the saline harvest of the arts art fair

well, friends, i made it through my first juried art fair!  saturday was an amazing day.  God was truly with me, loving me all day long.  i can't even begin to tell you how much fun i had.

after a super late gig the night before, my wonderful husband, rick, got up early to come with me to set up my booth.  he had a gig on the west side of the state, so he couldn't stay with me all day, but having him with me in the morning was a blessing.  friends and family stopped by throughout the day, too, which meant so much to me!  my dear friend, rick's aunt, michaella, sat with me for a while to keep me company, and another dear friend, kathryn, sat with me most of the day.  they were fantastic - bringing me pretzels from the oktoberfest food tents, getting me coffee, watching the tent so i could chat with some of the other artists.  it was so nice to be surrounded by people who love and support me all day long!

after weeks of work, i was really happy with how my booth turned out - and i even received an "honorable mention" for best display!  i was so excited.  i received tons of encouragement from other artists and from those who visited my booth.  one woman asked me which art galleries my artwork was in! 

i'm so thankful to have met so many amazing artists who offered advice, or suggested other art fairs they thought i should be a part of.  an owner of one of my favorite shops visited my booth, and she had such encouraging things to say about my art and display.  at one point, i was literally jumping up and down in my tent (kathryn can confirm this)!  

oh, and i should mention - people bought my art!  something in my art (an extension of who i am, of my heart), connected with them.  what a blessing!  i couldn't stop smiling all day long.

here are some pictures:

my booth!

  

handsome shopper!  =)



i received a ribbon for my booth display - hooray!

i was super encouraged by these nice ladies!

 

very happy girl!



towards the end of the day, one of the artists i met said to me, "you're really enjoying yourself, aren't you?!"  and i really truly was.

the art fair is over, but there's still a lot to do!  this week, after i catch up on laundry and other household stuff much neglected in the rush to prepare for saturday's art fair, i'll be working hard to get my etsy shop up and running.  i'll let you know as soon as it is.

on sunday, when i was talking with rick about the art fair, i told him that i really felt like i was "in my element."  being with people, talking with them about why i create my art, where the ideas and words come from - my heart is still full.  i think that the entire experience may have been another step (maybe even a really big one), in claiming who i truly am - who God has created me to be.

blessings to you today, dear ones.  thanking God for His love, encouragement, and faithfulness - and for each of you, too!

art fair tomorrow!

hey friends!  the last couple of weeks have been spent frantically getting ready for the saline harvest of the arts oktoberfest - which is tomorrow, september 25th!  i'll be in cute, downtown saline from 10-7 selling my art.  to be honest, i'm still a little nervous - but i'm also really excited!  in addition to the art fair, there will be all the traditional oktoberfest german fun, craft activities for kids, live music all day, and much more!  if you're in the area, please stop by and say hello.  i'd love to see you!

after months of preparation, it's kind of hard to believe that this day has finally come.  thank you SO much for all of your support and encouragement!  i'll definitely let you know how everything turns out. 

if you would, please pray that i'd be a glimpse of God's love, grace, and truth to someone tomorrow...  because, when it comes down to it, that's what my art is really all about.

much love to YOU, dear ones!

something new

in two short weeks, on saturday, sept. 25th, i'll be selling my art at the saline harvest of the arts oktoberfest. i'm really excited and thankful for the opportunity to take part in this event! 

i wanted to give you a sneak-peek at a few pieces i've been working on (well, to be honest, working on, and off, and on again), for the last several weeks.  i'm hoping they'll be completed and ready to sell at the art fair in saline.

three pieces of art... in process.  like myself.

i'm really curious to see how they turn out.  when i start working on the pieces in the beginning, i'm never sure what they'll end up looking like.  sometimes i think i know, and i'll start guiding the piece in a certain direction, often to only end up painting over what i've done.  funny how the more i try to force things or control things in my artwork, the more frustrated i become.  when i feel "stuck" on a certain piece, having no idea what to do next, or having tried and tried again to get it to look a certain way, only to be unhappy with how it looks, rick's really great about reminding me that i can walk away from it for a while.  sometimes i think a piece is done, only to come back to it a few weeks later to add something new. 

it all sounds a lot like my life in general, actually.  God is such a huge part of  my art and why i create it - guess i shouldn't be too surprised when He uses the entire process to teach and guide, to remind me: that my value doesn't lie in what i get done or accomplish.  that i don't always know how things will turn out.  that i don't have to force things.  that there is freedom in surrendering my plans and agendas to Him.  that sometimes when a season, hope, or dream seems to be over, it might not be.  He may have something new in store for me.

i think i'm beginning to realize that through this whole creative journey, as i embrace who i truly am in Jesus, surrounding myself in God's love, seeking Him and His Truth, creating and sharing all of this through my art, God's creating something new and beautiful where i least expected it - in me.

more on new art and my preparations for the saline art fair, soon... today, i am just so thankful and overwhelmed by God's love for me - and for you, dear ones.