This week I have been busy working on the new website I have been developing. Its been a really long process. I have literally been working on this for months. Things are finally starting to pull together but still there is so much to finish up. Just when you think we are done there are a million little details that need fixing. Its seems like an endless task.
I have also been working on some paintings for the show I am doing in July. So I have art but nothing that I can really show you. So perhaps some photos will do.
I thought I would show you some monarch butterfly pics I took last summer.
Welcome to Express Your Creativity. Here you can share paintings, sketches, art journal pages, poetry, photography, fiber arts like knitting and weaving, favorite recipes, organizational and decorating ideas, and more. The only requirement is that it is something that you have created in some way. I hope you will join me here and please pass it on. Please make sure to list your posts url and not your blogs url. This makes it easier for any late comers to find your post. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, this is how it works. You type in your name in the first box and the url/link to your post, not your blog address about your creative efforts this week. When you return your name will already be populated, you just need to paste in the new posts link.
I have created a blog button for those participating who might want to post this on your blog. You'll find it on the sidebar to your right.
This is the mandala I started last week. I think it looks nice over this background. I found it quite enjoyable to work on.
This self portrait was created from a photo on grey toned paper using colored pencil. I really like working on this paper. I have been trying to used colored pencil more often. I figure soon I'll be comfortable with it.
These pages are from the Mandala Magic course I am taking with Julie Gibbons. They all relate to the Bliss stage of the Great Round of Mandala. The one on the left is made with shaving cream and spray inks. The one on the right was made with nail polish.
The two on the left being smaller I called them moons. The top one is a transparency and ink mandala and the pinkish one was created with nail polish. The one on the right was created with shaving cream. It reminds me of Jupiter.
This page was made using my birth chart as a mandala. The papers I used to collage with were gelli prints. I picked watery looking pages to go with the theme of bliss. Now its your turn to share.
I am recording videos for my class this week so I have little art to show you. So I think this week I'll show some random photographs that I took on my trip to Ireland. Just a small snippet of beauty here and there. This is at my friend Donna Higton's home in England, well her garden actually. Wishing for you, a little spot of beauty today.
Monday, October 24, 2011
FOR TODAY
Outside my window... the sun is shining and it is one of those cool fall days where I love to take walks and feel my feet crunch upon all the leaves. Fall is such a special season.
I am thinking that I have way too many irons in the fire as they say and something is going to have to be let go. In November I will be blogging less or maybe have shorter posts.
I am thankful for all the opportunities in my life and all the wonderful people I have met this year.
In the kitchen Dave is making a butternut squash pie, the smell of it permeates the house.
I am wearing my black crocs and flannel pj's, my comfort clothes.
I am creating a new life with the coaching course I am taking. The lessons learned are so profound that it amazes me. I am so grateful to be able to pass this wisdom on to others.
I am going to continue to look for fun things to use to manipulate wax. The Hot Wax course I am taking is really fantastic. I have so much to learn.
I am wondering how some women manage to do it all. I am constantly having to revise my plans and let go of things.
I am reading : The view from the Summerhouse by Barabara Whitnell. Its set in Cornwall, a place I would like to go to someday. Its all about returning to a piece of your past and reconnecting with it.
I am looking forward to the start of Nanowrimo on November 1st. It will be fun to tell my Grandparents story.
I am hearing the sound of birds outside my window, most of them have left for greener pastures. I still have the house finches and black eyed juncos and occasional chickadees that hang out at my bird feeder.
Around the house everything has been dusted and cleaned. During November I don't clean very much. All the focus is on the writing.
I am pondering those little things in life that make it all worthwhile. Sit down and have a cup of tea with me and we'll talk.
One of my favorite things to do is have a hot bath with Celtic Sea Salts. I had one last night and the memory of it brings a smile to my face. A few plans for the rest of the week: I'll have my first 2 calls where I am the coach this week. I am incredibly nervous about it but know that it will be okay. I'll do some further prep for Nanowrimo and watch the videos for the Hot Wax class. Then there are the regular activities, laughter yoga on Tuesday, meditation group on Wed and book group on Thursday. We are reading Kitchen Table Wisdom which is an amazing book.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing... This was the sky outside my house a few days ago.
I find mother nature often gives us a spectacular show.
One of my new books is Inner Excavations by Liz Lamoreaux. Liz blogs at Be Present Be Here. In the book Liz takes you on an excavation using photography, poetry and mixed media. Instead of just reading the whole book like I sometimes do I am planning on doing all the exercises and getting the full experience. The main reason for buying this book is to work photography back in to my life. The first exercise in Inner Excavations is to take pictures of your day. I am a little bit out of practice so I didn't manage to do that many but here is a look at a day last week.
I began where I could right at my feet and what I was wearing, still in my pj's with my croc's on.
Then I took a pic of the book I was reading that day and my glasses beside them.
Then my constant companion, my computer, I really liked the look in low light, my silver computer now looks golden.
You can always count on a cat to make an appearance. Boromir obliged with her sweet face.
Then I took a pic of all the art books that I am reading.
Flynn says What you want me to pose for a picture... ah ok I'll look up for you..
That evening the only time I remembered to take a picture was when I was making some popcorn. I had to take the picture quickly because the popcorn was about to take off. Thus the end of my first day. I think I am going to try this one again. The thing I like about books like this is they take you out of your normal routine and into territory for change growth and exploration. I am looking forward to the journey I'll be going on.
Its Day 4 of Creativity boot camp. I am really having fun doing these exercises. Our exercise today was to take our camera out in nature and just play. I haven't done that in awhile so it was great to get out there and shoot just for the fun of it. These are some of my favorite shots of the day.
One of the pansy's in my flower barrel. This reminded me how much I would like a macro lens for my camera.
This little guy is peeking out of the other flower barrel.
Some wild mushrooms that popped up in my flower garden in the backyard. I liked all the lines that are on these mushrooms.
Flynn was running around with me so he had to get a photo too
These white lilacs smelled so beautiful.
Dave planted this foxglove just a week ago and it is looking lovely. We are hoping some hummingbirds are attracted to it.
The prompt for today was heavy metal and here is the page I did for it. At first I had a hard time coming up with an idea till I remembered these armor pages I had. I ended up layer copper lumiere paint over a burgundy Luquitex, the color looks wonderful in person. Then I added stamped images in silver. It was a fun page to do.
This a page about a trip to see hummingbirds being banded. I have been planning a post on this but I just ended up doing a journal page instead. I like having a nice record of an event that was so much funn
