Works of Art

Well, I guess this makes me official. 

These are my business cards, and it overwhelms me just to look at them

Why??? Because lately I have been selling artwork as quickly as I can make it.

I don't even have a website or a gallery. Just a few pieces hanging at a local coffee shop, and pictured on facebook.

How far could this go??? How much money do I have the potential to make for my family?

My biggest issue is that I want my artwork to remain just that....ART. I really, really don't want it to become stressful and something I no longer enjoy. I don't want to just start producing pieces that I don't love, just to meet a deadline.

I have A LOT of questions!

Should I start making prints?

Should I frame my art, or just use the boxed canvases?

Should I try to submit one of my most popular pieces to a distributor and have it mass produced for a commission? 

HELP! If any of you have experience in this area, I would love your input!

Girl-Crushes

 I have never met any of these women. But for one reason or another, I find myself watching what they do, what they say, what they wear and how they live. Some of them I probably would not choose to model my life after, but still think they are cool. So here they are:

#1 Promise Tangeman

A super edgy artist, photographer, and designer. I LOVE her work, and I love her personal style.

#2 Brooke Fraser

One of the lead singer/songwriters for Hillsong. She is a beautiful girl with an amazing gift. And most importantly, she is in love with the same God that I am in love with. 

#3 Kate Hudson

A gifted actress and such a naturally beautiful girl. There is nothing about her that is artificial or "implanted", and I love that :0)

#4 Carrie Underwood

This girl has got insane vocal talent! I love that she hasn't let her blast-off career and stardom change the person she is. From what I've seen in her interviews, she is super sweet and down to earth.

#5 Megan Foxx

Megan is on this list simply because, she's hot.

Yes.

I think that another girl is hot.

And I'm pretty sure, male or female, you would have to be blind to say that she isn't :0)

ABC, Easy as 1, 2, 3

A - Age: 25

B - Bed size: Full...though I'm craving a larger one

C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the kitchen floor

D - Dog's name: None

E - Essential start your day item:  The Bible and breakfast

F - Favorite color(s): Green and orange

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5'1"-ish

I - Instruments you play: My vocal chords :0)

J - Job title: Mommy! Also aspiring artist and musician

K - Kid(s): 1 little man, Javen

L - Living arrangements: With hubby and son

M - Mom's name: Joleen

N - Nicknames: Manda, Mandy (when I was young)

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Never

P - Pet Peeve: When someone says they can't find something and they have already looked. Then I go look in the same spot and find it right away.

Q - Quote from a movie: "It's not a graduation, he is passing from the 4th grade to the 5th grade. We keep finding new ways to celebrate mediocrity!" -The Incredibles :0)

R - Right or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: 2 brothers, Joel, Colton. And 1 sis, Karlee

T - Time you wake up: 8-ish

U - Underwear: Wouldn't you like to know... ;0)

V - Vegetable you dislike: Beets

W - Workout style: Some cardio and light lifting

X - X-rays you've had: Only 1 I can remember, for a sprained ankle in 6th grade.

Y - Yesterday's best moment: Visiting Evergreen art supplies store...and drooling as I walked through the aisles.

Z - Zoo favorite: Giraffes, Lions

Would you Rather?....

So, it's been a while since my last blog-post!

Here is a little "Would You Rather" entry for the day.

Vacation season is right around the corner, so...would you rather spend your relaxation time on the beach, or in a cozy cabin in the mountains?

I want to know!

FL

Hopefully there aren't any storms like this while we are in Florida, but I just thought this was a pretty gnarly photo.

In approximately 24 hours, we will be in Florida. Let's take a moment to breathe out a big, relaxing, Ahhhhhhh.

This will be a quick trip, but hopefully just enough time to soak up some sun and recharge a little bit.

The reason for this trip is to attend the wedding of two of our good friends, Jen and Brandon. So that means that a bunch of our other friends and relatives will also be down there to celebrate, it's always a good time when we are all together.

Fort Myers Beach, I can't wait to sink my toes into your soft white sand. :0)

Oh boy, Oh boy...

So, there's this little event called the "Wonder Worshipping Arts Conference" coming up this summer. I am so beyond excited right now that I can hardly type! Here's what's happening at this conference: 

3 days of totally creative, inspiring, vision-planting sessions, all focused on the worship and artistic elements of a church.

There are dozens of sessions to choose from every day, from: improving vocal skills, leading praise and worship, graphic design, stage lighting, how to incorporate choreography/drama into a service, and sooooo much more!

Oh, did I mention that Darlene Czech with be speaking, and Hillsong UNITED is leading late night worship?!

I am praying that God will open doors for Justin and I, and hopefully several other members of Rock Church,  to attend this conference.

I am pumped!!! I have never experienced anything like this.

I think that God is wanting to take me to the next level in my ministry and abilities, and this conference could be the launching pad! Yeah baby.....

Laziness...

This week I have been, lazy. And now that it's Friday, I feel incredibly unaccomplished and sluggish. I feel kind of like that Thousand-Pound woman you see on the Discovery channel...yep, I'm sure this is what she feels like. Since Tuesday I have only left the house twice, I haven't cooked a single meal, I haven't done my hair or makeup, I haven't been to the gym, and I have watched plenty of mindless, pointless TV. I am pathetic... however, I have also been very sick, so I have a little bit of an excuse. But man, I hate doing nothing! Especially when there is housework to be done, a baby to entertain, and rehearsals to go to. People kinda need me!

Here's the sicky-update: 

-I have gone through an entire large box of tissues in 3 days. I have abundant snot.

-My abs are actually sore from coughing so hard (sooo...does that count as my workout for the week???)

-The GOOD news is: I woke up this morning feeling much less congested. I am trusting that my throat will get better throughout the day as well so that I can sing this weekend. I am going to try and limit my speaking to only whispering.

Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement!

Hopefully after today I will be back to my old self again, and officially un-lazy!