MoonWillow Art Studio

CANCELED: Soldered Pendent Necklace Workshop

2011-04-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

I'm teaching my first workshop! Here's the details:

Saturday, May 7 · 10:30am - 1:30pm
Tinman Artworks
811 W. Garland
Spokane, Washington

Karmen Naccarato will help students to create the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Personalize your pendent with photos, dried flowers or images of your own artwork. Create a gift for your mother or invite her to make her own. A list of recommend extra supplies available. Please register for this class by Wednesday, May 4th. $15 class fee + $10 supply fee. Limited to 10 students.

To register, call Tinman Artworks at: (509) 325-1500.

UPDATE: Well, shoot! The soldered pendant workshop I was teaching this Saturday has been canceled due to not enough people signing up. Many thanks to Tinman Gallery for wanting me to teach a workshop and for all their hard work promoting it! And a BIG thank you to everyone's interest, support & kind comments! You're the best!

Showing at Calypsos Coffee

2011-03-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

Life happens fast...one day I'm in Montana at Quinn's Hot Springs, the next day I get a phone call to hang my art in a local coffee shop. How cool is that? It was a bit of a scramble to pull everything together on such short notice, but with Tony's help it all came together. I've never had my art hang in a coffee shop, so this is a first for me. I'm excited about it!

My photography and oil paintings are hanging at Calypsos Coffee, now through April 14th. Head down there, get a cup of great coffee and enjoy some art!

OWOH 2011 Winners!

2011-02-18T11:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to everyone who played along & visited my blog! You're the BEST! I loved your comments & it was lovely to 'meet' you all.

The winners are:

Amanda at Life Since Then won the 4 pack of cards.

Cheryl Dolby at Healing Woman won the ACEOs & postcards.

And Melanie at The Creators Palette won the 5x7 print.

Congratulations ladies! Enjoy!

What a great OWOH event! There's never enough time to visit everyone.... Again, a big THANK YOU to Lisa at A Whimsical Bohemian for putting on this event for it's fifth & final year.

One World One Heart 2011

2011-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my blog! How nice of you to stop by today :) This is the fifth and final One World One Heart blogger event and the third year that I've participated in this wonderful adventure. Every year, I'm always amazed & inspired by the blogs I get to visit and there never seems like enough time to visit them all! A big, heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to Lisa at A Whimsical Bohemian for putting this together over the years. It's a huge effort that is greatly appreciated!

Please make yourself comfortable, have a cup of tea and some of the shortbread cookies I've made. What's that you say? You want the recipe? Hmmmm....Let me see if I can find it in my tattered homemade cookbook while you peruse the pages of my little home in the world of blogging.

But first, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Karmen. I'm an artist and graphic designer dabbling in many mediums from painting to photography to jewelry and anything else that catches my fancy. My days are spent juggling home, family, my health, and studio time. I'm married to my wonderful husband of almost 11 years, have a beautiful 19 year old daughter (whom I couldn't be prouder of!), & we share our home with our fur babies Puppy Cali & Lizzie the Cat. We live at MoonWillow Cottage, our little purple house, where I have a home studio. The studio used to be the garage until my husband gave it a make over. This year we'll be putting the finishing touches on it! 2011 holds much potential and magic...I can feel it!

This year I'm doing something a bit different. I'm not offering a door prize...I'm offering three of them! One for every year I've participated in this event! *grin* If you're name is drawn, you will receive one of the following:

For my first door prize I'm giving away a set of 4 blank cards (with envelopes) of my photography.

My second door prize is a set of 4 ACEO size photographs and 6 postcards of my New Beginnings paintings.

And my third door prize is a matted 5x7 of my photograph, "Sometimes I Feel Like a Ghost", signed and dated by me.

It's simple to enter your name in the drawing , just leave a comment to THIS POST with a way for me to contact you. A winner will be chosen by random draw of the hat on February 17th at 10:00am Pacific time. No more entries will be accepted after 10am. If you are the winner, please contact me within 24 hours to receive one of these three door prizes. If I don't hear from you then I'll choose another name from the hat.

Now....I've found that recipe!

Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies

1 cup butter (regular salted butter. Smart Balance works nicely too)
1/2 powdered sugar
1tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups almond or coconut flour (my favorite is Gluten Free Mama's!)

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together butter and sugar. Add vanilla, then gradually mix in flour. Knead briefly, then form balls (I use about a regular spoonful) and press down with two fingers. You will probably have a little ridge in the middle, so just lightly press that if you want it gone. You can also use a fork to make a criss cross pattern or a cookie stamp if you have one. The dough tends to crumble so you may wish to flatten the dough balls slightly before adding any pattern to them. If using a cookie stamp, you may wish to dust it with powdered sugar in between stamping each cookie. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. When done, remove cookies from sheet & cool on a rack or paper towels. I can make about 50 -60 small cookies with this recipe. You can also use regular flour in these if you're not gluten intolerant. These cookies are to die for! Seriously, my girlfriends won't share then with their husbands!

Thanks for stopping by today! I sure hope I get a chance to visit your blog during this event. If you would like to participate in this years OWOH event, pop on over to A Whimsical Bohemian's blog for all the details on how to do that.

Good luck! Have a beautiful wonderful fabulous magical day!

My Etsy Shop Grand Opening!

2011-01-27T16:07:00.000-08:00

After three years of snags, snafus, and health glitches, I am so thrilled to finally have my Etsy shop up and running! To celebrate I'm offering 10% off today through the end of February. Just pop on over to my Etsy shop or my Facebook page to get the coupon code. Right now you'll find some of my favorite photos listed. In the near future I'll be listing prints of my paintings, postcards, & a few other little lovelies that are sure to delight you. Please stay tuned & check back often!

Raw Space Art Show

2011-01-18T12:54:00.001-08:00

I'm very excited to share with you that I will be taking part in this years Raw Space event during the Spokane Visual Arts Tour, February 4th - 6th.

This will be the first time I've shown at Raw Space. I'm very much looking forward to the adventure of it all! I could only enter two pieces to show, which was very difficult! But, I finally narrowed it down to a couple of my new photographs, which I just picked up from Camera Corral yesterday. They look great! I can't wait to see what they will look like framed...that's the plan for today.

There are 110 artists participating this year, showing two pieces each. That's a lot of art! I'm excited to see it myself! This years event will be taking place at Pacific Bridge Development, 32 W. Second Avenue.

Exhibition times are: Opening Reception is Friday, 5:00pm - 9pm. Saturday, 10:00am - 5:00pm and
Sunday, noon - 4:00pm.

From the Spokane Arts Department: "Spokane Art Supply, Pacific Bridge Development and the Spokane Arts Commission present “Raw Space,” a popular non-juried community art exhibit as part of the upcoming Spokane Visual Arts Tour. This newest installment of Raw Space, a temporary gallery project located in vacant buildings and storefronts, will take place on the first floor of the Pacific Bridge Development, 32 W. Second Avenue."

One World One Heart Event Coming Soon!

2011-01-05T11:47:00.000-08:00

This is the fifth and final year for the One World One Heart blogger event. One World One Heart is an event for bloggers to meet and mingle with other bloggers that they may not have otherwise come across. I've done this for the last three years and I'm excited to participate again this year! This years event will take place January 30th - February 17th. It's a great way to see other peoples work, to meet interesting people from all over the world, and every year I am always amazed, moved and inspired by the wealth of creativity out there! A great big heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to Lisa at A Whimsical Bohemian for coordinating this every year for the last five years! I don't know how she does it!

See you on January 30th when all the fun begins! For more information or if you are wanting to participate in this years event, click HERE.

New Art

2011-01-05T10:45:00.001-08:00

Green Vision: 8x10 Mixed media on canvas

Purple Moon Dance: 8x10 Mixed media on canvas

Ember Moon Magic Brooms

2010-12-03T10:43:00.000-08:00

This is what I've been doing in the studio for the last week. It's a bit different work than I have done in the past, but change is good & creating is creating. I love how these turned out. Not just the brooms, but the graphic design, packaging, & oils too!

These are authentic Ember Moon Magic Brooms. Each broom is handcrafted by Ember MoonWillow aka Karmen Naccarato. Each are numbered & one of a kind. The sticks for these brooms came from a Birch tree in our yard. Sadly, the power company informed us that our Birch tree needed to be cut to the ground due to the power lines overhead. It just felt so wrong to haul the branches & wood off to the landfill...so, I made brooms all Summer long. Now they are ready & are looking for good homes.

Before this tree was cut down, a small blessing ceremony was preformed as we thanked the tree for the many years it provided shade & beauty to our yard. The leaves were then stripped from the branches. Then the branches were cut into various sizes, taking into account if it would become the bristles or the handle. The bristles were wired onto the handle one at a time. This makes a sturdy broom with bristles that will not easily fall out. The wire will rust naturally over time, giving it a nice rustic look. The natural bark was left in place, then all the rough edges on the handles were sanded smooth. Each broom took approximately 6 hours to create.

Brooms are adorned with ribbons, rusty bells, a rusty star, a vintage brass key from my grandmothers stash of trinkets, & an Ember Moon tag. Tags were designed by me, printed on my printer, hand cut, then further adorned with pen & ink, stamping & then aging them by hand. Brooms were crafted using a proprietary blend of quality good vibes & positive energy & are a blank canvas ready for you to customize to your own vibrational energies.

Brooms come with a certificate of authenticity that has been designed by me & then printed on paper that has been aged, a process that uses an acid free dye ink that is fade-resistant, water, a wood stove & an iron. Some pages even have mica flakes on the back. After printing the certificates were further distressed using acid free ink & some are hand trimmed, sanded, & even burned a bit. Certificates are signed by the artist aka Me & come in a clear protective sleeve.

Includes a free set of 3 oil samples, which have also been handcrafted by me. Oils included are the 2009 Cottonwood, St. John's Wort, & Yarrow Oils. The Cottonwood buds were gathered locally by me & Tony in May 2009. It's red color comes from the resin contained within the buds. This is the reddest Cottonwood oil I have seen. I attribute it to just the right conditions...snow on the ground with blue sky & the Sun overhead. The warmth of the Sun's rays causes the resin to flow into the buds. The Yarrow & St. John's Wort was grown without pesticides by me in our cottage garden. The St. John's Wort was picked on Midsummer. Oils come packaged in an organza bag with an information sheet that has been hand trimmed & slightly aged. A great stocking stuffer! Ingredients used to create oils: Herbs are steeped in olive oil, strained, sprinkled with Hopes & Dreams, a dash of Moondust, a bit of Magic, & a pinch of Love. Oils are not essential oils. Sets will be available for purchase in the future.

For more information, please come take a peek at the rest of my brooms & goodies. Stay tuned too because at some point very soon I will be having a giveaway featuring a set of oils!

Sometimes I Feel Like A Ghost

2010-05-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

May 12th is International ME/CFS/FM Awareness Day. For the second year I am participating in Blogging for ME/CFS Awareness.

This piece was inspired by my recent CFS/FM relapse. The brain fog has been horrendous....I didn't feel like I was in my body. I spent many days wandering in my house...I felt vacant, hollow, numb.....the person who I know myself to be felt as if she were slipping away into a murky realm. I felt like a ghost....

With the help of my awesome husband, Tony, he took some photos of me....then I added those to some photos we took in early November 09.

And the winner is......

2010-02-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

Today is the day we see who will win the Cottonwood Oil for the One World One Heart event! Are you excited? I'm excited! The sun is shinning...glitter is all over the windowsill & the floor....& the studio fairy is looking on in suspense....Perfectly magical!

I put my hand into the crystal bowl...I pull out a slip of paper....there's a name on it....Who is it? Who could it be? Let's take a look! Let's see!

It's Jeanette! Congratulations Jeanette!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to come by my blog & leave you're wonderful comments! I don't know what's more fun...reading all the comments or visiting everyone's blogs & seeing what they are creating. I wish I would have had more of a chance to visit more blogs! Also, a HUGE thank you to Lisa at A Whimsical Bohemian for hosting this years One World One Heart event!

One World One Heart Giveaway 2010

2010-01-25T10:56:00.000-08:00

The One World One Heart Giveaway has begun!

This year I am offering a whimsical & enchanted little bottle of oil. This oil is made from the buds of the Cottonwood trees that grow in the forests where I live. The buds are hand collected by my husband & me, being mindful of not over-harvesting so that the branches are bare & leaving a little gift for the trees in return. The buds are then put into a jar with olive oil & put in the sunshine & the moonlight for a month or longer, until the oil is just right. This oil is a lovely garnet red color & smells absolutely divine. This has become a yearly tradition for us over the years & I have to say that the Spring 2009 oil is absolutely amazing. The buds were picked at just the right time. Usually it's not this rich garnet red color. Pop on over to my Karny Life blog to see some pictures from last years adventure.

According to folklore, Cottonwood was one of the ingredients required to make flying ointments & the Native Americans used it for it's many healing properties. The oil comes in a 1/2 ounce cobalt blue dropper bottle & is packaged in a lovely little box that has been made by me, hand stamped & aged for a whimsical Victorian look. The labels & information insert are designed by me as well. This little bottle of my oil is not available anywhere, not even for sale at this time. It is from the first five I've made...my prototypes if you will. It was an absolute delight bringing together many of my different interests to create this.

How can you toss your name in the hat to win this enchanted bottle of oil? It's simple, just leave a comment to THIS POST with a way for me to contact you. A winner will be chosen by random draw of the hat on February 15th at 10:00am Pacific time. No more entries will be accepted after 10am. If you are the winner, please contact me within 24 hours to receive this little lovely offering of oil. If I don't hear from you then I'll choose another name from the hat.

Please visit more of the wonderful artists participating in this year's One World One Heart event by visiting Lisa at A Whimsical Bohemian.

Manic Moon Studios Holiday Art Show

2009-11-30T15:50:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Bet you wondered where I went. LOL Well, I'm back!!! My jewelry is being shown as part of a holiday art show opening on First Friday in Spokane, WA at Manic Moon Studios, 1625 N. Monroe Street, below the Lillian Con Antique Gallery. Click on graphic below for more info.

My Story: Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia

2009-05-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

I signed up to blog for ME/CFS Awareness. I found this on RachelCreative's blog for the 2008 Awareness day. Here is where you can find more information about blogging for ME/CFS Awareness. May 12th was ME/CFS/FM International Awareness Day. I'm a day late, but better late than never. Below is my story.

Yesterday was ME/CFS/FM Awareness Day. For many people, I think it is very difficult to understand invisible illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Lupus, & many other 'invisible' chronic illnesses. I could tell you all about what the 'experts' say it is...what the internet says it is...I could do all of that research & tell you all the facts & figures...but today, I'm too tired to go to all that effort. The truth is...something gets lost in all those facts & figures...WE, the people living with ME/CFS/FM & other invisible illnesses get lost in all those facts & figures. So today, I will share something I do know about...my experience with CFS/FM...I know this story well. I've lived it for 10 years. Just saying that makes me tear up.

I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia in 2000. However, my health challenges started a year prior in December of 1999. That December is when I got a very bad case of flu....& I never got well. It was like a light switch. One day I was well...the next, my whole life changed. Before the flu...I used to jog 2 miles at least 3 times a week...I hiked...I did anything I wanted to. Going to the store, meeting friends for a night out, playing with my daughter...all were a breeze. I never had to think about it...I just did it & lived my life. After the flu...I couldn't even walk up a flight of stairs. I was exhausted. I couldn't catch my breath. My heart pounded. Everything hurt. And that....was just the beginning of the darkest time in my life.

Over the next year I struggled to finish college. I was going to school for my graphic design degree & I was determined to finish it. After all, I was probably just over tired because I was in school. I figured it would be over when I graduated, I'd take some time off, rest up, & then be ready to take on the world again. I did a lot when I was in college...I excelled for the first time in my life. I ran a student gallery, I was on the Dean's List, I got good grades & my instructors gave me great encouragement saying I had a promising future in art/graphic design. I graduated with honors in May 2000....& that...was it.

I was also a single mom, so I struggled to care for my daughter while finishing college...she was 8 at the time. I lived with my parents so I could go to school. They helped me with my daughter, which was a blessing in many ways. I don't know what I would have done had they not been there. The down side is that often times between school, homework, & being exhausted...I didn't see my daughter much even though we lived in the same house. Even now this brings sadness to my heart...I feel like I missed out on a lot of things with her...

In March 1998 I met my now husband, Tony. I was well when we met. Falling in love with him was easy...magical...& everything you'd imagine from one of those romantic soulmate kind of movies or novels. You know the ones...That was a very happy time. Concerts, camping & weekend trips, day trips, hiking were all part of our life. He proposed in October of 1999...Our whole future laid before us...the future looked bright...Then, I got sick December 1999. Both of our lives changed...dates now consisted of me going over to his place, watching movies, & me falling asleep with my head in his lap. Tony, has taken care of me every step of the way... He has seen me at my worst...& the worst was actually pretty horrible. He never left my side, he never treated me like a burden, & he always believed me.

That's the thing about CFS/FM/ME...many times, people don't believe that you're sick. After all, you don't LOOK sick. I've heard it all...it's all in your head, you're just depressed, you're a hypochondriac, you're lazy. Comments like these are extremely hurtful to those of us who live with these kinds of illnesses. Sadly...these kinds of comments come from friends, family, & even doctors sometimes. (If your doctor ever says anything like that or says that he doesn't know what to do for you...find another doctor). This just adds to the pain of living with CFS/FM/ME...we end up questioning & doubting ourselves...we start believing that it is our fault...we feel shame & guilt...why can't we just snap out of it...maybe it is all in our head...It takes a toll on our self-esteem & our worth. I think it is pretty safe for me to say NO ONE chooses to live like this. I think one of the hardest things about illnesses like these is the isolation...not only being isolated from the world by being at home resting, but the isolation that comes from a lack of people (family, friends, doctors...) understanding that what we are living with is real. It is real. I would not wish this on my worst enemy.

I have now lived with CFS/FM for 10 years. At my worst, I walked with a cane & felt 90...but I was only 37. There were weeks at a time I did not get out of bed. The fatigue was debilitating. The worst days felt like there was an assault on my body...everything hurt...like I'd been hit by a truck...or a train...I would be numb, almost zombie like...forgetful to the point I have chunks of memory missing...not able to find the right words...having to describe the round thingys that make a car move because I could not remember the word tire. Dizziness & vertigo severe enough that I couldn't (& sometimes still) can not drive...my body not moving the way I want it to...stumbling or falling...anxiety, panic attacks & depression. (A side note here about depression -- there is a difference between being depressed which causes one to feel physical symptoms...it is entirely another thing to feel so horrible that one would then become depressed. Trust me, when someone lives with a chronic painful condition for 10 years...they're not going to be in the best of moods.) There were heart palpitations which were severe enough that I went to the hospital...Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which if you have not experienced, feels like a cat is trapped in your gut clawing it's way out....Pain in every joint & muscle, exhaustion that was so bad that I didn't think I'd be able to take another breath...I couldn't sleep & when I did it was not a restful sleep...At times I felt like I was dieing. And all of the symptoms I've described are just the ones I can remember off the top of my head. A lot of those 10 years I don't even remember. Tony says it's better that way because at times it was pretty horrible. Thing is...I also don't remember things like birthdays, holidays, chunks of memories of my life, my marriage, & my daughter growing up are just gone.

There have been some really good times though. Times when I felt amazing...when I'd feel like a well person again....Like I could take on the world. These times may last a day or several weeks...I cherish them...I feel hopeful that maybe that day is the first day of me being a well person. I go & do things...I treasure the moments....the sun on my face...the little things that I didn't notice when I was a well person. And at times surprisingly, my body bounces back fairly well from this burst of activity...sometimes. When a relapse sets in though...it's a cruel reminder that steals a bit of that hope that sparkled through my body just days before. This is when I have to remind myself to be patient with myself...that I am OK despite this illness that ravages my body. That things will be better. And if I can't see it...Tony reminds me of it.

It takes courage to live with these illnesses I've been diagnosed with. In many ways CFS/FM has been my teacher. Before this diagnosis I was focusing on the job, the career, the bling of life...what face I showed to the world...if I was successful or not...honestly, I was shallow. Living with this illness has caused me to get real honest with myself...to go within...to unburden my heart of a lot of baggage. It has challenged me to look at who & what is important in life...what isn't...what can wait...It has taught me patients, perseverance, strength, courage, compassion...& in the end I believe that I'm a deeper, fuller person for it. I have learned to go with the flow & ride the waves of my energy levels. I have learned ways to work with & around it....not that it's always easy or that I always let things flow...after all, I'm just a work in progress. I have come to understand that I am not my illness. I will never say, "I have CFS/FM." I was diagnosed with CFS/FM...I am not CFS/FM...CFS/FM does not define me, my heart, or my spirit...it is not who I am. I have learned to live with this illness....so survive & thrive in my own way.

These days, I'm focusing on doing what I love. I've always wanted to be an artist. So now, slowly but surely, I am working on creating art in my home studio. Tony converted our garage into a studio for me so I would have a space to work. (I named it MoonWillow Art Studio because we have a very old Willow tree in our front yard & the Moon passes behind it in the night sky.) The act of creating helps my healing process. It brings a spark back into my body & reminds me of the feeling of hope, of being alive. I had my first art show July 2008 at a local gallery. That was an amazing time...that was the last time I felt really good. I've been dealing with several relapses since August 2008, which slows down the progress I'd like to be making in my studio...but, that's when I remind myself that it will come in it's own time. I am making progress...after all, I no longer walk with a cane & my symptoms are less frequent & less severe. Currently I am working on opening an Etsy shop to bring my art & creative efforts to the marketplace. This is a bit of a daunting task as my brain doesn't always comprehend everything I'm reading & what I do read, I forget. It's a work in progress & sooner or later my shop will be open.

I have also discovered an interest in writing. I never thought of myself as a writer, but it seems to be something that is knocking at my door these days. Whether I'm any good at, I do not know...just the process of writing is intriguing though & I'm excited to explore it more. Actually, I have a couple of horror novels whirling around in my mind...we shall see if they come to be. It's something for me to look forward to. Which, I think is important for anyone living with illnesses like these.

It's hard to share this much about my life with CFS/FM. This is just a bit of what I could write. I feel hesitant to publish this to my blog. The fear of not being understood or believed...What will you think? What will my friends & family think? It's embarrassing in a way...to show my soft underbelly...to admit that I struggle with this. It's not something I often talk about...at least not the sadness & suffering part of this illness. Most of the time I focus on talking about the good that has come out of this. I do my best to be a glass half full kind of gal. Revisiting the pain of CFS/FM in my life is difficult...the feelings of sadness bubbling to the surface...bringing tears to my eyes. However, if I don't talk about it...if other people with illnesses like this don't talk about it...The world will never know & we will continue to feel isolated. I hope by me sharing my story, it will bring some awareness to CFS/FM/ME & other invisible illnesses.

For those of you out there that also live with these kinds of illnesses, I hope that by reading my story you know you're not alone. If you feel moved to do so, I would love to hear from you & know your story. From one survivor to another...Never, never, never give up. The world is a better place for having you in it. You have worth. This quote by Mary Anne Radmacher has gotten me through many hard days, "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow".

NOTE: I don't mind if this blog post is shared with others as long as it is to help others & not for profit. Just please give credit to Karmen Naccarato, copyright 2009 & link back to my blog. Thanks!

UPDATE: As this post is a couple years old, I thought I'd give a quick update. As you can see I've had more blog postings lately & have opened my Etsy shop. After two surgeries (for things not technically having anything to do with CFS/FM), my health has improved enough that I'm able to get things going in my studio. It's still a slow process, but I'm starting & that's the important part! I still have bad days & relapses, but I feel there's been improvement overall. I can even say I've had some really great days & a few great weeks....happiness, peace, & hope has returned to my life.

See? Something new!

2009-03-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

Finally...inspiration! Yaaaayyyyyy!!! This is something kinda new for me. I'm playing with acrylics on canvas with no stretcher bars....so I guess it's more like a wall hanging...or a door hanging in this case. It's actually a mixed media piece as I'm using dry pastels, paint, stamps, ink, collage, beads, charms, & fibers. This is the first little do dah from my new series I'm working on. It's titled, "Gift For A Friend"...OK, you got me...I don't have a great name for it, but it is a gift for a friends birthday. So this one is already spoken for, but there's more to come so stay tuned!

And The Winner Is....

2009-02-12T15:55:00.000-08:00

I put all the entries into my snake charmers basket, mixed 'em up real good & had Tony pick one while he was playing guitar. It was quite the affair! I'm so excited! Are you excited? Can you feel it? I can't look...you look. Ok, ok...I'll look.....

Anji Gallanos!!! You're the winner! Yayyyyyy! Right on & all that jazz! Ok, so now I'm off to email Anji & tell her the great news.

Thanks everyone for visiting my blog & entering my drawing. I don't know about you, but I had a blast! I couldn't get to everyone though, so I'm going to be going through the OWOH list & peeking at more blogs.

And a HUGE thank you to Lisa Swifka from A Whimsical Bohemian for hosting this event!

One World One Heart Blog Giveaway!

2009-01-28T18:05:00.000-08:00

My friend Sarah turned me onto the One World One Heart Blog Giveaway. So I went & checked it out...totally loved the idea...& now I too am joining the Gypsy Caravan! Click Here for all the juicy details about entering your own art (hurry though, there's only 7 days left as of today to enter!) or for more info about entering to win one of many really wonderful items being offered! And a BIG thank you to Lisa Swifka for coordinating this years event. All of your hard work is very much appreciated! Here's an excerpt from her blog:

...The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way....(Click Here for more)

I'm offering a set of lovelies, pictured below, from my New Beginnings series. You will receive 8 postcards (2 of each of 4 images), 2 notecards with envelopes, 2 large magnets (4 1/4 x 5 1/2) a sheet of 18 stickers that say "Under A Blue Moon, Wishes Do Come True. Believe In Your Dreams!", a 2009 MoonWillow Studio fridge magnet, & last but not least an affirmation magnet that says "Today & Everyday, I Am Creating Beauty & Magick In My Life." These are so new that I haven't even gotten a chance to get them listed in my Etsy shop! Stay tuned for further developments!

So how do you enter? It's super easy, just leave a comment ON THIS POST & include your name & email so I can contact you if you're the winner. It really is that easy! Good Luck!

Update 2/11/09: Two more of my postcards came in from the printer today. Just in time! So the winner will be receiving 4 more postcards (2 images)! They are the images that are on the magnets.

On February 11th I will be closing my drawing at 10:00pm Pacific Standard Time. I will post & contact the winner on February 12th by the afternoon. Stay tuned!

Click on photo to enlarge.

Well That's Cool!

2009-01-16T16:39:00.001-08:00

Got this in my email today. It's from Schmap.

Hi Karmen,

I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo
has been selected for inclusion in the newly released sixth
edition of our Schmap Seattle Guide:

It's for Volunteer Park

Here's the picture. It's of the conservatory at Volunteer Park in Seattle WA. It's from our family vacation there in August.

New Jewelry

2009-01-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

This is one thing I've been up to lately...I've been taking my art & turning it into jewelry by sandwiching it between glass & soldering it around the edges. Then I put 'em on a ball chain. These are the first two. Stay tuned to see what else I come up with...now where's that soldering iron????

Artsy Cards

2009-01-16T16:34:00.000-08:00

These are card sets of my art & photographs. I mounted the photographs with those old fashioned looking black paper photo corners...that way the photo can be removed & reused or framed. I left them blank inside for folks to personalize. Then I wrapped them up in a 12x12 sheet of paper, put a black with white polka dot ribbon around it with a sticker on the front that has the description & pictures of the cards inside. They look so pretty all sitting together! These will be going to The Artist's Tree for the month of December. The next batch will go to my Etsy shop.

Catching Up...

2009-01-16T16:26:00.000-08:00

I've not kept things up here very well. I've been playing on my Karny Life blog. So I'm updating things with some posts over at Karny Life. Hey, why not stop by Karny Life & get the inside scoop on what I've been up to ;)

So what have I been up to? Mainly cleaning & organizing the studio, but I do have a few lovelies to share. Let's start with my business package:

The Funky Fairy Shoppe Logo

2008-12-01T17:10:00.000-08:00

This is my newest graphic design job. It's a logo I created for The Funky Fairy Shoppe.

First Friday: December 5th

2008-11-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

I stopped by The Artist's Tree yesterday & now I'm going to be a part of First Friday on December 5th. There will be a lot of other local artists there as well. First Friday is an event where all the galleries in downtown Spokane are open in the evening...there's usually food & beverages & folks wonder from gallery to gallery. This will kick off the holiday shopping season so come by, say hi & buy local this year!

The Artist's Tree Gallery is located at 828 W. Sprague Avenue, Downtown Spokane, WA, across the street from the Davenport Hotel.

Featured In Newsletter!

2008-08-25T15:17:00.001-07:00

The wonderful folks at Reaching Out thought that my story would be inspirational for others so they did a feature article on me & my art & put it on their front page! Their newsletter gets placed in doctors offices & emailed all over the world, so I'm pretty thrilled & honored that they would do this!

Karmen Naccarato, one of our awesome Outties, just had an amazing thing happen. I want to share her words so you can understand what a great thing this is for her & her fight with FM/CFS/ME:

The series is titled, "New Beginnings". The images are based on my own personal experience of being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) & Fibromyalgia (FM)...finding the courage to live with it.... and after 8 years, regaining enough wellness to finally feel alive again. Rather than focusing on the difficult times and dealing with the challenges of living with CFS & FM, I chose to focus on courage, hope and the power of positive thinking. The creative act of painting this series was also very helpful in my healing process.”

Karmen's show has been a smash hit! In fact, it's been so successful, Michelle Mokrey, innovative owner of, "The Artist's Tree", has extended the show & placed Karmen's work in a more prominent place. We also want to thank Karmen from the bottom of our hearts because she is donating a percentage of her sales to Reaching Out! What an amazing artist AND person! So help us pay tribute to this courageous & talented lady by checking out her work which we've spread out through this issue. You can also see her complete collection of works &/or purchase it at: www.moonwillowstudio.blogspot.com. Congrats, mon ami, we love you!

What an amazing group of people they are! Their support has made a big difference in how I've lived with CFS & FM. Their kind words touched my heart & reaffirms just how far I've come. Thank you Reaching Out! {{{HUGS}}}

To learn more about Reaching Out or CFS/FM/ME visit their webstie: http://www.reaching-out.info

Art Show Update

2008-07-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

The show is now officially over BUT the gallery owner decided to keep my paintings longer & we moved my paintings to the window display. Soooooo....if you missed the show you can still catch a peek of my paintings in the window.

As for opening night, It went really well! Several friends came to cheer me on, which is always a really great thing. I met & talked to a lot of people I didn't know...got some really good feedback...and sold a painting. How cool is that? AND I've decided to give 10% of the proceeds of this series to Reaching Out, an organization that helps those living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia. I feel that is neccessary to pay it forward...that the blessings I recieve should carry on to someone else. So I have to say that it's been a very exciting experience in many many ways!

Now for the thank you's! A BIG thank you to Michele for believing in my work enough to give me a show & making a dream of mine come true! Also I have to thank my husband, Tony, for his love, support, & pacients. Tony helped with every little thing & put up with me! LOL Thank you to my daughter who cheered me on all along the way & to see her so proud of me meant the world to me. I can't forget my parents, my family & my friends...their encouragement & support has kept me going & has been so touching. They were just so excited...made me feel like a rockstar! LOL They make me feel like I can do anything! And of course, thank you to everyone who took the time to go check out my work! I feel so blessed! So thank you, thank you, thank you!

And here's a picture of me :)

New Beginnings: July 2008

2008-07-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

This series is titled, "New Beginnings". The images are based on my own personal experience of being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) & Fibromyalgia (FM)...finding the courage to live with it...& after 8 years, regaining enough wellness to finally feel alive again. Rather than focusing on the difficult times & dealing with the challenges of living with CFS & FM I chose to focus on courage, hope, & the power of positive thinking. The creative act of painting this series was also very helpful in my healing process.

Showing July 9-26, 2008 at The Artist's Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Avenue, Downtown Spokane, WA, across the street from the Davenport Hotel.

(It is estimated that between 1 and 4 million Americans suffer from CFS & 6 to 8 million people in the United States suffer from FM. More information & resources for CFS & FM can be found at www.reaching-out.info)

Now What Do I Do?

2008-06-26T14:33:00.001-07:00

24 x 30 Oil on canvas. Here you are...stuck....nothing moving...nothing flowing...trapped...ridgid. At first the situation may seem impossilbe. A feeling of fear may creep in causing panic. Pause for a moment...take a deep breath...and look again. This is just the beggining...the beggining of something amazing...even if you don't know what that is, right now in this moment. Take heart, have faith, and trust that things are working out for your highest good. Your future is an adventure just waiting for you to discover it!

Showing July 9-26, 2008 at The Artist's Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA.

Copyright 2008 Karmen Naccarato. All rights reserved. Any use or reproduction of the items in part or in whole, in any form or by any means, including photographic, electronic, digital, or mechanical, is forbidden without the prior written permission of the Artist.

Beauty & Magick Are Born In Secret Places

2008-06-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

12 x 12 oil on canvas. Beauty & magick are born in secret places...discover them...they are within you. Take time for prayer & solitude...look within...be still...breathe...listen to that quiet voice within you...search for your inner personal magick & then follow your heart. You are stronger than you may think. There's a new life waiting for you. It is filled with many possibilities, adventures, & suprises!

Showing July 9-26, 2008 at The Artist's Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA.

Copyright 2008 Karmen Naccarato. All rights reserved. Any use or reproduction of the items in part or in whole, in any form or by any means, including photographic, electronic, digital, or mechanical, is forbidden without the prior written permission of the Artist.

Divine The First Time...Divine Every Time: Sold

2008-06-26T14:30:00.001-07:00

12 x 12 Oil on canvas. Remember your original self...You were spirit & spirit lives in a state of perfection. You were Divine. Now that spirit is within your body & it is still perfect & still Divine. Go within to the core of your being...feel the perfection of the Divine within you...really feel that within your body & remember. You are perfect & Divine right now, just as you are. The Divine is working in your life for your highest good. You are blessed by the stars above. You are magick!

Showing July 9-26, 2008 at The Artist's Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA.

Copyright 2007 Karmen Naccarato. All rights reserved. Any use or reproduction of the items in part or in whole, in any form or by any means, including photographic, electronic, digital, or mechanical, is forbidden without the prior written permission of the Artist.

Sparkle & Shine Under The Moonlight

2008-06-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

12 x 12 Oil on canvas. Dance & twirl in the moonlight...with eyes wide open looking into the future. The Moon watches from above as she sprinkles star blessings down upon you. Sparkle! Shine! Be amazing! Live fully everyday. Dreams & Wishes do come true!

Showing July 9-26, 2008 at The Artist's Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA.

Copyright 2008 Karmen Naccarato. All rights reserved. Copyright 2008 Karmen Naccarato. All rights reserved. Any use or reproduction of the items in part or in whole, in any form or by any means, including photographic, electronic, digital, or mechanical, is forbidden without the prior written permission of the Artist.

The Magick Of Tomorrow Is In The Air

2008-06-26T14:25:00.001-07:00

16 x 20 Oil on canvas, framed. Today is a new day...this day is full of potential, possibilities, & new begginings. Be Inspired! Come alive! Be open to new opportunities. Peace. Tranquility. Wholeness. Wellness. Calm. The Sun shining bright, blessing you with it's warmth. Bloom. Grow. Become all that you are meant to be & more. Believe in the magick of you. The future is bright!

Showing July 9-26, 2008 at The Artist's Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA.

Copyright 2008 Karmen Naccarato. All rights reserved.

Under A Blue Moon...Wishes Do Come True

2008-06-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

16 x 20 Oil on canvas, black wood frame. Blue Moon's only happen once in a while...it is a magickal time to dream big dreams & make wishes...wishes that come from your heart...from deep within the peaceful center of yourself. Under the light of a Blue Moon...your dreams & wishes will come true.

Showing July 9-26, 2008 at The Artist's Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA.

Copyright 2008 Karmen Naccarato. All rights reserved. Any use or reproduction of the items in part or in whole, in any form or by any means, including photographic, electronic, digital, or mechanical, is forbidden without the prior written permission of the Artist.

This Is The Beginning

2008-06-26T14:20:00.001-07:00

24 x 30, oil on canvas. As one journey ends, another begins. Embracing the beauty & magick of YOU...moving forward to the next chapter of your life. Is that excitment you feel? Or are you nervous? Maybe it's a little bit of both...Take a deep breath...Go Within...Listen... Let your heart be your guide...Let go...& Trust...This is the beggining of something amazing...You have no idea what's in store for you...but one thing is certain...Many wonderful adventures & suprises are in store! It's a whole new world! Embrace it! Live with Passion!

Showing July 9-26, 2008 at The Artist's Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA.

Copyright 2008 Karmen Naccarato. All rights reserved. Any use or reproduction of the items in part or in whole, in any form or by any means, including photographic, electronic, digital, or mechanical, is forbidden without the prior written permission of the Artist.

Geisha Magick: NFS

2008-04-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

Geisha Collage Charm with wine colored fresh water pearls, faceted garnet beads, vintage pink beads (from one of my grandmothers necklaces), glass beads, & metal charms.

Studio Remodel

2008-01-23T18:39:00.000-08:00

Currently my husband & I are remodeling the studio. How did this come about? Well, we were sitting out in the studio on Christmas night...talking about what we wanted for the studio in 2008...One thing led to another (like it always does)...We decided to put in a wall to make a small office space separate from the studio. (This means that the room our office is in now will become a 'guest' bedroom...which actually means I get my own bedroom...Now this is due to the little known fact that my wonderful hubby SNORES very very LOUD...so there are times I end up on the couch with a kink in my neck. I'm tired of the kink in my neck, thus the 'guest' bedroom was born.) My husband is out there painting the office right now. Once all the painting is done, we're moving on to a new floor & then replacing the windows & doors. Even though the studio is in complete chaos, new art IS being created! I can't wait to show you the studio & all the lovely things I've been up to! Until then, here's a sneak peek at the work going on. OH! I should also mention at this point, that my husband is a really great guy & is SOOOOO supportive. I couldn't do any of this without him...Well I guess I could, but I'd have to hire someone. So a BIG thank you to him! Here he is hard at work. Stay tuned to see the finished project!

17" Moonstone Necklace

2007-12-16T15:44:00.001-08:00

Moonstone Pendant set in Silver, Amethyst,

Aurora Borealis faceted Czech beads,

Metal beads.

16.5" Bohemian Necklace: Sold

2007-12-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

Turquoise, Amber, Coconut,

Wood, Myrrh, Bali Silver,

Metal Beads & Charm.

17" Shell Necklace

2007-12-07T15:02:00.001-08:00

Turquoise, Garnet, Amber,

Myrrh, Wood, Shell.

December 2007 - April 2008 at
The Artist's Tree
828 West Sprague Ave.
Spokane, Washington.

18" GreenMoon Necklace

2007-12-07T14:40:00.001-08:00

Raku Face, Turquoise, Garnet,

Amber, Amethyst, Wood.

December 2007 - April 2008
at The Artist's Tree

828 West Sprague Ave.

Spokane, Washington.

27" Necklace

2007-12-07T13:57:00.001-08:00

Turquoise, Amethyst, Myrrh,

Metal, Glass.

December 2007 - April 2008 at
The Artist's Tree

828 West Sprague Ave.

Spokane, Washington

Starry Night Goddess Doll

2007-12-07T13:52:00.001-08:00

Fabric, Fibers, Wood, Metal Charm.
Now available at The Artist's Tree

828 West Sprague Ave.

Spokane, Washington

Awakening Goddess Doll

2007-12-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

Fabric, Fibers, Wood, Metal Charm.
Now available at The Artist's Tree

828 West Sprague Ave.

Spokane, Washington

Inspiration Goddess Doll

2007-12-07T13:08:00.000-08:00

Fabric, Fibers, Wood, Metal Charm.
Now available at The Artist's Tree

828 West Sprague Ave.

Spokane, Washington

Live Life Goddess Doll: Sold

2007-12-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

Live Life Passionately!

Fabric, Fibers, Wood, Metal Charm.

The Artist's Tree
828 West Sprague Ave.
Spokane, Washington

Halloween at MoonWillow Studio

2007-10-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures of our home this Halloween season. This is my absolute favorite holiday! It's almost an obession, really. I've been collecting Halloween everything for the last seven years...I have tubs & tubs in storage & have dedicated display space in my home for my favorites year round. I start thinking about Halloween in July...yes, July...but I actually start decorating the 1st of September so everything will be decorated by October 1st. This way I have a whole month to enjoy it. My birthday is in October too so guess what we do...Yep, we have a Halloween party! This year our home was filled to capacity with friends & family & I was dubbed The Queen of Halloween. LOL By this time next year I hope to have a whole line of Halloween art & fine crafts available. So please check back now & then to see what I've been up to. Until then, have a wee peek of my favorite obesssion.

Have a magical Halloween!

Mystic Tree: Sold

2007-09-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

Oil, charcoal & pencil on canvas.

DIVINE

2007-06-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

DIVINE: Divine the first time. Divine every time.

Oil on canvas. 12 x12

Showing July 5th through Sept. 1st, 2007

at the Microcosm Gallery in New York
www.microcosmgallery.com

Moon Blessings

2007-06-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Available for purchase in my Cafe' Press Shop:

http://www.cafepress.com/moonblessings

Sun Blessings

2007-06-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

Available for purchase in my Cafe' Press Shop:

http://www.cafepress.com/sunblessings

Creative Force of the Goddess: Sold

2007-06-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

Mixed Media Collage on canvas.

New Begginings

2007-06-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Raven WingedHeart Logo

2007-06-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

Raven Heart Doll: Sold

2007-06-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hand beaded fabric raven doll with feathers & charms.

16" Moonstone Necklace:Sold

2007-06-26T12:01:00.000-07:00

Moonstone pendant set in Silver,

Aurora Borealis faceted Czech beads,

Amethyst beads & chips, Metal beads.

Goddess Charms Necklace: Sold

2007-06-26T11:55:00.001-07:00

New & vintage charms on an amethyst & wire chain.

Raven Goddess Necklace: Sold

2007-06-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

Clay Goddes & Raven beads, Amethyst, Russian Jade, Metal.

Moon Goddess Necklace: Sold

2007-06-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

Amethyst, Garnet, & Fresh Water Pearls with a carved bone Moon pendant set in sivler.

Fairy Wishes

2007-06-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

Blue Fairy Necklace: Sold

2007-06-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Amethyst, Chalcedony pendant, Metal beads,

Czech beads with Aurora Borealis finish.

Shell Goddess Necklace: Sold

2007-06-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

Raw turquoise & garnet stone beads, clay beads, & wood beads that have been hand burned with designs, with large shell pendant.

Raven Heart Neclace: Sold

2007-06-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

Clay Raven beads, Faceted Russian Jade Heart pendant & beads, Amethyst, Metal.

Goddess Awareness Faire Art

2007-06-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

Used on all promotional materials for the Goddess Awareness Faire. Also used on t-shirts, coffee mugs, & other products in their Cafe' Press Store.

Original photos used were provided by Phoenix Springwater.

Celestial Sisters Logo

2007-06-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Karma Acorn Logo

2007-06-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

Struggle

2007-06-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Mixed Media On Paper

The End To A Beautiful Day

2007-06-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

Oil on gessoed paper

Student Art Show Poster

2007-06-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

Faded Memories 2

2007-06-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

Black & White Photograph

Faded Memories

2007-06-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

Black & White Photograph

My Box

2007-06-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Mixed Media Collage

Depression

2007-06-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Prince Charming: Sold

2007-06-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

Mixed Media Collage On Canvas

Me, Myself, & Eye

2007-06-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

Oil on canvas

Look Out

2007-06-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

Oil On Canvas

Baby Doll

2007-06-26T10:41:00.000-07:00

Found Object Sculpture

Mask Of Many Faces

2007-06-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

Coffee

2007-06-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Powederburglar Logo

2007-06-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Emotion Motion 3

2007-06-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Mixed Media Collage

Emotion Motion 2

2007-06-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

Mixe Media Collage

Emotion Motion 1: Sold

2007-06-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

Mixed Media Collage: Papers, acrylic paint, chalk pastels, watercolors, gold pen, wire mesh, mirror shards, wood chips, covered in lace.

Awakening Goddess: Sold

2007-06-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

Chalk pastels on paper, gold pen, colored papers.

Cothing Tag

2007-06-26T10:05:00.001-07:00

Clothing Tag

2007-06-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

My Grandmothers Scissors

2007-06-26T09:44:00.000-07:00