Amazon Has My Book Available for Pre-Order and I'm Throwing a Party!

**Update 7/8/2015 -- I am so very grateful for the great number of you who have written kind words and registered with me for the pre-order party pack. At this time I am at my capacity for the number of packs I can fill. HOWEVER - There is still time to get in on the drawing to win a piece of original art featured in the book. Simply follow the steps below to pre-order through Amazon for the remainder of July and your name will be entered. Thank you!!

Amazon Has My Book Available For Pre-Order and I'm Throwing A Party!
How exciting is this?? I've just discovered that Amazon has my book available for pre-order! Call me just a little bit inexperienced at these things, but I had no idea this would happen so quickly! I have already heard from tons of people on Facebook that they've placed their orders!       

W h a t ? ? ? ! ! !

So I wanted to just take a quick second to let you know that I am planning to throw a virtual party and you're invited! Now because we are all scattered in different locations across the country, and even the globe, I know we won't be able to physically party together, but that won't stop a creative group of people like us!

I am busy busy busy putting together a pack of party goodies to send out to everyone who gets in on the pre-order action over at Amazon. I'll be posting again in about a month with all of the details of the goods to be included, but to whet your appetite, there will be downloadable PDFs, an autographed book plate to stick in the cover when you get your book, your name entered in a drawing, a goody or two from some of the contributing artists, and maybe even a group conference call (if I can master the art of technology).

Very important information here: Amazon doesn't provide me with a list of the pre-orders. If you want to join the party here is what you need to do:

1. Pre-order the book at Amazon here. 
2. Take a screen shot, or forward your confirmation email from Amazon to me at this email address: crystal@crystalneubauer.com - be sure it includes your mailing address (but not your payment info.-no need for me to see that!) 
3. Wait for the party to begin! (information on party pack delivery dates to be announced at the end of May) 

One last tidbit - Amazon has a release date of the end of August listed, but a little bird tells me it may be much sooner! Whoot!!

Special Easter Offering: On Praise of a Clean Slate

"A Clean Slate" 24" x 24" original collage by Crystal Neubauer

As I spent time thinking of all the good that has come my way recently, my thoughts turned to this work of art titled "A Clean Slate", which has been touring the country and abroad for the past 2 1/2 years.

The process of creating this work was one that was very connected to a time of healing and release in my life. As often is the case, the things I am working through in my personal life, make themselves known when I am in the studio. This is what I wrote about that process in my original post, back in 2011;

     "just a few days before the show, when I was supposed to be framing and putting the last minute details for the booth together it all struck me so clearly - I could see what each piece needed and I worked frantically adding the black fields of Indian Ink and some graphite details. Better, much better. But still needing something. More pencil and mark making I thought. So I picked up a small pack of drawing pastels, in which a white piece was included, and as I put those white marks to the black ink I knew it was done. The worn chalkboard appearance with all the visible erase marks. Words came out of that white pencil. Labels I wanted to be free of. Names I had been called, or had called myself. And places I had been that I never wanted to go back to. 

I wrote and I wiped away and A Clean Slate series was born."

Ultimately, "A Clean Slate", with it's telling antique ledger paper slashed by India ink during a time of worship, is about redemption and second chances. The slate has been wiped clean, the debt has been paid. It represents ones ultimate value - that which comes from The Maker and not from ones own accomplishments or feelings of worth. It speaks to the fact that all of your life experiences are being used to create the beauty of who you are today, not one thing being valuable while the rest is hidden. A true beauty from ashes, garment of praise story!

With the recent move to the city, and Good Friday and Easter Weekend upon us, I've decided it is time for "A Clean Slate" to come home. And to help me celebrate the homecoming, I have decided to share it with you. 

Before it began it's tour, I had the collage professionally photographed at a fine art printer and for a limited time, I am releasing a limited quantity run of Giclee prints in three different sizes at celebration prices. It is my hope that by issuing this work as a fine art print, it will be able to impact many more people in the deep and cathartic way that it has me. 

If you'd like to have your own hand signed and numbered edition of "A Clean Slate", you can check it out here. 

And Happy Easter to you. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Shary Bartlett Video - There is Still Time to Join Us!

Guest artist Shary Bartlett is coming all the way from Canada to teach at The Healing House Art Studio next weekend! Have a look at Shary's new video introducing the techniques she will be teaching and then head on over to sign up for one of her workshops.

Friday March, 27 have fun sculpting wonderful works of art from wax and fabric in Shary's Hot Fabrication class. More information and registration can be found here.

Saturday March 28 and Sunday March 29 join us for Shary's Photo Encaustic Explorations weekend workshop. Really be sure to watch the video for the flavor of this amazing class. There are only 4 seats left - be sure to hurry and grab one now! 
More information and registration can be found here. 

Be sure to check out all of the workshops coming to my studio at the workshop tabs above, or head on over to find out more info and register for the entire line up here.

Have You Met Tonia Jenny? The Healing House Art Studio Visiting Artist

Felted Vessels by Tonia Jenny

I'm seriously excited to be introducing you to Tonia. Not only is she a proliferate and talented artist, she is also my editor! I am thrilled beyond belief to have her accept my invitation to come teach at The Healing House Art Studio, and I can't wait for you to meet her!

Tonia Jenny

As an acquisitions editor for F&W Media, Tonia is constantly on the lookout for new talent, but it is in her role as life-purpose coach that she is truly passionate to come alongside others to help them discover their own gifts and talents. A talented mixed-media artist herself, Tonia has authored three books, co-authored many more, and is acting author and editor for the Incite Best of Mixed Media series.

Tonia is teaching three individual workshops for you to choose from, or hang out with us for all three! Click on the individual links below for more information and details on registering, or go to this link for all the workshops being offered at The Healing House Art Studio this season.

A Palette of Inner Beauty; Beaded-Love Bracelets - May 12

A Palette of Inner Beauty: Elemental Vessels - May 13

A Palette of Inner Beauty: Woven-Self Wall Hanging - May 14

As with our first guest instructor, Shary Bartlett, Tonia is traveling a great distance to be with us and there is a minimum enrollment needed to make the trip sustainable for her. If you are planning to register, I want to encourage you to go ahead and do it so we can guarantee the pleasure of having Tonia here.

**(FYI - We did hit the minimum enrollment for Shary - Wahoo!)

Startled Out of Complacency - Moving on Up

"Mirror Mirror" mixed media Collage by Crystal Neubauer

Last month I shared with my newsletter readers how I had been humming along working on a series in the studio without realizing how much time had passed. It's easy to lose track when you're engaged in something you love, and these past few years I have certainly been engaged in a life and community I love. So much so, that I can hardly believe it's been 2 1/2 years since the events that brought us to this place. But finding out our time living in this home is coming to an end has served, once again, to startle me out of complacency.

My husband and I have long been intrigued at the idea of living in the city. We seriously considered it at one point, but the timing just wasn't right. So when our landlords told us they needed their house back, we joked about having a city adventure. But something in the joking of it started to stir within us, and as happens when those stirrings start to come, we got confirmation everywhere we turned and we knew we had to follow it.

And so we are off! Trading in our spacious 4 bedroom house in the suburbs for a tiny, no frills hi-rise apartment in Hyde Park. Our master bedroom will overlook Lake Michigan and looking out the window of the spare where the desk will be, offers a birds eye view of the Art Center just down the street. Some of the goals for this adventure of ours are to grow closer together and more fully experience the arts and culture community of the city. I've already been invited to participate in a group show of 10 Chicago artists and am looking forward to even more.

Back on this journey of having just enough light for the step I am on, my studio will remain right where it is; I'll commute a few times a week and for scheduled workshops, but I'll be keeping my heart open for whatever comes next.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. ~Hebrews 11:8