Simple and Exceptional

The more you say, 

the less people remember.
François Fénelon

~

Source: plus.google.com via Alice on Pinterest

I love these quotes!  
 tend to over talk and make things a lot more complicated than they need to be.  
At 1800contacts we like strive to keep things Simple and Exceptional.

Simplicity is also beautiful.

Source: flickr.com via Desirae Rasmussen on Pinterest

Source: cakecentral.com via Majo on Pinterest

Source: dieentschleunigung.wordpress.com via Susie on Pinterest

Hope you have a happy Creative day!
Working on new originals in my studio...hopefully will be able to post some photos of works in progress very soon.  ~Alicia♥

Imagination to the Soul

Imagination 
is the eye of the soul.
Joseph Joubert

~

Window to the Soul



Hope your April Fools Monday is off to a 
fabulous start for the week!

Monday does get a bad rap 
and I agree it's not my favorite day,
this made me smile today....

What FUN April Fools 
pranks happened today?

Appreciate the Storm

There can be no rainbow without a cloud and a storm.
J. H. Vincent

~

Source: Uploaded by user via ✌ on Pinterest

Today was such a MONDAY, but I realize that without some complicated days, I wouldn't appreciate the smooth days.  Appreciate some storminess so you can enjoy the rainbow.

My baby girl's birthday is this week and we'll have all teenagers now.  I have been so blessed with such amazing and inspirational daughters.
What a lucky mom I am :)

Featured Etsy Shop

Life isn’t a matter of milestones, 

but of moments.
Rose Kennedy

~

Flying Girl


I just found this wonderful etsy shop,
Rowena Murillo

Don't you think this Flying Girl 

works wonderfully with the quote for today?  

This artist is located in Saint Petersburg, Florida USA.

There are several different versions of flying girl and 

I think they are wonderful!

Take flight today and try something new ♥

Make today Matter

Better than a thousand hollow words, 

is one word that brings peace.

Buddha

~

Source: lottaagaton.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Today is another welcome beginning,
work towards the change 
you want in your life.

Source: jessicasporn.blogspot.com via June on Pinterest

I just found Jessica Sporn's 
wonderful artful blog via pinterest!

♥

Kind Words

Kind words are the music of the world. 
F. W. Faber

~

Source: Uploaded by user via Quote on Pinterest

When you think a kind thought about someone, tell them... 
let them enjoy your thought process too.

Source: classiccopenhagen.blogspot.com via Sarah Beth on Pinterest

Weekend Project Photos

The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan

~

Great quote for Do-it-Yourself projects!

Here's a "before" photo of my 

weekend painting project...

This is what my daughter's desk looked like.

It was a failed attempt at making something awesome.  About a year ago, she liked how it looked... and snagged it out of the garage before I could actually finish working on it.

Fast forward to Saturday ... 

time for a room make-over for this pre-teen.

Armed with a huge new bottle of Mod-Podge and some coordinating scrapbook papers.. mom set of to create a new look.  

process working out well for the top!

Moving on to the drawers and pull knobs...

Finished Desk...

(Please excuse the mess under the desk already... 

I did mention that this was a pre-teen correct??)

My daughter loves the new look  

:)

Happy momma.

Free Workshop

Knowing yourself 

is the beginning of all wisdom.
Aristotle

~

Timeless Rituals

One of my online friends is hosting a free online workshop called ChakrART

It will be a 7 week online workshop making art!  

Beginning March 4, 2013... Each Monday will have a new lesson.

I'm going to join in the fun and I hope you can too!

Sale * Coupon Code * Valentine's Day

Change and growth take place when a person

 has risked himself and dares to become 

involved with experimenting 

with his own life. 
Herbert Otto

~

Dragonflies are supposed to be symbols of personal growth and I really think they are beautiful.  I submitted my first inquiry regarding Art Licensing today and I'll cross my fingers as I head down this path.
I have been encouraged my customers, family, and friends to at least check this out and it's been on my to do list for over a year.

Hope you are having a wonderful Valentine's Day!

To spread some love, I'm running a coupon code 
in my Etsy shop through tomorrow evening....



~♥~
LOVEHAPPY = 30% discount
30% off anything in my etsy shop



This is the best coupon I've ever offered, so if you've had your eye on anything (including originals)...now's the time to give yourself a gift!

What Lies Within Original

Love, Love, Love

Spare Moments

Spare moments 

are the gold dust of time.
Bishop Hail

~

Source: i-love-pretty-things.tumblr.com via Gabby on Pinterest

It's amazing how much you can accomplish in just some 
"spare change-time".


Lately, Spare Moments, 
is all the time I have to work on Art.
I tend to work on at least 2 pieces at a time, and spare time works well with mixed media.  Let your layers dry naturally!

Just finished my latest original, Red Riding Hood, today.
Better photos will be posted shortly.

~♥~

What do you do when you find 
some spare time?

Gratitude

The art of being wise 

is knowing what to overlook.
William James

~

Source: quotediary.me via Alicia on Pinterest

♥
This is so true!
Keeping a Gratitude Journal is wonderful.
I frequently read back through my entries and it calms my nerves on days when I'm feeling stressed.
~

Family Matters

Family quarrels are bitter things. 
They don't go according to any rules. 
They're not like aches or wounds, they're more like splits in the skin that won't heal because there's not enough material. 
F. Scott Fitzgerald 

~

Sweetheart Treasury and Pink Saturday

Never confuse a single defeat 

with a final defeat. 
F. Scott Fitzgerald 
~

Happy Pink Saturday Weekend

Here's a treasury from etsy with some fabulous Valentine's Day Treats for you to enjoy  :)

'You Have My Whole Heart' by metrocottage

Hearts for your Sweetheart!

Whole Heart - Handpaint... TheHouseofBelo... $90.00	Watercolor Vibrant Hear... SusanWindsor $3.50	Red Hearts - Enamel Ear... happyment $30.00	Vintage Valentine Kitte... 3vintagehearts $3.50
I LOVE YOU - Ceramic He... BackBayPottery $18.00	Valentines Heart Red Mu... CraftUnikat $43.00	Valentine Brooch, Silk ... TwoLeftHands $27.00	Desire Heart / Love Quo... CathyCarterStu... $15.00
Original Abstract Heart... MyPawPortrait $130.00	Heart wreath - red rose... laurelsbylauri... $56.00	Valentines Day Sale HAN... ShopOfCraftsBy... $14.00	Felt storage Red Love -... theYarnKitchen $32.00
Red and white handmade ... RitaJFelt $60.00	Red hearts on linen coi... oktak $46.00	Zipper/Recycled Felted ... p39designs $14.00	SALE 15% Off FREE SHIPP... ParisienneGirl $17.85

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

♥
Valentine's Day is just around the corner.
What fun projects are you working on?
♥

Fix - it Saturday

Kind words are the music of the world. 
F. W. Faber

~

Source: obeedesigns.tumblr.com via Dorielle on Pinterest

Happy Saturday!
Sending love out to Beverly's Pink Saturday♥
If you have a minute you should definitely check it out.



It's FREEZING cold where I am and the electricity has blinked off at least 2 times just since 7 am .. hope it doesn't stay off... Burrrrr.


I'm in "fix-it" mode this morning.
Throughout the week (more likely the month)
anything that breaks:  necklaces, earrings, hairbows, clothing, etc.
Gets put into mom's fix-it pile.

Today's the day!


I found this cool blog today via Pinterest, I am trying this recycling t-shirt project today as well, 
I'll let you know how it turns out!

Source: shopfreak14.blogspot.com via April on Pinterest

What are your "FIX-IT" tricks?

~Alicia ♥

Fresh Start

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.
Elbert Hubbard

~

New Year
New Month
Fresh Start



I don't like the usual New Year's Resolution... 
I do like the general ones like I posted previously.


•
Do Not Worry About Things Out of Your Control
•
Say Nice Things To Strangers
•
Realize You Can NOT Please Everyone
•


I also like the idea of a Fresh Start.  
Doing the best you can do every day is all that you can ask of yourself.  
If today, you didn't live up to your expectations.... 
try to do better tomorrow.

Original Being Published

"Sometimes the heart sees

what is invisible to the eye."

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

~

Found out that my "Celebration" original 
will be featured in the 
March/April 
Somerset Studio Magazine!

I love the quote by Emerson

"Imagination is more important that Knowledge"

~♥~

I feel confident that 2013 will be an amazing year.

A friend is going to do this project for 2013
 and also found it on Pinterest...

Throughout the year, write happy memorable moments on a small piece of paper, and slip them into a jar or bottle.  On New Year's Eve open up the bottle and have fun remembering the awesomeness of all that has happened.

Source: writeshop.com via Kim on Pinterest

~Be Passionate~