A Pressing Matter

Many moons have passed and turned to years, since I was here last. I say it quite often, but I just cannot believe how fast time goes by. I never meant to quit showing up here. My life has just taken so many crazy-busy, twists and turns that it seemed there is always another project between me and the next blog post.

You may or may not know my story or the events leading to the purchase of RubberMoon. If you want to know more, then go HERE to this post from 2012.  If you read some of the posts that followed, you will see how it all worked out. If you are a friend or follower of mine and/or RubberMoon, then you probably know that I am about to celebrate my three year anniversary as the owner and creative conjurer at RubberMoon Art Stamps!

...A little over three years ago I shared a big piece of my life story with you.  And YOU helped me to achieve something I barely thought was possible. But I had so much hope inside me. 

At that time, I had nothing but that hope. I reached out and asked for help and YOU helped me make my dream a reality. (SO thankful to all the people listed over here and many others too.)---> 

The financial contributions, encouragement, support, kindness and belief in me, made it possible for me to bring RubberMoon from Idaho to Missouri. 
My dream come true IS running RubberMoon Art Stamps, making and sharing art and creativity with others on a daily basis. My dream come true IS operating this as a family business, nurturing it and making it grow and thrive.

My dream come true IS making you all proud and happy to be a part of this magical story!

Shortly after I got the business moved, I said that my story “had a happy ending". But, of course, that was not true. It was not nearly an ending. It was only just the beginning.

Now, here I am almost three years in and RubberMoon is growing every day. And I am here, asking for your help once again. 

You see, RubberMoon IS growing and with growth, there are growing pains. And so, I am asking for your assistance once more to help me achieve another big goal.

I need a piece of equipment in order to continue to move the business forward. This piece of equipment is crucial to, not only growth, but everyday operations. RubberMoon cannot live without it. RubberMoon needs a new rubber press!

Me, Kae Pea, pressing rubber!

Now maybe you will ask why I cannot manage to get this press without help? Well, simply put, even though we are growing, we are still new and like almost every new business, growth does not equal cash for ‘extras’, nor does it mean capital to work with (darn it). We ARE growing, yes. But it does not mean that I have enough profits (if any) with which to make this large purchase. The press we need is approximately $4,000.00 and I need to raise about $2,000.00.

So, I am asking you to please contribute to my fundraiser and help me get a new press....

...Of course, I would not dream of asking you to give your hard earned money without receiving something in return for your generosity. 

Besides being the recipient of my enormous gratitude AND being part of RubberMoon's wonderful herstory you will also receive the following gifts for your contribution:

•A downloadable/digital limited edition art print from Kae Pea for any contribution up to $29.00

•A limited edition 5x7 art print mailed to you from Kae Pea for your $29 to $64 contribution

•A handmade gratitude journal, by Kae Pea for your $65 to $99 contribution*

•Access to my newest online stamp-art class for your $100 to $199 contribution (class will begin in Jan. 2016)*

•An Original MOON painting by Kae Pea for your $199 and up contribution*

•Receive these *three of the above listed gifts for any contribution $350.00 or more

•ALL contributors will be listed on this blog with a link of choice (if you agree).

Please help me so that I can continue to make more stamps and take our business to the next level.

Thank you for your consideration, help and support.

I love you to the moon and back! xokp

                                                                     

P.S. If you do not wish to make a pledge in this way, but would still like to help me reach my goal, please shop at RubberMoon.com  and/or buy from The Moon & The Maker etsy shop and/or my yART SALE ! 

Every bit will help and is so appreciated.

Thank you from the bottom of my heART.

**Below is a photo of our 20 year old rubber press. It does still work, but the temperature gauge is broken, the lever falls off and it often loses pressure during pressing.  We really need a new press so we can increase production!

20 year old press

New press!!

Would you love to?

I just want to ask you if you have checked out Soul Food?


If not, then you should!!

If so, are you taking it?

Wouldn't you love to?

click here to find out what's on the menu!

If you are not yet signed up and you would love to WIN a FREE spot...
then leave a comment here!

Winners will be chosen on November 29th 2013 and announced here and on the soul food class fb page!

Happy Thanksgiving!

xokp

Love holds the Key...

Love holds the Key 5 x 7 digital painting

The days just seems to fly by and I find myself amazed that it is time for PPF yet again! I am so thankful that I decided to jump in and play, as it is helping me to at least blog a bit more regularly. I get so lost, sometimes, in my ideas and my artwork that it is easy to let other things get by....maybe you understand that feeling too.  Anyway, hardly a day goes by that I do not paint or create and so I always want and need to post. One of my goals for the year is to be a better blogger. I have lots I want to say and do here...but again, time is an issue. For now I will be content to share my art. I appreciate your visits and comments. xokp

pARTY on!

the bee holder 6 x 6 mixed media on clay board © kae pea 2012

I had heard of Paint Party Friday. My friend, artist Mary Nasser, told me about it. I am also fb friends with co-host  Kristin Dudish and quite a few of the weekly participants. But, still I drug my feet about getting involved. You know how it is. So many commitments and time constraints....but then I could not stand it as I began to see all of the wonderful art and creativity being shared! I just decided to jump in on the very last day of the first year! (Leave it to me!) Anyway, I want to share here my latest painting with you. It is very different for me and was brought about by my recent 24 hour painting jam session. I feel my artistic voice becoming clearer and stronger and my vision about my art truly beginning to emerge. I am very excited by this and hope you will continue to check back in to see where this leads! Like, every Friday maybe? 

live artfully,
xokp

Making Art...

"what making art means to me..." acrylic & graphite on paper

I painted this in response to a journal prompt. I really love it. I don't say that about my own work too often. But there is something about this that I loved from the moment I sketched it. That does not usually happen. I find that my art usually goes through and ugly stage where I dislike it very much and come close to abandoning it all together. Not this time. This time I knew from the start that I was going to be happy with the outcome. I hope you love her too and that it resonates with you. I made it into a print if you would like to have it hanging in your creative space too :) http://www.etsy.com/listing/94384502/making-art-a-print-from-my-original-art

I hope you don't mind if I mention, again, the Angels in My Studio e-course that is coming up. Please remember to leave a comment on my previous post if you are interested in winning a spot! I hope you will join us~ I truly believe it is going to be a very moving experience! If you decide to sign up, PLEASE use my link: http://546d8dldw4dlelbmj8x50zkd-q.hop.clickbank.net/

artfully yours,
xokp

More about Angels...

Would you like to win a spot in Angels In My Studio? Leave me a comment below this post. Tell me what excites you most about the course. On March 15th I'll randomly choose a commenter and s/he will take the course for FREE.**
Angels In My Studio is much more than "just" a course in art technique (though it certainly *is* that). This course is intended for those that are truly open to deepening their connection with the unseen.
Each in-depth video lesson will provide you with both the tools for creating a variety of mixed-media art from a place of connection to the intuitive realm and grounded technical skills in depicting angels, guides, and spirit. Over the course of the 5-months we spend together you will deepen your skills and abilities in allowing your artwork to unfold from a place of conscious connection to spirit.
Students in this course will see their connection to the angelic realm blossom and spill over beautifully into their artwork. Each attunement from Michael Golzmane will bring you into deeper connection with your personal angels and guides as well as more universal angels that serve us all. 
Through optional weekly written exercises you will begin to hear/feel/sense your angels more clearly and begin to communicate with them through your writing. This increased angelic connection will support you in your life and inform your artwork.
There is no other course available that offers this powerful combination of art instruction, angelic attunements and intuitive development....

* I am very happy and honored to be a part of this course. I look forward to connecting with you and the angels and sharing my love of watercolor painting and creating with you! Please use this link when you sign up http://546d8dldw4dlelbmj8x50zkd-q.hop.clickbank.net/

just imagine!!!

Yes. Just Imagine what you can do when you persevere....

About 6 years ago, long before I ever went back to school to get my art degree  (and my husband was in school getting his Bachelors degree), I called him and asked him if they sold canvas at his school bookstore. When he said yes, I asked him to bring me home the biggest canvas they had. He promptly brought home a 30 x 60 canvas. I, for some reason, had the urge to paint. Now keep in mind, I had done a lot of illustration and crafts but never had I painted a thing! I had a small set of acrylic paints and some brushes but no clue what I was doing. I had no art space and we lived in a 900 square foot house. So I hung the blank canvas on our only wall that it would fit on and this is what I painted...

my painting in 2006

Then I got stuck. I changed my mind. I could not decide how to proceed. I didn't know what I was doing. I quit. I left it like this for over 5 years! When we moved to a bigger house, I took it with us and rehung it, in it's pathetic state, and left it unnoticed and unfinished. Various family members, at various times, would ask me when (or if) I was ever going to finish. I said I didn't know but I thought I would someday.

Then last year, we moved again. Back into a smaller place and I was going to ditch the painting. My sister said, "No." and she took the painting home and hung it on her wall in it's pathetic and unfinished state for another year.

Two weeks ago my sister was packing to move. She asked me if I wanted my painting back. I did not have the heart to toss it out. I knew I must take it and finally attempt to finish it. After all, I had more paints and brushes and a bit more technical skill....

So, I brought the painting home and hung it on the wall! It only took me a couple of days of looking at and then I knew I was going to finish. I took it down and worked on it for 3 days. I honestly don't know if I am 100% finished at this blog posting...I want to live with it for a few more days before I declare it complete. But it sure is a whole lot closer and I am very happy. Happy that I did not quit, (only took a long break)! Happy to finish what I started. Looking back on this whole process and what the last five years held, I see now that I REALLY wanted to paint!! Here is to perseverance!!

my painting today

xokp

note to self.

I am still going with the flow. Even when I feel that I am in a huge creative funk and have lost my mojo, I still manage to find a way to channel my spirit and have fun with paper, ink and paint! I may not be creating the masterpieces that I envision. But honestly, it is okay. I am thankful everyday for the gifts in my life...but sometimes I need to remind myself that I am on the right track and if I get derailed, well, just get back on and keep chugging along! 

xokp

a little peace

a little peace 

I think it is fascinating how making art and the act of creating something from the heart really brings out what we are feeling inside and somehow gives us just what we need. Most of the time when I sit down to draw, I do not have a specific idea in mind. Often, I have many ideas churning around in my head. Ideas that sometimes have been jotted down on a scrap of paper or quickly sketched somewhere on a random napkin, in my ipad or whatever I could get my hands on at the moment of conception... But then, usually, when I have the time to really create and I sit down with paper and paint, it is mostly not with something specific in mind. It is with a hundred ideas bubbling and somehow the one, most ripe, comes to the surface. It is pretty much, the way I have always done things. I do wish I was more focused and  I could actually create a more cohesive body of work ( I am trying, really.) But I do know this intuitive, random act of creating, somehow helps me to sort things out. I feel it is a way to feed my spirit and let out what ails me in a good and healthy way. I was feeling very frustrated and upset with life when this came spilling out onto the page. I am not sure how something so sweet and calm came out of me when I was feeling quite down, but she arrived on the page and just looking at her made me feel better. Honestly, all I needed was a little peace. xokp