Hopefulness, Art, Fear, Thankfulness, Life, Darkness....

I hardly know where to start.

Life has surely pitched my family a curve ball.

You see, my husband was laid off in December of 2013.

He was unemployed from December through the end of July 2014.

He took a less than perfect job, because, let's be serious, that's better than unemployment.

He worked there for just over 7 months when that company restructured.

In early March 2015, he was laid off again.

Currently, he is still unemployed.

During this time, I have helped to keep food on the table with my Art Shop ~

and my Garden/Photography Shop.

So.....I don't know what the future holds.

But, no one really knows, do they?

I try to stay focused.

And grateful.

Grateful for those dreamy days that are far and few between....

Tea time with a friend ~ 

Quiet days in my studio....working through the worry ~ 

Staying focused ~ 

Thankful for friends that share their bounty ~

Working working working on new art ~

"The Melody Maker's Home"

"The Good Mourning Mice"

"Sister Ophelia's Unfortunate Picnic"

"Clara and Lucy's Curious Visitors"

"Another Hopeful Sunday"

"The Changeling Moon"

Savoring sweet moments ~ 

....and working hard to make ends meet.

I just recently, (finally) introduced blank inside note cards into both my shops ~

(Still trying to perfect taking artistic photos of my note cards). 

You can find note cards with my art in my Art Shop ~

"Dancing Fiona" Note Cards

"Valerian and Tartarian" Note Cards

You can find lovely gardeny note cards in my Photography Shop

"Butterfly on Orange Cosmos"

"Evening Calla Lily"

This is a rough patch...to say the least.

I have learned a lot...

Especially this ~ 

I have also learned  that, even in the most difficult, dark times....

There can be fun things.

Good things.

I am so happy to say that The Press Enterprise (an Inland Empire newspaper in the Southern California area) interviewed me for their "Artist Spotlight" this week ~  ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

They even included a slide show of my work  ~ SLIDE SHOW

My daughter was so patient last week....

Snapping a gajillion photos to get one single artist photo of me for the spotlight  ~ 

I see the tiredness in my eyes and the hardness in my smile.

And fear.

But....I see gratefulness too.

And a bit of hope.

 And thankfulness.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

"Guardian of the Melody Maker" Character Study.....

One of the great joys in my life is creating character studies for the fairy tale I'm writing called "Gerushia's New World. 

I love my work and I love the research that goes into writing a book and creating art.

This brand new piece is called ~

"Guardian of the Melody Maker"

(Available through my Etsy shop)

You see, in Gerushia's World there is a lot of music and...a lot of music inspired characters. 

This gal is a Melody Maker. She is part of a large group of musical personalities that live within Gerushia's World.  

Melody Makers often roam freely and share their music, hoping to bring calm and wonder to their world.

In this piece, you see her practicing under the yellowy skies of an oncoming storm. 

I used a scan of my Grandma Watson to create the Melody Maker ~ 

In Gerushia's World, under the yellowy skies and bruised storm clouds....

you will find kindness, hope, good and evil, comfort and fear.

But most of all, you will find peace.....eventually.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

It's True....I'm Still Alive ~

I am so happy to be visiting my blog today.

It's been a little while, hasn't it?

April 17th, to be exact.

During these warm and unsure days of summer, my garden calls me.

Snapping photos of the buzzing life all around ~ 

Busy birdbath ~ 

Taking advantage of a cooler than usual afternoon ~ 

Purple stars ~

Hollyhocks in the morning sun ~

Collecting seeds ~ 

Snipping bouquets for the studio ~ 

...taking time to stop and smell the roses.  

Working on new character studies for my book....

This gal is a melody maker (work in progress)

Life has been topsy-turvy .

I've found a bit of calm while working on my book....

and creating new art ~ 

"Beryl's Beginning"

"Guardians of the Questionable Motive (Revisited)"

"Just Horsin' Around"

...and, a new character study for my book ~

"Serafine's Daughter"

These pieces have all sold, but you can surely get them in print versions in my Art Shop.

Life is a mystery.

Sometimes scary.

Sometimes exciting.

We've had a rough couple of years here in Wlassak Wland, but we are pushing forward and living one day at a time.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

P.S.  It's very hot here today!

Time For An Art Giveaway!

January is a great time to host an art giveaway.

Don't you think so?

I cleaned my studio and have put aside 3 art prints to offer for the giveaway.

It's super duper easy....

All you need to do is visit my  ~ Facebook Art Page

and leave a brief comment on the pinned post at the top.

You don't have to do anything else, just leave a little comment.

Here are the 3 prints included in the giveaway ~ 

"The Keeper of Odessa's Hymn"

"Rabbit's Curious Day"

and....

"Portrait of Mayor Ricarda"

I would love for you to stop by my Facebook Art Page and enter to win.

A winner will be picked at random on Tuesday, January 13 at 10:00 pm Pacific time.

Hope to see you there!

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

A Late Halloween And a Facebook Give-Away ~

Well, I can't believe it....

It's October 10th and our Halloween decorations are all still safely tucked away in the garage.

This is the latest we've ever decorated for Halloween.

It's just been too hot and not at all autumn-like.

But, they are going up this weekend, hot weather or not.

I am craving the glow of Halloween ~ 

Spooky foggy nights ~ 

and ghoulish visitors ~ 

Last year, I was so lucky to find a conjoined pumpkin at my local grocery ~ 

Wonder if there's any chance I'll ever find another one.

Probably not.

Gathering the Halloween decorations ~ 

Adorning both inside ~ 

...and outside ~ 

We will make the best of the warm weather and dream of the cool and orange flavored days ahead.

Also, during this decorating weekend, I am having a give-away on my Facebook Art Page.

If you'd like to participate, all you have to do is stop by my Art Page and leave a short comment.

No need to share it on your page or do any such thing.

Simply leave a comment.

I am giving away a tiny tale print version of "Let's Gather the Stars."

Along with the art print, I am including the short story that goes along with it.  These two lovely ladies, Alice and Junie, are characters from the middle grade fairy tale I am writing, so I am including a short excerpt from the book, nicely printed on high quality calligraphy paper.

Here's the little story:

"Alice and Junie are gathering stars on this clear and warm April night. Junie is curious and ready to collect so many stars in her wooden bucket. She hesitates, but Alice assures her that all is well and the collecting night is upon them. Junie knows that tomorrow morning when she wakes, she will have a bucket full of wishes. What will she wish for?"

Stop by my Facebook page and say hi and enter the contest!

I will be choosing a random winner Sunday evening, October 12th.

I'd love to see you there.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

Just Minding My Own Business ~ When All Of A Sudden.....

Boom, just like that.

Didn't see it coming.

Times have been difficult for my family since October of 2007.

No need for detail other than it's been a financial struggle since helping with my mom's medical and death expenses.

Last year, we were finally feeling like there might be a little light at the end of the tunnel....

until my husband was unexpectedly laid off right before Christmas.

So, I found a pace after the lay-off.

I learned to cope and juggle bills and force myself to see good things every day.

Spending time in my studio helped keep my mind off of troubles ~ 

Frisky puppies made me giggle ~ 

and my garden helped me stay focused ~ 

It wasn't easy.

It was high level budgeting and going without any extras.

BUT...we were, by the skin of our teeth, surviving.

Then....

Boom, just like that.

Didn't see it coming.

We lost our unemployment money.

All due to a power play in Washington.

Politicians....Blech!

In some ways, this news was scarier than the actual lay-off.

So....here we are.

In limbo.

Again.

Right now, the only money we have coming in is the money I make from my art.

I've just recently finished a piece that is a sort of nod to a character named "Madrigal" from the book "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" by Laini Taylor.

If you've read the book, you'll understand my character design.

This is my idea of what Madrigal might look like if she were in Gerushia's World ~ 

"A Secret Invitation For Maragild"  SOLD

(Maragild is an anagram of Madrigal)

I think this piece stands on it's own as well.

It is still within Gerushia's World.

No need to read the book in order to like the piece.

Right?

Because of our current emergency, I am having a 40% off sale in my Zibbet Shop.  The above piece is normally $80.00 and it is included in the sale. If you prefer shopping at Etsy, you can receive the same 40% off storewide by using coupon code STAYSTRONG.

Sometimes, it makes me sad to offer my art at discounted prices.

It makes me feel like it's in a dime store junk aisle.

But, as you can see, I am desperate.

If you've ever contemplated buying an original or print from my shop, now would be the best time ever.

It is food on the table until we get through this nightmarish journey.

So....here I am.

Still blogging, if not as often as I'd like to.

Still trying to find good things in my every day life.

I don't know where this journey's path is leading us.

Honestly, I'm terrified.

And confused.

Confused about why things like this happen to people that try so hard to live a good and quiet and simple life.

I know there are no easy answers.

I have no answers at all.

Right now, we are in a dark struggle and I am trying with all my heart to find some goodness....and make a few dollars selling the thing that I love to do the most...

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

P.S.  If you have any questions about the sale or my art, please don't hesitate to contact me.  xoxo