Sometimes Owls Appear for a Giveaway

Inspired by Mystele and Piarom, I've been painting angels lately.  

(If you want a free download of these angels, SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER!  It's going out in a few days, and these angels will be available without the watermark!)








I started to work on another angel, or so I thought.  I've had this tag for a long time.  I stenciled it with my Garden Flowers and Leaves stencil from Stencil Girl Products.


I began to collage stray pieces of paper onto it.
















I played around with some gesso, and then re-stenciled motifs from the Garden Flowers and Leaves stencil.



I looked for another angel, but instead, I saw an owl!









You just never know when an owl might turn up!

I used my "Renew" rubber stamp from RubberMoon to finish it off.














Do you like this quirky owl?  Leave me a comment before October 1, telling me why your home is the perfect place for this owl, and include your email address.

I will send him/her to someone who comments and includes his/her email address!

UPDATE: only 6 people commenting left me their email addresses.  And out of those 6, Random.org picked #2!  Congratulations to Judy Baker!














And now, for something completely different...

The Old Library Theater, a local community theater group, has been having a challenge called the "16 bar audition challenge."  The idea is that you sing 16 bars and nominate three other people to do so.  Each person participating is asked to donate at least $5.  Here's my little ditty.

If you are moved to donate to a very worthwhile cause - community theater - please visit Old Library Theater's Go Fund Me page.  

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

And make sure to say why the owl should come live with you!

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Unfinished: An Art Journal Page

We are each perfection in our imperfection...

wonderful works in progress, always unfinished.

Isn't that the best blessing? We always have opportunities to grow, become more compassionate and caring, better listeners, better spreaders of joy.

The only thing that is forever is change. 

Here is a video of my process making this art journal page.  I used Seth Apter's Unfinished stencil, as well as my own designs for Stencil Girl Products.

You can also watch Art Journal Page with Stencil Girl Stencils on YouTube here. 

"Unfinished" is available as print on Society6!   

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Three Ts: Trades, Talk and Thought

Hey - I have three Ts on my mind.  First up is Trades:

Art is You Mixed Media Retreats is around the corner.  It's customary to bring little pieces of art to trade and the theme last year and this is charms.  Using some of my patterned paper from my Festive Soul Food lesson, made with my Stencil Girl stencils and RubberMoon stamps,

I punched circles, added words, punched little holes, and covered them all with Glossy Accents for a ceramic look.  They look so happy all together!   I'll share a picture when I have the charms all assembled.  In the meantime, I'm covering everything in sight with Glossy Accents - it's so much fun!

There are still a few seats left in my class, Masked and UnMasked: Stencils & Silhouettes.   Here's a little video to tell you what the class is all about.  

You can also watch Stencils Silhouettes Class Preview on YouTube here.  

Talk:

About a month ago, I received an email from the prolific, awesomely talented and generous Julie Balzer asking me to be a guest on her podcast, Adventures in Arting.  We spoke on Tuesday, and the podcast is available airs starting today.  We talked about musical theater, yoga, my former career as a lawyer and, oh yes, art. I hope you'll have a listen!

Thought:

I'm thinking a lot about where I'm going with my art, this blog, and where to put my energy.  I'll be sharing the results of this thinking soon.  I know that I loved creating my lessons for Festive Soul Food, and definitely plan to create an online workshop this year (which for me goes September to September!)

Plus, my younger daughter, Samy, just started High School, and I'm very aware that these are the last four years that I "have her" home.  Having watched my older daughter Mariel grow and spread her wings, I know that these four years are extremely precious.  So I definitely want to make time for all the moments.

Here's a bit of Samy, singing recently at our summer community.  I hope you enjoy her as much as I do!



Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Shanah Tovah!

Today is the first day of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.  It's a time for reflecting on the past year, forgiving and moving on, and setting intentions for the year to come.  

I learned today that a dear friend of my grandparents, Ruth Spirn, passed.  She was in her late 90s, and went very peacefully, with a half a spoonful of chocolate ice cream on her tongue to ease the journey. 

Ruth was a wonderful woman and deeply a part of the fabric of my childhood and life. She used to polish my nails every weekend in the summer. (She had the most beautiful nails.). She always told me that the nail on the pointer finger of my left hand was my "best nail." I think of that and of her more often than anyone can imagine.

Ruth's son sent me this beautiful picture of his mom's hand in his.  It was taken this past Tuesday. 

Aren't her nails beautiful?

I believe that those we have loved never truly leave us.  They live in our hearts, in the kindnesses they showed us, the love they shared with us, and the comfort and joy they brought to our lives.   

As we pass on the blessings given to us by those we have loved and lost, may we find their spirits again and again.

Shanah Tovah.

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

A Free Download for Healing and Peace

I am thinking today of September 11, 2001, and all that has happened since.  Here is a little offering toward peace and healing in the world.  Feel free to download it and use it for your personal use.  Please share it as well.

May all beings everywhere live free from suffering and its causes.

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Coming Home to my Heart at Art is You

In October, I'm going to my artistic home.  They say that home is where the heart is, and my artistic heart is at Art is You.  

I first attended AIY in 2012.  It changed my life by opening my eyes and heart to an entirely new community of artists and friends, who are my sister tribe to this day. 

When I went back to Art is You in 2013, I wondered whether Art is You could possibly be as good the second time around.  It was better.  I reconnected with old friends and made new ones.  I stretched my wings and tried new things.

In 2014, I returned to Art is You as both a student and an instructor.  Both experiences were fabulous.

And now, in 2015, I'm returning to my artistic home at Art is You once again! 

 I am teaching a class that includes nearly every technique in my toolbox.  It's called Stencils and Silhouettes,  and I can't wait to share it with you!

Here's a brief video intro to the class.  

You can also watch "Stencils and Silhouettes: A Class Preview" on YouTube here.  

I hope you'll check out my class, and all the other wonderful classes being offered by Art is You in Stamford this October.  It's an amazing experience, and I hope to share it with you one way or another!

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Creating a Village with the September Stencil Club Stencils

I'm on the Stencil Girl Talk blog with step out photos of how this canvas came to be.  I used the September Stencil Club stencils, which reminded me of building blocks, to create this village.  I hope you'll hop over for a visit.

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!