Imagine Challenging Yourself....

to climb Mount Everest

or complete the Tour de France

Which one would YOU do??

Treats, Treats and MORE Treats

Note: The Imagine Series will appear tomorrow as I was not around yesterday.




Today, I am surrounded by things that make me happy! First, I'm working hard to re-open my shop so I'm working on a new piece for it (PSST...I'm also working on my TST piece for this week, what about you?)

When I'm not working, I like to surf, dream and play. I'm always looking for inspiration and this week I found it in three fabulous places.

It's the new year and what better way to kick off January than by finding a creative way to brighten the grey skies and add a little warmth to the chilly weather. Jodi, creator of Jodi Horgan - Beaded Art to Wear, is doing just that by sharing her heart. A friend of hers started a truly fabulous website for girls between the ages of 8-14 called iTwixie. I want to hang out there and I'm way past the age limit! LOL! Well, Jodi is sponsoring an ultra-cool project developed especially for iTwixie and you have to check it out. Please visit Jodi's blog post:
http://jodihorgan.blogspot.com/2010/01/sharing-my-heart-with-you.html to read all about what she has done then pop over to iTwixie. I wish this site had been around when I was a kid. Also, make note of the awesome kits in Jodi's shop - you might just want to snag one for yourself!

When you are done there, hop, skip and jump over to another spectacular little blog, Trail of Hearts, started by the one, the only, the fabulously funny Lorrie!! If you like Hearts - you know the ones you find on Etsy, the ones we give and receive with equal bliss - then you will love this Six Degrees of Separation style, twisty mountain trail site. I predict you will be hooked after your very first visit!

Finally, we've been talking about hearts so how's about sharing some of yours with a fellow TSTer and a super amazing artist! Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, has posted a questionairre on her blog, Another Bright Idea, in order to help her build her business. When you have a few moments, please stop by and share your thoughts with her. It will help so much!!

Theme 41: Art Breaks Forth

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.

"At the far end of the sky, where daylight begins, a dense radiance like a shooting star breaks forth. It weakens as it advances, as its outline takes shape in the ether. Her husband emerges from the light and comes toward her, taller than the palms, walking on water in his white summer suit and Panama hat. He is in no hurry. Celia half expects him to pull pink tea roses from behind his back as he used to when he returned from his trips to distant provinces."
-Excerpt from Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia

"He stops at the ocean's edge, smiles almost shyly, as if he fears disturbing her, and stetches out a colossal hand. His blue eyes are like lasers in the night. The beams bounce off his fingernails, five hard blue shells. They scan the beach, illuminating shells and sleeping gulls, then focus on her. The porch turns blue, ultraviolet. Her hands, too, are blue. Celia squints through the light, which dulls her eyesight and blurs the palms on the shore."
-Excerpt from Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia

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, January 20th if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, January 21st. 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 this theme..play, explore, imagine and bring your dream to life!

P.S. Have you met Nachito #2? www.creativenachos.com

The TST 2010

One year ago this month, I began the TST. I had no idea what an amazing array of artists I would meet nor had I any clue about how deeply I would be inspired. Last year, I created works I'd only ever dreamt about and I watched many, many talented artists create unforgettable works that often sold right away. I plan to celebrate the anniversary of this blog soon. There will be more to come on that.

For now, I wanted to share my thoughts for 2010. You all know the challenges I faced last year which ended with an insane move. The move, my daughter getting sick, the holidays, everything required that I step away from the things I love, including this wonderful place, for a bit. But I am back now and I plan to bring the TST back full force. However, there is one thing you should know.

Ready?

I'm pregnant :) I think you all know what that means to me. I'm SO thrilled to be able to share now. So, I've been a little more tired than normal but doing well. I am going to change the format of the TST slightly so I have a little more energy.

Each Monday I will continue to do the Imagine/What if series as I know people enjoy that ...I do as well. Then Thursday will be the Thursday Sweet Treat and Friday will be the new theme as normal (although this week the theme will be unveiled on Thursday.) So all of that remains the same. For the days in between I will be sharing thoughts on art and life and sharing more about all of us and new artists. I am not sure what day this piece will appear on - Tuesday or Wednesday - it simply depends on which day I have more energy. I am also trying to get around and read blogs I just find that sometimes I crash and have little energy for anything at all...but I'm working on it.

Soooo, I have a request. If you are having a giveaway, have a new piece to share, or a blog post that you really want others to read, please send me an email and I will share with people. I want to help others to promote their terrific work as much as I can so please feel free to send and share by simply emailing me at natasha@creativenachos.com.

I'm so thrilled to step into 2010 with you. I'm excited for the magical creations we have yet to bring to life and all the stories we have yet to share. I believe that 2010 will be the year of "the Bloom." I think it will be the year when projects bloom into something more, dreams bloom like never before and we find a whole new level on which to create, share and promote one another's work. Here's to a fabulous year ahead!

Imagine Your Home...

The Thursday Sweet Treat is BACK! Look for a new theme this Thursday and please tune in tomorrow for an overall TST update!!

We all have those moments where we dream of redoing some room in our house or apartment. What do you think? Would you rather redo the livingroom ...

photo credit: Gridley & Graves

Country Living.com


Or

the kitchen

photo credit: Keith Scott Morton

Country Living.com

OR???

PS I'd love to hear your thoughts in Jello, creativity and childhood! www.creativenachos.com

Imagine Treating Yourself...

Yesterday morning, I made myself a delicious, delightful breakfast. I made waffles topped with butter, syrup, blueberries, bananas and strawberries. I was truly in heaven. I've decided that this year I need to give myself more of those moments of happiness. How about you?


So today, I'm wondering would you rather have some insanely delectable Belgian waffles OR.....you fill in that blank...

(Check out Waffle-Recipe.com for more)

P.S. What's your relationship like to time? Check out creativenachos.com

Happy New Year!!!!

Welcome to 2010! Is it just me or does that the mere mention of that number bring a Space Odessey to mind?? LOL! I hope that wherever you are, this year is already off to a good start :)

I'm not a resolution maker. Instead, I wrote a letter to the Universe talking about what I learned last year and what I hope for in the future. As I reached the close of the year, I took a serious time out for myself and I realized that while some of my endeavors have been fabulous, I was not feeling fulfilled. I need to be creating -that's what I do - and yet I stopped. I'd gotten too "busy" to pursue my passion, my love. Whether it's with words or images (and I'm no drawing whiz LOL), I need to be using my hands, heart, mind and being to create or I don't feel whole.

So, this year I will be making more journals! I'm REALLY excited about them. They have taken a wonderful turn. My Etsy shop will be reopening very soon. I want to play more. There are far too many times when I get "serious" and really what does it accomplish? I think life is far more fun AND productive when I am playing. I plan to stay in touch more, spend more time experiencing life with my little one and sharing life with friends, family and all of you.

What do you want more of this year? What's your hope for 2010? Write it, draw it, share it here and let's work to make 2010 the year that we made strides toward our dreams....the year dreams began to come true.

© Image Copyright Natasha Reilly 2010.