Confession :Polyvore Anyone?

Confession by formedbyfire featuring vintage jewelry

I have to admit,  I'm addicted to eye candy. Anything that catches my eye is flame for the fire. Perhaps I should say food for the gluttonous visual feast. As far as eye candy is concerned, I have a huge appetite.

I am an artist by nature. I even would admit that I am a secret hoarder, a crow cawing with glee when I find a glittery treasure that is visible to only me. 

Now I must say that anyone who knows me well knows that I am a hoarder. My dear husband of 21 years knows this secret all too well. My hoarding, which I prefer to call my collection in the sacred pursuit of Art, is limited to books and magazines and clippings.  Thankfully my husband is accepting because he loves me and is very wise.

If it weren't for him, our home could be wall to wall books with a small path leading from room to room with a small corner for chairs, tables, and furniture. I tend to think of him as the voice of reason. His influence and my pocketbook keep me from slipping into complete slobdom or being seen on tv as the woman who died in her house surrounded by a tower of leaning books.

Once again, I must say that I prefer to think of myself as a collector. I'm not a mere slob hoarding cheese wrappers and paper towels. My collection is for a higher calling. Making art.

So what does this have to do with anything? I'm sure you are wondering what this has to do with polyvore. Some of you may be asking what in god's name is polyvore. Seven days ago, I had never heard of polyvore.

Polyvore is the leading community site for online style where users are empowered to discover their style and set trends.  (I got this directly from the web.) Polyvore is a lot like playing paper dolls with pictures of real clothes. (Another quote from the web)

For me as an artist,  polyvore is this amazing online community of artists. For me as an artist, polyvore is this huge artistic playground, one big magazine that I can clip these cool images from.

Polyvore is EYE CANDY HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!


I stumbled onto polyvore when I was googling images for Frida Kahlo. Googling images for this and that is another one of my ways of scrolling for eye candy. I had just read a book about Frida and I discovered this set:

:

Frida Shrine by little flower ✿ featuring 18k jewelry

Swarovski orange jewelry
38 GBP - avalaya.com

Avalaya boho jewelry
11 GBP - avalaya.com

Gold Mirror
insideavenue.com

Starburst Metal Mirror - 22" : Target
$25 - target.com

Pier 1 Imports - Sunflower Mirror
$30 - pier1.com

Catalog - Flowers - Leaves
$7.50 - tinseltrading.com

ASOS

ASOS Set Stone Ring With Multi Stone Surround at ASOS
10 GBP - asos.com

 
As soon as I saw it I had to know more!  I joined immediately.
 
This was my first set!
 

Protea by formedbyfire on Polyvore.com

Fly 53 Dulcimer Jumper
34 GBP - fashionbeans.com

Driftwood Mirror
$199 - crateandbarrel.com

Find large peony floral red fabric, red fabrics, pink fabrics, floral...
$15 - warmbiscuit.com

Second Set:

Strength by formedbyfire featuring vintage coats

Polyvore is good news, for all these reasons!

1.   I can keep my collections in one central place on the computer.
2.   I get to see as much eye candy as I want, as often as I want, whenver I want.
3.   Not as many trips to the library
4.   Not so much clutter around the house.
5.   Some of the creations on polyvore are so amazing, artistic and creative!
6.   I can start releasing back into the wild some of my treasured collection.
7.  Most importantly, my husband will be so happy when I let go of a lot of my stuff! Notice, I didn't say all of my stuff. It will take awhile.

I might even step away from the computer once in awhile and paint.

Until next time,
Kim

Promotional Frenzy Blog List :All the shop urls

So I've put it off making a blog list for a while, because I did it before, but did it wrong. I linked to the blogs instead of to promotional frenzy etsy shops. So I pushed up my sleeves and redid it. I'm hoping that this list will make it a little easier for the next member of the team to add their etsy shops to their blog roll.

To add shop links in your sidebar;


*First go to your dashboard and click on "Design"
*Then select a blank page element (one of the rectangles on the side that says add gadget") and open it

*When it opens select "Link List"

*Then Label the Title something like "Promotional Frenzy"

*Below that type in or copy and paste the URL from each shop one at a time

*If you don't want the whole URL shown you can paste into the line below also and take out the http:// and .etsy.com in that line that says "New Site Name".
*Then save, and these should show up when you view your blog.
*Repeat, until finished.

* Here's all the urls for you that you will need. I'll update, as needed.

I wish someone had made this list for me, so I did it for you.


Here's the complete list:
galla15 - http://www.etsy.com/shop/galla15
jQjewelrydesigns- http://www.etsy.com/shop/jQjewelrydesigns
GlitterbirdGlamour - http://www.etsy.com/shop/GlitterbirdGlamour
Petite Hermine - http://www.etsy.com/shop/petitehermine
DivineInTime - http://www.etsy.com/shop/DivineinTime
Kater's Acres (ToyStoryNutty) - http://www.etsy.com/shop/toystorynutty
Prittyfy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Prittyfy
sammi10 - http://www.etsy.com/shop/sammi10
Makenzi&Madilyn -    http://www.etsy.com/shop/im2keys
BijiBijoux -   http://www.etsy.com/shop/im2keys
CrimsonHill - http://www.etsy.com/shop/crimsonhill
KrystalsJewelry - http://www.etsy.com/shop/krystalsjewelry
CrochetedbyCharlene –   http://www.etsy.com/shop/crochetedbycharlene
tfamily5 -   http://www.etsy.com/shop/tfamily5
NewCreatioNZ -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/NewCreatioNZ
Jane Hamill - http://www.etsy.com/shop/janehamill
crystalphotography - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Crystalphotography
CalliopeAZCreations- http://www.etsy.com/shop/CalliopeAZCreations
HogansHandiwork - http://www.etsy.com/shop/HogansHandiwork
AngelasPaperArt- http://www.etsy.com/shop/angelaspaperart
TheMayFlower- http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheMayFlower
PaintedMemoriesByRos- http://www.etsy.com/shop/PaintedMemoriesByRos
BountyofBeads - http://www.etsy.com/shop/bountyofbeads
ArielSimone - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArielSimone
Bagsofblessing -http://www.etsy.com/shop/bagsofblessing
LaRueFashions - http://www.etsy.com/shop/laruefashions
Angelsneverlastings - http://www.etsy.com/shop/AngelsNEverlastings
PowersOfLove - http://www.etsy.com/shop/PowersOfLove
turtlexiii - http://www.etsy.com/shop/TurtleXIII
Lbtoyos - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lbtoyos
rabbithollowprims - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Rabbithollowprims
terraverdegoods - http://www.etsy.com/shop/terraverdegoods
treehouseherbs -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/treehouseherbs
Green Dragon Books  http://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenDragonBooks
RhettDidntGiveADamn -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/RhettDidntGiveADamn
SabtisDesigns -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/SabtisDesigns
Lissie Design -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/lissies
ModBrush - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ModBrush
GrapeVineCeramicsGft - http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrapeVineCeramicsGft
charmeddesign1012 -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/charmeddesign1012
cigarboxbeads - http://www.etsy.com/shop/cigarboxbeads
Magdamagda -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/magdamagda
GetThePartyStarted -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/getthepartystarted
designs by Leah R. Hood-  http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeahRHood
BeadLightning-   http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeadLightning
Poison Garden - http://www.etsy.com/shop/PoisonGarden
Kelly Designs - http://www.etsy.com/shop/kellyjsorenson
Teacup Teddies-   http://www.etsy.com/shop/TeacupTeddies
EldoradoSoap -   http://www.etsy.com/shop/EldoradoSoap
PrintsByFormedByFire-   http://www.etsy.com/shop/printsbyformedbyfire
sewinggranny- http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewinggranny

Laurel Burch

Next week, I plan on having students begin a painting unit in the style of Laurel Burch. Kindergarteners will be focusing on pattern. As you can see, many of Laurel's cats feature pattern. 

As usual, one of my passions is doing research on the internet. So I spent some time on the internet to discover what I could about her as an artist. I discovered that not only was she an amazing artist, she was an amazing person. At 14,  she left home with a paper bag of clothes and osteoporous. She began making jewelry which became collectable. In spite of her illness, Laurel was always prolific. Even when she was forced to paint from a bed or wheelchair, she seldom put her brushes down. Laurel said, “I refuse to have anything in my life that I can’t turn around into something magical and beautiful. I just refuse.” Due to her illness, healing was always on her mind. She considered her illness a gift. I was saddened to discover that in 2007, she passed away.

One of my students, a sixth grader, mentioned that art has nothing to do with the real world. And art grades, not important! I agree with her about art grades, not important, but art, that's a different story! Art is important, art just makes life better. So, Laurel Burch to the rescue! Let's see if I can entice her into the excitement of art by way of Laurel Burch.

Can't wait to share all the colorful artwork that we will create!

Until next time,

Kim

Etsy Featured Crafter

I've joined the Promotional Frenzy Team On Etsy and I'm really loving it so far. It's wonderful to have a team that helps you in your promotional efforts.

The crafter that I want to feature today is sewinggranny. Sewing Granny is Mona. She has a 30 year old son, and a new grandson in November. Her dream is to run a full time craft business. She is an active member of the etsyangels team. For more information on the Etsy angels team click here

She features in her store a variety of items. From quilts to potholders and everything in between. Mona is willing to work with you so that anything in her shop can be customized and made especially for you.



 These are some of my favorites:

Bear Wallhanging

Blue Tones Sampler Block

Oven Door Dishtowel
I hope you enjoyed the visit in sewinggranny's etsy shop.

Until next time,
Kim

New Painting

We've had a pretty bad snowstorm here in Missouri. They called in the National Guard to assist the Kansas City Metro area. School's been out and one woman joked that they were calling it "Snowmaggadon". Of course, I'm using all this time off to my advantage. I'm sleeping late,  and I'm working on my new painting.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 4 or 5

I'm thinking of calling it Hearts to Heaven or Hope Has Wings. I'm not sure which or something else entirely. What do you think? Or perhaps you have an idea, etsy friends.  Now I'm almost at the last stage.

Inspiration behind the painting: The Hearts are prayers that, as they ascend to heaven,  are transformed into birds. the DNA like columns are the prayers lifting to heaven, In the back, are prayer flags.

Almost final version

I have a few decisions to make:

1. Finish the bird in hands, finish hands(more details)

2. I think the column by the bird is too cluttered, maybe take it out and have one more bird.

3. Darken the sky.

So what do you think? 

Until next time,

Kim

Weekly Finds: Valentine's Day Etsy Style

Etsy is geared up for Valentine's Day, and so are we!  Some of these finds are so romantic and others are just plain yummy. They say the way to a man's heart is through is stomach. The way to my heart is chocolate!

                                                                   PoisonGarden

dasweetzspot

                                                          robynsnestboutique






                                                                Laurali

crumblescookies

http://www.etsy.com/listing/56143680/a-shared-moment-8x10-fine-art-print

Until next time,

Kim

And the stupid movie award goes to . . .

The Graves. Larry likes to watch horror movies, which is really not my kind of movie, but this movie has to be the stupidest movie I have ever seen.

It starts out with these two sisters who are like a great team. The older sister is going away to New York, while little sister stays home and lives her life. Big sister is the tough one. Before big sister, Meg goes away, they take a little road trip. They stop in the desert in the town of Unity.

At the dinner, the waitress recommends that they stop at Skull Mine. Little sister has a smart moment and says no. Big sister insists so off they go. As they are eating in comes the creepiest black preacher and his prisoner. Long story short, at the mine is where they kill the tourists, the whole town is in on it, and the town is demon possessed. The town kills the tourists to keep the town of Unity prosperous.



Incredibly stupid highlights:

1. Big sister is trying to lead the killer away from little sister. She cuts her wrist long ways and so deeply that she should have bled to death within minutes.



2. Little sister has fallen into a ditch and has been knocked unconscious, she knows that the killer is hunting for her. She yells for her sister.



3. Big sister has been taken hostage. Little sister stands in the window so the killer sees her and takes her hostage too.



4.Little Sister knows or she is too stupid to realize the whole town is in on the scheme. The first killer is related to the second killer. The waitres is related to the killers, etc. So Big sister gets stabbed, and where does little sister take her for help? You guessed it. Right back to the town who has no hospital and no phones and the nearest town is over 25 miles away.

5. The sisters are taken hostage, the whole church has a revival and is going to sacrifice the sisters to the demon known as savior. Townspeople all cover their noses because the smell causes them to be possessed by the Savior . The horrible smell takes over the sisters and they start trying to bite each other like crazed dogs. Thank God the smell of feet and farts do not cause us to become demon possessed. They smell bad, but that is one problem the world does not need. We would all be in danger and the human race would be extinct.

6. Remember, I told you big sister has been stabbed in the chest? Don't forget she cut her wrist so deep she should have bled to death in a few minutes. Oh never mind, that because the writers want you to feel the touching moment between sisters. So big sister has told little whiny sister to pull herself together. Little sister pulls it together, and saves big sister. Big sister tells little sister I am proud of you. Little sister punches big sister in the chest where she has been stabbed. Little Sister tells Big sister," I am going with you to New York. Someone needs to take care of you." The moment is so touching, big sister feels no pain.

What I have learned from this movie:
1. No matter how fast you run, the killer will catch up to you even if he is walking.
2. Don't trust anyone from small towns, they are all in a plot to kill you.
3. When you seek help, just remember killers are always related.
4. If you try to keep the killer from finding you slit your wrist and lead him awy with your blood. 5. Bad smells can cause demon possession. Keep the world safe, eliminate bad smells.
6. You can be whiny and scared and still be the hero at the end of the movie.
7. Getting stabbed can be cured from just the right amount of sisterly love.
8. All Chrisitan are psycho killers, and a little religion makes you a lot crazy.
I wish hollywood would stop perpetuating this. Craziness is no repecter of persons. It crosses the boundaries of race, gender, and religion.
9. It is too stupid to be scary.
10. Good writers don't write for Hollywood.

Until next time,
Kim