ONE MORE WEEKEND DOWN..ONE TO GO!!

Well, we did the Gumtree Festival in Tupelo, MS this weekend..and Tupelo did not disappoint me!! First of all..I came home almost SIX pounds thinner!! WOOHOOOOOO!! I know that it will take about 2 weeks for it to actually SHOW up as weight loss, but that is how the human body works. I walked so much!

Ok..It was HOT this weekend. I'm talking about 90-95 degrees hot..I wore black clothing both days (Granted, not the smartest thing to do), BUT..It did not bother me...AT ALL. I did not get tired, I did not SWEAT, I've lost almost 60 pounds, and WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE that makes. I was even able to help Nature Boy take the tent and work down without any discomfort!!! AMAZING DIFFERENCES!!

Anyway..back to the show. This is the FIRST time that I have went to a show, and prayed that I DID NOT SELL anything. After the almost sell out show in Troy, AL...and painting like crazy for two weeks...AND having another show in a week..I really wish that I had not sold anything..BUT, that was not the case...We started with 8 grid walls, and my normal 7 grey Pro-panel walls...and on Sunday morning, I had sold enough art to completely remove the grid walls, and have Nature Boy put them in the van...So, I think I sold way more than I was comfortable with losing, and must start in about an hour, and paint like a crazy person..

I am counting the money that I make differently this year..I am not saying I made XXX amount..I am taking the amount of money in my pocket when we leave the house, and at the end of the shows..I am taking that same amount out of the money before I count what we made. If I leave the house with $500, and then pay cash for our hotel room (-$200 plus)..and gas for the trip, and food for the road..etc..then saying to myself  "OH..I made XXX amount of money..then it doesn't give you a true amount of PROFIT....So..You must subtract expenses first..THEN count the money made. How much I make isn't important, only PROFIT is..I also am substracting the show cost off of that. This way..If I do not make close to a thousand in PROFIT, then I will know not to do the show again..



All in all..Gumtree was as good as ever..My only complaint was the heat..the rest of the show was great!! Thank you Tupelo and Gumtree for ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!! See you in 2016!!

Live Artfully!!

GUMTREE FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND IN TUPELO, MS!!

We will be at the Gumtree Festival in Tupelo, MS this weekend!! Come out and see us!!

WE HAD A GREAT WEEKEND AT TROYFEST!!

WOW!! What a weekend!! We arrived in Troy on Friday night, reunited with friends, and set up our tent..Set up was pretty uneventful..just nice and leisurely..Went to the hotel..which was a little ways down the road, because I forgot to make hotel reservations until 2 days before the art show! Turned out to be a blessing because it was FANTASTIC..the people at the hotel were AWESOME!! You can just rarely go wrong with Hampton Inns!! Anyway...

Saturday morning we hung our art..and waited for the show to start..and the BOTTOM FELL OUT..Goodness..It was a huge downpour..our tent got about a foot of water in it..the city workers had to come out (in the rain), and unclogged the drainage thingie..but, the rain left..the booth floor dried out, and all was right in our world!!

We went on to have a STELLAR show..Troyfest is truly one of my FAVORITE shows to do each year. The artist are simply treated like ROYALTY...There is so much friendliness, and love in this show. The people that put it on are the BEST!! It was a fantastic Saturday..and after the rain..it went very well..until almost the end, when ANOTHER HUGE thunderstorm got us..and this one threw us for a loop..Several tents were damaged..and the Troyfest staff worked hard out in the storm to help the artist. Chuck and I zipped up our tent, and at one point, I was holding the center and hanging onto the bars over my head so that it would not blow away..We were lucky..we had 2 pieces damaged..and they are repairable..but, it was bad..We finally made it out of the tent, and to our van. After that..I went back and got one of my friends...she had been in her tent through the whole storm..and we made it to the Awards dinner.

The Awards dinner was pork and chicken barbeque! It was delicious!! They had all kinds of good food..I only ate the meat..and stayed on my diet plan..so, I was happy!! Then the awards were announced! I won the prestigious JEAN LAKE FOLK ART AWARD, which came with $500!! What an amazing BLESSING!! I feel so unworthy..but, LOVED winning it!!

We went back to the hotel after the show..got a great night's rest, and went back to Troyfest on Sunday. It was a BEAUTIFUL day!! Sunny, bright, hot..and I LOVED it. It was never TOO hot..it was perfect!!

I came as close as I have ever come to having a SOLD out show..I had about 10 paintings left at the end of Troyfest!! Just a bunch of amazing people!!

My uncle came from Pensacola, FL to see us..That was a joy!! He is recently retired..and he was so happy, relaxed..and such a part of my inner heart. I love that he came!!

We went home on Sunday after a lot of hugs. Generally, I saw a lot of wonderful friends and family, had a great show (despite the rain), and won an award, stayed on my diet..lost 5 more pounds...ALL IN ALL...A PERFECT WEEKEND.

Our next stop is the GUMTREE FESTIVAL in TUPELO, MS!! I must work like I have never worked before..having 10 paintings is NOT near enough!!

Live Artfully!!

FIRST PLACE IN 2D THIS WEEKEND IN PRATTVILLE!!

Hello!! This weekend, I was at a small show in Prattville, AL...and even though it was cold most of the day, it was a fun time (after we FINALLY got a hotel that would cooperate with me)...We met a lot of nice people..made a bit of $$$, sold some art, and won 1st place in 2D!! Thank you Prattville..You were wonderful 4 years ago, and you were wonderful this year!! My aunt came from Montgomery, AL, and surprised me by bringing my aunt all the way from Pensacola, FL. They came bearing gifts..an uncle sent me a TON of canvases!! In all shapes and sizes!! Now if I could just get him to buy me a thousand dollars worth of paint..hahaha. Anyway..other than it being chilly all day..it turned out to be a good little show. I met a couple of people that I have known from online..that was cool! Next on the agenda is Alpharetta Streetfest in Alpharetta, GA.

Live Artfully!

OH HAPPY DAY!! GREAT WEEKEND!!!

You know..Life is funny sometimes. You make plans..you get your hopes up..and along comes a freak ice storm, and you become frozen in the house for days..Good-bye PLANS...Good-bye hopes...Hello..cold, miserable ice..Well..That is exactly what happened on Thursday of last week..maybe Wednesday..Yes, I think it was Wednesday..ANYWAY--I had applied and been accepted into a small folky show in Alabama, called The Jerry Brown Festival..and it was going to be our first show of the season..(I KNOW I said I wasn't going to apply to any shows..but, a few weeks ago, I was visited by an Art Fairy Godmother..and so, scrambling, I was able to get a couple of shows in for spring)..Well..actually 7 shows in for spring..but, who is counting??

SO..Wednesday came and brought with it over an inch of hard ice on our street. I live wayyyyyy up on a mountain..so, it's much worse up here. My husband figured that it would not thaw in time to drive to the show and set up on Friday, so, unfortunately (I thought at the time), I cancelled the show. I moped around a couple of hours..Then..THEN..THEN..I got news that I got ACCEPTED into one of the best shows in the COUNTRY!!! WOOOHOOOO!!! :::HAPPY DANCE:::::I will tell you all about it later..It's not a secret, but it is a long way off...

I was planning to make a small bit of money at Jerry Brown..you know, a few hundred..I was not expecting much..It is a small show..but, I was looking forward to making money. That was not going to happen with us not going..I woke up on Saturday morning, and decided to hold my own online "art show"..and WOW!! Thank you Lord for all the people on my Facebook!! They REALLY came through for me. I ended up selling a total of 13 paintings!! Thank you ALL so much!!

Ok..so, those two things made for a GREAT WEEKEND...But, THERE IS MORE! (This "weekend" in this story runs from the freeze on Wednesday until yesterday). I was trying on clothes, playing an adult version of "dress up", and I pulled out the dress that I got married in. It has not fit since I bought it in 2002. Seriously..The last time I put it on..It would not even go over my shoulders..WELL..yesterday..(totally expecting another too tight outfit), I put it on..and IT FIT..IT didn't just fit..It fit BEAUTIFULLY. PERFECTLY. WONDERFULLY!!!! A perfect ending to a perfect weekend..the one that I got frozen into.

Live Artfully!!

NEW WORK 2015

Live Artfully!!

OH HAPPY DAY!!

PANCAKES ROCK!! On Jan. 1, 2015..I couldn't even come close to buttoning this shirt up..There was a gap that just would not close..TODAY--22 days later-- HERE IT IS..BUTTONED...I had bought this denim duster on Ebay a couple of months ago, with the vision of hand-painting it, and wearing it to art shows...(which I have not applied to this year so far, but figure that I will do art shows one day)...and when I got it..It did not fit. I could have worn it open, but it still would have not "fit"..NOW..I can wear it open and it will hang properly. Ok..sorry to bore you all to death ..but, weight loss is serious business!! hahaha.

Live Artfully!!

COOKING THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Well..The new year has brought about a change within me...I am trying new things..some simple..some not so simple..Some have turned out awesome...some..Well..I still have a lot to learn..hahaha. This year, I have mastered pancakes..which I am now burnt out on, and may never eat another one as long as I live..I have made peanut butter bread..which Nature Boy loved, but me, not so much. I really cannot stand peanut butter..I have made cheesecakes..(Notice that that word is plural)...Still haven't mastered them. I ate one last night with a spoon, because it was soup...Then tonight I cooked  my first spaghetti squash..It was delicious! I topped it with grass-fed Irish butter, half of a chicken breast, pepperonis, and cheese. I loved the way it made "noodles"...I am going to keep trying to cook new things...I'm thinking maybe lasagna next...Who knows?? I'm really not a "foodie" type person...and do not want to become one...but, cooking is somewhat therapeutic.

On to other things...Nature Boy and I have started preparing for shows. The first one is in April, I think. I have been painting and have a few new pieces set back for inventory..Not showing any of them until they are shown to the public at shows. I will show you this one though..It was a commission for Christmas, and it was awesome fun to do!! Though I have to admit, I was a bit intimidated when the young man was listing all these animals that he wanted in this picture. Hahahha..But, as I started working on it..It came together. I should do more farm scenes!

Well...I'm off to paint..and paint..and paint some more!! Live Artfully..

YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY

I have a new addiction!! Yes! Pancakes. I have been eating them every day, sometimes twice a day! I don't make them very pretty, but they sure do taste good!! A friend of mine, while teasing me about them..and my new love affair with them..Sent me this photo..I'll take the title of Pancake Queen!! hahahaha.

On the artistic front..I'm still working on pre-Christmas commissions...the ones that were not for Christmas gifts...I should be finishing all of those up this week, hopefully..and then it's time to PAINT!

Nature Boy and I are huddled in for the winter, trying to keep warm...it's been COLD..I don't seem to mind it as much this year. I love days like today where it is really cold, and the sunshine is shining bright.It's a glorious day!!

Well..I'm traveling today..going to visit a friend, and going out to lunch..So..
Live Artfully!!

MY FIRST WRITING ASSIGNMENT...FAIL!

Good Happy Morning!! It is a glorious BEAUTIFUL day at the Buckner household. It is so cold that I cannot feel my feet..but, I am way too lazy to go get socks...So..sitting here freezing..but, actually feeling GREAT about it!! Hahaha.

OK..I got this book..It's called something like 1001 Writing Prompts or something or another..It was a free Kindle book that I thought would be fun..because when I am working on my art journal, I never have anything to say..and when I sit down to write..I never have anything to write about. So..anyway..the first prompt was something along the lines of ..Pick your favorite childhood toy, and write about it..Where is now, what significance did it have to you?

ARE YOU SERIOUS? I just turned 50..cannot remember what I did yesterday, or what I am suppose to do tomorrow, and they want me to remember a toy from childhood. Ain't gonna happen!! But, I tried. I sat here, and I thought, and I thought..puffs of smoke started coming out of my ears, and I thought some more..Nothing. Not one single memory of one single toy. All I got was blank space..I know that I carried a tiger doll around for a few years, but this is what I have been told..not what I remember...after that..I don't think I become attached to material things. I have never been attached to material things, and I'm still not.

I think it comes from always having an abundance of everything. I had so much as a child. I was raised by my grandparents, and their children (my aunts and uncles) were all grown by the time that I came along, and well..they spoiled me rotten. I had anything I could want and more. The times that my grandmother gave my toys away to the church, I knew that more would come along soon. I always had the most presents under the Christmas tree, and all my aunts and uncles bought things for me throughout the year...yes, I was spoiled.

On top of that..when my grandfather died, and then my best friend died..somewhere along the way, I decided that material possessions are just "things". It's just "stuff"..and I would have gladly given everything I owned to have one or both of those people returned to me. But, I digress, the writing prompt was about a toy..and I have covered that today.

Live Artfully!!