New Art Video ~ Paying It Forward ~ Get a Free 12x12 Archival Print

I am so honored to be sharing this video ~ graciously created by Jae Jones of Tinsel Whiskers.

Jae literally came along, enjoyed the work, and decided to create this video for me to share. I think she did a very nice job, and I am moved by her generosity.

When I offered her a gift as a thank you, she asked if I would, instead, Pay It Forward by offering a FREE Archival 12x12 Print to another person instead of her.

I like Paying It Forward, so here is my challenge to you: If you should be the soul who wins the Free Archival 12x12 Print from me, how would YOU then Pay It Forward ~ and spread your kindness?

If you are interested in playing ~ add your comment here ~ I will choose one of the commenters to win their choice of a FREE Archival 12x12 Print ~ giving them the opportunity to put action to their Pay It Forward idea.

And if you don't win, you can always take action on your idea anyway :)

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends,

Love & Sincerely ~ Katie

Free Cards Friday ~ Mother's Day Gift Packs ~ Available Now

The Mother's Day Gift Packs are here, with 2 options this year!

Mother’s Day Gift Pack ~ 12x12 (shown above)
• (2) 12x12 prints of your choice
• (2) 5x7 art cards (I’ll select, unless you would like to choose from the below link)
Value: $64.50
Mother’s Day Gift Pack Special: $48 (you save $16.50)

Find the 12x12 Gift Pack in the Online Shop

Mother’s Day Gift Pack ~ 8x10 (shown above)
• (2) 8x10 prints of your choice
• (2) 5x7 art cards (I’ll select, unless you would like to choose from the below link)
Value: $40.50
Mother’s Day Gift Pack Special: $28 (you save $12.50)

Find the 8x10 Gift Pack in the Online Shop

The blog post where you can see the available 5x7 art card selections.

It's Free Cards Friday ~ Add your note or insight to this blog post (here at the blog or on the Facebook page) throughout the weekend and be in the running to win some cards ~ I'll choose the winner on Monday.


Have a lovely weekend, Sincerely, Katie

Mother's Day Gift Pack ~ Free Cards Winner

The Mother's Day Gift Packs ~ Coming April 1 (& available through May 10)

2 options this year!

Mother’s Day Gift Pack ~ 12x12 (shown above)

• (2) 12x12 prints of your choice

• (2) 5x7 art cards (I’ll select, unless you would like to choose from the below link)

Value: $64.50

Mother’s Day Gift Pack Special: $48 (you save $16.50)

Mother’s Day Gift Pack ~ 8x10 (shown above)

• (2) 8x10 prints of your choice

• (2) 5x7 art cards (I’ll select, unless you would like to choose from the below link)

Value: $40.50

Mother’s Day Gift Pack Special: $28 (you save $12.50)

The blog post where you can see the available 5x7 art card selections.

The Free Cards Winner for last week is Jennifer ~ I'm honored to get to send cards to her and her 2 sweet little identical twin boys.

Inspired, but Tired ~ Free Cards Friday

It's Friday, the whole family is sleeping but me ~ I have the evening to myself ~ with no one to tell (or ask) me what to do :) I can watch a movie, I can paint, I can read a good book, I can do production, I can just relax, I can sleep, I can call my Grandma... it is so hard to decide when there is a bit of free time.

I am exhausted ~ but also inspired from spending a long visit with a fellow artist and friend today. Her home and studio reminded me of pages from a home interior magazine, with art & craft-related trinkets and supplies organized beautifully into jars and wire baskets... beautiful books on painted shelves, and visual inspiration in the form of handmade books and such ~ almost always within reach.

I get the urge tonite to take a second look at my studio ~ to try and bring some of her inspiration home. But then again, I am always wanting to shake things up in my home ~ making changes and moving things around (all without spending a dime, by the way). I waffle between wanting the studio to be crisp and clean, and wanting the studio to be edged (literally) in inspiration: hanging clippings and prints all around for visual stimulation...

Urg ~ how do YOU decide what to do when you have some time to yourself? Do you have a fall-back activity that pulls at you each time you have space in your schedule? Or do you, like me, find a variety of free-time activities clamoring for your attention (then find yourself dissatisfied with your choice(s) at the end of the night)? Or do you not have any free-time!? (yikes, that's bad ~ I hope that isn't you).

It's Free Cards Friday ~ Add your note or insight to this blog post (here at the blog or on the Facebook page) throughout the weekend and be in the running to win some cards ~ I'll choose the winner on Monday.

Have a lovely weekend,

Sincerely, Katie

PS: The Mother's Day Gift Pack will be arriving in the shop in early April!

Parent Effectiveness Training by Dr. Thomas Gordon ~ part 3

"However we treat the child, the child will treat the world."

— Pam Leo

I have just finished Dr. Thomas Gordon’s book Parent Effectiveness Training ~ and there is a bit more I’d like to share to go along with the previous posts reviewing/outlining his book.


We stopped at Active Listening previously, and how Active Listening encourages the child to meet his own needs and seek solutions on his own vs the parent presenting pre-packaged solutions.

First, we listen.

Then, we share our feelings so they will listen to us, and how their behavior affects us. Dr. Gordon lists some ineffective ways we respond to our problems, caused by a child’s behavior:

•Ordering, Demanding
•Warning, Threatening
•Exhorting, Preaching
•Advising, Giving Solutions
•And more…

Children resist being told what to do, or may not like our solutions. They may feel we don’t trust their problem-solving skills.

Dr. Gordon suggests I-Messages vs. Put Downs like criticizing, blaming and shaming, psychoanalyzing and instructing. (or You-Messages)


See what Dr. Gordon’s Blog says about I-Messages here.


I-Messages: Telling your child how their behavior is making you feel. This leads to honesty. And, for me, goes back to a point made early on in the book: (me paraphrasing) Parents are Humans, Not Gods. And children want to know that we are humans, and we have feelings too. They do not want to hurt us, but sometimes they do not realize how their actions affect us.

I like the idea of being completely honest with my children, and have followed that idea for all of my parenting years (which are only 6, I have SO much to learn).

The parts of the I-Message:

1) The Descriptions of the Behavior (Behavior)
2) How it makes you Feel (Feeling)
3) The concrete effect the behavior has on you (Effect)


Thinking about these parts may help us to realize when the behavior is worth fussing over ~ especially if the behavior really isn’t effecting us.



This book goes on to discuss Method III, The No-Lose Method ~ an understandable method for working with our children to solve conflicts from behavior.

All very useful and eye-opening information.

I'd like to think that I am able to summarize his book further, but alas... I hope I have enticed you to continue your exploration of these topics.

I HIGHLY recommend you learn more at Dr. Thomas Gordon's blog.

I truly think this book can change the world,

through our children,

...if enough parents were to read it...

Have a wonderful week!

(remember: you are human, not a God ~ humans make mistakes)

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Free Cards Winner ~ One Year Ago While Painting Motherhood...

Visual Inspiration ~ Beauty in Everyday Life ~ Sweden Market Video ~ March 2010
...I want to show you one of the videos I took while in Sweden (I took 300 short snippet videos from March 1-5, 2010 alone!). This video was extremely enjoyable to film as I found the bottles and cans, stacked foods and packages as enticing visual ignition for my creative eye. Rhythm, shape, order, color, pattern, line and form….

I did NOT find the meat clips beautiful, they turned my stomach and gave me the willies. But I like honest reality, as well. So I am warning you… never before have I seen so many non-enticing bits of meat. Yes, that is kangaroo, crocodile and cow tongue that you see in there. As well as lamb, bear sausage, rabbit, elk and a variety of innards and sea creatures. Yikes & Yuck! (read more and see the video)


The Free Cards Winner for last week is Monica ~ thank you all for playing and for sharing your kind insights. Let's do it again in a couple days!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

~ New Glass Pendants ~

I am having fun with the new Glass Pendants ~ here are some new ones that have just become available ~ many are in the Online shop ~ if you don't see the one you would like, just let me know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Glass Pendants

sized 1" by 2"

glass and image within a vintage bronze tray with 5mm loop

includes a black wire memory cord with magnetic clasp

$24
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a wonderful day ~

Love & Sincerely, Katie