Red Shoes blog

Transformations.....

 I'm a type A.d.d personality.  I drive myself to the point of exhaustion,  in between spiralling in circles of course because I have no clue what to tackle first. (believe it or not I thrive on operating this way)

 So For the past few weeks I have been working extra hard to focus on the shop,  painting the walls,  moving EVERYTHING out to have the floors re-finished,  then moving it ALL back in,  weeding out things here and there and organizing. 

  I have to tell you it's an amazing feeling to know where everything is,  and to see your supplies at your fingertips so you can (hopefully)  become more prolific.

  All that working however knocked me on my hiney and I came down with a cold.

I very rarely get sick,  so when I do I swear I am a big baby about it....I hate feeling like crap,  because when you have one of these obsessive overdrive type of personalities,  it kills me to miss a day in bed.  I literally lay in the bed and flop around freaking out about what I SHOULD be doing.  Do you do that too?  Let's face it,  when you're a woman on your own,  making and supporting yourself through Art no less,  that's what you gotta do right?

  Anyways,  enough about that feeling- sorry- for -myself -business,  so here are some pictures of the shop in it's transformation stages......before and afters.....it's starting to look really nice,  and I am super excited about it!

did I mention I have a LOT of stuff?  this is the front room filled to the celings with stuff.  oye

Clearing out my studio is a major endeavor.  But it felt great.  My studio has had so many transformations......do you do this in an effort to make it more efficient?  well,  I do, over and over..... but honestly,  I think it's my MIND that needs re-organization. when I'm feeling chaotic,  my studio reflects it too.

here it is when it's more zen like......in 2010 mind you ;)

(and clean for a photo shoot)

this is not reality.

but this is....ha ha.

Actually this even drove me nuts,  so I had to scrap this set up.  I couldn't concentrate.

I loved that inspiration board for a few years,  then it began to make me feel cluttered and distracted,  so I decided to eliminate it....I have Pinterest.  an online virtual pinboard that's my place where I organize things, and where I go if I need to be inspired.  If you haven't signed up for that yet.  run.  don't walk,  to sign up,  it's AMAZING  (and addicting)

yes,  you have been warned.

So here we have the rooms cleared out so the floors can be polished,  this is what they looked like before,  dull and life less....

and this is the after.....ooooh  ahhhhhhhhhh

makes me want to dance :)

so then the process of moving back in commenced,  I am trying to weed through what I need and what I don't.  I repainted a wall in my studio a hot vibrant pink.

hotpink is supposed to be a very energizing color,  but not aggressively so.  it encourages change, creates calmness,  compassion and neutralizes disorder,  So I am thinking this was a wise sub-conscious color choice no? 

here's before:

and here's the now....

nice and tidy with a pop of color.....

before I had all my fabric in this glass case,  now it's out and folded on a shelf so I can see it better,  and my glass case holds jars filled with all sorts of supplies....

and a glass case holding current projects I'm continuing to work on...

i'm back to making goofy portraits of people.  In fact my daughter and I have been collaborating on a few things.  

Fiona draws the faces,  and I been starting to paint them

I also started making these 3 dimensional portraits encased in these old Martha Stewart shadow boxes that I've had lanquishing on my shelves for YEARS that I recently un-earthed.....see,  cleaning is a good thing ;-)

layers of paint, pastel, glue, and vintage papers on metal.....

of course,  when i'm making my things,  my little studio buddy has to make her own version.

here's Fiona's guy

crack me up.

So that's it for this week,  I am back to working on projects,  in between blowing my nose while twirling in circles..of course.........

thanks for taking a peek,  look forward to sharing and revealing more soon because even though i'm sick,  I am on a mission,  transforming not only my shop,  but myself.

always good to try and re-frame things right?

right.

XOXO

 

 

 

 

 

 

What am I doing? hmmmmm....here's a peek :)

 I know I've not been the best at keeping up with this blog in the past year...I need to work on that,  because the one thing you should know about me is that I love sharing pretty much everything.  clearly I am an open book.

Lots of things go on in my life,  my days are completely full....just like you and most people in this day and age. we are all living these kinds of controlled circus style lives.  (well some of us have it under control)   I just have to laugh at the absurdity of things in my life,  because I definitely don't have it under control,  but I guess I like living on the wild side.

  So just to give you a peek I will share what went down this week.

I heard a crash,  a jingle of bells and  flapping sounds..... My little parakeet fell off her perch with this kind of open-toed paralyzed foot.

 oh man. really?  now what.

  well my little $20 bird went to the vet.

$85 later my bird got a clean bill of health,  no broken bones, healthy,  perfect weight,  but perhaps some sort of nerve damage to her foot.  so I now get to give my parakeet anti-imflammatory medicine via a tiny eyedropper every day.

seriously?

seriously.

evidently  This is my level of comittment.

here's a fun trick,  have a couple of cocktails and try and handle your un-tamed bird that bites, without gloves  because you have this notion that somehow you've bonded and it will be o.k. because deep down you think she likes you!

this is not the case. 

SO! In between administering meds to a grumpy bird,  I have been painting the walls at my shop.......

everything is getting a fresh coat of paint....this is my new class room,  isn't it pretty?

In fact if you want to come hang out in my lovely new space,  I have some classes lined up online now!  you can check out my class line up here .  I even have a couple of night time classes lined up too....  cocktails,  hors'douvres,  creating tiny masterpieces....doesn't that sound like fun?  :) 

  Now I have also had a couple of friends move their studios into my shop.  one is a couture seamstress that makes adorable little baby clothes.....

i'm trying to talk her into making adult clothes too....so stay tuned on that.

on the other side of my shop I now have a custom lamp,  and lamp shade maker setting up her little creative space!  how fun is that!?

in fact she has a class online now as well!  she will teach you how to create your very OWN lampshade right here in my shop!  i'm signing up for sure!

  we have all been busy setting up our spaces,  painting walls and making things behind the scene.

This bed is waiting for pillows that are being made now....slowly but surely...

in between dolls that i've been making....

and old ones I've unearthed that I made years ago that will FINALLY get bodies!.....

because this is how an A.D.D. artist operates......creating little things here and there

in between birds,  dogs,

  kids....

socializing.....

life......you know the deal.  tiny snippets of time in a day to

paint......

make jewelry....

clean my messy, cluttered studio, (and mind)

makes you want to hide right?  ;-)

nah!  I embrace the nuttiness,  it makes life so much more exciting and fun.

so on that note,  I am back to sewing my little home pillow in my freshly painted class room,  because it is such a pretty and serene space.....don't you think?  :)

Really,  really pretty,  sunny,  and fresh,  you know you'd like to join me here right?

well you are always more than welcome :)

XOXO

 

 

 

My Boy is 14!

Hard to believe that 14 years ago today I gave birth to this giant 9 pound 11 ounce child.

the sweetest little chubby cheeked child I could have ever wished for.

I got exactly what I wanted,  pure love at first sight.

He was such a sweet little kid,  full of curiosity,  and wonder.  I could take him ANYWHERE he was such a good little boy.

I clearly remember always gritting my teeth because I wanted to squeeze him all the time he was so cute and loveable.

The older he got,  the more handsome he became,  and a little bit more complicated too.....his creative edgy side started to emerge,  as did his independence.  I could totally relate to that.

He became a little bit more brooding, typical of the teenage years.  But we have always been close,  listening to the same kinds of music,  interested in Art,  and photography...

thank goodness for that.

he's fun to be around....even though most days now he's so freaking moody,  or

 wrapped up with some sort of electronic device ;-)

but beyond all of that, I can honestly say he's chosen a nice group of friends to be with. 

friends that seem to share the same passions as him,  skateboarding,  filming,  graffiti....

oh Graffiti.

Actually,  I love this kind of Art.  and Jackson is really becoming pretty good at it.

fully immersing himself into learning everything about it.

making little drawings,  and covering his entire walls in his room.

yes,  I let him do this. 

I'd rather he did it in the house,  than out on the streets being destructive.

because yes,  he's done that too and gotten into trouble,  lessons learned the hard way...

teen age years......god I hope I survive them. 

anyways, 

he's now moved on to giant plywood sheets......I am hoping he will start making big graffiti pieces that I can frame for him.

 

because he's really enjoying this art form,  and it's great to see him back to drawing again.

some might think these alternative art forms are just for thugs.

well,  they're not.  It's a form of creativity,  and expression,  and I am all for that.

 

because I know my boy is sweet, caring and sensitive,  making cupcakes for a girlfriend,  or always complimenting me even on my worst days.  he is the most loyal son.  he's just trying to figure it all out just like the rest of us. 

So when he's not being a typical teenage grouch,  he is actually hilarious and quick witted.

lots of people don't see this side to him because he's so reserved,  but trust me,  it's there :)

So today I wish my sweet, creative, and smart  Boy Jackson a very Happy 14th Birthday....

I can't believe these years have gone by so fast,  from sweet faced toddler boy....

to my size eleven shoe wearing handsome man-child.

you're a beautiful son on the inside and out,  and like I said before,  you're more than this mother could have ever wished for.

truly.

 

love you buddy

XOXOXO