Home Sweet Home ~ 10 year anniversary
Happy 10 years my Home Sweet Home… That’s Lily deep in the snow. This photo was from last year right at the holidays after a couple of good snow storms. No snow yet this year. Can’t believe it has been ten years since I moved into my new home… geezzz how time flies… seems like just yesterday. Happy Christmas!
The Hive's ~ 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!
You can win a print of my Blissful Skating Polar Bear on The Hive’s ~ 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway! It will come up on day 5, which is… Today! This is a great online community of talented artists and crafters. The 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway is highlighting wonderful art and craft giveaways from our members. Please check out all of the beautiful handmade items and other goodies you can win at: The Hive.
One Year Blog Anniversary ~ Valerie Hart
Well here we are — my one year Blog Anniversary! Geezz…. that was a fast year. It’s such a great adventure starting and writing a blog. I know in the beginning I was just writing for myself. Everyone goes through the “oh, who cares what I have to say…” or “I’m not really a writer…” and your really not sure if anyone in cyberspace is reading your blog posts. Well, there is a valid reason for that…
There are “126 million blogs” on the internet according to BlogPulse.
That’s a lotta blogs… For me, the reason I started my blog was to showcase my art and my creative journey. I’ve been an artist all of my life. Though I’ve taken classes here and there in drawing, watercolors and acrylics, I am primarily a self-taught artist. This blog is the journey to my artist self. Though in the beginning when I didn’t have any art, I talked about movies and food a lot. Now, after a year I have built up a small portfolio of work and I see my art style finally emerging. It’s so very encouraging. I have found my voice and I have found my art…
And I cannot talk about my blog experience without mentioning all of the really nice, kind, lovely people I have met in the blogosphere. And I have such gratitude in my heart if I have touched another soul with my writing, or my art. That is such a privilege as an artist… Thank You.
This life is yours.
Take the power to choose
what you want to do
and do it well.
Take the power to love
what you want in life
and do it honestly.
Take the the power to walk
in the forest and
be part of nature.
Take the power to control
your own life.
No one else can do it for you.
Take the power
to make your life happy.
Susan Polis Schutz
Wishcast Wednesday: where do you wish to go slow?
I am going slower in my life and I’m living in the present moment… For so many years I went so fast and rushed through my life, like it’s a race to the finish line or a contest to see who can do the most in a day, a week, a year, a lifetime… Now, I catch myself all of the time thinking of some unpleasant past event or focusing on something that may or may not happen in the future… But now I’m conscious of my thoughts, and I bring my focus back to this present moment. I don’t want to miss my life anymore and I want to be in it right now… in every moment…
Barn Owl photo from ~ The Barn Owl Trust
Holiday Open House at Diddies & Doodads!
Eat, Drink, Be Merry and shop till you drop, at Diddies & Doodads! They are having a Holiday Extravaganza this Friday, November 26, 2010, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, at 57 Pleasant Street in Epping, NH. The evening will also benefit the NH Food Bank! They are accepting food donations like a can of soup, box of pasta or a bag of beans… Come and celebrate the Spirit of Christmas by helping others. I’ll be stopping by to meet some of the other artists and vendors! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Valerie Hart Art for Sale at ~ Diddies & Doodads
I stopped into another little gift shop to see if they would be interested in selling my art and they said… Yes! This lovely gift shop, Diddies & Doodads, is in an old barn and has more of a country flair. I wasn’t sure if my art would fit in well but the owner, Terry said, “Let’s try it! ” I was so surprised when I first stepped in because of the quality and variety of the gifts, jewelry and artwork. The shelves, nooks and crannies are chock full for the upcoming holiday shopping season. I took just a couple of pics of my Crazy Zen Cat and my Ice Skating Polar Bear placed in the shop for now. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Holiday Open House at ~ The Willow of Exeter
Here are some of the pictures I took of my artwork at The Willow! Julie and her team did such a great job with their holiday displays. This is my Skating Polar Bear… right there in the middle on the Christmas table.
They put Lavender Lola on one of the main posts just as you walk down the stairs to the next level. And that’s Bee Grateful on the top right surrounded by all of the soaps, lotions and body sprays.
More pictures of Bee in the soap and lotions section. Perfect place for her among all of the scented delights.
My sheep painting titled “I See The Moon”, was on the wall in the kid’s section and it looked really lovely.
And last, but certainly not least, my Crazy Zen Cat was on a Christmas table with Santa, Angels and lucky horseshoes! He could not have asked for better company. I wish you all could see this adorable shop and how lovely it is decorated. It’s so fun to see your artwork displayed in a retail setting. You’ve got to take risks to get your work out into the world. On the eve of Thanksgiving coming this week… I’m “grateful” for getting up the courage to venture into this lovely store… The Willow.
Valerie Hart Art For Sale at ~ The Willow of Exeter!
So I put together a bunch of samples of my art, all framed up, and went over to this adorable home and garden gift shop in Exeter called The Willow. I met with Julie Traverse, the owner, took a deep breath and showed her my artwork. I felt like a Mom showing off her children at the Christmas play! She “loved everything” and wanted to take it all into the shop. What a great feeling and another step on the creative path. Not just to have the courage finally to approach a retail store like this {think—>Sales Cold Call} but also to have the confidence in your art to have it out in a retail setting.
It was only six short months ago that I sold my first print in my Etsy store. I remember that first feeling I got when a complete stranger wanted to purchase my art. It’s one thing to be an artist and create art… it’s another whole level when you find your customers who “love it enough” to want to purchase it.
The Willow of Exeter is having a Holiday Open House this weekend so I’m going to stop in with a couple of girlfriends and take some pics of my art in the store! Can’t wait to and see how they displayed it. How fun…
Back soon with some more pics!
