Today's Motivation

I've been having a tough time making my way to my work bench lately so I thought I would pull my paints out today and change things up a bit. It has been 7 years since I graduated with a BFA in painting and I have not touched my paints since, except for the occasional child's bedroom piece. I had many fears about trying to paint again. Mainly "Did I loose what mediocre skills I once had?". The last thing I expected my biggest challenge to be was to simply open my paints after all this time. I thought I would be giving my abused hands a break but this was not to be so. I found myself making some interesting color choices based on which tubes I could open.

Physical challenges aside, that amazing feeling of paint brush on canvas was still there. There is something so soothing about it for me. I had forgotten how amazing that is. I love cutting filing and melting metal, don't get me wrong, but it can be rough work. Rough on my hands, my eyes and sometimes my whole body. The languid feeling of oils moving from brush to surface feels to me what yoga must feel to some people. I feel relaxed, centered and energised.    

Though I am not ready (and may never be) to show what I attempted, I decided to show you all my favorite painting that I ever did. Sort of a think of me at my best type deal. All in all, a good day.

  

A Day At The Races

This past weekend was a whirlwind of, horse racing, out of town visitors, too much food and new strappy Kate Spade heels. The Yettie came home on Wednesday and managed to de-yettie before his family all came in from Indiana the following day. I happily slipped into tour guide mode and by Saturday we were off to Pimlico Race track for Preakness Day. A joyous day for the drunken idiots from all over baltimore as well as the facy folk in fantastic hats.

It started raining very early this morning drawing and end to a beautiful and fun filled weekend. Now it is time for all the seriousness Monday's require. I am listening to Fun. in the studio trying desperately to keep frivolity alive!

The Yettie Man Returns

I went to the airport yesterday to collect the husband after 3 months abroad. I picked myself up a Yettie instead.

Impressive beard wouldn't you say?

Instagram Love

Ok, I love instagram! I am jumping on that bandwagon and I am OK with that. I love capturing insignificant details and making them beautiful as they are to me anyway. Lord knows I get excited about the dumbest things. Now I can share them in a less obnoxious way then my typical bouncing, hand clapping and general verboseness.

Well I had a very pleasant surprise on Mother's Day. Several people who received my work as gifts took pictures of themselves wearing it and tagged me. I can not tell you how much fun that was for me. Keep them coming. My Instagram name is @heavenstobessie  as is my Twitter name....so please tag away!

One of the pictures I was tagged in happens to be one of my favorite pieces I have ever made. EVER. Below are a couple pictures I took of it before I sent it on its way. It was hard to say goodbye to it but it is like that sometimes. Some pieces are just extra special.

Oh heavens....

As we all know, I am not the most tech savvy individual to walk this earth. Because I do not do the whole google analytics thing, I do whatever research I can to see how people may come across me, my business and my work. The other day I put "Heavens to Bessie" into google image. I found my own images of course but there were a few I did not recognize. I had to share some of the really special ones with you all.  Like this one....

And then this one



Now this next one I just happen to like quite a bit.

So if you are only just now discovering me.....these images don't really have anything to do with me, my work or Heavens to Bessie but they are definitely entertaining. 

Random Baltimore Photo

Nothing says Baltimore like Crabs and Crushes. Last night I went to Ryleigh's in Federal Hill for $2.00 crab night. Needless to say I got my Baltimore on and it was glorious.

Today's Motivation

So I have finally made it out into the yard to do my first clean up since the early fall. I figured it was time since my lilies were beginning to come up through the leaves still lying there from 2 seasons ago. I was really not looking forward to this first clean up just because I had allowed for things to get so out of control out there in my flower beds, but once I got out there and got my hands in the dirt, I felt great. Really energised. There is something about seeing growth in a garden that makes me want to work harder. Like the harder I work the harder my plants will work. I make life beautiful for them and then in turn make it beautiful for me. This carries over into life for sure. Oh my.....I think I just hippied out on all of you.

While the sun is shining, I am getting back out there! But I will leave you with a couple pictures of new pieces which will be making their way into my shop soon. But be sure you go to www.heavenstobessie.etsy.com if you haven't been for a while. There is lots of new work that has found its way!

For The Brides

There are so many facets to my job and I enjoy them all....or most of them anyway. I have to say, one of my favorite things about doing what I do is working with future brides! I have hand crafted jewelry for mother-in-laws, flower girls, bridesmaids and of course for the bride herself. It is such a privilege to work one on one with clients to design that perfect thing. That elegant detail that adds so much to the day and then remains a keepsake from that point on.

I recently was lucky enough to participate in Dazzling Details Wedding Bazaar, a bridal show that took place at Historic Savage Mill Manor. Honestly to say "bridal show" is a bit of an understatement. This was a full on event and everything about it was completely lovely. Put on by Love Live Images (http://www.lovelifeimages.com/) and Carla David Designs (http://www.carladaviddesign.com/), Dazzling Details was just that....Dazzling! Brides were treated to swag bags at the front door, wine, delicious food several amazing vendors and an ambiance that was stunning.

I had the opportunity to meet so many lovely people and despite the rain and chilly temperatures had a beautiful afternoon.

Baltimore Bride magazine was there and wrote a great blog on the event and posted some amazing pictures. Read it here at http://bride.baltimoremagazine.net/hitched/04/12/dazzling-details-wedding-bazzar

Just yesterday I was featured in Baltimore Bride magazine's blog. You can check that out here http://bride.baltimoremagazine.net/hitched/04/12/heavens-bessie

Give the Dazzling Details Facebook page a like! http://www.facebook.com/TheDazzlingDetailsWeddingBazaar