Flatwoods Folk Art

Packing Up and Preparing....

So we are packing up and preparing for A & S Hampton and wow as much as you think you have things ready to go there are that many things that always come up at the last minute.  :) 

With that being said I am sharing another Etsy faves Treasury with you today but be on the lookout for images from Hampton over the next few days....it promises to be a blast!!!

 

Thank you all for your continued support and art love!!! Lesley

Things I am loving on Etsy Today.....

I found these wonderful items on Etsy today.....

 

To visit the Treasury simply click on the name "Waiting". Enjoy! Lesley

Yay it's Friday!!!

Hi Everyone,

Okay, so today is Friday and my pre-registration for my new online class was supposed to end at midnight but because I was sick Wednesday night and all day yesterday I decided to keep it open until tomorrow at noon.  There are still 9 spots left to fill out of the 35 so if you are insterested there is still time.

You can go to the NING Group and read the information there:  www.theartofaltering.ning.com

Just a bit of information:

The kits will contain items that value at least $15.00 and they will all be things you may want to use in your book.

Other supplies that will be needed are two large board books, liquid nails perfect glue, exacto knife, inks, acrylics and a few more items.

I hope you will come and join us!!

By the way....Happy Friday and Happy Easter!!!

xo,

Lesley

 

 

Hump Day Already....

Hi Everyone,

Wow, I can't believe it is hump day already.  Time does fly doesn't it! 

It is a gray day here with clouds and winds but no rain...yet.  I love this time of year when the green is so fresh and welcoming and the flowers and trees are blooming and budding out.  The world is new again and it gives me the opportunity to see things in an entirely new light.  I love that!

So what should I focus on?  Well, I've been focusing on eating better and that's going well but would really love to dive into a reese's right about now.  I've also been focusing on the new studio and the Etsy shoppe.  So I believe my next step will be to focus on my creations and how I can stretch my wings a bit more.  Scary thoughts go with that but I want to trust myself as an artist and as an adventurer.  <smile>

Want to take the journey with me?  Well, you know, in photographs???  I could do a weekly post on things that I am creating and what will be coming up next.  I think that would be fun!!

Have you seen the class I am teaching this summer at The Artful Gathering?  You can check it out by going here:  http://artfulgathering.squarespace.com/workshops/ 

Then  just scroll down the page and you will see my name with the class offering.  It's all new and I am sooooo excited about this class!!!!  $5.00 holds your spot for this one of a kind online retreat experience!! 

Also, I am now holding pre-registration for my newest online class at The Art of Altering - The Altered Book of Reliquaries.  Pre-registration is limited to 35 people only and 16 of those spots are taken already.  Registration will end tomorrow night (April 21st) at midnight.  Please read about it in yesterday's post which should be just below this one.

Thanks for all of your wonderful support, kind words and, well, just for being here.

xo,

Lesley

 

Pre-Registration for a New Online Class...

Hi Everyone!!

I know, I know....two posts in one day....Lesley must be drinking a lot of caffeine.  :)

I decided to do this today as tomorrow will be a hugely busy day for me.

I am now offering pre-registration for a new online altered book class - Book of Reliquaries.

 

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Here is a description of the class.....

BOOK OF RELIQUARIES

 I created this class several years ago to teach at a private studio.  That class was never taught because there were issues that came up with my mother-in-law, the weather (it was scheduled for winter) and then the economic downturn.  With all of these happenings this class has been patiently waiting for its time to shine and I believe this is it.

 I had thought about teaching this class at a retreat but with some of the dynamics of the class I feel it is better suited for an online class where there is no set time period to complete your creation.

Your Altered Book of Reliquaries masterpiece will be created from the humble beginnings of a large children’s board book, well two of them to be exact.  We will transfer them into a large book that holds your most precious items, thoughts, images and writings.  Within the pages we will be creating niches, or reliquaries, to protect and showcase these well loved treasures.

You will learn how to prepare the books for altering, how to cover the pages with color and texture using many techniques including chalk inks, gesso, fabrics and more, we will be creating our niches by cutting through multiple pages of the books and you will learn how to enhance the edges, you will create a fabric book covering and will learn how to use vintage hardware to create a “handle” or sorts.  So many more tidbits and short lessons will be gathered here and I believe you will really love creating one of these lovely altered books.

Here is how Pre-Registration will work:

Pre-Registration Is Limited to 35 Participants

Class Cost to Pre-Register is $45 which includes an optional class kit (all pre-registrants will be mailed a kit)

Class Is OPEN-ENDED - no worry to stress about not getting your project finished.

Class kits will be mailed out the week of May 23rd and the videos will go live on June 13th.

Normal registration will open on May 23rd at a cost of $55.00 and the kit will have a separate price of $15.00.

Pre-Registration is open to international students as well.

Pre-Registration will only be for today, tomorrow and Thursday (ending at midnight Thursday).  You must pre-register before midnight, April 21st.

To pre-register please click on the Paypal button below and it will take you to the page where you will pay.  At that point please tell me in the message area if there is anything you are adverse to receiving in your kit of goodies.  Also verify that your mailing address on PayPal is correct as this is where I will mail the kit to.

 

Hope to see you there!!

xo,

Lesley

 

Four Word Self Help...

 

I recently began reading a book entitled Four Word Self Help.  The book is full of amazing art to go with the four word affirmation statements that this book holds.

The first time I opened the book the affirmation that it showed me was "Give Up Toxic People" which was something that I was dealing with at that moment and that affirmation became my mantra for the next few days and it gave me strength to have a very hard conversation with someone.  None of us need the toxicity or negativity of anyone else in our lives......our personal home lives or our art lives.  It is just truly not worth it and it can hinder you and your creativity...why do that???

Well, today the affirmation that I opened to is "Open Doors For Others".  Now I guess you could take this quite literally and just open a car door or office door or bathroom door for someone but what I believe it means is that we are all put here to help each other and we should share what we know.  I have witnessed those that are very talented be very protective/stingy either with their knowledge or "friends in the business" or their things that have worked well for them to the point that they are terrified of anyone doing anything that resembles theirs.  Then I have witnessed the very talented, lesser known artist come along and shower me with enthusiasm and sharing and who has not only opened doors for me but sometimes literally pulled me through them.  When I see both of these side by side I want to be the door opener.  I don't want to sit around and have to worry about who is doing what with whom or where or how.  I want to spend that energy on sharing what I know...the hows, whys, wheres, etc.

What does "Open Doors For Others" mean to you and how would you incorporate it into your life?

Blessings to you everyone!

Lesley

 

A Treasury of Etsy Finds....

Please click on the treasury name to visit it. Thanks! Lesley

Tax Day Sale In Our Etsy Shoppe...

Happy Tax Day Everyone!!!

So I decided to do a promo/sale in our Etsy Shoppe, A Vintage Season. 

I thought what numbers are really representative of Tax Day and I immediately thought of Form 1040 so I decided to do this....on purchases of $40 or more you can take 10% off the entire order.  Then I thought that wasn't enough so I finalized it here:

                                        Purchase Must Equal $40.00

                                        Discount is 15%

                                        Discount Code:  TAXDAY2011

                                        Ends at Midnight EST

If you use the code on an order less than the $40 it will be voided.

                                        Orders Less Than $40.00

                                        Discount is 10%

                                        Discount Code is:  TAXDAY2011C

                                        Ends at Midnight EST

There are even some new and unique items just listed so have fun and hope you will visit!!!

A Vintage Gravy Boat.....Oh,so Shabby

 

A Vintage Inspired Santos Hand - Plucking...

 

Manuscript Daisy Sprig...

 

Tea Light Holder...

 

Vintage Greeting Card/Postcard Basket

 

To Visit The Shoppe, A Vintage Season on Etsy click below...

 

Blessing to you all!

Lesley

 

An Amazing Event Is Coming....

Good Morning Everyone!!

An amazing event is coming to a computer near you...have you heard??? 

The Artful Gathering is a unique opportunity to enjoy the experience of a conventional art retreat right in the comfort of your own home or studio!!  How cool is that?  Right now just $5 will hold your seat for this wonderful artistic journey that will run from July 16th through August 20th.

Want to learn more?  Just click on the below image and you will be whisked away to the blog.....

There are 17 teachers, moi is included, each offering up an amazing class and Gail and Zinnia, the creators of The Artful Gathering, have been working very hard to create a wonderful experience for everyone participating.

I am super stoked and cannot wait go along on this creative journey with you so I hope you will visit the blog, read the class descriptions, learn about the teachers and if you have any questions you can post them here or ask Gail or Zinnia directly from the blog site.

Have a wonderful Sunday and hope to "see" you at The Artful Gathering!!

xo,

Lesley

 

The Vintage Vegetable Holder....

Good Morning Everyone,

A couple of years ago I purchased a vintage metal vegetable holder/bin because I thought it would look great holding items on vendor night.  However, when I received it I just could not work out the logistics of either how it would hold things for someone to comfortably look through or how we would get it from point A to point Z.  So there it sat in all of its shabbiness until......

 

It came into the new studio and stands on the back of my work table in the corner.  See the lovely frame?  My friend Colleen made that for us after Tom's mother, Correlle, passed away and that is a photo of Tom's mother and aunt in the photograph (thank you sweet Colleen).

Now the cabinet is put to use as.....

 

A wonderful space for my small vintage photo albums and cabinet cards.....

 

My faves to collect are the tintype albums or the gem tintype albums...

 

Aren't they beautiful?

I hope your Friday is full of sunshine and creativity!!!  Thank you so much to all of you for being part of my journey.

xo,

Lesley