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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

ROMANTIC CRAZY QUILT CUFF CLASS LAUNCH...

 The introduction and supply lists for the Romantic Crazy Quilt Cuff Class have posted!


This is a FREE online class, my gift to all of you dear supportive wonderful amazing encouraging friends.  This is something I have wanted to do for a while now and it has finally come to pass.  It is super nice to host a give away but not everyone can win (although I wish everyone could) so this is my solution, a give away where you are all winners!

This class is set up on its own blog so every time you visit you will not have to sift through any other information and all lessons will post in order, no scrolling around to hunt up the steps.  The instructions are written and illustrated with extra large step-by-step photos.  I have enlarged the font to make reading easier.  The introduction has a supply list for all four lessons for your convenience in gathering supplies beforehand.  A supply list for each individual lesson will head up the post of that lesson for convenience purposes.

I have created a little gadget on my side bar that links directly to the class with a simple click on the photo for easy access.  The first official lesson, Building A Background, will post on Friday, May 3, 2013.  If you have any questions feel free to email or leave your questions in the comments section.

Enjoy!

blessings,
Sandy

Friday, April 26, 2013

BEGINNINGS...



Begin:  to proceed or start, to undertake or attempt

Something occurred to me the other day, don't laugh but just reaching the cusp of 50 I am a slow learner and late bloomer, anyway here goes...I can craft my own life.  I don't have to be complacent opening my box of dreams, taking them out one by one, examining them, yep, they are still there, then quietly shutting them away again.  I can actually take them out, dust them off, and simply begin.  All it takes is one small first step of faith...
(A new beginning, mixed media necklace)

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Martin Luther King 

Not to be morbid but most likely at this stage of life I have more behind me than before me and I don't want to get to the end of my life road with unfinished business.  And so I have begun, starting by doing what for me was necessary.  I have spent years invested in dreaming of what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I spent months preparing my environment so I would be ready to begin.  I recently spent weeks studying and carefully crafting a plan that would allow me that one tiny first step of faith.  I have spent hours wishing, hoping, dreaming, praying for the faith and courage to just begin.  My life minutes have ticked by and somehow I have never fully discarded that stored away box of dreams.  In one split second, a breath in and a breath out, while I was folding laundry, my dream whispered, "It is time." trailed by the simple thought of, "I can craft my own life."   
(A little personal reminder of where all my journeys begin, maybe this one will become my personal signature piece.)

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - St. Francis of Assisi

I am a big picture kind of gal, I want to see from A to Z and that was just not getting me anywhere.  In fact it was absolutely paralyzing, it looked like too big of task, too much to take on so I shied away from beginning.  I would sigh and tell myself it was too late, I should have done this earlier in my life. I have been learning that by laying out a ladder to success it makes that first small step ever so much easier.

Some dreams are late bloomers like me.  They unfurl when it is time to unfurl and the best one can do is to be ready to begin.  Looking back over the years I can see an entire staircase behind me that I did not even realize I was climbing, steps that fed my dream in little ways, little creative moments encapsulated in time that were indeed getting me closer to the top stair of opening the door and stepping through.  I did what was necessary, now I feel ready to do what is possible. 

So I now follow a path of new beginnings...to be continued as the journey unfurls.

Are you ready for a new beginning?


P.S.  Speaking of beginnings, the Romantic Crazy Quilt Cuff Class is almost ready to begin!  It will launch one week from today with an introduction and supply list with 4 weekly classes following, more on this in my next post! 

Monday, April 22, 2013

GIVE AWAY WINNER...



 Thank you all for your sweet comments on the Gypsy Magic necklace.  I loved learning your favorite color and why you were attracted to it.  It seems we all have an emotional response, a mood, or feel that resonates with us when it comes to color.

Now, to the winner of a little gypsy magic...Kimber (A Day in the Life of a Dolly-Gaga), congrats Kimber, please email me your mailing address.

I hope you all enjoy a beauty filled day!

blessings,
Sandy

Thursday, April 18, 2013

SNEAK PEEK...

I have been working off and on all week creating the FREE ONLINE CLASS I promised all you precious readers and here is a sneak peek of the project, a Romantic Crazy Quilt Cuff, in progress...

 I will be breaking the class lessons down into four parts.  Lesson 1 will be building the background, Lesson 2 will be adding layers and textures, Lesson 3 will be adding handmade embellishments, and Lesson 4 will be adding the finishing touches.  More details coming soon!

I hope you all will enjoy learning how to make this project.
Have a great weekend!

blessings,
Sandy

Monday, April 15, 2013

GYPSY MAGIC (GIVE AWAY SIGN UP)...

Please Note This Give Away is Closed
Recently as I have begun a more in depth exploration of my own unique creative style, I have come to one conclusion, while I have yet to specifically define it, my style is that of a wandering Gypsy.  
 It is as meandering as my thoughts. 

I don't stay fixed on any one concept or any specific type of artwork for any length of time.  
 There is something in an idea that sets my Gypsy muse astir, my fingers dance to an unknown tune and they must follow her.  
 
I have a need to keep creating, allured by the charm of her spell, being a roaming Gypsy, until the idea has become something tangible, my restlessness is temporarily quelled.  
For a bit my muse is sated to cast her creative camp and linger there a while, then the caravan is packed and she is off and running once again in true Gypsy style. 
 
My most recent stopping off point on my artful journey has been in jewelry making, long draping pendant style necklaces.  This piece, Gypsy Magic, features an old blurry photo of a wistful girl.  This is a symbol of my current expression of wishing I could better identify my creative style.
 
Swirls of antique bronze wire represent the casting of the creative wandering spell I have found myself under on my artful journey.  I chose to highlight the color purple, something I don't usually embrace, because it is often used to symbolize magic and mystery.  Some believe that by putting a little purple in your life you will increase your imagination and inspiration to its fullest.  In this case, it is an expression of  the magical mystery of my own personal creative process that I am trying to discover.  
 
I feel the call to wander on and this piece needs a home so I am hosting a give away.  

To sign up all you need to do is: 
 LEAVE A COMMENT ON YOUR FAVORITE CREATIVE COLOR AND WHY IT INSPIRES YOU. 

Anyone is welcome to enter, you do not have to have a blog, be a follower, like, share, friend, or pin anything and international friends are welcome to enter!

 A winner will be chosen and posted next Monday, April  22, 2013. 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

IF I WERE BRAVE...

Last week as part of a course I am taking, ASAP (Artist Success Action Plan by Leslie Riley), I did an optional mini exercise on finding motivational or inspirational music.  I came across this wonderful video that is not only right up my artistic alley in its imagery and presentation but with its questioning message.  It raises the question of "What would you do if you were brave?"...


 (Video/Slideshow of the song "If I Were Brave", written by Jimmy Scott and Jana Stanfield and sung by Jana Stanfield, Paintings by Pik)

"One of the biggest reasons why people don’t achieve their goals is fear. They don’t take the necessary actions because of fear. Fear causes people to think small so that there is a lesser chance of being disappointed. This song asks the question, “What would you do if you were brave?” If you knew you could not fail, what would you attempt to accomplish? Too many hopes and dreams are buried due to fear. They say that we are only born with 2 fears. Fear of falling and loud noises. All other fears are learned. What made up fear are you letting hold you back from your dreams?"

                                                     ~ Quote Source: Motivational Wellbeing

What WOULD you do if you were brave? 

Digging up my Dreams,
Sandy

P.S.  My brave thing?  The thing I am doing right now?  Creating and implementing a plan of action to really truly earnestly reach for a long held dream...only time (and perseverance) will tell.
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