I made something...

So....I've been on a bit of a creative break since mid-March.  Not really by choice, as one never really chooses to be creatively blocked (which is why I haven't made anything new in 3 months).  

Art is a fickle thing, as the ever-wise Delilah puts it.

It's funny how I never really gave the notion of artist's block much credit, until I became faced with it myself.  When I'd hear artists say that they were "blocked", I'd think: oh, just go to your workbench and make something.  Well, I'll tell you first hand - that's just not how it works.

Anyway. I've gotten a lot of emails and Etsy convos in the last few months.  Thank you for your concern, my dear friends.  I'm actually quite ok. I've been using this down time to my advantage, spending time with my daughter and husband, hanging out with friends, practicing yoga, reading, cooking, enjoying the summer, and well, just loving this beautiful and blessed life of mine.  As a side note, I'm contemplating going back into the workforce.

I've started painting for the first time, and I'm learning how to draw humans. I'm taking a beginner acrylics painting class as well as a figure drawing class twice a week. Apparently I really love to paint.  Also apparently, I really have a hard time drawing the human body in proper proportion. I'm told that's to be expected.

And I made these earrings this weekend. 

They're the first new thing I've created since March.  

You can find them here in my Etsy shop.

Sakura Bloom earrings

original hand drawn art, etched in copper

Pretty cool, n'est-ce pas?

That's the latest update here.

Hope you are all enjoying these beautiful summer days.

Love, love, love,
Alice :)

Just for Daddy

Little hands of a 3 year old painted a family portrait for her Daddy's Father's Day present. This proud Mama just couldn't resist sharing it here.

Painting the background.

She did it all by herself.

Our happy family, hugging, dancing, and holding hands in the summer sun.

The title, according to SweetPea: 
"My Picture - You Love Me"

Happy Father's Day to all the Daddies out there.

Sweet summer treat to beat the heat.

I aim to feed my family stuff that's clean, delicious, and low effort to make.

Here's a beyond-easy recipe for frozen fruity yogurt pops. 

The recipe that follows was totally improvised on the fly last night. 

Experiment and see what variations you can come up with. 

Ingredients: Fresh and/or frozen berries (about 1 cup). Honey (about 2-3 tbsp). Greek Yogurt (about 1 cup).
Eyeball it. Use whatever fruits you have on hand. Add some real blueberry juice. Use agave syrup instead of honey (just don't use refined sugar or artificial sweeteners). Use regular instead of Greek yogurt (or leave out the yogurt altogether). The important thing is to use real ingredients.

Into the blender cup.

Give it a whirl for like 7 seconds.
Can I tell you how in love I am with my new immersion blender?

Pour into popsicle molds ( I got this set at Target for less than $4).
Freeze for 6 hours or overnight.

Ready to unmold.
In this Georgia summer heat there's no need to run the popsicle molds under hot water. 
2 minutes in the noonday heat and they're ready to slide out.

Now that's a tasty treat!

Inexpensive, yummy, and so, so nutritious. 

Better for you than any popsicles you'll ever find at the grocery store, that's for sure.

Enjoy!

xo,
A :)

Summerfest this weekend

Heya!  It's a big weekend coming up.

I'll be at Virginia Highland Summerfest this weekend, for all you Atlanta-area peoples.

Summerfest is hands down my best and most favorite show to do, year after year.  I'm so excited to be exhibiting there again and I'm really looking forward to a great show.

Since I've shifted my art jewelry away from production work and into one-of-a-kind/limited edition pieces, many of my production items (my popular Art Nouveau initial pendants and Zodiac pendants, for example) will be available at super-duperly marked down prices at this weekend's festival.  Whatever remains after this weekend will be relisted in my Etsy shop for a short while longer. And after that they'll be gone, gone, gone forever.

So, if you happen to be in the vicinity of Atlanta this weekend, come by and say hey! 

I'll be in booth #301, right in the middle of all the action, across from the music.

Hope to see you!

xoxo,

Alice :)