Singing in the woods...

Use what talents you possess:

the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there 

except those that sang best.

Henry Van Dyke

I always like to start my posts out with a quote that speaks to me..

Words that pertain to what part of the path I'm on...

Words that pertain to the joyful part of the process

or even the angst.

Well... lately I've been feeling really, um... well, in a nutshell... all over the place!

I call it artistic A.D.D.

I feel like I'm jumping from one thing to the next.

Going down several creative path's at once...

trying to find my market, while trying to really find my creative voice...

That creative voice has a lot to say-

(sometimes I think it's more like a creative 

f l a s h m o b

rather than a voice!)

A lot of activity, alot to take in, a lot of energy, 

 a lot of dancing, a lot of people watching, 

waiting for the big finish!

do you ever feel like this?

Not quite sure when the big finish will be, 

or even what it will end up ever looking like... 

but one thing I know for sure,

is that I have

faith

that something good is down the road...

and that I must be still and listen...

and that the woods will continue to have many beautiful sounds,

because of that diverse and wonderful group of artists 

who are patiently using their talents.

 

my latest project... birdie houses! 

Having fun decoupaging these lovely home decor items 

in both botanical and shabby chic style. 

I began creating them for a dear friends wedding, as table decor. 

Since their debut on etsy (www.twig2neststudio.etsy.com), 

I've been getting orders for them to be personalized 

with couple's names, and wedding dates. 

Lot's of possibilities for them.

 

  my favorite felt bird seems to like them too...

and below... the beginning of a couple of mixed media paintings. 

I'm trying something new here friends... 

 more about that next post!

I've missed linking up with Jennifer and the creatives at Studio JRU for a bit. 

(ahhh... the days of summer!)

But today, I'm back in the zone...click the link below 

to see what everyone has been up to.

Ants in the Pants?

"D O U B T S

are the ants in the pants 

of   f a i t h. 

They keep it awake and moving."

— Frederick Buechner

Does that just make you smile or what?

I just love this quote!!! 

It screamed at me, 

because I tend to think my brain is filled with more 

"art doubt" than "art belief " half the time. 

I know these words weren't originally quoted in the context of 

"art"... 

but I couldn't help but apply it, to that continued artistic quest~

the one that always makes me question what I am doing...

how I am doing it... and am I doing it right?

Thank goodness for  

"faith"!

 And it is with that faith, 

I am bursting with excitement over a new little project!

I've been stretching my wings a bit on this decoupage path~

creating a little collection of birdie houses~ 

a heart tug, 

that was born from 

a few smaller pieces 

I had created, 

with wood.

the beginning of something "new"... 

bigger birdie houses 

with a shabby chic~ frenchie feel.

taking a creative break in-between glue and paper time...

a watercolor warm-up... 

one colorful bird 

that I imagine 

might like to inhabit this birdie house.

Having "faith" that it's coming along...

and I think my felt friend likes it too.

~a BIG SHOUT OUT... I purchased my felt friend at Agoura Antique Mart 

a most fabulous, hip, antique shopping mart!

stay tuned ~  a couple more birdie houses happening this week...

A little time off & some creative coffee....

 

I really love coffee... 

and now I know  
it loves me back!

I guess you can see something creative even in your coffee... 

just have to be on the lookout... 

I love all of the heart shapes that fellow creatives post~ 

heart stones, heart leaves, heart hands... 

so needless to say,

I was smiling from ear to ear when I saw 

this little heart staring back at me.

It was really calling me to get back on track.

I didn't intend to skip out on posting... 

but sometimes it's like church, classes, making dinner, volunteer work... 

you know one of those things that are part of your daily life, 

that when you miss a couple of days on your daily path,

it becomes hard to get back on track

or easy to just continue on 
the new one you are blazing.

A couple of weeks ago, I had my parents here for a visit. 

It was a lovely time spent doing family things... cooking and eating together,

(like yummy french toast I made above)

running errands, a little travel to local areas, 

enjoying the sunshine and just being family. 

(My parents try to come out once a year, and I try to get back to see them as well, 

once a year or more, "IF" I am so fortunate).

I cherish that time together.

But when they leave, there is that in-between space of time, 

That breath of fresh air to gain your time back, 

yet that sad space of time to miss their presence.

I've been playing catch-up ever since, 

and have been trying desperately to get to a paint brush.

So, finally this week I got to warm up my hand 

and get started again.

"Art is the giving by each man of his evidence to the world. 

Those who wish to give, love to give, discover the pleasure of giving. 

Those who give are tremendously strong."
— Robert Henri

A little time spent with the watercolor paints 

and a few 

new ideas started fluttering around, 

(hint: involving some larger birdhouses & mixed media decoupage)~

... commitments to more shows starting mid-July came to be...

... the honor of an interview (TBA) at Robin Norgren's 

my creative peace 

is on the radar...

(you've got to check out her wonderful workbook ~ I just ordered mine~ can't wait!)

 and more gift shops to be explored.

Good to take a little unintentional break, 

but good to be back trying to work through 

the art process... and live an 

artfull life.

p.s. I missed linking up at studiojru ~

but it's always fun to see what everyone was up to last week.

How does your garden grow...?

I cultivate my garden, 

and my garden 

cultivates me.  

~Robert Brault

(a little watercolor sketch of veggies~ beets or radishes... hmmm?)

It's funny, but I tend to think of working in my garden,

and the whole, bird building it's nest from pieces of straw and twig,

as the metaphor for my personal art process.

Kind of like a "life verse" of sorts... 

my "life metaphor". 

I've always gravitate towards the organic nature of art...

whether it be my subject matter, 

the materials I am working with,

or the kind of classes I like to take.

(And these days, I am sure lusting after a Flora Bowley workshop big time!)

The concept of planting seeds,

the cultivating process,

the growth... 

the end result...

it all fits together most artistically to me.

Maybe that's why I find...
 that I keep posting several areas of the art that I am developing in...

 decoupage... watercolor... oil and mixed media. 
(Rather than focusing on one solid part of this garden- like the tomatoes- 
they seem to be a lot easier to grow).


Maybe that's why some of my art pieces are just little exercises, 
and other's are more finished.


Maybe I am being shaped through this process 
(by the weeds, as well as the water and the soil).
The weeds, being those pesky things 
that get in the way of "creating"...


The more I turn the soil,
 I am starting to see how this process 
"is cultivating me".


What's growing in your "art" garden this week? 

finishing off~ with a grateful

s h o u t   o u t...

to a fellow creative, with a most beautiful line of 

delicate, sweet, elegant and tender jewelry pieces.

I had the pleasure of creating an updated logo for 

Amy Friend 
of 
Cypress Sun Jewelry.

I was honored to be able to collaborate together 

to update her identity, 

that reflects the elegance and simplicity of her most lovely designs.

I am proud to say I own the pieces above.

Major love people.... major love!

and... a  g r a t e f u l shout out 

to another wonderfully creative artist...

that I am so fortunate to know from 

the Kelly Rae flying lessons ecourse last year~

Elizabeth Gonzalez

a lovely ceramic and mixed media artist with a whimsical style.

I am so happy to have received one of her prints 

from her anniversary blog giveaway.

(I have a little secret... to own a piece of art from each of my "fellow flying artistic friends"... 

I have started my collection, and have been adding to it, as I can afford 

or as I was blessed to win~ it just makes me smile!)

grateful!

Hanging out with Jennifer and other creatives at STUDIOJRU

Click the link to take a peek at what everyone has been up to this week.

Where I am at today, is where I am supposed to be.

Nothing feeds the center of being 

so much 

as creative work.

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I've been thinking a lot lately about this process... this artistic journey we are on. 

So I'm jotting down some artistic ramblings today...

(heart thoughts...)

where I am at today, is where I am supposed to be~ 

even though there are so many parts of myself that feel 

like they are being pulled in different directions.

where I am at today is where I am supposed to be~ 

even though, I feel like I am not doing enough to make more happen.

where I am at today is where I am supposed to be~ 

because I know that I am one who believes in "trust"~ 

trust in the process~ 

trust in the ONE who gives me all that I have.

where I am at today is where I am supposed to be~ 

because I know that there is growth happening

because I've always believed that dreams 

are made to be sought after

and

because the soil in the garden has been tended to 

and is rich and dark and fertile.

I am where I am supposed to be...

So a few new pieces and some exciting news...

(twig2nestStudio.etsy.com)

I made these new designs for a little gift shop 

that has taken me on consignment. 

This is my first consignment venture and 

I am doing a major "happy dance."

It's a beautiful church store in Westlake, California 

with a lovely proprietor.

I created a line of pieces that are Spring like, 

softer in color and can be personalized for Weddings.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church of Westlake

My pieces are at home in this beautiful place...

and I am where I am supposed to be.

Hanging out with Jennifer and other creatives at STUDIOJRU

Click the link to take a peek at what everyone has been up to this week.

BTW... next post I've got some shout outs to some lovely creatives, 

their work, and some beautiful gifts... pop back anytime!