Being Grateful...

Dear Reader, 
Whoever you may be.... I hope you had a wonderful Christmas... or holiday of some kind.
My family and I did, but now it's time to embrace that wonderful time of year when we start thinking of
all the ways to better ourselves... New Years!

I have decided to focus on being grateful this new years.. I have so much, and I frequently lose sight of how blessed I am.
So this year I hope you will indulge me as I use this blog as sort of a gratitude dairy. I plan on posting daily a short note of what I am grateful for, and if not daily as often as possible.. but internet connection is not
always available.... please join me! It's free, not fattening, and totally beneficial!
I'm excited!

The Benefits of Gratitude

Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has—as opposed to, for example, a consumer-driven emphasis on what one wants. Gratitude is getting a great deal of attention as a facet of positive psychology: Studies show that we can deliberately cultivate gratitude, and can increase our well-being and happiness by doing so. In addition, gratefulness—and especially expression of it to others—is associated with increased energy, optimism, and empathy.

Fredericksburg Trade Days this Weekend!

Lone Star Market

I've been trying to set up at more Markets for the
Holiday season... the heart is willing as they say, but
unfortunately the weather often is not!

I was signed up for a show right after Thanksgiving and it just poured! I didn't even set up it was just too
nasty! I figured it couldn't be worth it to go through the effort and possibly have work ruined,

Treaty Oaks Distillery

The deal with these markets is that the vendors get charged, and if it rains or for some reason the show is a flop the vendors still get charged.

 I can understand that the organizers need to be paid if they have put money out to say, rent a venue or for any promotional cost. Unfortunately that isn't normally the case, most of these markets set up in parking lots or are put on by the municipality which is the same entity that owns the location, so there is not a cost involved...

It hasn't taken me long to realize the organizers are making money on the vendors, and with out the vendors there isn't much of a market..

So I decided to rent a good indoor venue and put on my own market!

This solves two issues.
1. I will have markets to sell at that are indoor and not subject to being cancelled and
2. I can make a little extra money organizing the events which I think I will be good at doing.
I convinced a woman I met doing shows to go in with me since two heads are better than one..and she's a cool level minded person..

Our first event will be held April 2, 2016 and the Dripping Springs Ranch Park Event Room..
Please "like" our Facebook page, Dripping Springs Market Days
You will be subjected to all sorts of information leading up to the event.... Wish me well!


This weekend I will be selling at Fredericksburg Trade Days! I've never been but I've heard it is a blast.
Come out to look around and do some Christmas Shopping! http://www.fbgtradedays.com/

Holiday Show...

Today I got up early, braved the rain and headed into Austin with Juliette to participate in the Circe C Holiday Market.

The weather was rainy and chilly, so we were both happy the event was indoors... but we still had to unload in the nasty weather..

We got unpacked, set our area up and things got going around 11 o'clock... it was a good show.
Not crazy busy, but the other vendors were really nice and the people who came out to shop were, everyone of them wonderful. The kids were well behaved the adults were polite and kind... and some brought goods.

I sold a few paintings and some of our smaller items, like necklaces and such... but I also was testing the waters on these painted kitchen towels I've been working on.

I sold quite a few of them... the quality of the towels themselves is good, and people liked the original designs....

I am inspired to try painting on other sorts of fabric.. like baby hats that sort of thing.. who knows I may learn to screen print!


 I used a special type of fabric paint, which actually smells like ink, the brand name is Jacquard, and it's good because, not only does it not wash out, it also remains soft...sometimes fabric paint will stay stiff...

This project stayed colorful and soft.. I was pleased and will be adding kitchen towels to my items to sell..

The next show I will be participating in will be the Fredericksburg Trade Days...I just don't know about it.. but there's no other way to find out than to just give it a try...

Oh! and please if you are on instagram, Please follow Novellas farm.  Thanks!

November 7, Holiday Show Circle C Austin

 Please come to the First Annual Circle C Holiday Market! (hopefully annual).

I found out about this show from a really lovely woman I met at another show. She makes earrings and sun catchers that are so pretty!

We have been telling each other about events when we hear about them.. which is so nice, and then if we are at the same show we can help each other out...

Any way this should be fun, I think the Circle C neighborhood in Austin has a pretty hip population and I want to get feedback and hopefully make some sales... although strangely enough, getting the art seen and getting my name out there is important as well....

This show is indoors! So if you find yourself around the area on Saturday, please drop in... there will be at least 15 artist exhibiting and selling their work.

                                                                                     Circle C Community Center
                                                                                      7817 Lacrosse Avenue, Austin
                                                                                      11 am to 3 pm. Saturday 
                                                                                      November 7.
I've been busy getting some new work made, I think it's pretty good.. can't wait to show it!
Hope to see you there!

October 11/ Art Market..

The Fat Moon Fine Art Show was a few weeks ago.
I realized later that night that the reason it was named "Fat Moon" was in honor of the super moon and lunar eclipse that happened later that same night.

The event was held at Onion Creek Kitchens, which is a very fine place. In fact my husband I like to go there and rent a cabin when we are able.. just to have a night where we can get away from chores.. it's not too far in case we get called home...

 These photos don't show you much, but it's really nice... and clean ... and modern...

 I believe I may have mentioned that as a child we camped at the beach for 2 weeks every summer... as a result of that I really don't want to rough it... at all ... if I don't have to...(my house is rough enough).

There's a lovely private sauna to pretend you're in the mob....

A wonderful pool that is perfect....

An outdoor kitchen if you just can't live without it...

One reason we like it is you can view the calendar to see if anyone else is booked.. so you can get the whole place to yourself...

And as the name suggest there is a kitchen for cooking classes, with a wonderful eating area.. artists were set up in there, and I was set up in the barn.... there were also artists set up outside in tents...

I did Ok, mainly because some friends came, but I also sold a few things to some really, really good artists which is always exciting....

It was good and hopefully I'll be back there for next year... 

Please come out to see me this coming Sunday at Bee Caves, they have a market in the Lowes parking lot..(I know...) but it's actually pretty good, and the
people and vendors are great! It's from 10 to 2 every Sunday.. I have lots of new works to show and hope to meet some new folks and see some familiar faces.....

Where to Find Us

 I'm almost embarrassed  to actually post again.
I think the last post I made was when I almost died at the Boerne Market Days event back in June...

I said then that I wasn't going to attempt to sell any art at another event until it got cooler... and I haven't.... I did put some art into a little gallery here in Dripping Springs.. the name is Solstice and the man who owns and runs the place is the nicest person you could ever meet..

I felt like "well at least I have art out there...in air conditioning.."... and I have sold a few things.. but of course although it's the easiest route, the gallery owner gets a pretty good chunk of the art price, so as an artist I want to sell as much work directly to the buyer. That way I get to charge less, make a little more.... You know... cut out the middle man.

With that attitude in mind Juliette and I set up shop at the Bee Caves Market this last Sunday.. and it was great! It was warm but not crazy hot... it's in the Lowes parking lot so in the summer I'm pretty sure there must be fatalities.... but it was (compared to Boerne) a very comfortable day..

It's kind of interesting,.. the regional differences of the people in each location.. Blanco, Boerne and Bee Cave.. I didn't know what to expect but everyone was very enthusiastic and I sold 7 paintings. Juliette sold her kitty ears, (almost all) and a few necklaces...

We will be back! However, next Sunday  September 27, we are going to be at Onion Creek Kitchens for the 1st Annual Fat Moon Fine Arts Festival.. it benefits PAWS, and I do love animals.. There will be free food, drinks, music and art vendors.. if you have an inkling to come you really should, it's a beautiful place!

Home to see you there!

Boerne Market Days

 This last weekend Juliette and I set up at the Boerne Market Days.

The Market Days here are 2 day events.

We drove there on Friday evening,  spent the night with my Mom and set up early the next morning.

Once again I want to bring up the point how hard these vendors work!

It's just so easy to think " must be no big deal"
but it's so much work you wouldn't believe it!

We got all set up and early Saturday I sold a few things...

Not much and then nothing til late Sunday because a friend showed up with her kids and saved us by purchasing a few items...

I think she felt sorry for us.

 It was so hot I ended up getting heat stroke.



I mean the real heat stroke... where you throw up...

Sooooo.... I decided it just isn't worth it to do these events in the summer.. no way.


A lesson learned..

I am waiting til October and think it will make all the difference in the world.

I did however sell
1.Pig Smelling Flowers to a couple who is sending it their niece in another state.
2. The Elephant wearing the purple cap on Poplar, I sold this to
woman who owns the Hungry Horse in Boerne.
3. The large rooster on metal to a man who owns The Ridge in
Kerville
4. a set of cow paintings
5. Armadillo on purple.

This is good, as I really want my art to just get out in the world...
not to mention many people gave me more advice and took my card...

 I don't believe I have posted  these metal paintings I did for outdoors, could also be indoors but outdoor safe.

A Pig... ( obviously).. you can't really tell but she has
black flowers hidden in her pattern.

 Frog painting on metal. Also for outdoors..

 All  of these, the pig, the frog , the whale and the rabbit along with a rooster are currently on display and  available at
"Solstice" here in Dripping Springs, and I will be taking more art over in the next few days....


Trying to work it and make something of this endeavor..


Here's to the artist in us all...