Love & Joy come to you....

...and this 

is the house 

that love 

built...

love & joy

Paper and glue, paper and glue... 

this is my month for paper and glue. 
I long to pick up a brush and paint colors, 
but November and December are always 
the month's for paper and glue.

I'm tickled with my "new" holiday birdhouses. 
I'm spending lot's of time creating and showing in the next 2 weeks.
I have a tendency to get a little nuts at the beginning of December, 
as I am sure a lot of us do... 
but always trying 
to be mindful to 
stop, 
see, 
breathe,
&
soak up some joy
 in this 
season of beauty.

What are you creating this season 
that brings you joy? 
(Baking, decorating, crafting, and more?)


I hope you are all soaking in some joy, 
as we prepare for this month of 
friends, family, faith, 
and thoughtfulness.


To celebrate this month of joy
be the first to know about my ...
H E A R T S I E   O R N A M E N T
S A L E!
Just in time to spread some joy..
regularly $10 each
on sale ~2 for $15


check them out at...
www.twig2neststudio.etsy.com

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...

"Let your L I F E be a painting..."

F i r s t   t h i n g s   f i r s t....

I needed to share this inspirational goodie with everyone...

a simple beautiful arrangement of words~

" When I say B E creative,

I don't mean 

you should all go

and become great painters 

and great poets.

I simply mean

let your L I F E be a painting,

let your L I F E be a poem."

-ohso

I fell in love with this quote, while reading a book that has become 

one of the most profound finds, 

filling my art spirit at the moment.

Creative is a Verb

Patti Digh

(just a little teaser~ but I'm interested in throwing out some seeds  to see if anyone 

would want to take root in this book together. 

As a small tribe, I think it could be invaluable to share learning, through the words 

and creative challenges that Patti Digh has woven together in this incredibly insightful book. 

Let me know in the comments section or by email if there is any interest.)

Are you thinking...what up with all the photo's? 

I had a lot going on this week in the land of "creating". 

I was juggling between a couple of etsy orders for my personalized keychains

~new plate designs using my watercolors-stay tuned

~a new idea that's been brewing in my right brain for a artsy pin (above) 

using textural yarns & silk and...

~more little inspirational birdhouses.

personalized keychains in process.... 

one of the finished pieces.... 

 the little birdhouse line-up...

a few finished designs ... I'm liking the words... I'm liking the words!

So- the items for upcoming boutiques & refilling the etsy store are well under way, 

but I need to get back to my paint brushes!

 Maybe next week?

 Once again... linking up to studiojru ~ 

lots of inspiration & talented artist linkups to see!