Hi all!
I’ve moved my studio in the house and I’m starting to feel inspired again! I wanted to show you my first project of 2015, I really like how it turned out! If you’d like to see how I made it and the products I used you can right here. It was my design team How-To project this month. Stay tuned for an Inspire project soon! Hope 2015 is treating you well! XOXO
“Road Trip”
Hi all!
It’s been too long. So much has happened since the last time I blogged in June. I haven’t felt like blogging much due to some rough times on the home front. I think I’m finally ready to start-up again. This is long so if you feel like getting comfy before reading please do 😉
YAY!
When I last posted I was still on the Robin’s Nest design team, I finished my time with them and had a great time. Shortly after that term ended I was asked to be on another design team, the Amazing Crafting Products team. I get to play and work with resin and make molds out of some amazing stuff! Just after my first project I got a call I never thought I’d get, a call I wish I never got. My brother called me and told me our father was dead. I lost my amazing, bear-hug giving, encouraging, wise father. A man who was my rock after losing my mom, a man who pursued his bucket list the year after Mom died. My father was killed in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t his fault. My family is no longer intact as it was growing up. Losing my Dad shortly after losing my mom out of the blue to cancer was a total and complete shock to my system. He died a few weeks before his 65th birthday. My brothers and I sprang into action immediately and liquidated his house and belongings, met with a lawyer, collected his items, made arrangements for cremation within a week of everything happening. I’m incredibly proud of how they stepped up to the plate to get everything together and have the mind to know what to do and when, I know I couldn’t be that person. My brother Micah has been doing an amazing job handling the estate stuff and I think it’s almost at an end 6 months later.
My amazing father, I was so blessed to have him. ❤
After losing Dad I’ve lost the desire to create and do art. I’ve been around my amazing art tribe, amazing art friends, art events and nothing … nada … zip … no creativity. It has really bothered me and I know it’s part of the loss, I’m regrouping myself, finding out what’s important to me and what isn’t. It’s showing me true friends, people who care and people who couldn’t care less.
Can you tell which eye has the 3D mascara on?
During this time I found a new passion that I really love and that is making people feel beautiful. I’m now a presenter for the amazing and fastest growing direct sales company, Younique. Yes I sell that 3D mascara! How does makeup tie in to my loss? My father always, always encouraged me in business whether it was a good or bad decision. I was getting really depressed over the summer with the loss of my parents and loss of my creativity, my world was shattered. Being a stay-at-home mom can get lonely at times and I had way too much time to think, which made me overthink and do what-if scenarios (those are never good). My neighbor had a virtual makeup party and I bought this 3D mascara that I kept hearing about and it changed my life, literally! This makeup company I believe God put in my path at the right moment to get me out of the dumps. Dad passed on July 13th and I signed up August 6th. One of the reasons I signed up was because I knew he would have encouraged me to do so, the 2nd week in the company I had 2 friends sign up under me, the following week I had 2 more, it felt like a blessing and it has been a blessing. I am again contributing to the family financially, I’m able to bless others and give when I want to and give freely, this has always been a passion of mine but I’ve never been able to. I thank God for Younique and I really feel like Dad is smiling and cheering me on with my new venture. I’ve had to be creative in a different way with this company and marketing myself, I’ve had a smile daily since joining and I haven’t stepped back into the darkness of depression. Here is my website if you’d like to check it out yourself.
My 2nd cousin Amanda on the right 🙂
The past few months I’ve been able to do a lot of traveling as well! I got to go visit my amazing cousin Carolyn (more like my sister) in NJ and her family. Manasquan was beautiful in September!! Her family is another shining example of how to live with hardship and setbacks. All 3 of her daughters, as well as her husband have congenital heart issues and have been in and out of hospitals much of their lives. They are still living and dreaming and making plans in the midst of it all. Her son is away at West Point and they couldn’t be prouder of their entire brood. Keep them all in your prayers. If you’d like to donate to their charity please check it out here. They are amazing and their charity should be known. Love you guys!
Our view!
In October I got to go back to Vegas with my hubby, it had been 4 years since the last time. We stayed at the MGM Grand again and it was still fun to get around. He was there for a work conference and I found stuff to do during the day. The days before the conference we did something on our bucket list, visit the Grand Canyon! I left my heart in Arizona and at the GC. We stayed right on the canyon at the Bright Angel Lodge, this was our view from the steps of our room. The most incredible experience ever and I can’t wait to go back! We loved it so much we are decorating our house in a Southwestern theme.
Most of my tribe!
In November I went to be with my art tribe in St. Pete. It was our year reunion since we all first started playing together in St. Pete the year before at the art retreat I went to on my 40th birthday “The Joy of Collage” with Lynn Whipple and e’Layne. I love these awesome women and they came to me at the right time in my life when I needed them. I treasure each and every one of them!
We braved a road trip to NC for Thanksgiving with these 2 crazies! We survived!
In November we took our first road trip as a family of 4 to North Carolina to be with my remaining family for Thanksgiving. What a crazy trip that was. It was nice being with family and I was really happy to be home to warmer weather, it wasn’t that cold there but boy I turned into a Florida blooded girl! It was great seeing my brother Nate and his growing family as well as the rest of the fam. My brother’s and I also released Dad’s ashes in Williamsburg, VA, one of his favorite places and where we took a lot of family vacations growing up.
On the art front I’ve been working for some amazing creative women who I just adore. e’Layne Koenigsberg and Lora Lee Davids of Art by e’Layne and 3 Hip Chics. These women have also been a Godsend to me, I was looking for a way to work from home (before Younique) and this job fell into my lap when I needed it. I paint boards for them to make repros of e’Layne’s art in the wholesale market and local markets. I also help with other various items as they live in St. Pete. I LOVE making trips to see them and “work”. Check out their amazing products here!
Lately I’ve started turning the loft into my indoor studio and I’m slowly starting to feel creative again. I’ve been building IKEA furniture left and right! I have to thank Susan for keeping me grounded in art on the design team, it’s been my only creative outlet for the last 6 months. I’m happy to say I’ve decided to stay on the team for the next 6 months or as long as she’ll keep me!
Obligatory “I’m Published” shot at Barnes & Noble! LOL
This month another dream of mine came true when I got a piece of art published in Somerset Studio Gallery magazine! My painting Olive was sent in last year and was picked to be in the issue. I plan on sending more art in to hopefully be published. Next goal is to have a spread and not just an image in a mixed media mag. I want to thank all of my art friends who encouraged me to go for it! Check that off the bucket list!!
Lily (3) and Lorelei (almost 8) on her birthday!
How many kids get to have Santa sing “Happy Birthday” to them? My girl did!! 🙂
My sweet baby girl just turned 3 last week! How did that happen? Seriously, didn’t I just have her? Time is flying by so fast. Next month my oldest turns 8! What I’ve learned over the last 2 years is to live your life to the fullest, make each moment count, be positive daily, keep going even when you don’t feel like it, love on people and on your loved ones and anything can happen at any time. BE IN THE MOMENT and LIVE! Well that was much longer than I planned but a lot has happened in 6 months, hope I didn’t ramble too much.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season.
XOXO
Aimée
Want to see what I turned this into? Check out the Robin’s Nest blog today! 🙂 BTW HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all the Daddy’s out there!
I can share now as it’s official but starting in July I am on a new design team with a different spin! Think molds, resins and rubber! Thrilled to have been handpicked for this amazing team! I’m so excited about all the fun things I’m going to make and incorporate in my art!! It’s a whole new world for me and an area I had wanted to go in to!
Here’s the official post!
YAY!
Funny and true story by my sister-in-law!
I was asked to join this blog because of my many adventures. The only theme that runs through each post you’ll eventually read from me (if I don’t bore you before getting through them all) is a haphazard knack of getting myself into ridiculous predicaments. I share them on my own Facebook page simply because I’m sure someone somewhere is in need of a chuckle and my bad luck is almost always sure to bring some level of a smile. So without further pomp or circumstance, my first contribution to Smiles for Miles.
When I was in college, I didn’t have a car to drive back and forth to Michigan (my motherland) the first few years, so, I would usually end up taking Amtrak from Plattsburgh, NY to Jackson, MI. It took a full day to make the trip but the train ride was always fun.
On one such trip…
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Come see what I made over at the Chattering Robins! This month the Beach Collection is on sale! Hope it inspires you!! My favorite were the rub ons! Check it out and let me know what you think! 🙂
xoxo
Aimée
Some days the things I’m grateful for seem to be hiding. Trying to stay positive and enjoying each moment of a stay-at-home-mom’s day is hard. I am grateful to be able to be home with my kids, the house cleaning not so much. I can’t keep on top of it all and I do try. I need to be more like a hummingbird. Here is a quote from the card company Papyrus that inspired my latest painting:
I will be getting this scanned for prints and cards. Will post when I have those available.
xoxo
Aimée
I finally feel like things are falling into place for us. It’s been a BIG struggle and a rough few years for my family but we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now. We are still getting settled into our home but have already started some fun routines, for instance we go on a walk around the block with the neighbors almost nightly after dinner. The kids ride their bikes or scooters, they walk their dogs and we get a little park time with the kids if it’s not too late. The kids want to play outside more than be in which in this day and age is AMAZING! I was always playing outside as a kid. I climbed trees, built forts, made jumps for our bikes and rode all over the neighborhood playing with neighbor kids. I didn’t think we’d find that in a neighborhood these days but we did! The houses immediately surrounding us have a total of 16 kids and that’s not including our 2. Our driveway turns into a personal game area, art pad and more, they play hopscotch, 4-square, draw with chalk, play basketball and just play in it. We’ve had sleepovers with our neighbor brothers which are a blast and of course POOL time! we will be living in it this summer. I couldn’t be happier here at our new home and I know my kids are super thrilled to have a play date almost daily. Our neighbors have a trampoline too and our neighbors in NY had one as well, it’s like we never skipped a beat! My heart is happy in a lot of things right now. It’s good to be settled. I can’t wait until we can start making the house ours, repainting and doing things that we want to do in the house. I need to have a house warming party soon!
Super happy!!! God really blessed us here! We have built friendships fast and it was soo needed for us! I hope we’re here for a VERY long time!
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In ART news: I wanted to share my latest piece of art. This was a canvas I struggled over for a very long time!! Over a month, I kept adding layer upon layer and hated it each time. I then decided to turn it horizontal and it came to me! It is one of those pieces I’m shocked that I actually created. If someone else had made this I’d be ooing and ahing over it but I made it and it’s at my house! NUTS! I plan on getting it scanned for prints, cards and canvases. I originally named it “Lady in the Mist” but someone made the suggestion on FB to call her “The Light Bearer” and I decided that fit her better. Super happy with how she turned out! What do you think?
This is what she originally looked like.
Then I hated her and turned her into this:
After this I kept adding on the layers and she looked worse! LOL It was a lesson in perseverance for me because I almost gessoed her and started over when all I needed to do was to turn the canvas. Don’t give up!!
On May 2nd Faith Arts Village Orlando (FAVO) is having their grand opening since the renovations and I’m participating! There was a chance to paint on a 5′ piece of vinyl wallpaper for FAVO and then they’re going to auction them off to help offset the costs of the renovations. This is what I created.
I can’t wait to see what all the other artists are doing. I will have a small table set up with prints, cards, originals and jewelry that night from 5-9 pm.
In other art news I am pleased to say that I’ve been offered an amazing opportunity to work with a woman I love and respect in the art world! I am now the virtual assistant to e’Layne Koenigsberg in her two businesses (Art by e’Layne and 3 Hip Chics). I get to work alongside her and her partner Lora Lee Davids, they are a dynamic duo! I am so excited because it’s something I can do from home while I’m here with the kiddos! Never heard of her? Pick of a copy of Somerset Studio and the other mags and you’ll see her everywhere! I am so excited about where this will lead for me as well. I haven’t worked for anyone in over 10 years! We both think this is a win win! I’m so glad I met you a few years ago e’Layne! We were supposed to cross paths for sure!
Here’s to a happy 2014!
xoxo
Aimée
Took the photo in Miami. 🙂
Wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Easter! As a Christian Easter is a special day. HE is Risen! Our day will be filled with church in the morning and a HUGE egg hunt followed by time as a family and hopefully a nap! 🙂
Tomorrow also happens to be my Robin’s Nest project due date! Stop on over to the blog and see what I created this month! Here’s a sneak peek!
Whatever could it be? Come on over and see! Hope you enjoy it!
Also just a reminder you can still sign up for my online art class Painting From Your Soul, the class is open until October 30th! Come paint with me!! While you’re there check out the other cool classes!!
Have an amazing weekend and do something creative!
xoxo
Aimée
I’m THRILLED to announce that my latest class airs tomorrow!! I would love to have you in my class! Does your art need a boost? Would you like to learn how to paint freely, see hidden shapes inside your collages that create characters? Well then please join me over at the Graceful Artist! The class is open until October of this year so you’ll have plenty of time to watch the videos and do your work at your pace. You will be included in my secret FB group that is just for students in the class, post and talk in there about your projects. 
Come join the fun and paint with me!!! Would love to see you there! Just click on the link above to sign up! Hurry up, the bell rings tomorrow and you don’t want to be late to class!
xoxo
Aimée
creativeFlutters 