Thursday, May 14, 2009

Indulge Your Senses In Exceptional Work Created By Phenomenally Talented Artists

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Jodi Horgan dropped me a line to let me know that a painting by Rowena was included in an article in the current issue of "Artful Blogging" magazine. Congratulations Rowena!!! If you have a moment, grab a copy and definitely visit Rowena to share a little love and celebration! AND a BIG thank you to Jodi for sharing that information. Way to show support! You are all so inspiring!!




My favorite part of a wedding is the cocktail hour. During that time, delicious treats are delivered right to you while other decadent treasures await on tables. This week's Sweet Treat is like the best cocktail hour I've ever had the pleasure attending.

As you know, some of our TST-ers are currently working on the 2nd Grade Thursday Sweet Treat project which will be unveiled on Thursday, May 21st, so many did not have an opportunity to play this week. However, for those fabulous TST-ers that did, I have one thing to say. The work is incredibly fabulous!! I'm loving this smorgasbord of treats. It was so interesting to see which themes moved artists to create some of the most magnificent works I've ever seen.


This buffet of wonderfully sweet treats includes musical dreams, colorful waves of imagination, joy, and wild celebration all covered in inspiration. I invite you to taste just a little of the magic these talented, professional, exceptional artists cooked up for you!




We begin this week by announcing the launch of a fabulous new shop that is a true celebration of all things creative! Lorrie opened an Etsy store - http://lennymud.etsy.com/ !! Let's give her a round of applause and throw in a little dance, a little wiggle and a little "YAY!!" as we celebrate her.

This Mistress of wild imagination, Goddess of creative spunk and Witty Genius has rolled out the red carpet for all of us to play on her new playground. So many of you have fallen in love with Lorrie's work and now you can take it home! Lorrie is such a wonderfully talented, hilarous, incredible artist let's all head over to her shop and share a little love...WAIT..before you go, check out the treat she created this week.

"I wanted to sum up my experience on this blog so far," said Lorrie. "I feel like you have done an amazing job of encouraging other people to soar. These mugs are my tribute to you and what you have created."

http://www.lennymud.etsy.com/
http://ournameisblog.blogspot.com/










Salvaged Expression created this stunning pendant for the "Just Beyond the Keyhole of Imagination Lies..." theme.

"This pendant is mostly me just playing around with the idea of keys and doors and eyes being windows to the soul," said Salvaged.

http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com/












Carrie Guzzino, creator of Wash My Cloth, created this truly phenomenal purse titled, "Roger - The Not So Jolly Pirate" for the "Poetic Sea" theme.

"I hate instructions and pattern and counting stitches," said Carrie. "This latest bag was almost headed for the trash. I didn't care for the way the eye sat and the smallness of the nose. I had only one skein of yarn, so the nose was the last addition and the smallest. This weekend, I saw an entire season of "Whale Wars" on the National Geographic Channel and have been thinking about pirates ever since. The Sea Shepherd is a ship that attempts to stop or slow down Japanese whaling ships. I admired the courage and strength of these men and women trying to make a difference. I guess it is more Poetic Justice that this rag tag (or so they seemed as one tiny ship versus a whole fleet)can battle an industry on the sea. That is the real inspiration for Roger."

http://www.washmycloth.etsy.com/
http://www.weavergirlguz.blogspot.com/.

















Susan Williams, creator of Yaffa Dreams, created this sensational "Tonight I Am A Star Guitar Pick" bracelet for the "Enchanted Night" theme. This item can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24995923

TONIGHT I AM A STAR GUITAR PICK BRACELET

"I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts
I hold everything
When I hold you in my arms
I've got all I'll ever need
Thanks to the keeper of the stars"
~~~ Tracy Byrd



"This bracelet is made from black guitar picks that look like mother of pearl," said Susan. "The bracelet is about 7 1/2" long and has a moon and star toggle closure. There are little silver stars dangling from the bracelet. This will come to you in a drawstring organza bag."

shop http://www.yaffadreams.etsy.com/
blog http://www.redheadhomestead.blogspot.com/













Samantha, creator of Jeans and a Sweater, created this gorgeous purse/mini book bag titled, "Red Hot" for "The Warmth of the Fire Within" theme.


"I was very glad that you decided to let us pick our theme this week," said Samantha. "During the week of "the fire within" I just couldn't get it together. I designed a purse and took it all apart because I hated it. So this week I started all over again. I call the purse/mini book bag, "Red Hot". Here's the link for the item - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25005550

http://jeansandasweater.etsy.com/














Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, created this unforgettable piece titled, "Hope for a new beginning" for the "Where the Wild Things Bloom" theme.

"This is submitted for the theme “Where the wild things bloom” which was the first TST I participated in back in February," said Felicia. "This piece may look like a departure in subject matter for me, quite a change from those pretty spring blossoms last week to this gritty image. However, since I live in Michigan , outside of Detroit , I can’t escape the daily barrage of depressing economic news. One of the creative ideas that some community activists in Detroit are pushing is to turn some of the abandoned land into urban gardens, either commercial growers for profit or volunteer gardens to feed the community. It remains to be seen whether that concept will ever fly, but it’s what inspired this image of flowers surviving in the midst of an urban landscape."

http://anotherbrightidea.etsy.com/










Kelly, creator of Backward Glances, created this exquisite "Moonlit Garden" necklace for the "Enchanted Night" theme.


"Moonlight can play tricks, are we seeing reality or fantasy?" asks Kelly. "Are those flowers really black and white? This necklace is a gift for my mother, in black and white at her request. The base is a right angle weave trellis, embellished with vintage flower beads. It's rather simple for my personal taste, but it suits my mother's style very well."

http://www.backwardglances.net/
http://www.backwardglances.etsy.com/
http://www.mackin-art.blogspot.com/















Kris, creator of Lisianblue, created this wonderful piece titled, "The Stars Are Dancing" for "The Joy of Dance" theme.

"Sometimes when I am presented with so many wonderful choices, I have a hard time choosing something," said Kris. "After looking over all the themes and enjoying all the fantastic creations, I had several ideas in mind.
I had started one item with the thought of "Dreaming in Color" but some wonderful broken green bottle pieces that Bird had so sweetly sent me, kept jumping into my hands. I love the shape of these pieces of glass, sort of amoebic, and didn't want to break them into smaller pieces. Most are too big to be a pendant, perhaps a wall hanging of some sort, or - oh wait! These would be cool in a mobile! A mobile would be such a great piece to represent such freedom of movement as dancing.
I love to dance. So, I thought this would be a fun theme to do again. I would need more than these 3 pieces.I also wanted it to do more than move, I also wanted it to make the music to dance to!
Start out with one piece of glass connected to one piece of wire, search for one that might balance, try it, secure it or take it off and try another................
snag marbles, light - glass discs - heavy - already made pendants! Oh wait, what about the wind chime metal pieces! They go in too! - too light, mmmmm need more weight, add beads!
It's all together and as I pick it up, I realize just how heavy this is!
Outside, I'm on the chair hanging it up on my patio overhang, it slips, and crashes to the concrete floor!

I've been up all night - I'm ready for sleep! I asses the damage and find: a broken piece of glass, stressed jump rings (hadn't soldered them yet) letting individual pieces scatter.

Now, where did each piece go?
Put it all back together.
One side is heavier than the other, wrap and solder more glass ......................................the wind chime metal pieces get moved.
Wind chime pieces just aren't working and get taken out, more glass wrapped and soldered! I am out of the larger size jump rings! use little ones.

Carefully, very carefully, (rings still not soldered) pick it up, IT WORKS!

Back on the table, solder all the jump rings. 2 or more for the 28 (29, 30 ....it keeps moving!) pieces of glass.
Of course I'm trying to count them whilte it's hanging up!

Done.

Pictures - 78 to try to capture this thing that keeps moving, part sun, part shade, glare, dark shadows, on the tree, on the patio, on a hanger................................................
edit, edit, edit

27 hours later, here I am - minus 3 for sleep and 2 while talking with my son.

These bits of green, and blue glass, dance in the sun, and now they shine and capture bits of light under the moom.

It grew huge, it kept dancing.
It is tenacious.

And in the middle of it all, my daughter calls - I will have another grandchild sometime in Jan!
I Dance! :-))
This one's mine!

The mobile that is!
"The Stars Are Dancing"

http://lisianblue.artfire.com/
















Don't you want to share these treats with everyone you know??


Please share your thoughts, ask the artists questions, leave a comment and some love here. Then, go visit them at their shops and blogs, share some more and tell a friend! Thanks so much for visiting!!

16 comments:

Phoenyx Ravenswing said...

Greetings!

Oh, hon, I knew I sent you those pieces of glass for a reason! :-)

So beautiful! :-) I think you may very well have answered your own question, lisianblue. These are truly lovely, and I hope you do more of them in future. Yes, by all means, keep your first one. Pattern pieces are an inspiration to the soul. :-)

Everyone, I'll be back later to comment further - must finish typing & posting critiques for the kids - but I just want to say how awesome it all is! :-)

Thank you SO very much for sharing! This day, while full of beautiful sunshine, has had some snags in it. So this is very wonderful to see & very soothing to the soul.

Thnx again, you wonderful creative types, you! :-D

BB & GF! :-)
-Bird

Natasha said...

Bird - SO great to see you here cheering because I know you have tons going on...I agree with you that Lisianblue's work is truly beautiful...and I love the name!! Hope the remainder of your day is snag free :)

Jenjen @GottaLoveMom said...

Another magnificent work, everyone! Every piece is as Natasha accurately puts it "phenomenal"!

I'm heading out to get the kids and do a ton of errands but hopefully I'll be back sometime tomorrow. (4 crumbcatchers plus honey are keeping me way too busy - not enough time in day to play)..

But every totally piece stands out..."Another Bright Idea!"

Kudos to everyone!

(Natasha - you're one amazing person - where do you get all that compassion, energy and passion - Love it!)

meherio68 said...

A particularly dazzling week, I find.

I've really been to busy at work this week, so I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to browse at your beaifully inspired creations tonight...

I must confess to a soft spot for the not so happy pirate— I'm afraid he made me smile.

SalvagedExpression said...

Bird you are a fount of generous wonderfulness and it looks like the creative world has a lot to thank you for!

Anonymous said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE everyone's submission this week! The pirate purse is too cute.

Felicia Kramer said...

Lorrie - great mugs, very nice shop!
Salvaged - the eyes have it - I like the pendant.
Carrie - you get the prize- the pirate purse is adorable!
Susan - what a clever bracelet.
Samantha - I like that purse - very cute!
Kelly - I think the black and white necklace is very classy.
Kris - I loved your story - that's about the kind of week I had too! The result, however, was well worth it -beautiful mobile!

Good job everyone!

Mackin-Art said...

Felicia, your piece resonates the most for me right now - the economy in Michigan is so desperate and the effects are being seen dramatically where I live. The season is only two weeks old and is already so poor that many people are trying to make plans to survive the winter - literally. I need to remind myself that creating is NOT a frivolous activity but an absolute necessity.

Felicia Kramer said...

Mackin, that's so scary - the economy here just permeates every aspect of everyone's lives right now. You can't escape it. It has to start getting better soon ...

Natasha said...

The day has been a little crazy so I will write tomorrow as I have lots to say but I want you to know you all amaze me...what heart you have ...you inspire me...sleep well

Unknown said...

I love this blog. The comments are so supportive.

Digging the guitar pick bracelet and love the glass mobile. Everything is great.

Thanks for all your kind comments!

SalvagedExpression said...

Felecia I really like the inspiration for your piece. Have you heard of guerilla gardening?

Natasha said...

Jenjen - I love the way you celebrate everyone...aren't these works great?? I get so inspired every time a week is unveiled!! Thank you so much for your kind words...this work feeds my soul

Meherio - you are a rock star for cheering for everyone...I must agree that pirate is simply marvelous...truly

Salvaged - I echo your words! Your piece was sensational...I like that there was something haunting and mysterious yet surprising and playful in your piece...it's unique and memorable...I love it

Susan - your guitar pick bracelet is gorgeous...I loved the Enchanted Night theme and love how you so clearly made it come to life here..super great work! It rocked (pun totally intended LOL)

Felicia - your piece was a heartfelt, thought-provoking comment on the current state of affairs ..it moved me...thank you so much for creating it...you touched more lives with your exceptional work than you know

Mackin-Art - thank you for sharing this ... if there is anything we can do to help in any way please let us know...I wish we could all come to Michigan right now to have a TST conference and spend dollars...I think it is SO important to remember that creating is not frivilous...it's SO necessary ...society doesn't give art, creation enough credit...our views are all skewed...creating is essential to many for many reasons...your black and white piece, all of your creations are necessary ...whenever you or anyone questions that remember that thing we create make people happy, life spirits when they are down, the very act of creation reduces stress, it allows for new ideas and who knows any one of those new ideas might be something that will help others or help lift us all out of this recession....you never know what you have the power to do or create so please keep creating...the world needs all of you

Carrie - that pirate!! I LOVE that pirate...there is just one example of something that can change the day...that pirate made me smile..i haven't been able to stop thinking or talking about him!

Salvaged - I have no idea what that is...can you share? I'd love to learn

Rowena said...

These are all so great. Loving that purse and the Detroit flowers especially.

Natasha, thanks for the shout out. I haven't been online as much as usual and have been missing things. Must figure out a new schedule that works better with all parties involved.

Felicia Kramer said...

Salvaged - I think I know what guerilla gardening is and I think it is found in Detroit right now. But - enlighten us ....

aquamaureen said...

Thank you all for your beautiful work, and for sharing how each piece came to be. The last few days have been a little funky for me--highs and lows . . . but it is such a good constant to pop in here and feed my soul. Thank you all.