to be comfortable in our spaces though, and for a lot of us, that may involve letting go of some of our stuff.  Also, tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday and you might want some other activity.

I found this great declutter list on FlyLady.com.  I recommend you go there if you want to organize your life.  However, if you're like me, you will merely just see the headlines of the friendly tips that arrive in your email and delete them without bothering to read because you also have Martha Stewart, Better Homes and Gardens and some lifestyle guru's daily stuff to get through, and frankly, most of that gets deleted, too.

Anyway, this isn't anything you don't know, but it wont hurt to get the reminder. (Also, I copied and pasted verbatim, so don't correct my grammar. :)

*************************************************************************************************

"Dear Fly Lady,

...these are my declutter stand-bys.

1.  6 Month Rule.  If I haven't needed it, worn it, looked for it, read it or replaced it in 6 months, out it goes.  One exception I make is for the few good outfits I still have, still fit into, but seldom wear.  They are my "just in case" wardrobe.  All my clothes fit in the one closet in my house (yep, just one), one dresser, and my cedar chest (seasonal stuff).

2.  Keep a picture, not the object.  I think that tip came from Jeff Campbell.  Just because Great Great Aunt Griselda knit it from string while crossing the Plains in a wagon, doesn't mean I have to hang onto it.

3.  Forbidden Words and Phrases:  "Maybe I could...." "I might need ..."  "What if .....?"  "But Great Great Aunt .... [see 2 above]" and "I can sell it."  That last one leads to ...

4.  How much is my time worth compared to what I might get for the item?   I tend to put a greater value on my time.  One yard sale was enough.  I check similar items on e-bay and decide if the time involved is worth the sold price.  Donation with a tax deduction is my favorite.  Quick and easy.

5.  Craft items.  Keep repeating "I have enough for two lifetimes."

6.  No regrets.  Once something is gone, it's gone [see 2, again].

FlyBaby P"

*************************************************************************************************

Ok, back to me!  

So I thought I would add my own friendly helpful hint while I'm passing along the sage advice of others.

It's the "Last Declutter To Do List You Will Ever Need" just in case you are getting no where with the one above.

The very last list has only one item on it and can't be reversed, so make sure you've gone through all the others first.  Two good reasons to follow this last list first:  You are on your death bed and hate all the sniveling greedy people who are going to inherit your stuff OR it's your husband's stuff and he has just left you for a younger thinner dumber version of you. 

1)  Burn it all.

Have a nice weekend, 

Rebecca

The Pen-ultimate Declutter List You'll Ever Need

Bombings, Obituaries and Shootings Oh My! (not really)

Ok, I admit that title is a bit of a lost leader.  I don't like bad news.  It's worth mentioning that all of New York is probably morning the loss of Ed Koch today.  But, embassy bombings and school shootings and guerrilla warfare and the middle east and Africa gearing up to attack us, oh and North Korea too ...yea, it's just not something I can deal with emotionally on a morning that shows so much promise!

I am a happy girl this morning because I have a new dishwasher!  It was installed at 7:00 am and it's so quiet that I have to be next to it to hear it running. This sound alone (or lack of sound) was reason enough to get up that early for the installation. That is poetry in motion. ahhh...Serenity now!

Ok, get to the special interest section, babe!  Winter is upon us, but fear not, there's lots to do out there as galleries, theaters and music venues are hopping with activity to keep us from hiding in our cocoons until March.  What to do if you live in Marietta?  Hey! It's First Friday art walk!

Tonight's neighborhood to visit: Marietta Square!

2 Rules Fine Art Gallery in Marietta Square should be on your list.  (They have been very gracious friends to me this past year and included me twice for exhibitions in 2012 and this past month as well!)

Their opening show tonight, featuring the very fancy chain maille jewelry work of artist Helen Rule is really worth the stop.  Helen puts in the time, let me tell you I've seen her in action!  She makes each jump ring from wire and then one tiny link at a time meticulously forms the chain maille which provides the foundation for her gorgeous jewelry. Many hundreds of hours have been lovingly spent creating this collection.  It's really a sight to behold the meticulous fine crafting of this very talented artist. 2rulesfineart





The spotlight artist at 2 Rules is Pedro Gonzalez, a mixed media artist and print maker who enjoys using typography, shapes and symbols in his work. His works are on various substrates, including handmade papers.  His striking abstractions with fun bold and beautiful complementary color schemes sure to please.

It's going to be a fun show that runs the month of February, so you can come out tonight for the opening reception and still have plenty time to come back and choose a nice piece for your Valentine!

Show runs through Feb. 23rd.
2RulesFineArt

Next stop is DK Gallery.

The show this month features Poetic Abstractions by Jennifer Rivera and The Atlanta Poetry Community.

Then on Sunday, February 3rd, 3:00-5:00pm, DK will also have a live poetry reading in the gallery.  Come for lunch and shopping and stay the whole afternoon!

Also on display are the nude and figural work by Cameron Hampton, Kris Meadows and Catie Radney.

Lot of reasons to pop in for a peek! dkgallery.us

One more stop: Jenny King Studio & Gallery

It's always fun to walk up the stairs and view the working studios of Jenny King and acquaintances.  The gallery is located upstairs on the square above the Australian Bakery and you will see and open door leading to her studio.  The stairs, which are covered with fantastic available small works by the resident artists lead you to the gallery space upstairs where you will find the artists and an assortment of larger works and a custom portrait gallery as well!  48 South Park Square.

The neighborhood has numerous cuisine choices for dinner, including Thai, Japanese, Chinese, French, American bar food, cajun and even asian fusion tacos!  So, make a night of it.

See you there!

Bombings, Obituaries and Shootings Oh My! (not really)