Simply Sunday

Oh hello friends, I am glad to see you. Here is a snapshot of my journal page sharing my flowers I sketched and painted. They are of a Pomegranate flower. I have two bushes with magnificent blooms. In your journal pages this week whether it be garden flowers, wild flowers or some flowers you were given try doing some light sketching and painting of them. You can even write about your favorite flowers or what flowers evoke a special meaning to you and why. You can also take a photograph of flowers, stylized, in the garden or other. When you are done link your creative works in Mr. Linky to your page post~ I hope you are able to share this week. What do you love about flowers? Do you have a garden and plant any? Does someone you know or knew have a special flower and every time you see it, it reminds you of them? I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you.

The world is a rose; smell it and pass it to your friends. - Persian Proverb

Mixed Media Journal Page "Vintage Love 2"

I created a collage of the Mixed Media Journal Page For some reason the coloring came out different on the collage so I re posted those two images so you could see the details on them.
This piece is again in reference to things my grandma taught me and shared her loves of. On the journal page I used mixed media music page elements, scraps of her sewing patterns, a vintage needle holder that was ripped, dried flowers, glitter, thread and collage paper elements. I also did a transfer of a photograph of her and acrylic paint on the journal page. I hope you find time to do a journal page and just play and experiment no judgments on yourself and work. Just start and see where the journey takes you~ What vintage loves, or inspirations from the past do you enjoy? Do try and make a page and post a link to your blog page at the Simply Sunday post~

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.~ Pablo Picasso

Vintage Love Journal Page

I wanted to share one of my "Vintage Love" journal prompt pages. This was the first page I did it is rather simple compared to the one I'll show you later. One of the things I did was painted a aged colored background. I took an old letter that had ink writing on it and split it in half. I glued down the side with writing and then sewed by hand the words Vintage Love. On the journal page I also used a photograph of my grandmother, some vintage buttons, lace, old wall paper and a few other elements. I hope you give the journal prompt "Vintage Love" a try and add your linky to the "Simply Sunday" posting~ Its open for awhile so there is still plenty of time to make a page and share it.
"Suddenly, as rare things will, it vanished."~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Simply Sunday

Maybe its a letter saved from the past or a picture of a loved one~

This weeks Simply Sunday journal inspiration is of vintage loves~ Whether it be incorporating images, found objects, fabrics, lace, buttons or maybe you just want to write about your favorite vintage items or maybe about someone who grew up in a different time and influenced you. Another thing you could do is make a list of all your favorite vintage loves whether it be architecture, old books, old movies...... You get the idea ~ You will have two weeks to post your artwork, writing or photography of anything to do with the prompt Vintage~ Do you love vintage things? What feelings do you get when you see things from the past? Is there someone from the past that touched or inspired you in some way? I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you.
Human history is in essence a history of ideas. ~H.G.Wells

Journal Page

Rabbit Ears Lavender
Community* prompt from "Simply Sunday"

Like lavender growing so are our communities. Reaching out to each other, sharing our aspirations, dreams and sometimes our fears~ What I love about having an online community is having inspiration from others, having connections and knowing that I am not alone in my feelings. There is knowledge to be shared, love and support to be given, mentoring to be done, learning to be had. We are growing. It is a group of ordinary people doing extraordinary things~

Every individual has a place to fill in the world and is important in some respect whether he chooses to be so or not. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Floral Photography

*Click here to see full sized~

I wanted to share some flowers that were in bloom in my backyard. This may well be some of my color inspiration for the week~left to right; is a Butterfly Bush, Pomegranate flower, Chives flowering, a Rose. When I combined these images I thought how nice it would be to see them matted and framed just like this! What is blooming in your flower garden? Are you tending to a garden? Do you happen to enjoy photographing flowers? I sure do~

Community Mixed Media Journal Page Part 1 & Invitation

Oh hello, thanks for stopping by. Here is a sneak peak of my "Community" Mixed Media-Journal page and a reminder that you still have time to create a piece of artwork, photograph or journal page and add your link to Mr. linky. So here is your invitation to share inspiration for the journal prompt *Community~ I would love to see what you come up with. Have a wonderful day!
A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor's. ~Richard Whately

Mixed Media Painting

The final layout



Waxing the painting
After the waxing~

Oh hello, there are some big changes going on here! Both in my painting and on the blog. I needed a breath of fresh air. To take a look at things a different way. I got to a stopping point with the Mixed Media Painting. I am sure the metamorphosis will continue~ Sometimes in baby steps and sometimes in leaps and bounds. For waxing the Mixed Media piece I use a Clover Mini Iron 2 and bees wax. Ah, I love the smell of bees wax and the ethereal look it gives to a painting. Do let me know what you think about her now~Hubby is still living out of town working during the week and with Sammie now on vacation time is limited. I can see working late nights to get things done, to read my online class I am taking, work on the blogs and create art. I was biting my knuckles lol as I hit publish for the changes on the blog. I need to let the changes sit a while to see if I like them. I would love to know what you think~
They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom. ~Confucius

Simply Sunday "Community"

Our journeys although different are similar in many ways, with community and sharing we can make our own and others journeys brighter~ Theresa Huse

I am really feeling a sense of community from an online class Flying Lessons that I am taking given by Kelly Rae Roberts *see resources link. When creating my art taking bits of things and pulling it together like a bird building a nest string by string. It is all the small pieces combined and working together that create something! It has made me rethink my Simply Sunday Posts. I created these posts to share my journal prompts with you~ but I was thinking it would be great to add a linky to the post so everyone could share their journal pages, artwork or writing that they did based off the prompt. We could really give others inspiration and also allow you to showcase what you have created. You can add your work at any time for two weeks to this post~ Then we can go visiting each other' s pages to see whats been created or written! Now all Simply Sunday posts will have "Simply Sunday Sharing" link for sharing.

Here is link for side bar or for a post for when you share your art or writing~

Lets begin our Simply Sunday Sharing and I hope to see what you are creating soon! Please feel free to spread the word. 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 "Simple Sunday" posting. *Community is the prompt this week~ What thoughts do you have on Community?

Mixed Media on Wood Work In Progress

just starting with the molding paste
laying my cut out girl on scrap papers to see general direction
Waiting for the molding paste to dry / glued on flowers (more goodies getting glued on when dry)
close up adding molding paste
It began with this ~ *notice the girl at top right ends up being a fairy on left side

Oh, I must say I could see my hubby saying those chicken legs on her head! lol Not the look I was going for on my mixed media artwork. But I wasn't going to toss her in the whatever pile yet. So I thought I would share the journey of experimenting with you and post final pictures soon so you can see the end results of my mixed media piece. To start I sketched her out and then used colored pencil to define areas of my painting. Truly unhappy with her hair I decided to use molding paste to try to recover my dislike. I love the idea of adding texture to other elements of the painting too. Mind you when I played with the papers I didn't end up covering all the wood and didn't intentionally rip and sand some of the paper but that is what happened. So I let the organic flow just keep happening. I am glad I continued to let it happen. I used scrap papers, dried flowers, German cut paper, collage girl turned fairy from Artchix studio, cotton lace, golden wings, acrylic paints, colored pencils and molding paste. Do you ever work on something determined to see it to the end even when it starts out not going well? Or do you toss it in or paint right over the whole thing? Patience~ more pics to come soon I promise!
It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something. ~Ornette Coleman

Mail Art Inspiration for Mixed Media

Ivinay


via

Oh hello again. Why might you ask are you doing a post on communication when it doesn't have to do with communication between people in the sense of conversation well let me tell you~ I have sent and received mail recently that is special. Two of my packages that I sent were to Canada. One received just fine and the other who knows where. I just wonder what happens to mail that isn't delivered properly~ Definitely a snail mail fail! So if my dear blogging friend doesn't receive her mail I shall bundle up a package again and send it a new. But on the brighter side I have to tell you I have received one of my older daughters invitations to her wedding. The invitation is so pretty and brings wonderful images to mind. Speaking by which I have to share this link with you. Where mail and stamp collecting kind of meet and make art! When I clicked the archive I was in awe of the images from the blog Goodmailday. I hope you get to pop on over for a visual treat and are inspired to create some mail art. Best wishes that every day be a good mail day! Did you ever know anyone to collect stamps? Have you used mail or stamps in your art? I haven't done mail art in quite a while but now I am inspired to, how about you?

astrid.maclean's

For a little more inspiration Flickr Mail Art group~

Simply Sunday

Communication is so important now more than ever. It is so prevalent in our daily lives that we take its ease for granted. The other day my cat knocked my cell phone down on the ground, it is a touch screen and locked up. Frozen!! I have taken some photos recently, have numbers stored on it and other things. I'll be lucky if when I get a new phone they can extract that information.
Remember the days of a phone book and cordless phone? Payphones? Or mailing loved ones who lived too far away because long distance was costly? My youngest daughter has never known computers, cell phones, i pods, etc.....not to be in existence. What would she say if I told her that in her grandmas time that they didn't have TV and listened to radio shows. It is hard even for me to imagine that! lol...But I must say I still love getting mail and sending mail to family, friends and now blogging friends. In the above picture are some ATC cards I made and sent with the packages to my winners. I have enjoyed making them & will make more.

What things do you enjoy about technology regarding communication? Have you ever broken your cell phone? Do you enjoy "Snail Mail"? When you get art supplies via mail / ups don't you just jump for joy? Have you received any special mail or invitations? Well I am sure you can think of more about communication for your journals. I know I can. 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 "Simple Sunday" posting. I know that I used to get more things done when I didn't have a computer or cell phone. They are a convenience and inconvenience at the same time. ~Theresa Huse

Love Fairy Mixed Media collage on paper

Close up
Full

This is a mixed media collage piece on paper. I did recently where I wanted to keep it simple and light. I guess I have love on my mind~ How could I not? My daughters wedding is in July~ I took images of love birds from a small recycled calender, bits of a recycled card elements of scrapbook materials, dried flowers, twine, acrylic paint and left over collage/scrapbook papers. The fairy and her hat is from Artchix studio's collage page I purchased ~ I feel like I am inspired to create pretty, airy light things right now.
What is inspiring you these days? Do you ever create something with elements you love and just see where it takes you? What are you creating or crafting this summer? Do tell~

There is no greater delight than to watch two love birds, twittering and chirping merrily as the first rays of the sun appear over the tree-tops. This experience is second only to the pleasure of watching a couple in love, as they walk alongside holding hands. ~Author Unknown

New Blog Header

Hello, Notice anything different?

1. I am trying to create a new header ~
I inserted the one I created so far this is what it looks like. I have usually added to already designed ones but I did this start to finish. I am sure it is not the final one.
What do you think?

2. I am considering changing the background~ Will I ever be happy? Maybe I should have someone do a blog design for me? Any suggestions to who would be good to use?

3. I have a huge list of to do items~ So why am I doing this today? Experimenting as usual and just saying hello!

Mixed Media Journal Page

I always start my day with a coffee~ How about you? Now I am trying to start my day with a few other things in mind too. Starting now organizing, creating and journaling are at the top of my list! Oh, yes I have more on there....lol So I did this journal page with my pencil drawing in the middle, collage, paint and pen. Just a reminder to myself~ Sometimes its good to jot those things down and hold yourself accountable. Do you ever jot down your goals, to do lists or things you want to change? How about making a creative list for yourself too?!
Success is a tale of obstacles overcome, and for every obstacle overcome, an excuse not used. ~Robert Brault