Following my apron obsession...

Pocket detail of handmade apron

I've been obsessed with this cross-back apron style for a while. I first saw something like it by Magnolia Pearl, LOVe her stuff!! I am also really inspired by Nadir Positano and Atelier de Ours. 

red and green full coverage apron

I've also been thinking that we all play dress-up every day of our lives. I wonder, if someone found a picture of me in a hundred years, what would they think I was dressed up as? I've decided that I'm okay with being seen as an eccentric gal who wears fanciful clothes. It's so much more fun! I drive an art car, right? Might as well have fun with 
my clothes, too!

back of red and green cross back apron

There are many wonderful artists who have a distinct fashion style that also inspire me so very much. For instance, Tasha Tudor was an artist and illustrator who loved what she considered a simpler way of life. She dressed in 1800's type attire and collected real 1800's dresses. She lived on a farm and maintained a very simple life while she created art until her death in 2008. 

seersucker crossback apron

Another stylish artist I look to is Julie Arkell.  Ms. Arkell lives in England and creates the most adorable folk art creations! She also rocks a super cute style! 

Drawing on all these wonderful inspirations, I've started creating clothes for myself. Here are my first three aprons. One is very fall like with dark red fabric and green trim. This one is more sophisticated (in my opinion).

big splashy vintage linen pockets

My second apron creation is made from light-weight red and white seersucker. I've been collecting bits of embroidery at my local thrift shop for quite a while and this gave me a great opportunity to put some fingertip towels to use as pockets.  In order to give the pockets a little tuck for the opening, I used china buttons I had in my collection and simply used red thread for contrast. I wanted it to be light and airy so I went with a very simple white cotton for the ruffle. 

hard working and cute apron

vintage linen large pockets on apron

Finally, my most recent addition (I finished it today) which is a dark blue striped apron. This one is made of a heavier cotton and feels quite nice on. I used fingertip towels again for the pockets and tiny china buttons for the tucks on the front. I chose a fun print fabric that has both red and blue to coordinate with the trim.




I had so much fun making these aprons. I believe that when you approach any project with the intention of creating something artsy, it is always much more fun! 

The pleasures of driving an art car

Gladys the Art Car by Laura Pallatin of LaBelle Mariposa

I admit it, I've been dreaming of having a big canvas to create happy art on for quite some time. I don't have a big old barn, in fact I live in a neighborhood with strict rules about what your home must look like, so painting on the house or barn was out. Then, I struck upon the idea of an art car. A mobile canvas that I can continually update as inspiration strikes. And, best yet, everywhere I go, I share my love of happy art. Fear stood in my way for quite a while. Our culture really doesn't support doing anything "weird" to a car. It is considered, first and foremost, an investment.

The good news is that almost EVERYONE smiles when they see Gladys. A very few (like 3 people) have looked miffed. I figure that they don't get it, and smile for them. If you're thinking about sharing your art in this way, I highly encourage it.  Take your time. Find the right car and wait to paint until your creative vision is strong in your mind. Then, have fun! It really is a wonderful way to share love with everyone who sees your car. 

Blessings,
Laura Pallatin
LaBelle Mariposa

Cute little table transformation

Thanks to the Eilene and Melanie at Trezhers gift shop in Sacramento California, I had this cute little table to transform. I have had it here at the house for quite a while because I hadn't formed a vision of the project in my head (usually a prerequisite for my creative process.) Well, a few weeks ago, I worked it all out in my mind and started to bring my idea to life. I took photos as I went so you can see the steps I went through to make it whimsically cute. :)

Before picture and all I've done is sanded it. 

You can tell that it was chippy, but not in a good way. :)

Here it is with it's little legs in the air as I started covering it with  Kilz

with another layer of kilz

And another!

I carefully painted a layer of solid color on each part and then went over that with some cool metallic paint. 

All finished

New Installation for Laura and LaBelle Mariposa

Here I am at Studio 41 in Oakhurst California with Joelle Leder setting up an installation for the next two months! I'm so thrilled to be a part of Joelle's vision of a beautiful place full of art and wonderful finds.  I'll be teaching a class there on February 28th. The details are yet to be worked out, but I'll share it here. :)

So, you may be asking... "Now what?" Well, I'll tell you! I'm gonna paint some new beautiful art! LaBelle Mariposa is taking off and I'm having a ball! This is so exciting! To have a mandate to do what you want to do anyway!

Oh, and there's the art car. I think I'm in love again. With a Lincoln town car! Who would've thought that? Well, we'll see. If it's not the one, I'll know. 

Blessings all!

-Laura

Living a LaBelle Mariposa life

Cypress Sunset painting created for a original art pendant.

I came up with the name of my business, LaBelle Mariposa, because it brings together two languages to say the beautiful butterfly. Butterflies represent transformation, flight, beauty, living for the moment, and so many other things. Monarchs pass their knowledge on to generations who complete a journey that their ancestors have made for countless generations. This communicates tradition. In so many ways, the monarch, and butterflies in general, are a special symbol of rebirth, transformation, and grace. So, living a LaBelle Mariposa life is embracing personal transformation, finding our purpose, and living each day to the fullest. 

Lately, I've been so blessed to have so many of my dreams coming into reality. Today, Jim and I will travel to Monetery to visit Cheryl Watt Pottery & Gallery on Cannery Row so that I can drop off more art. Then, tomorrow, we'll attend an opening at the gallery! Also, today, I will get to spend time working with a dear friend on her own personal journey before I purchase the vehicle that will be my art car to promote LaBelle Mariposa!

So, today, I am feeling very blessed and happy to be living my transformed LaBelle Mariposa life!

Fanciful Gnomes for the Garden

Because I was not willing to risk my precious gnome, Gerome, being kidnapped from my front yard, I created a motley crew of gnomes to keep an eye on things out there. My friend, Kim Mayhew, made Gerome for me. He's wonderfully spooky-cool! Here's a pic of Gerome in my living room:

 

 My little collection of gnomes came from Harbor Freight. They were super cheap and started out pretty plain looking: 

There's nothing wrong with them... they're just not that fun. And the one on the right looks... okay... strange! 

So I painted them and added some glitter and bling from the thrift store, and I think they are WAY more fun!!!

Introducing the garden crew: 

Henry DeGnome by Laura Pallatin of LaBelle Mariposa

 Lupe DeGnome Laura Pallatin of LaBelle Mariposa

Pierre DeGnome by Laura Pallatin of LaBelle Mariposa

Miwok Sun Maiden

I've been working on this little 4x4 painting for a contest at my local Indian reservation. I was inspired by the beautiful women they have working in their Tribal Health office. Long almost black hair frames lovely young women. The workers often bring in their children to work and family members bring their children in to hang out with the rest of the family. The atmosphere is an interesting mix of modern medical facility and family reunion with lots of love an laughter. It's such an amazing place to take my family in for medical care. 

I really like the painting.  I hope the people who evaluate the art like it, too. It's just what I envisioned in the lobby, but now I'm thinking it may need something else.

If I add more to her, I'll share it here. 

I hope that you get to create what you envision, too.

Blessings,

Laura P.

Tiara kits for Rachel's Pretty Pretty Princess Birthday Party

The sample tiara I made to make sure my ideas would work :)

Preparing for Rachel's big birthday has been so much fun for me. As I posted earlier, I'm putting together tiara kits for each of her friends to make during the party. Then, they'll enjoy tea party goodies while I make sure the tiaras are dry enough for picture taking before they all leave. 

It was important to me that each girl have her very own tiara. No two are alike, just like Rachel's best friends. I decided to buy all new stuff for these, even though I'm sure you could do a lot with vintage stuff. I found all these elements at Michaels. There are many other craft and hobby stores, Michaels is just where I was able to find what I was looking for. I had to get creative, though, because they don't really have stuff designed for making tiaras. The curved piece is actually a bracelet which was opened up. The flat round parts were to be used for earrings (as best I can tell) The center medallions were either designed to be brooches or pendants. Since they didn't have tiara making supplies specifically, I used pieces of punched metal for the sides that were in the jewelry making department that I'm not really sure what they were supposed to be for. :)

All of the elements will be glued together with E6000 and held with clamps. I'll take a blow dryer to each tiara individually while the girls hang out and eat. That should get them dry enough for photos. Then we'll put the clamps back on to be taken off at home the next day. 

These girls are 21 and up, so I'm not handing E6000 to children. And, we're doing this outside because of the fumes. 

So, here's the tiara's the girls will be making. I hope they enjoy making them as much as I've enjoyed gathering the materials for them.

Rachel's regal blue and bronze tiara to be

Heather, our bride to be's, lovely crown kit

Jamie's sparkly and bold crown

Jo's dramatic red and copper tiara

Katy's bohemian-cool tiara

Back in the swing of things

Good day to you! I think I'm finally getting to the end of my unpleasantness... At least I'm ready to be at the end so I'm choosing to move on. :)

Which brings me to today! I feel so fresh and ready to take on the world, it feels like a MONDAY! (btw, it's Thursday, which is good, too!)

I'm going to try my darnedest to balance all the things I really want to do today. It will be a challenge! Considering I have 3 kids of my own here today and one bonus kid. And a wonderful sweetie who needs me, too. Here's my to-do list:

Laundry

vacuuming

running kids around

pick up Rachel's car from the shop

feed dogs

water plants

grocery shopping

meals

exercise

create template for new stained glass panel within old window frame

Try out Mother's Day gift hammock!!! 

Try out Mother's Day gift motorcycle!

Shop for our early Father's Day celebration this Sunday...

That's all I can think of right now, but you know stuff will be added. I feel very blessed to have such high-quality "problems" as too many people in my life who I love and want to take care of, art to create, a motorcycle to ride...  :)

I hope you implement today's Inspirational Image! I think it's one of the most important tasks any of us undertake!

Blessings,

Laura P.

a "Walk In Your Own Footsteps" Inspirational Image

Learning Lessons about Life

The last couple of weeks have been difficult to say the least. I've learned a lot about myself as well as some other people in my life. I learned that some people can be unspeakably awful when they feel their cause is just. And, I learned that when I am on the receiving end of unspeakable awfulness, it takes me a long time to process my feelings. I'm still processing. Peeling the onion and finding hurt, betrayal, and fear hiding under pain and anger. I guess I could paint something really dark to get the feelings out. But, I find that I go to art when I'm happy to celebrate life, not to commemorate misery. The final result of all this is that the person who tried to deceive me ultimately failed because I sought reliable counsel before falling for her ruse. 

So, the lesson learned is that I'm too trusting of people who I perceive as being authority figures. The sad thing is this woman has been awful to me before and I went along with her because she spoke kindly to me. I also suffer from the unfortunate desire to have relationships which are smooth in my life, even to my own detriment.

I choose to remain a kind and open person. I want to trust people in my life. Therefore, I will continue to seek sound counsel from people who I know love and honor me. And, NOT take action recommended by those who've shown clear disregard and disdain for me in the past. Part of me does not want to admit that their are real live evil people in this world. Especially people with blood relations to people I love. But, it's true. I get that now.

What I want to take away from this is GRATITUDE for the good people in my life and the ability to set firm boundaries which exclude the evil. 

I have not made a Inspirational Image in a while, but I'm glad to share this one with you today. I hope it reminds you that you are wholly ready to be fully YOU right now!

Blessings,

Laura P.

A "Walk In Your Own Footsteps" Inspirational Image

Creativity has many forms

I've been blissfully busy working with my son, Steven, on his latest obsession... coming up with cowboy costumes for himself and his two best buddies. For several years, Steven has been invited to go to Columbia, California with one of his best buddy's family. He came home last year saying that he thought it would be cool to dress the part of the old west for the next year's reunion. So, for the last few weeks, we've been cruising thrift stores for the perfect hats, boots, shirts, pants, and vests to outfit Steven and his two buds. Here's a pic of Steven in his outfit:

He didn't want to look right at the camera... not cool. You'll also notice that he has a gun with holster on his right hip. That's a reproduction gun (good thing he had money saved up from Christmas.)

One of his buddies is wearing a Clint Eastwood inspired outfit, and the third sort of the muscle of the group and he's dressed all in black.

Hopefully, Steven's friend's mom will be able to get a nice picture of all three dressed up.

I gotta say, it was such a fun experience to do something like this with my son. We drove all over town, again and again, trying to find just the right pieces. During our time together I got to really enjoy his company. Having three kids means that I am rarely alone with any one of them. It was really neat. If you don't have a reason to be alone with your kids, I'd invent one. It's so worth it!


The other project I've been working on lately is a sign for our friend's new home. Ken and Ester lived across the street from us for many years. They are super nice and Ken is really into Bonsai gardening. Being super busy all the time prevented us from spending much time together. But, when they moved and got a new home with property they included us in their plans to have a housewarming party. They called their new home "The Roost" in honor of a favorite restaurant in Arizona.  I thought that was the perfect reason to make them this sign for their house.

Also, I just love making signs. I'm leaving it without hangers so they can hang it however they like.

So, although I haven't been creating art in the way that I usually do, I definitely feel that I've been very creative lately.

Just another day...

Today I'll be out in the glass studio for a bit getting samples ready for the June 9th class at Trezhers Gift Shop in Sacramento. Then, I'm off with my oldest son, Steven, to do some birthday shopping for the fair Jamie's 21st. Steven is also putting together a cowboy outfit for his annual trip to Columbia, CA with his best buddy's family over Memorial Day weekend. 

Okay, those are the fun and exciting parts of my day. Otherwise, I'll be doing laundry, cleaning house, and generally helping my sweetie out with any chores he needs done. Through all of this, I'll be following the advise in today's Inspirational Image. Because, losing my former hubby Joe suddenly this winter reminded me that we don't know how long we have with anyone. Time goes by very fast. Treasuring each day we have with the people we love, is vitally important to happiness. 

Blessings to you, today,

Laura P.

Treasure Every Moment of Your Life from Chapter 22, titled Present Moment Awareness

Studio musings

I've been obsessed with the magazine, "Where Women Create" for a couple of years now. I just love seeing how the people (they have men, now) organize their creative spaces. When I first started reading it, there were lots of gals like me, trying to make a functional working space in the family dining room. The did amazing things with storage and made their little carved-out studio creative, beautiful, and functional! 

Well, when I returned home from my trip with mom to Mariposa for the Mariposa Butterfly Festival recently, I was shocked at the state of my own "studio." I was so focused on getting ready for the festival, I had begun to pile art supplies, reading materials, and other stuff just to make room to get things done.

In order to get my work place back into shape, I've decided to go through my older magazines and find some creative inspiration for making my own studio magazine-worthy. Then, I'm going to turn my attention to the other rooms of my home. I've been so busy being an entrepreneur, I haven't taken time to make our family's home the organized cozy place we can all enjoy more.

While I'm at it, I'll be selling off un-needed stuff in order to buy the new camera I've fallen in love with. So, you can look forward to some stunning images of my newly organized spaces. :)

Here's the Inspirational Image for today. I thought it would be fun to do something different. 

from Chapter 10 of Walk In Your Own Footsteps titled "Gossip"

Finally, I was accepted yesterday into KVIE's art auction! I'm so excited. The awards will be announced on August 1st. Wouldn't it be cool if my name was on that list? We'll see...

Monarch on California Poppy my painting which will be in the 2012 KVIE art action. :)

To self-publish or go with a publishing house?

This is a question many people are asking themselves these days. Self-publishing houses like Lulu.com offer writers more options than ever before. When I finished my book, Walk In Your Own Footsteps, I pondered this question almost obsessively. I wanted the best for my book, but I also wanted to maintain control of my project and I didn't want to wait the months most publishers require to get it into people's hands. I also was told that no publisher would want me if I'd self-published. 

So, I'll share how this has gone so far for me and let you know when new stuff happens with the book. First off, I spoke to my favorite niche publisher in my genre and was told that they are not against publishing books that have been already been self-published. In today's market, marketing a book falls in large part on the writer. Therefore, if you have the gumption to get the book out there with no backing, you're showing the publisher that you're willing to work hard to promote your book. Also, any connections I make while promoting my book on my own, will only help if I decide to go with a mainstream publisher later. I've been on 3 radio shows which I found through Help A Reporter Out. If you're promoting anything, I think being on this mailing list can be very helpful! I was also on a local public access television show. My mother took my book to a craft show and met the producer there. That interview experience was awesome! When I tell people that I self-published because I had a vision for my book and didn't want to hand it over for a publishing house's input, people really understand that. I've had no discrimination because I'm self published. I wrote a book and am sharing it with the world. That's the bottom line. 

Okay, that all being said, I have submitted my book to a mainstream publishing house that I feel would help me get my book into more hands. I still don't want to change the cover, or the primary content/style of my book. So, if they want me I'll have to work very closely with them to make sure my book remains the book I was inspired to write. I'm looking to partner with someone who will help me and I'll help them. I'm not showing up, hat in hand, hoping for a leg up. That's an important step for me. 

It is also vitally important that you know your genre. I understand that romance books only stay on the shelves for a few weeks, even when published with a big house. So, getting your book out there first, might not be a good idea for a romance writer. Each genre will have it's own considerations. 

Admittedly, there is no big advance when you self-publish, but much more of the proceeds of your hard work go into your pocket. As with anything else in life, weighing the pros and cons is a little tough because they don't necessarily weigh equally.

If you've gone through the effort to create a book, and want to share it with the world, I feel that self-publishing is a valid path to achieving your goal. The most important part is that you feel you've made the right choice for you and your work. Weighing your options, taking input from people who know, then following your own instincts is probably the best way to know. Because, ultimately, it's up to you... the writer... to choose your best publishing path.

Blessings,

Laura P.

Artist/Author

It's a strange combination... artist and author. Both require me to promote my own work. Both require a dedication to my craft that means I need to, dare I say it, discipline myself in order to get things finished. Yet they really aren't the same thing. I find myself working on art stuff then switching gears to work on book promotion. I'm very passionate about both. Helping people live happier, emotionally healthier, lives is the goal of my book. And art is just fun! I love seeing people's faces light up when they see my impossibly large butterflies.

On the art front, I've submitted the following images for showing in my community. The swirly one is titled: Unity to Share 1. I created a similar image some time ago and it is one of my favorites. Since I don't want to part with the first one, and it's a popular pendant image, I decided to do a series of these. Each one will be different, of course, this is number one. I submitted it to the Kennedy Gallery who will be doing a "Pride" exhibit during June in Sacramento. Fingers crossed on this one as I'd love to be a part of the exhibit.

Unity to Share 1 8x8  acrylic on canvas

Monarch on Poppy 16x16 acrylic on canvas

The large butterfly on a poppy I submitted to the KVIE art auction. I checked out their web site and there is nothing like my work in their previous years. I don't know if that's good or bad... or neither. It is 16" by 16". Getting into this art auction would be very cool. I love PBS!

 

Part of my work with my book is creating Inspirational Images. The one I put together for today is from Chapter 9, Friendship:

Since I spend so much time working on marketing, I thought it would be helpful to set up a website with links to some resources for fellow creatives. My plan is to use the domain www.CreativesMarketingResources.com. If you have an article you've written, a link to a great site, or helpful blog posts, send them to me! I'd love to get this project started. Cause... that's what I need! A new project! 

And then, of course, I'm just a little obsessed with acquiring a truck that I can use to haul all my stuff around and paint butterflies and flowers all over it!  A traveling, happy, bright, fantastic TRUCK!!

I hope you're enjoying your work as much as I do!

Blessings,

Laura P

Back home again

The weekend spent in Mariposa for the Mariposa Butterfly Festival was a total blast! My mom, Maralee Lowder, is one of my very best friends! And, we haven't had a weekend to hang out alone since I was pregnant with my almost 21 year old daughter, Rachel (on the very best friend list, too!) Since my business name is LaBelle Mariposa, it was the perfect place for me. Usually, I'm known as the "Butterfly Lady." That didn't come up once, in spite of the fact that I wore a ridiculous hat all weekend which was covered in flowers and had butterflies fluttering around my head on wire! (photos to follow)

I also met some amazing people from a recovery house in the area who are interested in using my book, Walk In Your Own Footsteps, to help people with their recovery. I'm so thrilled! This is exactly why I wrote the book and I'm gob-stopped to think it's actually coming to fruition. It just shows that we don't always know how things will work out.

Now that I'm home, I'm thinking of many fun projects I'd like to work on. It would be nice to take a few days and do nothing but house and art for fun. I've been very drawn to the art of "Dia De Los Muertos" lately. A couple of years ago I created an altar which I call my  "Altared Dia De Los Muertos Book." Sorry for the play on words…. I like it. :) 

I think altered books are such fun, and having a tiny day of the dead altar in my studio makes me smile. Enjoy. 

Day of the Dead "Altared" Book cover

Day of the Dead "Altared" book inside

Steps I used to create this piece:  I glued all the pages together then carved out the altar part. I then painted the whole book black and used a gold paint pen to paint the ends of the pages gold. The background is gold paper from a scrap-book store. I used pictures of contributors to an 1800’s dictionary to be my honored people. I hand-sculpted and painted all the skulls, food, and the candle. The tiny doves are from the center of a sand dollar. I took apart a crochet doily for the front rose and the pink trim around the altar. The rest is bits of crochet and some pieces of jewelry.

Inspirational Image for a Monday

Today's Inspirational Image is from Chapter 10 of my book, Walk In Your Own Footsteps. When we share loving, uplifting, and supportive news about our friends and family, we spread love. When we engage in gossip, we do just to opposite. Sometimes, it's helpful to evaluate what information we share and make sure it conveys the love we want to transmit with our words and actions.

Have a blessed week!!

Inspirational Image

Getting ready for the Mariposa Festival

Happy Monday!!

.

Day of the dead skull to be used for a pendant

Hey, there! I hope that your Monday morning is full of promise for the coming week. Since my mom, Maralee Lowder, and I are heading south to the Mariposa Festival this weekend, I'm going to be out in the garden shed creating pendants for the event. It's kinda funny. I have made so many butterfly pendants so far, yet the new images I've been working on are "day of the dead" skulls. It's been fun to do something so different. To follow you'll see what I came up with. I just love the imagery, especially the bright colors

Special Mother's Day painting for a wild momma's pendant

Sunflowers always make me feel happy inside. This one will make such a cute pendant.

I had a wonderful time teaching classes at Trezher's Gift and Gallery in Sacramento. The students came up with wonderful projects. I find it so humbling to offer a group of people a framework to create within, then watch them come up with completely unique works of art. The shop owner was so happy with the class that they booked four more for the coming year!

That's me on the right, teaching a class at Trezhers Gift shop in Sacramento, CA

Enjoying Success

Sunflower painting for pendant

Hey, all! 

Today I'm crazy busy getting ready for the last night of the gallery exhibit at Little Relics and getting materials together for my class tomorrow. I've been feeling overwhelmed by all the activity I'm doing related to my book and art. The last few days I've actually been thinking, "once this stuff is over I'll be able to get back to my real life." Funny, huh!?! I've been working my booty off to get my businesses going and now that I'm seeing success, I'm stressed because I'm behind on the laundry... *sigh*

So, I've decided that I'm going to stop worrying about what I'm not doing and enjoy what I AM doing! I thought I'd share a sunflower mini mini paintings with you, today.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

Laura P.

Creativity, Commerce, and How to Measure Success

Things have been really taking off for my art business lately. It's been awesome! I've met amazing people and had so much fun. I'm feeling successful at promoting my art. Am I making tons of money? Well... no.

Walk In Your Own Footsteps is doing well, too. People contact me to tell me how much the book has helped. I've been creating Inspirational Images on a regular basis and people are enjoying those, too. Does this mean I'm making gobs of moolah? Well... no.

So, today I've been evaluating my definition of success. Do I strictly measure success with dollar signs, or is it also about waking up excited about my life and sharing my joy and hope with others. Obviously, I consider the latter to be as important as financial reward. But, I gotta admit, increased financial reward would be a cool.

All this being said, I'm happy to be working from home and available for my family. I LOVE knowing that, when I'm artistically inspired, it is my JOB to bring the ideas in my head into the world. I don't have to feel guilty for taking time to create, it's what I'm supposed to do!

Today's Inspirational Image reminds us that when we judge each other we create distance, and when we accept people we can experience love. Today, I choose to love. I hope that you do, too.

Blessings,
Laura P.

choose love