A Royal Announcement at Queen of Arts Studio :

The Queen is happy to announce that she now has some sweet little Love Birds for sale

in the Queen of Arts Studio Etsy Shop.

Here is a pic to tease you into giving them a new home ! So very pretty and filled with a wonderful hint of high quality French Lavender. Hang them anywhere to add some lovely to your world.

Check them out here !

Little glimpses into my Weekend World...

6:30 am rock walk shot

"Show Up."

new art journal page - Portfolio Water Soluble Oil Pastels & India Ink

Meet ....

I am still writing her story...

I am listening and watching this :

"Her Morning Elegance"...isn't that a beautiful name for a song ?

Love it and this video is such a work of art too.

It's Sunday morning now. I am up early again. Seems to be a pattern of the last week or so to wake up early even though it is dark dark dark out still. I think I have a lot of inspiration and drive right now...I am going with it !

Yesterday was a pretty awesome day. I started with a chilly but energizing walk with the Chica dog at 6:30. I woke her up !

Pancake breakfast with David and some blog catching up followed. Then we started a quest to find the perfect inexpensive piece of furniture to add to my studio for storage. Two Goodwill Stores and one consignment shop later, we found the perfect solid oak bedroom dresser that has 6 drawers and fits perfectly in the space ! So happy !

I spent the rest of the day starting the Big Dig of studio clean ups. I want to re-organize & reduce the amount of stuff I have in the studio. I still have a lot to do but it is a great colder weather project and I will get there one pile and one drawer at a time !

In the evening, after a yummy chicken and Greek salad dinner, David settled in to watch some shows that I don't really like to watch like Heroes and Flash Forward (Love our DVR!), and I headed back into my favorite room in the house now - the studio. Clean tabletop means a perfect place to make a mess ! So out came the art journal, the paints, some good tunes on my Pandora radio station, and the end result was Violet featured above.

I am so loving the places my art is going ! This piece was actually inspired by the styles of two teachers of mine. Anne Bagby taught me this drawing technique in the Ultimate Painted Page workshop I took with her a few years back. The technique is to draw faces or figures where each line is connected some how to another - no free floating shapes or lines allowed. The technique popped into my head as I was thinking about the amazing dolls that Judy Wise shared with us on her blog this week. I love how she just went for it with their faces, their bodies and their costumes. No worry about "realism" there ! Love it ! I also love how Judy creates a story around her dolls. Just like all of us, her little beings come with a tale to tell. Violet will get hers too - it is percolating in my playful artist brain.

I know right now too that I need to get out of my art journal and create some pieces that can be framed, on watercolor paper I think. The thing is, I like the finished product of a "journal" - a body of play created over time and joined together with its binding. I also feel like it is time to break out of there and learn that I can make art that is "frame" worthy too. I will never give up my art journal completely though - it is my first love, my best therapy and the art form that has taught me so very much about myself as a person and as an artist.

Today is all about friendship and the birds.

Sonia is coming over to hang out in my nice tidy studio and we are going to knock out a ton of beaded birds today ! That along with some good girl talk and a nice lunch at some point. She will help me stuff and sew the bods so Ii can do my Queenly touches afterwards. I need the help ! I want to put some in the Etsy shop (hopefully by the end of the day today !) and I have orders for them that add up to about 60 birds ! Plus the craft fair...Yikes ! The feathers will be flying ! Good thing I think these little sweeties are so cute !

Off to shower and go buy some goodies for lunch later !

Have a creative and love filled Sunday, beautiful Ones !

I am One Thankful Queen !

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.

~Meister Eckhart

So I haven't been around much this week. I have been busily putting together and sending off "Rock My World" rock orders that Patti and I received, which has been such a pleasure. I am also working on those birdies that some of you have expressed interest in so I can put a few in the Etsy shop, and still have enough to have an inventory at the craft fair in November.



All the while happily working like a little house elf, I have been thinking about some wonderful, phenomenal gifts that I have received lately, many of them for my birthday and others just gifts of real friendship and love that I am so very grateful for.


Finally this morning, I have some time to edit some photos and put some words together to express some gratitude for all the Kimbo Love I have been getting !

Let's go back to last Friday when it was actually my birthday. I had a fantastic drive up to Montreal. I was loving the beautiful Fall colors in spite of the few raindrops that were falling. I even snapped a couple of photos while driving. Dangerous but definitely one of the joys of digital !

happy driver

check out those colors !

How did I center this while going 70 ? ;)

Friday night I was treated like a Queen ! My sweet Mommy took me shopping at the MAC Cosmetic counter where they did me up real nice and then she bought me some new juicy colors of make-up that add some sparkle to my face to go along with my new short hair. Then it was off to dinner with Sister Nat, nephew Nathan, brother-in-law Dave, Uncles Nick and Charlie, Cousin Matt, sweet Aunt Lise and Mommy. The food was really, really bad at the quaint Italian place we went but the company was so awesome.

Not too many photos of that night as I was just hanging out and enjoying the evening.Here is Nick, Natalie, Mom, Nathan and Me.

Saturday, I headed north to La Conception for our Thanksgiving get together at Kristina and John's house.

Katie and Me !

The woods were a little dangerous due to some bear issues (yes, bear issues !) around the area so we went for a lovely walk in the farmer's fields instead. Check out those gorgeous mountains in the distance !

My 18 year old niece Jessica and my sister Nat - mom and daughter love !

The three sisters - Nat, Kristina and Me - had some silly and fun sister time !

We enjoyed a fire outside, some good card games inside, some beautiful leaf peeping, nice family chats, and not to mention, some awesome turkey and all the fixings thanks to Kristina (with a little help from her friends). A spectacular weekend.

I received so many gifts - material ones, some I gave to myself, and gifts of love and time that made my heart feel so very, very good.

Today I gathered just some of them together to take a photo.

Clockwise - fingerless gloves I bought for myself (check out the amazing stuff katwise does with old sweaters!), hand made card from Thomas, sweet card from my mommy, gorgeous purse I bought for myself in this amazing boutique in Mont Tremblant, the amazing mermaid my friend Lois created and had a wonderful creative time doing it, THE Journal from Arlene from the Canadian Chickie's journal swap, a beautiful necklace from Kristina featuring a charm with a moon on it just like the moon was on the night I was born 44 years ago, and a sweet smelling "escape" soy candle from my Aunt Lise.

Isn't she lovely, with her sparkly tail and her twisted wire hair ??? Made of love...

44 years ago on October 9th, the moon was FULL ! How cool is that ?

Isn't this purse fit for a Queen of Arts? Love it !

And now for a little more about Arlene's magical journal. You may remember back in May when we Canadian Chickies did our apron swap and Arlene made me the most beautiful, magical and lovely Mermaid Apron. Well, that talented lady decided that 2009 was to be the Year of the Mermaid - which is absolutely perfect for mermaid loving me ! So my journal from her for our journal swap carries that sweet theme. What was also cool was that the journal was waiting for me at my Mom's on Friday so it became part of the birthday treats too !

Arlene used a children's book version of The Little Mermaid , chopped it up and added key pieces to the journal, like the cover.

Look at these luminescent blue pages just waiting for my journal writing, paint and gluing fun.

The illustrations from the original book make perfect additions - I can already imagine some stuff to add to this page !

Arlene also added in some of her gorgeous sewing technique where she adds treasure beneath a layer of tulle.

Love this page !!!

I can't wait to dive in and frolic under the sea in my beautiful Mermaid Journal !

Thank you so much, Lovely Arlene, for all the love, creativity and care you put into this work of art. I truly love it !

It is hard to write a post that expresses all the joy, love and good stuff that has been floating around me lately. There are always the mundane or mean things too...that is life on this planet, I know. But there is something to be said about focusing on what is right in your little world. It absolutely, without a doubt in my mind, has begun to bring me more of what is right. Tons more really! So along with expressing the tons of gratitude I feel for all the gifts I have been receiving, I offer some encouragement for my fellow women and men on this journey with me. Focus on what is right and good, even if it is in the tiniest way, and see what happens. You may just make a difference for someone else, and you may just make a big difference for yourself. Now, wouldn't that be a gift ?

What's right with you today, beautiful Ones ?

As for me, I am off to frolic in my sea...

The Writer-Lady and the Rock Fairy Present...

So everyone who read my blog knows I have a deep respect and love for Patti Digh, the author of Life is a Verb : 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally.


I can honestly say that the day I met her in Deerfield, NH was a turning point in my life. Not just because her written words hold so much juicy life-living lessons for me, but also because when we met, I felt seen. Patti really saw me that evening, and the fact that I was seen made me remember something I had forgotten for a really long time. I had forgotten the power of my own light and how good it feels when I shine it brightly. That night, the light came back to the surface and it has been gaining strength ever since.

Recently I have been making many wonderful changes in my life, all in hopes of keeping my light shining brightly. One of them is looking for ways to earn money doing the things I really love. I don't want just a job to make some cash. I want a job that makes me feel like I am working towards fulfilling my purpose on this Earth. That isn't always easy to find, but I really believe that having faith and holding on the that possibility is what will make that goal a reality. I am so very grateful to be in a position where this is possible for me right now, especially as I have the support and understanding of my wonderful husband, David throughout this process..

A recent series of chats on Facebook with my friend Patti about this very topic lead to her taking notice of that Bright Kim Light again. She supported my vision for myself in her own wonderful Patti way, and offered up ways that our connection could help me work towards making a living doing what I love.

She proposed a partnership between the Writer-Lady and the Rock Fairy. I have to say I was so excited by this idea that I was jumping out of my skin ! Imagine your Favorite Writer liking what you do so much that she would be willing to put her name on it along side your own ! Talk about feeling SEEN !

So without further ado, allow me to announce that Patti Digh, and Kim Mailhot, aka The Rock Fairy , have joined together to spread a little more love in the world.

Special Issue "Rock My World" rocks are now available in the 37 Days Shop, painted with inspiring words and phrases, including many inspired by the book "Life is a Verb" .

Each ribbon-tied bag contains 13 rocks that you can use to spread the love, whether you leave them as offerings for perfect strangers or offer them as gifts to your own loved ones. Putting the love out there, even in little ways, brings it back to you ten-fold.

Ms. Digh, my Favorite Writer-Lady in the Whole World, has shared the tale of how we came together in this little project on her own blog today as well. Check it out on this Found Art Tuesday post.

By the way, thank you, thank you, for all the wonderful and oh so sweet birthday wishes ! I am just back home from Montreal this morning and promise to share some of the awesome love-fest with you tomorrow ! Happy, happy Tuesday. beautiful Ones !

Celebrate Good Times, Come On !

So what's been going on this week at the Queen of Arts Studio ?

A whole flock of these has settled in - ready to be packaged up for the November Craft sale. at the local high school.

Quite a bit of paint got spilled and smushed and smeared as I finally took the time

to play with all the great tips and techniques from

Carmen at the Torbus & Company Studio Spill It Workshop

that I was so lucky to have won the tuition for !

So far we have made some gorgeous backgrounds and we are moving on to image transfers in the second lesson.

I also have a bit of a special project in the works with a certain Writer-Lady friend of mine

that we will be announcing next week.

And tomorrow....

Well, tomorrow is...

the Big

4 4 for the Queen herself !

I will actually be driving most of the day as I am heading up to Montreal for the weekend.

It is Canadian Thanksgiving and my birthday so we will be celebrating lots of good stuff.

Unfortunately, David has to stay home to do some work on the apartment we rent out upstairs before the new tenants move in next week. I think Cosmo, Chica and Azzy are good with that !We will continue the Kim Festival next week and celebrate some more together when I return.

While up north, I will have time with my sweet and wonderful family, and some of my great girl pals up there, not to mention some gorgeous small people who I have been missing very much !

So I will be back Tuesday to post but will have the chance to check in during the weekend, just in case anyone leaves me a comment or anything... ;)

I have so very much in my life to celebrate and to be thankful for !

Let the Festivities begin !!!

Bitter Sweet and Blue...

Read this story at The Story People. They have the most beautiful stories there.

The story is called "Bittersweet".

I took out the art journal and opened it to the page where I had created this kind of sad face. It was painted upside down in Judy Wise's Playbook class at Squam.

It became bittersweet with the additon of the blue paint, some pencil scribbles, the stenciled letters and the hand-written story :

Added this song which immediately jumped into my head :

This work, this story, this song all perfectly portray how I feel today.

Maybe a little of the post-Squam blues,

or a little less momentum now that the Harvest Moon is waning...

Not sad, really,

just aware of how bittersweet this life can be...

You say "prawcess", I say "process"...

So one day, way back when, in the 90's I think, I stopped at a large table in the center of the mall in front of the bookstore. They were having a sidewalk sale, though of course there are no real sidewalks in the mall. I started sifting through the piles of discounted books when my eye was caught by a little book with an unusual shape. It was cut on the diagonal. I thought it was done on purpose until I saw the cover . Well, I guess it was kind of done on purpose, because if it hadn't been cut on the diagonal, I don't think I would have picked it up and I know I would never have bought the little book at its full price at the time. But because it was badly cut, the book was for sale at $1.99. That amount fit in my tight budget at the time, and I knew that book was meant to be mine some how.
The book is called "100 Ways to Keep Your Soul Alive."

I don't know how many times I have turned to this little book over the years but it has to be in the hundreds. It is just as the title suggests - there are 100 pages with a quote and a suggested action to take on each page. Sometimes I pick a number between 1 and 100 and choose a page and other times, I just ask the book for a message and open it up where it feels right.

Last night, after a weekend making twenty or so stuffed birds, doing errands, and all kinds of other stuff, I was desperate for some time in my art journal. I shoved all bird making stuff off to one side of the work table, grabbed my journal and then, just sat there. I wanted to get a page done in the journal but for whatever reason, my mind was empty of inspiration in that moment. I looked over onto my bookshelf, filled with books and mags of all kinds - full of inspiration when I need it, and my eye was caught by that same old little book.

I asked it for some help and opened it to this page :

The result was this page in my journal :

I had a lot of fun with the face - trying out different colors and different tools.

There is a little Portfolio water soluble oil pastel in there, some acrylic paints, some

India ink and some white Elmers Paint Pens.

The text came directly from "100 Ways".

I wasn't even sure how the page of the book applied to my life right now as I was
creating the page in my journal. I just knew that the message inspired me to get stuff down, let it out of me and to play.

When the page was done, I re-read the quote by Thich Nhat Hanh. The last line in particular stuck out for me :

"The practice is to keep our "flowerness" alive and present, not just for our own benefit but for the happiness of everyone."

Last night, I had to liven up my flowerness - I had to create a journal page and let part of my blooming soul out on the page.

When I do that, it is for me, but it is also for others. It lets others know that it is good to take time to express yourself though whatever creative outlet drives you. It creates a bit of beauty in the world for some others to admire and appreciate. It keeps Momma happy which means that everyone is happy, if you know what I mean !

It hopefully inspires you to keep your own "flowerness" alive and present as well.

We are all in this together, right ?

So, I hope your week has many chances in it for you to BLOOM !

Here is a gorgeous song call "Your Nature" by Hot House Flowers. I recommend sitting for 5 while listening to it, and looking at the beauty of nature around you, be it outside your window or in your own mirror. ;)

Happy Monday, beautiful Ones.