Magnificent, Professional Artists Give Gifts That Will Inspire YOU

PLEASE NOTE: I'd love to hear your thoughts about Letting Your Colors Out. Please visit Creative Nachos if you have a moment :)

To everyone who wrote or emailed, I'm still here! LOL...this baby is just testing me LOL! I will let you know when those contractions are real and the new little munchkin arrives. Till then...LET'S PLAY!!!

I was SO excited by all of the submissions here. This week we have new faces, returning faces, regular wonderful faces and all of them made me cheer!! You are SO wonderful for giving yourselves a gift...whether it was time or creativity or both you deserve it. I celebrate YOU!! Then on top of that to share the gift of your art with all the folks here - well, I don't know about you but I feel exceptionally lucky to be able to bask in this beauty.

Each piece is filled with color and a true sense of celebration and peace. These professional, talented artists have inspired me to create and keep giving to myself and others.

Want a present? Follow me!



Cori, creator of the Cori Berg blog, created this truly stunnning piece.

"I think forgiving ourselves for our flaws, our mistakes, our incompleteness is actually harder than forgiving other people," said Cori. "It forces us to go through the self embarassment of admitting parts of ourselves do not add up to the person we want to be."

Please visit Cori's blog to read the rest of this inspiring post.

http://coriberg.blogspot.com/

Althea, creator of Salvaged Expression, created this fantastic piece.

"This week I gave myself the gift of a little time with my to do list including finalizing the sketch for a friend's tattoo," said Althea. "As it turns out she happened to be ready willing and able to get it done this week so I decided to submit it as my craft. As you can see I left it open for the tattoo artist to put his own style in and we made a few changes so I'm really happy about the part I played in this one."

http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com/

Kelsey, creator of Caffeinated Frenzy, created this unforgettable piece.

"Something nice for myself- Last week I read a book," said Kelsey. "Probably for the first time in about two years (not counting school textbooks). Which seems a little silly, but giving oneself enough time to actually complete a book can be difficult sometimes. So for this challenge, I knit a book. This work in progress prototype is a soft hand knit cover book with hand stitched binding."

I will be posting updates about this project on my blog,http://www.caffeinatedfrenzy.blogspot.com/

Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this gorgeous untitled mixed media in progress.

"I loved Tasha's suggestion of giving ourselves a gift this week," said Amanda. "I knew exactly what my gift was--an evening of paint-play, which I haven't treated myself to in a while. Boy, it felt good to dive in and get my hands covered with color again!"

http://persistentgreen.com/









Trina, creator of Woven Chains Jewelry, created these amazing pieces.

"I have been gone for way longer than I ever wanted!" said Trina. "Things have been so incredibly busy my way, and I just haven't even had time to breathe. How lucky I was to come back to such a special theme. The gift I chose to give myself was the time to participate with all of you this week."


"What that gift led me to do was two really cheerful, colorful pendants. Both just make me smile! The first is my "Disco Ball" and the second is "The Rainbow in the Sunshine."


"I'm so glad to have the time to play this week, and I really hope I get to stay and play for a while."


http://wovenchains.etsy.com/














Natasha, creator of DoodleStar, created this piece.

This week was a rollercoaster ride with contractions and the end of a class. While resting I had some time to create. I love that as my life changes so, too, does my art change. I don't normally incorporate people into my work. And I'm often an 8.5 x 11 chick but things are happening and I'm just going with it all. I have no idea where this road will lead but I like the way it's moving along.

http://doodlestar.etsy.com/








Tell me, are you feeling inspired to create?? Right now?? Me TOO! Let's go for it!!



The next theme is "Vibrance Rides the Ferris Wheel" Let's PLAY with color, vibrant, gorgeous, luscious color. Paint, knit, color, get crazy. Drape yourself in it! Dance around in it! Celebrate with the intensity of feeling you feel when you ride the ferris wheel, the rollercoaster or whatever amusement park ride you like!! Celebrate the colors that explode from you when you feel fully alive!! Get it all over! Brighten the world with the exceptionally beautiful colors within YOU!!!!

Sensational Artists Choose Nature, Beauty and Art

What I find fascinating about this week is how these amazingly talented artists were given a choice to create works of art for any theme and many graviated toward creating pieces that were filled with the beauty of nature. As you move through these works, each one represents some gift that comes from nature, some incredible way that the artist sees the world. These are all sensational and make me want to spend my day outdoors basking in the magic of flowers, watching clouds and birds with the same wonder and listening to the wind giggling with the trees.


Please enjoy these Participant Choice works of art...




Althea, creator of Salvaged Expression, created this sensational piece for Theme 57: Ladybug Luck.

"I decided to head back to ladybug land and this challenge came at the perfect time since I acquired a few flower shaped pieces of glass for rings and was looking for ways to jazz them up," said Althea. "I always love finding ladybugs and putting them on my plants to protect them from pests so it seemed like a natural combination."

http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com

Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, created these gorgeous pieces titled, "Clematis Reaching for the Sun", "Rose Reaching for the Sun", "Gerbera Reaching for the Sun" and "Daisy Reaching for the Sun" for Theme 45: A Bright Bit of Sunshine Mixed With...


"What I have been working on this week fits right into one of the previous themes: Theme 45: A Bright Bit of Sunshine Mixed With…My Garden!" said Felicia.

"We have had some incredibly hot, sunny days here mixed in with incredibly dark, rainy days. On the sunny days I hurried to get my new plantings in, in between grabbing my camera to capture the newly blooming flowers reaching for the sun. I used minimal effects on these photos – only to achieve a softer effect - and I’m pleased at how they turned out."

www.etsy.com/shop/anotherbrightidea
www.feliciakramer.blogspot.com

Clematis Reaching for the Sun

Rose Reaching for the Sun

Gerbera Reaching for the Sun

Daisy Reaching for the Sun

Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this magnificent Barefoot Soul piece for Theme 17: Once Upon an Afternoon Stroll.

"I've been sick and stuck in the house for several days, so my mind has been drifting to more pleasant times and a long, peaceful stroll outside--hopefully I can enjoy a real one soon!" said Amanda. "I took this photo on my most recent "doodle walk," as we came to call it in Natasha's and my e-course. Doodle walking is when you wander with delicious patience and curiosity, meandering wherever the wind blows you, letting the journey become more important than simply "getting there." PS: I finally got a new website up and running! It's definitely not perfect yet, but I'm thrilled to have made the leap anyway."

http://PersistentGreen.com











Maureen, a talented artist created this stunning piece for a mix of themes.

"I've never submitted just a photo before to TST, but this scene really spoke to me," said Maureen. "I had planned to produce something for "Oh, the Places You'll Go." But this morning, I had my attention drawn out my front window to some plants on my deck. They, in their "Purple Passion," were a trio of blooms: one barely open, one half-open, one full. But then the full-length picture shows you "Where the Wild Things Bloom,"--in a kitty litter bucket, brand name "Fresh Step." Lots of plants don't survive transplanting. If they do, they often skip one season of blooming because they need to recuperate from the shock of transition. Well, these purple beauties could no more hold back their blooming than the sun could stop shining. And they sure weren't gonna wait until they were planted in my yard. No, when the urge came to bloom, they did, right where they were. They definitely taught me a thing or two about taking a Fresh Step toward wonderful Places, down a path where Wild Things Bloom, all the time bursting forth with wholehearted Purple Passion."

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com













Bird, creator of Crow Tarot Tours, created these beautiful pieces titled, "Little Bird", "Birdy Dance" and "Ladybird Luck" for Theme 58 : Little Bird, Little Bird.

"Little Bird"
"Bobbin' Robin I - Mike is the photographer of this piece, taken on one of our walks by the river. 06-08-10" said Bird.
"Bobbin' Robin II - Again, one of Mike's, but with the addition of a posterizing filter, since there was some disappointing blurriness in the original. I guess Robin bobbed at the wrong moment. :-D"







"Birdy Dance - When I sat down to create what became the Ladybird Locket, while I was sitting there this red-winged blackbird landed in this short bush-tree by the water and started doing this fluttery dance. After a while, he gave on of the 'Goldfinger' calls and left. I have no idea what he was up to with all the fluttering & peeping."





"Ladybird Locket - The "Ladybird Locket" came about as the result of a coaching session with the awesome Gareth of Fight-Mediocrity. He suggested that when I was at the park I create a talisman to remind me of the energies of being at the river, for those times when I needed a pick-me-up & a reminder of better, more power-full times.

This is that talisman. Verigated blues for the river, and a little ladybird for my own personal good fortune."





blog: www.AnEncouragingBird.com
www.crowtarottours.com - In Progress
Twitter: @CrowTarotTours
Etsy: www.CrowTarot.etsy.com








Natasha, creator of DoodleStar, created this piece for Theme 36: Believe in Magic.

This piece can be looked at in two ways. The first is with the tree right side up and the second is with the tree upside down and the house right side up. The idea is that so long as you have an open heart and believe that the Universe has a little magic in it, then even amid chaos, when things feel upside down, everything will be fine.

http://doodlestar.etsy.com












Are you feeling that urge to create something? I am too! So let's hop on the next theme.




This theme is a little different. Before you begin it, you will need to do something nice for YOU! You need to give yourself a little gift of kindness. Then based upon the gift or the feeling behind it, you will create something. This theme is really about loving you because we all take ourselves for granted from time to time. We all get so busy we put everyone ahead of ourselves. This theme is a little present to you. So, I ask that you and everyone you know participate in this theme - it's a special one. Theme 61 will be titled, "The Gift."

Theme 60: Participant's Choice

There have been a total of 59 themes since this blog started. Please feel free to review all of them and then choose one that you would like to create something for. Please note the themes are listed on the sidebar on the right side of this blog.

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



Important Guidelines


The work submitted must be something you have created and/or worked on between the time the theme was revealed and the Thursday unveiling. Please submit your response to Natasha@creativenachos.com no later than end of day Wednesday, June 9th if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, June 10th. 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, make something you've been dying to create!

Exceptional Artists Hang Hopes, Wishes and Dreams Upon the Limbs of Creative Trees

Note: For a cool post about Mini-Journals, head over to CreativeNachos!

Trees became the symbol of strength, hope, dreams and magic in each of the works created this week. The talented, professional, coloful, creative artists and crafters who dreamed of the beauty that trees hold harnessed a celebration, not only of nature but, of the joy of life as well.

Let's climb up upon a treetop.....



Maureen, a talented artist created this stunning piece.

"This week we visit Aqualand, where AnnieMae reigns as Queen," said Maureen. "She's currently "out on a limb" in her favorite Ice Cream Cone Tree, which, no matter how many she eats, always has 7 double-dip cones waiting for her. She considers the swing far too tame, and even Rainbow Bird is set to fly away from it, having squashed her beak when trying to swing on it as she'd seen some humans do. AnnieMae is so peaceful and relaxed she doesn't even need to hang on. She loves the morning sun warm on her hair and thinks she just might spend the rest of the day, cradled on the curve of her special branch."

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/

Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this gorgeous mixed media in progress titled, Little Seed.

"My piece celebrates all the potential held in one tiny seed . . . with the right care and conditions, it can begin a forest," said Amanda. "Dreams, too, need light and air and nourishment. With love, they can grow strong and tall."

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














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

"Frustration at WordPress, pre-launch nerves, and a periodically grey day all combined to express themselves in this poem-let," said Bird. "The tree grows towards Heaven, taking our prayers, hopes, & dreams along for the ride."

blog: http://www.anencouragingbird.com/
http://www.crowtarottours.com/ - In Progress
Twitter: @CrowTarotTours
Etsy: http://www.crowtarot.etsy.com/












Natasha, creator of DoodleStar, created this piece.

"I have been playing with altered books for awhile both in and out of the classes I'm teaching and having such fun that I decided to share," said Natasha. "This piece is about how all we need to do is widen our perspective and open our hearts and imagination to the possibilities all around us because there is truly magic everywhere. When we talk, respect others and listen we find the beauty at the heart of all creatures great and small."

http://doodlestar.etsy.com/








Are you feeling inspired to create? Good, then let's dive right into the next theme -it's the Big 60. As I am getting closer to my due date, let's have one more Participant's Choice theme before I have this baby!

So, there have been a total of 59 themes since this blog started. Please feel free to review all of them and then choose one that you would like to create something for. Please note that the themes are listed on the right sidebar of this blog.

Theme 59: Upon the Limbs of the Tree...

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.

Perhaps you want to celebrate the birth of Spring or the fiery light of leaves in Fall. Or perhaps you want to celebrate the strength within the tree or the book, "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. Bask in the beauty of trees and let your imagination play.

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, June 3rd if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, June 4th. OR send me a link to your response to include in the comments section of the post.




With your response please include:

1. Your name - either first name, shop name or both.

2. The name of your piece (if you choose to give it one) and theme it was created for

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

4. The shop and/or blog links you'd like to include

5. Two photos of your piece or of each of the pieces (3x5 or 4x6 and 72dpi or a max of 96dpi - if you need any help with that please don't worry I'd be happy to help!)


Most importantly, let your imagination climb to the top of the tree and beyond!

Amazing, Talented Artists Invite Artful Little Birds to Soar Through the Land of Wild Imagination

I am in love with birds this week. These talented, professional, phenomenal artists created works with fluid lines, bright colors and magic. Each piece is filled with such imagination, beauty and, in some cases, humor that you cannot help but feel your spirits lift. You cannot help but wonder if perhaps - as one artist says - "...really we're meant to fly."

Ready, spread your wings and ....



Althea, created of Salvaged Expression, created this fantastic piece.

"Sorry about the bad pictures this week but well...I'm not sure if this is finished yet," said Althea. "Maybe you guys can help me! I came up with this drawing thinking about how stressed out we get on the ground when really we're made to fly. Let me know what you guys think! Thanks!"

http://www.salvagedexpressions.etsy.com/

Maureen, a talented artist, created this phenomenal piece.

"Well, at first I thought I'd be saying, 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.' And then I'd show you my little 3" square doodle of my 'copy' of Natasha's bird, which has enchanted me since I first saw it," said Maureen.

"But noooooooooooooooooo . . . That's NOT what Tiny Bird wanted to do. I had to get out my favorite 6x18" watercolor pad . . .and paint 'Tasha and her Rainbow Chicks.' This is an unabashed tribute to Tasha as Teacher, based on the two e-classes I have just taken from her. 7 birds for completeness. Each has something to say. Redbird doesn't yet know how brilliant he is, and is hiding. Greenbird has heard other birds say his beak is too curved. Yellowbird looks in a puddle and sees her beak as way too long. Purplebird is 'differently-footed' but ah, has luscious tailfeathers to compensate. Orangebird is struggling to keep up. And in the sky . . .oh, in the sky is Aquabird, who has just learned she can fly. And Teacherbird . . .well, she is all the colors and songs of the rainbow and leads her chicks fearlessly into their future.

P.S. As soon as I started this painting, my hands and heart told me what to paint for my other teacher, Miss Amanda/PersistentGreen . . maybe it will show up here one of these days. . ."

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com/















Rosemary Nickerson, creator of Steadfast Ahoy, created this terrific piece.

"Penguins are birds, right?" asked Rosemary. "It's over 90 degrees here in my house and I am melting! I couldn't resist using polar birds for this "Have a Cool Birthday" card. On the other hand, my brother didn't even call me on my birthday, and the last time we DID talk, it turned into an argument. I am feeling cooler already just thinking about that." :)

http://www.steadfastahoy.blogspot.com/










Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, created this gorgeous Digital print titled, “Singing to a purple sky.”

"I caught a few shots of this bird on the wires above my house about a month ago," said Felicia. "Usually you expect to see blue sky and white clouds backing a photo like this, but I decided to add an unexpected purple, stormy sky. Sorry I haven’t been around lately; life (and vacations) interfered."

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

Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this sensational mixed media painting titled, Sing Big.

"This wonderful prompt set off little bursts of inspiration in my heart--far too many to carry out yet, especially since I just got home from a weekend trip to Denver, and am also gearing up for the second session of The Creative Playground (Natasha's and my e-course--check out my link if you want to hear more!)," said Amanda. "Birds are such an uplifting symbol for me right now, so it was a joy to play this week. Thanks for the perfect prompt!"

http://persistentgreen.blogspot.com/p/e-course-creative-playground.html






Bird, creator of Crow Tarot Tours, created these great pieces.

"Pictures from our walk by the Huron River, May 26, 2010," said Bird.

blog: http://www.anencouragingbird.com/
Twitter: @CrowTarotTours
http://www.crowtarottours.com/ - In Progress
Etsy: http://www.crowtarot.etsy.com/

"Birds on a Roof" - I thought it was neat how the one bird was able to cling to the side of the roof. Just goes to show you what we can do when we try! :>



"Ripples on a River" - I loved the composition of this one - bird, river, ripples. An exquisite physical model of the waves that spread out from actions.




"It's Not the Size; It's the Spirit" - a teen goose spreading its wings, just as we need to spread ours & declare who we really are. Not a little bird in this case, rather a honking big bird, and a big honking bird too, for that matter. But fun & photogenic just the same. :-D



And finally, just for fun, "Little Bird" - there are a bunch of red-winged blackbirds that take great delight in scolding each other & us as we walk along the paths. This one was okay with sitting in a tree until I could photograph him - thank you, little bird! :-)












Natasha, creator of DoodleStar, created this piece.

In the last year, I have had the experience of waking only to *see* an image clearly in my head. Then it follows me around until I bring it to life. Two days ago, I had this crystal clear image in my head and I knew it was for this prompt. I love the colors in this piece. I feel like my insides are filled with color - what about you?

http://doodlestar.etsy.com/




Are you feeling excited to create? Do you want to let your imagination soar? Me too! Let's jump into the next theme: "Upon the Limbs of the Tree..."

Perhaps you want to celebrate the birth of Spring or the fiery light of leaves in Fall. Or perhaps you want to celebrate the strength within the tree or the book, "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. Bask in the beauty of the tree. Let your imagination play with this one.