the move to typepad was a way to get my feet wet in building a more extensive site for myself. i finally made the move that i've been hesitant to make- i now have my own website!!! it is in the works, but the doors are open. so come on over! if you already have my link listed as http://www.mystele.com, you don't need to change a thing. but, if you are linked to me through typepad, then you need to change your settings to http://www.mystele.com. the website just makes my online world a little easier, from setting up my art... Continue reading

i have fun, fun, fun new goodies in the works for the new year. these are part of the line-up- "art-marks"!!! ♥ myste Continue reading

well, i was able to finish the tall skinny paintings for our moms! yay!!! that completes my list for family gifts. whew- hooo! Continue reading

oh what fun it is to create for ones i love!!! this is just a blast...so these are for our brothers' families... next in line, tall skinny paintings for our moms. i'll pop in later to show you those! happy creating. ♥ m Continue reading

i am having such fun making/buying handmade gifts for family, save the target gift cards for my nephew and nieces and the digital picture frames. (confession: the digital frames are actually last year's christmas gifts for my brothers' families. i know. i KNOW. well, this year, i am well ahead of schedule and just can't wait to send everything off.) this year our brothers' families and grandparents receive one of these... and these picture frames are for sweet grandparents... i think my next move is to make ornaments for our brothers' families. hoping to get my brothers' gifts in the... Continue reading

wow...the last few weeks have been a whirlwind- painting, rehearsing for our church's christmas musical, working on christmas gifts, thinking up fun & affordable treats to add to my paintings come january, working on a necessary bathroom renovation, enjoying snowflakes & tree lights...lovely, lovely winter. Continue reading

all done! Continue reading

currently in progress...trial run of a new texture technique i came up with for her wonderful book to be! thanks so much to those of you who stopped by the Red Friday sale. fyi: i'm extending the free shipping offer through next wednesday. have a super weekend! ♥ myste Continue reading

so...i was up all night painting- literally. haven't slept, but i finished lots of goodies!!! around 8 :30, i start listing things on etsy when, all of a sudden, my computer locks up. at this point, i'm almost in tears. i finally realize that my internet is disconnected. so i try to figure out why. i make sure things are all hooked up, and they are. then, i go to the deck door to see if perhaps comcast is working on something. lo and behold this is what i see: WAAAAAAA!!! so i ask how long it's gonna take, and... Continue reading

i always find myself doing "wee hours" painting before a shop update or art show or any deadline for that matter! oh well. such is life. the difference this time around is that i am totally enjoying absolutely everything i'm working on because it's all so very, very me! yay!!! so, here's the current status of some things for tomorrow's ReD FriDay shop update. i'm looking forward to painting all these characters to life tonight! and there will be a couple of tall, skinny flying ladies in the update, too. and, maybe, just maybe, i'll have some clay surprises to... Continue reading

i am having so much fun!!! this is the absolute most comfortable groove i've experienced since i started painting almost 2 years ago. what's going on? well, for about a month, i've had this sense that something was happening, that there was a new look, a style, a "feel" that i was supposed to paint next, but i couldn't put my finger on it through thought alone. so my solution was to just start playing with crazy, whimsical characters which i now understand were tools to bring me full circle and into a deeper freedom as a mixed media folk... Continue reading

(psst...it's a secret sale. so, let the grapevine commence! ;) everything in my shop is 60% off AND if you buy 3 items, you get a fourth one free. that's right. no, really, you read that correctly. so, you pay via paypal at the etsy checkout page, and i will calculate your discount and send the refund to you via paypal. what's gotten into me? well, i am turning a new leaf or rather coming full circle- lots of soul searching and dream casting and re-focused excitement going on behind the scenes here. i feel like an artsy fartsy weight... Continue reading

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pages 8 and 9 completed... pages 10 and 11... and here's me still playing with clay...i've missed this!!! and, last but not least, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! don't gobble too much, and remember those all around the world who would do anything to be at your table. ♥ m Continue reading

pages 4 and 5 completed... pages 6 and 7 completed... Continue reading

thought i wouldn't be able to get to clay play, but whaddaya know? yay!!! fun things to come in time for gift giving. stay tuned... Continue reading

completed pages... Continue reading

so, i found out that the sketchbook project library deadline has been extended. so i have time to throw some paint over the colored pencil layer. yummmmy layers! here's the first page completed. more completed pages to come... Continue reading

and finally... now i can move on to other playtime deadlines! have a lovely sunday! ♥ Continue reading

when i looked into her eyes, she seemed to say, "yes. i'm sure." i'm so glad i filmed the process. i love to teach and encourage, and, as i work, i'm thinking about ways i can share the experience and the knowledge i'm gaining by simply doing the art day by day. so, right now, i'm making plans for a technique painting class in 2010. stay tuned and enjoy the videos! here's the link to watch the rest of this 6 part video series. Continue reading

of stripes and polka dots, that is...they show up in just about every painting in one way or another. sometimes together. sometimes stag. but in my world, they are definitely a serious couple. unfortunately, i have no polka dotted clothing to go with my striped tights and socks...i just might have to paint a solution to that. hmmm. Continue reading

lately, my paintings have been about whimsy and quirkiness. and i'm amazed at how the faces are beginning to look more and more like me. hmmmm. the look on my latest lady's face should be incredibly familiar to my husband and sons. and, no. there's no need to discuss my little obsession with crowns as of late. if you click on the photo, you'll make your way to my flickr gallery which is jam packed with fun new characters. feel free to send me a note if you see something you'd like to grab. my shop is full of new-ness,... Continue reading