Loving My New Flying Team!

When two people or more people gather in his name and PRAY 

for the same cause there is MORE POWER.  

I am praying for a Dream Team!

Martin Luther King said "I have a DREAM," not I have a plan.

He found thousands who had the same dream.

Week # 2 of Flying Lessons with Kelly Rae Roberts

Last week was crazy busy getting ready for an art show. This week I feel that I am going to be very creative because the jewelry mojo was turned on full blast last week during crunch time before the show. I have been collecting beads and wonderful findings on Etsy over the past year but I just couldn't make myself set down and create the jewelry. Amazingly when I finally sat down and did it, I enjoyed it and I got a really good feel from Sherry and Amanda that it will sell. Nothing like a couple of girly girls to let you know that your jewelry really does rock!

I had been on a spiritual journey this year, spending hours writing in my journal and then taking those thoughts and prayers and turning them into mixed media art. Mixed media art takes me to that place of meditation where I unravel my myths and stories.  I have unraveled some really deep myths and stories through my Luna Chick series this year. I traveled back into my youth and that lead to unraveling information from my New Mexican heritage. I has been quit a journey!

I Have So Much To Read

Whew..... really there are so many creative souls out there and I am learning so much! I have a list of books to read. Looks like I need to get an iPad!

Taking Flight: Inspiration and Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings
By Kelly Rae Roberts
Learning by Heart-teachings to free the creative spirit 
by Corita Kent & Jan Steward 
Point Zero-creativity without limits 
by Michele Cassou
Art at the speed of life
by Pam Carriker
Collage Couture
by Julie Nutting
The Artistic Mother
by Shona Cole
Collaborative Art Journals 
by L.K. Ludwig
 The Handmade Marketplace
by Kari Chapin 
I'd Rather be in the Studio
by Alyson Stanfield
Fearless Creating 
by Eric Maisel

How Get Your Art Into Retail Shops

I just listened to a pod cast on how to get into retail stores by http://pinkolive.com/
This is been a mystery to me for years and I do mean years. After listening I am amazed at how simple it is.

First... Do your homework! Visit the store that you want to sell to! Take time to go to the store and get to know the store or check them out on the website. Simple enough and I have done that a million times and it stopped right there.

Second... Have a website with your artwork on it. Good photos and detailed information.
Great Photos! Close ups are good and then take some on the backdrop that looks like the store you want to sell to.


Third... Each item needs to have a style number. Names are cute and catchy but numbers are easier to work with. You can use the letters of the product for instance, Red Luna Chick = RLC-787
Example --->    Minimum: 4 pcs per style; $250 per order

Now, when you finally get up the nerve to talk to someone at the store, go with your information in hand. Have a great business card with a link to your website and blog. Have a genuine approach. treat it like a win win situation instead of having the "I just want to be in your store attitude." Remember, you website will do the selling.

No here is where you are going to need a pot of coffee and your reading glasses.
Develop a Line Sheet. "What is a Line Sheet?" you ask. This is probably one of my biggest problem areas. It is sort of like writing up a business plan for me but I am sort of getting used to the idea AND I am going to work on mine this week. I am already halfway there! Piece of cake!
Put your Line Sheet on your website so that buyers have time to go there in their own time. Your line sheet should consist of the following:

Line Sheet

• Great Photos: The photos should be on a backdrop that looks like the store you want to sell to.
• Style Numbers: Each item should have a style number. Names are cute and catchy but numbers are easier to work with. You can use the letters of the product. Red Luna Chick = RLC787
• Wholesale Price and Wholesale Order Minimum

Develop a sample packet. If you come across someone who may be interested in your art, give them a sample packet and include wholesale seller contact information. I am thinking about sending a line sheet to repeat buyers on ebay to let them know what other products I have... just a thought.
 

How to Draw Owls

How to Draw Owls with Step by Step Drawing Lesson « Step by Step Drawing Blog

These are a few of my favorite things

Abundance; Acceptance; Affirmations; Alive; Allow; Amaze; Angels; Appreciate; Art; Aspire; Awaken; Aware; Awe; Babies, Balance;  Beautiful; Become; Believe; Bliss; Blossom; Blossoming; Blue Skies; Bountiful; Breath; Breathe; Bright; Brilliant; Brilliance; Bubbles; Buzz; Calm; Caring; Caressing; Centered; Challenge; Charge; Cheerful; Chocolate; Chirp; Choose; Clarity; Clear; Cleansing; Colorful; Compassion; Composed; Confident; Confidence; Conscious; Courage; Courageous; Create; Creative; Crystals; Curious; Dance; Dazzle; Decisive; Delicious; Delight; Determination; Dream; Dynamic; Earned; Earnest; Effervesce; Electric; Embrace; Empathize; Empower; Energy; Energetic; Energize; Enjoy; Enthused; Equanimity; Excite; Exuberant; Faith; Fantastic; Flow; Flowers; Fly; Forgiveness; Fragrance; Freedom; Fresh; Fruity; Full; Fun; Gentle; Giggle; Glorious; Goodness; Grace; Grateful; Groovy; Growth; Happy; Heal; Healthy; Humane; Humble; Humility; Humor; Imbibe; Improve; Informed; Inhale; Innocence; Inspire; Inspiration; Intuitive; Invigorate; Jasmine; Joy; Jump; Kindness; Kinetic; Kiss; Laugh; Lavender; Learn; Light; Listen; Lively; Love; Majestic; Meaningful; Manifest; Miracle; Music; Nature; Natural; New Beginnings; Nourish; Nurture; Open; Optimistic; Overflow; Passion; Patient; Peace; Peaceful; Play; Playful; Poise; Positive; Power; Powerful; Prosperity; Pure; Purpose; Quiet; Radiant; Realize; Reflective; Refresh; Release; Renew; Responsive; Richness; Sanctified; Savor; Scintillate; Serene; Shine; Sincere; Simple; Simplicity; Sing; Smile; Soften; Sparkle, Special; Spontaneous; Stainless; Strength; Stretch, Strong, Success; Suffused; Sunshine; Surprise; Survive; Sweeten; Taste; Tender; Thankful; Thoughtful; Therapeutic; Thrill; Thrive; Thunder; Tickle; Titillate; Tolerant; Tough; Transcend; Transform; Tranquil; Trust; Trusting; Understanding; Unfold; Unperturbed; Unselfish; Unshakable; Uplifting; Useful; Valued; Vibrant; Vibrancy; Vigorous; Visionary; Warmth; Wellness; Whole; Wholeness; Wild; Wonder; Wonderful; Worthy; Yoga; Youthful; Young; Zest; Zeal

Thank you Studio Without Walls

Art Shows Are Hard Work But I Always Meet Some Very Nice Folks!

Nothing like living in a city with small town mentality. I say that because I rarely leave 78704, Central South Austin. In my mind 78704 is all that exists the majority of the time. I rarely watch local news and I rarely go north of the river. Therefore I was clueless of what happened at Highland Mall during The Texas Relays in 2008. My memory of Highland Mall was 30 years ago when I lived off of 51st St and walk the mall with my then 2 year old and newborn in a stroller. It was air-conditioned and Highland Mall was a new and beautiful building with lots to look at. It still is a beautiful building but it is now a ghost town. So I was taken aback when after setting up my booth yesterday, I took a stroll down the empty corridor to find the ladies room. More than half the stores are closed, the store directly across from me is closing on Friday.  "Riots. Really? All the stores closed for a whole weekend during Texas Relays, really?" I am having this conversation on the phone with my son in St Louis while I am sitting in the lonely mall. I was invited to do the art show by my friend Amanda and I sort of talked Tony into playing music too. The fee was reasonable and Amanda and Tony were going to be playing music... should be a good time...right? Well it was fun. Dylan helped me like he always does. Amanda and Sherry bought lots of jewelry from me, Tony brought me dinner from Quality Sea Food but I just barely doubled my $25 booth fee. Monetarily it was hardly worth setting in an empty mall for 12 hours but I had fun and I met some really nice folks. That is one thing I have always loved about art shows, I always leave being best friends with neighboring artists and by the end of the show we trade and/or buy from each other. So the lesson here .... that I already knew... Pay close attention to the booth fee at an art show... if it is a very low fee, it is for a reason.... you aren't going to sell much. The really good thing about having done this show is that now have lots of inventory and I got a good first hand feel for what Amanda and Sherry like in my art and jewelry and can make more of the hot items. It's all good.

I am hearing the message, loud and clear!

Today was day 4 of my "Flying Lessons" with Kelly Rae Roberts. Focus today was on blogging. I have never been a big fan of blogging or blogs, even though I was responsible for a really cool one back in the mid 90s. I earned a "New Fellow Fellowship" from "The Newspaper Association of America" and traveled to several newspapers around the country for a year and then in the end got to pick the one I wanted to go to for a week. I went to San Jose. There was a lot of new technology going on there and I thought I could learn something because I hadn't seen much going on at other newspaper across the country. I ended up hanging out with a really cool guy who showed me the ropes at the newspaper for about an hour every morning. I actually did the entertainment listings for the Contra Costa Times for a week. But most of my time was spent in coffee shops and  sight seeing until midnight every night. It was June 3, a beautiful day in sunny California day and I pulled up to a coffee shop and the old Bobbie Gentry song "Ode to Billy Joe" was playing on the radio. "It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day. I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay." At any rate, at the end of a very enjoyable year of travel I had to come up with an online project to present to the Newspapers Association of America panel so that they knew their money was well spent. I had run across an online diary (they weren't called blogs back then) of a couple of guys who were traveling in an RV across America on Route 66. First of all traveling on Route 66 in an RV has always been my dream for old age. I always visioned myself, with my husband in an RV at the end of long lives together traveling and camping across the land. I was a hippy, wasn't I? Now I see myself traveling to Spain and spending time in an adobe house in Santa Fe. So I thought this traveling online diary was a winner but I didn't see myself going anywhere any time soon, I had a 16 yr old and a 18 yr old at home. However, my friend Lana was going on a European tour with her dad Willie Nelson, so I asked her to meet with the new online department at the Austin American-Statesman and asked her to write a daily diary of their travels. It was an instant success. The next year, Statesman.com had a new manager and didn't want to participate so Lana started blogging on WillieNelson.com. Random House Books liked it so much that they offered her a book deal. Willie ended up taking over and writing the book himself but Lana made enough money on the deal to build a house for her daughter. So that was my first blog experience. I wasn't sure then and I am not sure now that what I have to say will be of interest to anyone but if Kelly Rae says it is key to her success I am going to give it a try! I have a commitment to my DREAM! I do! I do! This shouldn't be hard at all! I have been writing everything on Facebook that I should have been blogging. I love posting photos. Why not do it here?

Today I had to focus on creating jewelry for my art show at Highland Mall this weekend. I have found that it is important to have the big expensive canvas pieces so people know you are an artist but most purchases are small,  inexpensive items. Most people either can't afford a painting or don't have anywhere to put it but like to take something to remember the experience. Small inexpensive items at art shows are key to success.

Anyway here is a great video from my e-course. Simon Sinek says exactly what I heard on "Breaking the Millionaire Code" earlier this week. Is it a coincidence that I heard it twice in one week? I don't think so.  Christian and I are talking about committing to our art business. He is thinking BIG. I like that! We have opened the door to success. He just happened to walk into a textile art studio at The Hill in St Louis yesterday while waiting to get his cooking knives sharpened. Coincidence? What are the chanced that he would walk into a warehouse where 2 women were doing exactly what he wants to do. Paint one fabric?

So her is the video of the day. Key  -----> The goal is to do business with people who believe in what you are doing. Developing trust and loyalty. You and or your product makes them FEEL good therefore they want to be a part of it. You hire people who believe in your product and have an investment in it.
 Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action | Video on TED.com
"Breaking the Millionaire Code" quoted the Bible, Matthew 18:20 and what I have always believed about that Bible quote is that there is power in numbers. When two people or more people gather in his name and pray for the same cause there is more power.  I am praying for a Dream Team! Martin Luther King said "I have a DREAM," not I have a plan and he found thousands who had the same dream.

Busy Week.... Why am I blogging at 1:00 am

This week has been the best week I have had in a while. I am busy, I am happy and I see a light, a very bright light at the end of the tunnel and I don't think it is a train. It has been a hard year, to say the least. The stress has taken its toll on me physically but thanks to modern medicine and hormones, I am feeling like a human again. I haven't blogged since January!

My son Christian and his beautiful wife Carrie and their adorable son, Andrew moved to St Louis last week to begin their new life. I miss them but over all, I feel nothing but joy for them. Christian calls me a couple of times a day and he is constantly talking about new ideas for our art business and that makes me dance a happy dance. I am telling ya, 3 weeks ago I didn't have the energy to dance a happy dance. I did Zumba a couple of times a week and that was about it. Now I am walking at the lake a couple of times a week and doing Zumba! I am feeling so well that I am doing an art show this coming Saturday and Sunday at Highland Mall. It should be interesting. Tony is playing at the art show on Saturday, as well as my friend Amanda. As usual, I have waited until the last week before the show to do the majority of the work. Deadlines make me get very creative. I actually love deadlines. I love working long hours on my paintings, waking up in the middle of the night with a vision of something fantastic to paint on a canvas. I love waking up in the morning with a cup of coffee and being amazed at what I did the night before. All of this craziness going on and guess what... big news....I decided to invest some time and money in a little self-improvement! Sunday I started an e-course "Flying Lessons" with one of my favorite artists, Kelly Rae Roberts. It has already been a very enjoyable trip. She is every bit as positive a force as I thought she would be. Full of life and creativity. I think the next five weeks shall be very enjoyable! I will keep you posted.
So to in case you have been under a rock and not keeping up with my pet project on Facebook, I adopted a feral kitten about 6 weeks ago. She is a trip to say the least. Tony's cat stayed at my house with Christian while Tony and I went to New Mexico over the Memorial Day weekend. My cat, Katie got used to having a cat around, even though George never came out of the closet except to eat. So when George went home, Katie seemed depressed. My friend Susan rescues feral cats so as soon as I realized she had an orange female kitten, I had to have her. The adjustment period of introducing a feral cat into the home with another cat never crossed my mind. It was a little crazy for about 3 weeks.

So....time to go to bed. I should be painting instead of blogging but I just put a link from my website to my blog tonight so I thought my readers would need an update. Click on the link below to see an inspiring video that Kelly Rae posted today.
Who Does She Think She Is?

Blessings In My Life.... Family and Friends

I was in a serious funk yesterday afternoon, I thought I had reason to be. Then I turned on the TV and it was as if an angel had entered my living room saying exactly what I needed to hear. Maya Angelou was on Oprah's "Master Class" saying that everyone has clouds in their lives. Big ones, small ones, dark ones but no matter what, you can go through the clouds, you can go over the clouds, you can go around the clouds... the key is to SEE the rainbows in the clouds.

Clouds
By Christian Ethridge

And...you have to be the rainbow for others. It reminded me of when Phillip was in the hospital, in a 36 hour coma.  Christian, Carrie and Andrew saw a double rainbow that ended directly over the hospital when they were driving to see him. That rainbow gave them hope.

It feels like this week has been a whirlwind of blessings, lessons and reality checks. There were clouds and there were rainbows. I took two trips to San Antonio to see Christian with Carrie and Andrew. I felt totally blessed to bask in the love that flows when the three of them are together.

I slept in a puppy pile in my bed for three nights with Andrew, Carrie and my new cat Katie, waking up to watch the likes of "Dino Dan" and remembering that I have as much to learn from a well written children's show as Andrew does. Christian reminded me to tell Andrew about God and light before he fell asleep because those are the childhood memories he hold on to.

Then there was the big night at the Broken Spoke on Tuesday for the Don Walser reunion. Surrounded by friends and family that have been part of my life for as long as I can remember to the ones that got here as soon as they could. There were several reality checks that night. Reminders that we are all in this together and only as strong as our weakest link. Danny and Rene stopped to pick up batteries for Winker's camera. John Arthur Martinez thanked me for my Facebook commentary because I say what he thinks and can't say due to a conservative following. John Chandler stayed to help Phillip load his drums out because Phillip's shoulder was hurting.  Winker took world class photos of Derek making memories with Taron, the son he misses dearly, on his visit from Australia. Gurf sang "Mom and Dad Waltz" reminding me that I danced my last dance with my dad on the Broken Spoke dance floor to the music of Don Walser. All of this and more made me realize that there is love and support there that I have lost sight of for a time.

Thursday evening, while driving down South Lamar, Andrew noticed that there was a new Amy's Ice Cream by his old house with a brand new playground. On the coldest evening of the year he wanted to go check it out, so we did. A corn dog, a dip of ice cream and a run through the playground later, he was a happy camper. Yesterday I had a wonderful lunch with Beth at South Congress Cafe.  Over a salad and a latte, I felt heard, loved and supported. Last night I went to see "The Preservation" at the Continental with Nita and Heather. I realized the honor in passing the torch to a new generation when I saw Camille, Paige and Katie there in support of the band. Cayce confided in us how scary it is to sing before a huge crowd but even more so for family and friends. She feels the cloud of fear and goes through it and wah-lah...on the other side is a rainbow! How cool is that? I realized that not only are they are the rainbows in my cloud but I am the rainbow in theirs, after all, the band members call me Aunt CiCi! A badge I wear with honor!

My lesson being .... there is only magic in an ice cream cone when you share it with someone you love. There is only magic in the music when the music serves to bring people together to create the rainbows.

Last night, as I was being dropped off at my front door, Heather reminded me of how blessed she feels to have married into our beautiful, loving family. I came in my house and sat down to a hot cup of tea to reflect on all the rainbows in my clouds. I was in a dark cloud for a moment.... but the rainbow appeared.

Today I am going to pick up my dear grandson, Dylan, we are going to see Christian and then meeting up with Adriane and Chris to go see "The Preservation" at Gruene Hall. They don't know it yet, but we are going to create rainbows. I have been watching my son go through the biggest, darkest clouds of his life and I have to say, he is moving through those clouds with flying colors.

I just want my family to know how very blessed I feel and I count you as my rainbows.

I love you very, very much. I pray that I am a rainbow in your life.