Flowers Wedding Flowers & Flower Photography

Dearest blogging friends, I hope this finds you well. I have been so busy and not meaning to take such a long break but, I have had things that have needed my attention. A dry run for the wedding flowers was done, I spent some time with Sammie on spring break and then I set to organizing around here. As I mentioned before I have my eldest daughter's wedding coming up this month. Check lists are getting done, new items and projects being added. So my artwork has been set to the side for the moment, yet I am managing to stay creative in helping with the wedding. I managed to take some flower photographs of some of our wedding choices.

Today I did take the time to alter some of photographs that I took of the wedding flowers we are choosing for the table top arrangements and played with them giving them some textures and such, but ever so lightly so you could see the beauty of these flowers. Top of the list are the beautiful blooms that May has to offer. Lilacs on their stems, Ranuculus, Gerbena and Vintage Roses. The wedding flower pallet that Laura chose is a soft pastels, with lavenders, peaches and pinks.

Although you can get Ranunculus in May you have to get them three days ahead to let them open and their heads are smaller, but they are such a beautiful flower, it will be well worth the extra care. The Gerbena Daisy is so beautiful with its big head I would love to grow some to take photographs of as they are simple beauties. I didn't know they are a member of the sunflower family until I was reading about them. Did you know that fact? Then the true wedding flower hits that we chose were the vintage roses in a blush and the Lilacs on their stems. The smell of these beauties is soft, fragrant and colors are a beautiful. They all lasted well over a week with changing the water and feeding them.

As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life. John Lubbuck

More wedding flower prettiness to come and I am going to try post a little art work later this week, but wanted to let you know what I am up to.
What are your favorite May or wedding flowers? What projects are you working on? I'd love to know~ 

Happy Easter

Wishing you a wonderful Easter full of traditions, blessings, and fun~

Source: marthastewart.com on Pinterest

Decoupage eggs with paper-napkins via Martha Stewart

Source: google.com  on Pinterest

Source: buscut.blogspot.com  on Pinterest

Theresa Huse 2011

Source: thatkindofwoman.tumblr.com  on Pinterest

I am taking a little impromptu break.

I'll be back to blogging, art and visiting soon! Until then wishing you the best! 

Do you have any Easter or Spring break plans?

"Spinning Circles" Journal Prompt

I created this morning journal page and posted on my You Tube page I the video of how I created it from start to finish. The video is about 6.30 min. Actual time spent on page is about one hour.

I  had a lot of thoughts going on in my head yet I didn't know what to paint at all. I have had so much going on I haven't been able to focus on my creativity. My mornings feeling rushed. I just began by putting scrap papers on the page then started to draw and paint. Lots of layers. If you visit over there please let me know via comments. I'd love to know if you enjoyed seeing a page created from start to finish.

On the page I wrote; Words and thoughts swirling around my head like birds flying in the sky.  Someday s I feel so un-rested I can't get ahead. Spinning circles around my head. Feeling like I am always missing the target. 

I have a tendency to be a bit of a night owl now and then, yet duty calls in the morning. Coffee, rushing to help Sammie get ready, driving Sammie to school then back here to do things that are needed and then squeeze in creative time. Not the way to do it, I have to find a better routine. So I can stay creative.

This page is about having too many thoughts, needing to find my quite place in my mind to create. Slowing down, whether it is in life or in my thoughts, so I don't miss the target. The target refers to being focused, finding that creative inspiration, attaining certain goals, not being rushed or late.

 I like the slow peaceful starts better. Easing into the day, feeling refreshed and ready, calm and creative. 

Are you a morning person or night owl? Have you ever created morning pages in your journal?

Journal Prompt: This week try making a journal page starting with layers of papers, adding paints and your thoughts of how your mornings are. Use an animal or bird to represent how you feel about mornings. It can be a stamp or cutout an image. Then add your thoughts in pens. 

Quote: One needs occasionally to stand aside from the hum and rush of human interests and passions to hear the voices of God. Anna Julia Cooper

Food for Thought: I haven't read this book yet, but it is now on my list of book reads.
                              

The Artist's Way Morning Pages Journal

In My Garden, Blossoming & Color Inspiration

Yesterday I went to the front garden area which is rather small on either section of the walkways but there were several things that captured my heart. I took out my camera to take some photographs of my roses blooming. When I was out there I heard the hummingbirds in the trees, we had disturbed them and they were waiting for us to leave. I patiently waited over thirty minutes, they couldn't take not getting their afternoon nectar treat. So down they came from the trees to the bushes full of nectar. Another thing that caught my eye was how Sammie all ready for her talent show looked so beautiful and as if she had blossomed. I had to ask her to stop for a photograph.

 

  Color Inspiration

 Late but not forgotten, color inspiration from the hummingbird photograph. I promise to share more hummingbird and flower photographs in a week or so, after I have time to edit and upload.

PS; I posted a note about looking for guest bloggers to feature on my blog in my last post.  I need several guest bloggers in May as my oldest daughter is getting married. Just email me if you are interested!!

What has captured your heart lately?

How To Make A Zine

A while back I said I wanted to share how to make a zine. This is a step by step process that we made to simplify it for anyone. Just click on the pictures, open in new tab to enlarge to take a better look. To make your own zine just try to get the folding process down first. Try it a few times and I am sure you'll get it down.
Then you can work out what images you will use. Cut and paste, draw or use your own artwork via copying or scanning images and sizing them laying images on the page where you want them. Then you can open it up to make copies for printing. There are several You Tube videos on this topic. I hope to make my own video of the process down the road. At the end of the post are two that were really helpful videos on learning the technique.

The zine tutorial layout was done for Sammie's school class project.  I helped her create it for a class demonstration  that she gave the class. She shared samples of  zines we made using magazine images in the zine booklet.

I took a photograph of one of our little zine covers looking at a butterfly perched on some rocks that we have collected. We had made several with themes. They are really fun to make!

 Maybe this is what I need to work on today, as I only have a short time to play around and I feel like I have lost my mojo this week! Luckily I have my post for the journal prompt done already. *as I will be away this weekend. My mind is on so many other things than blogging and being creative. Oh, not to mention filing TAXES! That's enough to scramble ones brain. lol

 So just like the little guy in my zine I will look to nature, the outdoors and a change of scenery in hopes of putting a spring back in my creative step and finding my light!

Oh, by the way creative friends, I am looking for a couple of people to do some blogging guest posts in my absence when I am attending to wedding stuff in May so if you are interested please email me. I am looking for art related posts, tutorials and  at least two journaling posts!!

Here's two videos about zine making, they are different and offer great tips on each: 

Have you ever made a zine or mini zine? Is this something you'll try? I would love to see what you create so be sure and let me know if you make one and blog it!

Creative Photography

When I am not painting I love taking photography so today I am going to share some creative ways I have taken portraits of my youngest daughter. I love using my digital camera and getting creative and  inspired by her growing. Looking for shapes and capturing your favorite person in various ways is a great way to chronicle the changes, places and fun things that happen every day, on trips or just firsts. Not all these are my best shots, but I am sharing them to give you an idea of thinking a bit about pulling out your camera and taking chances. All the images have a few details.  

* Note I have not taken any photography classes. This is all from self learning.

Just her legs on a swing

Close up holding the rope swing

Think about shapes. The first three images; one round, one square, one triangle.......

One day when Sam was taking forever in the tub. I went to see what was going on. She was making bubbles. I took photographs of her making these great bubbles and sticking her hands in them. Remember in the movie Blues Brothers 2000. When he goes in the rest room and comes out with soap all over his face and called it puff ball disease and told everybody to run. Well, I got some photo's of her doing just that too!  She loves entertaining!

 

This was portrait was taken at a botanical garden where I had her look through a sculpture

Here we were at the beach and I had her stand inside the tee pee made of drift wood

This photo she is learning how to use chop sticks

 

Outside I thought the contrast of the wood on the tree being rough and her hair and skin being soft

 Her hands again, this time learning to make goop at the science fair

 This is so she will have memories of the project of hatching brine shrimp

 Close up and colorful with part of her body leaning in

 Swim lessons Just reaching the wall after swimming across

 Close up face shot with a scarf on

Take a picture of the mirror with subject in it,  A hair cut

 Climbing under the hammock, I took images of her under, on and next to with her pet also

Her first teeth cleaning

The more you take photographs of your subjects the less camera shy they are. When taking photographs of children remember they don't have lots of patience so keep your shoots short. Take photographs of them doing activities they love. Whether it be playing in a sandbox, on a scooter, a first bike ride, the opportunities are endless.

Taking portraits doesn't mean you always have to have the best shot, although it would be nice. Take lots of photographs and edit them to your liking. Remember you are also capturing moments, memories and growing. And the key to getting better is doing it all the time, having your camera with you and learning about your camera. I am just beginning to use editing software. Another aspect you can add to your images lighting and textures as you want to get more creative.

I hope this helps you just dive in a capture some wonderful moments. I love taking photographs of family, nature and flowers. PS. with Earth day around the corner you might like to see this post with images of Sammie's first bike and a lovely You Tube Video! From Sept 09 Not Just Thoughts on a Bike.

When your done if you want great tips and to be inspired by great photographs visit iheartfaces. This is a place I just might be hanging out to learn a bit more about the art of capturing the face. Who knows maybe I'll enter a contest there one day!

What is your favorite subject when taking photographs? What is your favorite photography tip or site?

This looks like a good read. Have you read any good books with tips for photography?

"Stretching Creatively" Journal Prompt

Do you ever try and take big steps creatively and after you have attempted you are a bit let down. Almost discouraged as you know in your mind where you want to be yet things get in the way of that goal. This week for me in stretching I find myself seeing where I need more work, knowledge to help me be able to accomplish my goals. It is hard to look at the tools in front of you and not be able to master them in a moment. Whether those tools are your pencils, paintbrushes, photo shop, editing soft ware.......

So aren't the little struggles suppose to make things feel great when they are completed? Maybe. I know from my own experience if I don't stretch and go through those growing pains I am not going to reach my goals. So there are days when I am hard on myself, disappointed for where I am in the moment, pulling my hair out over things not being easier! But, when all is said and done I know I must keep going. This is what I am choosing to do, and without the stretching you might not find your end result.

I must be positive for the little pushes that help me grow. Open to the process, let the ideas keep flowing and nurture them. And mostly have patience with myself and trust that process.

I came across this quote and I think it says it all for me this week. Maybe if I take some time to be with nature this week, step away and come back it will give me a rewed spirit and her secret of patience will come visit me as I press on with my new learning.  Do you ever get frustrated learning something new? What do you do to push through the hard process?  Take time away and come back? Push on, although frustrated? Find help? Read a book? Take a class? Or a combination there of?

Journal Prompt: Create a journal page about your stretching, growth process with your creativity. The feelings you have about it and things that may help you with it. 

Quote: Adopt to the secret of nature: her secret is patience. Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Food for thought:
If you have an i tunes there are quite a few pod casts on art and creativity for free at the i tunes store.