Author: Julie

Studio Tour

Beth Macre, Miss July 2017

Just like my art, my studio is ever evolving. We moved into our current home in 2015. I am lucky enough to have an entire spare bedroom to use as my art studio. It is not huge, but it is a separate space just for my art. Since we moved here, I have rearranged it a few times in search of the perfect layout. I’m still looking.

My latest switch was just last week. I am still reorganizing some things, so I will be updating the Studio Tour as I go. More supplies, more projects, means more stuff. Managing that is always a challenge. When I become a ‘famous’ artist, or win the lottery, I will build my dream studio. I hope that is soon!

I hope you enjoy seeing it evolve.  Follow the links within the blog posts to see the updates. READ MORE…

Another World at Heifer International

I never imagined spending my eighth wedding anniversary walking around a ranch. Yet, this was the grand adventure my husband had planned for us; THIS was what he surprised me with. This is what I took off work for, a day at Heifer International Ranch.

To be honest, I felt a twinge of disappointment when we pulled up. Grassy fields stretched on for what seemed like miles all around us, and the sun blazed overhead. It was hot, stifling hot, with little to no wind to stir the humid Arkansas air, and there appeared to be a lot of walking to do.

Yet, my husband was determined to have an adventure. He wouldn’t let the elements deter him. So, we set off and discovered another world hidden on the Heifer International Ranch. READ MORE…

Kayla Dean is a believer, wife, mother, author, educator, nature-lover, and creative adventurer who lives in central Arkansas. She makes her blogging home at www.kideanaround.wordpress.com.

War Eagle Fair

Beth Macre, Miss July 2017

After moving to Northwest Arkansas, I was very happy to be able to apply to be a vendor at War Eagle Craft Show. I had only participated in a few Art Festivals in Georgia, but none in Arkansas. Although I had never been to the War Eagle Craft Show, I had heard that it is a big show with great attendance, along with many other shows that same weekend in October each year. And it is.  

I set up shop there for 2 years and I loved it. The crowds are wonderful and the setting is just gorgeous in October. Last year I had to withdraw a few weeks before the Fair because my husband had to have unexpected heart surgery. While I enjoyed being a vendor at War Eagle, it is a long 4 day show. This year, any shows that I go to will be 1 or 2 day shows. Maybe we will go back to War Eagle again as a vendor, or as a customer and blog about the show. For now, you can read about our first year experience. READ MORE…

Our Nicaragua Adventure

Earlier this month, my 8-year-old and 13-year-old daughters and I traveled to Nicaragua for vacation. Most of our friends and family thought us crazy to go there, but we were up for the adventure — and boy, Nicaragua did not disappoint. We braved the heat, ate local food, got stopped by the police, rode in the back of a truck with a couple of surfers, and heard the tsunami warning sirens. Join me over the next week or two as I chronicle our trip…READ MORE

Stacey Valley is a wife, mom to four girls, and woman of many talents and interests from marketing and public health to good food and travel. Baking is her love language and travel is her therapy. Stacey’s goal is to live life to it’s fullest. Her life’s motto is “Live big. Love deep.”

Superior Bathhouse Brewery

Hot Springs Arkansas is home to historic Bathhouse Row which is in Hot Springs National Park, one of the nation’s very first national parks. Bathhouse Row is exactly what you would think it was by the name, a row of eight bathhouses that have been around since the early 1900’s. The bathhouses were frequented by presidents, mobsters, athletes, and anyone wanting to bathe in the healing waters.

Fast forward to the present day and only two of the bath houses are actually still open for baths and the others have been turned into museums, shops, art galleries, etc. The Superior Bathhouse is the smallest bathhouse on Bathhouse Row and was recently renovated into a microbrewery and full service restaurant…yum! To check out my full dining experience head on over to Ricci Alexis now and READ MORE!

Ricci Ellis is an Arkansas native who has some serious love for the natural state. She loves big hair, monograms, blogging, caramel frappes from McDonald’s and being the “cool” Aunt among other things. She has one spoiled rotten puppy girl, Sophie. You can catch up with her on her Arkansas lifestyle and beauty blog, Ricci Alexis, or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest!

Flashback to 2014 – Reminder to Self…Simplify

Beth Macre, Miss July 2017

The Arkansas Women Blogger Conference in September 2014 was one of the first ‘events’ that I participated in after moving to Northwest Arkansas in the spring of that year. I was not able to attend the conference but I did participate in the Saturday Makers Market, where I met several bloggers in real life for the first time! It made an impression on me and I blogged about it.

I happened to be there when a news reporter from Channel 5 News was there. Fair warning…there is a reason why I do not talk on video. I was not prepared when she came up to me to ask a few questions.

“Bloggers are not normal”  What?

I’m sorry for my nonsensical blathering on camera. If you watch the video (Link on the blog) to see what I’m talking about. You will also see some other Arkansas Women Bloggers speaking very eloquently about the conference.

Clarification: By ‘normal friends’ I meant ‘friends who were not bloggers’.

In my defense, that year was a very stressful year. Which is why I was blogging about Simplifying my life! Talking to a reporter on camera is not that!  READ MORE…

Seed Swap: Make your own seed packets

We all pass down history through special items and stories.  But think of all the history passed down when you share a seed.  It’s a living history.  One that grows and lives and feeds and sleeps only to start all over again in a new gardener’s hands.  Seed swaps provide the opportunity to share these stories. READ MORE

 

Hello there, my name is Jeanetta. I’m an  Arkansas artist and blogger in love with nature and nostalgia. I showcase the beauty of my garden, the world around me, and the stories in our memories in my artwork and writings.

Social Links:  Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Twitter

Miss July 2017 – Beth Macre

Hello! My name is Beth Macre. Pronounced Mac (as in Mack truck) re (as in re-run). I tell you that because no one gets it right! I didn’t either when I met my husband. I wasn’t even close.

I am happy to be Blogger of the Month of July. I appreciate the opportunity to share a few things from my world. I am the artist behind the easel/screen of Beth S Macre Studio. I have lived most of my life in Arkansas. Everyone in my family was born in Arkansas, except me. I was born in Texas. But soon after, my family moved to Alabama and then back to Arkansas when I was 6. We lived in Pine Bluff, where I graduated from Pine Bluff High School. After graduation, I moved to Jonesboro to attend Arkansas State University. I graduated with a BSE in Art Education. My first teaching job took me to the Delta. I took a job with the Blytheville Public Schools, where I met my future husband, Sam. We worked and raised our two children in Blytheville.  After we both retired from teaching, we moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2014, where we are planning to stay. I have lived in Central Arkansas, Northeast Arkansas, and now Northwest Arkansas. Each part of Arkansas is beautiful in its own unique way. And I love that I have friends, family and acquaintances all over the state of Arkansas.  

Currently, I am a full-time artist, working in my home studio, and selling my art through my Etsy shop, BethSMacre.etsy.com, and at some shows a few times a year. I create colorful and whimsical drawings, paintings, and pottery to help brighten up your home. You can follow me on Instagram to see what I am currently working on, some behind the scenes photos, sneak peaks, or just stop by and say hello!

In May of 2007 I published my first post on my blog that I named Beth S Macre – Art Journal.  The title is not that creative, but blogging was very new to me and I didn’t even think about trying to come up with a clever name! I was thinking more about how to write about my art and myself without sounding too self-absorbed. After all, I am an artist, not a writer. My posts became more of a documentation of what I was doing creatively and served as motivation to continue to grow and create more. Holding myself accountable for my commitment to creating became easier as I shared more on the blog and followed along other creative bloggers along the way.

In 2010 I started a second blog about my adventures in teaching art. I called it Mrs. Macre’s Art Class.  As an Art teacher, I had so many interesting experiences that I loved sharing. I retired from teaching in 2012, but I occasionally add new content to Macre’s Art Class.  I plan to add some how to art lessons in the future. Let me know if there is an art project that you would like more information about and I will do some research for the blog!

I hope that you will come back later in July to see more of what I have been up to! Stop by the blog(s) and say Hi! Come follow me over on Instagram and Facebook too! Have a great July and the rest of your summer!

Links:

Etsy Shop:  BethSMacre.etsy.com

Instagram: BethMacre.instagram.com

Blog: BethMacre blogspot.com

Blog: Macresartroom.blogspot.com

Facebook: BethSMacreArt.facebook.com

 

June Recipe Roundup

Arkansas Women Bloggers is home to bloggers from a variety of genres but food blogging is a favorite. Even our bloggers who wouldn’t consider themselves to be food bloggers enjoy writing about food every now and then. Today we’re sharing a roundup of some of our blogger’s favorite recipes. ARWB Recipe Roundups will run the last Thursday of every month. To have your recipe included in our next roundup, please visit our content submission section for more information and submit your post before the 23rd of each month. 

Blackberry Lemonade

Nothing screams sweet sweet summertime more than drinking a cold glass of lemonade on the back porch while watching the sun go down. Am I right? Well…there may be one thing better and that is my recipe for homemade Blackberry Lemonade!! YUM!! This recipe isn’t for the faint of heart…it combines my Grandma’s “homemade” lemonade with Rock Town Distillery’s Blackberry Cobbler Arkansas Lightning and it may or may not taste like a little slice of heaven on Earth. It really is that good y’all. I promise!

For those unfamiliar with Rock Town Distillery, it is the first legal distillery in the state of Arkansas since the prohibition. It is a grain-to-glass distillery and uses all local ingredients in it’s products. Rock Town produces every alcohol you can think of including moonshine, bourbon whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, and more!

To learn more about the distillery and see my recipe for Blackberry Lemonade check out the full post on Ricci Alexis!!

Farmers Market Pasta Bake

My husband and I love working in the kitchen together and discovering new recipes or new ways to create old favorites. We first created this recipe several years ago when we made another meal and had lots of leftover vegetables. It grew and changed to include more and different vegetables and we love it! I named it “Farmer’s Market Pasta Bake” because it has ingredients that can be found at most farmer’s markets. No matter the name, it’s a nutrient-rich, delicious meal for the whole family.

I know it might be hot during the summer months and you won’t want to turn on your oven. My suggestion is to bake it in the morning and reheat the servings later. It tastes even better after it’s had a chance to sit!

I will tell you that with so many vegetables, it takes a while to chop everything. I “cheat” by purchasing my carrots pre-cut (julienne) and often use dried minced onion rather than fresh onion. With my arthritis, I find it necessary to indulge in these little shortcuts to preserve energy and strength. Even if you don’t have arthritis, you might want to cut up all the vegetables the night before to save time during assembly. Head over to Sunflowers and Thorns for the full recipe. 

4th of July Dessert

4th of July Dessert- FLAG PIZZA. This is the PERFECT recipe to WOW your guests and family for the 4th of July. It is light, airy, and perfectly delicious! A great dessert topped with fresh blueberries and strawberries. You have to make this now! Head over to Amanda Farris for the full recipe. 

 

How to make a DIY Ribbon Flag

As an avid crafter, I always have extra ribbon and lace hanging around the craft room; leftovers from previous projects that I don’t quite know what to do with. The DIY Ribbon Flag is a great holiday project to use up those scraps of ribbon and lace. This easy craft can be completed in just a day and doesn’t really need any fancy equipment. I used my sewing machine for some parts of the sewing but it could have easily been stitched by hand. Throw in some coordinating blue ribbons to add a pop of color amongst the red and white stripes or go traditional and use a variety of red and white ribbons and lace only. Denim would be another fun element of surprise and whimsy for the star background. There are so many possibilities and you’re only limited by your imagination…READ MORE

Gina Knuppenburg is a social media consultant and virtual assistant living the creative life near Heber Springs. She blogs about crafts, recipes, and daily life with her fiance and a cat named Hop at Desperately Seeking Gina. You can also find her on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.  Happy Crafting!