I am working on it.... Making it Pretty!

'She believed she could so she did - follow your dreams' at Valentina Design!

Cheese and Potatoes!!!

 (better than saying other expletives) 

 I feel like this week has flown by! I am still working on updates and additions to my art show and shop update(I am adding pieces before my reception , who knew people out there would like my work so much!!!! And in FARGO non the less!)  

I just made a big purchase. A large format Epson printer I have had a crush on for a while. This way I can print on demand... instead of having a middle man. How exciting is that! YAY. I still am figuring out all the details on how to run it properly. So here I am with loads to do.... I can't seem to work fast enough and I LOVE IT!!!! 

Girls.... I  just want to say... that you HAVE to go for it. FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!!!! It is hard work. I admit it. And I am only at the very beginning.... but I can feel the momentum moving me. It is so wonderful... to inspire, to move people... to find people that can actually relate to me. Maybe I live under a rock... I am not sure... but I never knew there were so many people out there with my thoughts.... my perspective.... my love. It is completely overwhelming. I feel like I am falling in love with humanity. It is intoxicating. It brings me to tears. I wish we could all go have a bonfire and camp out under the stars together. So wherever you are in your creative process.... I just want to encourage you. MOVE FORWARD. Seek your passion and never give up. I am behind you. I will keep telling you..... do it. Do it for you. Do it for them. Do it for the one you will never know. Because you will never truly know yourself... know your goodness ...until you follow that bumpy.... untraveled..... jungle covered road. Let's be adventurous together. 

Oh... and ... thanks. I love you all dear girls. You are the stars that shine so bright in the darkest sky. You will never know how much.....

xoxo

Carrie

MAKING IT PRETTY with LISTS...

I have lists upon lists of things to do... and well, what can I say... I am only one woman. Speaking of which, isn't this memo pad/ list perfect?! You can just hook it to your purse strap or wherever. So perfect.... at Quotes and Notes Etsy shop. I think I need one.... the older I get the more lists I have (and the longer they are).

Spring is always a busy season. We are busy trying to finish our remodeling projects and then deciding to redecorate on top of it all. Oh boy. I have helped at school, torn out carpet, picking out this and that... oh the decisions!! I have been brushing my ever shedding dogs... and fixing the toilets.... sealing grout and gutting my office to reorganize. I am just finishing packing so we can go have a weekend with family and friends in Minneapolis.  I am wishing I could just crawl into my chair and cozy up with a good book. I want to go walking with Elizabeth Bennet , skip down the yellow brick road with Dorothy and Toto, or just cuddle with the sweet velveteen rabbit. But no, I must be a boring adult and do what must be done. I know that once it is all finished and life slows down once more I will be even more creative than ever!!!!!! I have tons of new sketches and have already started on a few.... My next art showing will be all my lovely, sweet girls! AN ENTIRE SHOW! Just for them... (I hear they are quite flattered but are still very shy about the whole ordeal). My show is in MAY! I am going to be a crazy woman.... 

I will still be doing my other posts/tutorials but for tonight I am taking a break. And since I am being all adult about it... I am going to go have a very grown up martini now.

LUV  'n'  HUGS!

Carrie

MAKING IT PRETTY...

OH ART WALL!

How I love thee...

Let me count the ways.

Click on any of the pictures to see where I found them!!

You are so lovely with your

 mismatched frames and eclectic style.

I would search the world or

 at least Etsy without traveling the miles!

;)

So as you can see..

One of my projects will be an art wall. 

 I have been looking and searching for ideas and

 the perfect mix of art to put on my walls! 

Learn how to put an art wall together here.

&

See what I am inspired by here.

If you have any help for me... 

I would love it if you would leave me a comment. 

Have fun making it pretty!

xoxo

Carrie

AND A LITTLE MOO

     

Well, I love to be a silly girl and

 don't take my self very seriously. 

Most of the time.

Probably one of the reasons I have never been 

very good about having a 'Bus-i- ness' card.

They are these random little cards that can come across rather useless and can be very look at me .. I am important. How very  not humble these cards can seem. But, as a matter of fact, I do have some..... My very best friend in the world made them for me about a year ago. And well, I have run out. I was told I needed to make more to put at Gallery 4. Also,  I should really have some to put with my art pieces as they travel here and there. So off I went looking for something I wouldn't mind giving away. And I stumbled upon a sweet little online shop called moo.com! Oh they are clever! I went ahead and ordered one pack... which you can customize with all your own images/artwork (and as many as you want... not just one design you are stuck with). Then I went to their blog and found this adorable idea.......

A SWEET LITTLE BOOKMARK!!!

Here is what you need to do to make your own...

step one... supplies

step two....

punch hole and cut ribbon

step three...

fold ribbon in half & slip through hole

step four...

slipknot a.k.a  pull tail through hole

step five...

pull gently.. but get it tight.

FINISHED!

Now you have a demure little card that is useful and professional.

How about that? Finally I can love a business card!

xo

Carrie

P.S. And the back is as sweet as the front.... you can click on the first image to see more closely. ;)

Psstttt...... I heard something....

Don't you just love this necklace?

You can find it at NyBlaque's Etsy Shop!!

I wanted to tell you a little secret. Well... okay maybe it is not a secret. I love you all so dearly my blog friends... and I love inspiring and sharing with you. So I thought it would be nice if I did something sweet for you.

First of all....

You wanted me to show you how I do some of my art. So I will be putting together a little 'show and tell' of how I create some of my pieces. It will be a .... this is my process sort of deal. 

Secondly...

I thought, it is so nice when you get to explore a person's  little unique world... their style, curious and fabulous finds etc.... So I decided I will be doing a weekly post called Making it Pretty! My mister told me to go shopping, what a surprise!!! I am so excited! I thought you may like to enjoy the journey with me... So we can make my life and yours pretty together. I think we will have a fabulous time! 

So that is it.... I am a very happy girl. I have no deadlines this week and I am going to make some art and get some ideas!! I also plan on making one new piece of art for every room in the house.... thrilling isn't it. I thought so.

Xo

Carrie