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

Elephant Sketch and Big Eyed Girl

I know it's has been a while since my last post.  Time sure does fly.

I've been busy drawing and painting.

This weekend I finally got to watch the movie

"Big Eyes"

I really liked it.

Here is some art I created before in anticipation of the movie

my own version of a big eyed girl.

What do you think?

I love everything about her.

What is Intuitive Painting To Me, and How Do I Do It?

To me intuitive painting means trusting the creative muse to show up and turn my painting into something I love.

This means, I start out with no idea what my painting is going to be.  (a lot like my doodling)

Painting like this is very intimidating, but also very freeing.  Because you just keep going until it becomes what it is supposed to become.

Another question that comes up for me when I am doing a large canvas.  How do I know if I am done, is it finished?  I trust my gut here.  It's something I'll just feel.  Almost like a tap on my shoulder saying stop, it is done.

I love the feeling I get when I am painting, and suddenly I am swept up in the muse.  I don't notice time at all.  Hours can pass in what seems to me like only moments.

Writing for me is the same way.  I remember once when I was working on a novel.  I became so engrossed in what I was writing that I didn't even notice that I had been at it for hours.  In the late afternoon my employer called me and inquired why I hadn't made it to work.  What?  I missed going to work that day without even realizing it.

I guess this is why I struggle to write, or even paint.  I need such a large amount of time to allow myself to find that muse.  Once, I am there, I do not want to be disturbed.  It feels so good to be caught up in all that wonderful creativity. Quitting to make dinner, or go to work is such a rude interruption.

This is a large canvas that I recently painted.  I loved how effortlessly this painting came together. Each hour was pure pleasure.

The Bachman's Spring Revival Ideas House - Part 2 Continued.

Yesterday, I showed you pictures from the Bachman's house and didn't even get inside the house.  So many ideas I want to share with you.  Today, I'll be showing you some unique ideas from the main floor of the home.  I'll only show you a few as I don't want this post to go on and on.  I'm afraid it could.

This mail collector was hanging on the wall in the entry way.  A basket for the mail and keys.

The dining room was really spring like.  The chair pillows were made with two dishtowels,

the cloth napkins are two different colors.  The wine glasses had simple dollar store wire wrapped around the base and coming up forming a leaf.  Plus this burlap table cloth.  I love burlap.

Remind me to show you my kitchen window valances I created months ago using some burlap I got for $8.00.

This trellis is used as a coat rack.  The hooks are old-fashioned glass door knobs.  (yep, I peeked.)

Have you ever considered bringing one of these into your kitchen?  This kitchen had two of them in open cupboards.  Notice the backdrop of the cupboard, is tin.

This shabby window shutter is a clever idea, dressed up with some more wire flowers.  It made for a nice statement wall in the back entry.

I was a bit enamored with this unique shelf on the wall in this small bathroom.  I'm not sure what the rounded bottom is, then they adhered a flat shelf on top.  I also like the tin behind the mirror.

There were lots of little areas where things were hanging from the ceiling.  This corner was filled with colorful baubles (not sure what they are)  They reflected the suns light and added beauty to the sunroom.

Ever seen one of these?  I think they use this to feed the pigs on the farm.  Now it is transformed as a side table with a fairy garden growing under the glass.

This is a stain glass window cling.  Really? You can not tell.

I'm always looking for ways to add healthy greenery to my rooms.  I love this chandelier and the candelabra filled with moss balls.  Just adds freshness, don't you think?

I hope that you have enjoyed seeing some of the ideas that inspired me.  Perhaps, tomorrow I will share the upper floor of the house.  There were just a few things that caught my eye.

Thanks for visiting the blog.

Virginia

Minnesota Bachman's Spring Revival Ideas House

Today, on a whim I decided to go check out Bachman's Spring Revival Ideas House.  It was so inspiring.

Bachman's is a floral, gift, garden and landscaping store.  It's a family business that has been in business since 1885. Today, it has grown to be one of the largest floral and nursery operations in the world.

I haven't been there in years.  The place is huge.  I was surprised to find a restaurant in the middle of it with tables set up in the green house.  The place was packed.  It's definitely a place I'm going to go have lunch at sometime soon.

The ideas house was built in the 1920's and is where Mr. Bachman and his family lived. Designers paint, furnish and decorate the house each season.  

The house is full of great ideas for things to make, ways to decorate, interesting ways to add plant life, etc.  Each room has a theme, with a nice mix of new, repurposed and vintage pieces. 

Most every item in the house is priced for sale too.  So, if you love it, you can buy it.

Here are some photo's.  I'll show you what inspired me.

I like the way they have decorated the entrance of this shed.  The art is hanging on small shovels with rope.

Here is the back of the shed, I love the flowers.

On the outside of the shed they decorated the windows with burlap and vines, then a plank to hold an assortment of garden boots with flowers.  

A treasure chest with hand-painted word art.

I thought this window box was really lovely with all the greenery, flowers, the wood vines and I'm loving those birch rolls.

These ideas were all from the outside of the house.  Tomorrow come on back, and I'll take you on the tour of the main floor of the house for some more inspiration.

If you want to check out the house yourself, you'll have to act fast.  It closes this weekend.

Thanks for checking in,

Virginia

Trisha Yearwood's Skillet Apple Pie Made In A Cast Iron Skillet.

A couple weeks ago, I made Trisha Yearwood's recipe for an Apple Pie in a cast iron skillet. 

It was so delicious that I thought I better share it with you guys.

Believe me, you're going to want to try it.

I love watching Trisha's cooking show.

I'm inspired each week to make one of her meals.

It's really fun and so far all the meals have been awesomely delicious.

This apple pie is so easy, I actually had my 19 year old son, Stone make it.

The photo here is copied from the Food Network.

Unfortunately, my photos were blurry.

Here's the link to watch the video and get the recipe details.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/skillet-apple-pie-with-cinnamon-whipped-cream.html

Let me know what you think.

Sketching With My #Gellyroll Pens

Sakura Gelly Roll Pens - So Good!

I fell in love with Sakura Gelly Roll Pens a couple years ago.
I asked my sister to get them for my Christmas present one year.
I love making art with these pens.
The paint just oozes out of them in the perfect amount.
They last a long time too.
They glide easily across the page with little effort.

Plus, there's so many colors to choose from.

I buy them all:

Souffle
Stardust
Metallic
Shadow
Moonlight
Classic

You can buy them at lots of places.

Here's a link:
http://www.gellyroll.com/

Hopefully this week, I will take some photos of some art I made with them and get them posted.

Thanks so much for checking in.

What exactly is doodling?

I can't talk on the phone without doodling.  It's helps me connect to my conversation.  I'm not good at doing multiple things at a time but doodling helps me focus.  It helps me relax.  It gets my creative juices flowing.

What is your go to doodle?  

What do you scribble when you have a fresh piece of paper and a great pen in your hands?  

Start with a bunch of circles.  Fill the page with the circles, shade them, outline them,  and fill them in.

Maybe your doodle is drawing hearts, or writing your name, or the word LOVE.

My doodles always start with a circle and then I make that circle into a flower.  I like all shapes, lines, etc.  

Pattern thrills me!

I encourage you to FIND YOUR DOODLE.

It's good for the brain. 

Author Sunni Brown says doodling enhances our creativity.  

The reason for this is because while doodling we use our brain in 3 different ways.

Visually - we are seeing what we are drawing.

Kinesthetic - we're using our hands to draw.

Auditory - we are processing information by listening to what is being said.

It enhances how we take in information.  I also read that it helps our memory.  If these aren't good reasons to start doodling then I don't know what is.

It's just... fun!

My Favorite Pin Repinned

I pinned this picture a couple of years ago and it is one of the pins that gets repined on a regular basis.


My kitchen has a bay window, and the colors are similar.  I really liked the way this kitchen made me feel while looking at it.
It's comfortable, clean, has some warmth.  I like the round table, fresh flowers. 


I also really like the window treatments.


What's your favorite pin?


Do you use pinterest?


I love it.


You create all kinds of boards.


Last month, I had another Jockey Person to Person party.  What a great time.  I should have wrote a post about all the great clothes I got again for hosting.  It was incredible.  I'm so bummed that Jockey is closing down this division of their company.  I will be on the lookout for another product like it in the future.







Anyways, sorry I got off track.  Here's a board I created on pinterest to inspire me for the party.


https://www.pinterest.com/virginiajbailey/party-tonight/


I do this kind of thing a lot.  The pillows for the couch are something I'm still planning to make for my living room couch. 

I'll keep you posted.


If you haven't signed up with pinterest yet, you might want to.  If you already are, great.  Either way, follow me, so I can find and follow you there too.  I'm always on the look out for new inspiration.