Fun Little Bench Makeover

It's been too long, my friends!  This little angel has stolen my heart and all my free time over the last 17 months....

She's cute alright, but if anyone has a toddler, you know that trying to get anything (art) done is like trying to organize papers in a tornado!  

So, as I move forward, I'm trying hard to create some more "me" time and get in the studio to accomplish the LONG list of projects I've got lined up. 

 

This first project is something I had waiting in the garage for me for quite some time.  I picked up this rather ugly little bench seat at a thrift store a while back for a whopping $3.00  I saw the potential and I jumped at this little piece.  Then, a few weeks ago, Ace Hardware was giving away free quarts of paint in any color to the first 200 people or so that showed up... I'm all about freebies, so I was there bright and early and picked out a fabulous shade of aqua for my little girl's room.  I also had been given a ton of fabulous scrap pieces of fabric left from the custom quilt I had made for my daughter's room, and it was a perfect fit for the top of this bench...  Fast forward 30 minutes...  I have this gorgeous little bench seat for her room... coming in at a grand total of $3.00 for the entire project!

Love that!

Making Time for Art

Ever since having little Maya Claire, I've been working on how to balance time with her and my husband, work, creating art, and selling in my shops.  Needless to say, life's been a little hectic.  Fortunately for me, little Maya is the most perfect baby girl, and she likes to help her mom in the studio.  She sits in her Bumbo chair and watches everything I do.  A few weeks ago, I was able to get in the studio and create one of my first pieces in a long time.  It's a fun mixed media piece featuring a bird (my fave thing to create and paint right now) in a hand made wire bird cage.  It's so fun, and I hope you like it! It's freshly listed for sale in my Etsy shop too! 

Decorating the Nursery

Well, Little Maya Claire is finally here and is 12 weeks old already! Time flies when you are having fun, let me tell you! I had so many projects in mind to make her nursery a special place, and I finally finished most of them. I fell in love with the Amy Butler Love Collection of Fabrics and decided to do the nursery based on the colors in those fabrics. I had a beautiful custom made quilt made from the fabrics, and I worked on a couple little projects with the fabric myself. My mom was recently in town and helped me sew up some little fabric tie backs for the curtains in the nursery, and I worked on framing some pieces of the fabric to bring more color into the room. Here are a few pictures, feel free to leave comments!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

(photo by Gretchen Wakeman Photography)

This Valentine's Day is a little different for me and my hubby.  He's sick, I'm 8 months preggo, and neither of  us wants to do anything.  So, we're just going to kick back, maybe watch a movie, and cheers to a glass of Airborne tonight.  Maybe we'll get crazy and order take out :)

Whatever your plans are, I hope you are enjoying your day with someone you love. 

And just for today, enjoy 15% off your purchase!  http://katieblue.etsy.com/ Use Code 'VDAY2011' when you check out... 

Baby on the Brain!

With just under 8 weeks to go, all I can think about is Baby stuff, and rightfully so. Little Maya reminds me of her presence every time she wakes me up in the middle of the night kicking my rib cage. With so much going on, I'm giving my shop a little break for a few weeks. With the move and my depleting energy levels, it was becoming too much for right now. I'm going to work on getting a bunch of product put together and ready to go, so I can open back up soon and hopefully not miss a beat...

In the meantime, enjoy some little Maya Pictures, taken at 31.5 weeks... she's a little chunker :)

Merry Christmas!

This has been a super crazy holiday season!  We are in the middle of moving, but we managed to get up a few Christmas decorations.  Also, I'm 6 months pregnant, which is completely draining... and exciting!  So, if you've been wondering why I have been completely  ignoring my blog, that's why!  I can't wait for the move to be over and to set up my little baby girl's room in our huge new house.  I'm seeing some mixed media nursery decorations... any ideas? 

Well, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  I'm keeping the shop up and running as long as possible during this crazy time too, so feel free to check it out.  There is a coupon as well... Enter 'HOLIDAY2010' for 10% off your entire order!  Blue Green Arts Shop

Cyber Monday Sale on ETSY

Since Today is THE day for Online Shopping, I thought I'd get in on the fun and try out Etsy's new sale tool.  For Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 29-30), I'm offering 15% off any purchase in my shop with discount code 'CYBER2010'.  Just type it in when you checkout for your special deal! 

Also, stay tuned for new releases of Christmas themed Vintage paper packs, they are fabulous!

Antique Paris Maps for the Digital World

Just thought I'd share one of my most favorite items in my shop.  Old maps are one of my most favorite things, I collect old maps from all over the world.  Whenever I go somewhere new, I hunt around until I find an old map as a perfect souvenir.
Sometimes these get buried in my listings, and then I sell one, and I remember all over again just how much I love them!  I rescued these maps from a wonderful antique discarded French map book from 1905.  I think what's so great about these is the wonderful colors.  You really get a great antique feel on these maps.  Plus, you can print them out on fabric, cardstock, kraft paper, etc. to get just the look you want!
You get 2 sheets of 300dpi French maps for only $4.00 to have and print again and again for use in your art projects.  (The sheets you get do not have the watermarks on them) 
Stop by my store and check them out, they are so much fun!  Antique French Maps

Getting back in the Swing of Things

I have SO much going on lately!  It's great, but I've been again completely ignoring my blog and my artwork and all things creative.  I'm definitely feeling the urge to get back in my studio and create!  I have so many ideas and so little time - Isn't that how it always is? 

Anyways, I picked up these little dice recently, and I just love them.  They have so many uses in your mixed media and altered art projects!  I even decided to share and offer some of them in my shop!

New for the Back to School Season!

I promised some new Vintage paper packs, and here is one of them!  It is the Vintage Scholar pack, chock full of vintage textbook pages.  They are all so cool, with diagrams, tables, and formulas... just perfect for your scrapbooking, collaging, or any other paper crafts!  You also get some vintage flashcards to top it all off.  They are all wrapped up in a super cute Vintage ribbon too.

Check them out today! The Vintage Scholar Paper Pack

The Lazy Days of Summer

Sushi - The BEST cat in the whole wide world - And VERY good at relaxing!

I've been completely ignoring my blog most of the summer... sorry about that!  Work has been super crazy, and all i want to do is relax (Just like my cat Sushi in the photo above).  As things cool down, I'm going to get back to more blogging and more new Etsy listings. 

I do have a few new Etsy listings - some new assemblage pieces and a NEW vintage paper pack... So feel free to check those out!  http://katieblue.etsy.com/

Alice in Wonderland Assemblage Piece

Here's another piece I made recently, my first attempt at an assemblage type piece.  I used the Alice in Wonderland Halloween paper from  Graphic 45 (amazing paper line!).  This piece was all about using common household items to put it together.  I used a CD for the base, a tuna can for the center, and bottlecaps around the outside.  It was finished off with mardi gras beads. 

I'm so happy with the way it came out, let me know what you think! :)

My Pocket Shrine

One of the things I love doing most is travel.  While I prefer sandy white beaches or old castles in Europe, I'll go just about anywhere! 

On a weekend Art retreat recently, we made little pocket shrines to show off our personality and what we love.  Not surprisingly, mine was Travel themed!  here it is... Enjoy!

Oh Summer Day

There isn't much better than spending a HOT summer day inside in the cool AC working on a new piece of art!  I think the hotter it gets, the more reason you have to get crafty!  I just finished a new mixed media assemblage piece -   "The Well-Bred Girl in Society".  She looks like trouble to me... probably why I like it :) 

Finally some new art!

I always seem to go through spurts of creating art.  I had been in a dry spell for a while now, and I'm finally finding some time to create more.  Vintage paper and Beeswax are two of my most favorite mediums, which I combined in these two new pieces... Both currently for sale in my Etsy shop!    Stop by and check them out... The first is of the Eiffel Tower (one of my favorite subjects :) )

The second is of a bird silhouette. 

Feel free to leave your comments... Did I mention I LOVE comments?!

Fabulous Giveaway on Blissfully Traveled

When you get a chance, head over to Tricia from Vintage Bliss' blog Blissfully Traveled to sign up for a great giveaway I put together.  I combed through my HUGE stash of Vintage paper and put together a really fun pack of travel / vacation themed vintage papers, which would be perfect to use in your summer themed projects.  When you're there, pick up a copy of Tricia's fabulous Blissfully Traveled magazine . It's chock full of fun shopping places you will have to check out and great photos! 

Have a Wonderful Day!

Just let me sit a while here....

There's something about adirondack chairs I adore.  I love their simple inviting design.  They say "Hey Katie, why don't you grab a book and a margarita and come sit down for a little bit."  Yes, I believe that's what they say to me.  I say, "Okay."

Etsy Craft Party

(Photo taken from Etsy blog)

Etsy is organizing a worldwide Craft Party! It's basically a day when people from all over the world can get together in their hometowns and have a group craft night.  I decided to organize a Craft Party in Tempe, AZ.  It will be on Friday, June 18th at 7pm.  I haven't worked out a location, but if you are interested, let me know.  You can visit the Craft Party site: http://www.meetup.com/Etsy-Craft-Party/5116/ and sign up that you are interested.  If you have any ideas for projects or locations, I'd love to talk with you.  This is not limited to people just in the Tempe, AZ area. 

Not so shabby but Oh so Chic

I created this new little altered art piece from a plain, un altered papier maiche dress form I purchased at Michaels a while back.  I knew I wanted to do something with it, but I could never come up with a good idea.  I started playing around with paint and paper and lace, and TA-DA!  here it is!  I think it turned out so cute in that French blue color, with the handmade little skirt and vintage buttons.  Enjoy! 

How cute would this be displayed on a shelf?  Love the way it came out!  Leave your comments :)

New Vintage Treasures

I have always been the kind of shopper willing to dig and hunt for the best treasures.  While on one of my usual treasure hunting trips, I found some great vintage items.  I would normally keep them, but I thought I should share them with you this time around.

The first item is a very cool vintage metal bowl in a red and white checker pattern.  How cool is that! I think it's just perfect for a backyard bbq...

The second find is a great antique embossed glass bottle.  I think old bottles are so fun, and this one is no exception.  It has this cool embossed crackle look and embossed letters, reading "Dr. Ellis' Special Quick Dry Waving Fluid".  The back side has an embossed illustration showing how to dip your comb straight in the bottle.  It must have been used in a barber shop.

I'll be working on some other art tutorials in the coming weeks, so be sure to check back in and see what I'm up to.

Enjoy! I love comments:)