Youer than You... Me-er than Me...

“Today you are 

You, 
that is truer than 
true. 
There is no one alive 
who is Youer 
than You.” 

Dr. Seuss

Where to begin... where to start. 
I had no intention of letting so much time pass between blog posts. 
I got to thinking
(upon reading these words from the Dr. Seuss Happy Birthday to You book)
that I was off being ME...
Me-er than Me 
I suppose.


Summer ended, before one could blink...
we quickly rolled into a "new season" 
that's making me think,
what will this season bring, 
a continued uncertainty?
or... perhaps growth, a clear path,
& a door opening for me.
Dr. Seuss is certainly contagious.
I just had to do it!

A few highlights from the past few weeks 
that have kept 
me 
being 
me...

I'm feeling the process of stretching myself into some uncharted territory.

The  b l o o m  piece above 

gives a little sneak peek 
into a style I see developing. 
I am exploring a new way of seeing, a new way of combining elements, 
and a mixture of new mediums. 

This kind of "art play" has been a freeing and joyful experience. 

b l o o m 
gives me a sense

that I am 

opening 

up a bit.
(I'll be posting 2 more pieces this week ~ I'd love your input friends...)

A most exciting thing happened a couple of weeks ago... 
I was featured in the "shared stories" segment of Beth Nicholls blog.
(blush and gush)

I was honored and thrilled to share some thoughts 
on the"doing what you love" space. 
Beth Nicholls has a beautiful way of bringing us to the place 
of seeing our value, and feeling encouraged, 
to do what we love for life.
I've been reading the inspired stories of other artists, 
gathering insight, from many amazing artist interviews,
and planning to fly into another level of growth by 2012 
with the soul sessions e-course being offered 
by the fabulous duo~ Kelly Rae Roberts & Beth Nicholls.
(check it out- sign up's are still available).
Many good things to look forward to!
And a sign of growth ahead...

(grow botanical decoupage plate)

I'll leave you with my heart and some warm coffee 

until the next post!

Linking up with the creatives at StudioJRU~

stop by to see what everyone has been up to.

In giving... we receive.

"For it is in
giving
that we
receive."
St Francis of Assisi

After choosing in a most traditional way...

(by putting everyone's name into a bowl, and having my nephew pull one out),

I am happy to say, that I have a winner of my "grateful giveaway"!

Congratulations to Melissa Prell!!

This lovely little birdie house will be personalized

 and find it's way to your house,

by the end of this week.

So it was in the spirit of doing this giveaway,

that I had the pleasure of reading about everyone else's creative process

and a shared personal word, or quote of inspiration.

I couldn't help but include everyone's words here, and a link, to each one's lovely blog.

What joy to receive
the gift of words...

"The word that has been rolling around in my head lately is 

connect or connection,

 as in to God, myself and others. 

I also love peace, love, joy, and beauty. "

Melissa Prell

(http://www.lissabeecreations.net)

"I am with Mark Twain and his "20 years from now" quote. 

"Explore. Dream. Discover."

Carola Bartz

(http://carolabartz.blogspot.com)

"and I will have to go with the quote by Marisa of creative Thursday:

 "I am a Thriving Artist"

Jacqueline

(http://jqlinesocuteithurts.typepad.com)

Inspiring words, hmmmm. . . how about, "see beauty".

Jennifer

(http://apoemlife.blogspot.com)

My favourite art quote for inspiration is
"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures"

Lee

(http://artfulleedesigned.blogspot.com)

"help mommy!" 
Robin Norgren
(http://mycreativepeace.blogspot.com)

"...DARE TO BELIEVE is the quote I live by today..."

Jill
(http://www.truoriginal.blogspot.com)

oh... and by the way~ the watercolor above, is another piece I am working on.  

I am creating a grouping of watercolor birds 

that I plan to use in a mixed media series... 

so true to my process, 

I am creating, stopping observing, and creating again...

Soon 

will be the post,

 where I share, all of the final discoveries 

that these little watercolors will yield.

haPPy creating!

Creating Yourself... and a Grateful Giveaway

"Life isn't about finding yourself.

Life is about creating yourself."

— George Bernard Shaw

Oh, do I love your inspiration Georgie!

I think I am in a perpetual George Bernard Shaw state of mind.
Exploring~ creating~ exploring~ creating. 


So I've had this burning desire to use the backgrounds I painted. 
Funny, but I wasn't sure how I wanted to approach them. 
I got to thinking perhaps my watercolors 
would look interesting collaged on top.
(With other interesting things of course...)


I tried laying one of my pears on top...
Wasn't sure if the colors worked, or if  would even look good- 
but after looking at it a while, 
I'm feeling it may have potential. 

I don't know about you, 
but I have this habit of having to look at the steps I am taking,
 for a while, and then continuing on. 
It's a broken up process for sure, but I've never been able to crank out pieces.
I am not really sure if that's a good thing or not. 
There's a rhythm to my process, that is like a dance... 
take some steps~ stop~ observe~ feel~ think... 
take some steps~ stop~ observe~ feel~ think...
hmmm... maybe a visual cha cha cha!
How about you? 


What kind of process do you go through when you create?
We all have one~ 
much like the individuality of our strokes on the canvas,
the medium that we choose to work with,
and the things that "move us to create".

ahhh... but the best part of today's post is 
my  g r a t e f u l  giveaway... 

I've been wanting to do a giveaway 

of one of my more recent birdie houses.

I have been overwhelmed with the encouragement, 

the cheering on of my journey,

and the ever so kind comments that everyone has been leaving.

So it is with much  g r a t i t u d e,  that I am going to offer 

the item below, as a sweet giveaway

for all of that kind support, friends.

To participate, become a follower of my blog 

(and thanks in advance if you already are).

Leave a comment, and tell me what your inspirational words would be...

because, if your name is drawn,

I will personalize this birdie house with those very words.

One lucky winner will be posted Friday September 2nd. 

thank-you friends!

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.