Full Wolf Moon Dream Board

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I so wanted to see the full moon last night, but rain was foretasted and clouds welling up I knew my chances weren't going to be great. All is well, I know the moon was there and some of you got to see the moon in all its glory wider and brighter than the typical full moon.
The name wolf moon came from the hungry wolf packs that howled at the moon near Native American villages hundreds of years ago. Wolf Moon is also referred to as the old moon and moon after Yule.
Despite the rain I made my dream board and cast off my wishes to the Full Wolf Moon. I continue on my path of creativity and narrowed down my wishes.
What do you wish for yourself this month? Would you like to participate in making full moon dream boards? If you want to see other peoples dream boards and maybe even make one yourself go to Jamie Ridlers Stuidos.

Thoughts

Sometimes thoughts go whirling around in my head getting in the way of my creating. Not that all my thoughts are distracting or negative. Some thoughts and ideas are just too many all at once and to focus on creating a single piece of artwork causing a distraction from accomplishing anything at all. I did these journal pages to set free some of my thoughts and allow myself the freedom to move forward. I am coming to the conclusion that you can have too many ideas and directions you want to have going on all at once which makes you stumble a bit over yourself. I think I need to focus only on a few specific things to really want to be successful with myself and my personal and art goals.
Have you ever wanted to try so many things you never seemed to get good at any one specific thing? Do you ever have so many ideas that they almost distract you from accomplishing anything? Are you someone who does everything for everyone else and then are exhausted when you sit down to focus on creating? Have you had negative thoughts keep you from creating?
Just get out your art journal and let those thoughts flow and set you free. Get your paints, pens or pencils and reset your internal compass. Don't let your thoughts get in the way!

How wonderful that we have met with a paradox. Now we have some hope of making progress. ~Niels Bohr

Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain. ~Carl G. Jung

Sea Goddess

Sea Goddess: acrylic paint, molding paste, rhinestones, rub on, gold metal leaf on wood and colored pencils. I had to rework her a bit, but she is finally done and I thought I would share her with you.
The weather here has been storming and now finally a day with sunshine. I hope to get out the camera today. I have been experimenting with color in my art journal and hope to share some photographs with you soon.
What earth elements inspire you or rejuvenate you? Have you tried to create a painting using all one family of color?

Magical Prayer
From beneath me arises the energy of the Earth, my home and my foundation.From above me pours down the light of the Sun and the enchanting Moon.To my right hand flows the strength to control and direct, the power of magic.To my left hand comes the skill to divine and to heal, the source of blessing.
~ Author Unknown

Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers like the homesick refugees of a long war. ~Loren Eiseley

Reflection

Little Spy. Image copyright Vlad Dumitreanu

I am reflecting on what I am creating these days. I have been painting and writing in my journal trying to figure out what direction I want to go. Maybe I am thinking too much. Sometimes I feel when I just sit down to create art, start without an idea and just open my soul I receive inspiration. Then there are days when I just need to take a break. I am always looking at other peoples art work for inspiration, then comparing, analyzing, searching for me. I think I need to just paint, paint, paint and the me will show up.

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Today my mother in law gave me a dvd Transformation through Art: A Personal Mythic Journey by Patricia Waters. Patrica Waters has a unique style of Goddess, Mother Earth, Mandala art. I will let you know what I think of the dvd after I view it. It is the story of a woman's inner journey through over 50 years of her artwork. She also invites others to use art as a medium for healing.
Patricia Waters link

I hope by viewing this I can soften my inner critic and allow myself the time needed to find the style in me which truly defines me. I promise to share more of my art journal and work soon~

Who has helped you when your art journey has had stumbling blocks? What art books, dvds, artists have inspired your style? Have you come across your inner critic?
What do you do to push through and find your voice?

"What is my identity? This question produces a kind of crisis in my thinking about my painting and myself." Gunther Guerzso

Time For Growing and Learning

via flostmymind
Sometimes when you love doing something you need to see it through someone else' s eyes to make what you are creating better~


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There is a time to gather around with people who share a common goal and love~


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You reach out to someone with more experience who is willing to share~


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Learning can be a balancing act~


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When it all comes together what you learn and love sit side by side~

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. ~Chinese Proverb

Queen of Hearts

Queen of Hearts~ This is my first doll using a paper clay technique. I took a class at Gritty Janes ning group. I have made cloth dolls before and enjoyed the process. There was a challenge up and I guess you could say I was up for another challenge. I don't expect to win anything, just stretch what I am creating and the mediums I use. There are some fabulous doll artists over
at Cloth and Clay dolls! The class I took was for making a folk art doll. I just changed it a bit to fit the theme. I didn't antique her as when I envision the queen of hearts I see her as very white, never getting sun on her skin and someone carrying a parasol for her. I admit her face isn't like a pretty doll and it might of helped if I had sanded her face prior to painting but I was so excited I just plunged in and created her. I can't wait to make another paper clay doll and antique the next one so she is more like a traditional folk art doll. I also must admit I love to sew. I am not the greatest seamstress but my mom and grandma were. I wish they were still here to help me grow in my skills. But for now I am happy to sew simply and if I need to struggle to grow in any craft I am willing to do the work~ for the outcome far exceeds the minor struggles. Learning and creating is a process. What mediums have you wanted to learn? What have you wanted to try and create but haven't taken the leap? I know I am going to challenge myself more and can't wait to share some more with you~

Social Media And Your Crafty Business

Kanzashi In Bloom Book review from Threadbanger
Social Media for your Crafty Business e book
E book also by Diane Gilleland
I was able to preview and review this e book and here are my thoughts~

This is a great introduction to the world of social media and explaining the ins and outs from setting up an account to what it is like to interact via the social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Diane has offered tips and scenarios that often come up when you are new and engaging in these social media sites. Diane offers good sound advice for the novice and also has some links to resources. These are valuable and can save you time from having to search them out or try or learn as you go. I would recommend this e book to anyone who is starting out with social media to advertise their crafty business or wanting to establish their brand or even using for personal networking.
Diane has a one week special going on at her web site.
Diane is offering a $3.00 discount on her e books. For one week, you can get $3.00 off each and every ebook in her online store. Just type in the coupon code GETINGEAR at check-out.This coupon will expire at end-of-day on Wednesday, January 20, so hurry!
Diane has a great web site The Crafty pod I hope you get a chance to visit her sometime~ Her twitter is SisterDiane.

Project 365

Morning coffee with camera in hand ~ sunshine and coffee warming me!

You know how much I love photography~ I love taking pictures daily and I didn't realize there was a group on flickr just for that! I had been looking at a photograph Sheila did for the group. I hopped on over from twitter I was inspired! Sheila tweeted the links and of course I thought better late than never!! I do photograph daily, why not post them too~ Of course it is great practice to know your camera better, chronicle what is going on, savor special moments and experience life with photography! The group on flickr is Shutter Sisters 365.

I am going to try and post daily and have the link Project 365 on my side bar. You can also see what I am up to by clicking my flickr link and going to my set 365.

If you love photography and want to be inspired or grab your camera and make a daily practice of growing and seeing things through the eye of a camera, and cherish daily practice this group may be a good fit!

Right now I am using a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 8.1 mega pixels
What kind of camera do you have? What inspires you to take photographs? What groups or links do you have to share?


There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel Adams

I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it. ~Author Unknown

Unlock - Journal pages

Unlock the path to a good nights sleep~

I wrote a letter to my sleep. Why is she eluding me? Could it be that that past few years have been filled with big changes? Death, birth of a grandchild, career changes,wanting to move, aging.....full of motion leaving my brain no time to slow down at night when it is quite. All the feeling from my heart and soul pouring in. Things I am not wanting to deal with in the day, or feelings put aside that I to try and release so I can move on.

Here is the letter I wrote to my sleep:
There was a time when I laid down and sleep was my friend. It wrapped its arms around me and held me tight until the dawns light. Why now do you escape me? No longer at my side. Toss me and turn me ~ I am no longer heard. I call you and the time ticks and hours go by. Why have you abandoned me and made me cry?

Have you ever had sleep problems? Occasionally or often? How has it made you feel? Did it take you a long time to get over it? What do you do at night to relax your mind and body to get a good nights rest? Do share your thoughts with me and consider doing a journal page about your body and sleeping~ Post a link in your comment if you do a journal page.

It appears that every man's insomnia is as different from his neighbour's as are their daytime hopes and aspirations. ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

Phyical Body Spiritual Body Journal Pages and Thoughts

Body~ Constantly changing, constantly in motion. I have a love hate relationship with mine as I am sure a lot of us do. As women being bombarded with media. Loving the images yet comparing it to ourselves. I have seen half a life of change right before my eyes. Ah youth we start out so pure and nature has us running out doors, playing and keeping fit without even realizing we are nurturing our bodies and souls. Adolescence has our bodies developing and we change into young adulthood. As women our journey is so vast whether we have children and reel from the changes that does to our bodies. Also depending on when we have those children in young adulthood or in the middle of our lives. Then coming of passage when we step into the challenge of fighting natures path. To slow us down, to feel what we have done to our bodies over time. I am only trickling on the edge of finding out what is to come. But one thing I have found out is if we don't take the time to care for ourselves spiritually and physically it has a great affect on our daily lives. Spiritual Body~ I am trying to open my mind to being more positive, continue learning, be open to accepting where I am and open to where I want to go. Finding that connection of mind and body. When you are taking care of both you are truly at one with yourself. I am opening my hands to accept the challenge of living a more fuller life by connecting my mind and body and exercising them both equally in 2010.
I am participating in Creative Everyday 2010. I have Leah's logo and link on my sidebar. For January she has a prompt befitting the new year "BODY". I am challenging myself this year to make changes necessary for a healthier me although this prompt is for January I am sure you will see more journal pages around the subject. If you would like to participate go visit her site.
Let me know what challenges you have faced now or in the past. How did you overcome those challenges? What pushed you not to settle? What caused you to look in the mirror and say now is the time to love yourself better? What made you want to be a healthier you?

Saint Therese

This is my interpretation of Saint Therese " The Little Flower". It is a mixed media piece done with acrylics, ink sprays, molding paste, colored pencil and on wood. I was named after this saint. I have always been in awe of Religious and Spiritual Art that I have seen in Museums and in books. I am inspired by doing more meaningful artwork along with my playful side of creating whimsical art. I put a little history of her here for you to see along with one of her quotes and another quote from Henry Beecher. What type of artwork inspires you? What challenges have you pushed through when creating your artwork? I am going to be participating in Creative Every Day 2010. Opening my arms and my heart to creative inspiration from many sources in 2010~ Do let me know where you are getting your creative inspiration from and what directions you are going in 2010. I can't wait to hear what you are creating. I hope you have a wonderfully creative 2010~ Let our journey into the New Year begin.

Therese saw the seasons as reflecting the seasons of God's love affair with us. She loved flowers and saw herself as the "little flower of Jesus," who gave glory to God by just being her beautiful little self among all the other flowers in God's garden. Because of this beautiful analogy, the title "little flower" remained with St. Therese. Here is one of her quotes: "Yes, when a soul has allowed herself to be captivated by the inebriating fragrance of Thy perfumes, she could not run alone, all the souls whom she loves are drawn after her; this is a natural consequence of her attractions towards Thee."

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into. ~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

Project 365

Smile ~ a morning waffle~ *15
Ceramic dishes~*14


Does the dish washing ever end?~*13
Fresh laundry~ *12

Playing around a hat and glasses kind of girl~*11
Starting the day with warm coffee and sunshine~*10
The fitting~*9
Looking for the right veil~*8
Favorite paint brushes~*7
Tweety bird~*6
Piano keys~*5

Snow day~my nephew~*4
Journal Colors~*3
Playing dress up~*2
A wedding in 2010~*1