JANUARY PROMISES

 DON'T MAKE PROMISES YOU CAN'T KEEP

I heard the bird lady in the movie 'Home Alone II' saying this as I wrote it, and it is true. That's one of the reasons why I don't make new year's resolutions. I don't like to make promises at all. I don't like failing at keeping them.

A resolution is 'resolving' something, right? I'm not out to resolve anything but I am going to try to do more things that I've not done before! Some things that I've wanted to do, like finally paint the bathroom, redecorate it, and some things will be things I've never tried yet, or don't know about yet. BUT, (there's always a 'but' for safety net) I won't make any promises to myself or to anyone that this will be.

I have good intentions. I want to learn new things, experiment with new art, new crafts, make things and learn things that are new to me. The first step is getting inspired though!

I've run across a woman named Marion who lives in the UK and she is my inspiration lady! She's a fine woman and is so interesting to listen to and to watch as she does her day-to-day things which is most often crafting! My kind of person!

Don't know how I ran across her but I always feel that we are introduced to the people we need in our lives. I believe that wholeheartedly. I've seen the comments on her YouTube page and lots of people feel the same way. They are truly inspired by her and I can see there are so many good reasons why.

I won't try to explain Marion (named for the 'maid Marion' in the Robinhood story, per her telling us this on one of her videos.) You can view Marion at 'Marion's World' (her dear deceased husband coined that phrase) and here is the link.

MARION'S WORLD at YouTube

I loved joining Marion on the new year's eve video, I was there waiting and then went to some other site or forgot about it and then I missed it! So, I watched it the next morning and it was so fun watching her and listening to her 'chittering' on as she called it.

Bringing people together and making it feel like we are all friends in 'real' life is precious to me. Even though I'm an introvert, I like my alone-ness, I do enjoy having online friends. Online friends are there when you need them and not just popping in when it's inconvenient. It's not a selfish or mean way to be but it keeps me content and not worrying about having to put on for others. I don't mean to seem snobberish or rude, but I am not sure how else to explain that.

So, getting back to making promises, I promise to keep trying to be inspired by others or by myself to try new things, new crafts, do different things or pick up things I've not done in a long time and loved doing ... like playing my guitar! I am promising myself this, to try to live mindfully and FULLY with keeping myself active and feeding myself new ideas and new ways to live my life better. I feel like volunteering myself somewhere too. I'm not sure where, or what that would be, but I need to give to others. It feels so great to give!

I don't know if Marion will ever see this blog, but if YOU DO, Marion, thank YOU for being so fun. For sharing your videos showing your crafts and handwork, for your chats and information and for sharing your precious TIME with us here in the online world!

MARION'S WORLD

GOODBYE 2023

Well, thatz a wrap ...

I won't be blogging until next year, January 2024, so this is my wish for you to have a good holiday time. 

Enjoy your Christmas with your family and friends, fur kids, far away and close by. Do what makes you happy! Give some how, give money to a charity or your time to an old folks home, or shovel someone's sidewalk, walk their dog, do something kind for someone. 

Christmas is about Christ to me. It is about a baby who was chosen to bring men together and love everyone, and he is dead but not forgotten. I believe in Jesus. I believe in his beliefs and though goodness and kindness in mankind seems as if its getting further and further away, don't let it for you. 

We cannot change the world but we can change OUR world. Do better, do good.

Peace and Blessings to you.

Cherie

My Favorite Instagram Pages

I am at Instagram as CheriesArtsnCrafts

In no particular order, and there are many more, but these do get my first attention! There are SO many great artists, musicians, health gurus and dancers, do-gooders and actors and all sorts of wonderful, beautiful places and spaces, wonderful animals and happy accounts at Instagram. I am thankful to every one of them! They have helped me get through some tough times and helped me laugh and smile and get cheerful, especially when it's dark and cold and gray in my soul. Winter months are never dreary when you have people you look forward to seeing!

TROY BROOKS

Nothing short of incredibly incredible artwork here!

Amazing pencil and oil artwork on wood and canvas. Troy has an amazing gift, to make his art alive! He has truly mastered the art of making lovely textures, satins and shimmering sparkles, thought provoking subjects and quite amazing works that really make you look, think and wonder!

SCOTT RADKE

When I had my other Instagram account called Cherie_Says, I lost it, it got shut down, closed, couldn't get into my page anymore and I still don't know why. So, I lost a lot of great IG pages that I was following. THIS page stuck with me and for the life of it I could not remember this person's name! I searched and searched for 'maple pod seeds' and tree seed pods, tree people, ceramics, art, artists and all kinds of other search criteria but could never find Scott again. His hanging ceramic figures stuck with me, they look like maple leaf seeds with faces. So, eventually, I gave up the search. Lo and behold, one day here was a suggestion on my feed, it was SCOTT RADKE! This man makes the most beautiful art!

MATT YOUNG

Matt lives in an area of the world that is a never ending array of beautiful, unexplainable gorgeousness! I envy this young man and am grateful he shares his surroundings with me!

NATURAL LIFE

This is my kind of place, my lifestyle, all boho chic and colorful! With vibrant flowers and patterns upon patterns, so much life and cheerfulness here! I want one of the gorgeous fleece blankets with both sides decorated!!! I want tops and dresses, wall hangings and hats, I want it all!!

MINS GARDEN

The more I see of Min's garden the more I'd love to see it in person! Another page I just happened on and instantly fell in love! I believe Min is female, not quite for sure though. I know that the garden was made by Min, I love seeing the before photos! Tropical plants and lush walkways, ponds with koi fish, love the videos when it's raining, it is beyond gorgeous! Many years of hard work and knowlege and the photos of these incredible and uncommon plants are extremely fantastic!

MALTE MARTEN

My dream is to own a hand pan, some day! I have loved this man from the first time I saw him, instant favorite! His music is awesome, lovely, enchanting, beautiful, soothing, relaxing, spiritual and healing! Nobody plays hand pans like Malte!

JODI OHL

I love Jodi's abstract style! She makes it all look so easy too! One day, I want to go to her class, to her studio, use her art supplies! I told her that I'd pay her, she said she should consider it! I know I won't really, but one never knows! I think making art with her would be ever so fun!

IT'S LENNNIE

The sweetness of this voice, it's addictive! Positive and cute, inspirational messages that we all need and love to hear!

DEANNA AND ARRON - HOMESTEAD and CHILL

I don't know if I could ever do without seeing what's up with Deanna and Aaron of Homestead and Chill. Talk about the most inspiring young couple on the internet, they are it! Gardening, cooking, helpful hints, gorgeous home and surroundings, intelligent and quite giving as she has done extensive posting on her IG page as well as her blog. DO VISIT this incredible, valuable site! I have purchased her lavender salve and cannot wait to get the calendula salve! I've also purchased her favorite CBD oils, a must visit and watch!

MAYA - FIT GREEN MIND

Another young person who is an inspiration to us all! Maya is cute and funny and loves to cook vegan and we love how she does it! I love the chopping, stir frying sounds she makes, so cute when she bloopers and she is always so smiley! Fun food and fun people, what a great combination!

RED ROSE CAKE

Astounding! Nothing short of! This women can bake anything to eat, it's truly amazing! She is cutting into everyday objects just like she is cutting into a layer cake, because they are!

ROBERT SIJKA

Gorgeous cats, handsome man, who looks like one of his cats, really! This is a gorgeous account, Robert has the most photographic felines I've ever seen!

DOLLY PARTON

CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN this angel? No! She is incredible, I love her dearly and she is more popular than ever! Like a friend, a sister, a beautiful woman who is humble and kind and caring.

VIC BLENDS

I love to see yound people who inspire! He's so cute, he's coool and he cuts hair while he chats with people he's never met. This man is quite an inspiration and I hope he makes it, a successful, giving life is surely to be rewarded. Check him out! It's interesting to see where young people are going!

BEAUTY SHAMANS - SHELLY

So glad I found Shelly at IG! When I first saw 'guasha' (gwashah) and saw other women doing it, they didn't even begin to compare with Shelly's honest, easy, beautiful way of this wonderful massage technique for face and neck and whole body really! She is an expert, no doubt! She has offered so much information for free but you can also subscribe to her channel. If you are in New York, visit her!

JOCELYN ANDERSON

I am so jealous of this woman! She has mastered the technique of 'the hand of snacks' for birds and it is truly amazing watching her feed a variety of them! From Michigan, I'd love to meet up with her one day and do a photo shoot of her feeding the birds!

ABDULS CATS

Abdul and his beautiful wife are cat foster parents who have shown us what true love is all about! They take such great care of their foster cats and kittens, it's a joy to behold!

NATHAN THE CAT LADY

Nathan is a terrific cat daddy! He is one who inspired the movie too! He lives in LA and is an aspiring actor with the most fun cats! Fun videos, wine Wednesdays, antics of a man and his feline friends, and 'chickens' (they are all black and sound a lot like black birds) and squirrels!

MOTHER THE MOUNTAIN

Can you imagine living in PARADISE? Don't imagine it anymore, look at this page!!! It's unbelievably gorgeous! See the sisters gardening, swimming in incredible waters, moutains, ducks and arting! Truly wonderous!

PEGGY AND MOLLY

These cuties will melt your heart! A bird who was thought to be a girl, hence the name 'Molly' and a beautiful dog named Peggy. Peggy had a litter and they kept Ruby! Now there is another pet bird named Bruce staying too! Check these character out for some sincere, awe-inspiring videos and pics!

SIX AT 21

This gal knows how to decorate her home! I love every single thing about what she does too! I wish she'd come to my house and decorate it for me. She lives in Scotland though. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to go there and visit her gorgeous home! I love the colors she uses, love the fresh plants and the wood colors, so natural and relaxing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023

 NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTIONS??? I resolve to ...

... to be more creative! To do more 'hands on' arts and crafts instead of just digital art! I need this SO BAD right now too. I have been totally burned out, art-wise.

With the latest controversy over Ai (artificial intelligence) apps or programs, people/artists are really on one side of accepting this and thinking it's the best thing in the world to wanting to kill people for using it and claiming it as 'their own art' which, I believe, it is not!!! I HATE IT. LOATHE IT. YEP, I'M AN AI HATER.

I knew when I first saw art made by an ai program it made me look but made me quite literally, sick. Sick to my stomach that I have worked so hard to fine tune my digital art skills, painting skills and when I see a person who has very little artistic skills, one who paints child-like images on windows, come up with these incredibly complex and dreamy images with outstanding colors and effects all whirled together, my first thought was HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT?

When I see people praising others for this outstanding art that they CLAIM they made, and they act like the artist is the best one in the world, it pisses me off so bad! The fact is that the art was not anything to do with them except for them typing in words. The art app produced the art. The art is gathered up and put into data bases. They used harvested art and harvested ideas and they were harvested by programs that scrape the net for images and they are usually copyrighted images that nobody gave them permission to use. 

I've asked people if they 'made' the art that they are selling as prints and they always say yes! But then they say how they made it in an ai program but then fine tuned it in Photoshop or another art program, like Artrage or Rebelle5, or whatever and to me, it's total dishonesty. They know the truth, it isn't their art. It is stolen art, stolen effects, stolen ideas and with all that, it is stealing real artists lives. It is not right and I resent it.

Do a search on it. Ask Google 'the pros and cons of Ai art' and you will see many, many, MANY artists and companies who are not standing for this generated art.

ACEO: Art Cards, Editions and Originals

ACEO :: Art Cards Editions and Originals

ATC :: Art Trading Cards

SFA  :: Small Format Art

A & AE  :: ATC & ACEO Enthusiasts 

COA  :: Certificate of Authenticity

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ....

NO, wait, that was something else. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF ACEOs?

A long time ago, way back in 2007 or so, when I first started selling my wares 'online' I sold at eBay. I don't know how it happened or who saw me there, but in the eBay community were chat groups and someone from the A & AE group found me and invited me to join. (I believe it was a girl from my state, Darla, who I am grateful for.) So I did! I was invited to join an art group led by one of the COFOUNDERS of ACEO art cards, Jillian Crider. She is amazing, her artwork and accomplishments, well, more about her later!

I had never been in a group/chat thing before, it was so exciting! Meeting and text/chatting with people/artists from all over! I really loved the whole idea! There were many different subjects we talked about, had access to so much valuable information. Jillian did a superb job of keeping everything so well organized, informative, interesting and new!

So, I learned about ACEOs, the sizes are always 2.5" x 3.5" and ONLY that size, anything else and it's not an ACEO! I learned about Art Trading Cards, make and ACEO and TRADE it, no sell it, its an ATC! I learned about small format art, SFA

We had 'dares' or art challenges every week, that was great fun! That is where it began for me. My first dare was this first ACEO that I created! The theme for this challenge was 'FUZZY SLIPPERS' and that is what I was wearing when I created this ACEO.

I learned from Jillian that it is preferred and more professional, to sign our art in a certain way, not only your signature or logo on front of the artwork, but signing the back too. 

The back of the card has a COA, acronym for certificate of authenticity. Or, you can make separate little certificates to go along with the art card, the same size is best. Here are some of mine from days long ago, when I made a series of art cards called FUNKY HATTED WITCHES.

As you can see, all of the pertinent information is on this certificate of authenticity. I scanned the original artwork and had them printed by Zazzle as they are known for fantastic printing on paper. 

I still have the originals!

All of these were printed on business cards at my Zazzle shop!

Their paper is fantastic, sturdy, professional, heavy weight cardstock.

Ahhh, signing my art, it felt great to be signing my art as if I were a famous or professional artist! 

Now, I've applied to a Facebook group for ACEOs and I'm waiting to be accepted. I'm anxious to get creating with real paint again, new challenges. I hope the group does have something to inspire us!

YOU CAN MAKE AN ACEO, scan the artwork and have it printed on this cardstock too! Just click here for a blank template! Don't forget to design the backside with your Certificate of Authenticity!

 

HERE ARE MORE OF MY ACEOS!

FREE ACEO ENVELOPES TEMPLATES

JPG fits on 8.5" x 11" size paper of your choice.