Rest Goes a Long Way

In a time of the year where everyone is hustle bustle to get shopping, planning, and wrapping finished.....I feel the deepest rest and calm. I'm not frantic about what needs to be done, tho I'm concerned if I will get it done. I'm not messin' with lists and checking them twice. And I'm definitely not looking away from the ball. Instead I have taken a deep breath, placed all of my faith in Jesus' hands, and have found rest.

When we step back and look at recent events in our lives we can see a pattern of how everything leds to where you are now. For me, as an example, my intimate relationships. All of them have led me to where I am today, a Lady in Waiting. Its hard to see God's perspective sometimes and it takes a friend to point it out. I'm fortunate, I have a few who together have opened my eyes. I started to reread "Captivating" by Stasi Eldredge reminding myself of who I am in God. And a friend from my holy family loaned one of her books that I've started to read titled "Lady in Waiting Being God's best while waiting for Mr. Right". Now I know that title gets a little cheesey...I thought so too. But the message inside about embracing your singleness is liberating. I can do so much more single than married. I don't need to be dating either. If I follow God's path for me, then "Mr. Right" will being somewhere on the path ahead of me. AS for that "do so much more". I can serve and volunteer without attachments or obligations to others. What a freedom!

Its amazing at how such small realizations can change your entire composure in daily life. :)

This week (and a little late) I have a new OSWOA up on ebay titled "The Emeralds of Spring" which goes along with "The Blues of Winter" and "The Golds of Autumn". I have noticed that for some reason I paint the seasons. This time around I'm making sure they're all faeries and they are all a bit more classical. ;) Tiny of course, but classical. This piece is also my first pregnant woman (I think, I'm trying to remember real hard if I've done one before, and I can't recall, so this is officially the first one...just in case). I'm pretty stoked because the reference I used was only for the face, shoulders, arms, and hands, not the body or tummy. So to those beautiful women who have had the blessing of been pregnant, I hope this piece portrays that time well.


Also there is some new products up at The Fairy Society™ wholesale site and at The Fairy Society™ Inspirational Bath site. I'm very excited about these, for I have waited a long time to see them in actualization. A great gift idea and very unique! I have posted on the left the design file I have for the labels I created for The Fairy Society™, and then below the photo they took of the products together. :) If interested please visit HERE to purchase the set in retail.

In the Blessings

I hope that many had a bright and fulfilling thanksgiving this past weekend (if you celebrate it). My family and I had something very different. With my grandmother gone from this world and my sister now making a new family of her own (someday they will get married...till then we just wait :P), it was just my mom, dad, and I. At least thats how we thought it would be. Long story short, it just seemed like we were trying too hard, or that it shouldn't have been so hard to spend thanksgiving day together. Complications and doubts made the morning give insight to an unsure afternoon. I went over to my dad's, who was helping my mom, then my sister called, she came over, we set out...and as a family, praise God, we saw Beowolf and had a meal together at Village Inn. The movie wasn't that great, neither was the meal, but that didn't matter. We were together as a family and thats the important point.

It's been a while since I've chit chatted about personal insight and life on this blog. Thought about starting one just for that part of my life, but I have nothing to hide or to separate from. My work is connected to my life...my integrity is as honest as I can possibly give. So I'll continue with that said. :)

Yesterday was a great day as well. I'm a greeter at my church, here in downtown Des Moines. As I was saying good morning to folks walking in, a familiar face stepped up. His name is David and he works at Hope Ministries (the organization I'm donating to with my "Bookmark the Season" drive). Then everything made sense. There were tons, and I'm talking tons of plates stacked near the auditorium. Right now in Des Moines one of our grocery stores has been advertising a fundraiser/drive for Hope Ministries called "Scan Away Hunger, fill a Plate with Hope". For every plate donated, a person in need gets fed at Hope Ministries. Jason, our pastor, encouraged our congregation to donate sometime this week as our church has given $2500 to Hope Ministries. And the church did, yesterday.



A small team of us, after service, drove down to Hy-Vee (the grocery store campaigning) and scanned away some hunger. David took a picture. Far left is Bill, the man handing the scan code to the manager of Hy-Vee is my pastor Jason, then me, Jason's wife Andrea, their three children, and unfortunately (I'm HORRIBLE with names...I just met her) I don't remember her name. :( I should too, she's one of the elder's wife. I'm sure I'll get it next weekend. :)

It felt SO good and I felt SO blessed to be in that moment and to offer more money after Jason went through. I have been able to give this season and I do not mean to boast, but to boast about what God has given so gracefully and full of love. My life has been the usual, ups and downs, but this church family has become so important to me. I'm involved, feel loved, feel wanted, and know I'm part of a group of people doing something. I never thought the day would come that my selfishness and pride would dwindle enough for me to be so awestruck and needing to give back. I love to give, gifts, affirmations, etc., but like most I complain when it goes unnoticed or I don't receive anything back. That emotion is slowly fading and I bow praising God for His grace.

Not only did the day go beyond my expectation, but I got to talk to David a bit and was telling him how important it was to me to spread the word about Hope Ministries. I mentioned to him about "Bookmark the Season" and he's going to spread the word. I'm excited about this more than anything, and not because of the traffic I "may" get...because that is God's work, but that by working together people will see how little it takes to give so much! I am learning quickly that just a simple prayer while passing someone can make a world of difference to them, and in turn to your heart.

I pray that the Lord warms your heart, not just because this is the season to be giving, but because His love, in us, is an eternity of giving.

In closing I encourage you to visit David's blog. His words are heart felt, honest, God driven, and full of grace. He has inspired me, and I know he'll inspire you. Words of Hope and Promise

God Bless.

Local News

Finally! I gathered the courage to step outside of my wee box and step into the real world! With encouragement of close friends and the motive from God, I went into a local shop and even contacted a local newspaper. So here's what has happened so far...

I have been an artist showcased at the Gortz Haus Gallery for over a year now. On this November 30th I will be featured along with three other artists in an artists' reception. Gortz Haus is located in Grimes, Iowa. The event will be held from 4pm till 8pm with light refreshments. One of the subject matters you can be certain to see are angels.

If you shop locally or living locally, you can now find my work at David's Briar Shoppe in Merle Hay Mall. David's Briar Shoppe is one of the top fairy gift shops in central Iowa and the largest distributer of Munro Gifts in the central Midwest. It's a shop I grew up around, always going in and dream gazing at their fairies, dragons, and pretty specialty items. Now, a dream come true, my work is a part of the shop I so high adore. Unfortunately they do not have a website right now, but hopefully in the future they will.

Click here for map and directions to David's Briar Shoppe

Not only am I in one of my favorite shops, but on December 15th and December 22nd I will be stationed infront of their store painting and selling small framed originals. How cool is that!

God is full of blessing! Praise be to Him for all that He gives and takes away.

:)

DB, a New Member in the Family

Design by Butcher.com (DB) is a new addition to the business Dreamflier Studios.com, created and maintained by Sara M Butcher.

Starting today the site DB will be launched and advertised as a new service offering the design needs for small businesses and persons. Services include logo design, brochures and flyer layouts, business cards, web sites, and product design. The idea behind DB is to offer these services at affordable rates. It is well known that graphic designers, more often than not, have high price quotes or are just out of the budget range of a small business owner. DB helps to make it simple by keeping the budget a baseline for service and working with you from there. "No" is not an answer, but "Yes, lets work with that." is.

Your logo or business brand is your signature mark. A very important piece of the equation. Sara M Butcher, creator and founder of Dreamflier Studios, understands and knows the pressures of running a small business. The little things, like a business card, add up and nudge when there are bigger fish to fry first. She founded DB - Design by Butcher, to service others and take care of those little things so that they can deal with what really needs to be done.

"Behind DB you'll find a purpose driven soul aiming high towards being a servant to others. It is difficult, as I have found, to start a business and finding funds to rocket you out into the unknown world of corporate money. To be honest, it could be terrifying. I have never had to pay another artist for graphic or design services, but I'm not blind to the knowledge of how much it costs. What's behind DB? Easy access to design without paying an arm and a leg."

Sara M Butcher
designer | illustrator
sara@designbybutcher.com
http://www.designbybutcher.com

Bookmark the Season

It's that time of year were we are all thinking about Christmas and the New Year holiday. All that shopping, cooking, gathering, and planning! Ya know, although it feels hectic, I am so grateful to have all of it. There are so many, even here in little ol' Des Moines, that don't have these things or opportunities. Those of us that do, too often complain.

This season I want to give back, and I want to ask you to help me in giving back. Every bookmark I sell before December 25th will place $1 towards giving a homeless and hungry person some clothes, food, and shelter. Here in Des Moines we have a wonderful ministry called Hope Ministries. This past weekend I was blessed with the opportunity to visit their Bethel Mission, visit homeless camps, experience going without lunch (I got four saltine crackers), and sorting through brick n' brack at their thrift store. Six hours was enough to open my eyes as to how much I really have, no matter how hard it seems.

Will you help me? You purchase a bookmark, I'll give Hope Ministries $1. Please, I urge you to visit their site, read more about them, and then visit their donate page that lays out how much money helps how many people. I don't have a goal as to how much I want to raise, I'll leave that up to the grace of God. But if this is weighing on your heart, I pray you will talk with God about giving and how much you can give. If not through me, then to a mission or ministry in your city/town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each 2"x7" bookmark is printed to perfection and placed in a strong vinyl sleeve. Printed exactly the same as prints, they are smudge proof, fade proof, and water proof. Each one is hand decorated with a white ribbon or white soft thread, and labeled on the back with the title.

Shipped in a plastic sleeve with mat back board just to make sure it arrives to you as safe as possible.

Order two and you receive a free 5 x 7 print.

Wake up Dreamville

September has flown by, and I mean that literally. I have been flying in the clouds for sometime and its now the hour to come back down and wake up. Much of my business life (including my painting) has taken a pause for about two weeks so that I may stop and smell the roshttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifes. Now that, as well, is literal. Let me throw some words out...a yellow rose, coffee, dinner, hours of conversation, no night is boring, and a dozen roses. :) Oh and two birthdays one including a BIG party. Praise God for such blessings!

But alas things must get back on track and I am fighting very hard to get myself there. I have two new pieces, one a commission and one in response to whats happened in the last two weeks.






Rose Delight is available on ebay as an original watercolor OSWOA. Please visit the auction here!

IF - Alphabets

Couldn't help myself, I really enjoy drawing cats right now. :) The cat and the mouse, always, in nature, taken as the predator and the meal. Here they are dancing and praising together in the name of the Lord, for no matter how different we are, He made us and He loves us all.

2.5 x 3.5 watercolor aceo
AVAILABLE ON EBAY

Nice Matters Award

How wonderful to receive an award by someone I don't even know. What a blessing! The Lord never fails at His giving, and He knows how much I love gifts. This truly is a gift! Thank you so much Kat...please visit her blog to discover the wonderful lady who selected me. :)

To pay it forward I now nominate five other people for this award in no particular order. Please visit all of them!

Jennifer Nilsson - LiveJournal Blog Website A dear friend who is always there to support me, and give encouragement when I'm down. Jen, I look at that piece you gave me "Praise His name with dancing" every day and it is such a joy! Praise the Lord for giving you such a beautiful gift. :)

Holly Durr - Blog Website Through questionable times, through change, and through God Holly has always been an inspiration. Her work is beautiful and always growing! God bless you Holly!

Mély - http://chaudronpastel.canalblog.com/ Mélanie, I haven't known you very long but you never fail to comment, give feedback, and freely give encouragement. You are a genuine person!

Lexee - Myspace Page My lovely sister. She's not a big web presence but without my sister, her love, her support, her ear, her thoughts, her hugs, and everything else under the sun, I would be an emotional wreak! I'm the big sister but it always feels the other way around. Her soul is one of constant giving.

Sherri Baldy - Personal Website The Fairy Society Sherri Baldy deserves this award, not only for what she has done for me, but what she has done for SO many others! She has given her life to supporting, marketing, and announcing fantasy artists world wide. This woman is so full of strength and inspiration. Please visit her site and then visit her business that I am SO proud to be apart of...The Fairy Society.

Of course, there are many MANY people who deserve this award, but these five have, in the last month or two, walked and helped me through some really difficult times. Hugs to all of you!

Please copy and paste the award above (if you're listed above) and place it on your site/blog then nominate five more people you feel deserve this award.

Many Blessings!!!

IF - Captain

Captain the Third

4 x 6 watercolor

Wanting to do something fun but not knowing what, I saw my darling A.T. sitting in the window, as she does every morning, and thought "Yeah, that'll work." So here's A.T. posing and modeling for the infamous Captain the Third....

I think he's like her great grandfather or something. ;)

Original OSWOA on ebay now!

Picture of the Day

How wonderful is this! One of my dad's photographs from his Oregon trip is featured on one of the West coast's community radio station websites! Its a BEAUTIFUL photo! And I'm not just saying that because he's my father. :)

Check out the site which has a link to all of his gorgeous photos from the trip. Also, if you're looking for something to kill time with visit his site on YouTube...he's quite the presence there.

Way to go dad! Love ya! :D

Resin Figurines...finally!

Although I am still waiting for my samples in the mail (OMG I can't wait!!!!), I have finally placed the resin figurines up on my site to sell! It's so exciting to see these beauties come to life. To see the process from start to finish. Pacific Trading Giftware Company hand crafted and hand painted these and what was so wonderful about the process is they let me in on it every step of the way.

Of course, and I'm sure I'll hear it by someone at least once, these are not EXACT replicas of my paintings. Keep in mind they are a completely different art form. Granted, there are some things I would change or push harder for...but this was a learning experience and I can't argue that they took on six different designs! Thats a lot! Keep praying they make more. ;)

Whats even more exciting is "Our Angel" is almost 7 inches tall! Most of them fall between that and 6 inches. Some of them have some beautiful detailing, and I think for the series they tackled (the Seasons) they did an awesome job. I mean, how do you translate floating, glowing hearts into three dimensions. I can think of a few ways but when it comes to production it has to be sensible. I have asked if I could "add" to the figurines once I purchase them. So we'll see.

I'm currently taking pre orders from the site. So if you're interested please visit the Figurines page. I would list all of them here, but remember, there are six, I'm on dial up, and all of the images would take up a lot of room (since tiling images isn't a feature here). Please take the extra moment and visit here to see all of them or click on the design below to view them individually!

Here's a list of the designs available:
Crown of Creation
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Our Angel

Pre orders will be sent out on October 1st. Not exactly how long it will take for shipment so please allow up to four weeks if you're interested. :)

How thrilling no?!

Illustration Friday - The Missing Piece

The word for this week is "Missing". It really hit home for me because some one is missing from my life and adjusting, coping, and working through the emotions has been quite the challenge.

A bride who is dressed in red so in love and ready to be loved. Yet her crown has fallen apart and her heart has wondered away. Torn between what is right and what she feels.

As I drew this I also thought about how it would feel to be void of God. To loose the connection to Christ and the death that would follow. Her expression is the same in both aspects. Things fall apart, our heart cries out in pain, we become numb, and expressionless. Yet the greatest light in the darkness is Christ. He will not leave, will not go back on His love, and He speaks only the Truth. God has a plan and purpose for all things, and it is through our circumstances that we develop our character for God and for eternity.

So if you're in the same boat with crashing waves and storms as I am, lift up and praise Him who will not forsake you and gives His unfailing, ever massive, amount of love to you. And may He bless you today.

In His arms...

Today is what I call a numb day. Kind of in a daze, not really interested in whats going on around me, and really I've been caught up in my own guilt for recent events and trying so hard to keep my focus on the Lord.

This afternoon I laid down to nap and this picture, no...a feeling, came to my mind. So I got up, put some tunes on, laid back down onto the bed and drew. Afterwards I stared at it and truly imagined being in His arms, being comforted by Him, and told that He loves me. It didn't necessarily change my mood, but it helped remind me of His presence here with me and in me.

Mind and Site

So like I said, I've been working on my site now for almost a month (I think its related to keeping my mind off of personal emotions. o.O), and after I uploaded it I found out that 90% of my "add to cart" buttons weren't working! O.O And I forgot a lot of little things. So many little things...they always catch up with you and poke at your back. Um...yeah....sooooooo......the site is going to take longer than expected. Its all uploaded so if you come across a link that doesn't work, heh, I know. This site is monsterous and my wrists are starting to get very sore, BUT, I will not give up!!!

Everything is coming down on me all at once, work, emotions, fears, worries, friends, family, doubt, self pity, etc. And in my studies this morning it reminded me that all of these things consume us. Worry, which is the base of it all, consumes us. The devotional led me to a verse in Proverbs which just made me smile because, well, it was so simple and so wise (duh!).

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Proverbs 12:25

And then to these verses in Psalms, and we all love Psalms, well, I do, because its the book to me that is so full of human emotion, cry outs, frustration, and weakness. Confession. God bless David for it too! A king of human kings, and yet knows his profile against God's. Wow.

Anyways the verses are:

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" Psalms 56:3-4

I slept in today, groggy right now, have less than 2 hours before work, and maybe one hour after before I got out to dinner with my mom and sisters. Not much time to devote to work. But with what the Lord has said to me today, thats okay. The site will come together eventually, and hopefully you have patience with me to get it done. I'm hoping for next week. ;) It would be nice to be done with it and get on with other things.

As for other sutto commitments (being drawing a day, ebay auctions every week, etc)....um.....yeah.....bear with me. For those of you who know me, this is a trouble spot and I'm walking as straight as I can to keep things where they go and when they need to be done. Yet alas, every time I do something steps in (humm...I wonder...) and it all goes array.

Can't say I'm bored tho! :)

Many blessings today.

A thought & ramble

My father is on a trip right now, alone, for 17 days. He's making several "travel" stops, while also visiting family and a few main events (conference, belly dancing superstars). And while traveling he's been sending us photos. Here is last night's sunset in Portland, OR. I just finished my morning study which was about suffering and restoring. When I look at this photo I first think of God's artistry. Man, what beauty! Secondly I think of His mercy and grace. Each new day is woken with His mercy renewed.

The month of June up to present has been major struggle and suffering of my heart. I have slipped back into old pits, given in to temptations (curiosity really does bite you in the butt sometimes!), and cried my heart out fearing I have lost! Yet His hand comes down the pit's roof and offers me a lift, reminds me of who I am, that I am loved, that this suffering and sadness will leave soon enough, and God has a plan. He has a plan for me.

I have been sitting in this chair for almost two weeks now working on my site. Heh, and after loading everything discovered I will have to load everything again. But alas, its moving. Once its "there" pray for me that I stay focused on His purpose for my life, and that my work, site, and business reflects Him and His love. :)

Fat Cat Opera

Once again this morning I was woken up by A.T.'s obnoxious meow at 4:45am! She drives me absolutely insane. If you've followed me for a while you are well aware of this cat. I have done many things, tons of things it feels like, and nothing subdues her. SOOOooooooo........

As usual I got up practically yelling at her "What?! What do you want from me?!" and got up cranky and annoyed. I tried to start my day as usual, all the while having thoughts in my head like "Wow, and you wonder why, God entrusts this cat to you and all you do is yell at her, annoyed by her, and don't take much time into her...except to shut her up!". I tried to take a deep breath and start my bible study and began to read. I found myself reading loud and angered just to get above her high pitched, loud, incredibly broken record meow. Finally the book had to be set down. Heh, and I googled "what to do when my cat meows all the time for no reason?" Because thats what it seems like. I talk to her, feed her, give her attention (but then she bites me), play with her, even let her out and we go for walks! But nothing seems to satisfy her. I was surprised by the answer God gave me.

Here's what I found on some forums (mainly animal shelters, animal rights pages, and Flickr):

"Some cats just love to communicate. It is possible that she misses another cat - my kitten used to mieow a lot when I first got him, because he was always looking for his mother and sister. Now he just informs me of things. Or he expresses his irritation of a fly / spider is too high for him to reach... "

". . . sometimes they just need to make a noise!"

"I asked the vet-it is just the way she is...she wants and NEEDS attention!"

"Well it would seem the most likely cause is that she's just very, very vocal. She likes talking to you and telling you all about things. So if she's happy and healthy, she's just letting you know. :)"

"unless you learn to speak cat, you will never know. And how do you know its for no reason? maybe your cat is a right old gossip?"

Bottom line, I have a blabbermouth for a cat. :/ When I think about it, it makes sense...not only because I'm a blabbermouth, but in the morning and at night when I'm doing the most work and the most moving around the apartment she's talking. Unfortunately for her those are the hours I have the least patience. So it looks like I have some MAJOR adjusting to do....because if you have a cat yourself, you know there is no way to change or control your cat.

I thought this was great, I don't know who wrote it but I found it on the forum post on Flickr and wanted to share. To you who wrote it, this sounds like so many cats I know!

~Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary:~

Day 683 of my captivity:

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed
hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the
rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to
keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of
escape. In an attempt to disgust them; I once again vomit on the floor.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their
feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it
clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. The
audacity!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However,
I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my
confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what
this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try
this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and
seems to be more than willing to return! He is obviously retarded!

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the
guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My
captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell,
so he is safe...
for now...

Drawing a Day - An Offering

"Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you." James 4:8a

Focus for yesterday in study was "I'm as close to God as I choose to be." and what choices I could make throughout the day that would bring me closer to Him. So I painted going to Him and of course, offering Him gifts (praise, worship, love, honesty, faith..etc).

This work was also created differently than usual...which I have a feeling may be more often than not in the near future. I just started with a black pen and started to doodle. Nothing was drawn with pencil first, all just spur of the moment line. Then when it came to color I just played with reds and blues not caring where they really ended up (inside lines or out). When I left and came back the watercolor just blew me away...it wasn't what I thought I put down. God was very much involved with this piece and I like it that way. The paint is very loose, not too concerned about staying the lines, not too concerned about if the fairy looks right or not.

The purpose of the piece is to tell a story, to fuel an emotion that is directed to the LORD, and to "Draw close to God...".

The Offering


On eBay...visit the auction HERE

A journey...

The LORD is pleased with those who worship him and trust his love.
Psalm 147:11

I have been distant, non verbal, and have painted very little in the last month. The reason being several.

My best friend, Brittany, moved at the end of June to Tennessee, in which a lot of the month was spending time with the other girls planning a large luau for her going away party. But also in the process it was adjusting to yet another change in my life...just recently loosing my grandmother to the LORD (praise be to Him!). At her garage sale I picked up a book that I have been waiting to grab for some time now..."The Purpose Driven Life". This book, quite possibly, is the biggest challenge for me yet. Its not in a group setting, its all within my choice to study, follow, and continue. It asks questions, gives key verses (like the one above), and points to ponder.

I came to a point in the book where it asks "What area of my life am I holding back from God?" I spent several days, possibly over a week, pondering this question. Then I re-looked at a previous chapter where it discusses how life is a test and a trust. I knew the answer and then I was asked to have faith, trust, and honor for my God. Since God knows what is best, in what areas of my life do I need to trust him most? (purpose driven life) Just yesterday I did something I didn't want to do, but needed to do. Yesterday I had a choice to make between my flesh and God. I think the biggest test in my walk to date. I chose God over the man I love.

But now I have more strength "...which comes from faith in God." (Zechariah 12:5).

I pray to get back into work this month and focus, but with a change of motive, or yet...a stronger desire to do it directly for Christ Jesus.

I also pray all of you are doing well and will enjoy this walk with me, maybe get something...faith, love, joy, hope, and His grace, out of the days ahead. May the LORD bless you today.

:)

Drawing a Day

I have been teaching myself how to draw dragons now since, oh, about late March, early April. I had to teach "how to draw dragons" at the Art Center. I have never been good at them, dunno why, but now all of the sudden I get it. I used to draw them and they'd turn out looking like snakes or salamanders. I still have a hard time with the anatomy of the dragon, which I'm sure I'll get someday. But for now at least I have the head down.

I did do a HUGE drawing today of a dragon's head, but its at work with all of the other dragons my class and I drew today (they are waiting to be painted tomorrow in acrylic). So I decided to do a mini dragon for my drawing today and for ebay.

Here's the ACEO, Alondra, who's name means defender (spanish/greek). She protects and fights for the heart. My first dragon up for sale and up for show. :) You can visit the auction HERE

Drawing a Day

"...if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."
Proverbs 2:1-5

As I sat down to start my drawing I knew immediately that I wanted it to express God. Not only because it's Sunday, the Lord's holy day (I personally feel every day is the Lord's holy day), but because I am always feeling this energy of movement. In Proverbs, by Solomon, wisdom is portrayed as a she, a her, and with where this drawing was going it all matched.

Again I want to make a shout out to James Browne for the wonderful inspiration to do a drawing a day (it is SO needed), and for his faith in Christ. Hopefully there will be another drawing tomorrow. Many blessings to everyone out there and I pray that the Lord fills your life with joy, love, and grace.

New Look

Ya know me, I like to tinker with the look and feel of things. :P So here's the new blog. It has moved to blog spot because I got tired of trying to figure out all of the code and blog spot offered a simpler way of customizing. :) So I hope you like the look and I hope *still* to keep updating.

I've been inspired by a fellow artist and Christian, James Browne, by his painting a day routine on his blog. Although it is difficult for me to find the time for a painting a day I am going to challenge myself to do a drawing a day, specifically from observation (although it may not be from observation). I feel a need to go back to basics.

Oh and the question marks to the right, yeah, they confused me too (unless you know this template or if you've seen other blogs with this same thing), but if you click the ? you'll get a more detailed list of posts. :) Not too bad.

ebay 5/21/07

This week I have a fairly new piece out.

Size: 8x10 Open Edition Print
Starting Bid: 4.99 USD
Description: In the land of flower faeries there lays a royal line, a princess for each flower. Her kingdom spans wherever her flower grows. Hollyhock is brave in character for her grace is strong and her heart full of adventure.

Go to Auction

Thanks for looking!


:)

WIP - Wellspring

Okay, the title is still in the process stage...not sure what the title is going to be for sure yet.

Before we get to the piece first you need to understand who Raven was/is. She is a character of mine who has been with me for many years...since I was gosh...13 or so? Ever since I saw the film "The Crow" I was obsessed with the whole concept and really felt alone in the whole thing. Naturally, I was a teenager.

So I used Raven as a visual means to express what I felt. For a majority of her life she has always been dark, a loner, a witch, the undead, immortal, a killer...but for the good, etc. She has been many things, but in it all she was always one with a void, a hole in her soul...as if it was already gone and taken with nothing in her power to change it.



When I started to get heavy in my pagan beliefs she changed just a bit. She ran to the forests of the world I created at that time, Ikara, and became a goddess of balance and harmony in the wild kingdom of animals. A bit more at peace, yet, still alone, forbidden to have the love she craved, and dark (of course!).





This new piece is her repentance, her rebirth, her release from the slavery that held her so captive and restrained her from becoming who and what she really was..a daughter of God, bride of Christ. She has been freed, filled with the Light of Christ, and truly filled with the love she so craved and could not find. She is no longer the Raven, but the Dove.

This piece is planned to be 11 x 17.

eBay 4/16/07

This week is a bit...off. Least to say. Somehow, after going through the process of listing this item...it didn't list. SOOooo it's starting today. I don't wish to go another week without posting something up.

Mental Note: Auction starts today Monday 4/16/07, and ends on Monday 4/23/07

Now on to the actual listing.
This is Raven. She's a single white female, for obvious reasons, and loves to hang out with two white moon wolves. They're favorite resting place is on a high hill in a dense and dark forest. Their hobbies include hunting, feeding, and well....hum....bringing order to the forest? Interested?

The item up for auction is a small 8.5 x 11 limited edition print (#4/30), but matted in black, equaling the total size of item to be 11 x 14. More info at the auction site.

eBay 4/8/07

This week there will not be an auction posted in light of my grandmother's memorial (4/7) and Easter.

There will be, however, a small sale going on at DFS that only you and DFS mailing list members know about. If you buy a "Mourning" or "Birth of Twilight" 5 x 7 print you receive the other for free. Meaning if you buy "Mourning" you'll receive "Birth of Twilight" for free. This sale will end Saturday April 17th.

Visit Mourning print page

Visit Birth of Twilight print page

I pray your weekend is hope filled and full of blessing in celebration! :)

eBay 4/2/07 - 4/9/07

This week on eBay I decided to place up an original painting. I don't do this very often but someone had messaged me asking if I was going to do any more soon. Well...here she is. :)

The stats on this piece are:
- 6 x 11 inches on 9 x 12 sheet
- painted on cold press watercolor paper (something I do very little)
- a piece done in the spirit of being able to fly, whether physically or spiritually
- bid started at $9.99 USD

The Leap - WIP (work in progress)

I am SO excited about this commission because its a major break from what I have been doing! Wow, they are just going so well its beautiful! Anyhoo, every now and then you get a request that allows you to just paint what your heart desires. How do they stay happy? Well I asked her for a list of her favorite things and if there was anything specific she wanted. So I added some elements (poppies, birds, fairy, movement, silver/blonde hair, and there will be a thunderstorm behind her with light shining through) that reflected the client and from there just had fun.

Again I'm going to try and record my process. I'm not very good at keeping up to date with it, but I get so many questions as to how I go about my work. So I keep trying. Maybe someday I'll actually get from start to finish. :P

Be sure to click the images to see a larger and clearer view!
**NOTE** The images you see here have been reversed to their final direction. I work on tracing paper in reverse so that I may transfer the image easily to watercolor paper. More about this with the inking stage below.


So first I have the initial sketch. Its loose, quick, and really its just to get all the elements together and to get the feel. The reason I leave it loose is if the client doesn't like something or wants something to move. This makes it very easy, as if I spent hours cleaning and touching it up before consulting with them first...all of that time would be lost.




Then here's the new step in my work which is VERY recent. I bought a light board for tracing (some commissions need that) and thought "Well...why not really clean up the sketch before I get it to watercolor paper...which is where I regularly clean it up?". So I did....and boy oh boy, how exciting. Even though its tracing and rendering one more time, the inking process should go so smoothly I'm actually looking forward to it! (inking is kind of a mundane step T_T)




Inking is next. I ink my pieces with MICRON pens in the brown/sepia color. It doesn't scan so well tho. :\ Before I ink I flip my tracing paper over (thus its the reverse than what I initially draw) with the pencil facing down onto the watercolor paper. After taping it down I go over the entire piece several times with a silver spoon. I have found this works the best and its safe. Quite the arm work out too! Within this process a few things change, but not much. Maybe a few more lines in the hair, I thinned out the stems of the poppies, added more folding and rugged tips to the poppy petals, decided to change how the swirls were gonna look, etc. Once the inking process is done, then comes the second most exciting part of the piece....the painting!!



Finally some paint! Whoo hoo! :P
Now, there are a few things I could have done...but didn't. Those were 1) tape the edges to keep the paper flatter and to have crisp edges; 2) mask everything but the background so that I could be sure not to get bkgr colors all over my foreground. Heh, but I didn't. Why? Well because for one I don't enjoy masking very much and I like the watercolor to have its own life. Also I didn't tape it down because with this kind of background I wanted to be able to have complete freedom in moving the paper around without an pain in the butt board.
I tried to give the background a stormy feel where the clouds are moving, there's a feel of depth, and the feel that it's still day time...around afternoon? Its very loose and slightly different in how I work with my backgrounds, but I think in the end it will have just what the piece needs.


Once I have that down I then go back in and add more color. This time I added lemon and ochre yellows. Having a suggestion of sun behind in the clouds is important to me and I think to this piece. At the end more highlights will be added to the clouds (that silver lining of the sun type thing). I'm very interested in seeing how the foreground interacts and stands out from this background. :D


The Leap finished!



Please help me keep up with this by providing feedback (its always a great motivator) and give me your thoughts on the process, the piece, or if you see anything off! Thanks! :)

-Ebay Listing for week 3/18/07

Okay, hold it against me if I don't keep up with ebay listings from here on in. This girl's gotta get organized! :P
My auctions have received a revamp (as mentioned in a previous post) with a cleaner look, a bit more information, and a new day...Sunday...to be listed. The piece to your left is titled "Birth of Twilight" and here is what the auction offers for this image:

- Open Edition Print
- 5 x 7
- Sealed and protected, like all my prints, in a plastic sleeve with a back board.
- Flat rate shipping of $2.30 (this now includes all shipping/supplies and for international as well).
- Priority Shipping is still offered - $4.05 for US/Canada; $9.05 for international.
- Insurance is still offered upon checkout.
- Handling fee is still $1 no matter where you are!

- A beautiful detail is now included within the listing's description which allows for a full image of the piece to be placed for your viewing in searches.

Please visit the auction if nothing less than to view the new layout and larger images of the piece.



Or visit the pieces gallery page on my website Birth of Twilight.

So many new and wonderful things are happening and this is a pleasant one. Again, if you have any questions about my auctions please feel free to email me at dreamflierstudios@yahoo.com

Many Blessings!

New Ebay Schedule

Greetings!

Whoooo spring is in the air! Everything is melting and it's almost 60
degrees outside, how exciting! I hope everyone is enjoying some nice
weather right now. :)

I wanted to inform you of the new ebay schedule. I've been doing some
more research and have decided to move the listing day from Thursday
to Sunday. I'm not sure how this will work, even in my schedule, but
willing to give it a try. The look is also changing, so if anything
that will be worth seeing! ;)

So here is a week for heads up and if you're wondering why there
wasn't one started last Thursday. It's a ways of wait, but I have
some new work that will be offered including one more matted print!

I also want to take this time and say thank you to all of you who
support and fund my work. Even if you are here for the updates only,
thank you!!! This year has hit it off so well and I am looking
forward to more excitement down the road!

Many Blessings to all of you! :D

Rising from the Dead

So its been awhile, and if I remember correctly (without reading back) I was going crazy and insane...as one reader put it. :P Yes, we all have our days, we're human. Fighting for your life can sometimes make you appear insane or unbalanced. But since then, its been quite the journey.

The piece you see first is a commission requested by a woman who loves Jesus so much and has decided to tattoo Him onto her body. Something many have done, but because of that was looking for something original, unique, and as she saw Him. Not an easy task. I feel very blessed to have been chosen for this job, for I haven't sat down and painted a portrait of Jesus yet in my walk. What a wonderful opportunity and by His grace it must be time for me to do it. This was the final sketch for the piece.

Another thought about the timing...my grandmother just recently passed away and she left me with something, given by her to me some time ago, and its a card they hand out to the children at her church. Its a drawing of Jesus laughing...something we both agreed you don't see too often. On the back of this small lamented card says "I promise I will follow you when I learn and work or play. And when you speak to my heart I will listen and obey. Every day and every night, I'll let your light shine through; 'cause even though I am a kid, I can do big things for you!".

This piece couldn't have come at a better time. It was requested right after her passing and so I dedicate it to her, a smiling Jesus titled "Prince of Peace".

Because of the piece's nature (being a tattoo) it will remain in a monochromatic scheme. I hope to someday paint Him in lush colors. :) I want to share the process of this piece with you. But first some updates.

- I am now a member of The Fairy Society (http://www.thefairysociety.com). A wonderful group of highly talented (the best of the best in fantasy illustration) artists. Please visit the site to learn more about the artists and more about what we're about! Not only that, but the design of the site is stunning and very enchanting.

- My grandmother, like mentioned above, Lucille Butcher, passed away January 26th. She was such an inspiration, safe place, wonderful and beautiful woman. I will miss her so much its beyond words. But she left a seed in my heart that will continue to grow and blossom. Much of my work right now has a little bit of her in it.

- You can now purchase sig tags and tubes of my work at CILM (http://www.creativeimagelicensing.com). Their site is full of fantastic artists and designs!

For more updates please visit my home website Dreamflier Studios (http://www.dreamflierstudios.com).

Now back to the piece "Prince of Peace".
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After transferring the image to watercolor paper (which you will notice it is now reversed) I ink the piece. I try to keep the lines simple and thin. Sometimes I will go in and add line width and weight but not here. The inked drawing will be saved as a .tiff file for the tattoo artist so that they may transfer the image to the body with ease.








Finally I get to start adding paint. The commissioner wanted the piece to be black and white so instead of sticking with gray scale I added prussian blue to my charcoal giving a beautiful slate tint. I'm tempted to add a warm color, but not sure yet. At first it was hard to see Him through the slate because its such a cool color, but He's starting to warm up as I work.

In this photo if you look on the right side its not as worked in as the left. I wanted to show you the first layer of paint, the under painting if you will, before I start going in with darker values. I decided to add in some almost pure prussian blue to give more definition. I am really enjoying this piece, for not only am I painting my savior and source of life, but also it gives me time to myself, God, and my grandma. :)

More soon!