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I definitely see my outfits as an extension of my art and, as more high end fashion designers turn to art for their inspiration, I want to share some ways that artists can create their own stunning DIY clothes! Also, did you know that some of the first pieces I...
In this step-by-step guide to abstract flower painting (for beginners!) I will help you learn the skills necessary to create a beautiful work of art! I have literally NEVER met a person who didn’t enjoy seeing some beautiful flowers, whether in person or in a...
The older I get, the more I realize that I don’t want big, flashy presents from brand name or big box stores. I’m drawn, instead, to the creative, handmade, and DIY Christmas gifts that are truly one-of-a-kind! As a creative business coach, I know that this is the...
Over the course of the next six weeks I’ll be hosting my own art retreat, attending another, and emceeing at a third! It’s safe to say that I LOVE spending time with other creatives and I’ve got enough experience to make the most out of any retreat setting. When I...
I finally convinced my husband to attempt some simple wall murals using DIY Paint! I figured the best place to start would be our covered outdoor patio because it is already my favorite place to unwind. I come out here with the latest copy of The Turquoise Iris...
As an artist and a mom, I am always trying to come up with new ideas for how to upcycle just about everything. I was raised to believe that “new” doesn’t always mean “better” and that all we need is equal parts effort and creativity to have nice things in our...
There is one notorious piece of mine that gets a lot of attention whenever I share it… Velvet Honey! It is one of my favorite pieces of furniture I’ve ever painted. We featured it in the 6th volume of The Turquoise Iris Journal and it got rave reviews. The tutorial...
Everyone has some version of this story: you received an old piece of furniture as a hand-me-down or you found a really good deal at a thrift store or a garage sale. Either way, you end up with furniture that has maybe seen some better days. Is it possible to give...
I thought I’d celebrate the launch of my favorite season with my favorite spring fashion trend: hand-painted clothing! It wasn’t until I started painting furniture that I even realized how much I truly was made to paint, so it only makes sense that I always find...
As a creative, I live to experiment and go BIG! Getting out of my comfort zone and creating something new is what helps me grow as an artist, but there was a time when I felt sort of bad that my work couldn’t be condensed down to a handful of adjectives… As it...
A few years ago I had the opportunity to go to Paris with some friends who are fellow artists. The trip was a life-changing whirlwind of art and adventure (you can see pictures in my November 2019 blog post) and the sights and experiences I took in over the course...
It’s the end of the year, which usually means we’re all thinking about what’s coming up in the next year. As artists, especially those of us who paint furniture, it’s especially hard not to wonder what 2023 trends in art and decor we will see! In my opinion, no...
Every so often I’ll get a group of new followers who have a lot of wonderful questions for me. They’ll ask them in emails and comments and direct messages and I always do my best to help them, but I always wish I could give them more, you know? So I decided to...
I love to decorate for each season but I hate being forced into a color palette. Christmas is an especially difficult season for me when it comes to decor because it seems like so much of it is traditional red, green, and white. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m...
This year has been a busy one for the team here at The Turquoise Iris! In addition to hosting (and teaching at!) lots and lots of retreats, we also released the FIRST print issue of The Turquoise Iris Journal, I filmed a feature for the BloomTV Network and What...
Not a lot of people believed in me when I first started selling art online several years ago. The internet, and especially social media, was a little different back then and I think some people still held onto an outdated belief that it was all just a fad. But I...
When I work with new coaching clients for the first time I find myself making the same recommendation again and again: work on editing. I get it, editing is hard! Whether you’re trying to focus on a piece of art or wrangle your overflowing supply cart into...
I don’t know why but it used to be that every time I made a piece of art I would spend the last few hours scrambling to come up with a good name. As someone who paints several pieces a month, it wasn’t long before I learned some reliable strategies for titling a...
These days, social media is a must for any entrepreneur, but especially for artists and creatives! When your life’s work is creating beautiful things for people to put in their homes, it’s sort of important to make sure that people can see what you’re creating! The...
I asked members of The Turquoise Iris’s Creative Connection what things they struggled with the most. While time management came in at number one, surprisingly close behind was “how to choose a color palette!” You’d think, as artists, we’d have an endless supply of...
Whenever I ask members of my community what they’re struggling with the most or what they need the most help with, about 50% of the responses are just one simple word: TIME. We all struggle with time — whether you’re a CEO, a stay-at-home-mom, an artist, or the...
Make more income from your art AND find more time to paint with my new Creative Business Success Planner! This workbook will help you build a business that’s aligned with your ideals, goals, and vision so you can get paid to do more of what you love.