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.

Listening to the Inner Voice Chick...

 

It's been a couple of weeks since I've linked to StudioJRU~ Sneak Peek Fridays. 

There are so many talented artists there, that share their blogs 

throughout the weekend. 

It's always inspiring to see what everyone has been up to. 

I feel like I am missing  c o f f e e  with my friends 

when I haven't gotten a chance to link up and visit. 

So, today I'm sitting here with cappucino in hand, reading and sharing....

I'm getting excited about something that I have been planning for a while, 

and now am feeling like may come to fruition. 

I love to work in watercolor, and I love making my decoupage plates. 

I've been thinking about applying  m y  o w n  graphic watercolor art 

to the plates rather than the usual graphic patterned papers I find to create with. 

I have done this in the past, but with existing watercolor pieces that I'd already done. 

The difference here, is that I am actually creating the art for a specific plate, and words. 

It's coming together and feeling good.

And if it's  f e e l i n g  g o o d,  then I must 

be listening to that i n n e r   v o i c e!

(do you ever wonder what she looks like- that inner voice chick?

I wonder if she's cute- young- old- floating around or buzzing like a hummingbird- 

maybe even sporting red hair like me?)

So- this week, you get an unofficial peek at the process...

the "inner voice chick" is still giving direction, 

but I am happy with the path she's put me on.

~my graphic blooms~

~sweet little birdie~

~playing with placement~

~leaves:: one of my favorite things~

~another beginning~

All of the plates are in process- should be fun to see what develops through the week!

What does your i n n e r   v o i c e chick look like? 

I may have to paint mine- she's starting to reveal herself more and more.

p.s. a sneak peek at another "soon-to-be" listing on etsy at twig2neststudio

~link-up at studiojru for more inspiration!