Snail Mail Still Exists!

Happy Friday and three-day weekend!

I am curious to know how many out there still send snail mail? I sure do because it is so much more personalized when you actually receive a piece of mail from someone (that is not the constant junk mail and bills we get all the time). The mail would be so much nicer without the bills and junk mail, right?!

Today I introduced my newest gocco greeting card, the "Artsy Alphabet." I personally love this drawing and design I created since I am both a teacher and an artist. If you look really closely, you will notice something new every time! I hope you enjoy this card as much as I did in creating it! Let me know what you think below!

FIreworks of Glass

I love the art of Dale Chihuly!

Last week, my mom and I went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. It had been years since she had been there (they have changed a lot) and we wanted to see the Barbie exhibit (Barbie and my mom were born the same day). I did not realize that mom never saw the "Fireworks of Glass" sculpture in the museum, so we had a ton of fun taking pictures and looking at the ceiling. We even got a little creative! Enjoy the photos!

Gallery 116 in Fishers

I made one of my weekly post office runs today and on the way home I visited Gallery 116 in Fishers to drop off some Rainbow Crayon samples. They had seen some of my items back in December at the Hoosier Artisan Boutique, so I figured now would be a good time to drop by now that the school year is over.

Gallery 116 is such an awesome place to buy gifts. The shop is an old house, each room with a different look or variety of art and gifts. The ladies who run the store were very helpful and friendly too!

What did I buy? A REALLY yummy smelling candle that my husband will love because it is coconut and pineapple scent (he loves anything beachy or tropical). The candle was created by Brown's Accents in Attica, IN (See the crazy picture above).

Gallery 116 also has a class schedule for adults (which I may be a future part of).

June 10th-Painting with Modern Masters 3-5 pm $30.00

June 16th-MAgnetic Boards 5-7 pm $30.00

When you are in Fishers next, make sure you stop by and see all the amazing art and gifts they have to offer!

More Info:

Visit Gallery 116's blog!

Visiting Fishers, IN? Visit Gallery 116!

ETSY ARTIST FEATURE #6: Shaylamaddox

I have never seen anything like this in my life (and I am an art teacher, was and art major in college, and have been around the arts all my life)!!! 

Etsian Shaylamaddox is an artist who makes Light Reactive Paintings using  acrylic paint, beach sand, candle wax, glass, varnish, and a few other materials. Not only does she create beautiful designs, but the color patterns and ways the light settings/paint react to one another is absolutely stunning. 

It is something that you actually have to look at in order to really understand what I am trying to describe.

She writes on her shop announcement:

"I make my paintings experiential and meditative for the viewer. Light itself changes the color and effect of each piece. They will look different throughout the day (and year) and in all forms of light. My art is also uv reactive and glows in the dark."

She also writes in her profile:

"I've always been an artist, thanks to my mom who was always painting or making stained glass windows when I was growing up.

I believe in "Thin Spaces," which describe any moment in which you feel something more powerful is happening beyond what you see with your eyes. They can happen anywhere and in many forms. Sunsets and sunrises are great examples, or anywhere in nature where something seems particularly profound. It's a moment in which you intuitively sense a greater meaning. Time, space, and reality cease for a moment, and your own profound interpretation takes over.

Please visit www.shaylamaddox.com to view more of my work. (Mostly larger pieces.)

Also check out my blog at www.shayoa.blogspot.com for regular updates about my life, upcoming shows, and an in-depth analysis of each painting as its completed.

+ I donate 10% of all money made through art to Acres of Love. Check out www.acresoflove.org."

Not only is her work beautiful, but she also donates 10% of her profits to Acres of Love. 

Please comment on her work below. I would love to hear what others think!

Now.... if only my first year art teacher budget could afford it... saving now! It is my goal to own one of these soon!!!!!!

Announcing the COVER ARTISTS and the PRE-SALE of Create. Collect. Trade.!

Pre-sale for Create. Collect. Trade. began yesterday (3/15) with copies already sold!

For a limited time, ordering your pre-sale copy gives you a discounted price! 

All proceeds from Create. Collect. Trade. go towards the purchase of student copies of the book.

30 Etsy and Ebay ACEO artists are featured alongside 3rd-5th grade elementary school artists! I cannot think of a more meaningful and inspirational collaboration. If you were ever wanting to get into ACEO or ATC art, this is the book to get! There are so many inspirational images, teaching tools, and actual ATCs made by students included in the book. 

There are six student ATCs featured on the cover (grades 3-5)... can you guess which ones 

those are???

WIN A COPY OF CREATE. COLLECT. TRADE.!!!!

Want your own FREE copy of Create. Collect. Trade.?

This project is so important to the artists and students involved that we want the word to spread. There is already a waiting list for artists to be featured in the next edition.

Visit the Official Book Blog at THIS LINK for more information!

I think I am Going to Go Crazy..........

This week has been crazy in the way or new customers. It is weird how business is because in order for me to sell more, I have to raise my prices. I had recently posted some new crayon designs. Usually my crayons are hot sellers, but I have not spent as much time promoting my shop and products with so many things going on  in my life and three separate projects that need to also be completed this weekend.  The good news is that I completed my first THREE wholesale transactions this week!!!

These orders were HUGE compared to what I normally create at a time. I am sure I have been breathing in a ton of wax fumes (but the crayons are non toxic, so I should be safe right) and that will take its toll in about 40 years. I am almost complete with all three except for packaging, labeling and shipping. The only thing I do not have complete are the Rainbow Butterfly Crayons(see picture from previous entry) because they are so slow and time consuming to make! THEY ARE DRIVING ME NUTS! These large crayons are the coolest ever, but I have to make them one at a time. I have 10 out of 60 to make. I think after these orders, I will not wholesale those again....

In other news, the book I am creating about ACEO Art and Artists is coming along great. I have recently written a grant that will provide copies of Create. Collect. Trade. to all of 3rd grade at both schools (about 110 copies). Please wish me luck in getting this grant because it would mean so much for myself, the students, the artists in the book, and ACEO art in general. If you would like to make a $5.00 donation or donate a whole copy of the book for $23.00 (and get a dedication/donor label for the book) please visit The Official Book Blog for Create. Collect. Trade.

I was also featured in a blog this past week. Elektrajewelry blogged about my shop and my crayons, saying some wonderful things about my products and some of the services and items I sell/offer.

Well... I am hoping things will slow down for a bit, so I can catch up with life! Hopefully I will have more time to blog now! Check back for more updates!

Create. Collect. Trade. Has been Featured in ACEO Magazine's Newsletter!

ACEO Magazine has featured my artist and student ACEO book, Create. Collect. Trade. in their new edition of Cardaddix, a monthly ACEO newsletter that features interviews with worldwide artists, techniques, articles, and more!

For those of you not framiliar with Project ATC or the ACEO book that I am putting together that features 32  ACEO artists and elementary student artists here is some information...

I am an elementary school art teacher from Indiana who teaches the art of ACEO and ATC to student artists. About two months ago, I began searching for ACEO artists willing to donate ACEO cards to trade with my students. The purpose of this search was not only to introduce students to real artists from all over the world, but also to help students understand the large range in imagery, styles, and media used in ACEO art. After an overwhelming response from artists, this project, now being called “Project ATC,” began to evolve into something much bigger.

I wanted these artists to be able to share their love for ACEO art, while being able to inspire student artists and promote their art at the same time. To best do this, I came up with a book project where ACEO artists and student artists would be featured together to show how one can inspire the other, and to visually show the range of ACEO art. This book, Create. Collect. Trade. A Collection of Artist Trading Cards Created by Artists and Students, is now in its first edition (with a waiting list of artists to be in the second edition).

32 ACEO artists are featured alongside over 25 different student artists in the 2008 first edition, which is expected to go on sale mid-March.

There are a variety of ways that you can become involved in this wonderful project and help spread the news about ACEO art!

To Donate ACEO cards and trade with a student, please contact myself at:  Art2theextreme@yahoo.com

 To receive an e-mail when the book goes on sale OR to be put on the waiting list for the 2^nd edition of Create. Collect. Trade., send an e-mail with this as the subject line to: Art2theextreme@yahoo.com

 If interested in donating $5.00 or a gift of $23.00* (enough to purchase 1 free book for a student). Please visit: http://createcollecttrade.blogspot.com/

*Donors who purchase a whole book will have the chance to write a message to the student on a donor label to be included in the book. Name inclusion is optional.

For more information about “Project ATC” or Create. Collect. Trade., please visit  the Official Book Blog. http://createcollecttrade.blogspot.com/

I have been talking to the Editor, Kelly, who will also be featuring the book on the site for ACEO magazine in the near future. This is very exciting because the magazine has a large following and is sent worldwide to ACEO artists.

To visit their newly revised website or to get your own copy of the newsletter, please visit their site at:

http://aceomagazine.com/

ETSY ARTIST FEATURE #4: Jenmaestre

In my search for ACEO artists to donate cards to PROJECT ATC, I came across Etsian Jenmaestre, who offered to donate a card! Her card was one of the coolest the students had seen so far because she had used pencil shavings to create it. As I began looking though her shop, I found items that I could never find in any store or Etsy shop! 

Jenmaestre creates her pins, pendants, earrings, and ACEO cards from pieces of colored pencils. She uses all different colors, sizes, angles, and views when created her art and uses an epoxy to give them a finishing coat.  Pieces are made by hand and hand-sanded. No two items in her shop are alike.  

I recently bought the heart pendant that is seen above. I thought that since I was an art teacher and Valentine's Day was coming up, that it would be very appropriate and very cool to own!

I have been showing EVERYONE this shop because these items are truly unique and a MUST HAVE!

Please take the time to visit Jenmaestre's shop! I promise you wont be disappointed and you will fall in love with something immediately! 

LINKS TO JENNIFER:

Her Etsy Shop:

jenmaestre.etsy.com

Her Website:

http://www.jennifermaestre.com/current_upcoming_shows.html

Interviews

http://reubenmiller.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/01/jennifer-maestr.html