Monday, December 17, 2018

This is a Second Cup of Coffee Kind of Day



Just a week and one day away and so much more yet to do.  Today, I am going to wrap the gifts I've purchased.  That is always a dreaded task that I find no enjoyment in but it is something that must be done.  I have all the wrapping supplies assembled including the gift tags I designed this year and offer as a free download on my website.  Here is the link if you want to print out some cute Country Christmas Gift Tags for your own gift giving. 





My gifts are all sorted by recipient and spread across my dining room table.  I even had to cover them up with a tablecloth because I had surprise visit of grandchildren drop in.  Yes, today is the day and I'm going to have a second mug of coffee as I mentally work up the courage to begin this dreaded task.   
 

I will leave you today with this quote as I am rolling up my sleeves to lay waste to a lot of scotch tape and rolls wrapping paper.

“Christmas is forever, not for just one day. For loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away.” Norman Wesley Brooks



Sunday, December 16, 2018

There is Humor with Mice in Edwardian Fashion

I am a HUGE fan of the PBS series "Downton Abbey", so I can't wait until the new movie comes out in September 2019. Hopefully it will live up to my expectations and not disappoint. 

The series had been showing several years when I finally decided I needed to watch it.   I actually made the leap to upgrade my Amazon to a Prime Membership so that I could watch it.  It was well worth the $100 cost for me and of course I like the other Prime perks too. 

There is something intriguing about the formalities of and properness of British society.  I recall the episode where there was much discussion about wearing the black tie rather than the white tie to dinner.  "Indeed, one of the most tragic events of Season 3, Episode 1 (hour 2) was the hullabaloo over Lord Grantham’s black tie dinner jacket (aka tuxedo). His Lordship’s white tie dinner jacket went “missing,” “missing” as in hidden by his trusted, yet devilishly conniving valet (personal butler).  Lord Grantham is forced to look like a pauper at dinner and wear a black bow tie.  Ghastly informal – the Dowager Countess, his mother, actually mistakes him for a butler." (http://www.dirtyandthirty.com/beauty-fashion/lessons-learned-from-downton-abbey-white-tie-vs-black-tie/)

"Black Tie Event"

It was this episode that inspired my drawing called "Black Tie Event" and to have the matching black tails this industries little rodent uses a jar of black ink to dip the tip of his tail into.


Oh and don't even get me started on the hats and dresses.  Can you just imagine not being about to get yourself dressed without the assistance of a butler or servant?  What a different time that was but the whole of the Crawley clan seemed to have their own personal assistant that was there to curl their hair or help put on their jacket. 



It was this photo of the hat worn by Mary Crawley on the show that inspired me to create my own sketch of a little mouse wearing an Edwardian hat and feather boa in my drawing that I called "M'lady".  
"M'lady"
With a little Photoshop magic I have taken the two separate pieces and combined them into one composition that I'm calling "The Mice of Downton Abbey"  I then added a vintage postcard background and now you have my newest listing on my Etsy and EBay Shops.  Here is the link if you are interested in purchasing a print.  I also have greeting cards and magnets available too.  Julie Townsend Studio on Etsy

"The Mice of Downton Abbey"

Mockup
Mockup



Greeting Card Mockup







Saturday, November 10, 2018

Who Doesn't Like FREE

One of 6 Christmas Card designs for 2018


It seems these days that I'm either at this computer promoting and marketing or I am in the studio working on inventory.  I've made a number of Christmas Ornaments and super cute key chains in the past couple weeks that I hope will be a popular choice at my last two public exhibits of 2018.  I'm hoping to have the key chains up on my Etsy Shop really soon.

There are two FREE offers that I'm excited to share with you.  First one is my "Donuts and Coffee" coffee mug drawing over on my Julie Townsend Studio Facebook Studio page.  I've included the link below.  This contest ends when I hit 700 likes on my page and I'm only 12 likes away so don't wait too long to enter.  You just have to share the post, like the page and leave a comment and you will be entered in the drawing.



Like my Facebook Studio Art Page @JulieTownsendStudio





Julie Townsend Studio-FREE Christmas Gift Tags
Julie Townsend Studio- Country Plaid Christmas card designs

Second item I want to share with you is these Christmas gift tags I design.  I'm call thing them "Country Plaid Christmas" and they compliment my Christmas card designs.  Follow the link above to my website and then you can download the PDF file to print out on your own heavy paper or cardstock.  You can print as many as you like as long as they are for personal use only.  You might want to check out my Christmas Card Gallery while you are there because what a great personal touch to have your gift tag match your Christmas card. 

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

What is the #1 Complaint among Cows?





"Being SEEN but not HERD!"

I had so much fun yesterday designing this "For the Love of Cows" planner sticker sheet and this sheet of mini cow stickers to go with it.   After all, can you really have too many cows?

Some of the artwork is from my original art and others are digital images that I found online.  It is fun to combine the two and create unique designs and color schemes.  I don't even use a planner but have a blast designing the sticker kits for them.  Maybe next year I will have to give it a try.

Both sticker sheets are listed on my Etsy Shop as a printable download.  That means with only just a couple clicks you could have these stickers right away and you can print them out as often as you like.


For the Love of Cows planner stickers
Mini Cow Sticker Sheet


 
 



Saturday, October 27, 2018

Getting My Mock-ups On

Creating new mockups to show case my art is actually fun and challenging.  I not only add the artwork to this completely digital room but I have fun finding accessories that are matching to correspond to the art.  Everything from a vase of pansies to a pair of red Converse tennis shoes.  I thought I would share a few of the images I've designed to help you visualize just how great my artwork would look on YOUR walls. 

All these images are listing in my Etsy Shop if you want to hope over there and check them out.



 







Friday, October 26, 2018


Here is my newest Etsy Listing.  If you can believe it, I drew this little ballet dancing mouse just yesterday in my sketchbook and in the afternoon I took a little time to scan it and pull it into Photoshop.  I added some color, text and a royalty free watercolor background.  This is just Tutu cute. A downloadable and printable poster for a small cost, add a matte and frame and you have a perfect piece of art for a little girls room or any place that you want to brighten up. 

I created two versions to choose from on my Etsy Shop.  Here is the link if you want to check it out.

Ballet Dancing Mouse at Julie Townsend Studio on Etsy









Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Country Plaid Christmas is HERE!

I know that I am about as late as an artist can be getting out Christmas designs here in the middle of  October, but it is what it is.  I stopped painting cowbells long enough last week to work on 6 new 2018 Christmas Card designs that I'm calling "Country Plaid Christmas" and they are now up an can be ordered on my Etsy Shop and Website .

Lately, I have noticed how popular black buffalo plaid is on the country decorating Facebook groups I belong to.  I can understand it because it looks great.  I have always loved plaid and there is just something about black and red that screams classic country Christmas in my mind.  So with that introduction, I present to you the fruits of my labor and I use the word labor loosely because designing is way more fun than hard work.



Christmas Surprise
Chihuahua Christmas
Crowing Rooster
Tangled Christmas Mouse

Cardinal 
Decorating Mouse













Monday, October 22, 2018

My Art Show Booth Set-Up

I designed a new studio logo banner this week.  
Recently, I have been running here and there in the attempt to sell more of my original art.  Setting up my booth at different venues and every time I'm out there I get asked about where I got my grids or the lightweight tables I use to lay out my merchandise on.  So I thought I would share this information with you and provide specific links to make it easy for you.

I purchased most of my grids through Amazon and I have provided the link to that.  I decided to not to purchase the feet or stand to hold them up because I hate how they stick out and it is more work to set them up.  What we have discovered is that we clip 3 grids together using the grid clips (link and picture provided) then we zip tie the units of 3 together. They then fold flat into each other and they are about the max weight that my husband wants to handle at a time.  The caution here is that there is sometime shifting and your fingers can get pinched.  We are working on some designs for some clip on handles to help with this problem. 

Having them in 3 grid sections makes set up quick, easy and versatile, filling different space scenarios. They can bend to create a corner or overlap each other to accommodate smaller areas. Once you have created the booth structure the grids are pretty self supporting but we do have 1"x 2" boards that we have painted black that we can zip tie to the to bottom of the back and side walls to give even more support if needed.  Here are the links for the booth items themselves.  I have a total of 12 grids and may purchase 3 more down the road so that I have enough to completely surround my 10 x 10 tent with a front entry opening but for now, 12 are meeting my needs perfectly.

I use the grid hooks to hang my artwork from.  If it is a very windy day, I even will zip tie my artwork to the grids to prevent them from blowing off. 

ZIP TIES ARE YOUR ART SHOW FRIENDS (and the all important wire cutters are a tear down necessity).



Grid wall system
Grid clips
Grid system hooks


Another item that I get asked about all the time is my wonderful tables.  I can't think about one negative thing about these tables.  They are lightweight, convenient, easy to store and the adjustable heights make them oh so useful.  I have 2 sets of these to make a total of 4 tables.  I also used some black flat sheets and sewed my own fitted table covering for them so they actually look quite classy inside my booth.  Also because they are narrow in width, they don't take up too much floor space inside the booth. 

I also find them wonderful for outdoor drawing and painting.  Set up in an L-shape make the perfect plein air studio surface.  Here is the link to the tables.



Coleman camping table









Outdoor festival set up with a tent provided by the event- Skye Canyon Chalkfest
Here is my booth set up last weekend at an outdoor festival measuring 10 x 10.  The tent was provided by the festival so it was  very sturdy.  You can see my grids do not quite completely go around the full 10 x 10 space and so down the road I might consider buying 3 more because I really like to have that 2 foot section in the front to serve as a doorway and here I only was able to do that on one side.   I try to position my larger, crowd drawing art piece in the front to pull people over to my booth.  The cowbells were also a good draw.

Before my next art show, I'm going to purchase about 4 or 5 flat black sheets to use as backdrops.  I think the art looks better when you can't see through the grids and there is a visual wall.  It also provides movable shade and can be used to cover your merchandise at night.  They will become just part of the accessories inside my art show box. 
Recent booth set up at the Galleria Mall 
Here is an indoor booth set up that measures 10 x 6.  It is a much smaller space but holds almost the same amount of art as does the 10 x 10 space.  I even have one small table set up with my colored pencils so that I do live drawing during my time there.  It is quite comfortable and you can see how nicely my covered tables look inside my booth.