Flower Photography

Today is cold and gray as the clouds have blown in. I will paint while remembering the colors from nature that inspire my canvas today~ These photographs are from just before the frost, the blooms and greenery that graced my yard have since died.
What will you be doing on your cold, winters day? What inspires you when its cold and gloomy outside?
The pine stay green in winter....wisdom in hardship~ Norman Douglas
Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories~ Author Unkown

Food for thought: Podcast via Jamie Ridler Studio with artist Laura Hollick

"Dream Big" Art Journaling Prompt

Never Let your dreams fail you Dream Big ~

"Dream Big"Acrylic on canvas Theresa Huse 2011 

Dream Big! Use your thoughts for positive affirmations~ The power of positive thinking~

How many times do you really focus on creating and making your big dreams a reality? Honestly I have had lots of ideas only to see them go to the wayside and then later see them as someone else 's success. This year I truly want to focus on dreaming big! It might mean I have a lot of hard work in front of me. I can see some of the things that haven't worked for me and know some changes need to be made to make my big dreams a reality! I hope that you will see some of the big dream changes coming here on the blog and in other ways which I will share later with you. I have some ideas to put into play and hope when I do you will feel like participating. I think it is important to share our learning journeys, creative processes and art work in order to grow. Remember not every idea, piece of artwork or day will have success when you dream big, but if you put those words into action I am positive you are going to see results!

This weeks free journal prompt is for you to write about  "Dream Big" and what it means to you. What steps you need to get there? How will you put your big dreams into action? or How are you putting your big dreams into action? What a perfect time of year to start with dreaming big and positive intentions~

Journal Prompt: Dream Big    

Food for Thought:
Your unique creative talents and abilities are flowing through you and are being expressed in deeply satisfying ways. Your creativity is always in demand. ~ Louise L. Hay

Think Big There are unseen forces ready to support your dreams~ Cheryl Richardson

Related Readings:

Acrylic Painting "She Is Aligned With The Stars"

                                           She Is Aligned with the Stars Theresa Huse 2010
My last painting in 2010~ She is looking to the heavens for guidance~ She sees she can align herself to the stars and be open to all the New Year has to offer. This paintings influence came from my journal page Her Spirit Rose from the Earth and had a Native American prayer in it. Now she is welcoming the New Year and all its offerings. This is done on canvas with acrylic paint, I also used gold leaf for the stars in the sky and layered tissue paper with stars here and there *mixed media, oil pastels and colored pencils.
What are you ready for receiving in this new year? Where do you find your guidance? 
Each star is a mirror reflecting the truth inside you~ Aberjhani
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but ourselves~ Lisa Mantchev

Below is a snapshot of our holiday festivities and what we did~

Baking cupcakes & cookies, wrapping packages, Christmas with the newlyweds, visiting family *more pics than I can share ;)  good food, window shopping, browsing the bookstore & finding new books to read, playing lots of monopoly, bundling up and blowing bubbles and dreaming in the New Year with Big Dreams and open arms!! Happy New Year Everyone! Wishing you health, happiness and prosperity! & don't forget the creativity!! Now on with the new......

Slide Show of 2010 Artwork

I created this slide show with some of the work that I had placed on Flickr. I thought you might like to see what I created in 2010 all in one space. You can see some of the changes, exploring and outcomes that happened over the year with my art and might see some crafty designs in other mediums too. I know I am missing quite a few pieces but hope you enjoy it none the less. I am planning on starting new sets for my journal pages, mixed media etc. and tag work by year. This way I can keep all the images in Flickr to help organize what I am doing and be able to reflect and share my work. If you are on Flickr feel free to add me as a contact & I'll do the same. *link to page above I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! I look forward to getting back to creating after settling in from being out of town. I also plan on sharing some photos from our little trip and family fun that we had & more~ Until then happy creating!

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!