Stand UP

Hello, hello, hello all you beautiful, creative, talented TST-ers!!

How are you? How has life been? I want to hear from ALL of you. Let's chat!!

I'd like to start by giving Amanda Fall, creator of Persistent Green and Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, a BIG round of applause (feel free to throw in a few cartwheels and somersaults as well, if you like) for maintaining the TST for me!! Thank you both for picking amazing things to imagine and incredible people to celebrate. I LOVED it!! And to all who tuned in to read and/or comment, thank you for being you and celebrating these fine women!

I'm filled with a million thoughts and ideas but instead of thrusting them all upon you right now, I'm going to share as we go along in the days to come. The most important moment I want to share right now is the one pitcured above. That is me. I made a LIFE LONG dream come true!

I am a Native New Yorker who has always had a burning desire to surf however there was always something that held me back...time, place, fear, Jaws. Yet, after all that I'd been through prior to this trip, I thought to myself, "What the hell. Why not really shake things up."

Yes, I faced many fears as I stepped into the water with this huge board. I am proud to admit that I stood up 7 times (2 of those times I had awesome runs). However, I also fell, I screwed up, I got tossed, I got slammed but I got back up. I got back up. Sounds a lot like life, no? I wish I could explain what it felt like to move with gorgeous waves or what it felt like to sit in the palm of nature's hand. Every time I think of it I can't help but want to shout, "I DID IT!" It's something I did for me...a challenge I rose to not because of what anyone else would think but because I wanted it for myself. I'd allowed the waves of life to crush me and been lost in the water for awhile. It was nice to resurface and breathe deeply again.

We need our dreams and our challenges as much as we need to accomplish them. In doing that, we grow stronger. We believe more deeply in ourselves and that allows us to share more of our big, overflowing, unique hearts in our art and with the world.

There are more challenges ahead for me. I am working to face down daily challenges and giving myself permission to fall, get tossed, and get slammed with the understanding that I will get back up. And I'm trying to share some of those with my little one. I want her to know how to surf both in the water and out.

What's a lifelong dream of yours? Have you accomplished it? If not, why not? How can the TST help you to get there? You can do anything. Just believe in YOU!

I've missed you. It's nice to be back :) Breathe deep, let's add even more living to the stories of our lives. (And I wrote a little moreabout all this on CreativeNachos.com if you feel like reading more.)

Celebrate this Artist, Artwork by KD

Happy Wednesday! This is Amanda again (Persistent Green), filling in for Natasha. As I enjoy this sunny and bright-bright-blue day, I think of all our friends here at TST and hope you're all having a wonderful day . . . including, of course, our lovely Natasha and her family on their well-deserved break.

I've been wondering which shop/artist I wanted to feature for today's celebration. Something fun. Colorful. Unusual. Distinctive. Then it came to me: Artwork by KD! When I first discovered Kathy's work, I was so inspired and excited that I immediately sent her a note telling her so. I hope you also fall in love with her work today.

Kathy's incredible jewelry features almost entirely recycled materials, like these earrings made from plastic bottles:

You can view their listing here. Affordable, colorful, and fun--how can you top that?

Please check out her shop, which features all different styles and colors of jewelry (along with other recyled items like gift boxes). Kathy is also an incredibly talented musician. You can check out more details at her website, Kevin and Kathy. She also runs a blog here.

Enjoy exploring, and have a fantastic day as we celebrate this artist!

Imagine Highs and Lows

How would you like to see the Grand Canyon?


Down low, on foot or on horseback ...

Or from up high ... through a glass floor?

Would you dare to walk out on that glass floor? Or would you rather feel the ground under your feet? Which would you choose?

Celebrate this Artist, Jess Gonacha

Hello! This is Amanda of Persistent Green, stepping in to host our Wednesday celebrations while Natasha is away. The rain is pouring here in South Dakota, so I'm particularly delighted to introduce an artist who makes me think of sunshine and happiness.

Jess Gonacha Swift is someone I've admired for quite a while now. Her style is immediately recognizable as all her own: colorful, full of joy and life. This is one of my favorite prints, from her Etsy shop:

This print, titled "this is all i need," is for sale here.

Jess also hosts one of my favorite blogs for inspiration, called Pecannoot. You'll find images of abundance from many artists, along with Jess's thoughtful responses. If you need a pick-me-up, Pecannoot can't be beat.

Please take a moment today to celebrate this artist, visit her various web sites, and leave a little love if you feel inspired. She very recently got married, so congratulations are also in order. Let's celebrate, and enjoy the rest of your Wednesday!

Imagine ... a Hollywood star

Welcome to Imagine Monday! I'm Felicia, honored to be a guest blogger for Natasha, who is enjoying some relaxing time away with her family. Imagine ...


I used to think as I looked at the Hollywood night, “there must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me, dreaming of becoming a movie star.” - Marilyn Monroe

Probably all of us imagined being a leading lady at one time or another.

Who would you star as ...

Ilsa in “Casablanca” …

Or Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s?”

Or is there another movie you dreamed of playing the lead in?

Theme 31: Participant's Choice With a Twist

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: After all the craziness of this summer, my little family has decided that we need a little time away to reconnect, heal and prepare for a strong comeback this Fall. Fall is more like New Year's to me than the new year is anyway. So, I will be stepping back now till the very beginning of September but don't go away, I will be popping in occassionally AND Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea and Amanda, creator of Persistent Green will be posting fun things on Monday and Wednesday so tune in and celebrate them!!!!

PARTICIPANT'S CHOICE WITH A TWIST

With the past Participant Choice themes you have been asked to pick one theme and create something. Well this time we're going to get a little crazy. Feel free to pick up to 5 themes and create, create, create. Why? Because this time we are extending the submission deadline!! This special edition of the Thursday Sweet Treat will be unveiled on Thursday, September 3rd!! That's right you get almost 3 weeks to play!! The summer is coming to an end and Fall will be upon us before we know it so let's have some fun!!!

There have been a total of 30 themes since this blog started. There is a list of all the themes to the right of this post. (Thanks for the suggestion, Felicia.) I tried to add links to each one but my computer was protesting. I'm sorry. The list begins with the first theme in January 2009 and runs through to the present day. In order to view a theme just click on a month in the archive and check it out.

Please feel free to choose up to 5 themes that you would like to create something for. 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, SEPTEMBER 3rd unveiling. Please submit your response to Natasha@creativenachos.com no later than end of day Wednesday, September 2nd if you would like it to be posted on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd. 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 theme you chose and 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, celebrate summer and play!

Sail the Seas of Purple Passion With Magnificent New Works from Talented, Passionate, Inspiring Artists

Purple...inspiring, healing, inviting, gorgeous...these are just some of the words that come to mind when you view the amazing works created by a group of passionate, talented, superb, professional artists.

This week's creations are a feast for the heart, mind and soul. They will stir the passion within you.

Please join me as we sail through deep purple waters.....






Kerstin, creator of K's Designs, created these two stunning pieces titled Juicy Royal Purple Arrowheads and Coin Pearl Eternity Handmade earrings.

http://kerstinhanson.etsy.com/

Juicy Royal Purple Arrowheads
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29108419

Coin Pearl Eternity Handmade Earrings
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29157236













Agathe, creator of Meherio68, created this sensational Purple Passion necklace.

"This Purple Passion necklace is a true piece of serendipity. It just came together so easily— I just had to love it. Be led by passion!" said Agathe.

Blog: http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/
Etsy shop: http://meherio68.etsy.com/
DaWanda shop: http://lebarduvent.dawanda.com/













Jodi, creator of Jodi Horgan Beaded Art to Wear, created this truly magnificent piece titled, Purple Circles Pendant.

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










Salvaged Expression created this super awesome piece titled, Ugly Hat #4 or Purple Eccentricity.

"When this weeks theme came out I knew I had a job to do, an ugly hat that demanded to be sifted through my fingers and into being," said Salvaged. "So I dove into my yarn stash which is an activity not unlike being asked to eat 3 gallons of your favorite iced cream; fun but in an ammount which could be dangerous. The result is this quirky hat which I call simply Ugly Hat #4 or Purple Eccentricity. "



http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com/












Maureen, a talented artist, created this beautiful piece.

"I was so sure that my Purple Passion would be swirls and all sorts of rounded edges," said Maureen. "But I think the end product tells me: let ALL of my life--even the more mundane squares and other right angles, be ripe and overflowing with exuberance."

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/













Lorrie, creator of Lennymud, created this fabulous piece which was inspired by Royal Purple.

http://www.lennymud.etsy.com/












Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, created these two gorgeous pieces titled, Purple Bleeding Hearts and Purple Mums.

"I love flowers," said Felicia. "Here’s two of my passions, digitally altered. I don’t know if purple bleeding hearts or purple mums really exist, but they do in MY world!"


http://anotherbrightidea.etsy.com/
http://www.feliciakramer.blogspot.com/


“Purple mums”



“Purple bleeding hearts”











Trina, creator of Woven Chains Jewelry, created these fantastic pieces titled, Purple Niobium and Sterling Bracelet and Purple Chandelier Pendant.

"What a great inspriation -- my favorite color. My problem wasn't starting, it was figuring out how to stop," said Trina.

http://wovenchains.etsy.com/

Purple Niobium and Sterling Bracelet



Purple Chandelier Pendant
















Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this phenomenal watercolor titled, "Move."

"This week I painted with no real plan in mind--just letting the colors flow and dance. The experience gave me some much-needed stress relief!" said Amanda.

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














Marja, creator of Glass Elements, created this wonderfully stunning Deep Purple Passion - Fused Glass Pendant. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29224970

"What better signifies passion than a heart? Full of love, full of passion…
This unique deep purple glass pendant was created by layering a piece of transparent red glass over a patterned blue dichroic - fused together in a kiln and then shaped into the heart shown here. I just love the color and shape!" said Marja.

http://glasselements.etsy.com/

Phoenix Ravenswing, creator of Crow Tarot, Kitty Hawke, Cat Bird Crystals and One Earth One Tribe, created these stellar pieces.

Talismans by Crow Tarot
found 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/



Spring Spirit Worry Stone & Cozy

"The stone is from the ever-wonderful Lisianblue (Lisianblue at Artfire), from her latest mutual experimenting/care package," said Phoenix Ravenswing. "It was so wonderful, and so kyool to me that it just happened to be in the Treat colors that I was determined to find some way to add it in to this week's Treat. It's a sample, so wrapping it, my first instinct, was out. But what better thing than a carry-cozy, so you can have it w/you always? :-)"






"What do you do w/an old, nondescript, & partially-missing candle ring and the florals you're seeking to close out? You combine them and in the process come up w/this very kyool piece! :-D The star was an 'accident' of creation, but such a kyool one, this piece is going in my personal collection! :-D"





"Spirit's Rebirth Basket was created in stages. The Fantasy Floral was done first, and I experimented w/having it in vases of a couple of different heights, then was thinking of having it as a wreath when I found this battered basket at the local Reuse Center. Most people would have just seen a damaged chicken-basket, but I saw the perfect place to house my floral spray. So the rebirth of a basket, in purple. "
:-)"







"PurpleSeas QuartzQosy came about as the failed beginning of a bag. I realized very quickly it was going to be off-center, so was getting ready to frog it, when I thought 'Pendant!' instead, and went in search of a quartz crystals."







"Purple Calla Lilly Bag is another experiment in bagmaking, this one more successful. The shape comes from the addition of stitches in the back. When it was finished, I was thinking that the shape of it reminded me of my sis-in-spirit's fave flower - the calla lily, and wondering if they ever came in purple. Do they? :-)"





"Purple Hazy Daisy Vasey was at first another bag, this time doing my best to not get the raised back of the Purple Calla Lily. Having accomplished this, more of less, my nest question was what to do w/the results, as the pattern I'd established had made it rather tall & thin to be a talisman bag. So, a vase cozy came to me, and the appropriate glass just happened to be sitting there on the TV table, which made it seem like kismet. :-)"







"These two pics were also happy 'accidents'. Feeling kind of punchy yesterday evening, after packing boxes all day and tackling both my past and the mess in the garage, I decided in a moment of something to snap a pic of the 'Spirit's Rebirth' basket as I was carrying it inside. Here are the happy results. :-)"







"I've been going through some spiritual challenges of late - if I hadn't already known this, the way I've pounced on this week's theme should have told me. :-D Desperately seek the peace of purple's passion, me. :-) Here's some of it in my local flower pots, I think at this point the only by-me-planted flowers that survive. :-)"

This week, I looked around and found a fabulous new purple items. These folks do not know they are in the TST yet...I am going to write to surprise them. More artists to celebrate and invite to play - YAY!


http://mnmtreasures.etsy.com/

NEW Spring Bouquet Jada Oval Belt Buckle - Wearable Art

http://kittyempire3.etsy.com/

Crows and Moon Purple Vinyl Purse

http://figtreeboutique.etsy.com/

Wings for Change purse key ring combo by FigTreeBoutique

http://DAMEcreations.etsy.com

Snow White and Sleeping Beauty - Fairytale Hobo Bag - Handmade Vintage Fabric OOAK

After viewing this spectacularly gorgeous TST are you feeling creative? Are you ready to just dive in and start creating for the next theme??

Well, the next theme is theme is.........."Participants Choice - with a twist!".

(For those who are new to this, this is when people are invited to choose any one of the 30 themes that the TST has done and create something brand new...only this time there's a little twist!)

Start choosing your fav themes and then tune in tomorrow for the twist!

Celebrate This Artist, Little Creek Yarn!

Namibia III -- Dead Vlei
One of the most striking landscapes on earth, much photographed -- google "dead vlei picture" and see for yourself. Absolutely amazing. This yarn was inspired by that place.

Today, you are invited to celebrate Little Creek Yarn!

LittleCreekYarn.etsy.com was submitted by Kelsey, creator of Caffeinated Frenzy, who said, "LittleCreekYarn is an artist I've worked with before. 50% of her profits go to charity, and she does some really interesting things, like yarn spun out of old fishing net and yarn made from vintage clothing."

Please stop by LittleCreekYarn.etsy.com, grab some gorgeous yarn and leave her a message letting her know how much you dig her work!

If You Can Dance to It, You Can Imagine It

If you could have had a dancing role in one of these two movies which would it be?

Or perhaps another dancing film??