Friday, May 1, 2009

Participant Inspired Theme 17: Once Upon An Afternoon Stroll...

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. The discussions about the 2nd Grade Thursday Sweet Treat project are going exceptionally well. Please feel free to join in. http://thursdaysweettreat.ning.com/. I'd love to try to come to a final decision about the theme by Monday.

2. CHALLENGE: Several people commented on my 20-word love story yesterday. Now, I invite you to patricipate in a fun challenge. Please try your hand at writing a love story in 20 words and I will post the results on Monday, May 4th. Please have your submissions to me by 6:00pm EST on Sunday, May 3rd.




Welcome to the 3rd Participant Inspired Theme designed by Chelsea Domscot who works for Seascape Productions. Chelsea is an incredibly warm, funny, talented woman who revealed that she'd traveled to Paris during a recent conversation. After sharing some of her photos, I had an idea for a theme. Thank you for the inspiration, Chelsea!


This week's theme will allow you to stroll through a magical park and stumble across ...anything you can imagine such as a garden, a pond, a field of flowers, children playing, or something completely surprising and full of wonder...the list in endless! Once upon an afternoon stroll....I wonder what wonderous beauty you will discover.

Remember, how you choose to interpret the theme is completely up to you. It simply needs to be tasteful – no pornography or messages of hate here. When you sit down to create, you cannot think about how people will or will not receive your work. You are required to simply enjoy the act of creating. Please see the bottom of this post for how to submit a response.



It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly. ~ Claude Monet


Photo by Chelsea Domscot




“When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?” ~ Ralph Marston

Photo by Chelsea Domscot




"In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful. ~Abram L. Urban

Photo by Chelsea Domscot



Photo by Chelsea Domscot



I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
~William Wordsworth, 1804




Important Guidelines


The work submitted must be something you have created and/or worked on between the time the theme was revealed and the Thursday unveiling. Please submit your response to Natasha@creativenachos.com no later than end of day Wednesday, May 6th if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, May 7th. OR send me a link to your response to include in the comments section of the post.




With your response please include:



1. Your name - either first name, shop name or both.


2. The name of your piece (if you choose to give it one)


3. Something you'd like to share (process of creation, idea behind piece) if you'd like to share anything

4. The shop and/or blog links you'd like to include

5. Two photos of your piece or of each of the pieces (3x5 or 4x6 and 72dpi or a max of 96dpi - if you need any help with that please don't worry I'd be happy to help!)





Most importantly, allow yourself to stroll through the park of your imagination on a perfect Spring day and discover magic!

I will be doing more Participant Inspired themes. If you would like to submit an idea, please send an email to Natasha@creativenachos.com.

Thank you again, Chelsea for providing such gorgeous photos as inspiration. I can't wait to see what everyone creates!

9 comments:

SalvagedExpression said...

The wordsworth poem takes me right back to my lit classes in college which I adored.
I also loved that quote about doing nothing. Reminds me of the last time I went camping and before everyone else woke up and the chaos started we sat there and watched egg shells crack and burn somewhere between zen and exhausted.

Natasha said...

Salvaged - I'm with you..the poem took me back to English class...it was my fav class....I miss those days....maybe we should get some lit reading going here....and that moment you described...I had one of those last summer ... it was early morning and we were by the beach...this garden was outside my window...I was the first up and I sat there watching the window tickle the flowers in warm sunshine...it was mesmerizing, perfect and one of those moments when I was filled with peace

I love that you just made me recall that feeling...thanks

Any ideas for this theme?

SalvagedExpression said...

I think that feeling is my inspiration! You just wait. :)

meherio68 said...

Funny that! I've only just come back from a stroll at the Spring Fair— antiques + flea market + flower market + ham and wine.
This is my second visit, last time, I came back loaded with (not money, not me!) old books, vintage fabric and the vintage griffins (cuff-links) I mentioned. This time, I went there looking for tomato seedlings— came back with a small rosebush and a whole lot of ancien printer's stamps. I'm pretty sure something in this is going to turn into next TST for me!
You all have a great cretive week-end!

Marja/Glass Elements said...

Spring is definitely in the air here - we've had several days of sun in a row! Perfect for inspiration... now to squeeze out some time!

I think I'm jealous of your enjoyment of your college Lit classes, ladies. I was terrified in mine - and although now I know it was because of the prof - (he had this notion that I shouldn't be in his honors class since I was a science major and repeatedly told me) - I don't have fond memories of it.

Natasha - loved your 20 word love story yesterday and the challenge for Sunday is awesome. I need to get over my creative writing fears and jump in! ;)

giraffelabel said...

marja - i totally agree with you. i wish i had learned more when i was in school. i do love the 20 word love story challenge, but also need to get over some writing fears!

i love this weeks theme! it really gives you the opportunity to "stop and smell the roses". and, maybe not hurry through every day so much!

Amanda Fall - Sprout editor said...

Oooooooh. :) I love the slightly different spin on this theme--my mental wheels are definitely turning on this.

20 word story--I'm so excited about this! Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. :)

Salvaged--loved your "somewhere between zen and exhausted" phrase... sometimes being depleted is the best state for being open. :)

Natasha said...

You know what I already love about this theme...it's started a discussion that feels open, easy, good to be a part of....the theme combined with Salvaged first comment did something wonderful...I'm so relaxed and excited to simply hang here and create...oh ..little one needs me...I will be back...oh I have more to share

Unknown said...

oh I have a perfect one for this - it'll be different!
writing fears - while it wasn't writing - doing 4 yrs of art classes and all the weekly critiques helped me get over many fears! Learned real quick to not take constructive criticism personally!
Everyone is sooooo supportive here, that even if I had those fears still, I think I would feel quite comfortable posting just about anything.