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

The Beckoning of Leopold and Octavia ~

Hello There.

It has been a crazy busy week.

So much arty goodness going on right now.

Photo shoots, research, illustrations galore.

In between all of the craziness, I managed to get a new piece finished.

It is the second piece in my black and white series...

"The Beckoning of Leopold and Octavia"

This new piece is a bit unusual because it is 5" x 7" as opposed to my standard 4" x 6" size.

Here we see Leopold (the bravest rabbit in the land) and Princess Octavia beckoning a visitor to enter their kingdom. You see, Octavia is a very lonely young princess because the 7 sisters before her have all disappeared. She has no one to play with. Leopold would very much like to find a young girl for Octavia to play with. I wonder if this passerby will be Octavia's new play mate?

The first in my black and white series is called

"The Displacement of Prince Alberic"

Prince Alberic is Princess Octavia's brother.

Both of these pieces can be found in my Etsy Shop.

Well, just a quick post today.  I am off to water the garden.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

P.S.  Leopold and Alberic don't like each other very much!

More "Tiny Tale" Art ~

I'm so happy.  Excited almost.  Well, it doesn't take much to excite me, really.

In my last post, I talked about losing and then finding a few of my little stories that go along with my art pieces.

I found a couple more!

I'm actually listing them in my shops as "Tiny Tale Art."  Corny right?  But, I really love to write these little tidbits of story for the characters in my artwork.  

Most people don't know this, but every single piece I create has a story, and all the characters and stories are connected to each other in some way.  All of my characters live in the same world and my entire body of watercolor/collage work is one big story still being written.

Is that crazy?  Maybe when I'm 80, I'll write the book.

Yesterday, I found this Tiny Tale ~

"The Guardian of Cordelia's Swan Song"

"Cordelia loved to dance. Her days were filled with steps and turns and her nights were filled with dancing dreams. She was so happy, simply happy, while she danced ~

But she knew, deep down inside, she knew that her days were numbered and her dance would end. An ending that should never have been, yet it was a perfect Swan Song. 

....and now ~ she rests."

This next piece is super duper old!  But, I still like it and it's still part of the world I've created with my art work ~

"Ghostly Gert's Tuson Patio Party"

"Oh the happenings on that lovely desert patio. It was August 13, 1910, a sweltering hot day in Tucson, Arizona. It was Gert's 11th birthday and she was having a birthday extravaganza. Hundreds of friends and family members were swarming in. The food was delicious and the cake, oh the cake ~ it was 4 layers high. The party was sure to be the talk of the town. The guests were laughing and dancing. Gert and the other children were playing games. Hopscotch, Tag, Croquet. Then, it happened, tragedy struck..."

The stories aren't shiny and professional, but they are all intertwined.  Someday, I'll put them all together and re-write the entire Tale.  For now, they are separate "Tiny Tales" that hint at the big picture!  :-)

Everyone that orders a piece of "Tiny Tale" art will also receive a printed version of the story that goes along with the art.  :-)

Both of these prints can be found in my shops.  I work from 2 online venues, but I mostly promote from Zibbet.  I also have a Storenvy, which I actually love.  This gives a buyer the opportunity to choose which shop they like to use.

Both of my shops are in "sales mode" right now.  At Zibbet,  all  prices have been marked down by 50%.  Crazy right?  50%!!

I'm offering 50% off storewide at Storenvy as well.  But you have to use a coupon code.  The coupon code is:  halfcrazy.  Get it, halfcrazy, like 50% off!!  I know, corny joke.

Here's my Zibbet Shop.  

and

Here's my Storenvy Shop

Also, here's a link that takes you directly to my "Tiny Tale Art" at Zibbet.

I ♥ story art.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

P.S.  I am spending the whole weekend researching traditional Welsh clothing and composing a new piece.  It will be included in a book of Welsh Nursery Rhymes to be published for next year's St. David's Day Festival in Hollywood, California.  So excited!  ♥♥

Looking Back ~ "Sister Ophelia's Unfortunate Picnic" and "The Uninvited" ~

Hello There:

What a whirlwind week it's been.  Some things good and some things trying.  

I said goodbye to the last bouquet of Autumn Roses ~ 

Opened the last bag of 2012's Boysenberries ~ 

Which is now a pie ~ 

...and found a new home for the front porch Chrysanthemums ~

The chaos of Christmas is almost here.  I can feel it creeping up in my bones ~ 

I love the idea of Christmas, but the chaos and materialism exhausts and disappoints me every year.  

But...onward I go.

I am still in "sales mode" in my Art Shop.  Everything has been marked down by 50%.  This includes original art, art prints and even a few "gnarly-dolls" thrown into the mix.

I was looking back today, trying to find some of the little stories that I originally wrote to go along with my collages.  Last year, when my computer crashed, I lost all of my little short stories.  

Well, I found them on JacketFlap!!  JacketFlap is a site that connects authors, illustrators and publishers of Children's books.  My blog posts run through their site each time I post.  So....they have a record of all my old blog posts and I found my stories!!  I am so excited.

So....I thought I would share 2 of them with you.  They're just simple little stories, mind you. I don't publish an ending to the stories because I like the reader to come up with their own endings.  However, I do have the endings written for myself.  Would you like to read 2 of them?

Okay!

"The Uninvited"

"Today is Miss. Laramie Rabbit's big tea party.  All of her friends will be there, ready to have a day of fun and food ~ yummy little rosy cupcakes, delicious boysenberry turnovers and sweet, minty tea. But....someone dark and eerie has made an appearance...someone or something Uninvited!! What will the day bring for Miss. Laramie and her friends?"

And...

"Sister Ophelia's Unfortunate Picnic"

"Do you like picnics? My sister Ophelia loves them... 

A warm day under the full moon....waiting for our friends to arrive ~ oh the lovely flutter of summertime butterflies.  I remember so well, that day.  The day of the unfortunate picnic.  You see, we had everything perfectly planned,  and then..." 

So...you see?  You get to make up your own ending for the stories.

Both of the originals are long ago sold, but....you can get them both in print version for 50% off right now in my shop.  

I think art,  and anything handmade really, makes spectacular gifts.  So unique and heartfelt.

Do you agree?

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

P.S.   I am overwhelmed by the kindness of fellow artist and blogger Cat's Wire.    She wrote a lovely blog post about me.  Can you believe it?  Thank you Catrin!! ♥♥

Clara and Lucy's Curious Visitors ~

It was a  warm summer morning...heading into the kind of day that blankets you in furnace heat and dampness. Clara and Lucy were off for a walk. 

Oh they had a lovely time, each wearing their sun hats and pretty lace up boots. They strolled by the creek, picked bouquets of wild flowers and had a taste of Mr. Stepp's plump and purple Huckleberries. 

Clara and Lucy were the best of friends, they were sisters. They both had dreams of great adventures and spent hours telling each other stories. 

As Clara and Lucy made their way back up the dirt road that led to their little wooden house, they skipped and held hands...they were so happy to be together. But, as they arrived back home, something felt askew ~ static air and a yellowing sky...they each broke out in goosebumps and were so very curious. "We have visitors" said Clara. "Yes, but who are they?" asked Lucy.................................     



Now   ~   the end of the story belongs to you ~



You can find this brand new print in my shop by clicking right HERE.

"Clara and Lucy's Curious Visitors" is an older piece, but it has never been offered in my current shop. So....I figured today was a good day to do so.  It is a simple piece but has great sentimental value to me.  And....it prints up super nice!

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

P.S.  It's hot outside!!!