In a Season of Change

I am that woman who picks through Ben and Jerry’s Half-baked Frozen Yogurt for the pieces of cookie dough. I admit it. There is an almost zen-like quality to my hunt; I find the same kind of peace when I doodle. But last night, as I dug through, I had a thought, revelation. Are there really any revelations or do we always know the answers and find them when we are ready to face them? Ah a question to ponder over frozen yogurt or ice cream.

For the last 7 months my belly has been growing with a new life. During that time I have been chasing my other little around, playing on the TST, teaching classes and carving out a career path that not only makes sense for me but for my family as well. In recent weeks, I’ve begun to think/worry/ponder ways to consolidate my work so that I’m not so spread out. I love this space. I love the art we all create. I love writing and sharing. I want to be here. So, it struck me….combine blogs into one larger website. Duh! Isn’t that what I wanted to do like a year ago? Yes but I wasn’t ready. As I prepare for major changes, I find I am ready.

I firmly believe we need to do things in our own time. I wasn’t ready last year. I didn’t know what to do. To be honest, I flounder a lot like a fish out of water before I make leaps. Freak outs are common in this household as are the days of questions like – who cares what you do? Or who do you think you are to be (insert any answer here) creating, writing, teaching…the list goes on as my Inner Critic sometimes oversteps her boundaries – bitch. LOL! It’s nothing a pint of ice cream/frozen yogurt and some creative art-making can’t cure.

But the thing is I love being here. I love learning from you all and sharing. So, this week things are going to change around here. There will be a new larger site with info about classes (some SUPER fun ones coming WOOOHOOO), me, the TST, Nachos (my original blog). I’m going to share a little more of my life and hope you will join me in sharing, venting, creating, and laughing.

Thanks for sticking by me for all this time. You have brought me inspiration during pity parties (I try not to send out invites for those), laughter in times of great pain and love. I so enjoy you and hope you will continue to play as I expand this space, combine things, stumble, kvetch, laugh, scream and dance around.

Are you with me?? I promise to share my Ben and Jerry’s even though come cookie dough might be missing…LOL!

Love,
A Crazy Crafting Preggo Artist who Loves to Write

Magnificent Artists Gather to Create Amazing New Works of Art

These talented, professional, creative, inspiring artists who gathered together today have created some of the most beautiful works of art. In choosing one theme from the 54 themes we have done here at the Thursday Sweet Treat, they created pieces that are gorgeous, fun, engaging and sensational.

Please join me on a tour of these brand new pieces of art...you will want to take each one home with you right now. I guarantee it :)




Althea, creator of Salvaged Expression, created this awesome piece for the theme, The Music Within.

"For the second readers choice I picked the music theme from the week before last," said Althea. "I had almost finished this hat in time for that theme but I wasn't happy with the notes so I'm glad I had a chance to rework them and show off the result! I call this hat "song stuck in my head" because I'm a cheeseball."

http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com

Maureen, a talented artist, created these gorgeous pieces.

"Remember the week we had Polka Dot Dancing for our theme?" asked Maureen. "That must have been running through my head this week. I've started doodling a little before I go to bed each night, in a tiny 3 1/2 inch square book I keep bedside. I have NEVER been a "polka dot" person, but darned if those little rascals aren't finding their way into just about every nightdoodle . . here are the last three."

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com

















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

"This week I chose to play with Where the Wild Things Bloom," said Amanda. "In a season of growth and change in my life, I appreciate more than ever the symbolism of flowers and anything that blooms--no matter how abstract! I'm still working on layering colors in this piece."

http://PersistentGreen.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PersistentGreen















Bird, creator of Crow Tarot Tours, created this fantastic piece.

"Take a beautiful sunny day, a dog having too much fun lying in it, soaking up da rayz, add in half a captcha, and what do you get?" asked Bird. "This pic, taken just today, of my beautiful Bailey, and an entry for the 'Sun' TST. Not only is the Sun in there by virtue of sunlight, but there is also a little dandelion in the pic just to add more sunny radiance. :-)"

www.crowtarottours.com - In Progress
Talismans by CrowTarot - www.crowtarot.etsy.com
Twitter: @CrowTarotTours














Natasha, creator of DoodleStar, created this ring for the Explosive Celebration theme.

I think this ring could actually be a cross between the Explosive Celebration theme and Polka Dot Dancing (polka dots have invaded my world as well as Maureen's and I love it.) This ring is a celebration of the wild colors that dance around within us all...remember to always be YOU, colorful YOU!

http://doodlestar.etsy.com












Are you feeling super inspired???

Well, the next theme is "Birthday Celebration". Whether it's the love of cake, candles, sparklers or the whole birthday celebration feeling, I invite you to capture it all in a new piece.

Theme 54: Participant's Choice - the Sequel

This past week, artists, writers, crafters and creative folks of all kinds were invited to choose one of the 53 themes that have been done since this blog started. There was such a positive response from folks who wanted to play and from those that did, several said they had a hard time choosing one. So, I say - let's do it again!

Please feel free to review all of the themes and then choose one that you would like to create something for. Please note the themes are listed on the sidebar on the right side of this blog.

It's important to note that this differs slightly from the Mini-Monthly in that your submission cannot be something that you already started. You may have seen a theme and thought of an idea but not started the work on it. Your submission needs to be something you will begin working on now. All themes are up for grabs so dive in and if you find something in the archives that you are passionate about - go for it!



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, April 28th if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, April 29th. 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) and theme it was created for

3. Something you'd like to share (process of creation, idea behind piece) if you'd like to share anything. Please limit this to 2-3 sentences

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, play, have fun and create something you've always wanted to!

Exceptional Artists Choose Themes That Truly Showcase Their Unbelievable Talent!

This week, folks were invited to choose one of the 53 themes we have worked on and create a new piece. Perhaps it was a theme that they loved but just didn't have time to create for when the theme was revealed. Whatever the reasons that kept them away, they came back to create and their creations highlight the truly professional, inspiring, and captivating qualities within their work. These artists captured beauty that will make you cheer and long to create something right now.

Please join me on a tour of these fabulous works and leave a little love for these terrific artists!


Maureen, a talented artist, created this beautiful piece for the theme, "Poetic Seas".

"For our Choice week, I chose Poetic Seas--at least, I THINK that was one of our prompts!! A full week keeps me from scanning the list of topics . . anyhoo, in the e-class I'm taking from Co-Teachers Natasha and Amanda, I have been introduced to Doodling, and am just loving it . . .so with my juicy markers, and later, a little colored pencil, I just let myself doodle what a sunny day at my beloved ocean feels like. And yes, those are cardinals winging through my ocean sky, and I KNOW cardinals aren't seabirds . . but they were my mom's favorite, and I've been thinking of her a lot (she passed on 30 years ago) and anyhoo, I have my very own "artistic license" that says I can stick cardinals over the ocean if I want to!!""

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/

Kelsey, creator of Caffeinated Frenzy, created this gorgeous scarf made out of recycled silk and beads for the theme, "The Music Within."

"This scarf (currently a work in progress) is based off of my old music teacher, she's not always one for glitz and glam, but her personality looks just like this!" said Kelsey.

http://www.caffeinatedfrenzy.com/














Jodi, creator of Jodi Horgan - Beaded Art to Wear, created this stellar piece for the theme, "Those Tropical Colors Just Made Me...".

"When you announced this theme I just happened to be in the tropics (Cayman Islands to be exact). I was full of ideas based on what I saw during our trip," said Jodi. "Turquoise is one of my favorite colors to work with and it reminds me of the color of the ocean in the Caymans. I've been incorporating silk soutache trim into a lot of my work lately. This theme gave me the perfect opportunity to use this beautiful cabochon from Lisa Peter's Art (LisaPetersArt.etsy.com) and combine it with turquoise soutache and beads."

http://www.jodihorgan.etsy.com/














Althea, creator of Salvaged Expression, created this phenomenal piece for the Hawaiian theme.

"For my readers choice project I chose the Hawiian theme," said Althea. "The sun has finally started to shine out here in a summer like fashion and I couldn't resist taking a little trip back to the islands with this pendant!"

http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com/














Bird, creator of CrowTarotTours, created this stunning piece for the theme "Flowers for a Friend", as it is a gift for someone.

"Speaking of gifts, I want to say how much I appreciate all the wonderful comments folk have left about my last few entries," said Bird. "What a wonderful treat to come to today! I only had a few moments to look, but the work you've all been doing is just amazing. Another reason now to look forward to our launch - so that I can come back & dive more deeply into these wondrous works. :-)"

http://www.crowtarottours.com/ - In Progress
Talismans by CrowTarot found at http://www.crowtarot.etsy.com/
Twitter: @CrowTarotTours














Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this magnificent untitled mixed media in progress for the theme, "Explosive Celebration".

"I chose Explosive Celebration for this week's expression, since that's how I feel!" said Amanda. "My life is growing and changing in ways I never expected. Even though there are moments of pain and struggle, the celebration is definitely winning out!"

http://persistentgreen.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/persistentgreen

Natasha, creator of Doodlestar, created this piece for the theme, "Vibrant Chaotic Rainbow."

I feel as though colors and celebration are exploding within and all around me. This theme captured that feeling so I created a little ring to celebrate the moments of chaotic, blissful beauty.

http://doodlestar.etsy.com/





Are you inspired to create even more now??? Well so am I! In fact, there was such a response to this theme from folks who participated and those that wanted to that I'm doing it again. Yup...rewind! Let's do it again one more time.....

The next theme is "Participant's Choice The Sequel". If you have loved a theme and want to create now you can play with it!! PLAY!!

Imagine Friends...

Do you prefer having a group of friends or one, true blue friend?

Theme 53: Participant's Choice

PARTICIPANT'S CHOICE

There have been a total of 53 themes since this blog started. Please feel free to review all of them and then choose one that you would like to create something for. Please note the themes are listed on the sidebar on the right side of this blog.

It's important to note that this differs slightly from the Mini-Monthly in that your submission cannot be something that you already started. You may have seen a theme and thought of an idea but not started the work on it. Your submission needs to be something you will begin working on now. All themes are up for grabs so dive in and if you find something in the archives that you are passionate about - go for it!



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, April 21st if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, April 22nd. 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. Please limit this to 2-3 sentences

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, dive in to something you truly wanted to create!

Amazing Artists Create New Works That Will Make You Want to Dance Around in Celebration of Life

ANNOUNCEMENTS: I'm so sorry I haven't been around. I've been swamped with a new class but I will be around more starting next week. Thank you as always for sticking with me!!

This week, music moved these incredibly talented, amazing, professional artists to create works that will make you want to dance around. The colors, the movement within the pieces and the styles are something to celebrate.


Please boogie through these amazing works with me...


Jodi, creator of Jodi Horgan - Beaded Art to Wear, created these gorgeous Silk Soutache Trim Earrings.

www.jodihorgan.etsy.com

Maureen, a talented artist, created this stellar work.

"This week, I thought about how music makes me feel . . . how it stirs the very middle of me and spirals out . . the color choice surprised me. Not what I intended, but it is what my hands chose, for this 9x9 watercolor with wax resist," said Maureen.

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com
















Amanda,creator of Persistent Green, created this phenomenal Untitled mixed media piece.

"My favorite part of attending a concert is feeling the vibration in my feet and through my body, like a second heartbeat," said Amanda. "Music has really shaped my creative life and been a constant companion and comfort. My piece today reflects how my favorite music makes me feel--vibrant, alive, and ready to dance!"

http://PersistentGreen.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PersistentGreen













Natasha, creator of DoodleStar, created this art journal page.

I thought - music - and this was born :)

http://doodlestar.etsy.com




Are you inspired to let your hands move across pages and create works after viewing this week's entries??

Well, then jump into the next theme which is "Participant's Choice". I will be updating the list on the right sidebar of this blog to include all the themes to present but if you have loved any theme and wanted to create now you can play with it!!