1.11.2012

dream board full of art and words to inspire!


This whole dream board thing is pretty new to me. I have always kept stacks of inspiration in folders, on shelves or in binders but, never on a pin board. Boy, have I been missing out. I created my first dream board this fall and propped it up above my desk but, it was a bit too high to really look at it every day. So, I decided to hang the board on the wall right next to my desk where I can clearly see it. Man, is this cool! I can take in the art and words daily. So much better then having them tucked away in a binder.


Art and words to inspire me:

"There is a story inside you that only you can tell."
"Give your dreams the wings to fly"
"Dream what you want to dream, go where yo want to go, be who you want to be."


I have a ceramic pot very similar and want to add a plant to it just like this.



More art and words to inspire:

"Love who you are"
"Love is all that matters"
"Art is the voice of the heart"
"Lucky"
"Live in the moment"

 
Quote to inspire:
"I like living, breathing, better than working ... My art IS that of living: Each second, each breath is a work which is inscribed no where, which is neither visual or cerebral, it's a sort of constant euphoria." ~ Marcel Duchamp  

I come from a long line of gigglers so that art is here to remind me to have fun and giggle! My goddess gratitude journal from Goddess Leonie is on here too.


Here's  a Buddha full of love, mandala inspiration and a beaded necklace in turquoise and red because I love that color combo so much.  

This board is ever evolving, as new imagery and words inspire me they can go up and things that no longer serve me can come down. I am really excited about this simple pin board of inspiration! 

Do you have any visual reminders and inspiration in your work space?

1.06.2012

om: taking time to pause and plan


I love wrapping up the end of the year and setting new goals. But right now, I'm a little stuck. 2011 was a roller coaster in many ways and I think I am still processing it. So instead of trying to gather up a quick set of goals for the new year - I am taking time to pause and plan. I need to let space in, gain a new perspective and see what opens up and guides me. I hope to do just that by limiting my time online, spending time outdoors, starting my mornings with zumba and ending my days with meditation or yoga. I have been playing around with the idea of choosing my first "word of the year" and look forward to seeing what that ends up being. I just need a little more time for my thoughts to simmer before I commit to my 2012 plans. Are you heading into 2012 with resolutions planned and ready for action or you still trying to gather your thoughts?


One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. I decided to join in the fun. You may want to too – you can read more about it here.

1.05.2012

we have a winner!


I am so happy to announce the winner of my first ever giveaway! The winner was chosen by random.org. Drum roll please ... the winner is Wendy! You lucky phunky gal! I'm so glad you talked about them at the show - I was there in spirit through my calendars, haha. I'll be shipping out your prize tomorrow. Congratulations!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered and shared my giveaway. I am humbled and honored with all your kind words. It was so interesting to hear which ones were your favorites. Love you dear friends!

If you would like a calendar for yourself please click here to grab a calendar from my shop.

12.30.2011

2012 art calendar giveaway!


I am so happy to have put together my first art calendar that I wanted to celebrate by giving one away! This 2012 Art Calendar is made up of twelve of my original whimsical artworks carefully selected by me.


Inside you will find a colorful collection of my favorite paintings:
- January | Dandelion Wishes
- February | Connected in Love
- March | Abstract Swirl
- April | Weeping Willow
- May | Sunflowers
- June | Connected in Truth
- July | Spiral Sun
- August | Dragonflies
- September | Fireflies
- October | Autumn Vines
- November | Breathe
- December | Connected in Spirit


Calendar Details:
- 4.25"x11"
- 13 sheets including cover
- list style calendar for all my fellow list lovers, easy to write in birthdays and important events.
- printed on high quality matte 80lb cover weight paper
- hole punched with raffia ribbon for hanging


How to Enter:
Simply leave a comment below, telling me which month’s artwork you like the most! For bonus entries, please share this giveaway using @CreativeStash on Twitter and/or Facebook and leave an extra comment on this blog to let me know.

The winner will be chosen randomly next Thursday, January 6 using Random.org. Please leave me a way to contact you in your comment – otherwise your prize will be passed onto another winner. Good luck! xoxo

If you don’t want to wait and see if you win, click here to grab this calendar from my shop!

12.25.2011

peace, joy, laughter, love and cookies


We’ve had a busy month of decorating, crafting, enjoying holiday events and lots of baking. Wishing you a very happy holiday filled with peace, joy, laughter, love and cookies. Much love from our family to yours! 
- The Fagans -

"Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Dr. Seuss 

12.15.2011

last chance to save 20% in my shop!


Today is your last day to save 20% on jewelry and handmade gifts in my shop Creative Stash on Etsy! Simply enter coupon code HOLIDAY20 at checkout.

I am happy to include free gift wrapping and a special note for items sent as a gift. Simply request free gift wrap and let me know what you want to say in your note in the "Message to Buyer" section.

Holiday Shipping: For Christmas delivery, the last day to place orders with regular shipping is December 17th. For two day priority and overnight shipping requests, please e-mail me and I will do my best to accommodate you. 

Happy Holidays! xoxo


12.13.2011

art prints and greeting cards now available!


Art prints are available in Creative Stash shops online at Society6 and Fine Art America!


Greeting cards are available in the Creative Stash shop online at Fine Art America!

It has been a dream of mine to offer prints of my artwork for the longest time. It's so simple in theory but, it has taken me awhile to get to this point. I finally found a local art scanner to professionally scan my artwork at a rate I can afford and I have been slowly working through my collection of paintings starting with my newest mandala series. I couldn't be happier to have shops at Society6 and Fine Art America to help bring art prints of my work to collectors.

When you buy a product from Society6 or Fine Art America, they produce it using high quality materials, they give you multiple options to customize your order such as print size, with a frame or on canvas and they ship it to you on behalf of me, the artist.

If you are thinking about giving art for the holidays please note that Fine Art America's Christmas delivery cutoff for ground shipping is tonight at 5pm.


new mandala painting now available in my shop


The newest painting in my mandala series, Connected in Spirit is now for sale in my shop. I finished this during Art Every Day Month. It's so much fun and many people have commented that it looks like a ceramic tile. I love handmade ceramic tile so, I am flattered that some think so! This is an original acrylic painting on canvas measuring 8"x8"x1".

Connected in Spirit is the third painting I have made loosely based on the spiritual chakras. Here are the first and second mandala paintings I created this year. Connected in Spirit is a whimsical, colorful work of art.The color violet represents the Spiritual Crown Chakra which is positioned at the top of the head, connecting us to one's own spirituality and encourages us to live in the present. This chakra is often pictured as a lotus flower opening to allow spiritual awakening in an individual. The red petals around the outside of the design represent a lotus flower. A Mandala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". Wherever a center is found radiating outward and inward, there is wholeness - a mandala.

My Holiday Sale is running until Dec 15th. 20% off my entire shop simply enter code HOLIDAY20 at checkout. I am happy to include free gift wrapping and a special note for items sent as a gift. Simply request free gift wrap and let me know what you want to say in your note in the "Message to Buyer" section.

Click here to visit my shop.

12.01.2011

20% OFF SALE on jewelry and handmade gifts


HAPPY HOLIDAYS! To get into the holiday spirit and share the love, today I am announcing a big SALE in my shop Creative Stash on Etsy! Save 20% on Jewelry and Handmade Gifts with coupon HOLIDAY20!


Plus, Personalized magnet sets are BOGO for the holidays - buy one get one half off! Customize your set with your photos of family, wedding, yours or your child's artwork, nature, a vacation to remember - whatever you want. 

I am happy to include free gift wrapping and a special note for items sent as a gift. Simply request free gift wrap and let me know what you want to say in your note in the "Message to Buyer" section. 

Offers are good through December 15th. Last day for Christmas orders shipped within the US is Dec. 15th. and shipped International is Dec. 2nd. If you need a custom quantity or have a special request please contact me via email at krisfagan (at) cox (dot) net. xoxo

a simple advent calendar


I found this easy, no frills advent calendar idea over at Simple Mom and as soon as I saw it, I knew I would create it. Easy, no frills and free (I had all the supplies) = my kind of craft!  I love Simple Mom's idea of using post it notes for each day. I had a bunch of them around the house and they allow you to be flexible with the activities by removing or switching days easily.


For my calendar, I used an earring display I made for my booth, cut up some 8.5x11 card stock into strips 4.25x2, folded them in half, wrote numbers with black colored pencil and added the post it note inside the flap.The kids and I decorated the cards with simple patterns. Then I hung them on the thread. Easy peasy!

I chose a mix of activities for the month: some crafty, some fun, some magical and some that give to others. Here are some of the activities I have planned:
  • Attend a holiday play
  • Visit a holiday light display
  • Make paper snowflakes
  • Drink hot chocolate and watch a holiday movie
  • Donate to the Phoenix Children's Hospital
  • Bring treats to the kids teachers
  • Drive around town to see lights
  • Tape quarters to toy or game machines around town
  • Pop popcorn and watch a holiday movie
  • Buy toys to donate to toys for tots
  • Go ice skating
  • Bake cookies
  • Go through books and toys for donation
  • Make gifts for teachers
  • Open a gift and bake cookies for Santa!
  • Have a Merry Christmas!
My 5 year old wondered what we were making and when done he asked me to read a few activities. The wide eyed happy look on his face made me really excited about them too!