Photography Time & Central Coast, CA.

This weekend we took some time out for a drive, lunch and exploring on the California Central Coast. This week I will share with you some photography of the natural beauty found around these rolling hills of our inner coastline.

I have a great photo collage to share with you this week of these lovely flowers we stopped and took photographs of on our drive. They are on a bush does anyone know what they are? I so want to find out!

I was treated to a Mexican lunch. I don't know who was happier? Me or Sam ?

 I can't wait to share some photographs I captured while taking a ride to the restaurant the back way on our country roads.You can see we are still quite rural here on the Central Coast. This was actually taken out of the car window while driving, as a passenger that is!

I just published my May/ June newsletter but it isn't too late to sign up and receive one. I share some creative links to help with your art, color inspiration tools....Sign up is on the side bar. Then just leave me a comment with your email, or email me that you just signed up and I will forward it to you! Then for next time if you sign up on the side bar you'll be on the mailing list and automatically receive the newsletter! The newsletter is bi monthly and free! 

I came to the realization that this week is going to be finishing up details for the wedding, cleaning up so we can return to a clean house, double checking what we need and packing up for a five hour drive and seven day wedding filled week! And although I want to share some art with you I doubt that I will even get to sit down and create anything this week! But, I will have posts to share with you, from the teaser above! We actually went out on Saturday instead of Sunday.
 
What did you do this past weekend?

Happy Mother's Day & Journal Prompt "Motherhood"

This is a journal page that I created for transforming it into a card. This journal page is a reflection on motherhood.

Happy Mother's Day

Motherhood is a beautiful time. The entire process is so unique and everyone's experience is different. We can share our stories, lightening loads for those who have not experienced it but, until it is your moment you can only image.

It is important to cherish the little moments. Not everything is easy even if you have help. The flowers represent that is isn't always a bed of roses!

The most important thing I think as a  mother besides be loving, caring and nurturing is to have patience. Patience is a great gift. Patience is  needed so often in parenthood. With sleepless nights, as the child is teething, for the bumps and pains they experience and journeys  that continue into adulthood with listening and supporting the children who come to grow to adults. From the nest to seeing them fly off on their own you will use patience with them and for yourself. It can be one of the true gifts of being a parent.

In this collage close up of the journal page are showing just some things representing motherhood. The nesting, birth, cherishing your baby. The bird dropping hearts is a reminder to love them as time is fleeting and it goes by so fast.

For your journal prompt; If you are a parent create a journal page that reflects your experience. Or you can create a page with qualities you wish to have when you become a parent.
You can cut images from magazines that represent how you would like your life to look like with children or draw and paint as I did.You can also create a list of things you are thankful for or want to experience from parenthood; such as the help of family and friends, getting ready for baby, add in your personal experiences along the way...... Well, you get the idea. I hope you get a chance to create a page about your dreams of becoming a parent or what your experience as a parent means.

Journal Prompt: Create a page about becoming or being  a parent or motherhood/fatherhood * see ideas above

Quotes:
God sends children to enlarge our hearts, and make us unselfish and full of kindly sympathies and affections. Mary Howitt
An aware parent loves all children he or she meets and interacts with—for you are a caretaker for those moments in time. Doc Childre, A Parenting Manual

Food For Thought:  This is a great book. I received as a present when I had Sammie. It has stories to read to the little ones, poems, music with children songs, recipes, how to make paper items, stamps and more. Its a chunky book of 348 pages, at least my copy is. I haven't seen the new addition in person.

The Little Big Book for Moms

Making Time To Create

Yesterday I got to the point where I had to make some creative time happen with paint. I had been feeling like it was too long since I picked up my brushes. There has been so much going on for the wedding, but I needed to sneak in some time for me, my art, my clearing house of letting all go and just being in the moment and creating. I needed this no matter what the outcome of my short session with my paints would be!

Here is the outcome of my creative time.

The tag is something I saved from a flating iron that was purchased. I painted sections over it so its colors would match in with the painting. On the tag it says Glamour, just under it for straight finish /processed hair.
I found the tag in my stash of papers after making my curly haired girl and found it ironic and that is when I added it to my painting.

The two images on the top are pior to adding inks and changing the background slightly.

I wasn't sure if I was done I decided to add inks in the background and see where it went. 

 

Today and over the next week I hope to make a little more time to create as in the days beyond that I know the packing will ensue, travel and all the makings for the wedding will be coming together as will the festivities and family time for my daughter Laura and Charles big day. *I decided to share with Paint Party Friday visit if you would like to see more artwork.

 Do you ever find it hard to fit in your creative time? Do you bring an art journal with you when you travel?

Color & Styling

Hello dear friends, One thing I would like to share is that the more I see beautiful styling techniques the more I want to get better at photography and styling. It has me wishing to make props, go to yard sales, make pretty settings for taking pictures of my art and for settings for flowers like this one here! This captures my daughter's wedding theme perfect Rustic Romantic! Swoon~

I love the simplicity of this color pallet

Source: heirloomphilosophy.blogspot.com via Theresa on Pinterest

The wedding is only two weeks away from this Saturday! Here is some color inspiration for you. Created from the photograph above. Although this is not Laura's color pallet; hers are more pastel I love the  rich colours in this  pallet. 

Rustic Romantic

I also created a few patterns this morning. I will show you one and if you like you can visit Colourlovers to see the others. It is amazing how different things can turn out just by design and color changes. 

Victorianna

Now I am off to create the place cards for the table seating. I promise to show you a few when I get them done. Did you have a theme for your wedding? What were your wedding colors or what would you choose if not married yet? Do tell~

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