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 YES! Have been in the studio this week creating a brand spanking new set of products to debut at this Saturday's Holiday Pop Up Shop. ["What IS the Holiday Pop Up Shop?!?!?!" you excitedly ask? Come see THIS SATURDAY at #2 Florence Ave. in San Anselmo, CA. From 3:00 to 6:00 . . . a holiday shopping soiree, with goodies from Bean Up The Nose Art, Lisa Sonora Beam, and Linda Grimes. Adult beverages, munchies, and free gift-wrapping!!] What's the new product? IT'S A SECRET! But here are some hints: 1. It will sell for $4.00 2. It is made from these:  And from these.  And from these.  3. It is flat. 4. It measures 8 1/2" x 11" and comes in a lovely protective plastic RECYCLED sleeve. 5. You use it to MAKE YOUR OWN ART!!! Yes!!! 6. Gracie the dog got so whooped up into a frenzy by watching its creative process that she had to take a nap.  Hoping to see you at the Holiday Pop Up Shop on Saturday, for your holiday card and gifty-gift needs. And fun socializing :) We know it's a big day for fairs all over the Bay Area. Hoping you'll stop by at the end of the day to shop in a sweet little spot, have some snacks and drinks, and let us take care of you!!!! And psssst . . . mention you saw this "brand spanking new product" blog post and you'll get $5.00 off of any purchase of $25.00 or more Bean Up The Nose Art products you buy at the Pop Up Shop this Saturday :)
Death Valley is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. Roughly speaking, it's a valley running 150 miles long, with many other spurs off its sides. It's home to the lowest spot in the northern hemisphere -- Badwater, at almost 300 feet below sea level -- and a place where average summer temperatures are 115 degrees.
It's also a place where humans build things. From mines, to little pieces of art like this.
 In the 1920s, people even built this wonderful oasis . . . the Furnace Creek Inn.  Which is where you will find date palms and pomegranate trees.  And even water lilies.  All of which stand in absolute, stark contrast to the vast, unyielding, rest-ness of what else you'll find in Death Valley, when you are lucky enough to make a trek there.
You will find unending vistas of Mother Earth in her absolutely naked state.  Showing all of her colors.  And that of sister sky.  No matter how long you look, how many times a day you stare while you are there, you cannot get over the blue, the grey, the every-shade-of-brown that glows back at you.
And the quiet that envelopes you.
And the distinctly un-earthly sense that you are in a gigantic bowl of geologic time. You are one teeny tiny speck in this gigantic valley that is home to rocks which are almost two billion years old. And in a place where the focus and shapes keep shifting.  One moment, you are in a moon-scape.  And the next, you are bathing in a russet and buckskin sunset.  Back to the moon.  Back to the russet and buckskin, rippling like waves across the earth . . . in ground that been migrating from the equator since it was the floor of a tropical sea 600 million years ago. Of course, you cannot see it moving. We are talking about geologic time. But even standing stock still, those stripes of glorious dirt and rock look more full of potential, energy and gravitas that most of us humans could ever muster.  And really, that is the bottom line of what you feel when you are out there, spending time at the bottom of the northern hemisphere: the earth rules, and our own time on it is virtually insignificant.  We, all of us, are but a blip on the screen of this whole thing. Whatever "this whole thing" is -- everyone's opinion of it is different. And definitions of it, or agreement upon it, don't matter here.
Indeed, that is the point: that it does not matter.
IN THE BEST WAY!!!!
When you are soaking up rocks and sky and light and dirt the age of which you cannot even wrap your brain around, you realize that all of the things that you worry about are not so very important in the very gigantic bigger scheme of things that are so much bigger than you are.
When you comprehend that the whole thing is too big to comprehend, you get free.
Not that we won't worry any more, or make plans, or have hopes and dreams and still be responsible. It's not a stupid kind of free. It's a glorious kind of free.
If you are but a blip . . . or, really, a dot on a spot on a blip of a blip . . . you don't have to be so darned serious about "getting it right" -- whatever "right" might be. You get free. You can play around more. Experiment. See what will happen.
Conversely and ironically, it also matters THAT you try, play, experiment, be your most "you." That your own molecules got arranged to become you -- in this vast oh so vast expanse of time -- means to me that you should not waste your you-ness. Heck no. Those molecules are saying, "We're here! Now, go for it!!!"
 Here's hoping we all will keep becoming more and more of who -- of WHAT -- we are. Your molecules -- blip-like, infinitesimal though they are, in the world of this world's mind-blowing time -- are ready to put all their potential, energy and gravitas to work. Go for it!!!
CHEERS!!!!
A toast to YOU! We here at Bean Up The Nose Art wish you and yours the happiest Thanksgiving ever! We happen to think you deserve it.
 We're taking the rest of this week off from blogging. And so, we now set forth some of the things for which we are grateful this year.
Last year, we blogged an entire Month of Gratitude. A post a day about what we were grateful for. It was wonderful to photo and write and blog. (Click here to find the Nov. 30 entry . . . from which you can scroll down to see all others.) It included all the great gratitude mainstays of life.
This year, we're grateful for all of those things. But in the world of blogs, one doesn't repeat like that. Because all the posts are there!
So, what now?
This Thanksgiving post, we're talking about all the things we're grateful for in this big year of change for little Bean Up The Nose Art.
Ready? Let's go!
We are grateful for Twitter. And Facebook. And all social media venues . . . which we used to hate without even having any idea why, before we actually USED them -- and got hooked by all they provide. Connection. Humor. Support. Opportunities to write, explore, experiment, tell folks how you feel. Learn about them, from what they respond with. Build bridges. Make new friendships. Strengthen old ones in new ways.  We are grateful for the chance to go on art retreats. With friends, and by ourselves. So much to learn by sitting down and listening, following your he/art. Such chance to recharge, retool, return to the call of creativity.  We are oh so amazingly grateful for friends -- old, old, old, and brand-spanking new -- who have supported us in stunning numbers and ways this year. From buying products to tweeting and Facebooking about shows to celebrating 50th birthday parties making art, and every way in between. 2011 has been just about the best friendship year in life, let alone in business.  We are profoundly grateful to have been spotted by The French Artist Club, who began sales repping our cards and luggage tags the last week of December last year, and who is now distributing them throughout the western US. We are grateful for the skills and tenacity of the sales folk, and the business skills that have brought a brand new printer into our scheme . . . who is starting to do the fulfillment end of things, too . . . which will free us up in 2012 to do more creating. YAY!!!!  We are grateful for the market and opportunity to produce more and more cards this year -- 30 of them. We are grateful for the kind, watchful, smart, advising eyes of friends we trust who give us good feedback on which images work best.  We are grateful for the kindness and support of lots and lots of folks . . . many springing from the Twitterverse . . . who have ordered custom-made greeting cards this year, as well as wedding place cards and save-the-date cards. Thank you so much for supporting a local person you actually know. Thank you for giving this business the chance to make something you like.  We are grateful for art classes taken -- by us, and by friends from us. We are grateful for the delight of sitting together in a room together for hours and feeling the creative magic build. We're grateful for witnessing folks' courage in letting themselves go and make art, even when they thought they "weren't artistic." We are grateful for getting to see them discover that they are.  We are oh so very, very grateful for the writing group that we joined this year, sponsored by A Band of Wives, at which we wrote many blog posts and big chunks of "How to Start Making Your Art Your Business." And drank a lot of coffee. Which is always something to be grateful for, in our book :)  We are way so wow so grateful for people who have supported this business this year by coming out to shows and buying lots of stuff! Like, REALLY!!! Thank you to everyone who has spent their precious weekend time in support of artists -- like me -- and purchased our wares. You really have no idea how much that means.  Yep!!!! Big, fat, juicy, gigantic THANK YOU WISHES to all of you for all of your kindness, support and love this year. You have made it possible for us to go farther, faster and have way more fun than we ever, ever imagined back on last Thanksgiving. This year has been amazing, and it could not have happened without all of you. So . . . .  from the bottom of Bean Up The Nose Art's heart!!!! May you all have wonderful Thanksgivings this year, and for many more years to come.
Another big old Bean Up The Nose Art "HOWDY!" to another newly-opened super-chicks operation in Marin County, California . . . terrific Sunny Day Salvage in Fairfax, California. (Click here for there pretty-darned-cute website, and here for their Facebook business page.)
 Located in the School Street Plaza (across from M&G's Burgers, near Frog's Hot Tubs), this gem of a store opened late this fall. Here are co-owners, Michele and Angela.  Their website describes the spot as "Cottage style * flea market fabulous * urban farmhouse * vintage industrial * recycled chic." And those are pretty darned good descriptions.
Let's take a look!  Inside . . .  Some outside . . . .  And some glorious, for-example details . . . .  The shop is light and airy, full of color, full of fun, and oozes creativity out of every nook and cranny. Fostered by their own creative space . . . because these working moms work their crafts as they tend to their shop.  Totally love their open, light, earnest, fun, can-do spirit. And their rubber stamps :)  Sunny Day Salvage is soon changing its hours to noon to 4 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The fabulous little shop also sponsors workshops like "Stitch and Bitch" for seamstresses, and an upcoming wreathing-making class on Saturday, December 3. (Rumor has it that Bean Up The Nose Art will be having a Valentine's card-making class at the end of January there, too . . . .)
We say, "GREAT JOB, WOMEN!!!" for opening this yummy store-front business and going for it with all your creativity, passion, vision and energy. We're rooting for you!!! YOU ROCK!!!
A big Bean Up The Nose Art "HOWDY!" to one of Marin County, California's newest, super-chick-owned-and-operated store-front operations: White Rose Ranch, in Novato.
This is what you see when you walk up to the corner of Machin and Grant Streets in the earlier-and-earlier darkness on weeknights from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
 Total white-fairy-lights-on-wagon-wheel cuteness. And lightness and brightness. And invitingness.
Step right on in and meet fabulous Susan Lustenberger, and her daughters Lila and Maeve.  They are White Rose Ranch, and here's how they work.
Order ahead of time if you want one for sure. (You can also call at 415-246-1981.) Or drop on by unannounced if you're feeling lucky enough to snag one of the several more that Susan makes each day "just in case."
Here's a sampling of their meals for this past week.  We picked up our roasted rosemary chicken on Wednesday night, and were blown away by the smells of home-cooked meals, and scented candles. Yummy yummy yummy.  We first met Susan when she catered the Barn Sale at which we sold in September. (Click here for the deets.) She's a warm and wonderful woman -- and amazing cook.
Trained and working for years as an energy healer and meditation teacher, Susan found herself switching gears a year ago. Realizing that "food is energy" and embracing her love of cooking (after Wisconsin vacations where she spent the entire time cooking for neighbors . . . and relishing it), Susan took the plunge and became a caterer. And now? Look at her go!!!
She gleefully shares that her dream is for this place -- which just opened last week, and has been sold out every night -- to grow into a bigger place with a barn and land covered in flowers and food, where everyone will come for food and coffee. WE SUPPORT THAT!!!
Need help for Thanksgiving? Susan's got it for you! Flyers up on her board explain that she'll be happy to provide sides and happy endings :) *
 * sausage pecan stuffing, corn souffle, bacon brown sugar cranberries, roasted autumn root vegetables, sweet potato praline souffle . . . sweet potato cheesecake with maple cream, butternut squash bread pudding with tres leche sauce, sweet potato pecan pie.
Bean Up The Nose Art wishes Susan and her gals all sorts of good luck. We love folks who are brave enough to take chances, to follow their loves and instincts, to see what happens . . . to be entrepreneurial pioneers. You go! Because you rock, and rule, and roll!!
Last time, we highlighted the upcoming holiday fairs of our friends. (Click here, or scroll down, for your handy-dandy review.)
Today, we're letting you know where you can find Bean Up The Nose Art for your holiday shopping. Yay!!! Here are the fa-la-la-la-la ways . . . .
* * * * * * * Our one . . . our only . . . our super-special holiday fair in-person experience? Come on down and find us at:
 Yes! On Saturday, December 3, we'll be banding together with terrific artists Linda Grimes and Lisa Sonora Beam at Lisa's studio space ( 2 Florence Avenue, San Anselmo, CA) to bring you holiday goodies extraordinaire. And free gift-wrapping. And snacks and drinks! (The fun kind.) Early enough for you to get your holiday greeting cards -- where Bean Up The Nose Art will be having a sale! Lots and lots of gifty-gift items from we three queens of artsy & craftiness. Come on down for fun and cheer . . . and in only a three-hour sprint! From 3-6 p.m. (That's Happy Hour time, folks!)
* * * * * * * Can't make it there? Don't live in nearby? Already have something else scheduled in this busy season? Never fear! Bean Up The Nose Art's new products on Cafe Press are here!!!
And when you do, you'll find over 100 items . . . all under $25.00 . . . just right for gifts. We've taken our most popular cards and did further collage altering to create 15 new eye-popping, happy images . . . and put them on cool things like ipad bags, iphone covers, journals, mousepads, coffee mugs, gym bags . . . .  Order on-line through CafePress. This terrific company does great fulfillment . . . just got our test run of products in the mail this week, AND LOVE THEM. Journals are especially vibrant. Gym bags are tough nylon. Colors pop everywhere. YAYNESS!!!
* * * * * * It's been an amazing three years . . . exactly . . . since I ran the contest in fall, 2008 to name this business . . . then put up first greeting cards on etsy.com in March, 2009 . . . started selling in brick & mortars a while after . . . had the great good fortune to gain a sales rep at the end of 2010 . . . who is now distributing the greeting cards and luggage tags to over 100 stores in the western United States.
First: I couldn't have done it without you. The support of you folks reading the blog, commenting, following on Twitter, liking on Facebook, giving feedback and encouragement, and buying Bean Up The Nose Art goodies is something for which I am grateful every day. When I ask myself, "I get to keep playing at this?!?!?"
And second: If you want to turn your art into your business, I totally believe that you can. Because if I can do it, so can you. And here are 100 tips to help you get started :) Or, to help that friend or family member you believe in get started :)
 How To Start Making Your Art Your Business: 100 DIY Tips is $3.99 on Kindle at Amazon.com. I've been saying that for this price of a latte, you will get more than a cup of goodness. Hoping you'll find that to be true!
And here's also hoping that your holiday shopping season is easy, peaceful, filled with creativity and joy, instead of hassle and pressure. You deserve a good one:)
Get ready, get set . . . MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!! Here are where some of our favorite friends will be showing their sumptuous stuff over the next couple of weeks, as the holiday fair season begins.
Holiday Art & Gift Sale Nov. 19th 11-6 Nov. 20th 11-5 14 Skylark Dr., Larkspur, CA
 Our friend Heather Kenney of Derby Hat Divas joins six other talented, savvy local artists to provide shop-local opportunities for pottery, hats, mosaic garden art, greeting cards, photography, totes, handmade jewelry and scarves. Facebook page information for the sale is here. Derby Hat Divas' own information is here.
* * * * * * *
Garden Delight Arts & Crafts Open Studios Dec. 3&4, 10&11, from 11-5 El Cerrito, CA  Talented artist, art teacher, author, and good friend of Beans Heidi Rand will be offering her spectacular nature photography, and unique and innovative mixed media arts and crafts during this two-weekend show. Click here for more info.
* * * * * * *
City of Mill Valley's Annual Holiday Fair Dec. 3, 10-5
180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
Friend Sue Warhaftig will be featuring her jewelry of Tabernash . . . and selling her book, Meant To Be, along with 54 other local artists (WOW!!!) at this terrific annual event that includes woodwork, glasswork, ceramics, holiday decorations and fiber arts. Click here for more information.
* * * * * * Admission to all of these fairs is free! And we encourage you to shop local, and support real live artists when you're in your holiday shopping mode this year :)
Coming up in next blog post: where you can find Bean Up The Nose Art on the holiday fair scene.
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YES! Have been in the studio this week creating a brand spanking new set of products to debut at this Saturday's Holiday Pop Up Shop. 
And from these.
And from these.
3. It is flat.
Hoping to see you at the Holiday Pop Up Shop on Saturday, for your holiday card and gifty-gift needs. And fun socializing :) We know it's a big day for fairs all over the Bay Area. Hoping you'll stop by at the end of the day to shop in a sweet little spot, have some snacks and drinks, and let us take care of you!!!!
