i'm at homemakers!!!

I'm new to this art licensing world....but can anyone ever get tired of walking into a store and seeing their artwork displayed so beautifully?  This is me, thrilled to my toes, at a local furniture store.

enjoy the journey

you can find this hat in my etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/126112219/inspirational-art-hope-shines-through 

So here's a little unknown fact about me -- in high school I didn't create art so much as I did write.   I wrote so much poetry, it was crazy.  And then I went on a song lyric kick -- even had a record producer in Nashville review my songs and offer very helpful critiques for many months.  I didn't follow through on the songwriter dream ... life happened.  Or maybe it was more that this Iowa girl was not bold enough to take a leap of faith and move to Nashville.

And where did those song lyrics go and the critiques?  Lost in a move.  Also lost in a move is a tub full of sweaters I still miss.  :(

But one thing IS true throughout all of it -- I have enjoyed the journey.  My creative path has not been a straight line.  I am always open to where my heart leads me.  And I am so happy it lead me to Scripture art -- where I feel so much at home.  That being said -- I hope to pick up the pen and start writing more of my prayerful poetry.  The challenge -- my life is loud, in fast forward and albeit an amazing adventure -- I need to find that quiet time once again.  Something I am praying for.

Here is a prayerful poem I wrote many years ago that is TBD (to be designed).



Life has many roads open to each and every one,
I have chosen the narrow road.
It is my only way Home.
On this road, there will be mountains to climb,
and mountains to dance on.
There will be valleys to rest,
and trenches to dig out of.
But I will be content wherever I am.
For I have one destination -- Heaven.
I will find some treasures along the way,
and I will lose some.
I will not worry about my next step.
If need be, I know God will carry me.
I will not dwell on my past steps,
they have been taken.
It is not my responsibility to scoff at those on this same road,
I know God walks with each person at a different pace.
My only responsibility is to remain open to God's teachings,
and along the way, help out others.
No matter what comes my way or what I have to leave behind,
nothing matters but the fact that I have been given the gift --
Grace.
And I will remain on the narrow road and live each day
step-by-step
as God leads me along life's narrow way.
                                         - by Amylee Weeks

shirts, bags, hats -- oh my!

I am absolutely in LOVE with the products that Midwest CBK is producing using my artwork.  Here's a peak at the catalog that showcases the shirts, bags and hats.  Swoon!!!!

the atlanta gift mart starts today!!

Today is the day the Atlanta Gift Mart starts.  As a licensed artist, it is a BIG day.  And this year, it is for 2 reasons.  First -- my gift line through Midwest CBK is being debuted.  And then second, my agents will be walking the market -- talking to more manufacturers about my designs.

Here are a few pics of some of the products from my new line available through Midwest CBK.  I couldn't be more in love with the products -- and the company and everyone that works there.

behind the scenes: routing the nail holes

As I promised, a behind-the-scenes look at just one of the many steps that goes into making these perfect art blocks.  Everyone- meet Ryan, the man behind the highest quality art blocks known to mankind. And no, I am not biased one bit.

Ryan is a finish woodworker by trade. He is also a perfectionist when it comes to his work.  If you want something done for your house by someone who cares what the end product looks like and performs, Ryan is your guy.  So when I shared with him my vision for my art to be on art blocks, he took to the task of creating high-quality wooden blocks.

The step we are sharing today is when the nail holes are routed.  It is not the first step -- and it is not the last step.  It is one of many steps he does before passing the blocks onto me.  The pics below show Ryan routing the nail hole in the same spot on each block.  It makes hanging these art blocks a breeze!

Peace out!

amylee

in the studio: art blocks

Looky there!!!  What is that, you say?  ;-)  It's a new design for the back of my art blocks.  I couldn't be happier.  In the past I've glued on my business card.  This proved to be a painful last step in the process --glue is messy, messy, messy.  I don't know when the lightening struck -- but suddenly my smart brain thought, "why not labels?"  Wow - it sure did take me a long time to come to THAT conclusion.  I put the task on my pinboard -- and when I had a few moments, I played around with a design.  I finally came up with what you see.  And I am SO pleased.  For now.  Because guess what?   Yes, I am a designer.  I am an artist.  And my "what looks good" opinion changes as time goes on.  Or I just get bored.  But for now, if you order an art block, THIS is what you'll see on the back of it.  And there's even a place for me to sign!!!

I also worked on the insert I place at the front of each block when all packaged up.  For this, I thought a repeat pattern of my logo would look great -- and it looks nicely with the back label showing through.  Again, I went with black/white coloring -- leaving the fun color to be enjoyed on the block only.

Tomorrow, the theme is "behind the scenes" -- and I plan to introduce you to my amazing husband and his ultra talented work on our art blocks.  Stay tuned.  For now, enjoy these lovely photographs!!!

{{back of block}}

{{back of block all packaged up}}

{{front of block all packaged up}}

Peace out!
amylee

my journey to my artist mission

The other night I went to a b'day party with Ashley for one of her school friends.  It was at Incredible Pizza.  Anyone that has been there knows why I stayed around -- the place is crazy!  During the actual party time, in the b'day room with everyone, I was able to sit down and chat with some of the moms of kids from Ashley's class.

One mom and I got into a nice convo about art, owning your own business, etc.   She has a desire in her heart to do something with photography.  She gets that natural high all artists get when they finally find their passion.  She asked me simply, how I started.  And my answer was -- well, I opened up my shop.

In fact, it took more than that.  So what did it take? What did I do to get to this point?  Well, first there had to be a mission behind it all.

I knew something was growing in my heart when I felt that twinge of jealousy when I saw others out there pursuing their art dream.  It was a good jealousy because it got me moving.  I was still in school, getting my Graphic Design degree, while working full time, being a mommy and a wife and a housekeeper.  I was busy enough already.  I knew if I was going to do this thing, I would need to give myself time.  It wasn't going to happen fast!

I gave myself the year 2010 to design and pray.  I knew the Lord had put in me this desire to create art for Him.  But the direction/mission behind this art -- for that answer, I needed quiet reflection.

I didn't put much pressure on myself.  It was not a race.  I was in school - so always designing. Those late nights of working on designs for school assignments kept me creating.  And with each assignment and project, I tried to incorporate my faith one way or another.

I knew, though, that when it came to Christian art, I had to tread lightly.  It had to be well thought-out with room/time for prayer.  I was aware that I was stepping into an arena where what I created would be representing my Lord.  I did not want to use His name if it wasn't purely for Him.  Some of my designs do incorporate old hymn lyrics, but most everything I do is straight from the Bible.

It has been my experience, life is not easy.  We all have our valleys.  We all have our mountaintops, too.  It is what we do with our time while on the mountaintop that will determine how we spend our time in the valleys.

My mission started to solidify in my heart ... I wanted to bring God's word into people's everyday lives in hopes of bringing God's healing love into people's hearts.  Art licensing -- having my art on everyday objects started to appeal to me because of how much those pieces of art help me in my daily life.

As an example -- I have a coffee cup that I absolutely LOVE. It has a verse from one of my favorite books in the Bible - Lamentations 3 ... "Morning by morning, new mercies I see."  That verse is now imprinted on my heart.  I didn't need an index card to carry around with me to memorize it.  I just lived my life, and because of this artist's work, that verse lives in my heart.  My hope is that the Lord can use my art for others like he used this piece of art on this one coffee cup in my life.

And that is sort of my journey to how I grew to know my artist mission.

I have this mission printed on cards, and I include them with each product I sell.  Here it is:

my ART is based on Psalm 119:11

"I have hidden YOUR word in my heART."

It takes God's word in my heART to keep me chugging through
my ridiculously crazy busy
and at most times heART lifting
but sometimes heART breaking
but most of ALL incredibly BLESSED life.

 My hope is that a piece of art I create brings you
closer to God's word
and the peace that comes from knowing Him.


PRAY. LOVE. LIVE.