Our first Art product review (we're psyched)

We love our art supplies just about as much as we love breathing!  I'm not kidding.

My husband, being the consumer insights, marketing trender he is, has told me that I am a marketer's dream.  Well, I think he told me something a little different but it was a little to R-rated for this family friendly blog.

Not only do I love product, I love the packaging the product comes in.  If you package it right: color, font, material etc.  I most likely will attempt to purchase it.  Even if there is no need or purpose whatsoever.

Hence, our first product review.  The products I find myself having the weakest self-control for are art supplies of any kind.  Spray paint, stamps, brushes, markers, crayons, glue, glitter, fabric.  I fall into the mixed-media artist category (in my own eclectic way).  I have come to the conclusion that you never know what you are going to need or use in the studio, therefore, you better be prepared and have it on hand.

It appears that I have Ava and Cate in training as well.  We were at one of our favorite artisan boutiques yesterday and Ava noticed a set of oil pastels.  As I was wandering through the shop I noticed the two of them huddled to around the pastels to take a closer look.  What am I going to do...not join in?

Upon further examination we noticed these weren't your typical oil pastels.  The set included 12 of you standard, everyday colors, however, you also get 6 metallic and 6 neon colors.  They're packaged securely in sturdy travel case that will fit easily into any bag of any kind.  Possibly even my purse, considering I carry the world in there. 

The color options looked great, but my first reaction was "what makes them so different from the other pastels I love?"

Here's the answer: The Black Paper Sketchbook

International Arrivals has a Black Paper Sketchboook.  This is the perfect accompaniment to highlight the colors from the Super Mix.  You want the neon and metallic colors to pop and the black paper makes it happen.

When we got home we all wanted to try it out.  Rather than ripping the sketchbook apart we each took a number.  Well, they took a number.  Ava got to try it out first.

Ava's reaction was simple.  She loved the black paper concept.  She enjoys sketching and will ocassionally accent with some color.  For the most part she used the white oil pastel but she liked the texture of the pastel and the ease of use against the black paper.  She agreed that without the black paper it would just be another oil pastel.  The beginning of her doodle.

Cate went next.  Cate's my color girl.  The apple doesn't fall very far from the tree with this one as I love color too!  She tried to use just about every color.  She loved the options and went as far as to say that she wished she had even more color options.  Possibly a bigger kit.  Cate's always dreaming big.  She said they felt like they were "gliding" on the paper and she was having a bit of fun mixing the colors together.  The Black Paper Sketchbook was a big hit with Cate as well as she said it made her colors "pop!" 

Certainly not our best work but not bad for experimental, 5 minute doodles.  We loved the Super Mix and the Black Sketch Notebook.  For kids and adults these oil pastels are fun and easy to use with minimal mess.  I work with all different brands of artist grade oil pastels when I'm painting and they can get messy.  

By far, though, the Black Paper Sketchbook was the hit.  It has a thin paper quality and the fact that it comes in a journal style adds a whole new dimension to the selling factor.  

In addition to the products themselves, the packaging is fun, eye catching and creative.  Just what you expect from a company like International Arrivals.  I suppose they will have people buying their products even if they're not art supply junkies like us!

In addition to the journal and pastels I couldn't help myself and picked up some ergonomic crayons that day as a gift for a left-handed friend.  Seriously, can you get more creative than this?

After perusing through International Arrivals website I came to find out I was already the proud owner of the Color Appeel Crayons.  I guess I know what I like.

Ava, Cate and I highly give the International Arrivals products a thumbs up.  They get an A+ for packaging and unique products that actually hold up to the reputation when you go to use them.

In addition, these creative supplies make incredible gifts for the child or adult in your life.  The packaging is so well done you won't even need a gift bad.  Tie a bow and you're ready to go.

We'd love to hear your thoughts if you own or have tried the International Arrivals products.

The temporary Art Studio

Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs a place to art.

 After moving from the little blue house, watching the movers pack up my studio I literally thought at one point I would stop breathing.  Dramatic, yes, I know.  That's exactly what it felt like.

I have spent countless hours in the studio after bad days and good days.  Laughing, crying singing.  The outcome was always the same.  I felt more alive, confident and at peace after I spent time in the studio.  

It was no surprise that the studio was where I would choose to "begin" in the new farmhouse.  

I have read countless design books and magazines.  I pinterest, etsy and twitter.  I'm a seeker of ideas and information like the many others.  After moving to this farmhouse the seeking stopped.  I no longer wanted to find the answers.  I wanted to create them.  I wanted them to be my own.

I shared in an earlier post that one of the main reasons I loved this old farmhouse was the third floor, unfinished space.  Most people buy homes for the kitchen, the bathrooms.  Boring.  I saw this unfinished space and I saw the potential.  I saw what it could become.   I could see the natural light, the structural changes and lots and lots of color.

Why buy a new home when you can have this!

While we figure out what the heck we're going to do with this space, I needed an interim art area. 

The room off the dining room filled the temporary need. 

I went to my organization, go-to person, Cate, and we started unpacking the studio boxes.  Box after box.  

 

Before I knew it, familiar and treasured trinkets were being made visible and I could feel the creative juices flowing.  I could breathe again.

 

Once the boxes were carefully unpacked the elements started to come together and a studio was born.  Even if it is for a short while.

 

At the end of the day we ended up with this. Still a bit cluttered and messy for my liking, but nonetheless a place to create effortlessly!

The next morning I awoke to laughter in the studio.  Music to my ears.  Ava and Cate were already making themselves a spot in what was considered my sanctuary.  I was fine with the scenario as each one is a constant muse. 

Where do you begin when you move into a new home?  How do you choose where to make your imprint first so that the rest of the home just flows. 

Here's the answer: go with your gut.  Find the spot that is going to inspire you.  Look at the the colors that motivated you before.  Chances are, if you loved those colors before, you're going to love them again.  Perhaps in a new way.  

Use pinterest, etsy and all the design magazines you want.  I love them all!  At the same time, remember that you know what you like and your instincts are probably right 99% of the time. Whatever you do find your soul and pour it into your home.

When I stepped foot in the studio I knew I was finally home.

Don't make plans for the day, the day will make plans for you

I woke up ready to write my next blog entry this morning.  I was going to discuss my temporary art studio at the farmhouse.  I had made plans for the day.

I ended up at the fabric store.  The day had different plans for me.

Seriously, seriously love fabric.  I'm a self-professed textile junkie.  It's eye candy for the artistic soul.  The colors, patterns and textures are intoxicating to me. 

I woke up ready to write my blog entry, but I knew I needed supplies for a requested project.  Due to the fact that I'm in Ohio instead of Wisconsin until June, I don't have enough fabric variety to get me through.  I needed to replenish. 

15 minutes.  I would run into the fabric shop and run out.  15 minutes.  

2 hours later.  I left the fabric shop.  On one hand I was totally irritated with myself as I had intended to proceed with other plans for the day.  On the other hand I was giddy with excitement because I was leaving with remnants galore, polka dots and floral patterns and some hand-dyed burlap and wool.  The irritation was fleeting I was feeling pretty darn good.

When I returned home I laid out all of my finds. 

So today's post isn't describing a transition or one of my house rehab projects.  No, today's post represents the beauty of spontaneity and the happiness it brings when you do something you love.  The unexpected pleasures of life sometimes just happen when we're too busy making plans.