Playing in the Studio

(click any image to enlarge)

I've been playing around in the studio this week, combining my love of vintage fabrics, china, linens, jewelry, buttons, trims, and trinkets with retro images from my collection of vintage sewing patterns. It's kind of a cross between an inspiration board and an illustration. I have lots of tweaking yet to do, but I am having fun. This is the beginning of the new work I was talking about in a previous post...

I plan to make at least one vintage inspiration board/color study/illustration every week, post it on the blog/FB/Pinterest,  plus I hope to include a series of these images with seasonal themes for a calendar as well as notecards and greeting cards...all with a retro vibe. The larger image (above), or something like it will probably be my October design. Here's a snippet of what will likely be the November design...

Like I said, still experimenting, but it's coming along...

Meanwhile, my art licensing work is humming right along...just signed and mailed my latest contract for more party plates coming out in 2014! Can't say more about those until then, but I think/hope they will be a very positive product set for the manufacturer and me! Yay God!  :o)

Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, I am planning to kick off the Fall season with a blog/branding makeover - maybe not huge, major changes but a much needed refreshing...fun, but a lot of work!

Hope the remainder of your Summer is a lovely, relaxing, happy time with family and friends...take care friends...

Create Something Pin-Worthy Today

Yep, I've posted this before, but I really needed the reminder today...perhaps it nudges your heart too...?

You are uniquely equipped by God to do amazing things...things only you can do, just the way you do them! It could be the special, ingenious way you set up a spreadsheet, or your amazing knack for coloring hair, or the way you make eating sandwiches with your kids seem like an adventure...whatever it is, do it to God's glory! This world needs you to be the awesome person you were created to be, and do the awesome things you were Hand-crafted by God to do...

And hey, if it's something that you can pin on Pinterest, go for it! I'd love to repin it!!  :o)

Here's a little sneak peek at what's on my work table today...

I'll be showing you soon what I'm going to do with all this sunny retro goodness...maybe it'll even be pin-worthy...?

Have a great Friday and a fantastic, creative weekend!!

Hugs one and all!!

Blog Reminiscing, and Blog Remodeling

Just Bee 'n Me Blog Reminiscing

Here's a little visual history of Just Bee 'n Me blog banners...

June 2005 - no banner, just title

tried this for a while in late 2005 into early 2006

2007 - 2009

2009 - 2011

2011 - June 2013

 June 2013 - today

I've been at this blogging thing...wait for it...8 years now! It's hard to believe... My blog has gone through almost as many changes as I have over those years...but that was always the point. My blog was always meant to be a series of snapshots and snippets of me and my life and what was happening in my art and heart at any given time. I have never been a power-blogger, pro-blogger, daily blogger, even weekly blogger.  After my move back to Texas and divorce and before my remarriage, you can almost count the blog posts I did on 2 hands. I've gone for months sometimes without a peep...then started up again with a vengeance...only to slip back to being a sometime, part-time blogger. And that's always been OK with me...

But now, I am about to embark on a somewhat "new" creative adventure that is going to require a more steady blog schedule, and I am really excited about that! (and just a little nervous, given my track record) I really miss the connections that blogging brings. I have been getting plenty of interaction with and updates on the lives of many that I know and love on Facebook...but it's just not quite the same as blogging. FB is kinda like a quick snack...blogging is more like a sit down meal...a time to savor and linger... 

So, with more blogging on the way, I feel like a fresh, new blog look is in order...a remodel, top to bottom! And just like when I am about to make a change in a room, I find myself looking back a bit at how it evolved, and I can't help but look at a few old pictures before I pack them away...

So, here are a few fond memories from my earlier blogging days...

My first entry in Illustration Friday, June 2005 - the prompt that week was "Black & White"  

(here's a link to all my Illustration Friday entries)

This was when I was freelancing on the side, creating black and white illustrations for Sunday School materials, and I was longing to do color illustrations...

I used to participate in something called "Studio Friday" back in 2005 - that was a lot of fun...anyone else remember that?  Here's one of the projects I did for that...

We were to make a montage of our favorite art supplies and how we used them...at the time I was primarily using colored pencils...

Here's a graphic I did for the Merry-Making Christmas Gift Guide I curated in 2007...that was a lot of fun. Met lots of nice artists and crafters for that...here's a link, for old time's sake...

Probably my favorite Just Bee 'n Me feature - Way Back When-sday...such fun memories!  (I will be starting this feature up again for the blog remodel, btw)

This is the kind of stuff I find for way-back features...

me with big hair, big glasses...

Art school drawings...

Girl Scout memories...

Here's my 3rd Blog Birthday Party graphic from 2008

Anyone remember when I did Tea for Two-sday?  Here's a look back at that very fun feature where I introduced two artists with different styles/backgrounds/countires to each other and to all of you... I may start this up again...it was so fun to do!

Giveaways...DEFINITELY going to start these up again!!

Plus lots and lots of Shopkeeping updates from our Antique shop space/Aimee Asher shop/Flea Market Booth/Zazzle Shop/Etsy Shop... then there was mobile home remodeling, studio building, moving, Woodland Cottage remodeling, new studio all over again, and so on...

I could go on and on, but I really need to get started on the blog remodel and put these things away for now. All my archives will still be there...I'm not changing blogging platforms or anything. Just need a fresh new visual start...

My new creative adventure is going to require more photography, and actually, I am thrilled about that...I love photography and I miss it in my everyday life...  I can't wait to show you what I'm going to be doing!!  Soon, I promise!  Here's a hint - 

if you like my Pinterest boards and lots of visual and spiritual inspiration, you will probably like my new adventure...

Thanks as always for taking the time to stop by and catch up...it warms my heart and fuels me forward to bring you lots of new inspiration and share my art and heart...  Hug to you all!!