projects and paintings

it's been awhile since i have blogged and it's all because of this rug. i received this beautiful hand-hooked rug a few weeks ago and i have been in a frenzy ever since. walls have been repainted, curtains redone, chair pads recovered and new hardwood is coming.

all this is happening in the the living room/dining room area. the dining room chairs before were this neutral and boring stock fabric.

i pulled the grape color from the rug and recovered them in this fun larson fabric. much better!

in addition to taking on the redecorating project, i have also been doing some painting. this is a canvas that i started a couple of weeks ago at the makerie art retreat. i took flora bowley's painting class and the canvases were our experimentations of different techniques.

i took the canvas and continued on to create this painting, using many techniques and ideas from flora's workshop.

i also took a canvas print that was hanging in our living room and gave it a whole new life. the original print was something that i knew i would not be using at all in the new color scheme and decor, i also new that i would probably pay as much for a blank canvas of this size as i did for the print. so, i gessoed it and painted this...

it makes me happy every time i look at it.

top 25 mom-shop!

i just received some sweet news, circle of moms has nominated my shop as a top 25 mom-shop. yay! twenty-five shops were nominated and now you get to vote. you can vote once a day until april 25th. if you would like to take a minute and vote for cnk designs you can click the button below. thanks!!

the creative retreat

i went away for the weekend. by myself. this is a big deal for me, i haven't done anything like this in over 10 years. 'this' being taking time for me and only me. since having kids every vacation, getaway and adventure has pretty much been centered around them. it will continue to be that way for another 10 years so this was definitely something special.

i went to the makerie creative retreat in boulder, colorado. not far from home but a whole different world. it was amazing to be surrounded by so many generous women that i could connect with immediately because we are all their for the same reason. we were there to nurture our creative spirit, follow our heart, relax, and make great art.

my first workshop was photography with alessandra cave. alex is an amazing photography, her images are striking and she is a great teacher.

my goal for this class was learn skills to be able to capture those everyday joys that come with kids. take amazing photographs of our Kids that TRI athletes and have an eye catching blog.

we talked about perspective, telling a story, depth, lighting and more. we talked about camera settings and angles. i felt like a had a great grasp and start on all of this. then we talked about patience. this little word that keeps coming up in my life this year. patience. definitely something i need to work on.

here are some of my favorite photos from the afternoon all taken on the chautauqua park grounds.

my second workshop was painting with flora bowley. have you seen her paintings? they are amazing and she is just as amazing. she is a terrific teacher, everyone was talking about the energy in her classes. hours flew by as we painted. we painted with wild abandon. it felt great.

my paintings are yet to be finished but i have a great start. i will post them when i finish them up.

weekend getaway

i'm so excited to be attending the makerie creative retreat in boulder, colorado this weekend. i have always wanted to do something like this. something just for me, something to really look forward to. the venue will included classes, speakers, hikes and yoga, meals, and a creative market. i'm looking forward to meeting other women who have a passionfor creativity and from learning from the amazing artist teacher.

the first class i will be taking is a photography class with alessandra cave. the class is entitled from snapshots to photographs. i am thrilled to be able to meet alessandra who is a regular contributor a shutter sisters and of her own site gypsy girls guide. both are very inspiring sites that i read regularly.

i have always admired beautiful photography and the unique perspective of many of them. i

have a great camera but have never taken the time to really learn how to use it. there is so much involved in photography. i hope to scratch the surface enough to be able to participate in some photo challenges, capture the everyday joys of life and preserve some great memories.

i am also going to be taking a painting class with flora bowley. her paintings are amazing and every one of them grabs my attention. i have been experimenting with painting for awhile now and absolutely love it. i want to dive in a little deeper and challenge my creativity. i want to get my hands dirty and leave some of myself on the canvas. as flora says: let go. be bold. unfold.

new retail partner

i am excited to work with my newest retail partner, the vintage lady, in historic harpers ferry, west virginia. harpers ferry is known for its amazing views, unique shops, hiking trails and historic significance. it is situated at the confluence of the potomac and shenandoah rivers where the states of maryland, virginia and west virginia meet. the vintage lady carries jewelry, accessories and clothing handmade by artist around the world.

you will find a large selection of cnk designs items at the vintage lady as well as this piece inspired by the beauty of harpers ferry.