Today was much like alot of other Saturdays.... The first thing on my mind is to RELAX, but 16 hours later, I'm finally getting to do just that. I woke up early this morning and drank a beautifully crafted cup of joe that my husband prepared so lovingly for me. As I write this, my mouth is watering for a refill (complete with caffeine jolt).
I have been preoccupied with numerous different things this week (pretty much this whole month)... so I finally had a chance to reconnect with my Etsy account. I opened up my Saturday with a nice early morning chat on Etsy. It's always nice to make some new friends and network with people that are trying to accomplish the very same thing you are.
I then decided to motivate myself up and out of my recliner. I quickly got dressed and proceeded to work for the day. I enjoy the time I get to spend at the auto shop without customers and co-workers around to interrupt my ritual cleaning routine. Three hours, a bottle of toilet cleaner, two rolls of paper toweling, and one bucket of mop water later... the shop is back to tip-top shape, and I am ready to take on another Monday--head on with no worries.
I not only put in overtime at work this week, but I also managed to check off another miscellaneous item on my "To Do" list. I created a wonderful draft for my best friend's gorgeous little red-headed firecracker-of-a daughter's birthday present.... A miniature stepping stool with her name burnt on the top, complete with a border of ivy, flowers, and accented with a butterfly. After I accomplished everything I needed to at work, I drove frantically to Hobby Lobby to take full advantage of my 40% Off coupon (Why doesn't every company give a customer incentive like this?). I am quite proud to say, I brought the stool home and worked vigorously to prepare it for the Big Burn! I am finally ready to create another one-of-a-kind piece of art. The best part of it all-- This stool will be a part of my friend's daughter's life for many years to come....
All in all, today was a wonderful little Saturday.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Year 2010: She Came, She Saw, She Dominated Us
At the beginning of 2010, I had high hopes that this year would be different from the past couple... prosperous, full of happiness, new beginnings, along with the unexpected hurdle here and there. This year, I acquired a new last name through wedded bliss, a renewed appreciation for my day job, and a very...very small business (if you can even call it that, yet) to call my own. This year has not been an easy one though, despite all of the good things that have come from it.
After seeing my mom battle back from a major heart attack in late 2009, I've had my emotional ups & downs. It's hard to live life in the "now" when your brain gets hung up on a certain moment in time/history that you can't move away from, can't fix, can't erase. But one day you realize that you just spent almost an entire year wrapped up in worrying about the same depressing, uncontrollable factors that we call "life", and you have to raise your spirits and chin, forging ahead to conquer what tomorrow may bring. I've tried to lift the huge burden called Death off my brain, so that I may begin to live my life again as it was meant to be fulfilled. I want to be happy, prosperous, and live every day with no regrets or worries. Unfortunately, death surrounds all of us on a daily basis, but while we're here living today.... we must make the very best of it that we can.
I learned alot about myself in 2010, and I also realized that I have alot more dreams and aspirations that I want to conquer before I worry my life away. I want to rediscover the person who I know I can be. I want to uncover the wonderful things about myself that I never knew I was capable of achieving. When I normally take right turns in life, I want to make sure that I take a left once in a while to keep things spicy. I want to embrace who I am and what my life IS right now; instead of what it could have been-instead of worrying what it might be like someday. I want to push myself to the limits that life has offered me, just to see what I can do. This is what will make me happy... This is what will make me prosperous someday... This is what will make me someone my family and friends can be proud of... and this is what will make tomorrow & next year so exciting to live.
After seeing my mom battle back from a major heart attack in late 2009, I've had my emotional ups & downs. It's hard to live life in the "now" when your brain gets hung up on a certain moment in time/history that you can't move away from, can't fix, can't erase. But one day you realize that you just spent almost an entire year wrapped up in worrying about the same depressing, uncontrollable factors that we call "life", and you have to raise your spirits and chin, forging ahead to conquer what tomorrow may bring. I've tried to lift the huge burden called Death off my brain, so that I may begin to live my life again as it was meant to be fulfilled. I want to be happy, prosperous, and live every day with no regrets or worries. Unfortunately, death surrounds all of us on a daily basis, but while we're here living today.... we must make the very best of it that we can.
I learned alot about myself in 2010, and I also realized that I have alot more dreams and aspirations that I want to conquer before I worry my life away. I want to rediscover the person who I know I can be. I want to uncover the wonderful things about myself that I never knew I was capable of achieving. When I normally take right turns in life, I want to make sure that I take a left once in a while to keep things spicy. I want to embrace who I am and what my life IS right now; instead of what it could have been-instead of worrying what it might be like someday. I want to push myself to the limits that life has offered me, just to see what I can do. This is what will make me happy... This is what will make me prosperous someday... This is what will make me someone my family and friends can be proud of... and this is what will make tomorrow & next year so exciting to live.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Calling All Wisconsin Etsy Sellers...Looking For Your Input
I have been thinking alot lately about how I could "Do My Part" in promoting handmade & vintage goods. After hours upon hours of brainstorming, I have come to a conclusion as to what I must do.... I want to host a Wisconsin Etsy Sellers Art Show!! I am looking for interested individuals to help me make this a possibility.
I am looking for people who reside in Wisconsin, who currently sell their handmade goods on Etsy, and would be interested in being apart of a wonderful entrepreneurial artfest! I am envisioning each vendor with their own table/booth, where you will be judged by your peers on creativity/originality/etc. Each vendor will have the opportunity to sell & promote their handmade goods, as well as network with your fellow Wisconsin Etsy Sellers. I'm looking for anyone interested in helping me pull this off!! I would also be interested in scheduling some "Break-Out Panels", where people would be invited to sit in on presentations given by guest speakers.
If you're interested, please feel free to contact me right away ---- Just click HERE to email me! Thanks for your support, and I hope together we'll bring our businesses to life!
I am looking for people who reside in Wisconsin, who currently sell their handmade goods on Etsy, and would be interested in being apart of a wonderful entrepreneurial artfest! I am envisioning each vendor with their own table/booth, where you will be judged by your peers on creativity/originality/etc. Each vendor will have the opportunity to sell & promote their handmade goods, as well as network with your fellow Wisconsin Etsy Sellers. I'm looking for anyone interested in helping me pull this off!! I would also be interested in scheduling some "Break-Out Panels", where people would be invited to sit in on presentations given by guest speakers.
If you're interested, please feel free to contact me right away ---- Just click HERE to email me! Thanks for your support, and I hope together we'll bring our businesses to life!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
New to Burning Soul Creations on Etsy: Fall 2010 Collection
I have to say that today has been very productive for me on the crafting front. I decided to go for it... I posted my photos for sale on etsy today as an amateur photographer! Visit my store Burning Soul Creations on Etsy right now to check them out! I've listed 8 original photos taken by myself here in Wisconsin on some of my fantastic getaways the past two years. Please let me know what you think of them! Give me tips for my next photo shoot subject that you'd like to see featured in my portfolio. Also... Of Course.... Don't forget to buy my photographs- They're priced great for high-quality11"x14" pictures!
In conjunction with listing my photography portfolio for the very first time on the World Wide Web, I also finished my most recently woodburning piece!! Complete with the sun, moon, and stars- This celestial stepping stool has also been added to my Etsy shop, Burning Soul Creations. I had such a great time creating this piece, I hate to give it up. But I hope with time that this small stepping stool finds a new place to call home... Would that new place be with you?
Visit My Etsy Store NOW!! (Burning Soul Creations: Photographs)
In conjunction with listing my photography portfolio for the very first time on the World Wide Web, I also finished my most recently woodburning piece!! Complete with the sun, moon, and stars- This celestial stepping stool has also been added to my Etsy shop, Burning Soul Creations. I had such a great time creating this piece, I hate to give it up. But I hope with time that this small stepping stool finds a new place to call home... Would that new place be with you?
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Can You Profit From Selling Your Personal Photos Online?
Profitable Online Amateur Photography? Does it exist? 
I guess we'll have to see. Since I was really little (probably 3 or 4) I have been fascinated by photography. My very first camera came out of an old closet at my parent's house, and where ever it came from to end up there... I have no idea. It was an old box kodak-very similar to the one pictured here. It didn't work, or perhaps it did before I got my wandering, poking, probing child hands on it. But either way, it was so neat to look through the viewfinder and see the world through the amber colored lens of yesteryear.
I guess we'll have to see. Since I was really little (probably 3 or 4) I have been fascinated by photography. My very first camera came out of an old closet at my parent's house, and where ever it came from to end up there... I have no idea. It was an old box kodak-very similar to the one pictured here. It didn't work, or perhaps it did before I got my wandering, poking, probing child hands on it. But either way, it was so neat to look through the viewfinder and see the world through the amber colored lens of yesteryear. So I've always been in love with snapping photos whenever I can. Most recently for my 26th birthday, my wonderful husband surprised me by letting me pick out a camera that we could use to memorex the beginning of our lives together (as we were married only a month prior). We do alot of traveling, and wanted to begin collecting deeply detailed photos and videos from our trips together... only our 10 mpx camera was no longer cutting it. We bought a Canon Powershot, and I do believe I have discovered a whole new love for photography.
I'd love to start selling my photos on etsy (http://crcurlygirlie.etsy.com/ if you're interested), so I enlisted the help of some fellow etsy chatters for their advice in listing their personal photos for sale. With the internet providing an open door for people to right-click & pirate photos at anytime, I will have to be careful on my future endeavors in selling my photos. Tell me some of your amateur photographer experiences with selling online! I need help in deciding...
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| "Staring Into Space"- 2010 Caitlin R. Kempen |
Friday, August 20, 2010
Martha's Got The Recipes For Spooktacular Halloween Decorations!
As I was reading an article published in 2001 by Martha Stewart today, I wanted to share with you my favorite Halloween decorations that will be sure to give your party the devilishly-spooky feel you were hoping for. Here's a taste of what YOU can do on your own, compliments of Martha.
Click HERE to be taken directly to the article, where you'll find these creative halloween decoration ideas & instructions on how to make them. Also, you'll find 21 MORE exciting & spooktacular projects for you to sink your fangs into this bewitching season.
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| Create Your Own Creepy Skeleton or pumpkin with Papier-Mache, a balloon, & a razor blade. |
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| Design your own bewitching candy bowls & creatures! |
Try these ideas out, and give me your feedback... Show Me Your ARTWORK! I'd love to know what you think of the article? And also any other bewitching projects & tips you can give us, cast them here!
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| Ghouls & Goblins will appreciate the accent a black light can bring to a party. |
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Cheap & Easy: Could you ask for a better crafting project?
I am a simple country girl, and with that comes a deep appreciation for simple yet beautiful items. This week's Do-It-Ur-Self project was found as I was darting in and out of 30-minute craft project ideas on BHG.com--my mom would be so proud of me... her style & interest in simple home beautification tactics are starting to rub off on me as I get older. I hope you have fun, because I personally can't wait to try this out and post the results of my test-run.
Rustic Wire Candle Holders
Create an easy candle holder using wire. This tip is compliments of Better Homes & Gardens, so visit their site for the complete collection of 30-minute crafting projects!
What You'll Need
Drill
Bits
18-gauge wire
3-inch-thick pieces of wood or logs
Strong adhesive (such as E6000)
Wire cutters
Dripless taper candles
Make It
Using a drill bit to fit the wire, drill an off-center hole in each wood piece.
Cut an 18-inch-long piece of wire for each candle. Glue one end of the wire into the hole. Let the glue dry.
Wrap the wire around candle. Shape the wire end into a curlicue.
Once you try this, please don't hesitate to post your opinions of the project~ And UPLOAD the photos showing us your attempt at creating a wonderfully rustic candle holder that you create! I'd love to share opinions and tips!
An Exhilarating Selling Experience: Etsy World
I need to give my Mom all the credit for introducing me to the GREATEST online community for selling one's handmade crafts.... Etsy.com!! If you haven't heard of Etsy, I highly recommend that you surf yourself right over there... RIGHT NOW! Thousands upon thousands of handmade gifts from around the world, including vintage goods that never go out of style--ready for purchase with a simple click of your mouse. It's super simple for you to sign up for an account, and once you're logged on you have endless opportunity at your fingertips to uncover handmade treasures from around the world. Visit their Alchemy page to request one of a kind projects that you are dying to have! Can't make it yourself?? See if someone else in the world is crafting it especially for you! Visit Etsy.Com Now!!
Speaking of... while I'm on a pitching kick.... While you're on etsy, don't forget to stop by my shop Burning Soul Creations. All you have to do is click here and I'll take you there myself! I'm in the process of updating my inventory with ALL-NEW ARTWORK! Please stop by, and FYI... I'm MORE than happy to help with custom orders (*Hint Hint*), just ask today!
Speaking of... while I'm on a pitching kick.... While you're on etsy, don't forget to stop by my shop Burning Soul Creations. All you have to do is click here and I'll take you there myself! I'm in the process of updating my inventory with ALL-NEW ARTWORK! Please stop by, and FYI... I'm MORE than happy to help with custom orders (*Hint Hint*), just ask today!
The Art Appreciation Nook
So here it begins: My very first blog!
I'd like to start off by introducing the first edition of "The Art Appreciation Nook". On a weekly basis, I will try to highlight a particular artist, movement, location, style, or artistic era that I think you will find interesting-to say the least. I'm going to give you the Five-Minute Rundown on that topic, giving you numerous keywords throughout, so that you may continue to research the particular information that catches your attention! Through research & proper citing, I'll try to give you the tools to inform yourself about the particular topic of the week. Hopefully, the both of us will learn something new and exciting about art that we had never imagined or envisioned. We're here together to ignite a burning desire within your soul (and Mine)... a desire to LEARN and APPRECIATE art, and the beauty it unknowingly bestows upon our day-to-day lives.
But where do we begin our journey? So many areas to cover, and I am at square one-just like you. I'm here to learn right along with you... so no better time to start than now! Let's dive in!
Today's Topic Of Interest: Claude Monet
The Woman in the Green Dress, Camille Doncieux, 1866, Kunsthalle Bremen.
2. Monet was a traveler! Born in the 9th Arrondissement of Paris, he ventured all over during his lifetime--From Normandy, Algeria, London, Zaandam, Argenteuil, and Vétheuil.
I'd like to start off by introducing the first edition of "The Art Appreciation Nook". On a weekly basis, I will try to highlight a particular artist, movement, location, style, or artistic era that I think you will find interesting-to say the least. I'm going to give you the Five-Minute Rundown on that topic, giving you numerous keywords throughout, so that you may continue to research the particular information that catches your attention! Through research & proper citing, I'll try to give you the tools to inform yourself about the particular topic of the week. Hopefully, the both of us will learn something new and exciting about art that we had never imagined or envisioned. We're here together to ignite a burning desire within your soul (and Mine)... a desire to LEARN and APPRECIATE art, and the beauty it unknowingly bestows upon our day-to-day lives.
But where do we begin our journey? So many areas to cover, and I am at square one-just like you. I'm here to learn right along with you... so no better time to start than now! Let's dive in!
Today's Topic Of Interest: Claude MonetCited Source of research: Claude Monet on Wikipedia <---Click here for the entire article!
Wiki-Intro:
"Claude Monet (French pronunciation: [klod mɔnɛ]), born Oscar Claude Monet (14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926), was a founder of French impressionist painting, and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting.[1] [2] The term Impressionism is derived from the title of his painting Impression, Sunrise (Impression, soleil levant)."
"Claude Monet (French pronunciation: [klod mɔnɛ]), born Oscar Claude Monet (14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926), was a founder of French impressionist painting, and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting.[1] [2] The term Impressionism is derived from the title of his painting Impression, Sunrise (Impression, soleil levant)."
Early paintings Include:
The Woman in the Green Dress, Camille Doncieux, 1866, Kunsthalle Bremen.Le déjeuner sur l'herbe, 1865-1866, The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow.
Le déjeuner sur l'herbe with Gustave Courbet, 1865-1866, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Flowering Garden at Sainte-Adresse, 1866, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.--------->
Women in a Garden, 1866-1867, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Here's a list of my TOP 5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MONET that I learned during my research for this blog:
1. When Monet was a student in Paris in 1862, he was classmates with Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Frederic Bazille, & Alfred Sisley. Together they painted beautiful portraits showing the amazing effects of light, using untamed variations of color & wild brushstrokes. This style of painting was later recognized as Impressionism. If you have time, dig a little deeper into Impressionism and how it started a new style movement!
2. Monet was a traveler! Born in the 9th Arrondissement of Paris, he ventured all over during his lifetime--From Normandy, Algeria, London, Zaandam, Argenteuil, and Vétheuil. 3. He was married to Camille Doncieux just before the Franco-Prussian War on June 28, 1870. (This caught my attention simply because my birthday is exactly 114 years after this joyous matrimony took place!
4. As his wife's life was stolen away at the age of 32 from Tuberculosis, Monet painted on her death bed.
5. In 1871, his paintings were forbidden from being included in the Royal Academy exhibition.
So that concludes my first Art Appreciation Nook! I encourage you to Google any of the information you read in this post that intrigued, confused, or surprised you. Hit your local library and do some digging in the stacks! Take a half an hour to research this topic today, and hopefully you'll learn some new and exciting information about Monet that you never knew before!
Thanks so much for reading!! Feel free to comment with questions if you have them as well.... I'd love to research these questions together to help you & others (like myself) to better understand and appreciate art.
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