Free Journal Page & Christmas Journal Prompt "Simply Sunday"

Since everybody is so busy & Christmas is so close I thought I create a  journal page and share it with you so you could journal any holiday thoughts, thoughts of what you would like to have enter your life in the new year, maybe a list of things to finish left over from this year, goals & aspirations~ Or even your Santa list! What ever you journal with the prompt above or other I hope you enjoy the page~You may also share it with others if you wish!

I will be taking the last few weeks of December off to spend time with Sammie who will be on holiday break & to go see family over Christmas until the New Year. It is so important to spend time with family, renewing spirits & sharing the joys of today along with the memories of yesterday~

I want to thank all of you for being readers of my blog, cheerleaders for the arts, sharing your thoughts via comments and watching my journey as an artist~ I couldn't have better blogging friends who are as dear to me as the family that surrounds me. I want to wish you & your families the Happiest of Holidays & a wonderful New Year!  Brightest Blessings to you all~ See you in 2011 to ring in the New Year! Until then, All my best! Theresa





Link to journal page (print out 8 1/2 x 11) - http://www.box.net/shared/bc3jme11z3
*if you share this on your blog just link back to mine~Thanks

Santa Claus Illustrations & Paintings & Coca Cola s Classic Santa

 Mixed Media Painting of Santa I did 2009

 Gift tags I made in 2009 with Vintage Classic Santa

 Vintage Santa Claus done by me 2010

I was so inspired when I happened across this free issue of Illustration Pages 10-13 are with classic Santa s that I love! I was actually looking for more Christmas cookie recipes for my craft blog and when I found this I had to share. Not only for the Santa images but all the illustrators in this publication and information.~ I know you might only glance at it now but it will be nice to look at again.

I also love the coke illustrations. They are some what dear to me as my grandfather worked for Coca Cola bottling co. and when I was growing up would always bring us the Classic Coke in the bottle. He even gave us miniature real glass coke bottles. I think I only have two left & they are empty. I remember they even had Coke in them and we drank it. lol

On CNN recently I saw part of a special about Coca Cola and the company's history. Well they have warehouse full of memorabilia. It would be fascinating to see it in person. They had the posters with Santa Claus and other illustrations,  they keep the posters in big drawers. Well any way I hope you enjoy these images and I look forward to painting another Santa at some point in a more classic rather than vintage style.

Do you enjoy painting holiday images?

Click on the publication to enlarge and view & flip through~

Open publication - Free publishing - More sundblom

This is an image of a vintage perfume bottle with the two Coca Cola bottles I mention~ So you can see how little they are! 

I came across this Santa Book with images from vintage postcards. Vicki Howard an artist collected her grandparents postcards  and created this book. This is now on my list of books to add to our Christmas books. I love reading stories on Christmas Eve with wonderful images ~

*PS. if you are looking for some great cookie recipes visit my craft blog! Lots of baking goodness this week~ 





Just like the poster! No wonder Santa's so jolly! Nothing like a  Coca Cola soda pick me up~

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town "Book Discount"

Grab your discount before its over!

Santa Claus is coming to Town with a discount for you! Well you know how I participated in the Chronicle Books Contest on my other blog well I didn't win but, Chronicle Books sent me this great discount to share with my readers! So for all you Santa s out there you might want to add a little jingle into your step with some extra cash in your pocket with this little savings! Don't forget to use the code HAULIDAYS at the checkout! Well more from Santa later~ Hope you have a wonderful day!
Do you have all your stocking stuffers yet? I sure don't! This Santa better get hopping!

Christmas Is Coming & Simply Sunday Journal Prompt

Twelve days before Christmas! Are you starting to rush around yet? ( or ) Are you one of those people that have it all together for months? Well this week I decided not only to give you a journal prompt but some helpful links for some holiday goodies such as gift tags &  DYI projects to add that creative touch to your packages.Yes, today all foggy & cold here and I will be inside wrapping some gifts to mail out to family. Trying to get on track with the incoming holiday and end of the year~ Where has this year gone?
Print ready gift tags & felt tutorial~ 

Gift Tags via Going Home To Roost

Gift Tags via Creature Comforts designed by Camilla Engman  (kids would love these)

Felt Ginger Cookie Ornaments via Creature Comforts (great for package toppers too!) 

Faux Sugar Cookie Ornaments via Creature Comforts

Gift Tags designed by Georgianna Lane  (  This Link Expires12/31! but, these are my favorite & from one of my favorite blogs to visit! )


Now for your Journal Prompt : make a little holiday page. It can be fun, whimsical  page with holiday colors, ribbons, papers or even illustrative. Do a page with all the childlike qualities of Christmas that you love! You might like to list some of your favorite parts of the holiday season that you love or have enjoyed when you were a child. Whether it be decorating the tree, making handmade ornaments wrapping gifts, baking cookies with the kids or visiting family~ A few of my favorites are baking holiday cookies, making ornaments & of course looking at the beautiful tree all lit up for the holidays.
What was your favorite Christmas memory as a child ? What is your favorite thing about Christmas now?

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. Laura Ingalls Wilder

Here is  holiday idea book that I am swooning over! Do you have a favorite?

Acrylic Painting & Pastels on Paper "Her Aura Was Blue"

t

Happy Friday to you! Yes finally some art to share. I was completely feeling out of sorts yesterday. My heart kept tugging at me! Something was missing~An uneasiness that it had been since prior to Thanksgiving since I had painted. Really? Yes that long! So I sat down to do some sketching in a small book, then I took a likeness to the girl who was becoming and decided to do her larger. At first a sketch but those heart strings were pulling me to paint! So that I did adding paint, pastels, water color pencil, colors and  layers acrylics. Yes I even ripped my paper but I didn't stop. I almost felt like her tare was right where a tear would be so I keep going and named this Her Aura Was Blue. Today I am easier with myself knowing my brushes are waiting for me to return no matter how long it is, I hope to get in some more painting this weekend. What about you?

The meaning of a blue aura is spiritual, but in the negative it is melancholy or blue. But generally a blue aura is meant to be positive.
Art is only a way of expressing pain. ~John Lennon 

The French General

French General: Treasured Notions

This is one of the books that I have on the list from the Chronicle Books Giveaway! I just love the books by The French General! Swoon~ well don't forget to enter *here
What books have you been wishing for?

Happy Haul-idays

Hi everyone! I came across this celebration from Chronicle Books and posted about the $500. value book giveaway! Pop over and all you have to do is comment & cross your fingers for Chronicle Books to pick us as winners. So hop on over to my craft blog & have a chance to win!! Thanks for all the well wishes I am feeling quite better now & almost caught back up to where I can get creating again! Hope you all are having a good start to your week! & PS. I can't wait to share some creative things I'll be working on this week!
*please note all entries must be on my craft blog with the post for the giveaway!

Contemplating

Karlee Dawn

Contemplating you say. Yes, after being under the weather with the achy, chills, fever & major headaches since Thanksgiving that is just what I am doing! This is how it all began: I had managed to get all the shopping & cooking done, serve the dinner, eat a little with the family and then I went to lay down to get rid of a headache for I thought for 15 minutes when ca-pow! Two hours slipped by & then when I awoke the tree was up with lights on it and the decorating began. I ended up watching and finishing details just last night. This is actually the first day I can say I actually feel better, but not 100%. Now I am contemplating where to get caught up first. Of course the laundry is up there on the list & telling my blogging friends I haven't gone away. So my posts are sparse this week but I hope you understand. I feel like I have been in the land of the lost & one thing is for sure I don't want to go back!! I will count my blessings today as what ever I had has seemed to have passed and cross my fingers no one else will get sick. If I had a magic wand I would rid the land of illness and suffering~ but, since I don't I just wish you good health this season & hope this finds you well.
Have you managed to stay well and creative this past week?

Sickness comes on horseback but departs on foot. ~Danish Proverb sometimes attributed to William C. Hazlitt

Blogging Break

Yes I am taking a little blogging break of a week, a time to spend with family & unplug. I'll be cooking, playing games, watching movies and enjoying family & although we won't all be together we will be with one another in spirit. May your week be filled with blessings~

Simply Sunday "Incognito"

This week I decided to play along with Inspiration Avenues prompt "Incognito". I immediately thought of Joan of Arc a French girl born in 1412 and a heroine after she led the French army to several important victories. I can imagine her posing as a man to assert herself to follow her calling. ( above is my journal page) I am not afraid. I was born to do this. ~Joan of Arc


Last weeks Journal prompt was to take a prayer and journal it. I came across this example of an image and Dante's prayer together and thought you might enjoy it~ You can still submit a journal page or writing to Mr. Linky at the bottom of post right here & view the post if you haven't.


Weirena

When the dark wood fell before me
And all the paths were overgrown
When the priests of pride say there is no other way
I tilled the sorrows of stone

I did not believe because I could not see
Though you came to me in the night
When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me your love in the light of the stars

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Though we share this humble path, alone
How fragile is the heart
Oh give these clay feet wings to fly
To touch the face of the stars

Breathe life into this feeble heart
Lift this mortal veil of fear
Take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears
We'll rise above these earthly cares

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless

I know this is going to be a busy week for everyone so I decided to have last week's prompt be for two week & you can find prompt and information from the link above.
Hope this finds you well. Will you be staying in town or traveling next week for Thanksgiving holiday? I would love to know~

November Photography

The colors of fall are around us, leaves barely hanging on as Autumn passes us by~
Catching the last warm sun rays on these autumn days & a soaking them up to hold us until spring~

Delicious autumn my soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking successive autumns. ~George Elliot

I can not endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all daylight hours in the open air. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Have you taken the time to enjoy autumns airs? What is your favorite part of fall?

Hope

Hello dear readers, I created this painting yesterday after being inspired by the Girl Effect Campaign. I don't know if you read yesterdays post but I was really moved by this effort to help underprivileged girls. It is amazing to see what even a small donation can do to help.

To me the cross in this painting represents the burden these girls carry. I placed hope in the hand to represent how they must feel when they receive the help that is needed to make a difference in their lives. I used acrylic paint, water color pencils, oil pastels and this is done on canvas. I added the Martin Luther King quote on the photograph copy.

What things do you want to help change in small or big ways? In the world? In your community? For girls/women?

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something~Author Unknown
Hope is the last thing ever lost.~ Italian saying
To me showing thankfulness is taking action to help those in need~Theresa Huse

Giving Back & Making A Difference / Girl Effect Campaign

Today I have to share with you a cause that I was made aware of & this is how it made me feel~ When we open our eyes we see things. When we don't turn our backs we view progress. When we lend a hand, others receive and are able to build a future & in turn lend a hand. When I saw this cause The Girl Effect I had to share their stories & below ways to help~








Given the chance, girls are uniquely capable of investing in their communities and making their lives, and the lives of their brothers, sisters and communities, better.
In order to make a difference and find out more for yourself please visit the Girl Effect.

Help spreading the word; you can grab all the tools necessary at their web site Girl Effect.

To make a donation visit Global Giving / The Girl Effect. Or Global Giving/Girl Effect to direct dollars spent and learn more.

We have much to be thankful for & it is especially important to give back. I can't imagine these struggles but when I look into the eyes of these girls I open my eyes to see a better future for them & know I can make a difference. You can make a difference too! Spreading the word, contributing what you can & taking the steps to end injustice to girls.



If you want to write your own post and need tips visit Wise Living Blog~

Simply Sunday "Her Spirit Rose from the Earth"

Her Spirit Rose from the Earth~


This is a journal page I did after seeing a photograph of woman who was both of American Indian and African American heritage. Her beauty was amazing. But more amazing was my thoughts of what a woman's spirituality looked like if I was to put it into journal page. I found several Earth prayers from the Sacred Seven Prayers and the words just spoke to me so I decided to combine them. Here is one of the Earth Prayers; O Great Spirit of Mother Earth beneath our feet, Master of metals, Germinator of seed and Storer of the Earth's unreckoned resources, help us to give thanks unceasingly for Your present bounty.
Noel Knockwood, B.A. Elder 1996

This weeks journal prompt; is to find a prayer and image that speaks to you and create a journal page from that inspiration it could be written, photography or artwork. Below I am sharing some links to some interesting history, also of an amazing woman artist and about November being American Indian Heritage Month. From my research I have started a canvas painting I hope to share soon~ I hope you find your spark and create something from the prompt above. I hope you come back and share what this post inspired you to write, photograph, and journal about. I will leave it up for two weeks.

This isn't the photograph I saw and I didn't draw its true likeness of the one I used only an interpretation of it. When looking up the history of Black Indians I found out about this woman artist.
Mary Edmonia Lewis was the first African American and American Indian woman to gain fame and recognition as a sculptor in the international fine arts world. She was of African American, Haitian and Ojibwe descent. She is listed among the 100 Greatest African Americans.


Hiawatha Marble 1868 Newark Museum

Another thing I found out was when researching was November is American Indian Heritage Month to find out more visit the Smithsonian Education site and to see some videos related to contemporary American Indian art and other subject click here.
On YouTube there are many beautiful videos full of Native American Music and Imagery. Here is one example~


Don't forget to have a wonderful and inspired week and I hope you find the time to create something and drop back by to share your link with us! ~ What have you created inspired from a period in time or history?

I Heart Snowmen

In case you didn't see the post on my other blog I wanted to share the news. I had challenged myself to try a new medium and create something with Styrofoam and enter a challenge I saw. Well if you hop over here you can see all the details and good news I have to share! I made a full post on my other blog MsartistSewCrafty.blogspot.com which is more crafty inspired. I hope you visit and read all the details. The posts will be a bit shorter the rest of the week as I am out of town with Sammie visiting family up in north CA. since Sammie has a 4 day weekend.
Do you ever try using other materials and challenging yourself to new things? How often do you try something new?

Snowmen fall from heaven assembled. ~Author unknown

PS. I will have my usual posting for Simply Sunday I pre made it for you twice thanks to blogger!
But since I lost the first one I added some interesting things and also made it a post where you can come back and share your work from the prompt!

Painting birds

This is a painting I did an interpretation of a Green Bee Eater. It was first drawn and colored in pencils and then painted with acrylics. It may not be a perfect interpretation but its a start. I love birds of all kinds and am so inspired to draw and paint more of them. They might just be one of my new muses! If you want to see what one looks like and find out about these amazing creatures visit the link above when you are done here. They are a bird indigenous to Africa, Arabia, Asia and India and Vietnam. I found like quick video of one & thought you might enjoy it. Wouldn't it be amazing to see one in person?
Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come. ~Chinese Proverb

Simply Sunday "Pocketful of Dreams"

Journal Page pocketful of Dreams~

Knowing that I have guides watching over me~
Putting my goals in my pocketful of dreams~
November + Reflections of the year~
Thankful for~
This weeks free journal prompt is "Pocketful of Dreams." I always find myself at the end of the year in November and December having a lot of reflection, asking myself questions and wondering if my choices in this year were the best I could of made. Have I used my time wisely, met my goals and do I see my dreams becoming a reality? Have I taken risks? Put myself out there enough? Maybe not. Maybe I haven't accomplished all that I have wanted but I have a lot to be thankful for and the steps that were taken this year. I still have my dreams and am not giving up on them. I am listening to the voices that guide me and am creating a plan and putting my dreams in a pocket. One by one I will take them out and try to accomplish them and maybe one day when I reach in I will get that golden ticket~
I hope you make a journal page and write down your pocketful of dreams and don't give up on them. Be happy for others successes and don't compare yourself to where they are in their journey. Create your goals and take the little steps necessary to bring them to fruition.
I have to remind myself this daily as it is so easy to compare one's self and get lost in the pool of talent that is around us in the world.
Do you find it hard to focus when you see such talent abound? How do you hold on to your dreams to make them a reality?

Cherish your visions and dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprint of ultimate achievements. ~Napoleon Hill

Keep your dreams alive, understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, and determination. Remember things are possible for those who believe. ~Gail Devers

*feel free to leave your link in the comment section if you use this prompt to create a page so we may visit and see what you have created~

Illustration "Happiness Is"

Happiness is finding inspiration, creating it and seeing it finished on my work table~

Happiness is watching my child swinging on a fall day while in the sun reading~

Happiness is swinging in the sun~

This weeks prompt at Inspiration Avenue is "Happiness Is"....
Here is my illustration for "happiness is" from the artist, mom and me ~ Yes I still like swinging as much as my daughter does & we both like reading books in the sun~I can think of a lot of things for happiness is. I might just have to create something else too. What does "happiness is" mean to you?

While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about. ~ Angela Schwindt

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour onto others without getting a few drops on yourself. ~ Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Dia De Los Muertos "Day of the Dead"

Completed Painting~

Work in progress~


This shot is in natural indoor light & looked a bit muted~
Close up of face prior to eyes completed~
Close up of skull~

To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die. ~Thomas Campbell "Hallowed Ground"
These are my Dia De Los Muertos, "Day of the Dead" painting completed its title is Tributo. I was tempted and still may change the champagne color under her head where I have written Tributo which is tribute in Spanish I was thinking of the same blue that is in the background in other places. For now it will stay as is. I made this to honor my mother as well as other's mothers, grandmothers, sisters and loves~This past summer was the third anniversary of my mom's passing~ To learn more about Day of the Dead & cultures celebration of it visit here.
How do you honor your loved ones passing? Have you created a work of art to honor someone who was special to you?

All Souls Day & Dia De Los Muertos

All Saints Day is November 1st and Day of the Dead "Dia De Los Muertos" is November 2nd.I grew up in a family who practiced Catholic religion and have lived in communities steeped in these two traditions. I created this Mixed Media Painting for Dia De Los Muertos and also another painting which will be posted tomorrow.

When creating art are do you look to different cultures for inspiration?

He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay more present than the living man.~ Antoine de Saint- Exupery

Simply Sunday " Magical" Halloween

Do you remember when you were a kid and Halloween was the most magical time! It still is for many adults being able to dress up in your fantasy costumes, have parties decorated in full fantasy and cast with magic. At our house part of the magic includes passing out candy to excited children running around in their costumes, eyes light up, waiting for that handful of candy. The magical treat for us is seeing all the wonderful costumes and happy kids. Even our daughter Sammie loves to pass out candy it is half the fun for her. We usually pass out candy for half the time and run around the neighborhood the other half. We leave a bucket of candy at the door when we leave and hope they only grab a handful~ and what is great is I think they do as when we return there is always some candy left in the bucket. So if you have time to create a journal page today or this week our prompt is "Magical" you can draw an illustration, write about your favorite magical time as a child or maybe the party you went to last night & what made it so magical~ For anyone that celebrates Halloween have a safe and magical time~
What is your favorite part of Halloween? What is magical to you?
The real secret of magic lies in the performance~ David Copperfield
A piece of writing is like a piece of magic. You create something out of nothing.~ Susanna Clarke