What I recently added to my Etsy shop

Handmade one of kind Santa Face's

Everyone's sure to love these guys. They are created on a 10x10 gallery wrap canvas upon each individual order assuring no two are alike. 

Visit my Etsy shop today to see this new item listed. Order your's in time for the holidays!

I finished it…

Well it happen not long after our return trip from New York. I finished reading A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman. Emily has inspired me pushing me forward many of days by just reading her words. As someone myself who is working on writing her second book, becoming a better blogger, ready to record her second online art class and create more art for her etsy shop reading A Million Little  Ways has been just what my soul needed at this season in my life.   

I have carried this book to

the orthodonist office 

the soccer field

on an airplane

and 

sat many of days on my couch in the morning drinking my coffee after my devotion and daily reading helping me jump start my days of writing. I give a true A+ to this book and thank Emily for writing it. 

I love on page 33 her last words for the chapter "Let's follow the arrows to your soul." Those words did something inside me that sparked the little doodle, see above. I enjoy keeping a black pen with me while reading to underline, mark and doodle. That way when I finish reading a book, I can flip back through at times I might be looking for something or I am needing a moment to be inspired. Seeing my notes, underlining and doodles triggers and encourages my soul. My prayer is of thanks for all who go the extra mile daily to make art whether it be in your home daily, cooking, making a home, homeschooling, singing, writing, painting or your daily job outside the home. What you're doing matters and we need you! Push forward each day all smiles… #weallmakeart

Additional reading on my thoughts about this book can be read here.

And see just when I got it here.

Have you read A Million Little Ways?

Have you read another books by Emily P. Freeman?

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

In honor of Emily and her blog, Chatting At The Sky, I am going to share what I've learned this summer. Each month she share's what she has learned for the month. She took some time off from blogging so she combined the summer months together. Enjoy! 

It's extremely hot and humid in Mississippi.

My 87 year old grandfather is pretty good at texting.

Living with a high school graduate feels like such a relief.

I have better blog skills than I allow myself.

Cleaning the turtles bowl taking longer when you take pictures of each step.

Bats fly here at dark.

The Beef Jerky Outlet sales way more than just jerky.

My oldest daughter doesn't do well flying.

There's to many people in Times Square on a Saturday night for my comfort.

Watching your kids cook okra with their dad is really fun.

Painting sticks is really cool.

Summers almost over.

My youngest daughter looks cute with out her braces.

Rearranging your kids bedroom furniture can be a really cozy move, fresh, fun.

She Reads Truth is an amazing online Bible study.

Going through old pictures from 10 years ago can be fun, rewarding.

You can make place mates out of brown paper bags .

If you keep reading you will finish a book.

It's not to late to give/receive a graduation gift.

My dog does not like thunder.

It's okay to be told no.

My mailman's grandkids go to my kids school.

A walk from the Brooklyn Bridge to Empire State Building is a long walk.

Free fire works brings in all types of people.

You get home sooner than your postcards reach their sending destination. 

Pen Pal #youvegotmail

What it means to have a pen pal…

This day and age we live in a world with all the
social media. It's easy to find that instant friendship,
but reverting back to the good ole pen pal
system is so rewarding.

It's like recycling

 reading & writing  skills

good hand writing

promotes patience

joy of anticipation 

true friendship bonding

development of social skills

teaches responsibility 

oppurtunity to talk about hobbies, interests

geography-study where your pen pal lives

interviewing skills- asking your pen pal questions

art- include a piece of your artwork

wether it be doodle, drawing, small 

painting, a song you wrote, a recipe

we are all creative

Are you looking for a pen pal…

Splash of SUNSHINE

Here in the south 

it's been raining for like 

three days!

It's spring for crying out loud. 

Enjoy this video I made!

When there's no sun,
create your own!

splash of sunshine from Ashley Murphy on Vimeo.

Online Art Class

Guess What!?

The Learn Live Lead
online art class is ready for
purchase.

As I finish up a few
last minute things
getting the classroom
ready. I want
to go ahead and give you
time to purchase your
spot in the class.

The class will
start
Monday,
March 25, 2013.

Just in time for a fun Spring...

I am giving $10 off
for those who sign
up before class starts.
So that means
it will be $29.99
vs. the original $39.99.

What a bargain!

You can do that by clicking below

Sale for Learn Live Lead
This sale will last
until midnight Sunday,
March 24, 2013.

Reminder:
Just because the class starts
Monday doesn't mean
you have to. The class is intended
for you to work at
your own pace
in your own
space.

There are no deadlines...

Once you purchase
a spot in the classroom you will
receive a confirmation
email with in 24 hours.

From there you will be given a
special invite inside
the classroom.

Once in the classroom there
 will be a Welcome page
with a complete supply list
and a
Welcome video.

Starting Monday
a lesson will be posted each
day. This will be
about a weeks worth
of lessons.

If you sign up after class starts
everything will be there at once.

From there everyone has
unlimited access to the
classroom, but there
are a few classroom
rules I ask of you.
 There will be a video inside
the classroom explaining the rules.

If you are a beginner,
somewhere in the middle,
or an advanced artist
you are sure
to enjoy yourself.
All ages are welcome.
I use the very same
teaching tools
with my children.

If you've taking an
art class in your local town
before but not a online art class
you are sure to love
the online art class too.

It's alot of information I
know but it will
be alot of fun.

Let's get messy!
_______________

Art is the only way to run away

without leaving home ~ Twyla Tharp

Learn Live Lead

Learn Live Lead is an online

mix media art class. The class will

be broke down as the following...

Welcome to Learn Live Lead

Introduction

My Studio

My Materials

Hands On

Step by Step

All within a private

online class room with

unlimited access.

This is great for working at

your own pace in your own space.

There will be a private

a facebook group. Once you register for

the class you will gain access to the group.

Here you will share, ask questions,

and gain insight from other

like minded artist.

Instagram #learnliveleadart for

instant sharing.

There will be a postcard swap with

others in the group for

those who register before the

class starts.

There will also be
a chance to win a custom
piece of my artwork!
To enter share 
about this class with your
friends. Send me proof
and you will have your 
name in the hat! 
This should be done before 
class starts 
Monday, March 25, 2013.
       

Supplies

This class is intended to have

fun on a budget. So with that said

start with anything you might

have on hand.

*markers

*paint

*glue

*scissors

*pencil

*pen

*paper, cardboard, canvas, art journal

*scrape book paper, book pages

*glitter

*junk mail, envelopes

*magazines

*newspaper

*think recycle

a complete supply list will 

be given inside the class room.

Cost

$39.99

_______________

If you haven't already
watch this video
for a quick
view
what the class
will be like.

  

BlOg HoP-the art of WILD abandonment

YOU made iT!

I am guessing you hopped over from

craftydscreations. That's my buddy who made

"coffee time" art journal page.

You can check it out over

at her blog! I am sure it's a few

blog post down by now.

WeLcOmE, WeLcOmE

to my little world, ashley's art closet!

I am so, so glad you are here! To learn more about me

you can click on the about me tab at the top of this blog

or simply click here-about me.

As most of you already know

I've been taking the Art of Wild Abandonment

online workshop by Junelle Jacobsen

and Christy Tomlinson

so can you click here:

the-art-of-wild-abandonment-workshop

Each week Junelle

teaches the class and

Christy shares her take on it all

one time a week. Below

was inspired by

Christy's week one...

These are my watercolor crayons,

I used for the above picture.

Junelle uses Neocolor Water Soluable Pastels.

I wish I would have

waited and purchase like what

she uses but my local art store

doesn't carry them. And actually didn't

know the difference in the two

until I got home looking at them.

Same thing on this one

sketch and watercolor

crayons...

Take time OUT:

1. Laugh! Laugh again...

2. Let others know where your light comes from!

3. Look at what's in front of you, not the person next to you!

Another take,

another day in Junelles class,

walk a day in my shoes....

created by me

as a stay home mom this one

came straight from my heart.

I can so see this one as my next

book cover. Walk a Day in my

Shoes: stories of a stay home mom.

I tell myself all the time if I had

all this time to create all the art,

write all the books and take

all the pictures that come to my mind

would be so awesome then I stop and think...

I already have a job...

One of the things Junelle

teaches is looking at what's around you

and sketch it. This woman is known

for her sketches now..

While at a local sandwhich shop one

afternoon, my eyes were wondering,

kinda like they do when I am

looking for a picture to take,

I saw the cutest little girl!

So I used a napkin and a pen from

my purse. Isn't it so

stinkin cute!?

So I did more once

I got home...

aren't these just the cutest girls ever,

I can't keep my eyes off of them...

more thumbnails sketches...

One of the big things about taking

Christy's classes is her

online mix media store.

She gives discount when you

sign up for one of her classes!

Above are

things I purchased this go around

from Christy.

Thanks so much for stopping in..

I hope you will visit back some time soon. If you would like look

at the very bottom of my blog where it says followers, you can

click follow this blog to add yourself to the list.

Oh and leave me a comment below,

I'd love to hear what you have to say...

To continue on in the fun of this hop

click on journeyofamermaid to see what

she's up to. I also see she is doing the 29 face challenge!

What fun, wish I had the time

to join that fun!

Want to join the fun!?

Jump on over to clairesmillie

for more of this blog hop!



p.s. I want to be

Junelle

and

 Christy

when I grow up!!!

This may TAKE awhile

Remember the start of the gesso-book-pages 

in one of my books!?

Well I wanted to give you an update

and keep you up to date

on how it's going!

more gesso pages

closed side view

first painted page

see my apron, it belongs to the hubby I bought it for him

one year, he doesn't use it so I put it to use

while trying to capture the picture of the apron,

i spotted the fan above me

crinkle

gesso finger tips

Art Workshop

In an effort to continue to find me,
myself as an artist, I purchased the
She Art and She Art 2 online workshop
combo by Christy Tomlinson.

This is the first workshop
I've ever done! I found Christy's workshop through
another artist friend. Christy's constant style
of mix media art is so ME!
If I were to tell you of someone
who totally inspires me it would be
Christy. You can visit her over at her
blog, http://christytomlinson.typepad.com/christytomlinson/

She has a few videos under tutorials
you can watch of her work - Christy's tutorials
I watched all of them in no time. That's one reason
I choose to purchase these workshops, so that I
would have something to watch that held my attention
while I walk on the treadmill. My mother says there's
no way, she doesn't understand how I do such stuff on the
treadmill. But hey, if it works, it works!

Seeing her work, even prior to purchasing the workshop,
has shown me a different path to my art-stuff I already knew, but
has encourage me to apply. Usually, I am all
about abstract. It's been good! Mix media allows me
to be messy, like with my simple abstract and I like MESSY.

I hope one day to use some of my photography for some
mix media projects!


Christy's badge
from the workshop

Art Journal Page 6

this is one of my favorite pages

my youngest daughter had a butterfly stain glass thingie from school last year that inspired this page

we used watercolor, which I don't use alot

but we had alot of fun with this one

this picture just doesn't do it justice

here's some tips, I found

art-journaling-101

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Art Journal Page 5

Memorial Day weekend while spending time with some friends

they taught us the game of Peanuts-a card game!

Blown away at first due to the spend of the game and how

well they played, when they left we mastered the game.

So for lots of summer fun we spent lots of our time playing Peanuts...

Below are the rules for playing Peanuts, I found on ehow.com!

Rules of the Peanuts Card Game

Peanuts is a card game that relies on a combination of speed and patience. (It also has other names, such as Pounce, Nerts and Squeal). It involves players using their own personal deck of cards to create different piles of cards while trying to get rid of all cards in one specific pile. It can be played by any number of multiple players but is best with two to four.

1. Cards and the First Piles

   • Each player uses his own personal card deck, and each deck must differentiate from the others (they must have different backs). Players deal 13 cards from their deck in front of them, with the top card face up; this is the peanuts pile. They then deal four cards side by side next to the peanuts pile to form the work piles. The remaining deck is the stock; it can be placed face down on the table or held in one hand.

   Playing Cards

   • All players play their cards at the same time, with the intent of removing all cards from the peanuts pile. Any face-up Ace on their side of the table is placed in the middle of the table to start a foundation. Players build foundations by playing the next highest card of the same suit---a Two of Clubs goes on top of an Ace of Clubs---until the king of that suit ends the foundation. They can also play any of their face-up cards onto one of their work piles. but the work piles are built in descending value and alternating colors (a Seven of Hearts goes on an Eight of Spades). When a peanuts card is played, the top card of that pile is flipped face-up. When one work pile's cards are all played, the top card from the peanuts pile forms a new work pile.

   Waste Piles

   • When players cannot play any cards, they draw three cards from their stock and lay them face up on their end of the table. This is called the waste pile, and its top card can be played just like all the other piles. Any time players can't play a card, they draw three from the stock and add them to the waste pile. When the stock runs out, a player picks up the waste pile and turns it face down to reform the stock.

   Scoring

   • Play ends when one player runs out of peanuts cards and calls out "Peanuts," and then points are tallied. Players get a point for every card from their deck within the foundations (this is why you need different-looking decks). They then lose two points for every card still within their peanuts piles. They then reclaim all their cards and shuffle the decks, and play begins again. This continues until at least one player reaches a pre-determined score (usually 100 points), and then the one with the most points wins.

Art Journal Page 4

the word for page 4 was DREAMY

i wasn't real sure where i was going with it

i just started doodling

my kids loved it, they still say it's one of their favs

it's actually my least fav

hmmm to create what i like or what other's like !?!?

I have heard from a few who have started an art journal.

Have you, if so I would love to hear from you,

email me at ashleysartcloset@yahoo.com

here's a video I found the other day about art jounaling

click here for art journal page one
click here  for art journal page two
click here for art journal page three

Pieces

For those of you who have read Daddy's Briefcase

may remember Banee. Banee, who was 13 at the time was my back seat DJ

back in the day -highschool- when my car only had am radio.

Banee recently requested a painting, "animal print" she said!

Hmmm, animal print "can you show me" something

to go by, an idea!? She mailed me this print out:

Awesome, awesome big bold leopard print, to work

I went. I shaped, I molded each piece...days would come

days would go. I told her it was summer, that it might take

longer. She waited patiently. The further I got with all the shaping

and molding, I begin to think about my life. Each day has been shaped

and molded, so that in the end I can say I did my very best. I have

to remind myself, I didn't just wake up this way!

i attached this on the back of the painting

starting process

see the texture-i heart texture

each textured piece was hand molded

if i was gonna do it, it was gonna be done right-my style

i have to say this is one picture that took me the longest time out of anything else i have painted

my hardest part when i paint a picture is being able to turn loose of it

i so usually can see all my work in my home some where

i usually run from room to room placing it in different places

i wrote this special little letter on the back of the pieces card

attached on the back

A few days after she recieved the painting, I recieved the

sweetest text message. Having the leopard paint in her living area

allows her to have a piece of me in her home. That's sweet stuff there!

Banee will always be my back seat DJ!