from my house to your yours

Below is an exert from the blog of a very, very creative, talented artist, Anna Maria Horner.  I've been following her blog for about two years now. The intrigue for me at first was her large Christian family. She and her husband are adorable and have six adorable kids. The oldest daughter is off to college, she is an artist, just like her Mom. Coming from a large Christian family too I loved her blog posts about her adorable, did I say adorable? kids!  Her interior decorating skills are enviable to any homemaker. I love her patterns, especially her colors, I am a color girl. She is a fabric artist among many other things, a great seamstress and then there's me, a girl who made her own prom dress in the 11th grade, and I lllloooovvvvveeeed it. That my friend is an awesome memory that I think about often. That great feeling of loving something that I made with my own hands. So, here's what Anna Maria said today on the 4th anniversary of her blog...so Anna Maria...so sweet.

"And on the note of comfort, I wanted to take the time to say thanks for coming along with me on this little journey. I know some of you have been here for 4 years (or longer!) and some just got here today. I thank each of you for the little nook you've carved out for me in your days, leaving me room to share."

This, my friend is what blogging is all about, I think... connecting with other like-minded souls.

Thanks for carving out a tiny little nook for me in your day!!!

Lots of new work coming soon.
~ciao.
xoxo,
julesmarie :)

Love the ones you're with :)

I'm just saying... this is one of the cutest kids in the world - my sweet husband. It doesn't get any better than this. Life is good.
I've got new artwork coming real soon, some great stuff! I've been playing with lots of different kinds of techniques. I am officially unable to go a day without drawing, I absolutely love seeing images take on a life of their own, cute faces, all different from each other, each like a friend of mine, or a family member, or a cute dog that I love. What a blessing, being inspired by the people and pets we love. All of this inspiration as I prepare for my first art show! Again, life is good.
I hope you are having a great weekend.

Namaste,
jules :)

Gratitude

Living a life filled with gratitude all over your life is a surefire way to be happy each and every day! Be aware of the beauty that is all around us everyday. The birds, the green plants, the blue waters, the beautiful babies and children... it goes on and on. Soak it all in and live life to the fullest! It's your life, make it a life on purpose!
Have a great day!

xoxo,
julesmarie :)

"Goofing around..."

"Have you seen Jules' new book?" E.T. is excited about Julesmarie getting inspired by the art of Kelly Rae Roberts! Her book is awesome! I love it. Love.

Later,
Julesmarie :)

Beautiful summer in Alabama

A friend of mine called me on her way to work to tell me about these sunflower fields. I took my daughter, Amy, to go see this sunflower garden. We took some great photos. I'll share with you, they are way-cool. I hope you are having a great summer!
:)

Spending the weekend in the country...

My daughter and her Randy played pioneers at a fall festival in south Alabama. It is so cool out in the country of south Alabama... fun was had by all. My husband, my friend, and I went down to spend a sweet weekend in the country. It was great, being out in the open country, o.m.g. ... the stars where out of this world, miles away from any city lights, beautiful!!! There were baby deer running across the yard as we gazed at the stars, totally breath taking. I want to share some photos... some from the "Pioneer Days" festival, and some shots from the old home place where we stayed...

xox,
jules :)

Sorry I've been away...

Hi guys! I have not been a very good blogger as of late. I went to visit my BFF (of many years)... she lives in Atlanta. We had a great long weekend, actually stayed for 4 nights, it was great. She was my maid of honor, I was her maid of honor. We met our husbands at the same place, a local (well, not any more) cool joint, live music and the best sub sandwiches you'll ever eat. That was a long time ago, but our friendship just gets better and better.
I've turned over a new leaf, well, an old leaf that flipped, and now I am flipping it back over... I am getting back into my yoga practice. I love doing yoga, it makes you feel so good, can't imagine why I let so much time go by without it!

I've been working on a painting of my BFF and I - will preview soon!
So, for now, Namaste!
~jules :)

My 50's retro dollhouse:)

Check out the decor, sweet, right?
xoxo,
jules :)

Painting makes me happy :)

I have become a member of Suzi Blu's Les Petite Academy of Art. This is going to be fun. Suzi's creations are really colorful, fun, and just the kind of art I love.
This is a painting of a "before" my lessons from the Academy, stay tuned for my "after" shot!

xoxo,
jules :)

Toy Story

My kids always wondered why I liked old toys, I am realizing I am not the only one! A fellow artist (and Etsy shop owner) posted a link to a Toy Story movie clip ... cool. Check her out:

http://blueyeduckstudios.blogspot.com/

XOXO,

jules

Finally, a sunny day in Alabama :)

It has rained a lot here in the deep south, and I gotta tell you, my plants, my lawn and the woods are so green, it's great!
Check out my red bell pepper plant ... they are green until a day or two before ready to be picked, then they turn red. Cool, huh? Makes me want to keep on keeping on :)

~xox,
julesmarie

Painting on the porch...

These rainy days are the best for hanging out on the porch, I just love hearing the rain, and it is so much cooler. I love my porch, it is the perfect spot for some quiet time. I am working on a new painting called "just us girls" - 6 girls - could be sisters, or could be friends. (I just so happen to be 1 of 6 girls in my family!)
The rain sounds so soothing, and my plants are so green!
:)

My Mom's Handmade Dolls

My sweet Mama has been making handmade dolls ever since I was a kid. She would donate them to our catholic school, for the annual fundraising "bazaar" (which is called a Fall Festival these days.)
The children in our family lovingly received one of these dolls from my Mama.

See her shop on Etsy! Just copy & paste:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=8236368&ga_search_query=stellasraggedyanns&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

Aren't they precious, my great niece, Stella (photo 1)  and my cousin's newest grandchild, Sofia (photo 2.) Beautiful babies!

~xox, jules

My pretty girl!

Here's a sweet picture of my buddy, she hangs out in my art room with me. Isn't she beautiful? We love her!

xox,
jules

A little tour of my art room :)

Perched on top of the hook!

I've been writing a book (in my head) for years!

I have always loved making up stories to tell my children. I am actually putting pen to paper, and collaborating with my daughter, a very talented, handmade, book artist, to create my first children's book. This is rough sketch #1. It is a hut, in the hollow of a tree, in the woods where we hiked when my children were small. This is going to be a lot of fun! Stay tuned!

love,
jules
xoxox

Mama always said "Play nice."

Here's my new painting.
Have a great day!
~jules
xoxo

When art is a way of life...

Yay! I've posted a new painting to my etsy shop.

Go here: artbyjulesmarie

"The greatest gift is a portion of thyself." - Emerson

I opened my Etsy Shop!

An announcement with artistic help from a 3rd grade friend of mine!
Sweet! Please check it out. . .
myetsy