Quick Note Before Tomorrow's Sweet Treats Make Their Debut

You are all insanely inspiring! Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I have had the distinct pleasure of chatting with many of you via Twitter, Etsy convos and email. Each time I’ve spoken to someone I have walked away filled with more inspiration, hope, excitement and happiness than I have ever imagined.

I want to thank you for sharing yourselves and your creations. Each time you do, you grow as an artist, you learn something new about you and, without knowing it, you inspire others. That’s a beautiful gift to share with the world.

For those of you who have submitted work – thank you, I cannot wait to share it. For those are going to submit, do not worry there is still time. You have until the end of the day today to submit photos and remember you can always include a link to your work in the comments section of tomorrow’s post. Finally, for those who were unable to submit something this week, please do not worry! There is always next week J

I am working to grow this site. There will be new features being added so please check back for updates that I hope will provide greater inspiration and exposure to everyone here.

Thank you to all of you for being a part of this. Whether you are following or participating, you are contributing something wonderful to this fantastic group of artists. As always I am thankful for your artwork and for YOU!

Theme 2: Explosive Celebration

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.

What would your inner celebration look like if it exploded right out into the world?

Warning: This post has been known to cause spontaneous singing and dancing.

Please send a picture of your design to Natasha@creativenachos.com by Wednesday, January 21st and I will post it here for the following day. Or post a link in the comments section of this post when you have completed your new creation in response to the theme so that people can visit your site and view your work. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Spectacular Artists Create New Works!

To those who joined this project after it started and felt they did not have time to complete a new piece of work, do not worry. Please feel free to join the next project which will begin tomorrow.

Drumroll please! I am proud to unveil the incredible creations of these talented artists. These pieces of artwork were created in response to Theme 1: Enchanted Night. (See the previous posts). I applaud all of these individuals for challenging themselves and producing such beautiful, stunning, thought-provoking work. It is truly an honor to be able to talk, laugh, create and learn from these inspiring artists!

Our first piece is the Enchanted Night - Moonstone, Moon and Star Silver Ox Pendant created by PinkWaterFairy. PinkWaterFairy has a great Etsy shop at http://pinkwaterfairy.etsy.com/

Our next piece was created by Salvaged Expression. When a "silly little comic type thing" got stuck in Salvaged's head, this artist decided to create "The Moon Gets Lit." Salvaged Expression has a fabulous Etsy shop at http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com/.

Our next piece of artwork was created by Janet Davies. After spending time in the White Mountains of Arizona with a friend this summer and experiencing the true beauty of the sky and the moon, Janet was left with memories that will last a lifetime. This memories combined with this theme to create this necklace which has little paintings on hangtags. Janet has an amazing Etsy shop at http://janetdavies.etsy.com/.

The next two pieces were created by Lorrie Veasey of Our Name is Mud. Lorrie's playful, thoughtful spirit comes through here as it does in all her work. Lorrie's incredible work can be found at http://www.ournameismud.com/.

Our next piece was created by EarthDeva who posted a fantastic blog post about this project and finding inspiration for it at http://the-earthdeva.blogspot.com/. EarthDeva's dazzling Etsy shop is located at http://earthdeva.etsy.com/.

Finally, here is my piece. This image is what developed after having a conversation with my husband about this project. He was excited and for the first time we collaborated. He created the little boat. My Etsy shop is located at http://doodlestar.etsy.com/

Please stop by the stores or blogs of these amazing folks and share some love. Please share your comments and thoughts here. And if you are feeling inspired, please join us for our next project which begins tomorrow, Friday, January 16th.

Hats off to all of you. What incredible work!

Update and Change to Theme Posting

I don't know about you but I am RIDICULOUSLY excited to see everyone's work. I'm ready to celebrate all of you!

Submission Update: I just want to remind everyone that pieces that you would like me to post on here are due tomorrow, Wednesday, January 14th. Originally I said they needed to be in at noon but let's make it end of the day tomorrow. I know how hectic life can get and I don't want anyone to worry about not getting their new creation in. This is supposed to be fun and stress free for all of you! Send it to Natasha@creativenachos.com. If you prefer to link to your work, simply leave a link in the comments section of Thursday's post.

Upcoming Theme Update: This is a brand new experience so I am learning along with you. As I sit here tonight, I realize that it would be insane to post a new theme on Wednesday and then post the work from the previous theme on Thursday. Sorry everyone I clearly had it backwards! Here is how it will work - I will post a new theme every Friday and we will exhibit our work on the following Thursday. So, for example we will exhibit our work on Thursday, January 15th and then a new theme will be posted on Friday, January 16th. How does that work for all of you?? Please let me know.

You are all so talented and amazing. I'm so thrilled that you have chosen to participate and exhibit your work here. What an honor!

See you all soon!

Week 1 Theme: Enchanted Night

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 post a response.


Danny's Song to the Moon

O lady moon, up there in the sky,
Won't you come down from your home so high?
Won't you come down?

If you come down before I die,
I'll give you rye whiskey and a slice of apple pie.
With a whang dang doodle dang dee.

-From Enchanted Night written by Steven Millhauser

I can't wait to see your creations on Thursday, January 15th!

For this first one, please send me a picture of your design by Wednesday, January 14th at noon and I will post them here for the following day. Or post a link in the comments section of this post when you have completed your new creation in response to the theme so that people can visit your site and view your work. Happy creating!

Want to challenge yourself to soar?

Although I have been a writer for years, I have long wanted to create things for others that combined color, images and words; things that would make people think and feel on a different level. At the end of December 2008, I took my first step toward making that dream a reality by opening an Etsy store - doodlestar.etsy.com.

I feel blessed to have such great people in my life from the folks I have met in person and through my personal blog, http://www.creativenachos.com/ to the talented writers and artists within the Etsy community. Everyone has been a tremendous source of inspiration.

I have found that for many of the people I’ve met there is one common issue that people are struggling with, including me. Whether people are running their own store, raising a family or both, there are times when you are pulled in so many directions that you sacrifice the time needed to create. In addition, each person wondered about what the best ways might be to combat the highs and lows experienced while working as an independent artist, freelance writer or business owner. I say, let's do it together.

I have decided to create this blog which I hope will serve to help people to work together to stay motivated to create. I would like to do this by offering a weekly theme, deadline and place to showcase your work. Should you choose to sell your pieces after they’ve been created, that’s fabulous but that’s not the point. The point is to simply enjoy the act of creating and focus on creating something that YOU love and that YOU are passionate about. The point is to challenge yourself artistically.

Here’s how it will work. Each Wednesday I will post an idea, something that will serve as a theme, and people will have until the following Thursday to post a link in the comments section to what they have created in response to that theme. There is only one rule.

1. How you choose to interpret the theme that 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.

If we all work together to make this a fun place to share new ideas and works of art then we won't sacrifice our creative time. AND if we are creating things we love, we won’t be worried about what others think; we will simply be sharing our passion.

If you are interested, please leave a comment or send me an email and I will be in touch with you. Please know that I have a little girl that I'm always running after so if it takes a little time for me to get back to you, don't fret. I will definitely be in touch.

The first theme will be posted on Wednesday, January 7th!

Let's have fun, challenge ourselves and let our dreams soar to new heights!

I can't wait to meet you!