"It smells like Fine Art in here."

Some times Monday nights are so refreshing. I usually have the whole apartment to myself and can just sit... relax... and {Blog}.  I have been thinking about my trips to The Art Institute of Chicago a lot lately. Walking through the quiet galleries, reading the historical tags, and remembering how it felt the same way when I was 5 as it does now. It literally smells of fine art there, of the paints, of the great masters. Writing this takes me right back there. While we were walking and enjoying, I snapped a picture of a "Folk Art" metal sculpture that mimicked all of the Vintaj Natural brass filigrees I love using with my jewelry. It was large and hanging on a wall near the main staircase. The curves were seductive and refined... the color a warm earthy brown... and it was subtly placed amongst much bigger pieces of work. Someone took so much time to work out this design. I wish I could have touched it and felt all of the little details. Sitting here in my living room tonight and updating my Etsy rings makes this memory so incredibly strong.

I'm Dreaming of {Spring}

You know you're overly eager for spring, when you see that the high for the day is 40˚ and the sun looks as warm as it feel from the windowsill. I am finding myself yearning for hot days and bright colors. Even my work is starting to lighten up and stray away from the grayness of an Illinois winter. What fun combos are to come? I'm really digging lavender and chartreuse... mmm... just like lilacs!

Why Home Depot is a great place for {Art Supplies}.

My friend Jessica shared this great video with me earlier this week. I love using building materials to create interesting textures and designs in my artwork... for example Silicone Caulk. It's fabulous for creating wearable sculpture because it's flexible and dries clear so that you can paint over it easily.

The Art Institute {A.K.A - My Childhood Love & Adult Inspiration}

I'm working on a new line of {Art Journals} that are definitely a little piece of me.  

Each one has hand painting, mixed media, and my favorite color palette.  It feels so good to be inspired again, feeling good working in a new medium and getting it all out!  Tomorrow we leave for the Art Institute of Chicago again (it's FREE the entire month of February) and when I roaming through those halls of fine art... I feel like I come alive. 

   Last week we went to celebrate a late birthday for my step-mom, and it never fails that I leave my sketchbook in the car... EVERY TIME.  Since the holidays I've been wanting to create a new product line for Etsy and Galena Beads and being without my own place to doodle this last time made me want to make them even more.  The only problem is that I want to keep each one I've made.  I might have an addiction to journals, fine paper, and pens. Eek!  I'm so ready to go tomorrow and find even more inspiration.

Galena is so sleepy & quiet in the winter time.  So, to keep my sanity I've been working on my digital business.  There's so much to learn... even though I've always considered myself to be a pretty big technology geek.  Prepped with my cup of Earl Gray in hand I have been surfing, rebuffing, and editing as though it's going out of style.  I swear I could honestly sit here on the computer for 6 hours and not even notice the time go by! HaHa... well in honor of taking a break from it all I am posting my favorite pic from today, then getting up to do something that doesn't involve clicking my mouse & sitting so long my legs are numb.

"Silver Surfer"

Etsy, My Dirty Little Obsession

While a movie is playing on our living room tv, I'm sitting on my corner of the couch surfing Etsy. There are times when I find I've spent hours just looking at fabulous little finds... and obsessing over my own shop. With all of today's networking websites I find it refreshing to be connected to all of these artists. It's like walking through a local market... only they have wears from all over the globe, and everything is exciting. I love reading the Storque Articles featuring people who have made this website their full-time career, in the mean time keeping up with their families and passions. We hear everyday about stores closing, "Main Street America" turning in the key due to a failing economy. What about these micro-economies existing on Etsy? Artisans creating things that they love and feeding themselves. CNN should be focusing on how creativity slowly prevails in times of hardship. I'm so proud to say that an addiction to this website has bettered my life, even if it takes away from quality cinema. The imaginative will carry on!

Viva Obsesión.

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice!

It's rainy and cold here in little Galena, Illinois... and yet the streets are humming with new visitors getting ready to embark on Country Fair Weekend. I've never really been a huge fan of fall, but there is just something about this town that makes every season cozy and fun. This craft show is so exciting/insane that it makes the locals run for the hills.

What am I doing to prepare myself for crowds, too many workshops, and long hours, you ask? Bundling up in a sweatshirt and matching "dumpy" sweatpants and creating a limited edition series of rings just for this weekend... my last chance to take in some quiet time, sip tea, and stitch some crystals. All of which is done while flipping back and forth from HGTV, Food Network, and The Travel Channel (I love "No Reservation with Anthony Bordain"). My cat Cricket also seems to revel in today's couch potato mood. He's sprawled out across the other couch sleeping and occasionally snoring. Who knew cats could snore that loudly... I kind of want to YouTube it! Well, I hope everyone else is enjoying this fabulously gray Thursday afternoon too. Catch you again soon!

Blog Blog Bloggin!

This is officially the first entry on the Hollingsworth Blog site. Where do you start with something like this? Well, I'm a young artist living in the heart of Galena, Illinois. I have been painting and creating since I can even remember and finally have some of my work listed on Etsy.com. I hope to continually update with great new jewelry finds, fashion trends, art creations, and anything else that pops into this mind of mine!