Year end wrap up 2011

So the word for 2011 was creativity. I didnt give myself goals or a real definition of the word. I just knew I wanted to keep my creativity and keep chasing my artistic dreams.

Creativity this year was about finding my groove. Finding my voice and keep growing with my painting.

I really found my voice this year in inspirational sayings and creepy big eyed girls! The end of the year was a huge I got a website up and going. I started advertising, in a month time of going live I got two sales (which was huge for me!) I have had a handful of commission pieces, I sold a large amount of my original artwork at local indie craft shows.

I failed though in otherways. My temper was too short some times with the kids, housework was laid dormant as I chased my dreams, life sped by so fast and I feel I have truly weakened some strong connections with those I love. I dont live with regrets but I do look forward to recommit to every one I love. Because in the end they are the ones that truly matter the most.

So good bye 2011 it has been a wild ride of the highest highs and the lowest lows. I cant wait to see what 2012 will hold!

Come and say hi.... pretty please?

(Photo taken by Laurie Marie)

Ok everyone so I have been blogging for 5 years now have over 700 posts logged and have made amazing friends through this little ol blog. But you know what? Lately I feel like I am talking to myself so here's the deal....I want you to say hi.

How will I get you to say hi, I'm gonna bribe you! *smile* I will send out a card to every person who sends me a comment and one lucky commenter will get a piece of art.

So heres the deal.... leave a comment (make sure to leave your email address so I can message you to get your mailing address) tell me a little bit about yourself, how long you have been reading, what you enjoy reading about on my blog, you know that sorta thing. And for the few minutes of your time I will send you an inspired art greeting card that you can keep or pass along to someone else who you wanna say hi to!

This will be open through the end of the year (2011).... come on say hi, you know you want to!!!

Oh My! Handmade Goodness Contest Entry

Oh My! Handmade Goodness is running an amazing contest for a New Year New Biz. Below is my video entry. Along with the movie here are a few other main bullet points of my business:

-My main focus has been craft shows and consignment
- After years of a fairly bare Etsy storefront I set up my own site a little over a month ago (www.stefanielinstudio.com)
-Besides having a workshop at the end of January I have two other stores that have shown interest in having me teach workshops at their stores.
-An art show is in the works right now at a local venue, details are being hashed out
-Just over the weekend I may have found a studio space to move all my art supplies out of my home and into a space to call my own (super big eek!)






Finally, all of this would never had been possible without my amazing husband. He has been my biggest supporter throughout this crazy ride. He is the one that keeps the house from failing apart, the kids happy, and makes sure I eat every once and awhile when I have a deadline to meet and can only focus on paper and paint. I am so lucky that I have found someone who loves me for me (flaws and all), who sees my dreams and helps chase them right beside me!

Putting it out there

This blog, this little blog that has been around for over five years. It has documented my kids growing up, my never ending quest to be a smidge like Martha Stewart, and my growing passion for art and creating.

The blog has been about that a lot more lately here's hoping you all don't mind! Today is about my art but with a twist... I don't want you to buy I want to give to a good cause!

I have been given the opportunity to donate my art for a silent auction a few months ago and now yesterday as a gift to those who have little to call their own.

While I would love to feed my family from making art what is even better for me is to make art that touches people's hearts and helps them to give to others who cannot help themselves.

So if you have a charity auction, a donation you are gathering, etc and you think my art is a fit send me an email.



This giving thing is pretty addicting!

My cup runneth over

Earlier in November I had a mom get in touch with me. She had seen my work at DIY Studio and Gifts and wondered if I would be available to make a painting for her husband of her daughter. I was thrilled and excited, she was so sweet and laid back! I had told her as soon as the craft shows wrapped up for the season I would get to work. So right after Craftacular I got right to work and started sketching ideas. I was given the insight of a little girl who loved the outdoors and animals. A forest sounded like the best place for her.

A tiny bird to sit on her head, an owl to look over her, and a friendly fox to help her along the way and our forest princess was complete. I love this piece I cant even express it. Once we started getting to know each other I couldnt stop painting until I was sure she was complete. Besides this holiday I promised myself I wouldnt be stressing at the last minute standing in long lines at the post office to get a piece off to a happy new home (hello last year!) so in about 24 hours of starting her, she was packaged up tied with a bow and is on her way to her new home.

I love commission work, please email me if you are interested in our own one of a kind piece!

Oh and this little gal..... I think she is the jumping point to a new series!!! Stay tuned *smile*

Introductions (of sorts)

Photo by Funky Monkey Photography (which I filtered with instagram)


Craftacular was a smashing success!! I wanted to say thank you to everyone who found a piece that they connected with either for themselves or a loved one. Thank you to everyone that chatted with me and had such great questions about art making. And a huge thank you to those who had a look smiled and said such beautiful things about my work.

I need to be honest here... Craft shows are the most nerve racking thing I do. Everything I do has my soul in it and when I present it to others it is my way of asking others to please like me. And so those smiles are the same as if someone came by and bought everything off my table.

So thank you to those who took a piece home and those who took the memory of one home!

Christ's birth according to my kiddos

Little unknown fact, puss in boots was in attendance of the birth of Christ. Wait what do you mean that is a false fact? Don't tell my 5 year old she will be heartbroken!

On a side note tomorrow (Saturday) will be my last craft show of the year. Back to semi normal blogging until the holidays!

Whirlwind and introducing

Whew time has flown. Between eating turkey, giving thanks for all I have, a family visit, and (drum roll) a new website designed and set up I have been a busy girl!

Stefanie Lin Studio can be found here! Also to celebrate I am giving free shipping through the end of the year use the code: HELLOWORLD

And dont forget, for my local peeps, Craftacular is this weekend in Madison. I would love to see you. Lots of goodies can be found for yourself and your loved ones for this holiday season!!

Thank you

What a great Saturday! Thanks for everyone who stopped by, said hi, talked about art, and had a few laughs with me. Hi to all those that grabbed my business cards, I ran out of those babies which is the first time that ever happen!

Next up Craftacular on Dec 3 hope to see you there!!

Educational art

Dictionary gals! I made a few of these in the past but they have been updated as my painting has grown. An oldie but a goodie, besides who doesn't love a dictionary page(with a pretty face floating on it)?!?!

Food for thought

Inspired art girls made their debut this summer. I am excited to be bringing them back for the holidays. They are perfect for a gift for yourself or a friend, sister, daughter, or mom!

Merry and Bright

My vintage vibed wreaths will be making their appearance for the second year. While I love all of my wreaths equally this batch was so much fun to make and have a lot more handmade personal touches!

This weekend

It's time! The kick off for my crafty holiday shows is this weekend. I will be in Oshkosh at Handmade for the Holidays. I would love if you are local to stop by and say hi!









Here are a few things I will have:
Inspired gal hoops
Original paintings
Inspired gal originals

More sneak peaks tomorrow!!

Holidays are coming

Here is another wreath that will be making its appearance at Dainty Daisies this weekend. I love me a vintage inspired Christmas, if you couldn't tell!!

fruits of my labor

I have been buzzing around my art table none stop lately to get ready for the craft holidsy season. And this Saturday is my kickoff.... I will be the featured artist at Dainty Daisies! My amazing friend Michelle has such a great sense of style, and when we discussed gallery walk we decided to make art that was one of a kind original for her. With her love of vintage and kitsch I created these "paper ladies" that show off vintage fashion with a twist. There will also be some vintage collage pieces using one of my favorite materials vintage pattern ladies. And back by demand some holiday wreaths which I totally kicked up a notch from last year with vintage goodness vibe (so excited about these)

So if you can please come and stop by Michelle's Oshkosh location (she has big news on a big move here on her blog)

Dainty Daisies

219 Market st. downtown Oshkosh

(between High ave. & Pearl ave.)

Nov. 5th 6-9

And if you want to see more of my art that will be feature at her store you can see it on my flickr site, here.

It is beginning to look a lot like.....

Holiday craft show prep!!! Man this is the first Halloween I feel like I have completely missed because I was so focused on the holidays.

None the less there was dressing up, pictures taken, and candy treated. The sugar high has started and will start to fall soon but none the less fun has been had in big handfuls!!!

I hope everyone is doing well! I have to go and find a way to get glitter off everything I own!!

Around the studio

Studio? I mean kitchen table!! Here are some in progress snap shots of my art work while we are in full holiday show prep! Enjoy the weekend, I'll be elbow deep on paper, paint, and glue!!

Finding my groove

I have done a few years now of holiday shows, this year I am doing two and to say I am freaking would be an understatement, we are down to a month and it is time to buckle down. Normally I go into factory mode about a week before, can't do that this year for sanity sake so it is prep-mania around here!

I look around and there about 30 small pieces waiting for there second layer of background, 10 originals waiting to be sketched, a handful of faces waiting for homes (see above) , and a million more ideas in my head that I hope come to life!

So the next few weeks are going to be process photos and few words.

And if you are the area I would love to see you at the shows! (Oshkosh- the Sat before Thanksgiving & Madison Dec. 3)

If you give a kid a box...

One box can become hours of entertainment. It has been a major mode of transportation... Boat, train, and car. It has been an object that has witnessed brothers and sister play together. It has also been the source of fights and lack of sharing.

Next time the kids complain they are bored I will gift them a box and see what fun transpires!

Happy Friday

Hallelujah we made it through the week in one piece!! It was a week of ups and downs, my brain is mush so instead of lots of words let's have a quick thankful list!




- cuddle time
- summer like weather (hello open windows!!)
- peak leaf colors
-a hubby that is able to fix any bad haircut this mommy may give!!
- a quick trip to visit my best friend.
- hopefully a low key weekend!! ( I'll report back next week)




Put your feet and tell me...what are you thankful for??

This is what procrastination looks like

During my blog hopping this weekend someone had posted a slew of mantles decorated for fall. Which made me realize I didn't have a mantle but wanted one. So what's a girl to do?? She avoids folding laundry and rearranges her living room and kitchen to create a mantle of sorts.



This my friends is the lengths I will go to NOT fold the mountain that is clean laundry in our home. Guess I know what I have to do tonight....


What about you? Are you procrastinating??

Simply put

Have a great weekend friends! (sorry no credit saw it recently on a friends FB page)

This name momma...

Life has been changing a lot over here. A lot more focus in the home and so much less on the rest of the world.

This little blog of mine and why I blog has crept to my thoughts before I turn in for the night more on the lines of.... Man I need to update, it's more for me honestly. I have the worst memory and as fast as the kids are growing those little but so important moments are quickly forgotten!


(all passed out after a long day!)

We have changed our "house rules" 1 movie a day is allowed (the kids don't really watch Tv) and for me I am limiting my night time TV. In the big picture I won't remember what TV show I was watching 5 years ago but I will remember the look on Leila's face the first time she reads from a book on her own. And those moments are worth their weight in gold!




(eating together another change)

We are eating as a family, we are taking walks, we are doing art projects at night. Bottom line I am becoming the momma I always wanted to be. I am thankful everyday that I have blessed with what i have and I need to start showing my gratefulness instead of just talking about it.




There will still be lots of goofing off around these parts, I can't wait to look back and see how this space grows along with my kiddos!!

Love you all! Now go do something that matters to you today!!

Making memories

Sometime last week the kids and I made sugar cookies. This was after weeks of pleas from Leila to do so. Finally after I mentally prepared myself and had all the ingredients on hand I obliged. I love the idea of making cookies but actually making them I dread, and in the moment I got frustrated, after one round of rolling out the dough and cutting out the shapes Leila asked if we were done. From that moment on it was me rolling out the dough and cutting out the shapes as the kids used some of the dough to create creatures of their imagination. So in the moment I was so unhappy looking back it was a happy memory making cookies and my kids just being kids.

What I'm trying to say is that I need to learn how to look in the moment and find the positives, the memory making moments and really process the good and evaluate the bad and ask myself the tough questions of what is so bad and really shine light on it.

Mommahood is not for the weak of heart and to me some days it feels like a test I keep failing. But ultimately I will only find out how I did as my little ones grow up. So I take it a day at a time moment by moment when I have to. And when it gets bad I have a good cry. But let me tell you when it is good(which most days it us) it is so good and I thank the lord everyday good or bad.

Hopefully things are settling around here. I miss this space and connecting. Mommahood can be pretty lonely so let's connect and have tea/coffee and share our woes and triumphs!

So had to share this! Leila is famous. She made it to the front page of our local paper thanks to her "less than happy" face in regards to her first day of school. I am happy to report that a week later and she is at least entering the room not cling to me and there is no more prying her off my leg. There is though a stuffed animal that stays in her backpack to keep her safe and lots of "treats" when we have a good day!

Now to find fade proof glass and hang this baby up!

Weak stomachs.... Look away

I'll warn you now, if blood and things of that nature make you squeamish I suggest you stop reading today's post and wait for a pretty non-medical tomorrow!

Now onto the gore! *smile*




That my friends is my gall bladder (the PAC man looking thing) and those raisin looking things it is eating..... gall stones!!

Hope I didn't ruin your meal!! I am now in recovery. Things are going well my liver levels were still high as I left the hospital but they let me go so they must not be too worried yet, I will probably have at least one more blood draw to confirm the levels are still going down after I finish my antibiotics!

So that was my labor day weekend.... how was yours???

My mortality

These last few weeks have been tough for me, I have lived a pretty healthy life. I have only had to go to the doctors once, for stitches when I was about 5. I have been very lucky. It has finally caught up with me and it is my turn to carry the burden of health issues. I am having my gall bladder removed this Friday, since having a serious attack about two and a half weeks ago I have lost over 15 lbs. I got bloodwork back yesterday and my liver is also having some issues more than what would be normal while having gall stones so there is some worry there as well.
While I know this surgery is very routine none the less the fact that I will be put under worries me, what if I don't wake up? With three very young kids I want to make sure if the unimaginable happens they have photos with me and each their own letter for them to read whenever they want. as a mother it breaks my heart to know that the boys will probably have no memories of me if something does happen and photos and videos will be all they have.

I know everything will happen as it should and because of that I want to make sure I do what I can. It will be quiet around here until after the surgery, family time in full force as well as a sweet little girl starting kindergarten this week.

I know a lot is going on in the world and prayer lists are long but if you can I would love if you could squeeze my family in there it would mean so much to us.

Love you all!

Another Insta Friday

This week has been crazy! I have been diagnosed with gall stones and it has been a painful week to say the least!! Glad the week is almost over here's to the weekend!! Not many photos taken but lots of goofiness has been happening around these parts.










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