Happy Easter - Blog Fixed & News

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Happy Easter! I had a little time this morning to fix my site here! So if you are looking to old posts for journaling prompts or other photography & art you will be able to see them! {sigh of relief } If you'd like to see my current posts and what I am photographing or art I am working on visit me @ TheresaHuse.com  and to see my crafting and  home-garden visit me @ DearCreatives.com

Here is a post of my most recent:

•   spring photography 
• art Warrior Princess two part (final piece) you can also see process on prior post 

I have a weekly Inspiration Spotlight post where you can link up and blog hop your creative posts of any kind; such as crafts, art, home, garden, recipes, photography....anything goes & hop around to visit others. (or if you would like to be featured or interviewed email me at DearCreatives at g mail dot com & send me an inquiry for either of my new sites, as I'd love to share about my creative friends projects, art and photography) 

**Super important Google Reader is going away so if you have subscribed via Google Reader be sure to follow via FaceBook, Google+ or any other form! To read more about importing your Google Reader blogs to another reader you can check out the post I created to help you here Goodbye Google Reader- Hello Options. 

I also shared some spring photography tips & inspiration right here: Spring Loves- Photography Ideas and Tips

Now blog is all updated & kinks worked out! Hope you have a wonderful Easter & drop by to visit me at my current sites where I post on a more regular basis. Be sure to comment where ever you visit me so I can come by to visit you (and your site if you have one) Let me know if you found me via this post!! 

All my best, Theresa ;) 

Journal " Shes Singing The Blues"

Well its raining here again which is a little unusual for this time of year, but I am sure the garden is loving it. I created two journal  pages to share with you along with a prompt for this week to help you along with your journaling. I must admit also that I didn't do a lot of visiting this week and only two days of painting. I was a bit under the weather ironically, with migraines and just feeling drained. I hope to be up and around the web visiting, painting and even starting some sewing projects inspired from the "Art Bags" post I created!

 This journal page was inspired by wishing I could play the guitar and sing. Sometimes I feel left out musically in my house. The Mr. plays drums, guitar, base and piano. Sammie plays piano and sings. I just can play chop sticks! & a little percussion s. Despite the journal page having too much water and curling some of the magazine image there were aspects of the page that I loved and can draw from when I create something on canvas or wood from this.

The second page I created was inspired from the days before Sammie when I would follow Leon around to his gigs and go out dancing. Now, the girls stay at home and the boys go out and play. This makes us sometime sing the blues other times it's just fine. We have are art projects keeping us busy. I kept the back ground the same colors to have some unity for the two pages.

I hope you are inspired to make a journal page about something to do with music. Maybe what instrument you played, how you sang, who inspires you musically, what music you love or about a time you used to go out and enjoy going to pubs and listening to music. What ever it is I hope your singing the blues in a good way!


Journal Prompt: Create a journal page that has something to do with music.

Quote: Blues means what milk does to a baby. Blues is what the spirit is to a minister. We sing the blues because our hearts have been hurt, our souls have been disturbed. Alberta Hunter ( American Blues Singer)

Food for Thought: This 32 sec. video add for Moleskine Music Journals * makes me wanting to make another video for you & learn more about editing! 

I am glad I saw the add it'll be the perfect music journal for Sammie who is starting to write her own music on the piano.

Self Portraits & Journal Prompt

This week Inspiration Alley had the prompt to do self portraits. I decided to play along. I think it would be a great journal prompt too so I decided to post it today as both coincide. First to create my self portrait I really had to capture the essence of who I am even if it is not exactly how I look.

Completed Self Portrait

I wrote an entire page about my self, how I feel about my self, what I stand for, my strengths and insecurities trying to capture the essence of me. Then I decided to start to create me on the page.

The intent of a self portrait is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. *

Once I started painting I was able to convey the passionate side of me and the blue side of me by the use of color. I used collage tissue paper almost like a jig saw puzzle  to represent the many pieces of me. To finish it off I chose to highlight the focus on me and blend the background by use of paints and inks. I would not be me without my paintbrush. I also chose to leave readable the most vivid parts of my daily life on a tag around the neck. Only because society loves to label people.

I hope you use the journal prompt to write about yourself and explore creating a self portrait. For more inspiration visit Inspiration Alley to see what other artist's created.

Here is a collage of the process.

  

To read more about self portraits and see some examples and history visit Wikipedia.

I also came across this great article with 4 tips to Mastering Self Portraits at ScottsdaleArtsSchool.org  which I linked directly to the article. I found it after I did mine, but tip #4 suggests making a self portrait more than once and doing it differently. They have some great tips for creating self portraits.
Have you created a self portrait?  

Click to enlarge

 I took a photographic self portrait too

I am never without my camera

Journal Prompt: To write about yourself and create a self portrait.

Quote: A portrait, to be a work of art, neither must nor may resemble the sitter... one must paint its atmosphere. Umberto Boccioni 

Food For Thought: 

Mixed Media Self Portraits

Mixed-Media Self-Portraits: Inspiration & Techniques

Mirror Mirror: Self-Portraits by Women Artists

Color Inspiration & Journaling

Today I have a little color inspiration for you after sharing what I am up to today. I hope to listen to some music, take some photographs of a blooming flower in my yard in between rains and put some thoughts down in my journal but, I must say I have been awakened in the night due to the dog barking at all hours probably because of a possum. So I feel my inner dream weaver has been on the blitz these last few days. I can't seem to over come a mini rush of migraines either. Subsequently no painting! Which makes me sad! So to get my creative juices flowing I decided to create the color inspiration from the photo below and yes it just happens to have more pinks! Really I was looking for reds but I loved aspects of this photograph and I was inspired to create a color charts from it and a pattern. So I will save red for another day.

To do - Journal Today!

Helgasms

Color Inspiration

So this is what I came up with. I hope it inspires you to get creating a pattern or some color charts. Take out your felt pens, colored pencils or just pretty papers and cut and glue patterns. Maybe that is what I will do since I don't think I am up to or will get a chance to paint.  I hope to have some new art, journal pages and photography by the end of the week! Until then wishing you a wonderful day!  Don't you wish you could see  ideas flying  like confetti? 

Source: sarahyatesblog.com

Free Journal Prompt " Explore, Create, Blossom"

Hello there journalers I hope this finds you well. I decided to share this journal prompt with you today showing you how I added flower cut shapes and layered them into my painted journal page. I used the flowers cut from the page and also layered the pages with the cut out flowers in the corners to balance my page. So basically I have inverted the order of the position of the flowers. I kept the pallet simple and drew in with color pencils some words around her head. The words are Create, Explore and Blossom. I used bright pastels to make the flowers and her face pop. As you can see in the close up there is quite a bit of paint layers. You never know what you will create if you explore and let yourself blossom! So I hope you make a journal page where you explore using cut out pages with flower shapes or what ever shape you like and see where it takes you. What is your favorite part of journaling?

Journal Prompt: Use cut flower shapes in your journal page. Words; Create, Explore Blossom

Quote: An artist has to be a little like Lewis and Clark, always exploring in new, uncharted directions. C. W. Mundy

Food for thought:  Strathmore 90lb Mixed Media Paper is great for visual journals.

Free Journal Prompt "Aura"

An aura is a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object.

I created a journal page after thinking about my youngest daughter and how she is as a person and seeing what her aura radiates. She is not very girl y, always when she was little was in pretty dresses yet played in the garden collecting bugs and digging. Now she wears jeans and tee shirts and is kind of a tom boy. As she grows I she her personality and who she is developing and when I look at her her aura is pink. Her aura is pink due to the fact that she radiates compassion, love and the sweetness of a child growing into a caring person. She is wise beyond her years and shows in many ways. So this journal page isn't about looking like her but the feeling I get when I am looking at her aura.

 Maybe her aura has many meanings. So I set out to learn a little more when I came across this explaining some of the Aura Color meanings. You have to scroll down landing page for the meanings but they are written out very well if you are interested in reading about it drop by here for Aura Color Meanings. If you are interested in learning more there are many readings on it on the web.

Here is an article of how to see Auras the article also explains the color meanings again with a body chart.
Have you ever been interested in auras? Do you notice that many religious images that have been painted have had auras in them?  


Journal Prompt: Aura

Quote: The Aura given out of the person or object is just as much of them as their flesh. Lucian Freud 


Food For Thought:

Free Journal Prompt "Faith"

*click to enlarge

This journal page was created on a day I was thinking of where I want to be artistically, spiritually.... and how many times I have heard if you ask the universe or God through prayer that that you will receive the answers. By definition:  Faith, a belief that is not based on truth. Sincerity of intentions. The Hebrew word means essentially steadfastness. As signifying man's attitude towards God it means trustfulness. 

This weeks journal prompt is to do a page based on Faith. What it means to you, what you are asking for in your life. In my journal page the girl I drew represents me. I am open to receive the answers, my arms are open ready to receive answers in any way they come to me. I feel my connection to my belief's best when I am outdoors in nature, so she on a hill top. What instills faith in you? Have you read any good books on the subject of faith? I would love to know~

Journal Prompt: Faith. What it means to you and your thoughts about faith. A drawing representing: Asking and having faith to wait to receive the answers.Or page as simple as writing quotes about faith~

Quotes:

Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right. ~John Donne

Faith is reason grown courageous. ~ Sherwood Eddy

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. ~Helen Keller

 Favorite Supplies:
          
            

My Inspiration Board

 Click to Enlarge

Today I thought I would share with you my inspiration board. It has words of positivity, images that I took of places I love around our coastal region. The pier was taken at Lake Tahoe, CA. and represents taking a leap of faith. And I have just a few of my art work images posted up there. I am wanting to create another inspiration board of artwork *not mine, color, texture and fabric. I promise to share it when its done.

I have been painting every day, mostly in my journal this week. I have a new journal page and illustration coming up to share on Sunday! It was a busy past weekend helping Sammie with creating a how to make a zine from one sheet of paper, for a school project. We did a step by step board.When I get my camera sorted out I will take pictures of the images to share with you. It was fun! I decorated it with collaged images from a magazine, while Sammie did her own. I would love to make another of artwork and print it off.

What creative projects are you working on?  Do you have an inspiration board? *if so and you have done a post on  or have it posted on flickr it leave a link in comments so we can see it!

Journaling & Journal Prompt " Listen to Your Heart"

                         Listen To Your Heart Theresa Huse 2011       

This is a journal page that I created first by just layering on two different colored blues and then decided to create a face, after I thought why not a body holding a heart.Then I added the thoughts I was having.
Sometimes you just have to start playing in your journal and see where it takes you.
There are plenty of days I let things affect me, feel down, don't get off to a good start, am over inspired, tired or what ever and that is when thoughts just start to shut me down. But then I pick up my brushes, start to play with color have no expectations for what is to come and let things evolve. 
Your journals are for you. My journal is just for me. Yes it is fun to show and share pages that come out as beautiful,  or the way you want or have planned out. Yet, I think the greatest thing for me about journaling is when you don't have a clue what you are going to create, you let go and you just let things happen. After creating it has helped you change the way you feel, opened your soul , set your words connecting your intentions, thoughts, and even prayers.
Sometimes you just need to trust yourself, play, listen to your heart and your soul will sing.
So I hope you can just go to your journal, pick up your brush, paint some colors you love, write some of  your thoughts and layer any image that comes to mind. Listen to your heart~ 
Have you ever had to deal with things that set your heart racing? Have you ever just had to listen to your heart for the answers? Have you ever just gone to your page and let your creativity come from your heart?

Journal Prompt:   
Listen to your heart

Quotes: 
True creativity quite simply starts with balancing your emotions and activating the power of the heart. Through practicing emotional management from the heart, you tap into the highest form of creativity possible--recreating your perceptions of reality. ~Doc Childre

The heart has eyes which the brain knows nothing of.~ Charles H. Perkhurst

Food For Thought: free e book   -written by Doc Childre
Website I came across when researching the subject of heart and mind I journaled, HeartMath. 

 Thoughtful reading:







 More Thoughtful Readings~ 

What Inspires You?

I decided to play along with Inspiration Avenue this week and touch on what inspires me. This would be a great prompt in your journals too. So without further adieu here is what inspires me~ 

                         

via we heart it

Things that inspire me and I love~       

Enchanting gardens

Books

Fashion

Nature

Illustration and Art

  

beach fun  image by me

Photography

Travel

Flowers and Botanical s image by me

Capturing my inner Frida by Painting 

Color

I hope you are inspired to record your inspiration~  Use photographs, words, images from magazines.
Create a journal page and a blog post about what inspires you~ 
What inspires you? I would love to know!

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

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?

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~

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?