ALL THE UPDATES coming your way.

Shantastic, is finally making some *LASTING* changes.  But not to the "name" like I had thought I would be doing.

Lately, I have been doing some soul searching and come to some decisions to help get some "structure" around here. I really desperately thought I needed a name change for my "brand". Though I had no idea what I wanted to do. I'm sure some of you have seen me toying with the banners and logos the past few weeks. Looking for what I just really like. I couldn't figure out what I wanted my "style" to be. So while searching and asking others for help I decided to put my mind elsewhere and started thinking of other things that needed organized as well.

I have been determined to get the house arranged, get to work in the studio, while keeping an updated blog. I have struggled to make the blog gender neutral to keep my guy fans around for updates on paintings and other things I do festy wise  but it has been pretty hard. I'm working on getting pages for different sections of my "artistic spectrum" of ideas all in an organized manner for my viewers to read and keep updated.... because that is my goal. To share all things art that I am doing or come across with whomever I can reach.

So Shantastic Sales sounded too, un-appealing to me.... it sounds like I'm automatically trying to sell you something. That's not necessarily the case. I want to share the updates of my latest painting, talk to you about ideas, meet new people who are just generally interested, Or even help you find a gift for someone special or help you find an affordable way to spice up your living room.  I'm not all about the "sale" I'm about the Art... or the craft... or the easy "D.I.Y." behind the matter.

So I needed to take a step back. Figure out how to organize all my "ideas" or "projects" as Boyfriend calls them.

Here goes...


For my jewelry/accessories I realized I had two styles. Kinda different from each other. I had many "hemp" and "hippie" type necklaces, headbands, hair feathers, sandals, tye dyes, and more!  

BUT

I also had many unique , wire wrapped pieces, girlie earrings, childrens' hair flowers, glasses holders, broaches, hair clips, ect.  But they just didn't really look like they all went together. They appealed to people with very different styles.  So I have decided to desperate them into "Lines" and help promote them in different "sections" on my Etsy Shop

Shantastic is now introducing :

I also wanted to showcase my painting in it's own "section" To keep any updates for my "live paintings" or painting showcases I will have a new section called  Shantastic Spectrum

 

And then there will of course be a section for ShantasticInk Photography that helped kick out m bloggin' experiences :)

That left one thing... all my random D.I.Y.'s and Gift options I like to share.... well.... last but not least ( because I may come up with some other needed section very soon with all the upcoming changes!)  I will be hosting a section I would like to call 

Shantastic Solutions!

That being said I have come up with a nifty little schedule to help ensure I keep up with all sorts of updates!


Look forward to the upcoming:
Make something MONDAYS

Tutorial TUESDAYS

Wired up WEDNESDAYS

Take the paint out Thursdays

Fix it up FRIDAYS
Say Something Saturdays- Random Internet/Pinterests posts
Share something Sundays - Featured Posts , Items , Ect

  

I will also be working to bring viewers a :giveaway: or contest of some sort every month. :) I wanna make sure you have a reason to check back even if you don't want to buy something.... have a chance to win something... I'm not stingy I really do just want to share ;)

SO for the rest of January I will be finishing the RE-MODELING of the Shantastic! page.  Deciding to keep the Name as it is.... as  just     SHANTASTIC! ... as a whole..... I am Shannon.... but I have also felt more of a -Shantastic...... and that just seems to fit everything I am trying to do...... I kept searching for something spectacular ( Yes I even toyed with the idea of Shantastic Spectacular, and felt terribly silly) then I realized, I am special and  Shantastic is me..... I was upset that I couldn't get the web address Shantastic.com and I was upset to start thinking everyone else was starting to use it too... But simply put.... almost nothing in this world is just one persons anymore.... and I shouldn't have to change something that seems to fit me and that I have stuck with this long.... So Shantastic it is... and now it's time to get organized, and just stick with it.HOWEVER!
I do have one last thing I would like to announce.

WITH All of my changes I would also like to make one more rather LARGE update for me. I will be working on the last thing I wanted to call the Shantastic Shine..... A Newsletter for my dedicated fans that would like to get a brief update on ALL things shantastic but may not have time to check back to the site EVERYDAY.  I will start by making the Shantastic Shine newsletter once a month and if I get enough interest it may go weekly ( up to you guys I won't bother you that much unless I get peoples attentions)
But not only will the SHINE feature Shantastic... I would also like it to include links to others blogs, reviews, products, and more. It could be a great way to help spread the word to others.


Now I feel like I've introduced a lot here..... Hope I have a few readers that legitimately got through the full update.... If so... I thank you dearly.


Have an AWESOME! Day while I continue to make some last minute changes to kick off the start of new beginning. 

 

 

Shopping spree, Yippee.

I had a lot I planned to do today... Okay, maybe not I was probably just going to have a lay around and try to organize things on my tablet and get lost on pinterest kinda day.....  

But that's okay  I had
WAY MORE FUN!Boyfrienddd had to get a new Guitar from his new custom Guitar buddy. ( @ Ferrelton Guitars who I will be doing a post on very soon so keep a watch for more info , until then look at their website for some awesome GUITARS if you or someone you know is musical ;)

But since we had to go for the drive anyway I decided to go to Michael's  to make the trip worth it on my end :D

Never pass up a chance to go craft shopping ;)

I had coupons , that were useable via my smartphone Or via my new tablet :D hehehehe. I was shopping smart and saving trees! 

( It's a good thing too because my crappy printer  is out of ink! )
ANYWAYS! TO THE NEW CRAFT STASH GOODIES!


 I managed to use a coupon and snag a pretty awesome
Steel stamping kit!
Which I must say I am pretty pumped to try to make these Washer necklaces I found on 36th Ave via Pinterest.


I also got a TON of new artists quality acrylic paints, because well.... they were buy one get one free! So that means buy them in every color that's in stock right?  ... It does when you don't live withing an hour of a craft store!


I also picked up some jewelry tid bits and a buttload of new paint brushes!


SOOOO  you know what that means right?


Yeah yeah, I guess it really means it's time to clean the studio

BUT THEN

It's play time!!!!! Also known as Studio time.... it makes me sound a little more professional :P


 Oh yeah I also got this cute little Tin , it caught my eye by the register and Boyfriend said I had to have it for ....something.... So I grabbed it for a buck! I will for sure store beads and cords in it to take a project with me in my purse. I have to have something to do when I get stuck at un announced band practices ;)

Anyways back to cleaning the studio .... so that I can have fun making a huge mess with some new toys.



Have a good one!

Let her grow: Painting for a friend

Let her Grow - 16x20 Custom Painting by Shannon Cook

NOTE: We NEED a new photo together ASAP!
This was way to hard to find in a 2010 album!
What in the heck have we been doing that we
never take a photo ever? This needs fixed!
New 2013 Goal get a good photo with each of
my good friends :)

 I had been busy doing a lot of paintings for shows towards the end of 2012. I filled Dante's bar and the Culinary Cafe as well as Allegany College of Maryland Campus' and a few festivals! I'd say I kept pretty busy in the studio.


Well my fabulous bestie of friends Michael had been begging (Okay, maybe not begging but hinting rather strongly) for a painting I had. It was slightly different than my Let her Grow piece that I created JUST for him. (This is where he smiles really big and sends me a big :D for thinking of just him.)  None of my other friends got custom paintings surprisingly.

 Just my brother whose doesn't count because a Halo themed painting is not on  my list of favorites. (Sorry bro, glad you liked it .)

Anyway. Let her Grow , is one of favorite paintings. Lime green has always been BOTH of our favorite colors for quite some time ( Unless he mysteriously changed favorite colors recently) Plus he had mentioned he would have loved the original painting even more if it were green. And so it was created.

He in return gave me a HUGE mixture of Christmas goodies. So many cookies, cupcakes, and fudge to die for! I wish I would have snapped a picture because it was every sweet tooths dream. No lie!

Too late now though, its ALL gone. Me and Dutchers tore it up! A long with a few nibbles from friends who stopped by for the holidays..... I'll admit I ate most of it myself... SHHHH though I tried to tell my family I didn't eat to much sweet stuff living on my own! Oh well, I'll try to do better this year! Look out 2013 I have a lot to look forward too.


Oh yeah Real quick here is a photo of the Original painting from my Dantes Display and Live Painting event ( Reed more here....)

Hope you all enjoy it. If you would like a CUSTOM painting of your own or for someone special please feel free to Contact me. :) I'm always open to ideas and commission projects.

Tree Branch Necklace.

I made this one for my best friend Kayla and sent it home with her to good ol' Alabama.... Now I can't wait to make more.

Hope she shares it with all her awesome friends down there.
I love how it turned out for a first try.

  It is a rather large piece that lays over the chest.  But it can be arranged a bit to lay how you like.


 It can also be customized with whatever color  "leaves or blossoms" you would like as well.


 I want to make a copper one with brown or fall colored leaves soon. :) I will for sure post some awesome pictures.

 

My aunt said it reminded her of lighting.... Hmmmmm maybe that will be of some use. Sounds like some good inspiration.


I will post photos of my next one Asap!

Until then ,

Happy Crafting

Snow Snow Go Away, You don't need to come back some other day...

Don't get me wrong I love me a nice snow day! Especially when it snowed on Christmas Eve just enough to give us a nice white Christmas. But now, it's starting to give me some EXTREME cabin fever!

Being stuck inside all day I worked on a few new pendants for the SHOP. Which needed some much needed new inventory.

I stocked up on some wire the last time I went out to the craft store so I've been practicing a couple of things and got some satisfying new pieces to share. :) 

Hope you enjoy!

BUY ME HERE

BUY ME HERE

BUY ME HERE

BUY ME HERE

BUY ME HERE

BUY ME HERE

I will be working on more pendants and wire wrapping styles through the evening. Please feel free to comment on pendants , send links to interesting tutorials. Or just leave feedback.

- I just got back from taking photos in the snow! Time to cuddle up and drink some hot chocolate with the boys...


Happy Crafting :)

Guardian Angel Set

Guardian Angel Set

Every year I like to make something special for my aunt to remind her how grateful I am that she helped my Grandma take care of me when I was younger. Having lost mom my ( her sister) my Uncle ( Her brother) and my pap ( Her dad) all rather crossly together we went through some hard times together. But she has always been there to help me through anything I needed. As a little reminder I made her this Guardian Angel set for Christmas. She loved it. :)

Two Pair of Coordinating Angel Earrings

  

Silver Angel Metal Clasp Bracelet

Custom Gift Box - I found the saying on a Pinterest Meme I instantly fell in love with it. It fit well

This one has been gifted, but more can be made similar. If you are interested in one for you or someone special please feel free to Contact Me . I will gladly make more for you while supplies last.

HAPPY CRAFTING

Today's Projects= Recycled Tye Dye!

Todays goal was to not leave the house, but make numerous items.  That turned out pretty easy once I realized it was time to RECYCLE!

Now who doesn't have an old T-shirt or two laying around the house? I know I have a million!  So I started hunting through the bunch.

Flower Power Necklace

 I found the prefect old t-shirt laying in a pile. Lately I have been on a tye-dye kick , well maybe it's not a kick? More like an all the time thing! It happens when you're friends with the owners of Manitoba District!. They keep me in stock of tons of colorful Tye-Dyes for year-round lol! But I never have anything I like that matches accessory wise. Minus my millions of hemp necklaces, but every now and then everyone needs a little switch up.

T-shirt Infinity Scarf - Tye Dye Style
 

        That being said, I have some rather rough  looking tye dyes that I made with a few kids a while back. They were a bit on the lame side with not much of a pattern to them. (This is why I gave up Tye-dye and let the pros do it at Manitoba! ) Anyways! Since they weren't being worn I figured why not make them the perfect Accessory to my new favorite tye dyes? Take a peak at my new creations! :) I will gladly make more upon request just let me know if you want a specific color!

    

  I also wanted to mention I got the idea while browsing around some awesome craft blogs. I had seen it on numerous pages so I'm not sure who to give the first credit to. However, I started making the Infinity Scarf from a tutorial I found on : Kojo Designs

But it was linked to this awesome page I found full of home made Christmas ideas! Click here to check it out on The Happy Housewife's list of 100 great home made gifts.

Flower Bracelet and Braided Necklace set

 Sadly, all my tye-dyes are in the wash due to adventure to the farm last weekend. So I had to suffice wit my favorite black tee. Now I'm wondering if I can get away with my tye-dye accents at my "all black" uniform photography job. Guess I will have to see Sunday when I go to work ;)

Thanks for checking it out! Feel free to let me know if you would like me to make one for you.

Happy Crafting.

-Shantastic

Updating the Etsy Shop!

 Please take a moment to peak around the Shantastic Etsy Shop! New arrivals are making their ways to the registries. I am also looking for good teams and art communities to enjoy! Leave some comments to lead me in the right direction. 

 

 

Pick an item from our shop to add to your favorites and I will return the favor if you have an Etsy Shop! :)

Workin' on the marketing aspect ;)

         Shantastic has been workin' on getting the word spread around. New flyers, brochures,cards and more! All in the works. Need to spread the word to get out and noticed! New items and more coming soon. Just wanted to keep ya updated on some of the current things going on.

THIS SHOW IS HAPPENING NOW! Check out the Cafe' in downtown Cumberland for a look at the paintings in person!

Shows coming soon:

Painting showcase- Allegany College of Maryland /Bedford Campus- October
Craft Set up at -Masquerade Ball Sunshine Day Dream - October 18th
Dante's Bar - Live Painting and opening Reception - November 9th

Sales Flyer for 2012 Check it out , Hand it out, Put it up, Hit us up ;)

Crayon Art - Support

I started creating a lot of CRAYON ART today :) here are some photos.... now one of these may be a  bit of a controversy but :) I want my Gay friends , fans , and followers to know that I support them as well. Your decision is to be left with you and not someone who it is not bothering. I wish you all to be happy. I created these in support of one of my BEST friends who has supported me through everything. :) He is the best and I respect his decision to be with whom he pleases. 

(These are Crayon Art melted to 8x10 canvas. These are $15.00. For larger requests feel free to contact me :)

HEATWAVE SALES!

Here are some items!

Cotton Candy Inspired Earrings
Pink, turquoise, and yellow beaded earrings with silver accent.
Original Price $10.00
Heat Wave Sale this week only
$8.00

Smiley Moods- Mood Rings with a twist!
Buy them as a set or individually.
Silver wire Please Request a Size.
Original 6 PC. SET PRICE $50.00
Heatwave Sale.
THIS WEEK ONLY $35.00!

Shantastic Sales (@Shantastic Sales)Has officially posted the big HEATWAVE sale.

I have been working away at tons of new items. The heatwave sale is finally posted on the FACEBOOK

Feel free to share the pages and items with your friends. Many more items to come for the summer series but enjoy the heatwave sale. Once posted to the Etsy and Artfire they will be going full price.

Feel free to message me or contact me for a Paypal option or mailing address for a check or money order.

T-shirt Chain Star Set. Dark Silver Chain and Findings Clasps.
Get this whole set for a deal price! All new Shantastic Design.
T-shirt and Chains. Dark Silver chain with Pink T-shirt and Star Accents
Set Comes with Necklace, Earrings, and Ring.
Gift Box included if requested.

Now off to work on tutorials and things for next week! Enjoy your comfy computer chair and peak around my shop :)  Or help out by Pinning a few of your favorites to your Styles on Pinterest . Help me spread the word!











OH! One more thing before I run off. I forgot to mention.... If you share a link to my HEATWAVE SALES album on facebook.... Message me or contact me and make an order of ANYTHING and get a free ~Scrappy Chain~ (Keychain made from awesome random hemps and beads) with your purchase for helping out! :) 

Here's one of my red ones :)

***** SHANTASTIC HEATWAVE SALE COUPON CODE: 223SHARE
- Share a photo from the Heatwave sale and message me to order something this week and get a free ~Scrappy Keychain~ with your purchase :)

Sales Comin' Your Way!

Shantastic Sales (@Shantastic Sales) Is going to be having a HUGE heatwave sale this week. Due to being stuck inside and making TONS of jewelry in the only room I have A.C. to do so in I will be having a sale to show off some of my new ideas and items and awesome things that have come in. I am also trying to promote my new BLOG  which you have landed yourself on :) And by the way thanks for reading! ..... However, this is where I will soon be posting Tutorials, videos, tips and tricks, and other crafty ideas to share :) Please keep a look out for the new items and Heatwave Sale!