Friday, December 31, 2010

Artist Marketing Tip #5


Artist Marketing Tip #5: After yesterday's tip hopefully you have begun to develop your Facebook Fan Page. Here's a note. Unlike your regular Facebook page you will not recieve email alerting you of messages from your Fan Page. We have to manually go there and check every day to view them. I learned that the hard way!

Friday's Grace Notes


Friday's Grace Notes: New Year... new beginnings, new "do overs", making lemonade from lemons... just don't forget to add the sugar, being open to new friendships all of the time from any unsuspecting resource... we truly are here to love others, singing Tracy Chapman songs, and Glenn fixing his famous chili for New Years Eve. Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Artist Marketing Tip #4


Artist Marketing Tip #4: "Brand" and promote yourself! Taking off from tip #3, make a Facebook fan page. Load it up with lots of excellent quality photos of your work, info, and what makes you special. Now send a request to all of your friends to "like" your fan page. Yes it takes time... you and your art business are worth it!

Thursday's Grace Notes


Thursday's Grace Notes; being a risk taker, support hose... hey if you have neuropathy in your legs they ARE a blessing, going out to breakfast at The Bayard Cafe (great hot cup of Chai Latte), pansies in winter (thanks Steve!) and looking forward to painting more "Butterflies 4 Lupus"... in acrylics this time!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Artist Marketing Tip #3


Artist marketing tip #3

Create your own identity; 'brand yourself'. What do you want to be known for? For myself it is "Jacksonville fine artist/musician". If you Google "Jacksonville artsist" I am on the first page. Google jacksonville artist musician" I am #2 on the page. How do I and other artist friends do this? Tune in tomorrow for artist tip #4

Wednesday's Grace Notes


Wednesday's Grace Notes; Fresh blueberries in December, giving piano students new music, warm comfy clothes, enjoying other artists paintings, and the freedom to set my own schedule. Celebrate the day!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Artist Marketing Tip #2


Artist Marketing Tip #2; Google your name and/or business name regularly. How prominent are you? Do you wish to see more of a response? Tune in tomorrow for Marketing Tip #3.

Tuesday Grace Notes


Tuesday's Grace Notes; owning a pair of glasses so that I can see, a really good pen, appreciating others, relearning how to be humble every day (I'm a slow learner), and not being afraid to try new things. Celebrate the day!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Monday's Grace Notes


Monday's Grace Notes; Being asked to do something that you may not be talented enough, qualified enough, or even capable enough... and doing it anyway. left-over Christmas ham, new piano music, snowflakes in Florida, time with my sisters and their families, and the color red.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Friday's Grace Notes


Friday's Grace Notes: Giving gifts, using my resources as best I know how, baking tons of cookies, gingerbread latte coffee, my homemade cornbread stuffing, fig trees in December, "Have guitar, will travel", new Piano music from "Pirates of the Caribbean" w/ a driving 6/8 beat... love it and so will my students, AND Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Thursday's Grace Notes


Thursday's Grace Notes: Okay. This is cool. Teaching one of my ADULT piano students in Christmas tree/candlelight while we SIP fine red wine. Life rocks! Baking a lemon pineapple upside down bundt cake. White Christmas lights and candles in the fireplace and oranges, cloves and cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove. Twittering with visual/performing artists, design firms and my son's "The rainforest Gardener" fan club... AND wishing everyone a merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Wednesday's Grace Notes


Wednesdays Grace Notes; Working from home, learning new things, not knowing how it feels to be bored, Walden Farms calorie free balsamic salad dressing, social networking, dryers buzzing (argh! Atleast I own a dryer) and time with my adult kids. They still come over! Okay so I cook. Tonight it's White Chili w/ turkey and home made cornbread . Comfort food.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

disABLED artist/musician beats the odds!

Tuesday Grace Notes


Tuesday's Grace Notes; Answered prayers, enthusiasm, actively loving people, lunch with friends, pumpkin scones from Starbucks, and "living the dream".

Answered Prayers


Two Years ago I sang around Jacksonville a couple of times a week to include nursing homes. At one of these nursing homes many of the residents cried and made me promise to come back. I made plans on coming back in December to do a large performance. One day later I was in the hospital fighting for life. Following lengthy stays in hospitals and rehab centers I have been living from a wheelchair for two years. I would lie in by bed still hearing one resident say "after three months of dispair and depression you have brought music back into my life!" I began a long plea for God to let me return. Christmas day I get to go back to that retirement home, Carraige House, to sing Christmas music. God delivers in His time... and answers prayers!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Monday's Grace Notes


Monday's Grace Notes; being healthy enough to go to my first Christmas party in two years, stepping out in faith, making up new recipes, driving through Avondale, chatting on Facebook, and giving things away.

Humble Pie


How may I pray for you today?

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Saturday's Grace Notes


Sunday's Grace Notes; Not being afraid to fly with out a safety net, baking raspberry shortbread, painting watercolors late into the night, journaling and quiet time early in the morning, employment (gotta love it) and my grown up kids.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Humble Pie


Last week one of my young piano students asked me "what do you like best about Christmas!" I replied "giving". At Christmas it is more socially acceptable to "give". Christmas is LOVE. Christmas is GIVING. Cookies to neighbors and friends, paintings to students, singing Christmas music in un-expected places... free of charge. "You have not because you ask not".... you have not because you GIVE not." I think that I will make a few phone calls and see where else I can sing and play Christmas music for "free". Where else I can give. Lord use me!

Saturday's Grace Notes


Saturday's Grace Notes; waking up early and writing a new song "Be Still And Know", watching Kerry Shook Ministries, being able to independently take a shower, seeing God's promises being full-filled, living in the present, opening the gift... and finding a diamond, finding out that I haven't gained weight after all! Maybe the scale CAN be our friend! :)

Humble Pie


A year ago today I had accepted that my new disABLED life would never include a Christmas tree again or my "Martha Stewart" meals that I was so known for. The "hostess with the mostess". My days were, although content, filled with reading from small easy to hold books and T.V. shows. Now, today I am able to stand for small amounts of time, play guitar, piano, paint large canvases and plan on cooking for family and friends again. Never close the door on God!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Friday's Grace Notes


Wednesday's Grace Notes; "Releasing" my newly composed song "Butterfly", teaching piano lessons with the light of the Christmas tree and lit candles, a sense of humor, naps when needed, new neighbors, and staying true to my authentic self.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Wednesday's Grace Notes


Wednesday's Grace Notes; Working through the hard places, mass producing watercolor greeting cards while in the artist's "flow", pairing friends together to have even more fun, Gingerbread bagels from Panera Bread Company (hello!), new lipstick, and a fresh Costco wreath on the front door. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas".....

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Humble Pie


We paid our electric bill yesterday. No big thing, except that dealing with recent unemployement made it more of a deal. A big one. So as I sit here this morning in my warm jammies I hear the familiar click of the heater turn on and the cold record breaking wind whirl around our Florida home it really hits me. There are people without heat. There are people without heat........

Tuesday Grace Notes


Tuesday's Grace Notes; Letting others help me, chocolate peppermint coffee freshly ground and brewed by Glenn during piano lessons... ahhh, brother-in-laws, mail box blessings, the quiet of the early morning and Facebook friends.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Monday's Grace Notes


Monday's Grace Notes; Living in God's favor and thanking Him ahead for it, Christmas shopping at Kohls, new candles (pumpkin, white christmas, evergreen and red berry), Panda's Christmas color with jingle bells (he likes it!), giving my music students hand painted cards, ornaments and lots of cookies and talking to my sister Michele on the phone this morning.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sunday's Grace Notes


Sunday's Grace Notes; Drizzly cozy Sunday afternoons, singing for clubs, organizations, art showings, weddings, funerals... celebrations of life, Wendy's hamburgers, driving, a roll of christmas ribbon and endless opportunities, and Joel Osteen's new Christmas book. Oh happy day!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Saturday's Grace Notes


Saturday's Grace Notes; Comfy pajammies, Christmas lights, singing today at the American Penwomen's Christmas Tea, running the dishwasher, medicine that keeps me alive... and a "spoon full of sugar"!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Friday's Grace Notes


Friday's Grace Notes; Decorating for Christmas... okay I had to have help with the tree, finding new solutions to old problems, humble baked potatoes, a vacuum cleaner, meeting a friend for lunch and my sheltie Panda.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Thursday's Grace Notes


Thursday's Grace Notes; new load of library books, the tree is up... now time to decorate it, voice, guitar and piano students singingand playing Christmas songs, remembering the kindness of others, Snapple Gree Tea, and bromeliads.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Wednesday's Grace Notes


Wednesday's Grace Notes: Not being a chicken but soaring like an eagle, driving my SUV w/ only a rollating walker in the back in place of my power wheelchair, selling my art products on "Zazzle.com", picking out clothes to wear, taking care of loved ones, and homemade meatloaf on a Tuesday night.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Tuesday Grace Notes


Tuesday Morning Grace Notes: A BIG Christmas mug of coffee, painting more butterflies (some are worth keeping LOL), making a healthy sweet and sour chicken and rice for dinner, composing on the piano, it's "painting only" Tuesday ( no music/art students), believing in God, and enjoying the journey on the way to the goal.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Monday's Grace Notes


Monday morning Grace Notes: Being promoteded on Linkedin and especially promoting others, taking risks, continueing to fly even when I can't touch the ground, serendipity, "good news" Joyce Meyer Ministries, and good health care.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Sunday Grace Notes


Sunday's Grace Notes: Santa paintings, meeting new friends at The Village Gallery and at The Art Center, playing a three hour vocal/accoustic guitar holiday music set downtown last night, recieving God's grace just because He loves us, and a 'to do' list.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Saturdays Grace Notes


Saturday's Grace Notes; A lazy Saturday morning (that never happens!), wool socks, new mouse for my computor, singing tonight downtown at the Art Center, practicing guitar, teaching my students Christmas music, and making new friends.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Grace Notes For Friday


Friday's Grace Notes; Going to Nashville in January to record a new CD! Singing Christmas music for a few hours at the Art Center saturday night in downtown Jacksonville, Christmas open houses, fresh fruit and cold weather clothes.
Celebrate the day!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

December 2nd Grace Notes


Grace Notes;

Not living in fear, "play a little", eating too many coofresh blueberrieskies-forgiving myself-anf 'getting back on the wagon', friends who take the time to care, and greek yogurt with fresh blueberries.
Celebrate the day!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

After Turkey Day Thanksgiving


Grace Notes; Post Thanksgiving and still giving thanks, painting, selling and meeting new people at the Ethen Allen Design Center and the Cummer Museum Saturday, December, being part of the Art In Embassies Program, what an honor!, and writing new music. Celebrate the day!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving Grace Notes


Last year I sat in my wheelchair and watched others cook in my kitchen, same as the year before. THIS Thanksgiving I will stand, cook, clean, create and celebrate with family, sit in a regular chair with my powered wheelchair 'standing by'. God is soo good!


Grace Notes: Sitting in regular chairs in my art studio and music studio. Getting some muscles, if small to begin with, in my "skinny turkey legs". Writing new music to perform and sing with my guitar and record. Glenn making the turkeys... again. He's the best! good jazz music and family coming to visit.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Wednesday's Grace Notes


Pumpkin Lattes, Christmas mugs... okay I broke them out early, :) my kids patiently teaching their technilogically impared mother, it's okay to eat ice cream once in awhile, so cookie dough it is! AND, working hard for things that you really want to do in life.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Monday's Grace Notes


Monday's Grace Notes


Church and "Sticky Fingers BBQ" with my daughter,

Compassion, Sleeping in when I need to, cooking for Thanksgiving (love to cook), taking chances and... hope.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sunday's Grace Notes


Sunday's Grace Notes; Writing a new song "Butterfly", new guitar strings, frozen yogurt, birdsong, time with my daughter, feeding the dog, and the huge collection of recently painted watercolor greeting cards in front of me waiting to be delivered to galleries and venues.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Saturday's Grace Notes


Second chances... and third, fourth..., a jumbo cup of coffee, living fearless, crisp Florida mornings, humbling new opportunities in music and art... they leave me speechless.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Friday's Grace Notes


Time with other artists and creative people, "Carol of thr Bells", learning more about social networking (now if only I can remember it all), my best friend Glenn, and each new dawn... they just keep showing up!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Guess Who Fundraiser ART Center


The Guess Who Fundraiser

The ART Center

Saturday December 4th 2010

6:00 PM t0 9:00PM

Live Holiday Music

provided by

Nancy Asbell

acoustic guitarist/vocalist


Come out and meet talented artists and hear me sing!

Sounds like fun to me!


Village Framing and Gallery Holiday Open House


Village Framing and Gallery Holiday Open House

358 B Stiles Avenue Orange Park Fl

Saturday December 4th

4:00 - 6:00


Come by, meet my talented friends and see my holiday greeting cards, paintings and ornaments

Happy Holidays!

Cummer Museum/Ethan Allen Gifted Artists Shop


The Cummer Museum/Ethan Allen Design Center

Gifted Artist Shop

The Town Center

Jacksonville Florida

Onsite Artist

Saturday November 27th

11:00 - 3:00

Come and meet me while I paint my watercolor greeting cards onsite.

See ya' There!

The Cost Of Freedom Juried Art Show


The Cost Of Freedom Juried Art Show.

The ART Center downtown Jacksonville

Saturday November 2o, 2010

5:00 PM to 8:00PM


"I belive in peace and I'm willing to fight for it."

"Instruments of Peace"

30x40 acrylic collage


I hope to see you there!

Concurrency Showing at AT&T Towers


Great Showing and great chance to see old and new friends. Beautiful paintings and sculpture. So much talent. And good music too. We live in a great City with a lot of opportunities.

Today's Grace Notes


Making Hobo Soup, asian inspired clothing, The Concurrency art Showing at the AT&T Towers tonight, reading inspirational books, discovering old and new friends on Facebook.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

New day! New opportunities!

I now am booked with two music venues to sing/play acoustic guitar holiday music. Up to two hours "with no repeats". Anybody interested? Life is just too much fun!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Grace Notes for Tuesday

Okay, how long do I have..... so much to be thankful for: Healing people helping others to heal, reaching out in friendship and in faith, great books like "Spark" and "Kiss-Ass Creativity (trust me it's good), reds and blues, doing things "afraid", and well, hot dogs!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

New Beginnings

Today is a new day for new beginnings. I am thankful for courage that "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me", the awesome support of my family and friends, tapping into so many great motivational inspiring books, and my improved health. These are my Grace Notes for today!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Fail Forward!

It's amazing how much we fear the unknown, even when the unknown carries with it the possibility of success. We are so determined to stick to our comfort zones that we learn to live with dissapointment, as long as it is familiar and safe. Well I'm about to loosen the safety net and get out of the boat and walk on water.... Jesus is telling me that it is okay, if I fully rely on Him. So here I go!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Thursday's Grace Notes

Thursday's Grace Notes: Asking for help, believing in oneself, believing the best in others, giving it to God over and over again, getting back up and trying again, play it forward and my backyard to enjoy with my sheltie "Panda" and the lizards... birds... flowers....

disABLED artist and musician;

disABLED artist and musician beating the odds! Stay tuned on Facebook, Twitter, and blog!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Raisin Bran Crunch cereal, hot coffee, rotating art from gallleries, singing "Santa Baby",painting "Florida Fairways" Christmas ornaments, and Wednesday nights "Festuves".

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Grace Notes for Tuesday

Grace Notes: Early mornings, helping people, teaching piano, planning for a great weekend, using the resources that God has already given me, (hello!) and taking the time to thank Him for them.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

New shoes and being brave

Two years ago I was told that I would lose the use of my legs. I gave away ALL of my shoes. Now I need to buy some more. A lot of them. I'm about to do some very brave things....

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Saturdays Grace Notes

Saturday mornings with a nip in the air, a bowl of cereal, a new blouse, jewellry to match, paintings to paint, music to play and people to love. Now does it get any better than this?

Friday, November 5, 2010

Painting and Singing

Can't sleep. Too excited about the world of opportunities, improved health, paint brushes, guitars to play, songs to sing, students to teach........

Monday, November 1, 2010

Monday's Grace Notes

Being alive to celebrate another November! Standing to brush my teeth and wash my face, noisy morning crows, a second cup of coffee, teaching painting workshops, the start of a new work week... play on!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! It's a great time to get in touch with our inner child, although mine is never too far away. That's what happens when you play with art supplies and musical instruments for a living. Life is good!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Today's Grace Notes

Being represented by the Artistree Gallery in Atlantic Beach, becoming a new member in VSA, Florida Arts and Disability, a new member of Jacksonville's American Pen Women, brazilian coffee, early mornings and more tubes of paint!