Motivational Monday - Upcoming Art Shows

Here is to getting motivated for the upcoming festival season! Whether you are an artist soon to be displaying your beautiful creations, or a festival go-er out to enjoy and hopefully purchase some of that awesome art!

The festival season is upon us very soon!  May is the start of the season for me?  Are there any other artists reading this, and if so when you do you usually start doing your shows?  I wish I was in a warmer climate and could do them all year round.  It can be difficult getting motivated and energized after taking 3-5 months off from the circuit.

May

My first show is always The Delaware Arts Festival.  This year it will be their 41st annual show and it runs on May 17th and 18th.  I hope some of you locals will make it out.

I will be in Booth #93.  It is a good location by the looks of the map they sent me.  : )  I am not in front of the parking lot that when it rains sends a river 3 inches deep straight through my tent.  I had wet feet for the entirety of this show a few years ago. : ) All for the love of art!

www.delawareartsfestival.org

June

In June I do the Granville Art Affair & Wine Festival.  The dates for the show this year are June 13th and 14th.  It's actually a Friday and Saturday (which is different than the usual Saturday, Sunday shows).  So keep this in mind if you are going to visit.

I absolutely love this area, the people, and the artists.  It is a great show full of community.

www.granvilleartaffair.com

July

I just signed up for the Westerville Music and Arts Festival.  This one is new to me this year.  It is also their 41st annual, and I have heard many good things about it.  This show runs on my birthday!! July 12-13th.
Hopefully I hear good news soon and am accepted so you can come hang with me on my birthday!

August

Still looking for a show for this month.  Local artists reading this ( let me know if you know of any that would be good) : )

September

The Old Worthington Market Day is a show I have done every year for so long I cannot even remember when I began.  Probably at the very beginning 7or 8 years ago, maybe longer.  It is an amazing 1 day show that only last about 6 hours.  It is not easy to get there and set up as so many artists and vendors are showing up at the same time.  It is tight and I always feel as if I am going to run over someones artwork trying to get in and set up.  :)  Never have though. Whew!

I didn't do it last year as I took most of the year off because I had a destination wedding that sucked all the creative energy out me.

I have not signed up for this yet, but as soon as the application come out I will.  I have not been turned down before, so I am almost positive I will be there.

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,
Erin

Motivational Monday - Happy St. Patrick's Day

Praise the ripe field not the green corn.

                                               ~Irish Proverb

This is an old garden of mine from many years ago.  I tilled each section by hand, as I did not own a rototiller at the time.  I would lay grass cuttings on the pathways each time I mowed and the grass slowly turned brown and soft to bare feet.    I even collected rocks to line my pathway!

In the top photograph I placed an old wrought iron head board and called it my "Flower Bed". I will most definitely do that again.  Little pathways lead you to a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a mason jar full of sweet tea in the sunshine.

I look forward to having a similar garden again.  the big bush in the far rear right of the photograph above are collard green.  I can remember many a "greens & corn bread" get-together.

Let nature and warmer breezes motivate you to do the things you love even if you don't own the correct tools to do it with.  

Oh do I look forward to having a back "yard" that is not all patio.  :)

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin

Motivational Monday - Dream a Little Dream

Our dreams and future goals inspire and motivate us to get up each day and at least take a step in the direction we are desiring.  

Shoot our dreams and our future goals help ensure that there is ANY reason AT ALL to get out of bed.  Especially when I have a mountain of warm and soft pillows and blankets whispering to me to go back to sleep.  

"Ahh to sleep,  perchance to DREAM…" as William Shakespeare said.  Maybe I don't have to even be awake to dream and visualize.  Hmmm, if this can be worked out and I create a grand future through napping, I will be sure to let you all know.  :)

Knowing what your goal and and dreams are will decide your direction in life, and goodness knows some of us can use a little direction.  

Do you think fish dream?  It is a thought worth pondering!

What are you current dreams? Would you be willing to share them with us here?  Feel free to share your decadent dreamy future with all us if you desire!

I dream to be a fairy and have for a long time!  Still working on this one.  

Peace, Love, Handmade Paper, and Dreams,

Erin

Motivational Monday - Enjoy the Journey

Don't allow the end to be all you see.  

Remember, it's the journey and not the destination.  

The light at the end of the tunnel is there to illuminate your path as you live it.  

The light is not the objective.  

Unless you are ready for that long slumber, stay away from the light and revel in the shadows of your present pilgrimage.

Motivational Monday - Warmth on Frigid Days

I am busy amidst a couple projects as well as getting ready for upcoming art shows this spring, summer, and fall.  I am excited to get out into the sunshine and share my creations.

Alas, I am stuck inside and have been for awhile due to frigid conditions in Ohio.  We also have had about 8 inches of snow in the last couple of days.  Although, Ohio isn't the only state experiencing these below zero temperatures.  It is much of the United States, right now.  

The only things that motivate me on day like today are warm mittens and hot cups of coffee or tea.

But also ….this little heater motivates me to move around and get stuff done.  

Without this warm friend I would be in a shivering ball under a blanket doing absolutely nothing.

Please leave a comment below telling me where you are from and how the weather is looking for you right now. 

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin

Motivational Monday - You Have Permission

Today I give you permission, permission to do what you want. 

Take a nap, curl up in front of fire with your cat and read a book. 

 Forget to clean your house on purpose.  

Take another nap.  

Take a long hot bath and listen to jazz music in the candlelight.  

Take moon baths and talk to faeries.  

Imbibe sweet nectars with friends.  

I have shaken the Magic 8 ball and it's profound knowledge prophesies "Definitely Yes!"

Yes, Yes, Yes!

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin

Motivational Monday - Hot Coffee

Coffee gets me motivated just about every morning.  

Thank goodness for that little brown bean.

But especially on these very bitterly cold days such as today.  A whopping -4 degrees with a wind chill of -26 degrees F.  It has been a couple decades since it has been this frigid and I hope it's at least that long before we see temperatures like this again.

So here is to another hot cup of coffee in your mug!

Stay warm my friends.

Peace, Love, and a Lots of Hot Java,

Erin

Motivational Monday - The New Year

 The New Year is upon us!  This is a time when many are brooding and brainstorming on ways to be better than the year before.  Have you thought about a resolution? Do you usually make one?

The New Year is right around the corner, and the pressure is looming to make a resolution. I have come to realize I do not usually make a resolution at the years finale and I wonder what the true reason behind my inability to "jump" on board (so to say) with all the other of millions of "resolution-ers".

Is it possible I know I will most likely fail miserably at my most hopeful beginnings of my bestest year ever?  Ha, well it's possible.  Could it be I am just that perfect that a resolution would be meaningless for me?  Doubtful.

Or is it something more powerful, more magical, and much less expensive than all those silver sequin tank tops being sold as dresses to under age girls that think since it's for sale it's a good choice.  It's the new year what the hell, maybe they resolve to wear more cloth next year.

I realize every day is a new beginning for me, and I don't need another "commercialized party" to get me excited to start over, begin again, make a goal ( and possibly fail miserably : ) ))

But…if for some reason the New Year is what gets you motivated to make a jump…

...then so be it.  JUMP! 

Happy New Year!  

Here is to a light at the end of all your tunnels.  

Happy New Year my friends!

Peace, Love, and New Beginnings Always!

Erin

Motivational Monday - Word of the Day

Nuannaarpoq  

                                      -------   "the quality in taking extravagant pleasure in being alive"



This is an Alaskan word and one of my favorites.  I love language and interesting words. Do you?

Some words are like photographs to me.  They say "a photograph is worth a thousand words".  I say, it depends on the word.  I have listened to vernacular that makes photography unnecessary.  All one needs to do is close your eyes, lower those noir curtains, and listen.  Before you know it visions form and take shape.  Sugar plums dancing yet?

Doesn't television make us lazy to our own imaginations?  All television is is someone else's imagination made publicly shareable in a visual way.  To use your own imagination would mean things can constantly change and develop, and change again and morph.  How exciting!

Certain words motivate and inspire me to combine them with other words.  Isn't this how great novels, speeches, and poems are born?  Not only the meaning of a words gets me though.  I find the sound of a word or combination thereof and the way it rolls off the tongue or the way the mouth feels as the sound is accentuated.  As well, there are words that feel awkward and graceless as I spit them out.

I take extravagant pleasure in words and nuannaarpoq is one of them.

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin

Erin

Motivational Monday - The Ocean and Sunny Days

The Ocean and Sunny Days

These are two things that motivate me to want to be outside and make the most out of a day.  

I believe living in Ohio and being surrounded by white and grays for 3-4 months out of the year, frigid temperatures, and freezing ice and snow storms can take a lot out of a person.  The lack of sunshine and subsequently a lack of Vitamin D can make one feel sluggish and depressed.  

Oh how I long to live where I can wake up on any given day and take a walk in flip-flops.  

The warm sun, cool breezes, lush greenery….these things motivate me.

What is in the picture below motivates me to want to go back to bed and hibernate.

See you all next spring. Just Kidding! :)

Peace, Love, and Waiting on Warmer Weather,

Erin

Motivational Monday - Poetic Pondering - I Accept

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper, 

Erin

Motivational Monday - Clean Studios

Wet Studio - This is where the fiber is pulped and the paper is made!

Welcome to my studio!
No doubt a clean and organized house can assist in promoting healthier living and encouraging a more positive mood.  This is also true for us artists and crafters alike when it comes to our art studios.  

There are times when I lose energy levels and my inspiration begins to drag, but I have come to find if I scrub away the dirties in my studio I am usually raring to make another mess soon after.   

Dry Studio - This is where I make the art/crafts from the paper that was made in the wet studio!


This is a project I began to pull out last night as soon as I was almost done cleaning.  I hadn't even finished picking up and I was feeling inspired.  Maybe it has something to do with running my fingers over all the fun stuff I have collected for my art.  

This piece of paper I scored from another paper maker during a paper trade I do every year or two. It is made from the bark of tree that was harvested from South America if I am remembering correctly.  I love paper trading time.

Below are just some photographs of things in and around the studio that I either use in paper-making and related mixed media projects or that I have lying around that give rise to creation.

Pulpa's Studio Stuff

One of my torso molds :)

3 foot x 5 foot sheet of paper hanging from the ceiling.

stickers on my window

Paper Press _ God Send!

a finished torso 

Dia De La Muerta Doll and a pic of my deceased cat

mixed media piece that needs new frame

Where I do designing of my cards and invites!

Inspiration

This is where a lot of finished product goes until its ordered or needed at a show!

envelopes/gift packaging

Pulpa Graffiti 

This cloth decoration I made for my wedding and now hangs in my studio.  If I had a little girl it would go in her room, but I don't.  So it's all mine!

I love my storage!  I ask for a Michael's Gift Card for Christmas and my in laws and my husband both gave me one. Guess what I bought.  Hmmm. I would like a bigger storage wall and guess what is right around the corner? He He!

glitter and brushes - both important !

Book Sculpture

 A tiny hammer

a tiny kitty

Pastels! Yay!

Mother Nature keeps my overhead low. :)

Flower and Leaf Presses

Vintage Hole Punch

everyone should have a disco ball in their studio, don't you agree?

~This is cotton before it's pulped~

Rasta Pulp Chic

Mold and Deckles and an old fire pit I use for wall spheres

I hope you enjoyed the tour and found some motivation to clean or create! I have!  

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin