When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”

Being in business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark...you know what you're doing but no one else does.

So grateful that I listened…for once.

Being a small business owner, marketer and artist can be a challenging thing! Funny thing…there is a commonality with all of the many hats that I wear….the need to be found.

With so many places to go and people to see, it’s difficult not to spread yourself to thin, on the information highway!

I’ve found that staying consistent online, in a few major areas, really, really, really makes a difference!

Of course, Facebook and Twitter are both essential applications to have as a part of your daily, or weekly online marketing routines…but here are a couple of other places that we are really having grand success  and FUN with.

You might want to consider joining both of these exciting online marketing practices. Especially, if you have a small business or want to sell your art.  As a disclaimer…it takes a little time to be found but if you build it, they will come!

I’m sending you to our landing pages to give it a little look see:)

Really worth the time and energy! Plus they’re free to join!

MerchantCircle - really works for us!

Squidoo - Fun! Fun! Fun! Plus…you can earn money for yourself and your favorite charities!

Don’t forget our Recycled Art Contest!!!

Cool Photo Ideas!

You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it.

If you take a bazillion photos…take a moment to sit down and sort through the photos with one theme in mind. Then move on to another. If you start to become overwhelmed, start small and work your way through.

Check out our Squidoo lens on digital photography. There are so many cool and free photo ideas, it boggles the mind!

Wise Words

Life is simple, it's just not easy.

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn’t supposed to ever let you down probably will.

You will have your heart broken probably more than once and 
it’s harder every time.

You’ll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You’ll fight with your best friend.

You’ll blame a new love for things an old one 
did.

You’ll cry because time is passing too fast, and you’ll eventually  lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures,  laugh too much, and love like you’ve never been 
hurt because…every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you’ll never get back.

Don’t be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

Love  simply. Love generously.
 Care deeply.  Speak kindly.

Make Cool Mittens From Sweaters

How To Make Mittens from Old Sweaters FYI...Photo is not a pair of Jerri's

We’ve featured a recycled artist, in the store, that recycles old sweaters to make glorious mittens. Jerri has been doing it for quite sometime so her designs are somewhat more elaborate and elegantly lined, than the project below…but if your budget doesn’t dictate $39.99 & up for one of her custom creations, here are a few easy sweaters into mittens recycled art projects that we found on About.com and instructables.

There’s even a instructional video for those of us that need a visual that helps us easily create our own pair of warm and very cool mittens.

Unfortunately, Jerri is now creating her recycled sweater mittens as custom orders only…and only for a special few…so I guess I’ll just have to try to make my own.

WHAT YOU NEED:
An old sweater
Paper
A pen or pencil
Scissors
Thread
Sewing pins
A sewing machine (optional)

HOW YOU DO IT:
Follow these simple instructions and you’ll have a pair of cozy woolen mittens in no time.

1. Lay one of your hands (doesn’t matter which one) on a piece of paper with your fingers together, and your thumb out at the side – just as they would be inside of a mitten. Then, trace around your hand.

2. Add a half-inch all the way around your traced hand to allow for seams, and an inch or more at the bottom of the mitten to create a cuff. Make any other necessary tweaks to your mitten design before finalizing your pattern.

Note: If you have a pair of mittens that fit you especially well, you can use them as your pattern. Just trace around one of the mittens, and add in the allowances for seams and cuffs.

3. Cut out your mitten pattern, and pin it to the front of the sweater. For a nice, finished cuff, line up the bottom edge of your pattern with the bottom edge of the sweater.

4. Cut around the mitten pattern. This will give you two mitten-shaped pieces of fabric.

5. Flip the mitten pattern, and pin it to another section of the sweater. Then, cut around the pattern to create the second mitten.

6. Flip the mittens inside out, and pin together.

7. Stitch around the edge of both mittens, leaving a quarter-inch seam allowance. Then, flip them right-side out, and your mittens are ready to wear!

If I can actually do this…I’ll brag about it later…watch for pics.

Carpe Diem!

Facebook

what'cha makin?

We love Facebook! It’s such an easy platform to operate and it gives us the chance to stay in touch with our family, friends and visitors in one spot.

Please consider joining our NEW Facebook Group for 225 Water Street Creative Arts.

What are you creating?

Decoupage a Life Collage

It’s amazing what pops out of your subconscious, when creating a photo collage by cutting and pasting. As you add selected snippets of your life, you’ll be shown amazing insights that can give you the knowledge to lead a more fulfilling and powerful life.

Create a Life Collage

Creating a visual autobiography of your authentic self is an amazing journey. If you need a little support getting there I might suggest checking into The Illustrated Discovery Journal by Sarah Ban Breathnach. It’s an oldie, but a goodie!  It looks like there are a few new and used copies available on Amazon.

Creating a life collage offers a non-verbal means of bringing your dreams into your waking life.

CREATE A LIFE COLLAGE

• Cut, tear and paste.
• A really great way to explain what you’re thinking.
• You should be curious…it will astound you.
• Dreaming is good.

EASY TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
1. Gather photos (make copies), magazines, old greeting cards, ribbons, trinkets and catalogs.
2. Arrange your images and words on paper, cardboard or wood.
3, Use white glue or Mod Podge.
4. Add color, special glazes, trinkets and special effects.
5. Let collage dry and display bedside.

Help your spirit see the path to your dreams, while you’re sleeping.

“Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.” – Carl Jung

Cool Switch Plate Covers

Cool Switch Plate Craft Idea

Small craft projects are great, for me anyway, they really help spur creative inspiration with minimal cost and fast results!

Creating cool switch plate covers has always been one of my favorite mosaic tile and/or decoupage craft projects. It’s quick! It’s Easy and the results are amazing.

If you don’t have a bunch of these plastic covers sitting in a box somewhere, you can find them at Lowe’s (or Home Depot) for under $1.00.  Important tip…if you’re covering the switch plates with china or ceramic tile, you may want to purchase longer screws for the switch plate, just in case. Speaking of screws…during the creation process, make sure that the holes for the screws and light switch are always clean and open.

Mosaic Tile Switchplate Covers

MATERIALS:

• Switch plate covers of your choice. Plastic, wood or metal
• Weldbond Adhesive
• Wheeled Nipper
• Bits and pieces of ceramic tile, china, jewels etc.
• Foam Brush
• Painters Tape
• Wooden Skewer
• Paper Towel
• Grout

HOW TO:

• Brush a coat of Weldbond onto the switch plate(s), with the foam brush. Let dry overnight.
• When dry…painter’s tape the back of the switch plate leaving the screw holes and light switch open.
• Cut or break china and tile. Make sure that the shards are small enough so that they will lie flat and there aren’t sharp edges…you don’t want to cut yourself by just turning on the light:)
• Lay out your design and glue the pieces to the cover using Weldbond.
• Clean excess glue around the pieces, before they dry.
• Let dry overnight.
• Grout with your favorite color. Seal if desired.
• Don’t forget to clean out the screw holes and light switch area’s before the grout dries.
• Peel off painter’s tape once the grout has set up for 10 minutes or so.
• Dry over night, buff and install.

Fast and Easy Craft Projects

Decoupage with Durwin Rice

New Decoupage by Durwin Rice

While, surfing for inspiration and cool craft ideas for holiday gifts, I stumbled across decoupage master, Durwin Rice. His newest decoupage book, published last year, “New Decoupage: Transforming Your Home with Paper, Glue and Scissors, sits on the shelf in my studio. I think it might be time to break it out and start gluing. Christmas is only 71 days away!

Durwin’s style is so laid back that even the creatively challenged can gain the confidence to glue something to something else.

“New Decoupage” offers complete step by step decoupage instructions for more than 18 cool decoupage projects, ranging from a delicate vase resembling fine porcelain to a dining room table adorned with generations of family photos, from an entire row of kitchen cabinets featuring pictures of your favorite chefs to a stylish faux marble coffee table.

If you want a no-nonsense step-by-step approach to decoupage without the fluff then buy the book and get going.

Decoupage glue FYI…

Durwin loves to work with plain old white glue, in lieu of Mod Podge, for longer working time.

Check out Durwin Rice DIY decoupage projects on YouTube…

Virtual Recycled Art Contest

Free to Enter! Cash Prizes

Distracted by shiny objects.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. ~Confucius

Is it a curse or a blessing?

Sometimes, I am paid for my mosaic tile artwork.

Sometimes, I’m paid for the knowledge of gluing stuff to other stuff.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of creating, teaching or selling mosaic tile full time. I’d starve:)

but…I do allow myself time, each day {week}, to create, sell or teach the art of mosaic tile and creative arts.

My day job – when I’m not running out to help guests in the store…consists of Virtual Aide and Event/Video Production.

We’re very proud of the work that we do, so here are a few links of some of the special people and places that we collaborate with.

• www.cre8tivegang.com -That’s Us!

• www.explorejordan.org – Created for Jordan, Minnesota

• www.virtualaide.net – With a majority of our clients turning to the internet more everyday…are you keeping up?

• www.polishedagatemosaics.com – Dave Beckius the Agateman

• www.karensorbo.com – Beautiful and Amazing!

• www.rivervalleyhorseranch.com – Feeling Down? Saddle Up!

• www.specializedmailing.com – The Direct Mail Guru

• www.tillyevanjones.com – Palm Reader Extraordinaire

• www.tigereyecreations.net – Francelino Henriques Zau – a true angel!

We may not be rich…but we’re blessed to do what we love!

Until next time!