Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Come, Sit and Warm Yourself By the Fires Burning Within Sensational Artists and Their New Works

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Thank you all for opening such an incredible discussion about the upcoming collaboration between the Thursday Sweet Treat and the NYC school students. The idea that is taking shape is mind-blowing. I think this is going to be simply amazing AND it is already generating buzz here. The discussion is going on now so if you'd like to jump in please visit - http://thursdaysweettreat.ning.com/

AND feel free to invite friends as I can tell you I have been approached about another collaboration. I will be sharing more as I work out details. Ever feel like something's just happening ...something magical?

2. The forum that I set up is not the new site. The new site is coming very, very shortly and the forum will be a part of that. For now, we at least have a place to have a conversations, share photos, and more. I know some folks are brand new to it all so I will be adding information there to help you navigate. Fear not, you won't be a newbie for long, I promise :)


Ok...let me just say that I feel no shame in admitting that I cried as I went through these submissions this week. I was incredibly moved by the idea that these artists opened up their inner working space, that space where decisions are made that effect our growth as individuals and artists, where questions are discovered and sometimes answered, where our hunger for knowledge exists, alongside our friends vulnerability, bravery, hope, creativity, heart, imagination and inspiration. The fire that burns within artists - within all people - is sacred so to have it shared so openly was one of the most beautiful, captivating and unforgettable experiences of my life. I am deeply honored to have been given an invitation to visit that sacred place where ideas are born and, in some cases, to help find answers to pertinent questions.


Today, I am not simply inviting you, I am urging you to take a moment and warm your heart and minds in front of the ranging fires within each artist. Please take your time as you read each story as some artists have questions for you. Please share your thoughts with them.


Now, come on in and sit by the fire, won't you?





Storybeader created this gorgeous Peyote Rope Necklace.

The virgin beader
Was pulled from the fire with a
Coiled peyote rope.
- Deborah Baroff, storybeader

“This is my first attempt at a peyote stitch rope necklace,” said Storybeader. “I was wondering how long it would take to make. After 10 hours, I stopped counting! I was unsure of how to end the whole thing, but feel satisfied in the knowledge of experience. Thank you Beaderjojo, for suggesting the cone clasp. It worked beautifully! Because of those reasons, basically time and sweat, I decided to keep the necklace for myself. And I really love it!”

http://storybeader.blogspot.com/
http://storybeader.etsy.com/













Kelsey, creator of CaffeinatedFrenzy, created these stunning pieces titled, "Fire Keeps Me Warm" and "Timeline."

"This week I decided to experiment with two new ideas, freeform cables (though granted, a simple one) and fiber art over functional fiber accessories," said Kelsey. "The first piece is Fire Keeps me Warm. My initial reaction to this theme was to think of the fighting spirit that fire gives me. I may not always have something else to fall back on, but I have plenty of fire :). It's often fighting, angry, defying what anyone else tells me to do, but it's a comfort to always know it's there."

"The second one is Timeline. I'm kind of interested to see what others think of this one, so all I want to say is that it's an abstract-ish knit flame. If it says something to you, I'd be interested to hear ideas. :) After Thursday, I'll post my thoughts about it in my blog.



Fire Keeps Me Warm







Timeline








Agathe, creator of Meherio68, created this fabulous piece.

“This week, I have been working hard... but I am running late,” said Agathe. “I love fire and the creatures, especially the mythical ones, connected to it. My first idea was of a phoenix, because the idea that life can be born again out of its very destruction is a sustaining one, I find. But that didn't give me a "doable" design. So I kept searching. Found very pretty griffins... that I am going to use soon, but not yet.”

“Eventually, I began what is my first attempt with silver clay, but you all have to use your imagination, hoping this tiny salamander (can you see it, it's so tiny, on the first photo?) sitting on a flaming ring (see the flames on the second photo?) fires it. As I am writing, the ring is still drying. I will then have to polish and (probably) correct some... and then fire it (fingers crossed here).
I'll try to blog (honestly ;-) about the rest of this adventure as it goes on... To be continued!”

http://meherio68.etsy.com/
Meherio68blog : http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/














Salvaged Expression created this hilariously named, brilliant work titled, "The Ugly Hat".

"The Ugly Hat:Yes that's what I'm calling it," said Salvaged. "It's made out of other peoples rejects in firey colors. Bits of yellow and orange that people donated to me and couldn't use and where, in one case, the cat had torn it up so badly that there were only strands of orange string left. All of the ingredients are wrong and you know what? I love this hat! It's bad, it's like twinkies and sweet red wine watching that movie you can't really admit to liking. It's just so bad it's good."














When I first started to think about this theme nothing that came to mind felt right. So, I picked up a book, started reading and -WHAM - I was struck between the eyes. Stories inspire, comfort, surprise, engage and enlighten me. Whether it's the story of my relationships, the story of my professional story, a funny story, a sad story, I find that all stories ignite a bright, burning fire within my heart, mind and soul. It was this thought that called to mind old activity.

A writing teacher in grad school once challenged my class to write a love story in 20 words. It was one of the most challenging and yet most fun activites I'd ever taken part in. For some reason, that was what popped into my head when I thought about fire. So here, along with one of my favorite photos - one of the best I've ever taken - from a moment that deserves to be told in a separate story of its own, is a little flame within.Please allow me to share a 20 word love story.

The words read: "One reach of the hand, one moment of electricity and intertwines lives burst forth in a blaze of endless color. ~ Natasha"







Jodi, creator of Jodi Horgan, created this breathtaking piece of artwork titled, "Inner Warmth."

"When I started thinking about this theme I was immediately drawn to the colors red, orange, and yellow and their connections to the body's chakra centers," said Jodi. "Last year I was studying yoga with a teacher who spent each week focusing on one of the chakra centers. Red is the color designation for the base of the spine and vitality, courage, and self-confidence come from this area. Orange comes from the sacral area (lower abdomen) and happiness, confidence, and resourcefulness come from this section. Finally, yellow governs the solar plexus which is wisdom, clarity, and self esteem. This three tier pendant is composed of three distinct sections for each of the 3 chakra centers. The top is made from a fossilized coral bead and is surrounded by deep red swarovski crystals and golden yellow pearls. The center section is a button. It is embellished with seed beads and more Swarovski crystals. The lower section is a pearl button surrounded by seed beads. I incorporated the three chakra colors between all the sections. The pendant is backed in ultrasuede and hangs from a neck wire."













Michelle, creator of mkc photography, created this "Little Toes"

"When I first read the theme, I immediately thought of the red tulips in our yard, sunsets, anything that was "fiery" in color, but nothing clicked...then I realized I was taking the theme too literally and I needed to step back and think...what is it that really fuels me, drives me forward?" said Michelle. "The answer came at once: "my children." While I don't define myself solely as a wife and mother, I realized that I always push myself forward artistically because I want to be someone my boys look up to, someone they admire. I want them to grow up knowing their mother was never afraid to challenge herself...these are the little feet of my inner fire during a quiet moment in our back yard."

http://mkcphotography.com/









Maureen, a talented artist, created this sensational work of art.

"Another odd sort of sharing for me. "The Warmth of the Fire Within" really grabbed me," said Maureen. "I am discovering, day by day, that something powerful has always lived inside me--it has just been so hidden and repressed that I had forgotten it ever even existed. But this indwelling urge/need/mandate to express via creativity has only been banked--a fire, persisting, needing only a little space, a little breath, to let it burn brightly again. And it is not a consuming fire, but a purifying one, an illuminating one. On Saturday, it was my turn to decorate the display case outside my church with some sort of inspirational message. All day the fire within me burned warmer and brighter as I created and assembled bits and pieces. Finally, I started using my "good" watercolors, last used in 2003, wetting down old flakes of paint. My "canvas" for the rainbow was the back of a poster which had hung in my home since 2004 and whose message NEEDED to be let go of. Other little art squares were monoprints . . My art surrounded Bible verses and hymns that spoke of not fearing change, since we were each embraced by God Who is Love, and held in Love's plan for us. In short, I spent most of the day Saturday feeling like my authentic self, an artist who had finally found the fire within and was doing what she was born to do."

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/

















Ruth, creator of Allover Art, created this phenomenal Fire and Ice Hand-Painted Art Pendant Necklace.http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24355735

"I never have an elaborate explanation for why I create what I do. :) I read the topic and then sat down with my paints and this is what came out; a fun piece that is sure to be a conversation starter," said Ruth.

Artphone: 919-744-0578










Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this spectacular 6x11.5" watercolor painting with haiku titled,"Fireworks."

"This theme immediately made me see warm, passionate color. I sat down at my desk with my lovely Hydrus watercolors and let them splash and play on the paper," said Amanda. "As many of you know, I'm always curious about the link between literary and visual arts. This time, while the colors were drying, I picked up my journal and described what the brilliant reds, pinks and oranges evoked in me. That led to the following haiku, which I later stenciled onto my painting: "white paper ignites / explodes into radiance / fireworks of my heart."














Kelly, creator of Backward Glances, created this magnificent piece.

"The peyote ring forms that are the base of this pendant are a design element I've been using in many of my pieces in the last year or so; the sunburst worked in "hot"colors seemed appropriate for 'The Fire Within'", said Kelly. "But as is so typical for me, a simple ring seemed inadequate and I added the smaller center ring and realized I had created a mandala! The additional "arms" somewhat give the appearance of a compass - perhaps it's really a guide to find that fire of creativity within myself!"












Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, created these exceptional pieces of art.

“A candle light within”

"I have been working with Photoshop for quite awhile, but studying it most intensely the last few months," said Felicia. "I love its infinite possibilities, and I’m still experimenting with techniques. This past Christmas, playing with a new camera, I used the “fireworks” setting and photographed my patio lights while moving the camera. I created several layers with those photos, along with my photograph of a lit candle, then used various Photoshop adjustments to create my submission.

“Lighting the fire of creativity”
“Lighting the fire of creativity 2”

"I almost didn’t submit this one, but decided to send two versions and get some opinions to see which works better – the monochromatic version or the more colorful version," said Felicia. "Or should I just scrap this one entirely? I will take any comments or critiques, even votes for the third option. I can’t believe I’m comfortable enough here to do this!"

http://anotherbrightidea.etsy.com/


A candle light within

“Lighting the fire of creativity”
“Lighting the fire of creativity 2”















Kris aka lisianblue, creator of lisianblue, created these magnificent pieces of art.

"I was doing a hot air balloon for my 2nd project for my stained glass class," said Kris. "This project didn't go well from the start. The glass would break where it wasn't supposed to, my cutter would slip and miscut. I finally got all 5 upper pieces cut and they all fit together pretty well in spite of all the mishaps. I had ground all the edges and they were all wrapped with copper foil. As they were sitting on my work table, I was contemplating whether to go ahead and solder them or wait until the next class."

"The more I looked at these pieces of glass, the more I knew they just were not meant to be a hot air balloon," remarks Kris. "Too big to be pendants. Taking the foil off and cutting them down, would be a waste of foil. I wasn't sure what they were going to be."
"The more I played around with the glass, I kept thinking of crystals. Large crystals. The 2 outer clear glass pieces would made a perfect frame for a large crystal with all of it dangling from one of the aqua pieces. And my 1st stained glass mobile was born. I've had the large crystal and the crystal beads on this one for at least 20 years."
"The other pieces to the balloon and some of the miscuts became 2 more mobiles before I could go to sleep that night. I even had enough miscuts to make several pendants long before the mobiles came to life. They embody The Fire Within in more than one way.Thank you for letting me share My Inner Fire!"

http://lisianblue.artfire.com/













Jenjen Furer, creator of GottaLoveMom, created this incredible work.

"Since Natasha came up with the theme, “The warmth of the fire from within”, I had an idea on what to do or what to write, but since being a mom comes first, I didn’t get a chance to truly work on it," Jenjen said.

A Fighting Tree – the warmth of the fire within a woman’s soul





We love this tree. It was planted by the original owner of our home 55 years ago on Mother’s Day. For over ten years now, our lawn guys have been telling us that the tree is dying. Earlier this spring, we’ve trimmed and cut-down a few branches that have no more life.

This morning, my 8yo noticed this tree and exclaimed,
“Mom, how can a tree bloom with so much flowers when it’s already dying?
I think my life as a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend is like this fighting tree. I am very passionate about keeping the family together. I can’t just give up and just like what I want my children to learn and remember:
“Dream Big”
“Keep on Fighting for What You Believe In”
“You can accomplish anything that you put your heart and mind to.”

The fire and passion that’s driving me to live and pursue is all because of my family and the warmth of their love knowing that in order to achieve the highest goal, one has to be determined to fight till the end!

So just like our tree, which was appropriately planted on Mother’s Day, I will go on fighting to Dream Big!

(Here’s something I wrote a few weeks ago, “Proceed”…)
There are things in life that just takes time and effort.
Some things seem to be so far away from your reach.
If a project is easy and takes a little time, wouldn’t you have already finished the task?

If a mission takes so much energy and preparation, maybe it’s worth fulfilling it.
Maybe it’s something grand that changes not just your life but the lives of other people.

Most achievements are developed in multiple stages.
You just have to keep pushing yourself to stay focused and do the task.
Don’t postpone it.
It may be easier to procrastinate.
It may be easier to be anxious.
It may be easier to put it on hold.

But it will definitely be rewarding to proceed,
Knowing that every step brings you closer to your goal.

Flame of Love – the warmth of a woman’s love

My computer desk overlooks our backyard and I’m just so blessed to see all the colors of spring. Pink, yellow and green – all vibrant and striking that they all scream “LOVE”.

I took this picture in the beginning of spring.

It started out as small flower buds, and a little spark of sunshine and with lots of rain, the buds bloomed into vibrant flowers.

And as days pass, the more vibrant the flowers get – Just like my love for my husband.
When we first planted this tree 5 years ago, the first one did not survive so we had to get a replacement.

And just like these flowers, I didn’t find the VIBRANT love the first time around, but for almost 17 years now, I’m lucky to have found my husband!

Passion to Make A Difference

Like everyone here in TST, I’ve always been passionate to make a difference. I guess my parents instilled in us through our faith and values, that we are not here on earth just for our own prosperity and happiness. We are here to branch-out and reach out to those who need our help. It does not have to be grand, a little gesture can make a difference.

This tree reminds me of what my parents have taught me and in turn, I’ve instilled to my children. “Share love, fun and happiness – you’ll get more if it in return!” Branch out and don’t be scared or timid to help someone. Just a wave hello or a sweet smile can light up someone’s day so keep smiling!

The challenges that we face sometimes tend to be magnified.
We easily get disillusioned – that’s easy!
But the state of being discouraged is only overwhelming if you let it overpower you.

You have to power to say “NO” to the magnetic pull of being discouraged;
You have the will to be happy, enlightened and be “gung-ho”;
You have the blessings!

There are so many depressing situations in the world;
There are so many injustices;
But
There are millions of ways to make a difference;
There are millions of means to inspire someone.

You have to choose that path that you want to take;
The road that will make you smile,
The footsteps that move you forward,
The realization that you are here to make a difference.

So get off your slump and be out there!
Laugh out loud, sing a song, and dance to the rhythm.
Reach out to someone and invite them to make a difference, too.
There are plenty of opportunities – just live, love, laugh and move-on!








Bird, creator of Crow Tarot, Kitty Hawke, Cat Bird Crystals, and One Earth, One Tribe, shared these exceptional pieces of art.




Talismans by Crow Tarotfound at http://www.crowtarot.etsy.com/
Our Other Etsy Shops
http://www.kittyhawke.etsy.com/
http://www.catbirdcrystals.etsy.com/
http://www.oneearthonetribe.etsy.com/




"'Love the Lions and let them go' is my understanding of a piece of advice given to me by Jacob, a wonderfully wise being channelled by Judy Crookes (http://www.jacobspeaks.com/). You read about the power of manifesting, etc., and maybe you even get kind of good at it, but what do you do about those days when you decide to have a human moment, in the "whoops! Not-a-saint-me!" sense? It can feel like you are a particularly tasty wildebeast being chased by a pride of hungry lions. So - what to do? You love the lions, yourself, and then you let them go, so that you can concentrate on the happier things that you really do want in your life. So far it seems to be working. :-D



This particular version has also been a lesson in self-love and allowing things to be gentle. The first pic I was planning on using this week was considerably darker in tone, because that's how I felt at the time. But, thanks to the lovingkindness of some of the wonderful TST-ers here, things got better, so the picture chosen got lighter as well.






"'Drink from the Cup of Passion's Fire'" was a poem that came to me upon seeing the picture. The hummingbird drinking deep from the flower to get the nectar it needs to live really seems to be also the situation of the artist, who needs to drink deep of the Creative Cup in order to truly live. :-)



This was a beautifully painted pipe, with a couple more pieces I haven't yet gotten the stories for. Perhaps next week - you never know! :-D





Drink from the cup
of Passion's Fire
Drink deep
and feel it burn
in your throat,
in your belly.
Feel it rising up
exploding out of you
a creative volcano
that you can't control
and wouldn't want to,
even if you could.

"'Passion's Fire Word Art - Light the Flame'" was inspired by my remembering the beautiful pics I used to do as a creative break back in the days when I was a typesetter for University Community Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Take a word, break it down, with different fonts and sizes turn it into an abstract that still says something about the word. In speaking of it on the forum today, I realized just how much I missed doing them. So, I started again. Lighting the Flame isn't just for creativity. Sometimes it's for starting over too. :-)






Was that not the best invitation you've ever accepted?

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!!

Posted by at 27 comments:

Artist Playdate: We Have Our Own Forum So Let's Get the 2nd Grade Thursday Sweet Treat Project Rolling!



Hi everyone! Today's Artist Playdate is for all of us to participate in!


Ms. Regan, the teacher of the 2nd grade class that we will be working with, is incredibly excited about our Children's TST project. So, it's time for us to brainstorm.


First, I have created a new place for us to chat on Ning. I will be sending invites to all the email addresses I currently have but for those who would like to be a part of the project but whose email addresses I don't have, please visit http://thursdaysweettreat.ning.com/ and join up.

This will allow us to take part in our own forum discussions and chat with one another if we are online at the same time. In addition, if you have a discussion or a group you'd like to start, go for it! This will be part of our new playground soon.


With regard to the project, I am in the process of creating a letter which will let all the parents know about us and this TST project. Also, I am creating a sheet for the children so that they can share a bit more about themselves with you.


Here is what I need from you.


Information


I will give all the teachers and students a small booklet of info about the artists providing the theme. Please send your short responses to each of the following:

- A small bio – 1-2 lines about your business


- The Best thing you’ve ever made (what was one product you just loved creating)


- The first thing you’ve ever made (your earliest childhood creating memory)


- Fun advice for the future (something you’d love the children to remember when they create)


Then I will present it to the class, the teacher and other teachers who might be interested along with information about the type of art each participant creates. Please send your responses to Natasha@creativenachos.com


Theme


May is Poetry Month so Ms. Regan will be celebrating poetry in her classroom and she'd like us to include something to do with poetry in our theme.


The goal is to have a theme to the children by May 5th, 2009. So, please visit the discussion forum and let's start brainstorming. My thought was to have everyone throw out ideas or build off one another's ideas and then we can vote on our favorite theme or combine themes to create one from the most popular ideas. What do you think?


If you need anything, just holler. I'm off to our new forum :)


Posted by at 5 comments:

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Inspiration Springboard: A Call for Submissions and a Huge (I’m totally biting my nails) Announcement


Let’s start with a fun, CALL for submissions!!

1. Our new, bigger, fabulous Thursday Sweet Treat home is almost ready for us to move in. I just need to make a few more adjustments. YAY!!! With the launch on the horizon, I received a fantastic suggestion from Janie, creator of Lifeartdesigns and MyPolymerClayCanes, who thought it would be fabulous to share “studio” or “workspace” photos.

I love this idea and want to add a fun, surprising twist to this….so if you would like to participate, please send your name, shop name and link, blog name and link or both, and 4-6 photos of your studio/work space. I know now everyone has a “studio”, if you’re like me you’ve got an overflowing desk and table in the middle everything. It doesn’t matter if it’s a folding table and chair, this is going to be fun so send your photos. AND most importantly, please make sure to include 1 good picture of the one thing that inspires you most when you are creating and tell me why it’s inspiring!

2. Is there one project that you began working on and completely screwed up leaving you to think that it was just awful before doing a double take, tweaking it slightly and discovering that it was a beautiful work of art? If so, please send 2-3 pictures of that piece along.

3. I will be covering Art fairs, festivals, shows, etc. on the new TST. If you are going to be in a show, I'd love to hear about it. I would need some photos from your show and will ask a couple of questions when we chat. It's a fun new section coming soon!!

Please send all submissions to Natasha@creativenachos.com



Well folks, Spring has sprung here on the East Coast – actually it’s more like Summer – and inevitably two things have happened. I have a MAJOR case of Spring Fever and a fairly decent urge to do some Spring cleaning. Please note that "Natasha" and "Super Cleaner Extraordinaire" are are two ideas that do not often go hand in hand. So, I'm happy to report that the cleaning I am referring to is mental and professional Spring cleaning. My life needs streamlining and streamlining = major changes. After much deliberation, I decided that I wanted all of this with you.

The Thursday Sweet Treat started with ten, talented, energized, fantastic people wand it has grown to include many, many more energetic, fantastic, talented people filled with great fun and endless magic. That simple thought brings me such happiness. I am so in awe and so in love with all of the people who are a part of each week’s submissions as well as those who stop in to share, support and give a little love to fellow artists. The Thursday Sweet Treat has become my passion, my heart. As I stand on the verge of unleashing the new site, I want you to know that I plan to continue working as hard as I have on this blog, if not harder, to build the Thursday Sweet Treat while maintaining its artistic integrity.

Being here has taught me so much about myself, my art and life. I have learned tremendous lessons and found a strength that I do not think I would have found anywhere else. I’ve discovered that while I love creating art, my true passion lies somewhere in between the merger of writing and art. I have learned that I can no longer create alone; I want to be a part of a growing community where I can share, develop my skills and receive feedback. I want to be a part of a place where people share not only their work but their lives, their troubles, their passions and I want to give back in projects with schools and other art organizations. If I’d never started selling on Etsy, I’d never have discovered all of you, the Thursday Sweet Treat would never have been born and I would never have uncovered my true passion which lies in building this community, creating and sharing.

However, there are some complications and here is where my streamlining begins. Slowly, I began to realize that the time I spend here cuts into the time I was using to create. In addition, my daughter - who just turned two - requires more time and space the bigger she gets which is cutting into my creating time. Yet, I need to work in order to contribute to my family. So, what am I to do?

Over the course of several afternoons, I sat and wrote down the things I love doing. Then, I went through my resume to see if my experiences would back up all that I love and I was thrilled to realize that they do. Almost 99.99% of the time, I am better at seeing other strengths than I am at seeing my own but I’m teaching myself how to see things now. Based on the time and reasearch I spent in figuring how to make everything work, I devised a new plan for myself.

I am starting my own marketing/pr/communications business. I realized that I have a natural ability to promote people and I love doing it. My writing has the power to open minds, hearts and, in some cases, doors. In addition, my skill set which includes corporate communications, nonprofit fundraising, grant writing, marketing and pr for both nonprofit and for profit companies as well as freelance artists, allows me to not only do what I love in promoting people but also help people grow their business and develop a stronger presence within their target market.

To be honest, I really struggled with sharing this here. You see, I’m not a car salesman. I am not any type of salesman at all. I could never, ever sell you something that you don’t need. So, I didn’t want you to come here and think I’d lured you in to start selling you things you don’t need. I am just an artist, writer, Mom, joker, down-to-Earth woman with a talent for writing, a dream of building the Thursday Sweet Treat into a much larger, thriving community, a need to help support my family and a deep, burning desire to help others to succeed. When I believe in something I go after it. When I looked at the things I have done in my life, I realized helping others has been the focus whether I realized it or not (and often I didn’t realize it, to be honest, I was just looking to write any way I could.)

I don’t want this announcement to change the atmosphere here in any way. The Thursday Sweet Treat is and will always remain a place for artists and writers to dream create and share anything and everything in their hearts and minds. I want this to be the place where people can test their wings and fly.

The small business I am starting will be a separate entity. I simply wanted to share what I am doing in case you or someone you know needs some work. I’m looking to work with people’s budgets and am offering press release writing, blog posting assistance or blog writing, web copy creation, brochures creation, assistance in promoting online, and much, much more. If you’d like more information, please contact me at Natasha@creativenachos.com.

My shop will remain open although some designs will be going as I just don’t have the space and time to produce them anymore. All my TST treats will be in there. However, my focus will be building the Thursday Sweet Treat both online and off and consulting or working to promote artists with my own small business. This way I can help to support my family and streamline my time so I am there for my little monkey AND here in our soon to be much bigger playground.

I’d LOVE feedback from you. In addition, I’d love to hear if Spring has brought about any cleaning or streamlining for you as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to read...I really can't wait to hear from you!
Posted by at 25 comments:

Monday, April 27, 2009

"April Showers Us In Beauty" Mini-Monthly

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Many of you had asked if the "Remember" cards I had created would be available in my shop. The answer is Yes and they will be in there this afternoon. Thank you for all your inquiries. You made my month!

Mini-Monthly: a place where magnificent works of art are showcased that were created for various themes but did not make it in by the deadline due to different circumstances. These works were simply too beautiful not to share. They are sure to inspire you!


Agathe, creator of Meherio 68, created this lovely piece for the Landscape of the Soul theme titled, "Daredevil Lillies."


"You can see, in the foreground of the first photo, the larger group of lillies-of-the-valley, tucked up in the safe circle, and in the second one, up close, a group of adventurous lillies (paradoxical, I know!), groping their way out into the wild, through rocks and gravel," said Agathe. "I also love the tiny, willful violets you can see here among the lillies— and which spread absolutely everywhere. I always enjoy seeing these, they give me this unexpected example of courage. I think of them and I keep exploring..."













Maureen, a talented artist, created this stunning piece for the Strike of Love theme.

"I'm soooo glad I did NOT submit during Theme 13--Strike of Love," said Maureen. "My feelings about romantic love, in particular, were roiling. The piece I wanted to do would have volcanoed out of me in dark purples with only a hint of red. Now, weeks later, thanks to Natasha's grace in giving us a Mini-Monthly in which to post, I used the same technique of mono-printing (you literally SQUASH the paper against the color, which is what romantic love was feeling like to me back then). But now, joy-hot-pink and summer-day-yellow predominate, and my feelings about romantic love, and whatever letters are used to express it, feel much healthier."

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/













Rowena, creator of Rowena Murillo, created this unforgettable piece for the Landscape of the Soul theme titled,"Flying Girl and the Soul Moving, or He Says It's Ten Mile River."

In this piece, Rowena used some collage which she hadn't used that often lately. Please visit her blog to read a great post about this piece. http://warriorgirl.blogspot.com/2009/04/flying-girl-and-soul-moving-or-he-says.html

http://warriorgirl.blogspot.com/







Bird, creator of Crow Tarot, Kitty Hawke, Cat Bird Crystals, and One Earth, One Tribe, shared this piece along with her Landscape of the Soul roundtable. However, this was so beautiful I wanted to hold it for the Mini so that it would have a special place all its own.


"Your words the other day caught my heart, so here are some gifts of hope for you," said Bird.


“the works created are hope and I'm hungry for hope...hope is a gift...” - Natasha of the Thursday Sweet Treat

Lady Coco
Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.
King Whitney Jr.

Change can seem overwhelming at times. When everything is seeming to happen at once, it can feel as if it is all too much. But it is important, especially at such times, to stay in a good mindspace. As they are stating above, your outlook on life will be directly affected by your mood, and thus your life is affected by both of them.

Take the time to nurture yourself, both inside & out. Nurture your mind, your heart, your soul. Give them pleasant things, gentle things that allow them to flourish and to be at peace. Nourish your body, so that it may be a pleasant dwelling place for your soul.

And above all, believe in your most positive future. Believe that things will only get better & better in life. :-) Believe that you are worthy to receive all good things. :-) Believe that you can allow yourself to have the hope that manifests change. :-)

Go in peace & hope, dear ones! :-)
-Lady Coco, High Guide of Light for Bird


Muse Adriata
You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand.
Woodrow Wilson (1856 - 1924)

You do indeed impoverish yourself if you forget the greater service you are here to give. You also impoverish your creations by living only for yourself, or purely in the physical world. But do not think that I speak only of sackcloth and ashes. That is indeed a fine service to give to the world, but it is far from the only one.

And your moments of service do not have to directly relate to your created works, although the mere act of creating Beauty nourishes the World immensely. Serving soup at a homeless shelter, marking clothes at a charity-run thrift store, these acts of service will still nourish your art, even though not directly related to it.

So make sure you remember the real reasons to create Art – to explore your passions, to display them vibrantly to the World. All else flows from that. Remember that. Trust that it will happen. And let it be so. :-)

Bright Blessings & Good Fortune! :-)
-Adriata, Muse & High Guide of Light for Bird


Benedetto
It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.
Robert H. Goddard (1882 – 1945)

Truth. Everything starts with a dream. The size of your dreams determines the size of your results. Mankind, humankind, has been notorious over the millenia for not daring to expand their Dreams to encompass all that could really be. There is no limit to what can be done. What needs to be decided is should it be done, and if so, how can it be accomplished?

How can you know the future when, in your terms, it has not yet been written? How can you know the limits of things that have not yet been crystallized into being? Dream your Dreams – make them large, as large as you possibly can. Then expand them even more. And even still, you will have only just begun to see the very point of origin to all that can be.

Pull your brightest Future towards yourself and give it form. Allow it to be created in all of its loveliness & beauty. Then set it free to expand to its fullest potential. You might just be surprised at what happens next. :-)

Bright Blessings & Good Fortune! :-)
-Benedetto, Angel, and Guide of Light to Bird


Jeremiah
We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics. They will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We've been asked to pause for a reality check; we've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
Barack Obama (1961 - ), New Hampshire Democratic Primary Speech, 01-08-08

Powerful words, these. And true. Hope is the beginning of change, and change is the fundamental force of creation. Cynics believe that there is no change, not really, that once you are on a path, you are forced to continue it. I say this is not so. You are free to hope and dream and change as much as you like. Indeed, the Universe encourages you to do so.

Reality checks aren't all there cracked up to be. In fact, what are they anyway? Reality is not the solid thing that people think it is – it flows & shifts, changing like a gently flowing river. It shifts from person to person and from nation to nation. So with all the choices out there – why not hope???

Bright Blessings & Good Fortune! :-)
Jeremiah, Muse & High Guide of Light for Bird

Talismans by Crow Tarotfound at www.crowtarot.etsy.com


Weren't these works just fabulous?


Tell a friend, tell your boss, tell your Mom but most importantly, tell these artists. Leave them a little love!


See you next month :)
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Friday, April 24, 2009

Theme 16: The Warmth of the Fire Within

ANNOUNCEMENTS: This is the official call for the Mini-Monthly! Please send in your submissions no later than Saturday, April 25th at midnight. The new works will be shown on Monday, April 27th!

The forum discussion about the Thursday Sweet Treat Second Grade Class project will be on Wednesday, April 29th. All details will be given at the beginning of next week. Thank you to those who have already emailed with suggestions. I will be responding shortly but thank you, I love it all!





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.


"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." ~ Albert Schweitzer
(This quote is simply a gift from me to you...it reminds me of all of you. Hugs, Natasha)





“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” ~ Marshal Ferdinand Foch







“Words are only painted fire; a look is the fire itself” ~ Mark Twain






"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it's yours.” ~Ayn Rand





"Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.” ~ Bruce Lee




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 29th if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, April 30th. 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, let that inner fire build and glow brightly! Enjoy yourself :)
Posted by at 16 comments:

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Exceptionally Talented Artists Bare Their Souls As They Explore Vast Landscapes

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. The 2009 Paws for Charity Art Book by Paws for Charity and various, amazing artists including Michelle of mkc photography is one of the Wildcard entries for the Blockhead Radio Artisan Challenge this week so let's show our support! http://blockheadradiolive.com/wildcard


2. Jodi Horgan's Black and White Art Pendant won last week's jewelry category on Blockhead Radio's Artisan Challenge which means it's in the Weekly Challenge this week so let's show her some support as well! http://blockheadradiolive.com/artisanschallenge


3. Next week, I will be hosting a forum discussion about the Thursday Sweet Treat project with the 2nd graders. I will let you know the date shortly. Thank you for your patience. I am more than a little excited about this!!


4. Many apologies for the delay in getting the new site up. I had a few setbacks but it will be up soon. Many thanks to all of you who have shown me so much love, support, and encouragement. I can never express what that means to me. I am deeply humbled and thank you from the bottom of my heart.



I'd like to start today's unveiling by thanking Amanda of Persistent Green for creating this incredible theme. (Please join me in a round of applause right now...LOL...I know you are sitting at your computer but she can totally hear it!) This week's theme moved me in a way no theme has before. I felt as though I learned a great deal more about these talented artists that I have come to adore. Just when I thought I understood the heart, passion, imagination, and depth of each artist, I discovered a whole new realm within them, within their soul and I fell more deeply in love. For that, I am eternally grateful.



The magic of this theme and this community as a whole is that each new work has the power to transform beliefs, ideas...entire lives for the better. This theme did that for me and, if you open yourself up to the possibility that we all have a magical landscape of beauty inside that needs to be shared and explored, then this theme will do the same for you.

These powerful, professional, amazing artists created landscapes filled with beauty, joy, splendor, love and magic. Please join me in exploring the most exquisite landscapes of the soul




Michelle Ciarlo-Hayes, creator of mkc photography, created this unbelievably touching piece titled, "Memories of Spring".

"Taking this photo was a way for me to hold on to the beautiful memories I have of my grandmother: when I read the theme, I thought instantly of her, how she is intrinsically part of my landscape, part of my soul," said Michelle. "The blue of the sky reminds me of her eyes, the pink blossoms are the same color as the lovely dress she once made for me, the white the color of her wavy hair (I've written a bit more in my blog this week: all are welcome to stop by if you have an extra few minutes)."

http://www.mkcphotography.com/
http://www.mkcphotography.etsy.com/
www.mkcphotographybymichelleciarlo-hayes.blogspot.com/







Kelsey, creator of CaffeinatedFrenzy, created this absolutely unforgettable landscape.

"I really enjoyed this week's theme," said Kelsey. "I had more ideas to include than this, but not enough time for it all. I don't know how one would really define landscape, but I decided to give it a loose definition of places, chose a few places that inspired me, and worked from there. Each piece represents a different place, I put them all together to form one landscape of my own soul.:)

A parking lot on a rainy day: Cirque, scarflette.
Somewhere in India: Colorful stuffed elephant.T
The Island of Socotra: Quirky tree.




















Jenjen Furer, creator of Gotta Love Mom, created this truly stunning work, “Just Because I’m Me”.

"It’s been a crazy ride, and yet I’m at peace," said Jenjen. "As I was sitting in my family room with my family, a view just reminded me of what makes me “me”.

Due to time constraints and some of my limited artistic ways and means, the only thing I can do (every week) is take pictures with my beat-up Canon Elph digital camera. And hopefully with the help of some creativity I hope I can capture what’s in my soul. My mind thinks in images and hopefully I can translate such images in words that will make you understand who I am.

I took a picture of my backyard and my door in the family room , multiplied it by three and then combined it with the other photos of the past and the present.. I played around with it to make the colors vibrant – just like how I’m starting to live my life and hopes the future brings.

Every week, every entry seems like an addition to my “book” (No More Tears…), and with all your inspiration and motivation, one day it’ll be complete."


Just Because I’m Me

I am who I am for YOU gave me LIFE,
I am who I am for the joys that make my heart sing.
I am who I am for the struggles I had to bear,
I am who I am for the pains I endured,
I am who I am for the sorrows I complained about,
I am who I am JUST BECAUSE I’M ME.

I am who I am for my PAST that molded me,
I am who I am for every wrong path I took,
I am who I am for the memories haunted me,
I am who I am for the stars I reached,
I am who I am for the tears I shed,
I am who I am JUST BECAUSE I’M ME.

I am who I am for my PRESENT that keeps me at peace,
I am who I am for the pleasures of motherhood,
I am who I am for the daily hugs and kisses,
I am who I am for the pins and needles of anxieties,
I am who I am for the love of my husband
I am who I am JUST BECAUSE I’M ME.


I am who I am for the FUTURE that’s approaching,
I am who I am for the dreams I hope to fulfill,
I am who I am for the opportunities I yet have to seize,
I am who I am for the wonders full of astonishment,
I am who I am for the love that keeps multiplying,
I am who I am JUST BECAUSE I’M ME.

My soul, my being, my entire goal
All connected
So powerful,
So intense,
So passionate.
My family, my own self, my very purpose
Is a treasure that’s in my Past, my Present and my Future.

http://www.gottalovemom.com/








Amanda, creator of this theme and Persistent Green, created this simply exquisite 6 x 11.5" watercolor painting titled, "Internal Landscape".

"Many thanks to Natasha, again, for allowing me the honor of creating this week's theme," said Amanda. "As I searched for the accompanying quotes and images, I was struck by how many different interpretations an artist could have on such a classic subject--landscapes. I've never enjoyed creating them because I let myself get boxed in by the traditional, representational idea. This week, I wanted to challenge myself to create MY landscape--the lay of the land according to my heart, my soul. No surprise, then, that I turned to riotous color, fluid lines, and texture (if only simulated this time)."








Janie, creator of Lifeartdesigns and MyPolymerClayCanes, created this unforgettable, radiant, moving piece titled, "Love is Patient, Love is Kind."


Love is Patient, Love is Kind...

"My entry this week is actually a work in progress for a custom order," said Janie. "It wasn't due until the first of next month, but when I saw this week's theme, I knew this box was meant for it. And after the tragic loss that Nastasha and her family experienced, I felt I had to do it. So, I stopped everything else and worked on it. A daughter is going to give this to her Mother for Mother's Day. She hasn't seen it yet, so I hope that if she does, she will forgive me for showing it here first.

Landscape of the Soul...I picked this box because I believe that the landscape of our souls are based on the love or lack thereof that we perceive or receive (or don't) from the second we are born until the day we die. Everything we do, believe, and perceive is flavored by love and creates the ever changing landscape of our souls.


The verse of I Corinthians 13, "Love is patient, love is kind..." is my favorite and the one my husband and I used for our wedding vows. I photographed the box on black satin to visually express my condolences to Natasha and her family. I hope this expression is okay...it is done with love.

It is my hope and prayer that for anyone who is alone and feels they have no love of another on this Earth, that they will know that they will always have God's love forever and will never really ever be alone no matter what."

http://www.lifeartdesigns.etsy.com/





Salvaged Expression created this wonderfully awesome piece.


"I'm submitting this piece as a bit of a work in progress rather than waiting for the mini monthly 1. because I really missed TST and 2. because I just want to share this piece! This drawing was actually inspired by 3 friends and the landscape of their combined souls," said Salvaged.


"My friend and I both work in the environmental industry where she locates wetlands including the habitat of the very adorable and much endangered Bog Turtle. Now this same friend and my SO are both getting into beer brewing and have been discussing it passionately for the last couple of months. I was inspired to create this drawing I call Benny, the Beer Swilling Bog Turtle in the fond hope that my friend would make a swamp water brew sometime or just hang it in her cube and laugh. The bog turtle is relaxing in his slightly disturbed habitat sipping one of my husband's brews which has been marked with wetland flagging tape, a clear sign of my friend's passing. I was apparently successful since both want to use the drawing which I've been busily cleaning up and coloring digitally for easy label printing."

http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com/















Maureen, a talented artist, created this stunningly beautiful piece.

"This week's prompt--Landscape of the soul--tugged at me," said Maureen. "I had a nearly instant idea of what I wanted to do, but couldn't see how it related to the prompt. As the week progressed, I realized that the prompt was calling me, oh so gently, to finally inhabit the landscape of my own soul. I'd fallen deeply in love with watercolor several years ago. But I had no courage to work in this medium outside of the class, in my own home. Fear of failure blockaded me. In recent weeks, I've been able to start playing some, with splooshing color on paper, with helping my sister's 2nd graders fall in love with watercolor. Finally, this week, I was able to let myself try something that was other than wholly abstract. I used professional grade paper and brushes, and leftover paint from the $1.00 paint sets I used with the 2nd graders. I think it is the first time I have signed a piece of art this year. All of this taking place in me is aided by the incredible community of artists and art lovers here at TST. Thanks to all of you.******And a last, big-as-humanly-possible hug goes to you, Natasha, for all you do here. Your kindness and generosity are boundless."


http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/
















Marja, creator of Glass Elements, created this striking, awe-inspiring piece titled, "Piha - My Favorite Landscape."


"This week's theme inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace a technique I just recently learned - photokilnforming," said Marja. "The process involves selecting a photo or image, transfering it onto glass and then sandblasting to create a relief of the photo. The image is then brought to life by painting the relief with high fire enamels and subsequently firing in the kiln. For this piece, I've also slumped it into a gentle curve so it can stand on its own."

"The photo that I used for this piece is of one of my favorite places and definitely my favorite landscape - Piha Beach in New Zealand, where I married my husband in 2006. The piece is simple, yet elegant, and brings me undefinable joy, just like the memories of my wedding day."


















Giraffelabel created this exceptionally fabulous RUTHIE bag.

"I love the proust quote "...having new eyes." I feel like most of my pieces come from being able to see one thing, but imagine what it could be," said Giraffelabel. "I guess that is what most of artwork is. Some people (the artists) can see what could be, and some people just need a nudge in the right direction. And, after reading the theme for the week, this fabric just completely stood out to me. I love the colors, the flowers, the leaves...these are the things I like to see in a beautiful landscape."

http://www.giraffelabel.etsy.com/















Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, created this incredibly stunning piece titled, “An artist’s landscape of the soul”.

"As I worked, I wasn’t conscious of what kind of a message I might send with the images I chose; I truly just played with layers," said Felicia. "But now that it’s complete, I see it as a reflection of my artist’s soul – real and surreal, light and dark, colorful and subdued. Sort of like a favorite quote by Walt Whitman: “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself. I am large, I contain multitudes.”"

http://anotherbrightidea.etsy.com/









Let me just say that I loved this theme and started working on a piece shortly after it was unveiled. However, that piece was put on hold for now as another was begging to come to life. One afternoon, I sat here staring at the prompt, then went to work on getting Janet Davies piece up. Somewhere between staring at the prompt, re-reading the incredible response to Monday's post and reading Janet's words, I had an idea that needed to come to life.


I began to think about the idea of "landscaping". I thought about the ways we work to plant new flowers and then trim and care for them throughout the year. Don't our souls need the same type of nourishment, the same love, the same attention and care? In the last week, I've come to realize that we, as a society, need to take better care of ourselves and one another. We need to create special moments where we remind those around us how much we love them...but how? We can't call our loved ones at work over and over to say, "I love you," for they would surely get fired. We can't waltz into our child's classroom whenever we feel like it and tell them we think they are wonderful, gorgeous beings because we'd be quite a distraction to the teacher not to mention very uncool to our kids.


So, I created these. Here are 10 "Remember" notes. Each are roughly the size of business cards and contain a little message, an image, both and, in some cases, a blank space so you can write something all your own for the person you love. Then, stick them in your child's lunchbox or under their pillow. Drop them in your spouses or partners book or paper as they leave the house. Send one to a friend inside a card or a box of chocolate. Or simply leave them in public spaces for people to find. People can save them in their handbag, their wallet, wherever as a reminder of how much we love them. They can see it anytime they want...it's our little gift to them.


Creating these pieces helped me to turn confusion into something positive. I literally began to feal joy and love ... it was wonderful. Thank you for the inspiration, Amanda, Janet and every beautiful soul here.


Here are samples of the "Remember" notes. On your left, you will see the front of the card and then the image directly beneath is what it says or looks like on the back.

















































Carrie Guzzino, creator of Wash My Cloth, created this exceptionally fantastic purse titled, ""Marcel's New Eyes".


"I was inspired by the very first quote: "The only real voyage ofdiscovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having neweyes." ~Marcel Proust," said Carrie. "In having new eyes. I have been working on purses that aren't your run of the mill shape and design. Crocheting the bag and then building onto that base to create a sculpted purse has become a focus of late. For this purse, I took a basic purse, which women use and need, then mixed it with something not usually associated with humanlife. The flow of the snake wrapping itself around the bag and forming the handle was my version of a Dali painting.















Patti, creator of Peacoxcreations, created these beautfully done cards.

"Thought it was great that "Landscape of the Soul" coincided with Earth Day so I couldn't resist the Emerson quote, "Earth laughs in flowers"! I created two greeting cards to express his thought," said Patti. "And then when I had my fun stamp out, I did a couple more cards that have a "Happy Retirement" stamped inside as well. I hope they will inspire folks like me, who retired long ago, to really enjoy their lives."

http://peacoxcreations.etsy.com/
http://patti-peacox.blogspot.com/











Bird, creator of Crow Tarot, Kitty Hawke, Cat Bird Crystals, and One Earth, One Tribe, shared this beautifully inspiring work.

"With a theme like that, channelling seemed very much the appropriate thing to do for this week. :-) Once again, a Guide's Roundtable on the topic, tho' this time augmented by quotes as the prompts. All quotes are from The Quotations Page (www.quotationspage.com/).

Benedetto
In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

Well, the path does not HAVE to be long & arduous. That is a choice, as any other. But the Quest... that is a true thing. The search is the thing, the Journey, that creates the landscape of your soul. The hills, the valleys, the mountains, the plains, the fertile seas and seemingly barren deserts – all are a part of your Journey, both here and in the higher realms in which your soul resides.

You create this landscape as you live your life, every moment reflected in its nature, its creations both here & beyond. The exciting thing about this is that if you do not like the landscape that is surrounding you at this moment, you can easily change it. Imagine yourself in your inner world, walking along a path. What surrounds you at this moment? Are you feeling dry, barren of inspiration? You might see a desert, where life teems, but in struggle. Picture it blooming, becoming a lush plain of green grass & flowers. Or whatever else signifies creativity to you. Revel in this new landscape, bring its essence to you – what does it taste like, smell like? What sounds are in the air, what sights do you see? As you grow this lush oasis in your heart, picture it spreading throughout your whole life. Revisit this landscape as often as you need, whenever you are feeling in need of refreshment. Make it a part of you & let yourself bloom! :-)

Bright Blessings & Good Fortune! :-)
-Benedetto, Angel, and High Guide of Light for Bird


Muse Adriata
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.
Henry Ward Beecher (1813 - 1887), Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit, 1887

Yes, this is truth. You cannot create other than what you are. You can imagine things other than you are, and explore them in your works, but even so, they will still contain what you are. This is not a limitation. It is a signature, if you will, marking a piece as uniquely yours.

You can learn a lot about a person, by watching and studying their creations. Including yourself. Life is a Journey of learning who you really are, and why you have chosen the things you have chosen to be. Life is a Journey of exploration, of adding bits and pieces to your soul's wisdom, like sewing jewels on a dress, and just as sparkly, and as precious. ;-D

Don't be afraid of what your works might tell you about yourself. Remember, nothing is carved in stone. Just as stone wears away over time, so too you can choose to change anything about yourself that you no longer wish to carry with you.

But at the same time, be careful of changing yourself to be what you think the World will want you to be. The World does not care who you are, other than that you should be your truest Self. All things exist somewhere, and all beings exist somewhere. So you have the freedom to be exactly who you wish to be, beholden to no-one but yourself.

Bright Blessings & Good Fortune! :-)
-Adriata, Muse & High Guide of Light for Bird



Lady Coco
Man is his own star and the soul that can render an honest and perfect man commands all light, all influence, all fate.
John Fletcher (1579 - 1625), 1647

Humans are indeed their own selves, whether called star or soul or pizza or any of the other names that have been invented for the essence of a being. It is a striving, this desire for perfection, and tho' it is known that true perfection will only be achieved at the very end of days, a form of perfection can be achieved in this world.

It is a worthy thing to strive for, this perfection, although it is also important to remember that it should remain a striving. A descent into obsession is not a useful thing.

As you seek to achieve this perfection, and indeed the more you come closer to it, the more you will find that your outer world will change to reflect this new inner world you have chosen. So in that sense, yes, you do indeed find that your world is literally yours to create.

So create it well, dear ones! :-)
Lady Coco, High Guide of Light for Bird

Jeremiah
Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.
Henry Miller (1891 – 1980)

True, true. If you concentrate only on yourself, then that is all you will see. By doing so, you miss out on all the beauty that surrounds you, the beautiful variety that is the prime source of all. Both you and your works are diminished by this.

The landscape of your soul becomes featureless and barren – a vast empty wasteland spreading as far as the mind can experience.

So, experience Art & Life & Joy! Get out into the world and revel in all it has to offer you! See everything that is happening around you – the joy, the pain, the living, the dying, all the cycles that surround you in endless patterns of rebirth & variation.

Bright Blessings & Good Fortune! :-)

-Jeremiah, Muse & Guide of Light for Bird

Talismans by Crow Tarotfound athttp://www.crowtarot.etsy.com/

Our Other Etsy Shops

http://www.kittyhawke.etsy.com/

http://www.catbirdcrystals.etsy.com/

http://www.oneearthonetribe.etsy.com/

Did these works touch your soul?

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

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