Artistic Voyage » watercolor greeting cards

Happy Spring!

Mickey Baxter-Spade — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 04:32:45 +0000

Well, Spring is nearly here. The flowers are beginning to peek through the soil in a few areas of Colorado Springs. New beginnings is what Spring is all about for me. Time for clearing out the old and adding or just rearranging a few pieces of art and adding fresh flowers can give your home or office\studio a fresh new look. Ahhhh.

Spring is a great time to send someone a fun little greeting card to let them know you’ve been thinking of them. I love that feeling after I’ve taken the time to write a quick note to someone special. The anticipation of them opening it always brings a smile to my face as I drop it in the mail box. When was the last time you sat down with a cup of coffee or tea, pen and paper and wrote to someone dear to your heart? Below is an idea for a note to a friend.

Title of original painting for this card is, "How did you get in here?"

Here is an idea for a note to a friend who loves gardening or change it to read what fits your friend’s interests. Short notes are fine, it’s the thought that counts. I have a little book by William Strunk and E.B. White (who wrote Charlotte’s Web) the pages are yellowed from age, in the book Mr. White ends one of his letters with an apology to the recipient for the length of the letter; he said, “if I’d had more time, it would have been shorter.”

Sample letter:

“Dear Joan,

Thoughts of you have been popping into my head of late. With Spring just around the corner memories of your beautiful, abundant flower gardens warm my heart. Your love of nature along with your creative design talents make visiting your home a treat to all who stop by. I’m sure you are busy planning the annuals you will be adding to your flower beds this year. Hope to see you soon.

All my best to you and Evan for a fun-filled Spring.”

For even more information on writing notes please visit a dear customer of mine, Elizabeth Cottrel at Heartspoken where you can sign up for a free download of tips on how to write notes that encourage and inspire.

Is the Gift Industry Keeping Bookstores Afloat?

Mickey Baxter-Spade — Tue, 10 May 2011 05:30:54 +0000

Kate Harper had another interesting article a while back. For those who think greeting cards are becoming a thing of the past, read this and check out the links. Her newsletter read:

I recently listened to an excellent interview on Kindle Chronicles podcast, with Neil Strandberg, manager of operations at Denver’s renowned Tattered Cover Book Store, about his experience of the e-book revolution.

He made an interesting statement:
In the most financially successful bookstores, the fastest growing inventory now is not a book, but sideline items (includes cards and gifts) . They are now the most profitable part of the business.

I was surprised to hear this.

Perhaps the gift industry is keeping the bookstore industry afloat?

Check out the audio interview online: http://www.thekindlechronicles.com/2011/02/11/tkc-134-neil-strandberg/

You can also subscribe the podcast on itunes.

~ Kate Harper Designs www.kateharperdesigns.com

You’ve already seen my “There Goes the Neighborhood” painting. Well, you may not have known the title. Here are cards that have come about from that painting. Take a closer look and you’ll understand the title. Happy Spring Everyone!

"Been thinkin' of ya . . .How are ya? . . Whatcha been up to?" 5.5"x 4.25" Greeting Card, Blank Inside

"It's Here ... It's Here ... Spring is Finally Here!" 5"x7" Greeting Card, Blank Inside

October 2010 Newsletter

Micky Baxter-Spade — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:54:06 +0000

Artistic Voyage: News from Mickey

October, 2010

Mother nature has been busy with her paintbrushes. Do you feel a restlessness when autumn’s glorious colors begin to appear on our landscapes . . . the falling leaves, the rich, eye-candy colors. The cool evening breezes that lend a gentleness to the season. With winter not far behind some of us may not be spending as much time out of doors. What occupies your time that was spent outdoors the last eight months or so. Do you have a hobby? It’s my belief we all need a one. Having said that I used to think my life must be out of balance because I didn’t have a hobby. When I opened my first studio at age twenty-four.

I made my hobby my vocation by teaching freehand design on ceramics, porcelain, wood and fabric. There never seemed to be enough time to delve into another hobby with two small boys and a husband to care for and working a part-time job.What occurred to me after my recent move is that my home has always been my hobby. Since I was down-sizing it was important to keep only the things I loved.

It wasn’t as difficult to make those decisions as you might think. It actually was a freeing transition. Now that I’m settled in I find I want to clear a few more areas.

Are you ready to begin a transition? Open a door to exhilaration? Is there something you have always wanted to pursue but never took the time? You may never have more time than you do now. Why put off something that could bring you joy and in return you share that joy with those around you. It could be dance lessons, wood working, knitting, cooking classes, joining a book club, planning your garden for next spring, painting, pottery classes. So many choices.

If your choice is to spruce up you surroundings, spend time perusing decorating magazines and create a room with art that opens your mind to the outdoors yet gives you a feeling of warmth and happiness in your surroundings. You can create your own true sense of style with all sorts of delicious possibilities. Your home should be personal, look for what moves you.

Your rooms can be a collage of personal passion. If a piece of art captivates you, buy it, even if you have to rearrange the room.

Spring and fall are great times for transitioning. What will you do to make your winter more comfortable and enjoyable? Take time for you.

It’s not too early to be thinking about keeping in touch at Thanksgiving. You can order personalized cards for your greetings. Email your questions to me at:
mickey@artisticvoyage.com

Bella’s Insights

This month I wasn’t sure what to talk about, until yesterday. Boy, did I mess up. Mom has been away a lot lately. When she comes home I have always greeted her at the door. Not this time but not because I didn’t want to. I heard her come in, I heard her call me, I heard her go upstairs, I heard her come downstairs, then back upstairs all the time calling me. Why didn’t she come and get me?!? Well, I had enough of the waiting and I yelped four times. That should get her attention. Then I heard her come back downstairs. I kept pawing and pawing trying to get to her.

Mom can be pretty smart, she finally came to one of my favorite napping spots, the guest bath downstairs. This time I wasn’t on my little rug. You see, when mom left I went exploring, you remember how much I like exploring? I was curious about this big white thing in the bathroom. I couldn’t see over the edge so I jumped up to sit on top to check it out except . . . well how was I to know I would fall into this big, cold, gaping, abyss! Boy was I glad to see her. The story doesn’t end there.

Mom was going to leave again! This time as she was carrying orders to the car I sneaked out the door and ran to the car, I didn’t go back to the house when she called. There was no way she was going to leave me again today. I just sat by the car so she would get the message. She finally saw it my way and she put me in my car seat. Whew!

I got to met a new friend named Annie while we were delivering to the store. Annie was even smaller than me. On the way home mom stopped at a park so we could walk and since she was so nice I did her favorite trick. I climbed up the steps to the slide and down I went, Waaahooo. Mom was so happy! This wasn’t such a bad day after all and you know – the back side of that big white hole I fell into was a bit like a slide.

This is Bella, the not always successful Explorer saying Ta Ta for now.

~Bella

August 2010 Newsletter

Micky Baxter-Spade — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:11:19 +0000

Artistic Voyage: News from Mickey

August, 2010

We take on so many roles and it gets complicated and crowded. My life has always been full. I have kept it that way because that is what I thought was “normal.” It has become abundantly clear to me how important to my creativity it is to be quiet and listen to all that life has to offer. The more quiet time I allow myself, the calmer my life becomes. The little things have more importance.

I find that I paint because I must. It is an important part of making my life worthwhile. No doubt about it painting is the best way I know to express what is important to me. When we paint, write, cook, sew, etc. I believe we leave an essence of our love and passion for what we do. I love sharing the abundance I see in nature. Painting is a visual statement of my celebration of life.

It is not always the interpretation of a flower, a landscape or a still life that brings me joy when I paint. Sometimes it is the interaction of watercolors. When painting each pigment makes its own contribution to the whole – each color can change. Yellow with blue becomes green, red with blue creates purple and yellow and red meld together as orange. By adding cool, clear water they are transformed into delicate translucent tints of those colors. A vibrant red can become a delicate pink, a glorious purple can be a soft lavender. So many combinations, so little time.

When your painting emerges, like magic, consider for a moment the difference between creating a painting, giving it life, planting flowers and watching them bloom, preparing a healthy meal to share with family and friends or nurturing your soul by doing each. Is there a difference really? Doesn’t each nurture your soul?

Here are a few of my color fusions that will probably find there way in to my next series of fine art note cards. I stuck with four colors, the three primary colors red, blue and yellow and a color I call buff which I find subtle but elegant. It’s lovely accented with white.

Bella’s Insights

Guess what! I had a birthday last week! I’m a great big four years old. Mom took me to the groomer in the morning . . . that didn’t thrill me. Tracy and Lucy are really nice to me but getting groomed is not my choice of fun outings.

After my monthly professional rub down, trim and all around tidying up, to include my new red bow, mom and I met my old buddy Baily and her mom for lunch at a cool restaurant in Old Colorado City, Pizzeria Rustica. They had outside dinning so Baily and I got to see what a “girl’s luncheon” was all about. It sure smelled good and mom seemed to like it a lot. Mom brought my favorite treat, chicken jerky, and I shared with Baily.

Baily and I pretty much stayed under the table and everyone thought we were very well behaved. If they only new I was just protecting my “tail feathers.” There were a lot of people walking around and not all of them are looking out for small dogs.

Oh yeh, pinochle was at our house this week because my good friend Clara is out of town. It was so nice of everybody to come and see me. To top it all off another buddy of mine visited from Florida this week. It was a great birthday week with lots of pats and belly rubs, who could ask for more?!?

Ta ta for now,

~Bella

“Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.”

– Danny Kaye