Saturday, July 31, 2010

30 Journal 30 Days Dirty Footprints Studio Style

I want to thank each and every person for all the love you have sent our way!! I will be responding more in the next few weeks. The ONLY thing I've been doing is being Mom and working in my art journal whenever I have a moment. (It is open on my kitchen counter every day in case I get a minute.) It's been helping me to sort through all that happened and record all of the amazing things that are happening.

Connie, creator of Dirty Footprints Studio, Art Journal Love Letters, and more amazing things, ran a month of interviews with Art Journalers from around the globe which was incredible. Today, she invited others to join in on the fun by answering the interview and posting pieces. I'm honored to be a part of this. If you have a moment, please visit her blog to meet many, many fabulous, inspiring art journaling souls. Thank you for all you have done, Connie!




How long have you been Art Journaling?

I've been journaling since the day my Mom put my first journal in my hands. I was four and I drew my dreams - me as an eight-legged creature flying over NYC with friends...yeah, don't ask LOL - and writing things like my hair is the color of mink..once again, don't ask LOL! Over the years, I went back and forth between simply writing in my journal and drawing, collaging and painting. I had no idea what I was doing was "art journaling." I just knew I had an obsession with color and needed to add it to my journal world.




How has Art Journaling impacted, changed, or enhanced your life?

Art journaling changes my life each time I do it. It helps me through transitions and to loosen the crazy hold I sometimes feel I'm supposed to have on life. It allows me to play and through play I believe in my heart I learn more about myself and my life. I uncover new ideas, face deep, hidden fears and let the color monster within have a feast!




What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?

I love to use acrylics - they are just yummy - oil pastels, gel pens, Sharpies, gesso and (thanks to Connie's - creator of Dirty Footprints Studio - class, Art Journal LOVE letters) gel medium. I also love incorporating any fabulous, colored papers I can find.







Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?

Connie seriously rocks...her guidance is amazing.
Sarah Whitmire
Effy Wild
The Inspiring, Amazing, Beautiful Lovelies in Connie's Art Journal LOVE letters course - they are magnificent!





What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?

How often do you really celebrate or honor you? Your art journal is the place to enjoy YOU! Celebrate YOU! When you step into your journal, pour color all over you and let words drop from your fingertips, you are giving yourself a gift. You are allowing yourself to explore, play, share, laugh, cry, love and grow. It's not a place for judgement or critics - unless you are telling your demons to take a hike. It's a place for you to be the most you that you can be and LOVE that!



Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!!

I just had a baby - my second - so right now, I'm playing Mom but I'm still floating around a little and will return in the Fall. Please drop me a line and say hello.

-Thursday Sweet Treat: a weekly theme and showcase of new art
-CreativeNachos: my personal playspace
-Natasha@creativenachos.com


Short Bio:



Natasha, also known as “Creative Nacho,” has been writing since the day her mom put a journal in her hand at age four. She received her MFA in writing from the New School in New York City before spending time as Marketing and Development Director for a nonprofit and later as a freelance writer, creating promotional materials for small businesses. Natasha assisted in creating original curriculum pieces for a private school in Manhattan before being invited to teach writing and editing workshops for some of the students. She has taught writing and photojournalism workshops for teenagers and written for publications such as Family Circle, Latina, Lifetips and MediaBistro. In addition, one of her pieces lives in the Library of Congress. In 2009, she made her dream come true of making a living doing both crafting and writing together when she opened DoodleStar, her personal creative playground. When she’s not playing professionally, she can be found playing at home with her mischievous husband and lovable daughter they like to call Doodle.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Then There Are the Days When Life Is a Celebration..


My son is home!

There are almost no words to describe the feeling. Seeing my children interact and being together is simply heaven. My heart is full.

Thank you to each and every person who wrote, commented, prayed, and sent along love. You have no idea how much your thoughts, words, prayers and endless support meant to us. As I've mentioned before, it meant the world. We believe in our hearts that all the thoughts and prayers helped this little man.

Thank you, thank you, thank you...now, I'm going to spend a little time basking in this moment. Be back soon. Till then, thank you. You are a part of my heart.

Love and hugs to all of you :)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

UPDATE and THANKS

Hi everyone,

I want to thank each and every one of you for your prayers, love, support and healing thoughts.

Alex has made substantial improvements recently and if he continues on this road he may be home this week!!

We are so thankful for all you have sent our way. We believe in our heart that it is helping so please keep sending it along.

To all who have sent emails, please know it means the world. I'm sorry I've not been able to respond. I will in time.

Love to you all!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Good Thoughts and Prayers

Hi everyone,

My son is facing some issues and is in ICU right now. If you can please send thoughts and prayers please.

Hug someone you love VERY tight today.

Love to you all

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Alexander

Photos to come but Alexander arrived today.

Love to you all!

Monday, July 12, 2010

POP! The Time Has Come...



My dear, sweet friends!

The time has finally arrived. Tomorrow morning I will be induced and this little one will make its way into the world. Sooo, that means that our playtime on the TST will be suspended for a little bit BUT I will be back to share the news - what do you think it is a girl or a boy?? You've got a 50/50 chance here LOL!

The Thursday Sweet Treat themes will resume in the early Fall and it is my sincere hope that you will come back to play then. Happy summer!

I wish you all much love and happiness always!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Sensational Artists Invite You to Swim Through a Gorgeous Sea of Imagination

This week, the colors, the imagination, the beauty of both the creations and stories inspired me. As I look at these works, I feel a sense of connection with all around me and my hope is that through creation of art and love we can change the world around us - those things that don't work to benefit human and animal kind - for the better. All we need is belief and action - we need to do the work no matter how small or grand and we can make this world heal and shine.

Come, let's celebrate the sea of imagination....





Kelsey, creator of Caffeinated Frenzy and the amazing Love Bug project, created these gorgeous wake, merino wool fingerless mitts (pictured with slouchy beret hat).

"I went kayaking last weekend as a belated birthday celebration," said Kelsey. "The most fun part was finding big boats to make waves for our little kayak. Everything affects everything else when you're in the water!"

http://www.caffeinatedfrenzy.com/







Maureen, an incredible talented artist, created this sparkling work.

"As much as I love the sea, I didn't end up loving the piece I did this week . . . instead of my typical aquamaureen colors, I was trying to get the green and sunshine that I saw a few weeks ago when I was in the Pacific ocean . . . didn't come out quite as I'd envisioned it . . . and the glitter--well, all I can say is that the only glitter I had in the house was some 15-year-old fabric glitter glue, left over from Girl Scout days!!!" said Maureen.

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/












Trina, creator of Woven Chains Jewelry, created these sensational pieces.

"I love this theme, once again!" said Trina. "I have three pieces, a bracelet and two pendants. The pendant has pearls and lapis, representing the earth and the sea and their interplay. One of the pendants is a small snippet of mermaids tail that has washed ashore. Hopefully we will take note and listen to the story it tells each of us."

"Finally I have a starfish pendant, which I included because as soon as I saw this theme I thought of one of my favorite stories, "The legend of the starfish". The story goes that a young man was walking along a beach at low tide, throwing the exposed starfish back into the ocean. An old man comes by and asks what he is doing. When the young man explains, the old man replies "Don't you realize that there are miles of beaches and millions of starfish? You can't possibly make a difference," and then walks off. The young man bends down, grabs another starfish and throws it back, saying "I made a difference to that one".

Here's to all of us making a difference.

http://wovenchains.etsy.com/












Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this truly stunning untitled mixed media in progress.

"Sorry I didn't have any glitter to work with on this one, but I loved imagining the way sunlight glitters on the water," said Amanda. "My seagull soars over an ocean of color, scented by sea breezes and salt and sun."

http://persistentgreen.com/










Natasha, creator of DoodleStar, created this piece.

I have been spending a ton of time thinking about Intention and "living" art or making our entire lives a work of art recently. I've been wondering how powerful we can be when we make intentions and how we ourselves are works of art. So, I decided to intentially turn my hand into art with a wish for the end to all the blaming, etc. with the oil spill and a call for hope that we can come together heal the devastating damage done to the ocean and all its creatures. We ran out of glitter the other day so I imagine the yellow bits in this piece as glittery bits of sunshine on water. (By the way my little Doodle helped with this which makes it extra special :)

http://doodestar.etsy.com/






Are you feeling inspired? Me too!! The next theme is...."Through the Prism I Found..." In this theme, I invite you to imagine yourself as the prism and explore the way you see color. How does the color in the world around you come through you? Paint it, draw it, capture it in nature....whatever you do, explore color in your world and how you apply it to your creations.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

A Smiling Baby and a Little Belly LOVE


That is Doodle #2 a couple of weeks ago in my belly...SMILING! Can you believe that?? I was absolutely hysterical laughing when I saw that! Should be arriving any day now :)

I wanted to share an article that I wrote, Belly LOVE: This is Not Just a Belly about pregnancy, art, writing and life on Dirty Footprints Studio, an amazing place created by a woman I simply adore, Connie. If you have a moment today, I'd love it if you would swing by, read the piece (she has an amazing Belly LOVE series you should totally check out each week), leave a little love and explore her incredible site.

I wish you all a fabulous day - may smiles take you by surprise everywhere you go!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Stellar Artists Celebrate the Wonder of the Butterfly

Much like butterflies, we are small but mighty this week. The incredible works that were created by these professional artists celebrate the delicate beauty and wonder of butterflies. I am simply in love and in awe of the magic within these creations.

Spread your wings, it's time to fly through these amazing works!


Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this gorgeous mixed media in progress.

"My butterfly didn't quite make it off the bus yet!" said Amanda. "I just ran out of time this week, but was definitely inspired by the concept. I'm excited to continue with this piece and utilize the same style I recently discovered."

http://persistentgreen.com/












Trina, creator of Woven Chains Jewelry, created this stunning earring and pendant set and a striking pair of earrings.

"I had such big plans this week to write a story to go along with my pieces, something about the Butterfly meeting up with her friends Dragonfly and Ladybug and going to visit the colorful flower garden," said Trina. "Well, the story remains in my head, and as you can see, so does the my ladybug piece. But I have an earring and pendant set with butterflies and flowers and wonderful rainbow dragonfly earrings that did get made. Too much fun!"

http://wovenchains.etsy.com/









Natasha, creator of DoodleStar, created this piece.

I am now a part of the amazing Art Journal Love Letters experience which is taught by the incredible Connie, creator of Dirty Footprint Studio. Amanda, creator of Persistent Green and my teaching partner-in-crime, who has also taken the course introduced me to Dirty Footprints. I have been art journaling for awhile and wanted to take my work to the next level and this workshop seemed like the perfect way to do that. I'd always wanted to work with photos but never got around to it.This is my first attempt and I love the way it came out.

http://doodlestar.etsy.com







The writing on the page reads:
The enchantress unfurls her wings and flutters along the shore. She marvels at the beauty of the curling waves and the majesty of small creatures while dancing through streams of fading sunlight. When the moon rises and the stars beckon she will answer, wishing only for another day to explore the gifts of the Universe.

Are you feel as though you need to spread your creative wings? Well so am I!

This week's theme is "Sea Celebration". With all that is happening to the ocean and it's beautiful creatures with this horrendous oil spill, I thought we would find a way to celebrate the beauty of the sea. Create a piece that reflects your love of the water or one of its creatures. The only requirement is to use glitter somewhere within the piece. Have a wonderful time celebrating the beauty and life of the water!