Art Every Day - Nov 7 Choose Happiness

I have been doing #100happydays since July 10, 2016. A friend started doing it, and because I think it's good to focus on HAPPY things (law of attraction), I decided I'd play along. Because, seriously, I get to choose how I feel (so do you!), and I choose to be happy! 

My "100 happy days" actually ended October 18th but I had decided to keep doing it through election day. Well... we're almost there! I'll still focus on happy; it's become ingrained in me. 

Coincidentally, Sunday's Story People was on happiness - which pretty much sums up my thoughts as well. 

The bottom line is, life is all in your attitude. Find the happy thing in whatever is going on in your life... there's always SOMEthing to be happy about. Look for that silver lining, and you're sure to find it. 

Choose Happiness! 

100 Happy Days - a project

My friend Cheryl Ann started a 100 day period of focusing on happy - so needed with the tragic headlines these days. So I'm playing along - mostly posting on Instagram (hhcampbell22) and Facebook, however decided to do a few here as well. 

Here's the last few days. They focus on my garden... where I spend a lot of happy hours this time of year. :) 

#8 Gratitude turns what we have into enough. ‪

#7 Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. 
Lao Tzu 

(i.e. zucchini at last.)

What's in my Studio....

Check out this post for my GIVEAWAY, part of Our World Our Art 2014.  

And now on to the Mess Continued.... 

Part of the studio table... with vintage book page covered canvas panels, Artist Trading Cards in progress, old postage stamps (check out this fabulous shop) and a MESS! But then, you figured that part out, didn't you? :)

SeARTle Art Retreat is coming right up (next weekend) and that's what part of this mess is about. The rest is the ongoing sorting and re-organizing. You'll be proud of me... I have tossed or recycled a bunch of stuff. Ha! 

And just a shot of what's blooming in the garden this week. Oregon Grape - native to our area and a hummingbird magnet. Not the best photo, but you'll note the SUNSHINE! Not usual this time of year here, and we're loving it. 

Have a good week, everyone! 

Check in to see what other folks have on their workdesks at What's on your Workdesk Wednesday, hosted by Julia.

What's in my Studio...

This has been a bit of a crazy week, with a few pesky health issues causing some stress. All will be well. However with all that is going on, I have not taken an actual picture of my studio in all it's messy glory. o.O  

I created a few ATC's this weekend for an art a-thon on atcsforall.com. This photo was taken in the studio. Does that count? :)  

I could not get this to scan well, and the photo is pretty lousy, but you kinda of get the idea.

Last weekend we went to the Port of Bellingham Holiday Festival, where the main attraction is the gingerbread house contest. This entry is by my friend Llew. City Sidewalks includes our local arts and craft store.  She got First place in her division. (You can see the blue ribbon to the right)

 This cool church is by another friend, Vonnie, who took second place. Yay for their creativity!

I'm still working on some ornaments, and pins and tiny canvases. My final Holiday show of the season (thank goodness) is this Friday in Fairhaven, from 4:30 - 9:00. So I'm getting a few more goodies ready.

Finally, I wanted to show you my recent painting on display at the Allied Arts Gallery. The open house last Friday was wonderful and I made a couple of new friends while I was there. All the art in this exhibit is under 6 x 6 inches, and in a variety of mediums. Glass work, sculpture, photography, ceramics, mosaics, and paintings.... I worked a shift in the gallery Saturday, so had the opportunity to get a closer look at all the wonderful art.

Low Tide and Autumn Mountain III by Helen Campbell

Hope you're having a wonderful week! 

Sharing with What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday and  Artist Studio Day.

What's in my Studio...

A mess! I have too many projects in the works, and so many ideas I haven't yet put into place. Working like crazy getting ready for the Holiday Shows and not enough time to get photographs of what is completed.  :)

Lots of small canvas and prep work for paintings

The close work section with good lighting - very messy right now! 

At least the watercolor table isn't quite as messy...  :)

Gesso Watercolor works in progress

What are you all working on this week? 

Cool Vintage Finds...

Interesting Vintage Finds from my shop this week: 

Antique Doll

Happy Home Needle Book

Mid-Century Gelatin Molds

Jumping Beans

Pulling Prints

A few weeks ago the store starting carrying Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plates. Of course I needed to know all about them and how they work so I could appropriately assist customers. Thus, the 8 x 10 plate came home with me.  ;) I've done similar mono-prints using freezer paper, but the gellipates are quite fun.

Here's a bit from my first time playing around with them.

Using recycled household objects for texture with decorative embossed paper as a "stamp".

Ghost print using decorative embossed paper as a "stamp".

 Trying a bit of masking (my acetate die cut masks didn't work as well as I liked!) 

Pretty basic. I have SO many ideas to try and need much more time to play! Working both at the day job and in my Etsy shops lately leaves me less time for art than I prefer. I'm working on that too!

On a side note, if you're looking for some cool ephemera for your journals or collage work, I've been adding some in my Vintage Shop. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Sharing with Paint Party Friday.

The love of old books...

Hitty, Her First Hundred Years

I found this cool old book at an estate sale a few months ago and fell in love! This is the memoir of an antique carved (of well-seasoned mountain-ash) wooden doll who travels the world over the course of a century, having many exciting adventures.  "...what is a mere hundred years to well-seasoned mountain-ash wood?"

In my recent cleaning and re-organizing, I finally decided to let her go. It's such an adorable book, however I only have so much shelf space. (even after adding another bookcase!) My hope is that another old book lover will discover Hitty, and decide she needs to come to live at their house. :)

Hitty is now available in my Etsy shop.