#TBT: IAMS | MY FURRY VALENTINE

This past Valentine's I was lucky enough to be brought on to add my art to an awesome project The Barkers teamed up with Iams for. On my end, I was asked to create a hand painted backdrop and photo booth props to be used to capture "first family photos" for newly adopted pets at the My Furry Valentine event sponsored by Iams in Cincinnati, Ohio. SO MANY heartwarming moments caught watching homeless pets finding their families.

Click on the image below to see more of the adopted animals.

photo credit: by The Barkers

First off, let me just take a second to say how wonderful The Barker duo is! Not only are Chris and Kristen both wildy talented, but they really inspire me to take risks and go beyond myself. And BOY was this a challenge I am so happy I accepted. It's moments like this that you don't realize what you are capable of…until you are capable of them.

Let me say, with only 48 hours to hand paint a 10ft backdrop... I was really feeling like superwoman when I finished. (I mean…the version of superwoman that never made the comics: you know… who had lost all feeling in various body parts, hadn't slept in days, and was unknowingly embarking on what was about to be the worst case of car sickness she'd ever encountered...) BUT superwoman, none-the-less. While I admit it has only been a month, this is still my favorite handmade diddy to-date. 

To see the backdrop live, and to get a better look into the "My Furry Valentine" pet adoption event, check out the video below! Shot & directed by the wonderful duo who brought me on for this job, The Barkers did an outstanding job capturing the genuine essence we were surrounded by that weekend. Puppy love was in the air!

(More photos of this project can be found below the video)

Photo & Video Credit: by The Barkers

#TBT: DANGER BABY BIRTHDAY

We can blame my nanny-side, but one of my favorite things I get hired for are custom birthday parties. Mind you, I'm well aware that a said 1 year old could careless that I spent hours hand making every item to make their birthday PERFECT…but let's not get all buzz-kill over here. I really think that I just enjoy "branding" a project throughout, regardless of the event. 

For this party, the family I nanny for referred to their very mobile and active 1 year old, Gus, as "Danger Baby"...really couldn't have been more fitting. Which even sparked his Dad's "Call Me, Maybe" / "I'm Danger Baby" theme-song parody. Playing off all the dangers that Gus could get himself into, I designed the party to be caution/construction based…complete with warning signs and construction cone cups. 

BSAZ CREATS | DANGER BABY CUSTOM BIRTHDAY | PARTY HATS

BSAZ CREATES | DANGER BABY CUSTOM BIRTHDAY | SMASH CAKE

BSAZ CREATES | DANGER BABY CUSTOM BIRTHDAY | PERSONALIZED CUPS

INTRODUCTING #TBT: THE CRAFT EDITION

For sake of social consistency, (but really to give me one day a week where I know what da heck I can post about) I bring you Throwback Thursdays: The Craft Edition.  Even if I (and I will) manage to not post a single other thing during the week…at least we can all sleep at night knowing on Thursdays, we'll take a little stroll down mod podge lane together. If that's doesn't keep you coming back, I don't know what will!

DON'T WORRY, B. CRAFTY

Fear is not a new concept for me in life. In fact, I've always been a worrier.  Nothing has struck this cord more than this whole putting your creative work out there for the world to see via a website/blog has. I'm talking Juliet Roberts in Runaway Bride style, except swap marriage (and the groom) with a blog…for the past 4+ years. Yep, you read that right. The ol' blog & Britt have been having some serious commitment issues. (let's try and be supportive, this could be their year!)

Creating, for me, is my safe haven. Even with the most stressful of clients, there is something about the creative process that no doctor-run therapy session can compete with. For artists it's hard to put our work out there to be publicly critiqued because there's a little bit of our heart attached to each project. I'm sure I am not alone when I say that the vulnerability that comes along with allowing people into that part of your world makes it that much scarier.

Today, I came across a quote that said "Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and think of what could go right." It was as if someone knew my internal dialogue was having a field day and needed to hear those exact words.

From a couple of amazing friends giving me a "go for it" pep talk, to the most appropriate quotes seemingly planted in front of me…there have been so many signs lately telling me to tell fear to get the eff out and take the leap. We all know that feeling. Whether it's a career change, asking someone on a date, or in my case putting my work out there, it's scary. Scary, but absolutely worth it.

So, here we go…Throwing caution (and so much glitter) to the wind and seeing where it leads me. The reality is, I know I am meant for the creative world, so they better be ready for me!