Imagine Riding Along...

ANNOUNCEMENT: I am completely over the moon right now...why you ask? My little family has a new home!! Yeah!! We will be moving in a little less than two weeks...I will share more tomorrow in a longer post but I wanted to let you know and thank you ALL sooo much for all the wishes and prayers and good thoughts you sent along. They helped!!!

Now...today would you rather be

Riding a rollercoaster .....OR

Riding a ferris wheel?

Theme 38: In the Stars

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.



We have all turned our faces to the night sky at one time or another. Was it to look for Orion, the Big Dipper or another constellation? Was it to watch for shooting stars? Was it to make a wish? Whatever magic you have sought from the stars, bring it to life in any way imaginable.

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/MSU/M.Sun et al; H-alpha/Optical: SOAR(MSU/NOAO/UNC/CNPq-Brazil)/M.Sun et al.

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, October 21st if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, October 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, enjoy the starlight!

Incredibly Talented Artists Invite You To A Sensational Polka Dot Dance

This week, fabulously talented, incredibly creative professionals gathered to create new works using polka dots. The result are works of art that make you want to dance, sing, and celebrate color, style and the power of the imagination.

I invite you to join in this festive dance with these truly fantastic artists!





Kristi B, creator of Dream Some, created these sensational piece.

“These 2 pieces were made during a Bronze and Copper clay workshop,” said Kristi. “I've worked with Bronze Clay before but this is the first time using Copper and I think the combination is wonderful and so much fun!!! The end results are adorable!”

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32421368

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32421718












Maureen, a talented artist, created this gorgeous piece.

"When I sat down to paint, I thought I was gonna do a page of overlapping circles . . . but not surprisingly, the painting turned itself into underwater bubbles . . . that's from me breathing underwater!!!" said Maureen. "I guess AquaMaureen just had to get back into the ocean, any way she could!!"

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/














Althea, creator of Salvaged Expression, created these stellar pieces.

"I call these the Dancing Dots and frankly they're just fun, simple and silly!" said Althea. "I used to do stick figure flip books in the corners of all my notebooks so it was fun to dip back into that stick world I had so much fun coming up with. Also, yes that is a stick John Travolta."

http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com/
















Sema, creator of the Zazzle REFLECTIONS shop, created this magnificent design called, Retro Dots.

"I created a single pattern in photoshop and then played with the placement to create different product designs," said Sema.

http://www.zazzle.com/semas87*
To read more about this design please check out her Sema's blog:
http://reflections-todaysdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/10/retro-dots.html
















Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this amazing handpainted, hand-bound journal.

"I love this cheery, upbeat theme," said Amanda. "I've been in a journal-making mode lately, so here's my latest creation, with happy polka dots dancing right off the cover."

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














Trina, creator of Woven Chains Jewelry, created these truly beautiful earring and pendant sets.

"The Mad Hatter's Polka Dots"

"For some reason, these beads remind me of The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland," said Trina. "They are so fun, bright and cheery."


"Pretty in Purple"

"What can I say, I love purple," said Trina. "How can you have a Polka Dot Party without purple?"

http://wovenchains.etsy.com/

This week, I looked around and found Polka Dots Dancing among Etsy artist 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://butteredparsnips.etsy.com/

FOUR Fabric Covered Buttons - Happy Bunnies and Cupcakes

http://ongossamerwings.etsy.com/

Children's fairy wings - Polka dots

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

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/MSU/M.Sun et al; H-alpha/Optical: SOAR(MSU/NOAO/UNC/CNPq-Brazil)/M.Sun et al.

Well, the next theme is theme is.........."In the Stars".

Celebrate This Artist with Two Fab Shops, Lusitania and Entropia!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: If you did not have a chance to visit the TST Clinic yesterday and check out Funky Monkey Girls two shops, please stop by and take a peek!

Lusitania
Mandala Felt Bag

Have you been to Lusitania or Entropia? The delicious colors and fabulous style of both shops will truly delight you!!

Entropia
Wood Necklace

I invite you to visit these shops and share a little love today!

Welcome to the TST Clinic Featuring the Funky Monkey Girls!

Birds in the Desert - From the Funky Monkey Girls Shop

Welcome to the 3rd TST Clinic! In this space, we have an opportunity to make a real, positive difference. We will work to help our fellow artists, crafters and small business owners by providing constructive criticism on whatever they would like to share - a blog, a shop, a new piece of work, etc.

There are a couple of rules. It's nerve-wrecking to step out onto the TST stage, expose something that means the world to you and say tell me what you think. Keep that in mind when you are sharing your thoughts. Allow yourself to feel what it would feel like to be on the stage here.

Then, listen to what the artist has said below, review her shop and when you return to comment, please think of 3 positive things to say and 3 constructive things.


Today we welcome Jolene and Donna, Jewelery Designers & Owners of Funky Monkey Girls and VivaMexico.

Let Me Worry All About It - From the VivaMexico Shop

Jolene and Donna are looking for advice, thoughts, ideas for improving both of their shops.

I ask ALL of you out there to take a moment, visit their shops, and, with your heart AND business mind, share some advice.

Thank you, Jolene and Donna, for opening up and inviting us all in to help.

Imagine Singing Out Loud....

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Please forgive my MIA status on the TST. I'm still hunting for a place and got hit with a headcold that knocked me out this weekend. Today, I finally got to go back and comment and bask in all the fabulous, thoughtful TST comments. You are all so amazing!


So, imagine that you are given the opportunity to sing for one night and one night only in a huge venue. You will get to perform your favorite song ...what would that be?? AND would you rather be the lead singer OR a backup singer?????

Theme 37: Polka Dot Dancing

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.



Tell me, what do you see? Are they polka dots or colorful bubbles? Do they float through the air or cover a wall? Are they the border of a frame or a dress? You be the judge. Mix it up or keep things separate, be bold and colorful or quiet and reserved...whatever you do have a blast doing the Polka - dot Dance.

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, October 14th if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, October 15th. 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, let your imagination dance!