Sometimes I believe in as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

Oh my!! Where have I been?? Its school holidays and I thought I would be the blogging queen! Alas I'm like a kid in a candy store...too many fun things to choose from and so I'm running around trying to do all of them...Marco and I headed down to Canberra on Sunday to drop Sienna off to go skiing and he surprised me with a night at the Rydges Lakeside...i have to say its been a while since we've had a night alone in a hotel! First we wandered downstairs and found an art auction in progress...we sat in and couldnt believe that a couple of Salvador Dali signed etchings went for around $800!! Then we strolled through the streets until we found a nice warm Irish Pub where we enjoyed a couple of rounds of Guinness :)




We wandered the streets for a while after this but the cold was a little too much so we headed back to the hotel and had some extra spicy Indian delivered..Marco was in heaven!!

Earlier in the week I was over the moon HAPPY to give away this little painting to lucky winner Charla when my Magically Mixed Art Community over at facebook hit 500 members.


I had NO IDEA when I started this group several months ago that it would become such an awesome place of sharing and inspiration. If you are not yet a member PLEASE come on over to my FB page and ask for an invite...Here's an example of a question I asked last week and just a few of the fabulous responses from people in the KNOW ♥

Tracy Verdugo
I've got lots of questions today and my mind is working overtime. One of my goals this year is to have my work published...many of you here have already accomplished this and I'd love some advice for myself and others in the group who have the same dreams. For me being from a small village by the beach in Australia it is awesome to be able to connect with artists all over the world and I soooooo appreciate your wisdom x

From the lovely Violette!
HI Tracy and everyone here! This is the way my journey went - first i was published on online zines, then real zines, then real magazines such as Cloth Paper Scissors, Somerset, Creative Techniques, Creative Homes, Scrapbooking and beyond ...etc. After that people knew me and i was asked to submit to someone's book - then another book and then i heard that Rice Freeman Zachary was looking for people to submit their story for a possible book. Which i did - then i was chosen to appear in Living the Creative Life - a wonderful book with 15 artists. From there the editors of the publishing house got to know me and i pitched an idea for a book to them. They said YES! "Journal Bliss" was born! So my journey took a few years........basically you look for submission guidelines in magazines - there are many and then you can query or simply send in your project with step by steps. Getting published has never been easier - seriously.......it's very easy today! Tracy - have you heard of the latest Stampington magazine - can't remember the name - it's to do with art with kids. I think you could submit a story about creating art with your kids! You'd be great! xo
ps You can also subscribe to "Haro- Ask a reporter" they have lots of call outs for stories for publications, blogs etc. I have received publicity that way too! Good luck!

From the beautiful Juliette Crane- definitely choose your top magazines etc that you'd love to be featured in and submit to them first! check their websites and follow their submission guidelines. i always like to send a little gift of cards or magnets with my art on it too...for the editor to keep and remember :) good luck!

From the all inspiring Pam Carriker
Hey Tracy, I started by submitting to magazine calls and then submitted my first article (CPS Art at the Speed of Life) many articles lead to my book by the same title. Calls are an easy way to start, they are asking for artwork of a specif...ic nature that they need! Be sure to follow the submission guidelines found out their websites. I've seen firsthand how much art they receive and it's astounding, which makes it hard to deal with art that doesn't follow the guidelines. Submit the actual artwork, especially important when you're introducing it to them the first time. I like to submit more than one piece as it makes for a nice layout. Don't stop at the first submission. Sometimes it takes many months before they use something so don't spend the time holding your breath waiting to hear about it, keep moving forward to the next call. The magazines love new, fresh, artwork. Read up, see what they're looking for. Read the letters to the editor to see what readers would like to see as well. It doesn't hurt to send it off with a little kiss for luck either;-)

and this lovely comment from Elaina!
Elaina Allen-Velando It's so refreshing when artist's share! Thank you Pam and Violette (and Tracy for this cool page) for those tips. I believe when we share the creative flow comes full circle ♥
COuldnt have said it better!!

Make sure you come on over to FB to see all of the other helpful advice and join the magic!

Apart from all that I've been in here.......



Doing a lot of this.............

and this.............



working on some stuff for Uni in which I am attempting to map the blogosphere ( thereby giving me the ultimate excuse to spend hours perusing blogs all in the name of research)....here is a work in progress


and I even managed to sneak in a session in the recording studio where I did vocals on two new songs much to Marco's amazement!! Will be trying my hand at making some videos to go with our songs very soon...not sure if it will work but I just embedded one of our new songs in this blog...fingers crossed :)
http://www.filefactory.com/file/cc5f919/n/Track01.cda



Until next time, big hugs, lots of love and have a fabulously creative week
Tracy ♥♥♥