Home in Oregon- No Place I'd Rather Be!

A few pics from my current trip to Oregon- so far lots of rain, board games, food and of course family...no place I'd rather be!!

Full Heart

Ahh Christmas in San Diego..after almost 7 years in southern california I am still not used to holidays here but I must say that a date night with my hubby on Christmas Eve in Coronado was beautiful with an amazing sunset and cool breeze! Not much to tell just lots of food, family and more food...I am not sure I have ever been this SICK of food but I just keep eating regardless! Tomorrow it is off to Oregon for a few days and more family and most likely more food! My heart and tummy are full!!

Yummy

Another busy weekend but this weekend was full of social activity! In between finishing up last minute orders and cleaning the house we went to a dinner party hosted by my in laws and had YUMMY indonesian food. I actually made myself not do anything for a while on both Sat and Sun and managed to watch a couple of movies and veg out for a while before jumping back into "the list". Then last night was spent cooking and serving pancakes to students for our annual pancake study break- I ate way too much bacon and woke up this morning feeling it! This week is going to be crazy with holiday parties, finishing up gifts and trying to get the house cleaned!

Secret Life

My head has been spinning this week with so much going on- I feel like I am jumping back and forth between so many different worlds, trying to balance the job life vs. the art life, keeping up with all my different emotions, pulling together with my hubby to start planning our future and our housing options for when we buy a place soon! When I think too much about it all it makes my head hurts and I freak out so all I can do is just keep my eyes focused on what is in front of me and moving forward and not get distracted by drama or things that do not fill me with goodness- But boy oh boy can this be a challenge!!!!!!!!!!!!! And to top it off the house is a mess right now…piles of canvas creations everywhere, ribbon and beads stuck in our shag living room rug, drawings all over my computer desk, stacks of fabric all over my art room…this time of year is always insane and honestly I am eager for it to be over with!

But of course amidst the chaos of life right now, there are a few things that bring me back to the center like my loyal friend Anna, who was kind of enough to help me at my little craft fair yesterday! Though Anna and I are very different she is one of those people in my life that truly gets me, she brings me a sense of stability, calm and just fun. I met her the day I moved to San Diego and we started out as work friends and now almost 7 years later I think of her as family! Right now I yearn to have people around me that support and understand who I am- life has gotten crazy this last year and with all the wonderful creative opportunities I have found it hard to relate to people, hard to go to work some days- I feel like I am living a secret life full of creative, amazing things. It is hard for me sometimes to not shout from the roof tops...I JUST WROTE A BOOK...I AM PURSUING MY DREAMS...I AM ACTUALLY MAKING IT AS AN ARTIST.... YAHOOOOOO!!!!...instead I keep my head down, stay quiet and keep working hard on everything all the while cherishing the people who appreciate my secret life all the while holding in my heart that hope for one day not having to be so quiet about success!

Illustration Friday-Little Things

A Good Week

So this week is proving to be a nice week- my cupcakes went over great, I have gotten lots of work done, managed to make it to the gym (to hopefully make up for all the cupcakes I ate!) and received these lovely earrings in the mail! I just opened a shop on Etsy and since I don't yet have time to get a variety of paintings up, I have put a variety of earrings up for sale and ended up trading a pair of mine for a pair of crocheted gold earrings from juanitatortilla who makes very beautiful and unique jewlery. So not only do I have a fancy pair of earrings but a new talented online friend who has written the kindest blog entry about our little trade! To top it off I stopped by the annual Alternative Gift Fair at USD and found this lovely purse handmade in Guatemala! The best part is that it even matches my new earrings! When I am not wearing professional attire (which usually means all black) I like to call my style bohemian chic with a (twist of punk) and these two accessories will be the perfect addition to wardrobe!

Cupcake Responsibilities

Busy evening at home tonight...making over 50 cupcakes! Despite my creative endeavors, I still have responsibilities with my "normal job" (at least for now!) and part of this means spending time with the college students that we live and work with! And this month that means a sugary sweet study break at our apartment tomorrow night! Now I just need to practice self control to not eat cupcakes between tonight and tomorrow!!

Creative = Relaxing

So far the weekend has been creative, productive and relaxing! I spent all day Sat making things to sell at a local craft fair- above is a little sneak peak at the ornaments I have created this year to sell and I am so happy with the way that they turned out.

Illustration Friday- Excess

Officially Back!

I am officially back to my blog! And where have I been? yep you guessed it...busy...which is kinda getting old to write about on here! But I have gotten lots of projects finished-for example- revamped my website with a new look and current stuff, FINALLY put some goodies in my etsy shop, filled some orders, began work on Christmas ornaments that I make and sell every year at a few different venues, created new classes that will tie to my book release and began submitting proposals AND THEN split up Thanksgiving between San Diego and Colorado and now finally I am back into my groove! Thank goodness it is Friday and it is raining- yipeee- this means I will be extra productive this weekend (something about the rain makes me work harder!).

And last- I will leave you with some info about a class I will be teaching in my lovely hometown of Seaside, Oregon after Christmas at our family gallery/studio- Burke Design Studio. Please check out the details below!

Recycled Holidays:
turn those holiday scraps into artful accessories!
Saturday, December 29th 12p-5pm- REVISED DATE

Don’t throw out your holiday cards, wrapping, or decorations- Join painter and mixed media artist Alisa Burke for a day of recycling and re-purposing all that Christmas junk! Paint, scratch, sand, collage and alter your scraps to transform them into wearable accessories, new cards, tags and more! Alisa will teach you lots of fun, fast techniques that are artsy and easy to use. You will leave class with a new collection of handmade accessories and mementos!

Location: Burke Design Studio-
Seaside, Or 97138
Date: Friday, December 28th
Time: 12pm-5pm
Cost: $40.00- (includes kit fee)
Beginner and all skill levels welcome!

for registration details email- alisabworkshops@yahoo.com

Thanksgiving in Colorado

Catch Up!

I have been such a bad blogger lately...yet again! But as usual things have been crazy and I am just trying to catch up! Thankfully I have been able to start back in with my gym routine- slowly but surely I will be working back up to my normal routine (i hope!) and I actually went with my hubby to beach one early morning this last weekend to walk and to take pics of him in the water, this was just what I needed before starting the day! Other than my typical stuff, I have been working to make class proposal deadlines, projects for a few different publications, completely revamping my website and opening an Etsy store and these are just the big projects I am trying to tackle before the holiday weekend....AND...to top it off I woke up with a strange rash on my arms this morning- it looks like an allergy-and I cannot for the life of me figure out what I am allergic to. So I am now all looped up on benadryl trying get rid of it...argggghhh!

After Thanksgiving everything is going to hit and life is going to get even more INSANE making stuff and filling small orders and project requests. Check back soon because I will be posting all kind of fun stuff and opportunities!!

Busy Wedding Weekend!

Life as usual has been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! The weekend is now gone and was spent in wedding activities, rehersal, rehersal dinner, getting dressed and pretty, helping groomsman tie their ties, helping with kids, and enjoying the festivities!! Congrats to our friends Bob and Natalie!!!

Illustration Friday- Hats

Homesick

Homesick for green, for crisp air, for family, for Oregon...sigh.

Illustration Friday- Trick or Treat

I am not much of a Halloween person but here is another one of my handmade, hand painted, mixed media ladies just in time for Halloween!

A Little Place Called Home

What a week it has been! Pre San Diego fires my brother and I had a weekend trip planned to go back home for a visit to the Oregon Coast and thank goodness for this. Being cooped up inside, watching over students, watching the news and having anxiety about everything meant it was a perfect time to escape. The weekend was full of fresh air, sunrise beach walks and lots of just sitting around chatting about life. Now I am back and a bit fuzzy and for reason having a tough time typing...So I will just leave you with some pitures from the weekend!

Mother Nature

Oh my goodness!! Just when you think life has calmed down and things are under control...mother nature throws something your way! The last few days we have been trapped inside our our apartment (which is a residence hall!) and been on call for a floor full of students! San Diego is on fire and it seems that we are surrounded by fire and this morning I freaked and had a bit of an anxiety attack- with windows closed, students to be responsible for and looming evacuations, I freaked! But tonight things are looking a little better!! More info to come!

Artistic Journey

Oh my goodness what a week it has been- my blogging has gotten lost in the mix of everything else I have been doing but happy to say I have been able to fit in some time to relax and just hang out which is a necessity for me since these days it seems I have problems sitting still! I sent off the last of the writing for my book and boy was that a relief. Now it is back to painting and filling orders and starting to get back into teaching and YES… taking on more projects! I cannot help but reflect on things right now and honestly, I try not to analyze too much these days, often it holds me back and keeps me from enjoying the ebb and flow of life (in fact I am currently working on just being present in the moment and enjoying life as it comes at me). But it is hard not to think about my creative journey lately- the last eight months have been such a crazy experience. It all hit me this week when I saw that Canvas Remix made it to Amazon for pre-order- it was so lovely to see something tangible to represent this whole process. I have been chasing the dream of being an artist for the last 15 years and am still paying off my college education in painting!!! I have taken crappy jobs in order to work as painter on the side, I have thrown myself into the gallery world and often felt out of place and not happy, I have put so much of my energy obsessing over how I could just be an artist and support myself. Being a creative soul can sometimes be very tasking- there have been times when I look at friends who are happy working their jobs and just living day to day and wonder- why can’t I be like that? My life has forever been haunted by this desire to paint, to make things and to pursue an alternative lifestyle. But I think the last few years I have finally come to terms with the fact the being an artist is who I am, it flows through my veins and whether I am painting something alone in my studio that no one will ever see or if I am painting for a gallery show or if I am painting projects for a book- it doesn’t matter- it is all about being the person I was created to be and that is an artist- even if I still have to work a day job just a little longer…ugghhh!!

In honor of my own artistic journey and since I forgot to write my "Tuesday Blog Love" entry this week- I have included some more favorite links to blogs that I read every day (to keep myself entertained and inspired at work of course!) and they are all people who I consider to also be on their own creative journeys and it is so nice to know that we are not alone when it comes to finding ourselves and our places as artists!!!!

Kelly Rae Roberts
I discovered Kelly Rae through the book process- it seems I keep stumbling upon all sorts of amazing and creative people through other people online and Kelly is one of them- Kelly is also writing a book with North Light which will be released a little after my own and some day I hope our paths cross in person because her blog has been such a COMFORT to read. Finding yourself as an artist can be an emotional journey full of so many ups and downs but overall so fulfilling- Her blog and her lovely art fully captures this journey and what it feels like to discover your creative voice.

Deanna Wood
I love this blog!!!! Deanna not only depicts what it is like to be a working artist but she gives all sorts of really practical advice and feedback about everything from packing and shipping artwork to writing proposals- all very valid things to consider when trying to find your way as a working artist!!

Suzanne Clements
Oh my goodness, Suzanne Clements has guts to keep a blog documenting all of her rejection letters!! Such a genuine glimpse into the challenge of being an artist and trying to find where you and your art fits!! Reading her blog truly reminds me that we may have different artistic styles but the roller coaster ride that goes with living a creative life is the same!!

Misty Mawn
I found Misty after she left a comment on one of my Illustration Friday entries a while back and I have been a fan of her blog ever since! Misty is another person who seems to be seeking a life the fulfills that creative ache and her blog beautifully embodies her experiences and her passage into the life of an artist. Another inspiring daily read!


Diana Fayt
Diana Fayt's blog is close to my heart because I have parents who are potters (unknown fact about me!) and have supported, raised a family and continue to be successful with clay!! Not only do I love Diana's lovely botanical sketches on clay (probably because I also love to use botanical images in my paintings) but I also love reading about her journey as a full time potter!

Illustration Friday- Grow

For this week's illustration friday I have submitted one of my mixed media ladies created from canvas, paint, fabric, and all sorts of found objects- she even has branches growing out of her head!

My Book!

Yipeeeeeeeee...my book is on amazon for pre-order and my heart is racing -I am nervous and excited all at once!! More info to come!!!!!

Mission Accomplished

So we took a little trip to Catalina this weekend it was nice but it wasn't as fun as we expected. My hubby and I are agro travelers- We have explored all of San Francisco (on foot), found all the nooks and crannies of Mexico City (on foot), hiked, snowboared and ate out way through the Canadian Rockies. Everywhere we go, we show up to a place and conquer it! But we conquered Catalina in about 1 hour and then were left feeling...what next?? The only thing left to do was actually park ourselves at a coffee shop and read, people watch and RELAX! This was actually the most still I have been in a long time and if it took a boat trip to an island with nothing to do to get me to relax- mission was accomplished!