Before I started my post I wanted to let you know I have an email subscribe through feed burner to the right, so submit your email address and you will get an email notification when I update my blog.
I have participated in the One Little Word journey for the past few years.. last year was possibilities, the year before that was appreciate….. Most of you know on some level, last year was not an easy year for me. I came out standing, but barely. So honestly, my heart just hasn’t been into most things it is normally. It has taken a TON of effort to get back in my studio creating again, i think i burnt myself out a little bit with my hectic fall. I’m looking towards 2012 with a positive outlook. I try to remind myself that although 2011 was a tough one, it could’ve been a lot worse. I have started jotting down my daily thoughts in my “one line a day” book again- this is a good place for me to post what I am grateful for, or even to jot down my frustrations.
I chose “brave” for my word this year. Ali Edwards had posted on twitter late December, asking us if we had in mind what our word was going to be. I replied that after having the word “possibilities” last year, I’m afraid to come up with a word for 2012. Ali responded that maybe my word should be “brave” then. I took that word and, lived with it for a few days… I thought about it, slept with it.. lived with it. It seemed to fit. I needed to remind myself that whatever life throws at me, i am brave enough to deal…
I plan on following my prompts from Ali’s class, that I collected last year.. i really hope to embrace this word this year- and i’m starting to get excited about what it may bring to me 
To honor my One Little Word, and Yours- I have added in my easy shop the option to get your One Little Word done on a custom canvas by lil ol me!! Here are some examples, but be sure to hop on over to my shop to see more details!
I am so excited to have finally launched my Etsy shop!! This is something I have had on my To-Do list since this summer, but in all reality it was most likely in the back of my mind for a few years now.
I have listed a bunch of my canvases. I even uploaded some without words, you can tell me what you would like on them!
Let me know what you think, and I hope you will pass the word on for me!!
I had some other things I wanted to post on the blog here, after the crash. but then Hero Arts posted how this adorable stamp was on SALE… so I figured i would give you some inspiration to treat yourself 
to another fabulous owl stamp!! (you can click the pic to see it larger)
I created 2 of these cards.. for 2 very special people, who I am truly grateful for.. now let’s just see if they make it into the mailbox! One step at a time, one step at a time!!
Supplies Used: (listing the supplies is a new thing for me that takes quite a bit of time, let me know if it is helpful for you with or without the links )
- Hero Arts Big Eyes (sale ends jan 23rd!)
- Hero Arts Background Leaf and Floral
- Hero Arts Truly Grateful Clear Set
- Luminarte Twinkling H2o’s Kiwi
- Versafine Vintage Sepia
- Distress Ink Iced Spruce (this was a limited edition color, not sure if it is for sale anymore)
- May Arts Ribbon
- Ranger Cinnamon Stickles
- Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher (is there any other way to adhere ribbon anymore?)
- Memory Box Lagoon Notecard
Almost 12 years ago I purchased shurkus.com as a grad gift to myself… I’ve actively used it for my email address, but thats about it. Life happened, there never seemed time to build my own page- and even though i have been blogging since 2005, it was just easier to use typepad.com. Well folks… that is all changing! With my new position at Providence College.. one of my “tasks” is to learn wordpress, which in return has helped bring shurkus.com alive! I am SO excited to finally be using my little space on the net. Excited to have gotten the site this far, but I can promise you… more is to come! So… hold on, sit back… and enjoy, shurkus.com (would love to hear what you think )
I have updated my class page- you can see it in the tab above. I have some fun card classes coming up, and hop to see some of my “peeps” soon!!
I have spent the last few long weekends getting a lot done in my studio space. I love working in there, it’s just finding the motivation and time to get in there. I am also happy to announce I finally have opened my etsy shop! I have quite a few completed canvases posted, and some waiting for your unique quote. I also take custom orders – you get to choose the size, colors, and quote… just contact me. I hope you will spread the word on my fun new shop
More creative posts coming soon, I have a TON to share… i’m so excited!!!
Note: be sure to update your bookmarks, and blog readers, this is where my blog is going to live from now on!!
big things are coming to shurkus.com in 2012… just testing, playing creating and figuring all of this out.
for now you can continue to find me at: {creative chick}
I have a copic 101 class scheduled at ink about it on nov 12th 1-3p. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the markers before making an investment… as well as learning blending techniques, tricks with the markers and more!
In this class we will work on many different techniques with luminatre twinkling H2O's and memory box stamps… we will create 4 holiday cards. We might not have time to assemble them in class, but everyone will get a PDF with pictures of the cards and assembly instructions.
You don't want to miss this class! I will be sitting down with you and doing step by step coloring technique instructions… VERY FUN!
Saturday Nov 12th 10a-12p @ ink about it in westford ma (call the store to sign up)
Wednesday November 16th 6:30-8:30 in hyannis ma (email me to sign up, only 2 spots left!)
Tuesday November 29th 6:30-8:30 in oesterville ma (email me to sign up only 3 spots left!)
Hope everyone is enjoying their Halloween, even if it was postponed due to SNOW… a lil too early for me this year… but i'm trying to not complain about it.
I needed to create a ton of class samples this weekend… but after my super techy conference in TX last week… it took me a bit to get into the swing of it, I decided to create this fun Halloween card as a warm up
Have a *wicked* happy halloween!!!
Impression Obsession images, and Creative Imaginations pattern papers, colored with Copics
howdy ya'll got into austin TX yesterday for a higher ed web conference that i am attending with my team from providence college. I'm looking forward to learning a ton and networking.. fun times
I have also been trying to get more into tweeting… so be sure to follow me @jennshurkus
Austin is a really fun city, and we have beautiful views from our hotel room, i cant help but keep snapping photos with my iphone 4s … and posting on instagram is my new addiciton, so be sure to follow me there too "jennshurkus" (surprise surprise!)
more soon!
part of me feels like i wrote this post already… then i realize i am just remembering last years. Then as i go through photos in iphoto… looking for one for this post, it really hits home how long watcher has been gone, and how much i have expierenced and how much has changed.
you see.. there was a time when everything that happened in my life he was there. I got in a fight with my parents, he was there…. i was going to "run away from home" he was bundled up in my jacket with me… trekking through the woods…. camping during the summers, he was there on a kitty harness…. i first good cry over a boy… yep he was there… each and every semester i came home from college… he anxiously awaited my return… all the places i had moved… all the major relationships i had been in… you guessed it, he had to step aside and "share" me…..
so it is still foreign to think of all the things i have experienced without him…. this year a lone has been a BIG year of changes…..
i just hope he realizes how much i miss him, and the friendship we had xoxo
