Fridays news and an fyi

Happy Friday everyone!

Nothing extraordinary going on these days- as with everyone else out there- there is a Holiday blitz going on!

I am off to shows for the weekend- so I will be checking back with everyone on monday!

Just as an FYI, I will be pulling stock from Whisperings13  tomorrow morning for the shows this weekend . You guys are so awesome, I had such banner sales this past month that I must empty all the shops to make stock for the Christmas shows! So a very merry THANKYOU! to all!!! If you would like anything in the shops, let me know before tomorrow am (I will layaway for anyone that needs it).

Have an Exceptional weekend! and Enjoy the first snow of the season! and most importantly... stay sane!

enjoy each other.

live well.

A crazy, cold Monday full of lists

Crazy, cold monday~

It is a definite sign that the seasons are in transition- one day warm, the next day... not so much. The winds finally subsided long enough to finish the studio. Wintering the studio that is. Having a studio that has 2 sides with full open windows is a wonderful thing, most of the time. Now that the winds are starting to chill it is time to batten up the hatches, seal up the windows and make room for the winter muses to move in. One more thing to check off the list.

I love lists. It's how I get things done. Which is funny, because in my "corporate world" life- I hated lists.  I used to know what needed to be done, and just did it. methodical, mind numbing routines. Now that I am living more in the moment- I am finding that things come and go much quicker. Distractions come quite often. Not the bad, take me away distractions- but more of the... ohhhhhh shiny! distractions. I get caught up in the studio and hours pass and, well, things just get put off to the next day, until something else draws my attention. So, every night, I bring out the index cards and make a list of things that absolutley have to get done the next day, and check, check, check them off. The earlier I get the list done, the longer I have to play!

Speaking of lists... I feel one coming on...

- working on a few mixed-media pieces, a custom and a birthday present

- trying to be inspired to come up with a goody for the Halloween party~ only 5 days away!

-Anyone interested in winning some serious Halloween goodies should definitely go here.

-Very inspired by Seth Apter. if you have not been introduced~please, do so now. A truly passionate artist.

-Can NOT wait to see this. As a result, my computer now looks like this.

-If you are looking to learn how to market your wares on the web- You need to check out this ecommerce workshop.  The least you need to do is introduce yourself to Laura Bray- and sign up for her newsletter- what's to lose? You won't be disappointed.
-I so totally want this.

Enjoy each other.
Live well.

For the Change of it all

Pumpkins for the Season, fresh from the garden!

I am in the process of yet another metamorphosis ~ first on the hit list was the blog. I thought it was getting a bit stale and needed a touch of color. How did I do? Since I have already stepped off that edge and am no longer dreaming but living the dream, paying homage to the Muse- The entire blog will be following this new direction. First up is the name- Whisperings 13.  Inspired by finally listening to the whisperings of the Muses I have ignored for 13 years- they deserved acknowledgement- and, it also serves as a reminder to myself- not to ignore them again.

The Artfire shop got it's overhaul early this week, and the Halloween Ornies are up and listed. Have a look see.  Over at Etsy, The Giggling Goblin has gone into an overhaul as well (big surprise, right?) and now only lists vintage and found objects. I will be updating that shop quite often as I have tons of wonderful little finds to share!  I do have another art shop in the works - but that is for another day, another post.

Speaking of the 100th post- I promised a give-away! I will be announcing the winner (and the prize) on Wednesday, you guessed it - the 13th.

Have you all signed up for the Hauntingly Magical Celebration??

    Vanessa always puts on quite a fest for the senses, and her guest list is quite extensive! It is a party that lasts for days. You never know what will happen, or who you will meet. All you need is a camera and a bit of imagination! Don't be shy! Sign up today and put your best ghoul forwards!

On the subject of Ghouls~ I am excited to announce that I am a new member of the Ghouls Guild! A guild devoted to all things All Hallows Eve! So if your head spins at the scent of spice and the sight of falling leaves, if you love the time of Autumn, things gothic or ghouly or just plain spooky- you need to check out the Guild's blog. They promote artists that capture the essence of Halloween all year long! 

Enjoy each other.

Live well.

Ramblings of the Season

Getting back in the groove of things after a prolonged illness is much harder than anticipated. So many things to catch up on, both in the house and in the studio, not to mention all of the fantastic blogs out there I have been missing out on! I started feeling like such a slacker when I started reading up on your blogs~ you have all been so busy over the past two weeks! I still have many to visit and many, many emails to catch up on ~ so bear with me as I am slowly working through the list, trying to make sure I don't miss anyone!

I have managed to get some studio time in, and the updates for the Halloween Ornies are on schedule and are being uploaded to Artfire as we speak- or write, er.. type... You get the point!

I am wishing the sun would shine a bit more~ so that I can go find a nice windowsill to warm myself, much like this little honey that I photographed in my travels pre-flu. Yet with the passing of the sun-filled afternoons comes yet another breath-taking time of year. Autumn is upon us; the rich fall colors are starting to take hold, and the magic of the season is beginning to stir in the darkness of the chilled night. This time of year has always been a favorite of mine and thus far, though we are short into the term, this season holds fast to the promise of the warming of the senses and inspirations to the soul. Leaves stained with the hues of gold and red begin their debut, swirling effortlessly to the time of a well rehearsed dance. The effulgence of candlelight emitting aromas of mulled cider and spiced apples grace the counter tops. Grand pumpkins with their smooth orange skin and coarse stems claim their positions of sentinel to the halls and cornstalks stand tall as if claiming their last right to be majestic. Magic is in the air, and I myself get an infinitesimal sense of self in comparison to it all. Take a deep breath and enjoy the splendor of it all as it will surrender to the austere winds of winter forcing us to take haven around the hearth fires before to long. But then, that itself holds a promise all of its own.

Buzzing with activity now, the studio is getting ready for Halloween, even the WIPs are getting into the spirit. If you have not done so as of yet, make sure you remember to sign up for Vanessa's Halloween Party over at A Fanciful Twist~ She puts on a gala every year that dares you not to acquiesce to the spirit of the season.

Keep in mind- 100th post is coming up (I never actually thought I would make it!) and in celebration of this milestone I will be having a special give-away for those that follow the Blog, Fanpage and/or Tweets of the studio. It isn't too late to get you name in the cauldron- so sign up to follow today! Fanpage link is at the bottom of the main blog page; all other links are located at the top of the main blog page.

Good luck to all and Thank you!

This is a mixed-media piece that I am working on. It is a process. I say that for all the pieces that I have absolutely no idea what direction it is going in. (HA!) Any suggestions?

Where ever it is going, it is proving to be a ton of fun and pushing me outside of the norm. It is a formula of canvas, modeling paste, clay, three- dimension and loads of yummy texture and color. Something to play with, I suppose, while testing the strength of all of the above and "longevity"; otherwise known as- how much can I put to canvas without it caving in or falling off....

Until next time,

Have a great week!

Enjoy each other.

Live well.

Icky Flu Friday

The title says it all. It's Friday and I have the flu. ICK!

The Halloween Ornies and goblettes are almost completed- and will be listed- once I regain my brain. I personally can't stand those blog posts that run on and on (and on) and say nothing. So, since I am in a NyQuil haze, I will spare you from the potential hazard of vapid idiocy and make this short and sweet.

Post 98. Big one is coming up- don't forget to follow, tweet and Fanpage to get your entries for the big give away!

Stay well my lovelies!

This side of the tissue is not a fun place to be!

Saturation Saturday

This photo (taken this summer off the the point on Lake Ontario) pretty much defines my current notion of saturation. Incapable of absorbing any more color, one more ounce of static, any more perfection, as it were. I have been trying to get caught up since my summer of travels. Getting back into a routine is harder than expected. My mind keeps taking me back to places such as this- and while I find it inspiring- it has led me to a place that is- well- chaotic. So many things to do, to try, to get done. I feel like i am training for a marathon. A marathon that has no date, not length and no end. Of course the pending change of seasons is of no help- but that is a whole other post. So- in a nut shell, here is the mind numbing saturation; the things I have completed, the things I am working on, things that are finished and things that I have learned during my hiatus from the "real world"- although I have to say this:

Lesson one: I am just on the cusp of the real world- that thing that I was doing before, all those years- not so real. And certainly not so filled with life as the one I am in now.

For those that don't Facebook or haven't added my Fanpage (see link at bottom of page) yet- I was involved with the Canvas Project: Encyclopedia. It was hosted by an Atlanta based gallery called The ArtHouse. It was a project that involved artists from 48 States and 21 Countries. When the exhibit was opened there were 6000 plus paintings and they chose 1200 of those to represent this amazing collaboration. When I heard of the mass response to this project- you can imagine my profound excitement in learning that I was one of the 1200 to be chosen. The show ran at the Atrium Gallery at the Atlanta Airport, then back home to the Arthouse and will ultimately wind up in a book called the Arthouse Encyclopedia V.1.

Still working off this little high-

Lesson two: Exposure is a wonderful thing-No matter how small it may seem to others, or how scary it may seem to you- get your creations out there and revel in the delight as to where they wind up.

Huge score at Dick Blick. Twice a year- they hold a massive canvas sale. One that actually warrants showing up. I say that only because we have all been taken in by the "sale" and if you are anything like I am- 20% off- NOT a sale. However- this sale is an elevated mix and match sale which translates in to huge savings on canvas. The idea is this- the more you buy the bigger the savings. If you purchase 20+ pieces you get 70% off the lot! Why is this good, you ask, knowing that the average decent sized canvas these days is between 50-80$? Because they added the mix and match! You don't have to buy 20 of the $50 canvas- you can buy 10 of the 5$ canvas, 8 of the 3$ canvas, 2 of the 50$ canvas (you get the point) and get 70% off the whole thing! for example.. this whole pile of canvas (and some are hidden due to piling- there were 65 in all) cost less than $200. Huge score, right!! And I am a sucker for the thick gallery wraps- so to get them on the cheap is like having christmas, your birthday, dark chocolate and a good wine all at the same time! The sale runs usually back to school time and then once on the spring. Keep your eyes and ears open (they don't make a huge fuss about it when it comes to advertisments) and save those pennies! It is worth the wait!

The "alone with my thoughts" dolls are nearing completion. A few more tweeks and twitches and they will be ready for sale just in time for the holidays! Speaking of the holidays and sales and such - there is a huge upturn with the Etsy shops. Due to an overwhelming quantity - Giggling Goblin is going strictly vintage and found objects. All of the Ooaks and art work will be moved to a new shop Whisperings13 on Etsy as well as the Artfire shop. This move is time consuming but needed, as I have had much feedback as to the art "getting lost" and folks not wanting to weed through the vintage to find my work. Hopefully this will make a smoother shopping (and selling!) experience for all. Whisperings 13 will be up and running for shipments to be made in time for Halloween!

Lesson Three: Sometimes you have to re-do, re-make and re-master things a dozen times before it feels right. Listen to your market and your "peeps"- Sometimes a critic is more helpful than a cheerleader.

The Farmer's Market dinner and auction was... fabulous! not only a success for the Farmer's Market but also a delight for those in attendance! The food was amazing!! The night could not have been more perfect; there was good friends, good wine, great food and perfect weather! Kudos to all that put on the event! I can't wait until next year.

These are the paintings that I donated to the market's art auction- Full of texture and color- I just thought they were a perfect fit for the event.

A few more WIPs I am working on- As bizarre as it sounds- I am find newspaper very satisfying to work with! I have a few "in-progress" photos for next time to give you an idea of what I mean.

Which brings me to the next thing I learned.

Lesson four: Sometimes it can all be summed up with one word. Less is definitely more, and quality is definitely better than quantity.

Anniversary Post coming up soon! Special giveaway for my 100th post! ! Automatic entry for all followers, a second if your a facebook fan and a third if you follow on Twitter!! (All links are located on the blog home page) Check back- it is sooner than you think!

Have a great weekend!

Enjoy each other.

Live well.

Changes, Challenges, Beginnings and a List

Well, it is officially Spring, and as the buds start popping (and the pollen starts blowing) things are starting to go crazy here at the studio and changes are in the wind. It is inevitable (change, that is) and yet when it happens all at once it can be over-whelming, even when you know it is coming. The first big change you will be noticing, is of course the outline of the blog itself. I have found that there is so much going on, in order for me to make any kind of attempt to keep up and keep organised, I needed to do a complete format change- so over the next several weeks, I will be tweaking and adding tons of new stuff- so keep checking back! I have heard tons of feed back from people about elements that I have to keep because they are so loved - and rest assured - they will stay as they are - just adding a bit more of the fun and informative. And since the business end of things are taking off- I will be listing the business end of things here as well - as my web sight is under construction - and this will the main connection site - for now. As for the other changes, I have decided in order to make it quick and painless, I will keep up with bloglandia's obsession with lists. Numbers, subjects only, no vapid gushing or superfluous detail-straight to the point. I like it.

So here goes:

New assignments, challenges, accomplishments, changes and other various things that have otherwise kept me on the verge and out of sight:

1. Studio overhaul (winter to spring)
2. Teenager with a driving permit
3. Grand package from a long "lost" perfect friend (photo-ey goodness supplied later)
4. Paintings to be published in a book (there are loud screams of delight w/ this one) -update in August
5. Same paintings to go on a continental tour (more screams of delight)
6. Paintings aforementioned- yeah - still have to finish some of them- (I think it's the whole publication pressure)
7. Loss of a family member (a blessing that has ended long suffering)
8. Teenager with a driving permit, hormones and a girlfriend (this one deserves mentioning twice)
9. Starting to teach classes- update June
10. Artfire shop- stocked April
11. Etsy shop overhaul- this week
12. No more frozen pipes (yeah!!)
13. Planting garden this week (double yeah!)
14. Show schedule being finalised (anyone who does this knows this deserves a triple yeah!)
15. 2 months 2 weeks till school lets out -Woo Hoo! (vacation starts)
16. Purchased a dive boat
17. Purchased new dive equipment (it is gonna be a great summer!)
18. Almost done working my butt off at a job that is sucking the life out of me
19. Purchased a bunch of fabulous artwork from three amazing artists- update when received
20. Article written for a grand magazine
21. New laptop - just to make sure I have no down time. LOL
22. New 21 inch flat screen- just cause I'm getting old....NOT :0)
23. Planning a 3 week inter coastal waterway sail, from FL to??? (leaving room for Heather to stow-away)
24. Working on two challenge pieces for two fabulous groups (MMMM and Wendy Froud Sculptors)
25. The Nine Modern Day Muses and a Bodyguard
26. Creative Awakenings
27. Kaleidoscope
28. Art Guilds
29. A wedding
30. A divorce
31. A commission for a cake topper (that should be interesting, I mean, fun- definately a new one!)
32. Altered Bits

Ok - I think that will do for now. I thank all of those wonderful friends and bogging buddies that have phoned and emailed -wondering if I were bound and gagged in a closet somewhere. I appreciate the good thoughts and concern - as you can see I am merely going out of my mind- blazing bravely into my new world- armed with nothing but a stock of clay, a paintbrush and a smile. Hang on- it's going to be a wild ride!

We took a look.

We saw a Nook.

On his head he had a hook.

On his hook he had a book.

On his book was "How to Cook."
We saw him sit and try to cook.

He took a look at the book on the hook.
But a Nook can't read, so a Nook can't cook.

SO...

what good to a Nook is hook cook book?

And now good night.

It is time to sleep.

So we will sleep with our pet Zeep.
Today is gone. Today was fun.

Tomorrow is another one.

Every day, from here to there,

funny things are everywhere.

-Dr. Seuss

General Announcements and Revelations

As you all know, I have been away on Holiday. Every one needs to get away once in a while and I was overdue. It was my first holiday (that lasted more than three days) in over four years! It was a wonderful time spent with my family and friends. I spent lazy hours walking beaches and reading on a hammock tied to palm trees. My son and I snuck out down to the beach at night to chase sand crabs and stare at the endless star filled sky. There is something to be said for warm sands, hot sun and light clothing, even for a Blue Ridge Mountains girl like me. I love my mountains. I love my trees and the cool mountain evenings. and I love the snow. Crisp winter evenings, when the moonlight makes the whole world sparkle.... I was not prepared, however, for what waited for me when we returned from our little adventure south of the border.......

It was shocking to say the least. It was as if all of my senses had frozen once I hit the North Carolina border and it was all down hill from there! Now this isn't actually what my little home in the woods looked like... but it was close, and it certainly felt like it! One morning I woke up and it was 73 degrees and by time I went to bed that night it was 12 degrees and falling!! the good news is, that over the past week or so, the only thing that actually froze was the washing machine, that and the studio.... but that is another story. Oh, how I miss being WARM!! That being said (or screamed as the case may be) Being away gives one a chance to think about things. Where your going, what your doing and where you want to be. And all the things you want to do. Stepping back definitely gives your creative senses a boost!

I have a lot of things going.. a lot of irons in the fire as they say! I have been busy thawing the studio, working on my new series of dolls and networking for a few new projects. I don't want to jinx anything at this point - but I will definitely let everyone know when it comes to fruition. (notice I said WHEN.. the power of positive thinking!!)

There are a few new additions to my blog here... I have created a ZAZZLE shop. You can see the preview below, it will take you right to it or you can visit me directly at www.zazzle.com/WadsworthNoll_studio . I am determined to keep my product prices as LOW as possible there. It is such an amazing place and so much fun to design and see your artwork on stuff - that I want anyone that sees something they like to be able to afford it. As a side note ~ I am in the process of working on a new computer here - a splurge for the new year... so I have to transfer over a lot of the photos I had taken of my work. Once that is done, I anticipate a Zazzle update . Hopefully within the next week.

Also, I have added an Artfire shop. ArtFire is the up and coming Artist community shopping experience. They offer many exciting things to artists - they are ranked against Etsy - and YET because they are FOR THE ARTIST they allow you to link directly over to your Etsy shop.
What inspired me to join was that they offer what is called Global Green which is your chance as an artisan to change the world for the better by making a positive impact. I encourage everyone to at least check it out. There is a link directly under the ArtFire button on the right of my blog. And if you decide to join - Please tell them Angel Wings and Whisperings (all one word for account purposes) sent you! (yes - I get a count for everyone i refer over. blatant plug on my behalf, eh...)
You can visit my shop at ArtFire by either clicking the link to the left - or simply going to :

http://angelwingsandwhisperings.artfire.com/ Again- since I know that it is unfair to post the same objects for sale in multiple places, I am anticipating an update at Artfire shortly. I am aiming at the beginning of February. So there will be all new items posted there. Please take time to stop by and check them out. It really is a fabulous place. I will mention, that they are still in the creation stage themselves, so you must have patience while they finish working out the kinks in their programing. They are on the ball though, and have constant contact with you- and should you have any problems, a tech is on site, 24 hours to resolve your issue lickity split!

Speaking of the studio.... I am in the process of down-sizing as it were... tons of treasures, found objects, vintage beads and notions..... they are all going up for sale on my ETSY shop shortly. I have found that I am being selfish, keeping things in the hopes that I might use them someday - knowing that I won't. I am trying to remain focused on certain things, and well - it's time to open the doors of the studio and share the treasures... So keep a look out for not only an ETSy update but also a STUDIO UNLOAD sale at Etsy....

Well, I guess that is all for now - kind of back up to speed as it were.... Off to do some sewing (grumble, grumble grumble) and more clay work (yeah!) Please let me know how you all have been fairing this last month, what your up to and how your holidays have been.....

Here's looking forward to Spring!!

Blessings!