May Day! Blog Giveaway! Blog Anniversary! Three Prizes! Three Chances!

Its just a little past my one year anniversary of blogging! How did it slip by? So here I am with a little giveaway!! Who doesn't love a chance to win things!!? I hope you will celebrate with me and enter for a chance to win!
There will be three winners!! Winners to be chosen by Random.Org number generator.
Here are a list of the goodies:

#A copy of the new Artful Blogging by Stampington will be ordered and sent to you directly! Since I have not pre-purchased should their stock run out you may select another or If you already receive this magazine you may choose another magazine from Stampington valued at $14.99 +shipping. I will order it and ship it to you~

#A small 5"x7" blank journal with 70lb paper (bleed resistant), a Pentel P205 0.5mm pencil (one of my favorite sketching pencils!) and a kneaded rubber eraser. I will gather some ephemera to toss in the envelope and a few other goodies! To help you on your creative journey~

#An Art Journaling Stampington magazine Autumn 2009 New but previous publication.

#Each winner will also get a signed print of mine~

All you have to do is comment & for extra chances choose one or more of the following that you don't already do! -
*for each thing you do make a separate comment for each entry for your extra chances!
*if you do any of the following already, let me know in an extra comment
*All comments must have an email address or blog where I can comment or email to notify the winner(s)
Best of Luck to all~


1. Leave a comment and it would be nice to get chances by~
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on twitter
4. Subscribe to my blog
5. Sign up for the newsletter
6. Follow me on networked blogs
7. Join my fan page on Face book
8. Tweet about it and link it back to here
9. Blog about giveaway and link it back to here
All links to these are on the side bar of the blog~

( remember to make an extra comment for each one you do!!)
Contest Closes Wed. May 12th 12:00pm PST!

Altered Journal Page "A Mother's Love"

resize in flickr Rubber Stamp Credit Woman in Repose Suzanne Nicoll
I took a photograph of my journal page and altered it in a photo program. I added purple as it represents royalty. I wanted to share this with you early in case you like it and want to journal some thoughts and share it with your mom~
You are welcome to download and print this as a card, photograph or page to write your thoughts for your moms or just for a personal journal page. You may use a program to change the colors for yourselves if you wish. Get creative. If you change it I would love to see what you create! Please leave me a comment with your link! You may use it for personal use only~ You may share on your blogs if you wish but credit back to me here with a link. Thank you~
I may do a pretty vintage page later to share. I will see what I am feeling up to.
I have new art work and posts coming once I am over this cold/flu bug!

Flower Photography

I have really been enjoying taking photographs with my macro lens setting on my camera and experimenting with shots. A few of these photo's are from the botanical gardens and a few from my yard. Can you guess which ones are which? I am keeping this short today as my hubby has shared his cold with me, the achy kind; not sick all winter and now a spring cold? If you want to see some more photography of mine and others plus Tea Tuesdays and craft articles visit here to tied you over to my next post~ I hope to be running back to normal soon!

The greatest wealth is health. ~Virgil

Simply Sunday

Flickr
To see full size visit my flickr page
My personal reflection was drawn by the passing of Earth day and all I saw and read about this year. I reflected about when I was a child and I remember every time we went to the fields and played there were butterflies in abundance. We use to occasionally catch caterpillars and watch them spin their cocoons, setting butterflies free when they hatched. When I see butterflies I tell my youngest one this story and she says to me why don't I ever see butterfly's like that?
The Earth is changing and we have to do things to help save it and all living things~
On my journal page above I put some of my thoughts of how I felt using a photo program and some words painted on the page of dream, imagine, peace, love and hope. I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you. Join me next week for another Simply Sunday posting.

What things do you remember from your childhood about nature? What did being outdoors in childhood feel like to you? Journal some things about your childhood.

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops...at all. ~Emily Dickinson

Save The Dolphins

Did you watched the Oprah show on Earth day? What they showed from the movie "The Cove" was actual footage of the brutality and killing of dolphins in Japan. The film was heartbreaking! This video above doesn't show all that they did from the film footage on Oprah, but it gets the point across.These films made me want to help spread the word~ Please take the time to sign the petition and visit some of the suggested sites and maybe even post a badge on your blog.
To find out more about saving the dolphins visit these links-
Save the Dolphins and Take Part/The Cove
You can visit here to paste a badge (not a facebook link) where you would like on blog or your facebook page or where ever you can put a html code to help! Won't you consider joining the cause helping dolphins from being slaughtered and help our planet too by educating others~
Thank you

Msartists Mixed Media Playground / Theresa Huse

Theresa Huse is a mixed media artist who also enjoys journaling, acyrlic painting and photography. She shares inspirational quotes and writes about art and her journey creating an art filled life. There are free journal prompts, links and more on her blog. Theresa tries to create art daily~
On Msartist Sew Crafty she shares what ever current inspiration of the day is from crafting, scrapbooking, sewing, photography to color inspiration let her be your muse visually~ You can find a tutorial here and there, links to tutorials, crafts books and an occasional video.

in reference to: Facebook | Msartist's Mixed Media Playground (view on Google Sidewiki)

Earth Day

woodlywonderworks' photostream on flickr
Mitten melee
Journal pages by Theresa Huse

Earth day is a important reminder how fragile our mother Earth is. I am grateful for all she has given us. Her beauty, her wisdom and insights ~ We must listen to her and be one with the Earth as she is our precious home and asking for our help. Every day is Earth day and we must do our part to help save her~ for some links to tips, products and another Earth day article click here.

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~Native American Proverb

When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves. ~David Orr

After a visit to the beach, it's hard to believe that we live in a material world. ~Pam Shaw

Creative Courage

I thought you might like to see the journal page in full size~ From the Simply Sunday post.I used found images and drew the figure of the goddess and then painted her. I also added acrylic and colored pencils to the journal page. I am not sure what Indian goddess she is but I really was drawn to a image of a statue I saw. If I come across it I will post a link for you~
I am inspired to draw Goddess Saraswati she is the Goddess of arts, music, knowledge, and wisdom. I found out about her after looking for images to find the one above~
What types of things have you been creating in your journals? Do you find yourself drawn to creating a series of certain things? Any arts and crafts that you have been drawn to lately?
The heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hands to execute. ~Junius

Simply Sunday

I was inspired to create a journal page about conquering fears after seeing Sammie conquer hers~ What happened is I found myself doing a journal page about creative courage. The significance of the journal page is finding your creative courage, being in the moment, finding your higher power, accepting a hand~It is important not to be critical of yourself and your artwork. Face your fears and grab your creative courage! Try making some journal pages on conquering your fears and creative courage! Paste images, draw, paint and write if you wish~
Part three of conquering fears is in the previous post and I have some artful questions to ask yourself ~ I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you. Join me next week for another Simply Sunday posting.

It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded. Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Conquering Fears Part 3

Reaching the top ~

I was inspired to create a journal page about conquering fears after seeing Sammie conquer her fears~What happened is I found myself doing a journal page about creative courage! Visit tomorrow for my Simply Sunday post to see my journal page and thoughts. What fears do you want to conquer in your art or daily life? Are you able to ask for a hand if you need and keep trying to get to your goal? Do you experiment and push your creativity? If you make what you think is a mistake do you challenge yourself to incorporate it into something else that works?

The hallmark of courage in our age of conformity is the capacity to stand on one's own convictions. ~Rollo May

Conquering Fears Part 2

After the park we went to the beach and low and behold she tried scaling the real rock wall now seeing the challenges of rocks coming loose and having to pay close attention to climbing. She called to me to take her picture, look at how far I have gone. I asked how she felt and she said good with a smile! Later she climbed that rock mountain to the parking lot to leave and I had gone a different way. She conquered her fear!
Whether scaling rock, dealing with life or creating art we all need to face our fears and forge ahead, even if we only start with baby steps! When we get there the victory can be so sweet! Its also nice to know you can get a hand if you need be along the way!

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face... The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it... You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Conquering Fears Part 1 of 3

Everyone at one time or another has to conquer fears~ We had went to a park that had some faux climbing rocks they were quite high. Sammie was scared to attempt them. I wanted to help her attempt to face her fears as she watched her cousin climb them with ease. He lives where they get a chance to do this more often and he does gymnastics. I went to the rock and encouraged her to keep trying. I let her know I was right here to break the fall and catch her if need be. But how will I get down mom? The same way you climb up. Looking to see where you can grab and hold onto, looking to place your feet and setting them in place, then moving your body in the direction while holding on. Focusing on where you want to go. Working your mind and body together~

When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities. Deepak Chopra

Creating art can be like rock climbing. Having to face your fears, looking to see where you are going, asking for help if needed, working your mind and body together to move in the right direction to enable you to succeed~ Theresa Huse

Beach Treasures

Today is a smooth white seashell, hold it close and listen to the beauty of the hours~
Buddha quote


A short walk to the beach~


Chasing shadows on the beach~



The feel of soft sand~



Simple treasures found~



A quick sketch of Audrey putting treasures in her container~
I will probably turn this into a mixed media piece and will show you the completed version later.



Come walk with me
Along the sea
Where dusk sits on the land
And search with me
For shells are free,
And treasures hide in sand. ~Author unknown

I love the beach; the feel of the sand, the breeze blowing, sun on your face, crisp water on your feet, the ocean sounds, and fog rolling in with the tide creating memories to fill your heart ~ written by Theresa Huse

Simply Sunday

Credit for photo to Elewin7-IcyProductions via Flickr

I have been in Northern Ca. visiting my daughter. I had the chance to drive out to the beach one day and see flowers like this blooming. I took my youngest daughter Sammie and my granddaughter to Doran beach. We drove along country roads and Hwy. 1 along the coast. Some times the simple outings are the best, the day was beautiful outside with a wind mild enough to set a kite in the air but not much more. We found starfish, shells and played. I can't wait to upload some of the photos. Journal about an experience you had at the beach or in nature. Draw some sketches or paint a scene on your pages.

Our memories of the ocean will carry on, long after the footprints in the sand are gone. ~Author unknown

I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you. Join me next week for another Simply Sunday posting.

Journaling Make Creativity A Priority

Sometimes I feel like I am doing so many things that need to be done and it doesn't allow me time to be my creative self. When you have a family you are always playing catch up with housework, helping with school work, running errands or kids to and fro, making meals.... The nice thing about today is I am getting ready to take a break! Cutting the ties to home and going to take a little trip to visit my second youngest daughter and my granddaughter who is turning 2. I am taking my camera and will try and venture out to do some photography. I hope I have some lovely things to share when I come back. It will be like a breath of fresh air~
When I return I am planning on setting more of a schedule to make sure I am getting enough creative time and managing my time better. It is my responsibility to myself and my creativity. Do you ever feel like a puppet on a string? Do you feel like you are bound by duties at work or home that take too much of your time? Do you sometimes feel like you need to break free? Do you make your creativity a priority? I hope you get a chance to take a little spring break and recharge your creative energy~ And make creativity a priority!

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you. ~Carl Sandburg

Responsibility's like a string we can only see the middle of. Both ends are out of sight. ~William McFee, Casuals of the Sea, 1916

Simply Sunday

I created these little Easter illustrations and put them in a collage for you~ I hope that you and your family or friends have a wonderful day together. When you have time Journal your favorite colors that Easter evokes and why, Easter memories or what happens today. Also journal what Easter means to you. Create a little Easter drawing in your journal. I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you. Join me next week for another Simply Sunday posting.

'Twas Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Spanish Student