Help me With New Ideas…

I’m trying to think through some new product categories, especially those that will be helpful to you professional crafters.  I was thinking about designing some iron on transfer sets for creating t-shirts or sweatshirts as one possibility.  Perhaps a “Grandma’s Garden” type design with places to put the grandchildren’s names and pictures?

Also, there’s a product that I found but haven’t tested yet that says it can be printed and put on tiles, mugs etc. and is dishwasher and water resistant.  Mugs and other fun items come to mind.  Please let me know any ideas you might have so I can be thinking about what to do with them.

Blue Cottage Rose Digital Clip Art Kit

Blue Cottage Rose Digital Clip Art KitIs in the store now RIGHT HERE.  This 35 piece kit was inspired by wonderful memories of sand and sea at a friend’s beach cottage years ago.  I hope that you’ll enjoy some of those wonderful feelings of rest and relaxation as you work with this digital clip art kit to create your own greeting cards, scrapbook pages or other craft or decor items.

If you’ve never tried it, digital clip art is perfect to use for home decor projects.  Print out the papers and decopage on a lampshade or print out the borders and use wallpaper glue to create your own custom made room decorations.  You’re only limited by your imagination!

The first purchase from the store successfully went through yesterday, but she said it took a little while for the process to be completed.  So if it’s a little slow, my apologies in advance!!!  We’ll keep tweaking until it’s working just right.  I’m heading off to visit my Grandson, so I will not be available to answer any questions or emails until this evening, have a great day!

FREE! For one week only…

Audrey Jeanne Roberts\' summery blue rose and hydrangea quick pages This set of two quick pages is our GRAND OPENING SPECIAL and will be free until next Saturday morning only (UPDATE: FREE LINK DISABLED now available as a kit in the store)  The art kit it was designed with will be available next week (fingers crossed!)

When I created this art, I was reminded of a special summer visit we had at a Victorian beach house in Stone Harbor, New Jersey with some very dear friends.  Each worn out, but still beautiful hand-me-down that filled their home had a story to tell.  Their family history was reflected in the worn quilts and faded throws that covered soft, squishy down-filled sofas.  Outside there were massive blue hydrangea bushes on the porch, paired with the summer blossoms spilling out of Victorian style window boxes.  All of that homey, comforting feel is what I have tried to capture in this upcoming kit.

These pages are great for wedding, baby girl, young girls and just basic feminine scrapbook pages.  I found this fun picture of my daughter Jacqui when she was at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  I thought it was cute that she went to a Halloween Party dressed as a fairy (since she was learning to fly!)

Do you think you don’t need quick pages because you don’t do scrapbooking?  You don’t have to use them for scrapbooks!  You could create a card front by reducing the page to 5 or 6 inches square.  Make an invitation by putting the important information in the openings.  Teach yourself to look closely and see “outside the box” to find what other uses you might be able to make of them.  When you look with fresh eyes and a fresh purpose, you might be pleasantly surprised at what you can do with things you might already have in your digital art collection!

The Store is (Finally) Open For Business :-)

Oh my goodness, without the help of a dear, dear friend (who I swear has angel’s wings hiding under her blouse) I would never have finally been able to start loading the store.

You will find each of the kits either by clicking on the left hand side of this blog, under “Newest Products” or by clicking “Product Groups” on the top left side directly under the calendar.

One of my kits is brand new and can be won as a prize in Lambie’s contest at www.daisiecompany.com (the message board is down right now until early next week) or if you are impatient with contests can be purchased here for $2.98!

I will initially start loading kits that I have already released elsewhere and then will soon start adding brand new kits exclusive to this site.  One of those kits will be a new Day Planner created with the templates of Abigail Scott DESIGN Studios and licensed for use here.  I have personally been using this planner for 2 months now and from that experience will be doing some slight refining of the set before I release it.

Most creative people I know HATE having to be organized, but if their organizational system is PRETTY and gets them lots of compliments I find they have a much higher chance of actually USING IT!!!  I am personally doing really well with it — it’s helped me a great deal, and I hope it will help others who are similarly “organizationally challenged!”

I will expand to my monthly FREE drawings.  Each person that purchases from the web site will be eligible to be drawn as the winner of a FREE kit.  So now you’ll have two ways to win.  Please pass the word on to your friends, your word of mouth is the very, very best advertising!!!!

An Unexpected Trip to See My Grandson!

My husband just called and his work is sending him on an unexpected trip to San Diego for Monday so we’re going to make a long weekend out of it!  Yippee!!!  I haven’t seen Ellington since he was a month old and he’s now 19 lbs. and just over 4 months old.  I hear he bears a strong resemblance to the Michelin man (think ring upon ring upon ring of baby fat!)

Soooo, I won’t be posting over the weekend as I’ll be fighting with my husband for possession of my grandson’s person 🙂  Drat — My art time just got interrupted, however Ellington is the only one that can do that with out earning a growl from me, LOL!

By the way, the very first digital clip art kit has made its way into my store and will be followed soon by many more (fingers and toes crossed that I can make it work!)  If you purchase and have any troubles with that purchase, be patient with me as I’ll be gone and won’t be able to do too much.  I’ll bring my laptop though so I’ll be able to monitor things more easily.  Have a great weekend.

Sitting in Starbucks Sketching Ideas for Coffee Art!

That’s just one of the many activities that I did this past 2 days to do some research and planning on some new coffee art.  I sat there drinking my Cafe Americano, sketch pad in hand drawing their various coffee mugs in different positions with customers and store clerks looking over my shoulder from time to time.  It was fun.

Now my problem is I have about 1/2 a million ideas and I need to narrow things down a bit.  My agent heads to Atlanta this week.  During the show season things are generally pretty quiet so I have the opportunity to paint a lot without interruptions. 

This is my favorite time of the year as a licensed artist.  My older art is just hitting the marketplace in new product lines and I’m off exploring what to do next!  I love working on projects with my manufacturers and designing products out of art that has already been completed, but having the freedom to just “play” and see what happens makes me feel like a little girl again on a rainy day pulling out my mother’s secret weapon (the “rainy day box” of art supplies!)   

For those of you that buy my digital art kits, this art won’t make it there for a very long time, but perhaps I will throw together a bookmark of other goodie to give you a “taste” of the coffee collection (pun fully intended!!!)

Remember, the blog contest will be concluding on the 30th and I’ll be drawing a winner on the 1st of July, so if you haven’t commented on posts between the 16th and th 30th you still have time to catch up and get your entries in.  All you have to do to enter is write a comment and we pick one at random to win a FREE digital clip art kit from my collection at www.daisiecompany.com.

Now, back to my painting studio I go…

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:  Isa 60:1-3  “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.  NIV

COMMENTS:  I love this verse as a “coffee” illustration as I am not much of a morning person (to put it mildly) so shining brightly in the morning is not exactly my M.O.!  However, God loves to meet us in the morning and shine His light in our hearts and through us into a very dark world. 

I have been spending more time out in the day-to-day world in the past few months than I have in many years and have met many people whose lives seem to be filled with a darkness, heaviness and hopelessness.  They don’t know that their lives can be filled with God’s light and His love, and they won’t unless I (and you) let that light shine into their darkness.

PRAYER:  Lord, I am so blessed to live in your light.  I know that it is purely because of your grace and mercy.  I realize that I’ve grown so accustomed to the light, I don’t even realize how bright it is in comparison to the darkness that is around me any more.  Lord, let your light so fill me and shine in my daily walk that I am a walking flashlight that brings light to those who are in darkness without even having to think about it.

Lord, let your glory shine over me in ways that draw men and women to seek you.  Let them see the difference that having you in my life makes.  For those I meet, who are dwelling in the darkness of sin, confusion, death, addiction and all manner of dark-filled places let them see and begin to long for the freedom that comes from living in the light of your word.  AMEN

Our Weekend at the Lake

The shore at Hume Lake CaliforniaHume Lake CaliforniaWe went to Hume Lake this weekend on our church’s annual family camping trip.  We changed campgrounds this year and it was a great change!  We were actually 1 mile up the mountainside from the lake (no lake view unfortunately) in a very secluded group campground with aspens, incense cedar and lodgepole pines. 

I’m not sure why, but for me 1 day in the mountains is worth about 3 days rest anywhere else.  I only wish we could have stayed about a week instead of only a day.  We helped our best friends move on Saturday so that was the best we could do. 

With the price of gas this summer, you may not be able to travel far, but that shouldn’t stop you from planning events and activities that will become treasured memories for your children or grandchildren.  What can you do that is close to home and you’ve always thought to do but haven’t?  Can you be a “tourist” in your home town and do all the things you do when company comes but never do for yourselves? 

We lived in San Diego almost all of my life and there were so many things we were always going to do “some day!”  Well, maybe this summer is “some day” for your family.  Get creative, great vacations don’t have to cost a lot of money, some of our best haven’t cost much more than a tank of gas (which may be more now, but is still pretty darn affordable!!!)

Custom Personalized Calligraphy Wedding Gift by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

Personalized Calligraphy Wedding Framed Print, 1 Corinthians 13

Calligraphy is such a classic, timeless art and it makes and elegant and timeless gift, especially if you pair the art of lettering with such a beautiful quotation as “The Love Chapter” from the bible.  If you have any weddings coming up this summer and are looking for a very special, easy and affordable heirloom quality gift for the bride and groom I’d like to show you just one of the special gifts that are available on my www.audreyjeanne.com website.  You can shop from the convenience of home and your personal computer and send what just might become the most treasured gift the happy couple receives!

We can giftwrap your purchase with beautiful paper, wired ribbons, a gift tag and enclose a greeting card for a small additional charge.  If you have a need for a rush, we can more often than not accommodate your request.  Our usual turn around time for most custom framed print orders is 1-2 weeks.

 

Karla Dornacher’s Korner Shoppe is Now Open!

Karla Dornacher\'s Morning Glories Digital Clip ARt Kit

It’s a GRAND OPENING!!!!  Karla Dornacher, my very, very, very dear friend  has just opened her new digital clip art store and IT’S ADORABLE!!!  I feel like a very proud Auntie at the birth of a new niece.  I’ve watched her take these first steps and am so excited to see what she will do next.

Go take a peek and let her know that I sent you!  You can find her store at http://karladornacher.typepad.com/karlas_korner_shoppe/

Figuring Out Life, God’s Will & Other Simple Tasks!

Lambie asked a question after yesterday’s devotion, “How do you know you’re going in the right direction?”  What’s that old saying?  “That’s the $64,000 question!”  So I thought I would share a few simple guidelines for what is anything but a simple task — figuring out what the Lord wants you to do in life or even just the next step you need to take.

First, if your life is complicated by a long series of wrong choices or consequences of sin (yes there is a cost to choosing a path that is opposed to God’s standards and it’s often quite painful and complicated) you might have to make a long series of right choices to begin bringing order into the chaos.  The restoration will happen but it’s rarely instant. 

Throughout the scriptures there are passages about restoration, if you’ve stolen, return things, if you’ve cheated begin to live honorably, if you’ve been in sexual sin begin to walk in purity and honor.  When you choose to live according to God’s laws (and man’s where applicable) there begins to be a peace that fills your heart, mind and life.  The chaos and confusion begins to still and it gets easier to hear the still small voice of God.

In hearing His voice, it’s rarely ever like Charlton Heston’s deep timbered voice from the sky!  When you’re first hearing it, it’s almost always a conviction that something you’re doing is wrong.  When I came back to the Lord in my late teens, I was a thief.  I would steal the magazines that were at the mail boxes of our condo.  I didn’t even think about what I was doing and who I was hurting.  Then after giving my life over to Jesus, the very next time I took one, I felt so guilty (but still did it), walked up to my condo and had no peace until I went back down and returned the magazine.  A few other similar encounters and I decided it was much easier to just obey in the first place and experience God’s peace instead of his stirring up a lack of peace in my heart.

Second, you need to be sold out to what God has planned for you.  If you’ve walked with Him long enough there will already have been more than a few times you desperately wanted something only to be denied and later be very, very grateful that you didn’t get it.  When you develop a track record of seeing that He really does have the best plan and want the best for you it gets easier to surrender to His will rather than desire your own.

Here’s a really great example that is very fresh in our lives right now.  My husband found out about a great job that pays well and has the perfect schedule for us.  He would have worked 3 days one week and 4 days the next with a total of about 14 work days in the month (long, hard work days) but still leaving 14-17 days at home to do ministry and household chores.  We prayed sooooo hard for this job and nothing came about.  This week we received word that this company just laid off 6 people in the section he was wanting to work in… last hired, first fired…!  God spared us a great deal of pain and frustration.

As you begin to learn God’s peace, which is in essence that place where you know you are right with Him and you are applying His principles in your daily life, it gets easier to realize when that peace is gone and you are going in a wrong direction.  I am struggling to find a verse in my PC Study Bible Concordance, the AP Version (Audrey’s paraphrase :-)!) is “Let the peace of God be the umpire in your heart.”  An umpire is the only one who can call a pitch in bounds our out of bounds.  He sees it clearly, we often don’t.

There’s a lot more to it, and if those of you who read my blog regularly would like me to continue sharing on this, just leave me comments to that effect and I’ll be happpy to share some of what I’ve learned over the years.

One of the most powerful things I have learned is to pray this simple prayer, I still do it regularly.  Maybe it will help you to take the first steps in really seeking to hear and know God’s voice or grow stronger in the hearing you’re already doing.

SCRIPTURE:  Phil 4:6-9  In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.  8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.   9 The things which Ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  ASV

PRAYER:  Lord, I really want your will in my life, but I’m hard of hearing and more than a little stubborn about wanting what I want whether it’s good for me or not!  So Lord, I’m going to ask that you make it really, really easy for me to obey you and follow the path you’re setting out for me and really, really hard for me to disobey and go in a wrong direction. 

Cause my heart to lose the sense of peace that passes all understanding and my spirit to feel stirred up and uncomfortable if I’m making a wrong choice and fill me with joy and delight when I make the tiniest step in the right direction.  I really desire to please you and I know you really desire to lead me so I’m trusting that you will teach me how to follow you.

Les Fleurs Antique Paper Pack Coming Friday.

(UPDATE:  This kit is now available in my blog store at http://audreyjeannesblog.com/BlogShop/?page_id=6&category=3&product_id=3)Les Fleurs Antique, Digital scrapbooking papers, also for card making or crafting.Les Fleurs Antique, digital scrapbooking papers, card making, and crafting kitThe paper pack that coordinates with the “Les Fleurs Antique” Digital Clip Art, scrapbooking and cardmaking kit will be available in the Daisie Company store on Friday.  Here’s a sneak peek of the kit for you.  By the way, if you click on the images a larger version will pop up in a the window, then just click the back arrow to come back here.

I am working on another new theme for a kit that will be out sometime next week and will have previews of it soon.  I’ll then go back and finish “Les Fleurs Antique” as I created too much for one kit and not quite enough for the second so I’ll create some more items for it.  Then I’m kind of anxious to maybe create some printable items if I have the time as I think “Les Fleurs” will make some spectacular cards and stationery goods.

My daughter, Jacqui, got a very disappointing email last night.  She’s been scheduled to start her training with Sky West to become a flight attendant and they’ve put her on hold because of the gas crisis.  They don’t have a position to place her in yet so they’ll wait until they do.  I’m very proud of how she’s been handling this bump in the road and the trust she is exhibiting in the Lord and His plan for her life.  WOW!  When you’re a mom and you see your children walking in wisdom it is such a joy!

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:Prov 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.   NIV

PRAYER:  Lord, it’s so hard not to lean on my own understanding, to not assume that what I see, hear or experience is what I should rely on.  Help me to know you so well that it becomes easier to rely on you and what you have said in your word than on my own judgement.  Help me to seek your will and acknowledge you in all areas of my life and to know that you have a plan, a path from where I am now to where you have destined to to go.

And Lord, when my path seems really crooked or heading in the wrong direction, help me to trust that sometimes a crooked path directed by the Lord will be much easier, safer and faster than a seemingly straight path laid out by my own understanding!  AMEN

Blog Contest Winner Today!

For those that are new to my blog, twice a month I draw names from the comments that were posted during that period and that winner receives a free kit.  So if you would like a shot at winning a free kit, just post your comments on any and all posts and you’re entered.

The winner today will win “Les Fleurs Antique” Paper Pack which is coming to the Daisie store soon.  Her post is the 7th on this day: http://audreyjeannesblog.com/BlogShop/?p=379 congratulations to her!  And Cheryl, you mentioned on that very post that I didn’t seem to pick the early posting (LOL!)  It is truly totally random so the numbers fall where they may — everyone has an exactly equal chance except for one thing THE MORE YOU COMMENT THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES!!

“A Garden Full of Dreams” Gardening Journal by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

Butterfly Garden fountains, garden bench, garden arch, picket fenceA Garden Full of Dreams by Audrey Jeanne RobertsI stumbled on this at The Reader’s Digest Store this morning,  http://www.rdstore.com/product_detail.cfm?pid=4389&seo=A-Garden-Full-of-Dreams  This journal/kit is a project I did 4 years ago and didn’t know that they were reprinting.  The price is exceptional at $11.99 for a soft cover gardening journal (11″ wide by 8 1/4″ high), It contains 2 sets of notecards, seed packets and loads of pages of planning pages, notes, journals, grids and helpful hints. 

There are a couple of digital clip art kits that coordinate with this product that would allow you to make a great gift presentation.  You can find the digital clip art kit and paper pack here: http://www.daisiecompany.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2727

http://www.daisiecompany.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2728

I wish my garden at home looked a little more like my fantasy gardens :-)!  We spent a couple of hours yesterday out tidying things up a little.  It’s just never finished though!!

 

 

“Les Fleurs Antique” Paper Pack Coming Soon!

Les Fleurs Antique Paper Pack

(UPDATE:  THIS KIT IS NOW AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN MY BLOG STORE AT: http://audreyjeannesblog.com/BlogShop/?page_id=6&category=3&product_id=3)

This new paper pack to coordinate with “Les Fleurs Antique” which debutted this morning at Daisie Company (the link will take you there).  The paper pack should be available in the next week or so, but I thought I’d give you a sneak preview on my new blog.

This kit is the one that our lucky winners from my impromptu blog opening contest will have won.  If you are a winner and you don’t receive your kit by the end of the week next week, you have been given permission to harrass, nag and otherwise insist that you receive it!  I’m pretty overwhelmed and might forget 🙂

There are 11 background papers (12 in, 300 dpi) and one transparent .png overlay in the kit all of which coordinate beatifully with many of Audrey Jeanne’s Exquisite floral digital clip art kits as well as “Les Fleurs Antique”

The only bummer in the move so far, my counter went from over 230,000 visits to 0 🙂  Oh well, we’ll build it back up soon enough!