To Market, To Market

So many things to love here!  The pink against the green.  The screen door.  The overlaying of the mirrors.  

Like you, I wear many hats.  When I'm not in the Studio creating, I might be in the office planning a retreat or some creative classes.  And when I'm not doing that, I'm usually at my "real job".  

Huge display in a window, this is the top.  Loved the way the chair seems to be balanced on the table and stack of suite cases.  And the pop of green with the Mother-in-Law Tongue plant (which was hot in the 70's).

And just what is that you ask?  Well, my real job is putting together displays, decorating the windows and putting out new merchandise for a wonderful store called, The Dove's Nest.  

This is the bottom of the above photo.  Sorry a little blurry.  I was trying to not get caught.  LOL.

And one of the perks of my job is getting to go to Dallas Market.  Dallas Market holds a major show, twice a year, for shop owner's to come and see new merchandise to and buy stuff for their stores. 

I love shutters.  So I really loved this piece worked in as a piece of art, with framed art on top.  

When we were there last week, I snapped some pics of a few of the displays that were inspiring to me.  Seems like I'm always on the hunt for a way to freshen things up in the store or to just present something in a way that it will inspire our customers.  And I was on visual overload at market.  Which I loved.

Green.  Green is supposed to be THE color for 2013.  And I saw lots of it.  Love the mix here of peely/shabby with the mirrored edge framed artwork.  

I think we all want to learn new ways to keep things fresh in our homes.  Or how to work that wonderful new goodie into our existing decor.  Either way, when it comes to display, well that's my thing.

Love, love, love the paper treatment on the bookcase.  Especially loved the backwards books.   Great use of texture and color.  

I got a new phone right before we left for Market on Friday, so I snapped some pics of arrangements that I found interesting.  

Loved the whimsy of this.  I think it cascaded from the window and across the wall.  Loads of paper crafted flowers on a wire.  I'm sure it took someone ages to create them all.

So many wonderful, creative arrays that caught my eye.  Some don't really show off product as much as they just pull you in.  Which, I think, is what a great window display should do.  As anyone who has gone to an Anthropologies knows.  

I loved the overall look of this, the dark vs light.  The texture of the shred in the basket.  Really wonderful. 

So that's just a little peek into what I do when I'm NOT in the Studio.  Thanks for letting me give you a glimpse of the other part of my world.  

Oh the possibilities....

One o two inspiration boards that are in the Studio

Thought for the day

This one flows down onto the shelf and practically onto my desk

But i love the colors and it makes me happy.   Even though it feels like a jumbled mess.

I tried to make it my banner, but that's going to take more work than I have time for today.  

New painting that I am working on.

Oh the possibilities indeed.  Are you still filled with that fresh, new scrubbed feeling?  That possibilities are endless?  That there is much to discover and learn?  That you want to take on everything creative?  I am.  

I vow to make this the year that I'm not just brave, but "curiouser and curiouser",  passionately curious and "to find something that I'm passionate about and to stay tremendously interested in it" to sort of quote Julia Child.  

So many freshly scrubbed possibilities.  Let's stay curious this year, shall we?

journal in the works

working on journal pages

fly

create

a pocket to put your goodies

to add your name

if I can wrench it from my hands, I'll list it in my Etsy.

2013...Here we Are

With bells on.  I'm ready for 2013....starting fresh, changing to a new calendar and up for trying new things.  With enthusiasm.  Even when I spell it wrong in my journal.

Hope you are too.

Paints, Tissues and Sneezes

One of my favorites, I love the colors.  

I can't remember a time when the urge to PAINT has been this much of a pull.  Its been ages.

One of the last Christmas ones.

And even with me being sick this week, I've still managed to crawl into the studio and work on some canvases.

One of my favorite scriptures.  

Then, Sweet Hub got sick too.  And then really caused me to run and hide in the Studio.

Another of my favorite scriptures.

I'm still trying to find my style...and get what is in my head, onto the canvas.   Close, but no cigar, as they say,

I wanted this one to look like chalkboard, with just a hint of color.

Valentines is on my mind.  

This one turned out a little wonky, but one of my favorite JRR Tolkien quotes.

Another great scripture.

I love em all in a pile!

But I've taken almost all of the canvases down to work and they are selling.  Which just makes me happy.  One woman bought the one above, because she said it just made her smile.  I love that.

Speciality work always makes me nervous.

The guy at Valvoline, when he saw the canvases in my car, asked if I could paint one for his daughter.  I said sure...I worked her name into her favorite quote.  I loved the way it turned out.  He told me it was better than he expected.  LOL.

Sketch once, but check your spelling twice.  :)

Sometimes though, I have to re-check my spelling.  Oops!!!  I've put a few on my Etsy.  And it goes without saying all images copyright Cindy Mayfield.  Please do not use without permission.

Sneaking ahead and thinking of Valentines...

...yup, that is where my head is at.  I was playing with a pattern that I got when I took Sandra Feazel's class in Paper Cowgirl last February.  LOVE this little heart pocket.

Still Painting...

This is the second one.  And I like it even better than the first...its a little more quirky.

I think I'll just keep going.  :)  Maybe use some blue or something.