Magazine Feature!

See this in: At Home in Arkansas

This picture is featured in the latest issue of the magazine At Home in Arkansas featuring 12 Arkansas artists who sell on Etsy! I'm heading out this afternoon to get a printed copy. I hope you will check it out! When they contacted me about featuring something from my shop, I sent 3 items for them to choose from, and this is what they chose. It is listed in my HeartHomes shop on Etsy. The 3 HeartHomes were some of the first little houses that I made. They were really fun to make and I have listed several tiles that are similar, but on a tile. So, I guess I better get to the store to pick up a copy of At Home in Arkansas! I'm very excited about being in a magazine!

Congratulations to the other 11 Arkansas Artists on Etsy!

~Beth

End of school...

...is getting closer! Only 1 more week. Only a few more days with students!

This time of year is full of goodbyes. Especially the graduating seniors. One senior, that was never able to take my art class, came to my class during his last week to visit, and he decided he wanted to paint a picture. This is what he painted and he gave it to me! And I really do love it! I love hearts...and I love Impressionism...I love simplicity...so this is just what I like! I will keep it on my memory bulletin board in my office at school.

What memories do you cherish?

~Beth

Creating a Textured Tile

Happy Memorial Day!

"Evening at Home"

Prismacolor Colored Pencils on Watercolor paper

♥Beth S. Macre © 2009♥

I thought I would take some pictures of the process that I use to create my texture tiles. I really enjoy creating these tiles. If only I had more time and space to create them in. The drawing above is what I created for this tile. Last night I created this tile. It has to dry and be fired before I can add glaze it and fire it the last time. So I will post it when it is completely done.

First I roll out the clay into a slab and cut it to the size that I want. This one is 4" x 4". I also put a hole into it, so it can be hung on a nail, if wanted. The hole will get covered up on the front.

Then I cut the house out of a thin clay slab. I attach it to the blank tile, then add pieces of clay to create the ground, shrubs, and other details around the house. I start to add raised details, such as the roof edge, shutters, steps, doors, windows, etc.

I cut out little shutters, fencing, posts, steps, hearts. I always add a little heart to the home.

After I get most of the shapes attached, I start adding textures into the clay...like the tree leaves texture, ground textures, flowers, picket fence, windows, etc.

And finally the sky texture and cloud to cover the nail hole.

When it dries completely, I will fire it, then glaze it, the fire it again. It can take up to a week to dry. So it can't be rushed. I will post the results when it is finished! Thanks for your interest!

Don't you want to get your hands dirty now?
~Beth

This is why I Teach...

This is a note that one of my seniors wrote to me on her last day of class. I had Terri in class for 4 years. These little things are the joys that make the frustrations of teaching all worth it!

Thank a teacher...they really appreciate it.
~Beth♥

Lake House Clay Tile

Lake House Clay Tile

Handmade 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" Glazed Tile

♥Beth S. Macre © 2009♥

My Etsy

I just added this one of a kind handbuilt tile to my Etsy shop tonight. I hope you will stop by and check it out. I'm slowly adding new things to my HeartHomes shop. Here is a photo of several of the items that I have added in the last week, plus a few that I will be listing soon. Thanks for stopping by!

HeartHomes by Beth Macre

Have a wonderful weekend! ~Beth♥

New Clay Tiles are Ready!

Heart Home Neighbors Clay Tile
♥Beth S. Macre © 2009♥
5 5/8" x 5 5/8"
Buy here

I've been loving playing with my clay this year. I've been creating these one of a kind heart home tiles and have really enjoyed thinking of new ideas for them. I only wish I had more time to do more. School will be out in a few weeks and I'm excited about the summer. I plan to work with my clay and colored pencils alot! But for now I am slowly adding new things to my new Etsy shop. Today I added this large tile that was inspired by good neighbors. Good neighbors can really make your house seem more like home.

A few days ago, I added this Mini Tile with a mini heart home. Its only 3 1/4" x 3 1/4", but its cute, coloreful, and fun.

Mini Yellow Heart Home Clay Tile
♥Beth S. Macre © 2009♥
3 1/4" x 3 1/4"
Buy Here

~Home is where the heart is...don't you agree?

♥Beth

A Day for Moms!

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you all are enjoying your day with your mother, with your kids, with your animal kids, or anyone that is important in your world of mothering! My daughter is cooking breakfast/brunch for me right now and I am really enjoying it! But mom duty calls right now.

Have a great day!

Busy Week!

Set of 3 Heart Homes in Clay
♥Beth S. Macre © 2009♥

Yesterday I listed several new things in my new Etsy shop, so I hope you will stop by and check them out. This set of 3 Heart Homes is one of the new listings. I also got a message from an Etsy seller named Dandie today, telling me that my shop was being featured on her(their) blog, Dandie's Etsy Finds. Thanks to Daneel and Mandie for featuring my shop!

This week is going to be a very busy week, both at home and school! I'm in the process of adding new items to my new Etsy shop, finishing items to put into my Etsy shop, grading papers that have been waiting patiently for me (I hate to grade papers, btw!), and the Governor of Arkansas is visiting our school Wednesday! So of course there are lots of preparations going on at school...and since I am the ART teacher (who must not have anything else to do), I was asked to paint a sign for his arrival...which I have one day to start and finish! Gee, I'm getting exhausted just thinking about all that I have to do before Thursday. Also, I am going to visit my daughter this weekend, so I have packing to do!

...all I want to do is paint and play with some clay!

Give away...

Here is a list of people who commented over the last 2 weeks. If your name is on this list, please email me at: bethsmacre [!at] gmail.com . I need your full name and mailing address. Of those addresses that I get, I will draw names for the winner of a clay tile! Everyone will receive a free gift. I will post pictures of these items in a few days.

Teresa M

Lea S

Genie

Timbo

Cindy H

Jeanette

Lene

Diana E

Sarah L

Dors

Fannie

Sanghi

Genie

Debbie

Thanks so much to all of you who come to visit and leave your nice comments!

I appreciate all of you!

~Beth

Two Year Blog Anniversary!

Heart Home on a Hill

4 1/4" x 4 1/4" Clay Tile

Beth S. Macre © 2009

Today is my two year Blog Anniversary! I am proud that I have continued my blog for two years and I have really enjoyed sharing my creations and a few personal events along the way! I hope that you guys that keep coming back to see what I am up to, have enjoyed my journey. I hope that you will continue to visit me and see what I am up to. I hope to continue creating and sharing for a long time.

As my celebration for my 'blog-aversary', I am in the process of opening my new Etsy shop today. I am calling it HeartHomes...after my most recent clay creations. I have added one heart home clay tile, but I have a few more to add today, and I will be adding more all this week. I hope you will stop by to check out my new creations. I will be adding some heart home drawings in the future. I plan to add magnet, pins, and pendants to my line of heart homes. I am also keeping my other Etsy shop, bmacre.etsy.com open. I plan to include my other drawings and paintings that I create, that do not quite fit with the whimsical style of the HeartHome collection.

Thank you to those of you who commented over the last couple of weeks. In my next post I will post a list of those of you who commented and announce the winner of the give away. All of you who commented will be getting a free gift as well! Check back with me to see who is the winner!

Thank you for being so supportive and encouraging to me in my artistic journey and personal journey. I appreciate all of you!

~Beth