Artists and Inspiration in Atlanta

The mart in Atlanta was amazing! So many showrooms and new products to view. It was as if I was a child in a candy store - except this was all eye candy! Showroom after showroom filled to the brim with wonderful, colorful and awesome decor for home, holiday and gift giving.

One of my favorite parts of visiting the show is connecting with the amazing artists that I have come to know over the years that are in the same industry.  We are creative, right-brained individuals that share a common passion for what we do for a living.  Since the majority of us work alone in studios on a day to day basis, getting together provides a chance for us to share our experiences on a personal level (and over a glass of wine).

It's a smaller group this go around in Atlanta at the Westin get together, but always a pleasure to see these smiling faces. Left to right standing: Karen Embry (me), Cherish Fielder, Jane Maday, Phyllis Dobbs, Brenda Pinnick, Stella Violano and (sitting in front) Sharon Himes.

On the last night before heading home, Phyllis and I had dinner down the street from our hotel. It was a time to catch up on our events from the week. Good times, good friends...

On the way out of the mart I had to stop in to visit the temporaries' booths as well as the cash & carry jewelry section of the show. I love to walk these areas and chat with exhibiting designers. Of course I couldn't leave empty handed. I came across this fun and funky necklace that spoke to me as an artist and I just couldn't resist! 

Oscar Wilde was right  ...

but, I think we should do both!

BELIEVING IN THE "DREAM" ...and getting ready for Atlanta

Designing day in and day out for the art licensing business can be a challenge at times. I truly love being an artist and designer so it definitely makes this uphill journey a little easier to follow.

I am heading to the AmericasMart in Atlanta next week to meet again with manufacturers and let them have a peek at my new art collections. Yes, this is a bit of a new style for me and there is quite a bit more new stuff in my portfolio! I have been designing new collections over the last several months in preparation for the show - nothing like a deadline to get the creative juices flowing!

There is a favorite quote of mine that simply says it all about having the faith... 

"Believe in your dreams and they may come true; believe in yourself and they will come true".

(Author Unknown)

May you always believe in yourself.

Buzz, Buzz, BEE HAPPY...

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” (Frederick Koenig)

Appreciate the small stuff and have a HAPPY DAY.

ARE YOU READY FOR SUMMER?

The sweet days of summer are here. Tomorrow is officially the first day of summer, the season that represents all the good memories of childhood...running through sprinklers, the sound of the ice cream truck, the smell of sunscreen and the feel of sand in your toes as you run to the shore on the beach.

It's a time to celebrate the warmth of the season...a time to sit back and relax. 

What are your best summer memories?

Simply... "BELIEVE"

Ever get up in the morning and wonder what your day will be like?

As I opened the kitchen cabinet this morning to retrieve a coffee cup...I contemplated whether it would be a "DREAM" day thinking about all of the possibilities, or should I spend the day trying to IMAGINE" what could be or should I "BLOOM" in spirit like a summer rose?

I surrendered to the idea of a "BELIEVE" day. A day laid out to cultivate mindful, joyous expectations that wonderful things will happen. Look within, explore outside - but wherever you may seek, know that believing is only the beginning of letting your spirit soar.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Mother's Day

A day to celebrate our mothers, grandmothers and all of the special people in the world that represent motherhood. 

I joined my daughter's second grade class for a Mother's Day Tea this week.

Each child make a wonderful and unique card for their mom. I still have oodles of these wonderful mementos tucked away. Sweet memories. 

Our invitation to join in the celebration and our special bouquet of colorful flowers. Creativity all made possible with tissue paper, construction paper, some markers and of course a teacher with imagination. It seems like yesterday that I was the mom of the student and instead of the mom of the teacher. Where did the time go?

What a nice day in the classroom with my daughter Davi. So proud.

A special presentation for by the students....poems and singing brought a smile to mothers and everyone that attended.

And...

Yesterday I was treated to an early Mother's Day treat that included a mom & daughter manicure, lunch and a trip to the "Paint Your Own Pottery Place". I had a great time with my kids painting, chatting and just hanging out for the afternoon. 

Me, Kyle & Davi.

What an amazing day - so much fun!

Here are our funky designs painted on a skull, mug and a paintbrush holder. I wonder who the paintbrush holder belongs to? Can't wait to see the colors after they are glazed and fired.

To My MOM...

on this MOTHER'S DAY, I just want to say what a great mother and grandmother you've always been. You have a smile of sunshine and a heart of gold. I LOVE YOU!

HAVE A WONDERFUL MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

YES...IT'S A SNEAK PEEK AT THE ART, ETC. IN MY NEW STUDIO!!!

Yes, it's a peek, but just a small one at some of the creative projects and art that adorn the walls and shelves at my new studio.  I have had the studio space for almost six months now. Between renovating the space and keeping up with all of my deadlines it's been a challenge! I do want to have it just perfect before I post the TOTAL STUDIO photos, but I am happy to say that I am almost there.

This sign will greet when you come upon my entry doors. I formed it from clay, glazed and fired it in my kiln.

Working with clay has always been one of my favorite mediums. It always helps when I am working on product development to be able to create samples in a three dimensional clay form.

Did I mention that I absolutely LOVE birds and bunnies? The bird on a twig I designed using dimensional paints and a decoupage layered background. The vintage bunny and tiara are flea market finds.

Another bird on a twig....just a little larger.

And what else but a bird stand to hold my hand made jewelry.

Jewelry close up.

 

                                        
                      WISH sign designed from my art hanging on the brick wall near my painting table.

Bits and Pieces Mosaics.  These two pieces were also originally flea market rescues that I embellished with mosaic stones, beads, charms, pins and buttons.

This is posted above my media board. I think that this says it best. Besides, who else would you want to be?

WINNING the "NEW HORIZONS AWARD"

It's an UNBELIEVABLE experience and SO EXCITING!!!! 

 

These were my first thoughts when I first found out I had won this amazing award for 2011!  

I just love the big cardboard check I received...it's just too cool! Of course the real check will be put to good use to advance my career and professional goals.

This award is sponsored by Plaid Enterprises for current members of the CHA Designer Section based on their achievements as a professional artist/crafter.  The NEW HORIZONS AWARD was created by Plaid Enterprises to recognize outstanding designers and to enhance their careers and professional development. The award is presented to artists based on their achievements to date and professional goals. 

As an artist and designer, I am thrilled and honored to be the recipient of this amazing award! I am grateful to Plaid Enterprises for providing this opportunity and to CHA for uniting designers in an atmosphere where we can join together and share our creative ideas and goals.

I encourage other artists and designers to apply for this award for 2012. It's a wonderful chance to be recognized for your creative and artistic accomplishments, not to mention how awesome you'll feel when you win!  

http://www.plaidonline.com/

www.craftandhobby.org

                       

      

Holiday Cheer, Twinkle, Celebrate, Merry & Bright

Available just in time for your holiday gift giving! I was so excited to see my new mugs on the shelves when I popped in to my neighborhood Ross store. Currently they are only available at Ross, so stop by and check them out... buy one or two or three or the full set of four!

Happy Holidays!

Tis The Season...to be MERRY, CREATE and DECORATE!!!!

The sights, sounds and sweet smells of the Christmas holidays are here! 

I love this time of year. Yes, it's usually crazy as I try to squeeze it all in ...the shopping, baking and my favorite part  - DECORATING!!!

Each year I open my Christmas storage boxes to find the all familiar and sentimental ornaments I have accumulated over the years...each one holding a memory near and dear to my heart.  

I enjoy working on new decorations to add to my collections. I am particularly drawn to silver and sparkly things! I thought that this year I would add to my holiday twinkling trinkets by creating from some of the objects I acquired from my treasure hunts to the flea market and/or thrift store.  

So, upon searching through my trinkets I came across these two little white resin birds. I bought them last month in a Tennessee thrift store. These birds literally did come south for the winter! I wasn't sure at the time what I was going to do with them, but for sixty-two cents each, I thought they had definite possibilities. Besides, with the latest trends on "going green and recycling", this seems like the perfect holiday project.  

Most of the supplies I used to fancy up my birds were all items I already had around the studio - ribbon, glitter, glue, and buttons.  If you don't have these supplies, you can purchase the majority of them at your local Michael's store. I'll share with you step by step how I created my "Winter Birds" in hopes that I can inspire you to create your own new holiday creation. You may not find these exact birds, but if you find something similar, you'll have the steps I used to decorate my feathered friends or should I say "glittered" friends!    

        
Step One:  Brush the Liquid Leaf ( by Plaid #6180 Silver) over the entire surface the birds and let dry.

Step Two:  Brush Tacky Glue on the top of the tail sections only.

                                   Step 3:  While the glue is still wet, sprinkle light blue glitter on the tail and let dry.

Step 4:  Cut two pieces of ribbon into three inch sections and tie a knot in the middle.

Pictured here are also the snowflake buttons I used to embellish the birds. Glue one piece of ribbon to the back of each bird. Glue a couple of the buttons over the knot on the ribbon.

To finish: I then placed the birds on two round five inch mirrors and used some of my tree ornaments and Christmas picks to accent the silver duo.

Twinkle ! Twinkle!

Wishing you many blessings and the happiest holiday season ever!

Visit my web site:  www.KarenEmbryDesigns.com

One Man's Junk...

is another man's treasure! Or should I say a woman's treasure?

As the weather cools (yes, it's finally getting below the sweltering temperatures here in Florida) it's the perfect time to head out to the flea markets. How I love to sift through all of the wonderful little trinkets and treasures of times gone by. Some of the odds and ends aren't extremely old, but interesting in that they may remind us of our own past (and sometimes unusual) collections. If these treasures could only speak, we would know the story behind how these bits and pieces of people's lives ended up here on the many shelves and booths of this dusty market.

It's a great place to visit for inspiration and a nice inexpensive way to spend the day out and about.

Shelves and shelves of ceramic bells and shoes...and a few toys that at one point were in "McDonald's          Happy Meals". I think I see Odie next to one of the seven dwarfs on the top left shelf, where is Garfield?

  More porcelain shoes and booties galore! Is that a hamburger candle on the bottom left side of the shelf?

These boxes filled with bits and pieces of this and that have my imagination wondering...how I would love
to use them to create something new and wonderful...maybe in a piece of collage or altered art?

                                                                    Tiny pitchers...so delicate.

    AND...this is where I STOP and have to buy this adorable little trinket box with two tiny birds. It's in
    perfect condition and for a mere cost of only $2.00???? I have had this fascination with birds lately so
    this will be a perfect addition to my collection. On to the next booth! What will I find?

Oh my...another bird calling to me...only a quarter? He's simple but cute. The tiny white bird will be          
joining  my collection. Anyone collect cats? Only seventy-five cents for the three on the shelf. The bird is safe for now....MEOW.  Hmmm, let's see what's around the corner.

                                      Chuckle, chuckle...I could use a couple of these jars!

Nope, don't need the Budweiser sign.

Maybe the hat belonged to Jackie O?

 

This is a little creepy...escaped from one of the Chucky movies?

 

Where else can you meet Elvis and get your picture with him? ONLY at the flea market. It's really where
he's been all this time! He's tall, huh?

Now wouldn't it be cool to have this? I could be the back seat driver (why bother peddling?)

What's a flea market without knock-off Coach purses? As a designer, this puts a burr in my saddle.

Where are the copyright police? Hello? HELLO? This is a crime!

 

Your guess is as good as mine?&*)(*!  What a bargain, only a DOLLAR!

The produce section - usually great prices compared to the grocery stores, but the spotted pears look somewhat weird.   

Time to call it a day.

Fun day at the market.... $0.00

Additons to my collection....$2.25 for birds.

$3.00 for a diet coke and a soft pretzel.

Inspiration...PRICELESS!