I am a finalist in the "Don't you hate it when contest"!!! Plus, we have 2 winners from my giveaway!!!
So- first of all I need your help. Please go vote for me because these things can turn into a popularity contest and I need my peeps to support me. Go here http://blokthoughtsnmore.blogspot.com/ Thank you in advance!!!
Now the two lucky winners that were drawn out of a hat were Lynn and Susie Q. Congrats ladies!!! Send me your info and I will get the soaps on their merry way.
Please help me out and go vote all you can :)
Love ya- Em
So Shelle over at her funny blog is having a contest and I am entering to win some cool prizes. You have to finish don't you hate it when. So here goes mine. Oh~ but before you read my entry, I will be picking a couple of names tonight and you can still enter in the post below. Good luck!!!
Don't you hate it when....
Don't you hate it when you have a baby girl and you realize that your 2 year old boy is starting to resent it and so he starts to act out by doing the funnest things? Like while putting the baby to sleep he goes to the fridge and gets a whole gallon of milk and pours it down the heating vent. Yeah- that was fun come winter time. The next time you put the baby to bed he decides to throw a dozen eggs on the kitchen floor, just to see how hard they can splat and how many surfaces he can cover. Don't you hate it when you get a lock for the fridge but he learns how to crack it and does all the same things AGAIN!!!
Don't you hate it when your hubby is left to watch the kids ( who are now 4 and 2) and you leave before anyone is awake, but hubby doesn't hear the kids get up, and the night before you had gone to Home Depot to get some paint, and you leave it on the island thinking that the kids can't get to it, but then you get a phone call while blissfully garage sailing ALONE and your hubby tells you that your little boy cracked the can open with a butter knife and while he slept, the kids played slip-n-slide down the kitchen hallway with PAINT!!!! Not only slip-n-slide but hide-n-go seek around 3 levels in the house and monkeys jumping on the bed while covered in the most beautiful tan/taupe paint? Oh- and the couches that were a week old were TRASHED with painted foot prints all over them.
But then don't you hate it even more when you think you are a savvy Mom and you have the house baby proofed and your little boy finds some scissors and plays haircuts with your little girl's hair that is finally long enough to do something with? Don't you hate it when you see a 2 year old with a reverse mohawk and a comb over?
THEN- a year or so goes by and again you think you are such a clever Mom and all scissors are banished from the house because the hair is starting to look not so much like a freak show anymore, and you are outside busting your butt shoveling snow off your driveway and you think your daughter is happily sleeping in her crib, only to find out that she climbed out of her crib and on top of the bathroom cabinet and into the top shelf to find the lone pair of scissors...then she plays haircuts by herself????
But most of all, don't you hate it when you look back at those times and shudder because while going through them, you were so mad and angry and upset and you thought that the world would end because you had to gel your little girls remaining strands of hair to her head and then clip it down with like 4 clips and it still looked CRAZY but now that you look back they are the funniest stories and you wish you could hold those chubby little hands and kiss them and put them to your face but then you realize you can't?
Don't you hate it when your kids grow up too fast?
~Emily Leyland...and yes...these stories are 100% true.
Here is the reverse mohawk....ahahahahahahahahaha
Here is the comb over after a month or two. Aww- those were the days.
This was the second haircut she gave herself...lol!
And here is the fix it haircut. Luckily we didn't have to do the comb over on this one ;)
I wish I had some of the paint pictures but the thought of documenting it didn't come into my mind at the time :)
My Heaven
I love simple pleasures. Baths are one of them. I take a bath every night to get all relaxed and warm before I pop into bed. Some people think I am weird. I don't care. The Romans loved their baths and so do I.
Look at this ancient Roman bath.
This is the Roman baths in Bath England. They would make a whole day out of going to the baths.
This is a bath in Turkey...oooh la la.
Check out this one in Budapest. Can you say AWESOME in a high pitched voice?
That's what I say when I see this picture :)
This is how some dudes like to take their baths. Not liking this bath so much :)
One day I will get rich and have a stone bath like this. Although, it might be really cold and the water might get cold too quickly. Maybe it would stay warmer longer ??? Hmmmn- so thought provoking ;)
In any case- it's beautiful !
So all this bath talk brings me to my giveaway. I recently discovered the most AMAZING soaps.
They are all natural handmade old fashioned soaps. Made with love by a sweet Mom. They are not only so nice to look at, and some you wanna eat because they look like desserts, but they last so much longer than regular soaps and they feel so good on your skin.
Look how pretty!!
I have this Pumpkin pie spice one and it is made with real pumpkin, goats milk and all good natural things. It smells SO good. My hubby wants to nibble on my neck after I wash with this. Not a bad thing right ladies ;)
So I am going to give a few away. Leave a comment and I will randomly pick a few numbers on Tuesday night. If you want to buy some for Stocking stuffers, I highly recommend it.
A coupon to get you 15% off is NEWCUST08 when you go here http://bodyluxe.ecrater.com/
xoxo Emily
I have come to respect a certain law. Not by my own choosing but because I have had to. Forget Murphy's law, it needs to be called Mother's law. Mother's law is whenever your husband goes out of town and the WORST things happen in the family. Like this time we got the stomach flu. Anyone remember the classic movie "Stand by Me"? Do you remember the Barf-o-Rama? That's my house right now. Got that visual image??? LOL
I have had to watch my 16 month old daughter throwing up for days. Having an extra hand cleaning up all the puke would have been awesome. Not to mention being able to sleep in after being up all night bathing and cleaning kids up after the pukies. I should have known it would happen this trip. It's the law after all.
I have been to the ER 4 different times with out my hubby in the past when the law was hard at work. The worst stomach flu EVER happened when my son was 2 and I had just given birth to our second. I won't go into too much detail because reliving those days might make me keel over and die right now and you wouldn't want that right? Don't answer that!
I had to clean up diarrhea from every step on 2 flights of stairs. Yeah-it's the law. I could keep going on but I think you get the point. What is it with that law????? I mean seriously- how does it know that my husband is going out of town so it needs to get all sneeky and horrible. I hate you law!!!!
This is not the most wonderful time of the year. That song totally lies! Well, not yet anyway. This time of year is always filled with sickness for my family. So far we have had head colds then followed right on top of that with the stomach flu. This is NOT the most wonderful time of the year. I have no tree up and I have bought 1...yes 1 present. Excuse me, I need to go breath into a paper bag. Hold on...
OK- I'm back. I want to hyperventilate when I think about it. Plus~ I am hosting Christmas this year at my house. Our first guest arrives on Sunday and my house is like a total joke. Ahhh- I'll get there right?
OK- I will quit my venting. Thank you for listening to it ;)
Now- a warning.
ALL OF YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS AND THEN PROMPTLY SEND IT TO YOUR HUSBANDS.
http://bewareofthedoghouse.
Thank me later :) It is too funny and you'll be sure to get a good laugh. Alrighty~ I have lots of fun pukey laundry to go sanitize. I know you wish you were me right now huh. Just admit it. After all I am having the best week EVER!!!
xoxo Emily
Meet Heather Sleightholm of Audrey Eclectic. Oh and that little cutie with her is Audrey.
She is one of my favorite artists right now and she is my very first artist to be featured here at Art-n-Sewl. She painted a commission piece for me as my anniversary present and it is the most beautiful thing I own.
Here look at this beauty...no, not me, the painting of me and my angels:
I asked her to answer some questions for me. Her work is so hauntingly beautiful.
I can't say enough about her, so I'll let her do all the talking. Enjoy the very first Art-n-Sewl's Artist Appreciation feature.
What do you create?
The best way to describe what I create is mixed media folk art paintings. I like to combine traditional folk art illustration with modern collage techniques.
How did you come up with your business name and does it have special meaning?
Audrey Eclectic is named after my daughter, Audrey. She is sort of the inspiration behind it all. I tentatively started my painting business when I left my 9-5 job to stay home to be with her when she was about 8 months old. Becoming a mom really changed a lot of things in my life, even my ideas and interests in art. She's my inspiration in many ways, so it's only right to pay tribute to that.
When and why did you decide to be an artist?
That's a tricky question…I feel like I've always been an artist, even as a little girl, I was the 'artsy girl' so it was always a part of my identity. I can't remember not drawing. As a kid, I would sit for hours filling notebooks with my little stories and illustrations.
In high school I had wanted to go to art school, but from everyone around me I got the impression that doing that would be frivolous and expensive. So I went to college to get a 'practical' degree, and felt sort of directionless about the whole thing. As I graduated and joined the workforce though, art became more and more a part of my life. At one point I was a jewelry designer (which used a lot of drawing and artistic skill) and then a newspaper writer, photographer and assistant editor.
However, living the life of a full-time artist had always been my dream, and when I was given the opportunity to be home with my daughter on a full-time basis, I just started painting and slowly a business was started.
Where do you find inspiration for your projects?
In many different places, sources, and eras. That's why my paintings aren't all the same. I love history and stories and so I use the past--- such as early America, the Victorian era and even the 1920s as inspiration. I also love to use uplifting words and phrases to deepen the meaning of a painting. I live out on the prairie, so rolling landscapes, big skies, flowers and wooded forests are favorites to put into my paintings. I'm also a big fan of fairytales and fiction….that combined with things that are central to my life—like motherhood, love, faith, and friendship-- all come together in my paintings.
What keeps you motivated and what can make you get in a artistic slump?
I've just come to accept that inspiration comes in peaks and valleys. No one is 100% inspired all the time. Inspiration is like a well and you have to be good about filling it. Sometimes that means taking a break from the painting table. Even if it's just going for a walk, seeing a movie, or reading a book. I'm lucky to have a place that always inspired me--- Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It's a tiny artsy town full of old Victorian homes and shops nestled in the steep Ozark mountains and it really just makes me so happy and inspired to be there. I try to go 2 or 3 times a year.
But most of all, I think the key to getting out of an artistic slump is to realize "this too shall pass" because it always does. This was a hard lesson for me to learn, but I have now. Just let your muse breath and rest for a while, then something will catch her eye and you're back to painting!
What would be a dream project that you'd love to work on?
One day I would love to write and illustrate a book. That would be like the ultimate realized childhood fantasy!
What advice would you give to someone wanting to be a full time artist?
Get involved. You're going to have a hard time finding an audience for your work if you're just painting at home and never sharing it. Get involved with activities and events both online and in your community. Sites like flickr and MySpace can help you connect with other artists and your community. Blogging has also had a huge impact on my art. And be a kind blogger--- take the time to visit and comment with those who've taken the time to do the same for you.
And don't underestimate the community where you live! Get involved in art shows and craft fairs. Start small and grow your confidence. It is amazing where these little events can lead, and it is an awesome experience to actually see and interact with someone who is purchasing your art.
What's the most important thing you'd like people to know/understand about your art?
That it's made from the heart. And my goal in selling to others is that it speaks to their heart—that something that has a meaning to me can in turn mean something to them. That is the best part of finding homes for my paintings—they always seem to find where they will be most loved and treasured!
What is the biggest lesson you have learned as an artist?
Just create what YOU love. Don't worry about others' tastes or what they think is art. If you create what makes you happy and what you enjoy, chances are there are kindred spirits out there that will enjoy it too.
If you had the time, what new craft/medium would you like to learn or use?
I'd like to learn how to make stoneware. I've seen some really beautiful vases and pots and would love to learn how to do it, all I'd need is a kiln! I've also tried several times to learn to knit and always run off track. I guess I am no fiber artist!
What's your definition of a perfect artistic day?
Let's see…Ok, I will have just returned from a relaxing stay in Eureka Springs. It is a rainy day and I am painting--- uninterrupted—for hours, drinking cups of hot chocolate, my dog Henry sleeping at my feet, and probably one of my Tasha Tudor DVDs playing in the background. And oh yeah, what I paint is absolutely gorgeous ;)
Where do you see yourself in 5 years as an artist?
In 5 years Audrey will be in school and so I will have some solid blocks of time to paint! I hope in 5 years to have a steady round of craft shows in my schedule (this is already coming to be!) and selling all my creations whether through shows or Etsy. I'd also love to delve more into writing, perhaps illustrate a book or a story outside of art. I just hope I can continue to add to my family's income through my artwork.
What was the biggest influence on your talent. Who nurtured it and what can mothers do to nurture that in their children?
I suppose the first influence and nurturer was my mom. She took painting lessons when she was expecting me (perhaps I learned in utero?) and was really into the craft movement in the 1980s. I started painting on things—wood, rocks—in the garage with her while she made her crafts. When I was a teenager I was really into the 90s movie "Rome + Juliet" and my mom was totally behind me painting a big angel mural on my bedroom wall from a scene in that movie. I was just sort of given the supplies for art and told to go do my thing.
In my 'grown-up life', my biggest nurturer is definitely my husband. He is the one that supports our family out in the 'real world' and supported me leaving the workplace to care for our daughter and pursue my dream of painting. I literally wouldn't be doing this without him. And he always thinks everything I make is wonderful and lovely!
As for what mother's can do to nurture artistic talent in their children, expose them to art, for one thing; and when they show interest in a particular thing, look deeper into it. Take it seriously. Send them to a summer art camp or a dance clinic, something that will give them a memorable experience in the medium they love. Just be supportive and expect messes! And no matter what, always let them know they're free to express themselves with your support.
