I'm feeling pretty proud!

So, one day later and I'm stoked to write that I did two pretty 'way to go you' things already! 

The first is just mechanical really. Our pool pump and vacuum has been acting weird. I have played with it for 2 weeks trying different things to see if I could get things working right again. Today I replaced some parts, cleaned everything possible and found a clog in the skim line. I cleared the clog and re-cleaned everything. Turned it on and Ta-Daaaaa pump is working great- vacuum is back flying across the pool floor. It took me a few hours but I am feeling pretty happy! I almost called one of my guy friends to help open one of the baskets. It was on sooooooo tight I nearly broke every stick and pipe I used to open it with. But, my trusty hammer and I made a good team! Girl power!!!

Second on my 'you go' accomplishment list is that LuckiiArts by Casey Virata is now in a local shop in Lake Park. It's a cute little shop called Coastal Market Place full of beachy ocean art and furniture. My work fits right in! Yay!!! I was brave and drove over with a box full of art and magnets and address tiles and signs- oh and postcards too. The shop wanted it all. Here's to hoping that lots of people come in and see my stuff and I'll get oodles of local business! It would be so neat to drive around town and see my address tiles on business and homes!! Yep...that's one of mine 😆

What have you done today? Which step have you reached today? I am discovering that if you are brave and bold and just close your eyes and do it...most likely you can!

My new mantra...Yes, you can do it!!! 

 Go do something today. Go do something BRAVE, GENEROUS, HELPFUL or just something that makes you HAPPY. Life is too short to not do things that make you happy! YES, You can do it! 

See you soon

~Casey

Happy (almost February) 2017!

Happy 2017!!! Thank goodness 2016 is over- WORST YEAR EVER!!!  

New year- new goals- new relationship status...new president (hrmmm) lots happening this year! 

So yes, 2016 sucked for me. My husband left our family- spontaneously and very mid-life crisis-y. Swell, but we are moving on :) New Year- New Possibilities. 

Just like this cute little cartoon says, 365 opportunities. I have tried to take that approach so far this year. Looking at each day as a "what can I accomplish today" attitude. I've done a lot actually, which surprises me. Have I succeeded every day? No, not every day. You can't be cheerful and happy and positive every day of your life can you? I can't, that's for sure. But for the most part I have truly put effort into saying yes to new opportunities. 

I am trying to take my LuckiiArts business to the next level. I am going door to door in little brick and mortar shops peddling my goods. It's scary! Walking blind into a shop and selling yourself and your art. But I'm getting bolder and what do they say, practice makes perfect! New goals!

I am also looking at selling wholesale. Also scary- but let's face it, I'm scared of everything these days. Not gonna lie. My life fell apart a year ago and I'm still picking up pieces of myself. The silver lining is that with the picking up comes an opportunity to create a new me. I actually started a pinterest board just for that reason. To remind myself that I have a clean, blank slate- shiny and ready to be drawn on with anything I want! If you are in need of a little pick me up to remind yourself you've got this...go look it up. It's called "The New Me"

I've been working a lot too. Making new wood burned pieces that I love!

Cute little mini pallets huh! So here it is: 

 New Goals for 2017

*make an edition of Art-o-mat blocks every month

*post a new blog piece every month 

*get my art in some stores locally   

*start to sell wholesale      

*spend the time I have with my kids really WITH them, doing
 fun stuff

*say yes when given an opportunity    

*travel more- even small in-state trips

That is a decent start right? I think it's doable for me! 

Here's to a prosperous new year filled with love and joy and good fortune! 

See you next month ;) 

~Casey

 

The making of an art-o-mat block edition

Every once in a while I get a lovely little green card in the mail from Art-o-mat saying "OUT - please send more." 

It's a great thing to open the mail and see that people love what I am making and would like more of it! So- this is my process of making an edition of 50 little wooden art blocks for Art-o-mat!

First, see those little brown blocks pictured above? That is a bunch of freshly cut wood blocks that I use for my little critters and trees. My super woodworking California Dad cuts them for me :) Thanks Dad! They are completely raw and need a coat of paint on all sides. This is generally accomplished as a group effort- meaning all hands on deck for a block painting party! Usually though, it's just my Mom and I drinking coffee and monotonously painting 20 of each color 200 at a time! It's a big job and I love her for helping me!!! Thanks Mom! Great family effort :)

Once they are all painted I have to put my art on them :) I do trees and animals with glasses, some cute birds and jellyfish and other critters. I hand sketch all of the images, then paint them in. Not one is ever identical- that would be boring!

 See- here are some cute Jelly's. I usually do 10 of an animal/tree at a time. I try to use really bright, happy colors- something that will pop and make you smile if you catch a peek of a little block sitting on a shelf or desk somewhere. 

 Happy and bright! See those two little blocks right there /\ the fox and owl? Those were done by my kids. Those little blocks sit on our book shelf in a spot of pride! I love that they like to create when I'm painting. 

The artwork has been painted on, detailed and signed on the back and finally spray sealer is added, to make sure they last and last. But I can't just ship them off like that...nooooo they need to be wrapped with a business card and my info attached. 

For this next step you need a giant roll of acetate. I cut little strips of it to wrap around the blocks...then they get wrapped up with a business card and a really sticky piece of tape.  

There are 50 of these little things, so it's a good bit of time before it's complete. I usually play music, Pandora- Octopus Project is one of my creating stations- and wrap away! 

Here they are- my little blocks of love. All wrapped and ready to ship out to  Art-o-mat central. From there they will be shipped all over the states, sometimes even over seas! Pretty cool huh!!!

That is the life of my little art-o-mat blocks from start to when they find a new home!

 Go find yourself some art! 

~Cheers, 

Casey

Welcome 2016

Happy New Year!

Christmas in Downtown WPB

As this is the beginning of a brand new year, I thought it would be a great idea to post some of my favorite highlights from 2015. Favorite places and events, as well as great art that I had fun creating. 

Hope you enjoy my mix of 2015!

south Florida fair

south Florida fair

This was a great day at the South Florida Fair. The boys had a blast rolling around in these water balls!

This was a day at a marina park over on Palm Beach. The banyan trees over there are stunning. The boys climbed every one!!!

This was the summer of lizards. Cuban anoles, Knight anoles and regular old brown anoles. You name it, if it lives in Florida the kids caught one! Oh...and butterflies!!!

Monarch butterfly

Yellow Sulphur butterfly

We hatched so many beautiful butterflies. 

lots of chrysalises

Fun artwork I created:

funny signs

custom piece for a new therapist's office

beachy doorway sign

I made some pretty cute custom signs! 

New moves:

new house gate!

front door view

sold!

My friend bought her very own house...pink with gargoyles! It is perfect!!!

 -------------------------------------------------------------

To finish the year off: more artwork, my new favorite whiskey drink, Honey :) Canvas WPB show and some clay sculptures by my kid!!!

present for a little girl's bedroom door

Arlo

portrait of Daddy

My little at Canvas WPB

beautiful

some new mini canvas's in my etsy shop

 Hope everyone had a great year! 2016 has started off a little differently for me this year. Facing lots of new challenges and life changes, but everything works out in the end...at least that's what I've been telling myself. I am excited for new prospects in my art business and life in general! 

Wishing everyone a stellar 2016! 

~Cheers

Casey

Tuscan love

 I am loving this little painting! I just picked up these odd little canvas' last weekend and as soon as I saw them I thought of the trees in Tuscany.  Granted, it's not your typical scene from the hills of Italy...but it is in my world! :)

love the colors

I just wanted to brag a little...

OK- two more canvas' to go...I feel a series coming on!

so cute!

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!

~Casey

The launching of Luckii Arts

I am so excited!
I have launched my very own website: www.luckiiarts.com    Can you say WOOHOO with me?

I have portfolios and updates on projects and most importantly...my own shop! It is not connected to Etsy or any other community site (though I do love my Etsy shop), this is my OWN site.

 
I know I am a little late on the website bandwagon- but man, it is daunting reading all of that instructional stuff...half learning html so I can fumble through the editing of  my pages. Seriously, I consider myself a smart cookie...but I did struggle at times. Ultimately though- I pulled it off. I am at day 3 and counting.

And let me just say to my fellow small web-based business friends out there- PINTEREST! I pinned my own picture of my tiles and in 30 mins got 7 hits from pinterest. It is a struggling artists best friend! 

this is the pic I pinned

 So if anyone would like to stop by and have a peek- I am a sponge when it comes to critique. Let me know what you think works..doesn't work...if you came across my site in a search-would it make you stop and flip through some pages? Any and all thoughts are welcome!

Oh- and I am working on my professional page- like other places I can be found, my professional background...that is on this page- and is in the edit phase!

I hope everyone stops by. I am nervous and excited and brain fried all at once...but that is normal for a Mom on any given day! hehehe
Cheers!

~Casey