I'M STEPPING OUT

Here are some paintings that I have left over from the craft fair I did last Fall.  I am stepping out of my comfort zone and trying to sell them.  I've posted the album of the paintings on my facebook, which you should be to see.  Let me know if you can view the album, or if you're interested, or not interested, or just want to say hey.  :-)

Paintings For Sale!!

Here's a couple examples:

SPRING BREAK '91!!

Ok, no this isn't a post about MTV in Panama City, fringed shirts, airbrushing, and dancing on blocks.  We're on vacation!  The family has traversed the strange lands of Southeastern Arkansas, Northern Louisiana, and Mississippi to reach our ultimate destination of Gulf Shores, Alabama.  Shockingly it is lovely here!  I've been to the Gulf before in Beaumont, Texas, and it was not lovely.  AND it's Alabama.  I've just never thought of Alabama as a vacation destination.  Never really thought of Gulf Shores before, but I assure you it is lovely.  Beautiful white sands, clean water (not brown like in Beaumont), and good food.  My mom found this great duplex that we are all staying: 5 bedrooms, 3 bath, kitchen, laundry, dining room, living room, two decks, and a pool!  This place is amazing, and makes the vacation even more a relaxing get away.  Better still it is right on the beach, so step on to our deck and BAM! there's the ocean.  Just lovely.  You may think, "hmm, not sure about duplex because of the people you have to share a wall with."  I get your concern, but "Thank You, Jesus!" we lucked out big time with the best wall-sharing neighbors one could have: a group of retired men and women--from Arkansas!--here for a family reunion!  Sweet!  Ok, enough of my explaining and excitement, here are some pics.

View

House

Ben trying out the ocean...hesitantly 

Definitely did not care for it

Meme, trying to make Ben laugh

Showing Ben how one can dive gracefully into a pool of water

Grandparents loving to watch their little boy play

I PITY THE FOO

Trust.  Lets just say I have trust issues. No, let's not just say it; it's true, I do. Once you've been burned by someone whom you trusted completely, it is so very hard to trust again. This is me. I so easily trusted and followed. I was destroyed. How do I trust again? I'm really trying.  I want to trust again. I want to have so much faith and trust that I have overwhelming peace and joy in circumstances that would put most people's stomachs in knots! Baby steps, I guess.  Faith. 

TRANSITION SUCKS, but is exciting too

Leaving, moving, coming & going.  These are constant themes in my life.  It seems right when I get comfortable, settle into the big comfy chair of my current life, God decides it's time for a change.  Well, I blame it on God any way.  I'm moving again, this time to Boulder, Colorado.  When I was in Ukraine, I said if I ever moved back to America I wanted to live in Colorado.  Well, here I go! 

BOULDER CANYON CHURCH - http://thecanyon.org/ (under construction, but it'll be up soon..ish)

This is part of the reason I'm off to Colorado.  Brooke and Garrett have felt pulled to Boulder for several years now and starting a church there.  That is finally happening as God has opened so many doors and done some crazy amazing things.  Ask Garrett to tell you stories; there are some doozies!  You can actually support them and the church HERE to learn how.  OR go HERE to give a one-time gift.  Make sure you select "BOULDER - GARRETT & BROOKE REA". 

So B&G asked me to come with them, and even though I've become somewhat of a wimp I said ok.  I mean, who can say no to this:

Now you see what I was up against.  Extreme cuteness prevailed.  So here I am, quitting my job in financial aid and moving all my crap from one house to another then again to another.  I'm getting up from my comfy chair to sit in an uncomfortable hemp chair that is awkward, a little painful, and difficult.  Hopefully I'll find a new comfy chair in Boulder.  We'll see.  I'll let you know.

IT IS FINISHED

Craft Fair, completed and successful.  DONE!  KICK!!  

This was one of the most exhausting things I've ever done...besides 5 English camps in a summer in Ukraine.  We basically had one month to create enough stuff worthy of selling at a local craft fair fundraiser.  Pretty draining creatively, but I'm SO HAPPY with how it turned out.  We had a pretty good crowd and sold a fair amount of stuff.  Mainly, we were just proud of ourselves for doing it.  Sure there were some disappointments, but overall it was so much fun and fulfilling.  Check out my Art Junkie Blog to see more pictures from the fair and to see some of my creations.

TOMORROW!!

I'm so nervous about the craft fair tomorrow!  Like pretty much every person on the planet, I struggle with comparison.  Is my dinky stuff going to look super lame compared to that lady who has a legit business?  Whatever.  I need to chill out and enjoy the ride...be proud and excited about all the things I created that I never thought I could do!  DONE!  KICK!!

Everyone should come Saturday, Dec. 8 to our booth:  "ART JUNKIES".  Do it. 

*There will actually be over 55 vendors there and tons of tasty treats!

TRYING IT OUT

After being approached by a co-worker asking if I'm a crafter or not, I found myself committed to a booth at a local craft fair supporting a local high school.  WHAT?!  Never in my life have I thought of myself as a crafter, artist, or anything as such.  I think I am a creative person and have always enjoyed dabbling in the arts--aka I liked to draw when I was younger and was big into theatre.  I also have always enjoyed going to craft fairs.  They are one of the best things about Arkansas in the Fall.  I mainly went for the food rather than the names carved out of wood or barn scenes painted on hand saws.  I love them none-the-less, and can appreciate the effort and skill it takes the venders to create what they are selling.

Since I've moved back to the States and gained a job where not much creativity is needed, I have found myself being drawn to painting canvasses, making crafts, Pinterest, and re-purposing furniture.  This is surprising to me when I reflect upon the pieces I've made.  I am shocked that I've made fabric flowers for my hair, a chevron painting for my office, an end table for my living room, and yarn bottles for my dining room.  Really, I've never been this person.  I LOVE it, though!  I find it thrilling every time I create something out of nothing, or something better out of something old and drab.  I guess, now, I am a crafter.

Here's the craft fair at which my friends and I are holding a booth:

FHS Project Graduation Holiday Bazaar

You should come!  It's Saturday, December 8.  Come and check it out.  Buy stuff.  Or just come and say, "YAY, Brittney, you're a crafter!"  It's up to you.