Happy Thanksgiving!  ​It's been a really busy few weeks, and will be a very busy few weeks to come! This blog entry has a lot of photos.  You have been warned!

Second, I worked on a little blue jellyfish drawing for the "Art on the Line" fundraiser at Belmar Arts.  I love jellyfish, and I love Belmar Arts so it worked out perfectly.  I also did a little holiday shopping at their Artisan Marketplace when I dropped of my drawing.  So many great local handmade gifts! 

This past weekend, we took a trip to Washington, DC.  The original purpose of the trip was to go to a Pietasters concert, but we also did a lot of walking and sightseeing.  So much inspiration!  Of course we made time to see the Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, and the Whitehouse, but we also went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.  Amazing!  I'm was so inspired by the Ocean Life and  Gem and Mineral exhibits.  You will definitely be seeing the influence in my art soon!

Oh, yes. I am also working on a few more pieces for my "Under the Blue and Green" series available at ReFind in Bay Head. Zsa Zsa from ReFind is so creative and has a great eye. I always walk out of her store more inspired than when I walked in. I'm excited to finish the new mixed media pieces I'm working on for her store.

I will leave you with some upcoming events:
11/27 Cyber Monday- Check out my Etsy site for a special sale!
11/29-11/30 Holiday Shopping Facebook Sale! Special coupon code for members only!  Want an invite?  Send me a message on Facebook!
12/3 Pop Up Shop at Serenity by the Sea in Belmar
12/9 Art on the Line Fundraiser at Belmar Arts
12/17 Rachel Mambach Art at Asbury Fresh Markets
Check my Contact and Exhibits Page for all the details!

Exciting news!  Two of my works were accepted into a curated group show, and the opening artist reception is tomorrow!  The "Tiny Treasures" Holiday Show is at Heaven Art and Antiques in Asbury Park, NJ.  

​I am very excited and, admittedly, a little starstruck.  The gallery is curated by Patricia Arroyo, a well known local artist.  In addition to being talented, I found out how incredibly sweet she is after meeting her this week.  I wasn't able to bring my artwork to the gallery at the designated times, so she let me drop it off at her studio.  She even gave me an organic fruit snack for the ride home!  It is very apparent that Patricia Arroyo loves what she does, and I feel so honored that she chose my work to be displayed alongside these eleven other artists.

I am in the process of making new art, adding the photos to my site, and getting ready for Small Business Saturday and my upcoming markets.  This weekend was spent, making art, scanning photos, entering art shows, and ordering prints.  I worked on a little angelfish piece, and I finally made a mermaid. Here are some photos of the process.  I included my Pilot gold marker and Fiskars knife because I love them.  My handy Fiskars knife has been with me since I graduated college.  If you'd like to see the finished work, check out the Nature section of my Gallery.  Both of these tiny works will be available at ReFind in Bay Head, NJ within the next few weeks.

Today is the day that the All Things Local website goes live!  I found out about All Things Local through Babes in Business in June during my search for more stockists.  I emailed back and forth a few times with Anne, who owns the store, and brought her some samples of my art.  Often, when I bring my art to potential stockists, boutiques, and galleries, they pick a few pieces, and I go home with the rest.  Anne liked them all, and asked if I could make more!  Of course, I said, "yes."  I spent the last two weeks in August making art nonstop for All Things Local.  If you need proof, here is a photo I took of our living room during those few weeks in August.

​Luckily, I have boyfriend who didn't mind that I commandeered the living room...even though I have a studio. Sometimes I just need to spread out on the floor with a semicircle of art and art supplies around me.  I know I'm not the only one!

Well, I’ve decided to start a blog. This photo shows me in my studio with my guinea piggy, Yogi. I’m an art teacher by day and a freelance artist by night. This blog will be focused on my personal art. You can find my art locally and online.  If you check out Contacts and Exhibits, you can find all the info about gallery shows, local pop-ups, brick and mortar locations, and websites. If you go to the Gallery, you can see photos of some of my finished pieces.  

Current struggle: I'm knee deep in articles I need to read about taking inventory and getting all my paperwork ready for tax time.

Current successes:  I have art in three stores! ReFind in Bay Head, NJ, Jesse Gallery in Manasquan, NJ and All Things Local in Red Bank, NJ.  I'm also super excited that the All Things Local shopping website is going live this week.

Special shout out to Babes in Business and ReFind for giving me the motivation, inspiration, and information that I needed this week!