Lesley Venable

Give Away Everything You Know...

Art & Affirmations

Love Yourself Exercise

During times of high stress remember to treat yourself gently.  Be on the alert for negative self-talk and when you become aware of it simply say “I am a loving and worthwhile person and I deserve great things”.  Whisper the phrase to yourself.  Type it up, print it out and tape it to your computer monitor.  Glance up often, whisper the words and move forward in a more positive light.

 

Classes on DVD....

Hi Everyone!

I hope your Monday is going well and that your week has started out fabulously! 

We have been busy finalizing the Creative Bundle classes that go live tomorrow and have decided to offer these classes (seperately) for pre-order on DVD.  Here is how it will work:

Collage Backgrounds - DVD - $10.00

Mail Art - DVD - $10.00

Fabric Flowers - DVD $10.00

Embellished Tags - DVD - $10.00

Altered Journal - DVD - $10.00

If you would like to order one of these classes on DVD just click the But It Now button below and when asked if you have any special comments just type in the name of the DVD you would like to receive. 

 

These will be mailed out the week of Thanksgiving.  The final date to sign up to receive these DVD classes will be November 30th.

 Thanks!

xo,

Lesley

 

Mail Art, Fabric Flowers and Collage Backgrounds...

The Creative Bundle Classes are getting ready to kick off on Tuesday and sign-up will end on November 18th.  Here are a few images to whet your appetites.....

Mail Art

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Fabric Flowers

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Collage Backgrounds

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To read all about what is being offered in these amazing bundles you can visit the original blog post here: 

http://flatwoodsfolkart.typepad.com/lesley_venable/2011/10/just-in-time-for-the-holidays.html

Hope to see you all there.

xo,

Lesley

 

Art Is......Australia

I attended the first ever Art Is You retreat in Connecticut.  At that time it was known as Art Fest For the Soul and indeed it was.  Since then I have attended every Art Is You with the exception of one year where I had a scheduling conflict. 

I try hard not to talk too much about daily stresses here in my blog because I figure that people probably aren't interested in the problems but today I am just going to touch on that subject.  Why?  Well, because Sal and Ellen, the creators of this wonderful artistic retreat, have seen me in my darkest moments and loved me through them.  What does this have to do with an art retreat?  Well, it's an example of the souls that these two wonderful women possess and it's those souls that came together, dreamed of a special kind of retreat and made it so.

There are many artists that attend the East Coast Art Is but they aren't just artists.  They are our sisters, our friends, our creative family.  They are an extension of ourselves with likeminded muses....they push us to try new things, to take one more step in the creative process and how to be brave.  They are our cheerleaders and Sal and Ellen are right there in front smiling, laughing and having as much fun as the attendees.

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This art family grew to the West Coast in Petaluma in 2011 and it will continue that growth in 2012 by taking the love across the ocean to Australia. 

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The lineup of instructors for this event is amazing...AMAZING!  How about Keith LoBue, Judy Wilkenfeld, our own Ellen Legare, Jo Packham, Linda Baldock and many, many more.  Check out the full lineup by clicking the above photo.

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If you are anywhere near Australia, every wanted to go to Australia or even dreamed of Australia you need to mark this on your to do list for 2012.  The talent that Sal and Ellen have put together for this inaugural event will leave your head spinning and the choices of classes is truly drool worthy. 

Save the date, book your flight, choose your classes and then get ready to have your creativity jump into overdrive.  Think of all the new family members you will be inheriting through  Sal and Ellen!  The Art Is website says it all....Welcome Home.

Rampant Creativity

There is nothing quite like a visit from an artistic friend to send your muse into overdrive! Kecia visited last weekend and from about Tuesday on I have been busy doing a bit of this and that in the studio.

Here are some of the creations from  this week....

Little Christmas Tree

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A Santa

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A Bird Collage

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A Few Altered Tags

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A Fabric Wallhanging

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A bit of detail....

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Almost finished with this wallhanging...

 

An Elite Sixteen Etsy Treasury....

 

Is It Really Tuesday??

Okay, so this week this question could either mean:  Is it Tuesday already? or Is it really only Tuesday?.  Yep, it's been one of those but I have to say that all in all it has been pretty darned good. 

Tonight's creations had my hands in bleach and then water colored with raspberry ice Crystal Light.  Are you curious yet?  I'll post photos later this week of what this concoction yielded.  <smile>

Just a reminder that registration for the Creative Bundles classes ends on November 18th and it will then forevermore be closed to new students.  If you want to read more about it you can click on this link:  http://flatwoodsfolkart.typepad.com/lesley_venable/2011/10/just-in-time-for-the-holidays.html

What is on your studio table right now? 

xo,

 

A Weekend Visit...

Hi Everyone,

Yay, it's Friday!!!  I'm looking forward to this weekend as my friend Kecia will be staying with us on her way back home after visiting with her son, Dillon, in Florida.  Tom has been planning menus, well kind of, and he is ready to be our cook.  He already has orders to not make his coffee as strong as he normally does. 

Bennie is eager to see his Aunt Kecia as well.  He has a sock that she left him after her last visit that he plays with all of the time.  He loves his Aunt Kecia!

~~Little Bennie Waiting On Aunt Kecia~~

We are going to be talking video recorders, video recording and programs used as she prepares to be a part of the Artful Gathering Online Retreat in 2012 too.  I love that retreat and cannot wait for it to get rolling!!! 

On my work table this weekend I have my soldering iron, some little tins, charms and a few other odds and ends.  I've been enjoying a bit of a creative time and I am LOVING it! 

Don't forget to sign up for one of my Creative Bundle online classes if you need a few ideas for some beautiful handmade gifts that won't cost you an arm and a leg to create or learn.  See my post a couple of days ago if you are interested.  <smile>

It's a good day today and I hope you are enjoying many blessings!

xo,

 

Art & Affirmations - Day 2

Affirmation Exercise

Write down on a piece of paper the useless chatter that is clogging your head.  Those “you’re not good enough”, “pretty enough”, “thin enough”, “smart enough” chatterings need to be swept from every corner of our thoughts.  On a new piece of paper write down the wonderful qualities you possess and begin each statement with “I am”.  Fill your page with these self-affirming chatterings (i.e. I am a wonderful artist, I am a lovely hostess, I am a loyal and true friend, I am beautiful).  Fold the “old chatter” page into a square and tear it into bits.  With each rip repeat one of your new phrases.  Now toss that old stuff out and don’t look back.