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