Angels, Angels Everywhere!

Do you believe in Angels?  I certainly do, and they've been appearing in my life and in my dreams more and more often since the beginning of the year.  When I heard about a new, upcoming course called Angels In My Studio, it just seemed to be perfectly synchronous with that.

Angels In My Studio is a five month long course that will allow you to connect more deeply with your angels, both in your everyday life AND in your creativity, while learning techniques to help you incorporate angelic energy and forms into your creations.  It's learning techniques, and so much more.

The list of instructors is amazing too!  Sheri Ann Ponzi, Chris Zydel, Susan Risse, Tracy Verdugo, Whitney Ferre, Anna Schuler, Claudia Olivos, KaePea, Kylie Pepyat-Fowler and Lori Franklin - all incredibly creative, talented women!

You can go to Angels In My Studio to find more information.  There are even a couple of introductory videos there.  I think you'll be intriqued and hope that you'll be joining us!

Yes, I'm going to be there, and I'm so excited that I'll be able to be a part of it!  Hooray!! I was notified on 3/18 (which happened to be my 55th birthday!) that I'd won a spot in the course via a giveaway on Susan Risse's blog.  What a beautiful, perfect, happy dance gift!!

There's good news for you too!  Sheri is having a giveaway for people who publish blog posts about Angels In My Studio.  Because I've already won a spot, Sheri has given me permission (if my blog post is chosen) to give two of you a chance to win a place in the course!

All you have to do is to leave a comment on this post by March 31st, telling me why you're excited about the course - and let your angels know that you want to be there!  Be sure to leave your contact information as well.  

If you post a link to this blog post on Facebook, mentioning Angels In My Studio, leave a separate comment letting me know and I'll enter your name twice!  If my blog post wins the giveaway, then I'll pull two names from those of you who've commented. 

Angels are all around us, all the time, in the very air we breathe.  

~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

Antique/Ethnic Inspiration Board

After my Grandad passed, I was helping my mom clean out his storage shed.  I found two beautiful, antique picture frames.  I didn't have a clue what I would do with them; I just knew that I wanted them. 

I also had a wall tapestry, hand embroidered and purchased in India and given to me by my ex inlaws, 30 years ago, when they first came to the U.S. as refugees from Afghanistan.

I hadn't displayed the tapestry in years.  Not because I didn't like it, but perhaps because there were so many painful memories associated with it.  I never contemplated getting rid of it, yet it just sat among other things in my cedar chest; neatly tucked away and seldom looked at.

When I decided that I needed an inspiration/bulletin board, it just seemed natural to combine the two.  Who would have known?  One of the antique frames with a portion of the tapestry.  Antique married to ethnic, and I've always loved the bright colors and motifs in ethnic handcrafts.  A blending of generations and culture, even sorrow and joy.

The project itself became a way and a space for healing both the loss of my grandparents and some of the pain I still held from my marriage.  It gave me, first of all, an awareness that those parts existed deep within me as wounds still waiting to be healed.  And, it gave me a way to honor both the pain and the healing.

This is the finished project and it now holds a central space above my desk, next to an altered art vintage window frame.   I wasn't able to capture the vibrancy of the colors, but here it is:

Putting my inspiration board together was fairly simple.  I measured the back opening of the frame, then added two inches to each side and cut the tapestry to measure.  I cut a large piece of foam core board to fit the back of the frame.

With the fabric laying face down, I centered the foam core board on it.  Using a hot glue gun, I attached each edge separately, taking time to miter each corner and checking the tautness of the fabric before proceeding to the next side.

To insert the fabric panel into the frame I simply turned the frame over.  Using the glue gun, I attached one edge of the panel at a time, face down, being careful to keep the panel centered. 

The results, I think, are beautiful.  I'm totally happy with my new inspiration board and love having it hanging above my desk!

I may use the rest of the tapestry fabric to make a cushion and covered armrests for my desk chair.  Maybe a protective mat for the top of my scanner. Or maybe you have an idea or inspiration for me?

Mixed Media Paint Chip Canvas

I haven't created very much art lately.  I've been in the biggest, longest flare up of my fibromyalgia in more than five years and it's pretty much brought some things - like making art - to a standstill.
Creativity is so much a part of me though, that I've found ways to nurture it. The things that I've worked on have involved small projects that I can do while reclining; things that are easy to step away from when needed.  Some embellishments made from the pages of vintage books and hymnals.  My first attempt at ATC's.  A bit of beading.

In lieu of having more current art to share, I'd love to show you the mixed media canvas that I created for my daughter during the holidays.  The original idea was found here.

I started by coating a square canvas with gesso, then layering vintage ephemera over that.  To give it a more aged appearance, I used a wash of acrylic paint and water.

I measured the canvas and cut paint chips to fit.  I wanted to create a tile-like effect, so I allowed for space between each chip and laid them out until I had an arrangement that I liked.  Before securing the chips to the canvas with gel medium, I lightly stained their edges with fluid chalk in a medium brown to give an illusion of depth.  I followed up with a second wash of acrylic and water.

I wanted to paint cherry blossoms onto the 'tiles'.  My drawing skills aren't very strong, so I first drew the blossoms out on paper, then used the drawing as a guide for painting on the canvas, using the new markers that were a holiday gift from my kids.

I then added a 3D dragonfly embellishment to the lower right portion of the canvas and finished off with several layers of high gloss to give the look of shiny tile.

I was really happy with the results.  The paint chips really do look like tile!  I'm hoping to make a second canvas to go with the first so that my daughter has a matched set above her sofa.

Has anyone else found ways to use paint chips in their art or their craft projects?  If you have, I'd love for you to share!

Valentine's Day Cards

Beautiful cards and Valentine's Day just seem to go hand in hand, so I decided to experiment in making some of my own cards.  I don't think I've made a card since 6th grade, lol! 

Since I've been dealing with several fibro flares and a whole lot of fibro fog and exhaustion, the cards turned out to be the perfect project.  One that I could pick up and put down how ever often was needed and allowed me to work in small increments.

I decided to use paper piecing in designing my cards.  I began by experimenting with drawings and templates and the templates were the most frustrating part of the process!  I found myself wondering if I was wasting my time; doubting whether the templates would work.  Do you ever experience a certain level of doubt when trying something new?

My daughter stopped by to visit about the time that the templates were completed, and she sat down with the templates and a selection of scrapbooking papers and glue.  I absolutely loved the results - which you can see here:

I was totally encouraged by her results, so I moved on to actually creating the cards.  I used two different designs - a cute little owl and a segmented, layered heart - and these were some of my results:

If you'd like to try your hand at card making, I'm including the templates for you.  Left click on the photo and choose 'print' and the template should print up full size.  I recommend printing on card stock.  If you have trouble printing the template, I can send it to you as an attachment if you provide your email address.

The templates are hand drawn, so there will be slight imperfections.  Don't let that worry you!  Any imperfections simply add to the charm and originality of your work.  The only place where acurracy really counts is in that cut down the center of the hearts.

I recommend cutting out multiples of each piece so that you can play with color combinations.  For the heart, each piece (with the exception of the largest heart) is cut in half and the pieces are combined for contrast.  The backgrounds are up to you.  I used either scrapbooking paper, mulberry paper or glitter paints, but go with your own imagination!

Feel free to reduce or enlarge the templates to use in ATC's, collage, etc.  The only thing I ask is that you give credit and/or link back to this post if you publish your work on the internet.  It would be wonderful, too, if you share a link to your results here in the comment section.  I'd love to see what you do with my templates!

Now, to decide who to send the cards too...

A 'Happy' Christmas Miracle

Raising two kids on my own was really hard sometimes.  Not the kids themselves.  I’ve always been blessed to have them in my life; they are what kept me going, kept me sane, kept me learning and growing, kept me connected and loving.

The Christmas season of 1999 found me working full-time, but without resources.  My job meant that I was away from my kids for 12 hours each day.  Eight hours working, an hour lunch – and three hours spent traveling back and forth between home, babysitter, work; then work, babysitter, home.  I used my crockpot a lot back then, simply to insure that my kids had a decent meal instead of a quick box of macaroni for dinner.  To give me time to spend with them in the few hours we had each evening.  We were, simply, living paycheck to paycheck and there was seldom anything extra.

 As Christmas approached, I worked on making each of the kids a gift and managed to set aside a total of $30 to spend on presents.  The pictures above are of the wooden checkerboard that I made for my son - all of the small dots, the birds, even the campfire, were painted using toothpicks, lol!

My daughter had always loved snow globes.  She called them “Happys”.  And, two days before Christmas,  a nearby store had a beautiful Happy on sale.  Off to the store I went and felt so thrilled that they still had a few left!  I made my purchase and, as I walked out the door, the bag was knocked out of my hand.  That beautiful Happy fell to the pavement and broke into a dozen pieces!

I was as shattered as that precious snow globe!  I walked a few steps through the throng of last minute shoppers, braced myself against a wall, and burst into tears.  I was so devastated!

And then a man and woman approached me and asked if I was okay.  I sobbed and told them, between gulps of air, what had happened.  This wonderful woman stayed, talking to me, reassuring me, giving me the gift of her comfort and care.  The man left, but I didn’t really notice.

And then the man was back.  He held a bag out to me and insisted that I look inside.  They had replaced that beautiful Happy and gifted it to me.  And then they simply wished me a Merry Christmas and walked away.

The enormity of what they did was so much more than the cost of the Happy.  That they took the time to stop; that they cared enough to give of themselves and make a difference for a woman and a child that they didn’t know.  They blessed me in so many ways that evening!  And I have tried, since then, to always pay it forward; to see others through the eyes of love that I felt looking upon me then. 

It doesn’t take a lot to lift someone else up.  Making a difference doesn’t require a huge investment of time or money.  Sometimes the small things are huge things in disguise, a grace that makes life sparkle and shine with love and possibilities.

It’s been twelve years and the gift that those two gave to me has never left me.  Remembering, as I’m doing now, can still bring tears to my eyes.  I’ve never forgotten; never stopped feeling gratitude.  They left a legacy of love and generosity within me.  And that legacy expresses itself in my own ability to be thankful, even for the seemingly small blessings in my life, and to give of myself and my resources as and when I can.  It may be a few encouraging words, an expression of love or something more tangible - but there is always something to give.

Wishing you many blessings and miracles of your own, no matter how you celebrate the season.  And may you find grace and gratitude in each day of this coming year.

WooHoo Wednesday!

Oops!  I know I've missed Wednesday by an hour or so (at least in my time zone) but WooHoo Thursday just doesn't do much for me, lol.  

I’ve had a wonderful response to the new ‘Toot Your Horn Tuesday’ celebration on my Creative ARTitudes Facebook page, so I’ve decided to follow up with ‘WooHoo Wednesday’ as a way of showing my appreciation – and as another way for posters on my Facebook page to share their creative magic. 

All of the links shown here will be to personal pages, blogs, shops, tutorials, giveaways, etc.  I encourage you to explore the links, visit the sites (and yup, you can leave a message saying that I sent you – I won’t mind!) and have fun making new discoveries and new friends.

I considered posting alphabetically, but will instead list everyone according to the sequence in which their posts were made on Creative Artitudes Facebook page.  

If you see a link to your page, etc and you would prefer that you not be included, simply send me a private message on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Hyacinths4) and I’ll make the change.

And now, meet the talented people who stopped by to toot their horns yesterday!  The first link for each person will be to their Facebook page and the others will be noted as blog, shop, group, etc.

Brian Leverton  Blog    http://brianlart.blogspot.com/  Brian's wonderful art

Jeanne Fry   Blog  Conscious Art Studio “art and music that is meant to speak to you on a visual, emotional, and consciously aware level.”

Soozii Parkes  Blog  Soozii's Artwork   a variety of wonderful art – nudes, abstract and impressionist, animals, sea and landscapes, portraits.

Carol Desjarlais  Group:  Goddesses, art, poetry, discussion   Book:  Shhhhh!! A Creation Story  The book has great reviews!

Sharon Prater Pope  Blog   Moxie Blue - Sketches From Rabbit Hop 

Jody Lebrun    Etsy  Creative Life By Design  Website  Creative Life By Design

Dena Anderson    Etsy  Tribe Zen Creations

Kelly Donovan    Etsy  Knitting and Things

Andrea Nicole Plotts  Website  Welcome to Mountain Rose  Store  Mountain Rose Store  YouTube  Mountain Rose Videos

Alan Murphy    Book  PsychoSilly Wonderful children’s book illustrated with colorful collages  

Patricia    Website    Eccentric Aesthetics   Photography, Mixed Media Art, Funky Accessories                                                                                                                                  

Donniece Smith   Blog   Thirteen Threads From the Wild Heart

Laura Attuquayefio (Lola)    https://www.facebook.com/LBoogie 

Donna Harris   Blog   My Art Journey

Boriqua Rebel   Etsy   The Black Owl Jewelry

Kelly Donovan   Blog   Knitting and Things  YouTube  Knitting and Things Video

Jozette Rodriquez   Fan Page  Angelique Awakening  Creative Divine Wisdom for Your Life    Business   Serenity Social Media

Erin Ford   Shop  Whimsy By Erin

Linda Roberts Stewart   Blog   Stewalynn Studio   Zazzle   Stewalynn Creations Ebay  Stewalynn

I'd love some feedback!  Did you visit some (or all) of the links?  Did anyone visit you?  Is WooHoo Wednesday (and it will be on Wednesdays!) something you'd like to see continue?  Hearing from you will let me know whether or not this is worth my time and effort to do on a regular basis :) 

An A-musing Tale

In 2010, when I began my ARTbundance coach training, one of the exercises I did involved meeting my muse, developing a dialog and creating a representation of her.  I really was skeptical, so you can imagine my surprise when my muse came through loud and clear!  And not only via dialog, but with a perfect picture of her in my mind.

The only collage I had done up to that time had been a vision board.  I hadn’t drawn since I was 17; had never used a paintbrush or watercolors.  I don’t think it was coincidence that, soon after meeting her I not only created collages, but also dabbled in mixed media for the first time and created a large altered art Vision window as my final project.  Over the past year I’ve been exploring mixed media and art journaling as well.

Discovering and communicating with your Muse can be life altering and liberating in so many ways!  It’s having a short cut and direct line to the wisdom we all hold within ourselves.  It acquaints us with our intuition; that deep inner knowing that so many of us have learned to ignore; in a way that is gentle, non-threatening and uplifting.  Our Muses can bypass all the conditioning and the old, worn out negative beliefs that might be chanting in our subconscious minds.

It’s been simple, for me, to connect with Calliope.  I find a place of calm within myself, focus my mind and then open the conversation.  I could do this wholly in my imagination, but find that I really prefer the written word.  I write letters, or notes, sharing my issues or questions and then wait for an answer.  I don’t judge or doubt.  I simply write down the words that come to me.  And I am always amazed at the answers!

I’d like to introduce you to her!  Her name in Latin means “beautiful voice”.  She is here to nurture my creativity, to en-courage me, to whisper ‘you can do it!’ in my ear when I’m full of doubts, to remind me to ‘keep it in kindergarten’ when I over complicate things, and to foster my ability to heal – myself and others – through my creativity.

The Calliope that you see here was created using a paper doll template and a vintage graphic.  She has affirmations written over the majority of her body.  Her dress is a combination of paper, fibers and beads.  The lace is hand colored.  She has an Angel sitting on her shoulder (as stubborn as I’ve been in discovering my creativity, she’s needed an Angel all her own!).  She has a brad on her throat (5^th Chakra) symbolizing turquoise, a hand of light on her abdomen and points of light on her hands.

I later discovered that turquoise is believed to have the properties of wisdom, serenity, wholeness, self expression, creativity; symbolizes a time to be honest with yourself and is a reminder to share your vision and walk your talk!  The hand of light represented on her abdomen is said to carry energy assisting in healing and spiritual growth. Wow!!

Are you in touch with your muse?   I'd love to hear about her and how she affects your creativity, if you're willing to share in the comments!  If you haven't yet introduced yourself to your muse, is it something that you could see yourself doing - or do you think that I'm more than a little bit crazy and 'woo-woo'?  I invite you to share that too!  For now, I need to chat with Calliope about my latest project and the block that I've run into...