A New Twist On The Chocolate Chip Cookie

Last night, my son surprised me by making Chocolate Chip Cookies with a New Twist.

He used the Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe listed on the back of their bag.

The surprising twist was that he added about a cup of mini marshmallows to the cookie dough.

This added a nice gooey texture and taste to the cookie. If the marshmallows were on the outside of the cookie it gave the cookie a nice chewy toffee taste and crispy texture. 

I encourage you to give it a try.

My family gave it a thumbs up.

Adult Coloring Book - It's Good For Your Soul. #smallproductlab

A quick post about something I'm working on.

On September 28th, I joined a free online course called #SmallProductLab. offered by Gumroad.

It is a short course that helps you to come up with a product, create product, set up selling of product and the launching of product all in a matter of days.  11 days, in fact.  I know, it's crazy!

Honestly, it is wonderful.  I'm learning so much from the course and from my classmates in our Facebook group.

Stay tuned, my product will be available for sale October 8th.  

Enter your email in the form at the top right corner of my blog to follow my shop, or

 https://gumroad.com/virginiajbailey

Thank you.

Get To Know Virginia J. Bailey Interviewed By Patience Brewster Artist Q&A Spotlight Project.

I was recently asked to be part of Patience Brewster Artist Q&A Spotlight Project. This was my first time I had heard of Patience work and so of course I immediately went to check it out. Patience is one very busy artist and wow, am I inspired with all she has accomplished.  Please visit her online shop and see for yourself her stunning works of art and Christmas Ornaments.

Now, onto the interview. I hope that you will enjoy learning a little bit more about me and my artistic journey.

As a child, do you recall a significant moment when you felt truly affected or inspired by any particular artwork or artist? I am a word girl..  Stories bring everything to life for me.  I suppose this is what also brought me to love art.  I get to look at a pretty picture and get a motivational verse all at the same time.

What memorable responses have you had to your work? It was only recently that I thought of myself as a true artist whose product was salable and not just something I made, and then gave away. This hasn't been an easy realization for me. I wrote and self published a book called, "Do Over,"

It is a romance novel with a message.  Basically, that message is to be grateful for all of it.  The good, the bad and the ugly. My book has not been a huge success, hardly. But, it is a piece of me out in the world that will always be there.  I like that.  Art is the same thing.  The first time I sold a piece of my art was such a thrill.  Someone in this great big world is walking around with my artwork on their backpack, or a painting of mine is hanging up in their living room, or someone is wearing jewelry that I created!  This is so incredibly exciting to me.  It validates me in a way in which nothing else ever could.  I was made to create and I am happiest when I am doing just that.

What is your dream project? My dream is to create a catalog of my very own products.  I love creating practical one of a kind gifts, but I also love sharing my favorite things with the world. So finding great products and sharing them has been a passion of mine for years.  One of my favorite products was L'Paige Lipstick I've been selling it on my ebay store now for nearly eight years.  It is a great lipstick! Lipsticks Here

What artists, of any medium, do you admire? (famous or not!)  I'm mostly inspired by artists who just do it! I am turned off by the artist who says it took a year for them to finish a painting.  A year? Goodness, I would have lost interest a long time ago.  I love simple, and raw.  Doodling is something I've done all my life and never really thought of as art.  I could never be tied down to one specific medium, I'm interested in it all: watercolors, oils, acrylics, clay, wire, etc.

As an artist, what do you hope to convey with your work?  I just want to share a message that resonates with me and what is going on in my life.  What am I liking, or needing right now?  I create for me, and share it with the world hoping that it will inspire them in their own way.


Thank you again Patience Brewster for inviting me to participate in your Q&A. It is a honor to be recognized in this blogosphere as a talented artist.  Thank you readers for being part of my journey and cheering me on.

Virginia

Studio Snapshot and Current Work

I have a spare bedroom where most of my paint and crafting supplies live. But truth be told, I like being around my family when I create. I can talk to them, ask them what they think as I go, even watch t.v.

My problem is I don't like messes. A clean organized space just calls to my creativity. So even though I often dream of my very own studio space just for art business. I have a feeling it wouldn't get used very often.

At home you will find me in our dining room or on the couch drawing in my sketchbooks.

Here are some photos of my latest works and some pictures of my living studio.

I've been working on creating some greeting cards to sell in my etsy store and at our retail store.  I really love the way these are turning out.

 

Here are some sketches I posted on Instagram and Facebook, but wanted to be sure to share with all my blog readers here.

A Quick Video Sketch - Draw With Me. and Hello L.A. by Clay Borrell.

I love watching videos of someone drawing.
Add some music to it and I am immersed in the pleasure of it.
The simpler it is, the better.
Just take me along for the ride.

I hope you will enjoy my first attempt at a quick video of me doodling.  If you decide to draw along or try a drawing yourself, I would so love to see it.

Thank you again for being part of my creative journey.

Enjoy the music too, it is written and performed by the talented Clay Borrell.
He's from Minnesota, a family friend and a really nice young man, and currently on tour.  He has an indiegogo fundraiser going on and if you feel inclined to give him a little love, head on over. http://Indiegogo.com/at/clayborrell  I know he will appreciate it.

Doodling Art My Favorites.

I did these a while back and never shared them with you all on my blog.  As you know, I love to draw and doodling is one of my favorite ways to relax.  I get into such a relaxed state while drawing all the different lines and swirls I can think of.

Here are some pieces I did last year that I love.  I hope you will like them too.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun.

I hope that you are enjoying some beautiful summer weather.  It's been nice here in Minnesota and I find myself just taking in the laid back summer days.  I need it so.

A couple weeks ago, my daughter helped me with a small booth at our local farmers market.  I thought it would be fun to offer some of my creative goodies here.

I sold some jewelry.  Did I tell you about my latest new craft.  Beading, and wire wrapping.  Of course, I've been creating up a storm.  I'll never be able to wear all this jewelry but it does make beautiful gifts.  I'm going to try and get some photos done and get the items listed in my etsy store, which currently sits empty.  I know, me bad.

Here's some photo's from our day.

 I made this ring for my daughter.

 This one was created for my son Max's fiance, Ashley.

I also enjoy making small mirrors and painting them.  I sold them with a L'Paige Lipgloss.  Here's a couple photo's.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I was thrilled to have over 200 views one day last week.


Virginia