Look what I just made! This is the thing I love the most about my job. Customers in the studio creating with all of their heart, making something that they love so much, they want us to see what they have created! Well the staff and myself have those moments as well. We love to create just as much as you! And we love to show it off. Over the last few weeks I have had "make studio samples" on my to do list. I have been productive. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in schedules, payroll, accounting and inventory management that I forget that I need to be creative too. Look at this fun projects we have to share with you! Come on in and create with us!

I guess fall is my favorite season. I like spring too. Maybe it's because I am a Gemini and my twin sense likes the changes of season? One of my favorite things to do in fall is refresh the studio. As the kiddos go back to school we see a defined line between super crazy busy, and well, not so busy. So it offers me the ability to fall clean the studio, re-vamp areas that needed sprucing up, and moving things around. We opted for a mini makeover this time and have slightly re-arranged. It's a work in progress, but I hope you like the changes so far. The biggest change is the location of our pickup area. We moved it all the way to the front of the studio as you walk in. So far, those who have come in to pick up their items pre-move like the change! We are adding in a new product line of wood products so we have put them where the old pick up counter was. Stop in, see whats new!

Feeling nostalgic

Today, I am feeling a little nostalgic.
We just got the CD of graduation pictures for my daughter who in a few short months will turn 18, and at the end of the school year will graduate from High School.






When we opened the studio, on October 1st, 2003, this little sweet pea
was just turning 4, and that school year we started her in late pre-school. What an adventure it's been managing being a mother and a business owner all these years.



One of my favorite memories I have with Gabby is creating projects together, and even at age 17, she will indulge me, and hang out at the studio to make samples, or create with her friends. This plate is protected on my wall at home. It symbolizes that first year of pre-school, and how ready she was to learn. We captured her hands and those first scrawly letters. The day we made this plate, she had learned to put the letters in her name all in the right order!

Today, I spent a better part of my day organizing files and old pictures. 

What a trip looking through older pictures of the studio, and the many customers that have passed through our doors. When I signed my lease in August of 2003, my hand was shaking knowing I was committing to a full 3 years, and since then we have re-signed leases many more times. We looked at some options for moving the studio, but have decided to just go ahead and stay right where we are. Every fall I analyze how our studio is doing, and how the flow works. We realized this year that the tables are a little squished together whenever the studio is packed. So in the true spirit of fall we are going to move some stuff around and try another arrangement. Look for those changes sometime in the next few weeks.

The studio will be open while me make these changes, so no worries you can still create memories together. Starting next week we will re-open on Sunday's again! So go ahead and book your parties and classes!

What is perfect?

In the studio, you will find art quotes on our chalkboards. We put them up to help inspire our customers. In our day to day operation we see a lot of great people trying to make their project absolutely perfect. Really, we understand the need to make a project look nice, buy honestly ask yourself....what is perfect?

I can't count how many times I have looked into the eyes of a teary child who has just painted one brush stroke too many, or touched a spot on their art piece that was just a little more wet than they expected and smeared a design.

Never fear, the art teacher is here! Sometimes I can fix it, and sometimes ya' just have to make it work. When creating art, there is a lot to be said of just accepting whatever happens. It's made by hand after all, and as humans we are not perfect. (can you find the extra line? and the one that got a little thicker than I planned in this owl?)

Perfect is in the eye of the beholder. We all have a different definition of what perfect is. I can't tell you how many times I have painted something and didn't really like it, but then I ended up selling it and the person who bought it found it "perfect" for them. On the contrary, I have made items that I thought were perfect, and no-one wanted to purchase them.

So, when I have one of those teary eyed clients. We asses the situation, and determine what the plan of attack will be to make something that fits in their definition of perfect. Sometimes it's a matter of wiping off a little paint, and repainting a little paint. Sometimes a drip becomes a heart or a flower. Sometimes a drip becomes more drips and dots that turn to silly laughter. Almost always that moment of "mistake" turns to a fun artistic discovery--ironically, one that wasn't possible without that initial mistake.

There are times when it pays to be perfect. If you are writing a blog and you can't spell, your readers might find you less credible because of your spelling errors. If you are balancing your check book, it's not going to be OK if you think you have $500 more in the account than is actually there. But would anyone know that a purple drop of paint, turned into a cute flower on a pigs face was originally a mistake? I won't tell if you don't.

Get creative over your spring break!!!

Spring is just around the corner and we wanted to show you these fun projects you can make to brighten up your spring decor!!

Cute bunnies! We have just stocked in a couple of different styles. Easter bunnies are very popular in home decor right now! These ceramic ones can be painted anyway you like--super colorful or try this natural and very trendy "patina" look. We used acrylic paints, a metallic paint and a reactive paint to give these bunnies a fun patina. All supplies are provided in the studio, and staff will show you how easy it is to paint these. The paints are non-toxic, so even little kids can make these.

Easter Eggs are a popular item in the studio. We have tons of families that come back year after year to make eggs. It's fun to put them out each year, and see how the family has grown, and how different the eggs come out year after year. We have a lot of eggs in our inventory right now. You can paint eggs with acrylic paint and take them home with you the same day, or you can paint the eggs with glaze paints, and then wait for firing (takes about 7 - 10 days)





Egg plates are in! We get a lot of requests for deviled egg plates,

and this is the time of year we typically have them in stock! There are some fun ideas for decorating an egg plate on our Easter Pinterest page HERE

Clay projects for spring:
Here area  couple of fun ideas to do with  your kids! Clay hand building is always available in our studio as a walk-in activity (just like painting on pottery) Our staff will give you a few simple tips and tricks to get you started and you can make your own creation. Clay takes a little longer to create and to get back, so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time. Creating in the studio will take about 2 hours, especially if you opt to paint your project on the same day. If you opt to have your item fired, it takes up to 2 weeks for us to schedule them in the kiln, so allow a little extra time if you need your project by certain time. After you paint your project the items must be fired, and takes another 7 to 10 days to get back (a total of 3 to 4 weeks from start to finish)

First Communion and Confirmation gifts.
We love these crosses and what a great gift idea for someone who is celebrating a milestone in theirreligious journey. Have you tried our screen print tools yet? That brown stencil laying on the cross is a screen print. All you have to do is smear paint over the screen, and it applies the design to your project.  The project below is a finished project recently completed by a first time painter in the studio!

What ever kind of project you are looking to make, we are here to help make your spring break time fun and entertaining. Walk-ins are always welcome, and we take reservations too!

Canvas Painting
We have a number of ways for you to learn how to paint on canvas. We have a weekly adult class at Brother's Bar and grill, we offer walk-in during our open studio hours AND we offer private classes for groups of four or more! Check out the video below for details on our canvas!

Are you artistic or creative?

Are you artistic, or are you creative? Some would say they are neither. This has been the topic of conversation in my circles of friends. It is a debatable topic.

tomato/tomata.

In my opinion, a person who is artistic is a person with specialized talent. An artist, can take a subject matter of their choice and render recognizable version of that subject matter in the medium of their choice.

A BEGINNER used a picture of a field of poppies and created this in glass

 A creative person can take that subject matter and re-create it in their own voice.

Canvas projects painted by a family ages 4 to 48.

Can you be both? Yes!  Can you be neither?...HMMM, you may think so, but you would not be giving yourself enough credit for what you can do. It takes confidence to claim artistic and/or creative talent.

Glass half empty/glass half full.

In our studio, we encourage both artistic and creative pursuits. If you want to learn to do something better, we are here to help you out. If you want a purple kitty with big eyelashes, we are here for that too!

In Creating, the hardest part is to begin

" In creating, the hardest part is to begin" This quote stands out to me because I think it is one of the largest stumbling blocks I see among those who come to visit my studio. I have had clients agonize over the choices. Sometimes it's because there are so many choices, but sometimes it's just the client not knowing where to begin. Sometimes my clients have just been really warped by past art experiences. I am challenged with the task of undoing the years of self doubt in a two hour walk in experience.

First things first, what is it you are going to make? You have to have an idea of what you are trying to accomplish. Once you can visualize what your finished item will look like, the rest will fall into place. When I have a child who is having a tough time choosing between a couple of pieces, we will pull them off the bisque shelf place them side by side and then I will ask them, "tell me how you see this painted" Often times, they can give me more details on one vs the other, and BINGO! I helped them make their choice.

Some people tell me they fear colors, because they just don't know what looks good together. Fear of color is OK. You don't have to be good at putting colors together to make something beautiful. Use the inspirations available to you or look to an expert for help or inspiration. In our studio we keep a number of books with current magazine clippings and inspiring ideas. We also display finished projects in a variety of areas in the studio. Look around, you never know what will spark that creative idea into your own project.

Our color and design center

Other places I look for inspiration. I shop local gift and home stores. I love magazines and I follow a bunch of bloggers and crafters who inspire me to try new things.  I know I have mentioned it before, but I just LOVE Pinterest. Please follow me! Pinterest is a great way to store those ideas without creating more clutter. When I need a project for a class, or want to make a new sample, I go to Pinterest, make myself a print sheet, and go into my studio and start creating from the things that I like.

So, what are you working on? What inspires you?