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Good Fortune Studios

Beauty. Attention. Creation.

Bluebeard – Beginning Again

February 7, 2026 by Rayna Diane Hennen Leave a Comment

Original sketches in pencil of the Bluebeard series I wanted to create

Rediscovering an art journal I abandoned, not far from the finish line, I decided to jump back in and see if I could make it happen this time.

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The Perfect Art Journal I Thought I was Going to Create

January 29, 2026 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Cover of art journal - dark green background with two pink flowers

When I first read about perfectionism, I didn’t think it applied to me. I am pretty easy going, adaptable, and generally don’t get too upset over things. In other words, I don’t need things to be perfect. It turns out, that is not what perfectionism is.

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Things take the time they take

July 25, 2025 by Rayna Diane Hennen

ghost pipe mushrooms, which are totally white, on a background of brown, dead leaves

It’s been said that a situation will keep popping up over and over again until you learn the lesson you’re supposed to learn. Maybe I’m finally figuring out one of mine.

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Book: The Work Of Art

June 26, 2025 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Book cover for The Work of Art by Adam Moss

A book I enjoyed so much I thought I’d write about the 5 ideas I took away from reading it, which all seem to start with ‘do the work’.

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The Flower Drawing Continues…

April 11, 2025 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Yes, the drawing of the flower continues! And I also enjoyed some free classical music.

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It’s been 32 days and then some…

March 27, 2025 by Rayna Diane Hennen

The final image with the first sketch

Some thoughts on my progress with the 100 day project – there are definitely some frustrations!

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Diving into Another Round of the 100 Day Project

March 2, 2025 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Practicing my ink lines before diving into the module

My third year doing the 100 day project will hopefully keep me on track with my drawing flowers with ink course!

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Drawing What You See: The Shapes of Snowy Branches

February 24, 2025 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Tree branches covered with snow out in the woods

I have had drawing on my mind lately, since I am working through a drawing class. It was on my mind while out in the woods and changed the way I saw the snowy trees.

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A Clean Swipe: Sustainable Napkins for the Win!

February 2, 2025 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Sewing reusable napkins and clean up rags for sustainability and the sheer pleasure of using a sewing machine on a Sunday afternoon.

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Flowers & Hatchings Part 2: Finished Work

December 19, 2024 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Back in September, I signed up for a floral ink drawing class and finally finished the first flower. There is both good and room for improvement!

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goodfortunestudios

Experiments in creativity and cringe. Join me!

Happiness hides in life’s small details. If you’re Happiness hides in life’s small details. If you’re not looking, it becomes invisible. - Joyce Brothers

#snowymoss
#snowymossontrees
#winterphotography
Continuing with the Bluebeard collage. After doing Continuing with the Bluebeard collage. After doing this I changed the blade on the xacto – the edges of the chair had white rough edges.

Bluebeard is originally a French folktale though many countries have a version. In the spirit of IMDB unhelpful, one-line descriptions of movies: A man with a deadly secret, intent on luring a young woman to be his new bride. 😄 🤷

A little more specific: The tale is about a wealthy man in the habit of murdering his wives and the attempts of the present one to avoid the fate of the previous wives. 🫣

This will be for the first spread, the ‘romance’ – truly, it’s not romantic, he’s trying to sway one of the sisters into, what will be a not so sweet marriage.

There will be 5 spreads total: the romance, finding the little door, the bloody key, the brothers to the rescue, and (kind of a gruesome end) the vulture.
We're getting closer to spring, which will be love We're getting closer to spring, which will be lovely but I do love winter. All seasons have beauty if you take the time to look (and dress warmly!) so I'll share some of my favorites while getting ready for spring 😊 

This is in my own front yard and I liked it immediately but liked it even more when I got it up on the big computer screen and could see the sun reflected in that little water drop! This one is available as a print.

#berriesinwinter 
#winterphotography 
#waterdropsphotography
Working on getting back to a rhythm of some kind a Working on getting back to a rhythm of some kind after unexpected time away. Looking at my last post, it was in October, which is kinda what I thought. From that point in October to the end of the year was a blur of physical pain that went on for weeks, then recovery, then a holiday, then an illness, then family and travel and another holiday and more travel and, well, I think I finally came up for air phew!! LOL

I have written or painted every day this week. After searching for a project, I think I'll go back to this project,  which I've been stuck on for a while. It will be based on the fairy tale Bluebeard.

Anyway, this project wasn't living up to what was in my head and I was making it too literal. I was sitting there bitching to myself and then I to me self, self:  you know you *could* just paint over what you've done and start over. 😄 Nothing gets by me, man!

I hope the health issues will stay at bay for a while because it really is true if you haven't got your health, what have you got and I much prefer not having pain and making things! You do have to give yourself grace sometimes and let some things go if you want to heal. 🤷‍

What have you been up to?

#embracethecringe #creativityandcringe
I was digging around in my closet for something an I was digging around in my closet for something and came across an older sketchbook, which of course derailed the search because I HAD to flip through it 😊

My Mom had this box for a long time, just sitting in a cabinet. It was just plain wood, the lid wasn't attached but it did come with the hinges. One summer I stole it, painted it and surprised her for Christmas. 

On slides 2 & 3 you can see the first sketches I made for the box. And slides 5 & 6 show where the next round of sketches ended up. Completely different direction as it turns out! Went for the Arts & Craft period style she loves.
This floral cone actually turned out all right! I This floral cone actually turned out all right! I haven't quite gotten the ribbon exactly right so sometimes this style hangs a little awkwardly. I have wall versions, that can hang on a hook but I'll be damned if I can find any photos of it on my phone 🧐 

Or the silvery one I made last year. You'll just have to trust me, ok? 😁
O-pin-ion: if you purchased these, would you expec O-pin-ion: if you purchased these, would you expect a hanger on the back (second pic)? 

In my head, because they have the wooden lip on the back, they hang flat against the wall. 

T'anks! 

Almost done - varnish coating left to go! Happy Friday 💃
New hearts ready to go. New hearts ready to go.
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