Brenda Pinnick -news, ideas, events and more...

sunshine makes me happy...

When you’re self-employed, there’s a measure of freedom that you can chose to either control or ignore.

I worked much of last weekend, as I do on more occasions than care to admit to myself.

This last week has given us rainy, cold, even some snowy weather. It happens, even here in Atlanta.

I’m a girl of certain needs. ONE is sunshine on my face. Yesterday I confided to a friend or two that I was way down in the dumps. Holidays do that to me. My parents have long since passed away and my brothers are scattered. Something about missing the kids of your youth…

 Anyway, today brought us weather akin to April. I swear, it’s spring in ATL the sun is shinning, the wind is blowing, and I’m once again finding myself on the front porch working. What a blessing this is.

 The advantages of being self-employed are just this. Okay, Worked all weekend in my cold studio with my measly little space heater and my jacket to keep warm. Oh, and occasionally my dog in my lap. Today, I’m feeling no guilt, (okay, maybe just a bit) sitting here in the sun, dog at my feet, wind chimes playing amazing music to my ears and while I shut my eyes to brainstorm, I’ve allowed myself to feel the moment. Wind is loud. Sun is warm; music is “in the moment”. All is god. I mean, good. What’s the difference? 0.

Happy day my friends, happy day.

Meet Paisley!

I  just had to share...

We have adapted a rescue dog. HOW could we say no to a dog named Paisley??? I mean, really. 

She's so adorable, so sweet and is my new best friend. She follows me everywhere and when she's sitting next to me, she gazes adoringly at me. She likes the cats, although they haven't totally warmed up to her yet...they're still on the fence with all this. Paisley met her cousins, the pugs, yesterday and they are all now fast friends and looking forward to their next play date! Here's my illustration of Paisley ...

Of course, I will be sewing her a coat made with my purple paisley fabric, (Henry Glass & Co.) shown above! Can't wait to get started on that!

Here's another project I made with my fabrics a while back -

Just click on the link below to see what pattern I used and learn how you can purchase scrapbook papers to go with the fabric!

http://www.brendapinnick.com/2009/05/26/opulence-market-bag/

November's color palettes

How has November come and almost gone so quickly??? Holy smokes!

From now on, I'll be posting my ongoing color palette series once per month, or, you can get them delivered into your email box each week by signing up for When Creativity Knocks, here. 

Please visit my website to learn about how your group can schedule a ColorU workshop tailored to your needs. 

 

Download BPCU_5

Download BPCU_6

Download BPCU_7

Download BPCU_8

I'm crazy busy right now, getting ready for the biggest time of year in art licensing. Making art is only a fraction of what takes place in a professional studio. There's scanning, mock-ups, photos, marketing materials and press releases to be done. Trying to juggle everything at once has once again, gotten me frazzled! Of course, there's the holidays, too!!

I hope you're taking some time for relaxing during this busy time of year. Remember to feed your creative soul!

a different point of view

Over the years, I have had many different "creative spaces". These include, of course, the kitchen table, a corner in the bedroom, a work "shed" studio detached from the house, a rented 1000 ft. space in an artist's resource building and now, in my basement. Each space has it's own energy, it's advantages and disadvantages. My rented space was huge, well lit, accessible for drop in business. It was also too cold or too hot, having no hvoc system, just small appliances I used. I greatly disliked having my toys 12 miles from home and the "rawness" of it which translates to unwelcome critters. 

The outside shed hubby built for me also had no heat, water or air and where we lived at the time, we experienced the seasonal extremes of hot and cold. It was away from the house and I often felt isolated. Of course, the kitchen table is a whole different problem and the bedroom corner...totally unworkable for me – I need space!

Right now, I'm spread out in three locations in my house and for the last 3 days, I've added the back porch as number 4. I feel like I'm chasing moonbeams- well, actually it's chasing sunbeams!

 I've got a serious itch for new space...

My friend Kathy Fincher has an amazing studio room which is full of light, is spacious and comfortable, has great views while meeting all of her needs. I'm lusting after this and want desperately to create, or I should say, re-create her space, only attached to my house. So, my goal for this next year is to make this happen, one way or another. I feel that after years and years of creating, it's about time I honor and reward my hard work. 

Here's my inspiration: 

 

 

Kathy's space is filled with authenticity, warmth and positive energy. I think that's what every studio should be, a truly inspired space that reflects the respect you have for your creative energy, your spirit and your business as a professional artist. Watch out, in on a mission!

Here's some additional inspiration on the subject:

 Where Women Create - http://www.wherewomencreate.com/ Inspiring rooms in which artists, artisans, crafters create.

Valley Ridge Art Studio - http://www.valleyridgeartstudio.com/default.asp ( I LOVE this place and hope to visit it this coming year as an instructor and a student)

http://www.bohonus.com/artists/ This is a Photographer's site who went on a creative journey to photograph artist's studios.

Early Morning Calm

I think we can learn a lot from cats.

This morning, Nugget just lived in the moment, laying on the back porch watching the birds at the feeder. When a small breeze would blow, he lifted his nose to the air and enjoyed the gentle scent of honeysuckle. Mondays tend to make me feel a bit overwhelmed, with the tasks at hand mounting into a pile in my head. I decided to sit and quietly enjoy my coffee this morning while doing a little drawing with pen and ink.Do you jump right into your day or do you take a few minutes and enjoy the early morning quiet?

Sue's Beady Dolls!

A while back I mentioned that I could easily go in the artistic direction of doll making and I got a great letter from my new friend Sue, also known as Sue-bubbles. She sent me pictures of some of the little "beady dolls" as she calls them, that she makes and shares with friends. She told me to pick out one I liked so she could send it to me. How sweet of her! Well, my package arrived earlier in the week and she sent me two! One regular sized and one mini for a key chain or purse adornment. But wait, there's more...she also made me the most adorable card using her little dollie face and one of my flower diecuts from a kit. Take a look at my treasures...

I think the little one will travel with me to the UK in November and it will be my good luck charm!

Thanks so very much Sue! I adore it all!

Oh yes, Sue is having a give-away for a special pink doll in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Go leave her a nice comment, you might win!

I'm off to quilt market tomorrow, in Houston TX. Can't wait...I have a new fabric line debuting with Henry Glass & Co. I'm not sure if they have the actual printed fabric yet or if it's still in pre-sell. Regardless, it is very, very exciting and I cannot wait to get my hands on it! Sue, I'll send you some so you can make more Dolls and share the love! BTW, Sue keeps a little album to record who she sends them to and what their new names are. I'm naming the large one after my Mother who died when I was only 32 years old, her name is Helen. The little one I'm naming Ethel, my Grandmother's name. 

I'm late in my giveaway, will attend to it on Monday when I get back home. I've got to finish up the laundry and get packed. I have a fabulous new skirt to wear, it's made from recycled/vintage sari silk. It's layered and it just floats when I walk. And, best of all, it's flattering and comfy.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

10 things...

I love about living in the South...

1. Saturday nights on the front porch...listening to the children down the road at dusk as they beg for 10 more minutes of play. Daddy, in his southern drawl proclaims it bath time...it is Saturday night and there is Sunday School in the morning.

2. crickets, cicadas, whippoorwills. The sound of the "bush". near and far, in all decibels. The sound of nature is audio therapy. It's been a rough week here at BPDI what with Orphan Works looming at every turn, deadlines which have long passed, unreturned emails from friends yet to meet in person... 

3. burning leaves. I know,it's against county rules, but it is an instant door to my childhood. I want smores with my Cabernet!

4.  Kudzu...ok, I know, this is considered radical, anti American, but honestly, it really is amazingly lush as it engulfs the trees. It covers them in such an abstract way as to make monster trees, strange looking forms that seem to take on a characteristic persona all their own.

5. Southern drawls. I appreciate and respect the regional dialects that distinguish us one from another. While I am not a believer that Sarah Palin is qualified to do the job, I DO respect her regional attributes...big hair and all. These types of individual attributes help define the road we've traveled. My daughter, a trained chef is proud of her burns.It helps define the path she's taken to get to where she is. I admire this immensely and  I abhor prejudices that try to cast a negative light on a  person due to  regional characteristics,

6. BBQ- real BBQ, no words necessary.

7. High School Football, Marching Bands and the way these Southern institutions bring families together. Go Lassiter, even though it has been 12 years since "we" graduated.

8. "bless your heart"..the phrase, it comes in so handy when you want to sound sweet but really you mean, "get over your self". 

9. Sweatshirt and flip flops weather in October. Now, I'm all about hot one minute and cold the next because my body is making it's own climate these days...but, I love it when this is that way for everyone. crispy mornings, warm, breezy afternoons and back to chilly at night. 

and number 10....

calling home, Michigan, in March to report that it's 80º and they've just had another 10' of snow. 

good night friends...

what's up with men and their work clothes???

I believe this is year #4 with these pants. He has no intention of replacing them. AND, he has more like these.

Do you know someone who does this...wears certain clothes until they fall off his body? Please tell me all about it. I want to know that I'm not the only one who has to look at this every single Saturday. If you've found a solution, please share it in the comments.

 

well earned bags under my eyes

Yep, that's right. I've earned 'em. I've been a traveling fool, a trend searching warrior and now I'm tired. 

What a wonderfully busy and fun week I've had! As I mentioned in my earlier post, I was invited to spend not one, but two nights at the Potter (as in the fabulously wonderful Ms. Margot) homestead out in God's country, 

Remember the t.v. show GREEN ACRES? The beautiful wife with her jewels and well  coifed hair? Her pretty clothes, her passion for all things shiny...FEEDING THE PIGS? Well,  I know her reincarnation personally and she, along with her family were the kindest, most accommodating hosts you'll ever meet. I was sort of, well, "needy". I needed maps, I needed a machine to take some QVC training, I needed "I'm lost, help me" directions via three phone calls...AND, we shot a video which the very, very patient Mr. Potter directed and taped and is now editing. Thank you so much, Potter family, for taking such good care of me and making me feel like a princess...

So after living MY fantasy life on the farm, I dashed home and tidied up just in time for MY OWN house guest to arrive.

Phyllis Dobbs drove in from 'Bama to go to the gift show with me. There we met up with Stella Violano and Andy Mathis. Andy had a booth and was showing his art, we three girls did a "little" cash and carry shopping in the way of jewelry. I guess I was heavily influenced by Margot's designs and enthusiasm for personal adornment. She sets a fine example indeed. We were able to make some good connections for our art licensing businesses and had a swell time trend spotting and a wee more "research shopping". While at QVC, I learned what colors look good on camera and I found a few basic wardrobe pieces that will fit the bill just dandy.

We looked at a lot of stuff in the mart and Stella was just amazed, never having been there. Holiday showrooms were introducing some new color-ways that start with orange and then went oddly different from there. Not quite sure if I can get excited about it, but it is nice to finally start seeing some movement away from true Christmas red and greens with nothing to add zip. I like traditional for the Holidays but appreciate seeing an edge to it by way of unexpected combinations. 

This week I'm hoping to see and approve my new textile patterns which will be shown at Quilt market in October. So excited about this I can hardly sit still. This is truly a dream of mine, my entire life! This will be my first time going to Quilt market and I know it will be a amazing. My friends talk about it for months afterwards!

Off to put some cucumber slices on my eyes and maybe slather a mud mask on my face... it paints a pretty picture, doesn't it? 

I hope you have a wonderful Monday, I'm playing catch up with some art that's overdue. yikes!

 

A little bling for me

I finally cleaned off my work table enough to start another project, thereby totally trashing it again. That's ok, that's the point of having a work table, right? No sense in having one if you don't use it. 

I've been collecting beads and jewelry making supplies for about a year now, anticipating all kinds of crafty goodness to come out it! Yesterday, I finally decided to break out the big box of fun...(beads and such)...and I just dove right in. This is what I ended up with...I like it, but am quite sure I broke some fundamental rules of jewelry making, like using the right size wire, etc. This necklace is rather stiff due to the type of wire I used, but once on, it hangs just fine. The round black piece is a fabric covered piece of chipboard. I layered a beautiful, round bead on top of it and accented the sides with a couple of little black glass beads that were from my mom's collection. 

I just knew this would happen, I shared this concern with my buddy, the fabulous Katie Hacker when I took her class at CHA. Now I'm obsessed with making more jewelry. And my work schedule is jammed full right now, there simply isn't time for me to go astray! 

This certainly was a fun diversion!