Archive for August 2009

On creative wings

August 16, 2009

The current ARTchix art challenge at their cool blog inspired this salute to creative thoughts that take flight in the face of bright, beautiful, and whimsical ARTchix goodies. This postcard-sized piece of art uses images from a “masterboard” of art bits created by Helga Strauss, as well as images from Chixies Hat Affair, Tangerine Travels, the Romantic Keepsakes Kit, a just-the-right-size clipping from Helga’s printed newsletter, and paper from a pretty floral gift bag in the background. Hats off to all the talented and creative artists out there who lift us up on the wings of their wonderful ideas & playful thoughts!

LoveAChallenge.Postcard

Angels with Paws

August 11, 2009

Author Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy (SARK) calls our furry four-legged friends, “Angels with Paws”, and I’ve always loved that phrase, along with our own resident angels: three frisky rescue cats, and two kissy chocolate labradors!  As an obvious animal lover, that makes this week’s ARTchix Studio art challenge a favorite with its theme of CATS. My 11-year old daughter wanted to get in on the art fun too this week, so I’ll post both of our postcard-size collages made from ARTchix goodies, and feline images rescued from old magazines, a kitten bookmark, and even one cat cutie scanned from a t-shirt!  Having fun, making art ….a purrrfect combination! (And even more wonderful with your pets closeby —here’s to all those who open their hearts to make a forever home for the countless dogs and cats awaiting adoption in the world’s overcrowded rescue shelters, and to the volunteers and donors who contribute to this very worthy cause.)

Cat Hearts I Love You Postcard

Cat Hearts I Love You Postcard

Full of Sunshine & Love Cat Postcard

Full of Sunshine & Love Cat Postcard

Turquoise Thoughts

August 4, 2009

My friend, Helga Strauss, (who has marvelous images, art bits & fabulous supplies at ARTchix Studio), has recently returned from a vacation along the shores of my favorite Bahamas paradise where crystal clear turquoise waters surround and inspire. She hosts a weekly creative challenge and asked everyone to make a piece of art with turquoise as the main color. Here are my ATC (Artist Trading Card) size collages (shown here front and back) to add to this beautiful tide of turquoise!

Here’s a link to Helga’s blog if you want to follow her weekly art adventures:

http://www.myartisticlife.typepad.com/

Have extra fun … make lots of art!TurquoiseATC.Cards

Let’s Dance!

August 4, 2009

flamenco.heart

Oh, sweet life.

Swaying to a samba beat.

A sheaf of smooth writing paper.

Eclectic embraces of everyday exquisiteness.

Aqua ocean vistas.

Chilled mangoes.

Basil and tomatoes plucked from the garden patch.

Succulent stories.

White sand beneath my feet. Movies screened on a moonlit beach.

Books. More books.

Veni. Vidi. Visa. (I came. I saw. I shopped!)

Luscious Italian everything.

Abundant wispy plumbago plants.

Gardenias. Night blooming jasmine.


Mary Anne Radmacher’s word gardens of inspiration.

Anne Lamott’s writings.

A freshly sharpened bouquet of pencils.

The Beauty & Truth Laboratories of Rob Brezsny.

Daffodils.

Dallying.

The light in my husband’s eyes.

That little inside joke that makes my daughter laugh every time.

Seriously silly stuff.

Long, deep kisses that last three days. (And the movie, Bull Durham, where that line came from!)

Playing with words and images and impressions and ideas.

Dreaming.

Having fun making art. Supporting art.

The steady thrum of a printing press.

Grey’s Anatomy.

iPhone ingenuity.

Vintage wines. (And whines!)

Memorable martinis.

Movie therapy.

Extravagance.

Exuberance.

President Obama!

My dear, dear wonderful family and deeply fabulous and funny friends,

(each enchanting in their own way).

Merrymaking.

Meandering.

Merengue.

Making a difference.

A lot of alliteration!

High tea. High heels.

Serendipity.

Passionate purposes.

Time and tides.

Into-me-see.

Soft landings.

Deep breathing.

Gentle lessons.

A tender touch.

And writing. Yes, definitely writing!

Those are just a few of my favorite things. (I really did start out to make a succinct list of just a handful of things, but then one happy thought leads to another, doesn’t it?) It’s hard to stop once you start to put a list like this together … so many pleasures and inspirations to ponder. I love it all. And I want it all. And writing that down helps me remember that I already have it all when I take a breath and really look and sit still long enough to simply enjoy and reflect on the swaths of sumptuous blessings that flow both through me and to me every day.

That’s what starting this blog is about for me.  I am inspired by the wisdom, wit, and whimsy that wing their way through the web and keep us all connected when we’re brave enough to open our hearts and share all the things we love about life, as well as all the things that haven’t quite made that list just yet! We can talk about those another time; right now I’m just pleased to be giving this blog a first twirl ….

The mysteries and marvels, musings and music, are tuning up. Let’s dance!


%d bloggers like this: