GOODBYE SUMMER, HELLO FALL...

wishing a fond farewell to fall...

its warm breath puffing out like dandelion dander...

as it dances out on dainty feet...

a celebration of seasons end...

autumn begins...

to tiptoe in with a riot of color...

barren branches, spent flower, glittery morning frost...

goodbye summer, hello fall...

a little art journaling, playing with paper dolls and leftovers on my art table.

happy fall ya'll!

blessings,

sandy

p.s.  I cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for the outpouring of support and encouragement I received from my last post.  I am reveling in the freedom to just create in my own way and carve my own path where ever it might take me.  My creativity has been renewed and in the span of just a few days I have gotten six new projects completed.  It feels great to be me again!

LOST AND FOUND...

I am sure I am not the first person this has happened to...I lost my voice,  not my literal speaking voice, my creative one.  I lost the voice that imagines and makes art, the one that stings together thoughts and turns them into words, the one that directs my minds eye to see, feel, hear, taste, touch, and create in my own tactile unique way.  I fell victim to the voices of advice from others. While advice is a wonderful thing that can spark a new direction or reroute a train of thought onto a broader path but it can also get into your head and derail you.  Advice is meant to be guidance or a recommendation but it is ultimately up to me to decide if that is best for me. 

While trying to decide a direction to take I thought I would educate myself in a few areas to help get my bearings.  I took a couple courses that seemed a good fit and started making a plan.  I consulted a few professionals who gave me great advice.  What was supposed to encourage and energize me became information overload and I let myself feel like I could never be a success or reach my goals if I did not do it the way that was pointed out.  Labels were being bandied about, things like "marketing" "target audience/customer" "branding" "tag line" "platform" "social media presence" "finding your voice" "reigning in content" ...etc. that literally stifled my creativity.

In the midst of trying to connect with other like minded creative types I decided to check out a local art group.  It felt more like an interview than a gathering.  I failed the interview...after questions about what I make, what my art pedigree was, if I had had any gallery showings, did I teach, blah, blah, blah, I received a sniff of disapproval as I overheard a cluster of members snarking that I was one of those "Outsider" artists.  In their eyes being self taught equals untrained and untalented.  Also, this group was made of primarily painters (oil and water colorist), they did not understand my art and I left feeling no desire to further our relationship.

I cannot say exactly when or what happened but I literally could not get past my self doubt.  I could not compose a thought to write.  I would sit in my studio for hours and just look around, no creative spark or idea.  I would try to putter with this or that but my heart was not in it.  I tried focusing on my blog by sprucing it up and mostly sat on the "create a new post" page watching a blinking cursor in a white block of space.  I thought maybe I could focus on social media more, pitiful attempt on my part, its just not my thing.  I took my camera on field trips and it never left the shelter of its bag.  I was stifled and stagnant, my voice was simply gone, until I read these words...

"...Do not let your splendor be dormant, show your colors...." {Cherie Haas}

With Autumn right outside my cottage windows color is ablaze in hues of red, yellow, brown, green, and orange against a stunning backdrop of a water blue sky, I am in awe of natures show of color.  I am in wonder at natures ability to stay true to its self, its seasons, its times, its talents, and its treasures to be found in each stage of times turning.  Nature does not hide who or what it is with its energized lush blooming spring moments, nor does it change its slow and lazy summer days followed by a burst of showy color each autumn just before it slips into its barren quite winters.  It keeps a steady rhythm of doing what it is meant to do how and when it is meant to do it and it never doubts its plan or purpose. 

I am reminded of Matthew 5:15, you don't light a lamp then put it under a basket...I had snuffed out my own light with doubt and trying to be who I am not.  I may not have a big successful huge voice because I am not following "the rules" to success and I am perfectly okay with that because starting today I will be true to myself, my abilities and talents, finding my own steady rhythm of expressing my artistic voice.  With this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, no longer dormant.  Like autumn, I will show my colors.

I encourage you all to unleash your splendor and show your colors, reflect and emit your own unique light!

blessings,

Sandy

Wow, that was a lot of words, I think I got my voice back :)  

NATURE'S BLESSINGS JOURNAL PAGES...

“Isn't it mysterious to begin a new journal like this? I can run my fingers through the fresh clean pages but I cannot guess what the writing on them will be.” 

― Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy in Spite of Herself

I recently had a little fun creating some journal pages for a swap, A Journal of Nature's Blessings, hosted by Karla of Karla's Cottage.  Participants were to make 6 signatures, the base being 8 1/2 in. x 11 in. folded in half to make four layouts per signature.  At least half of the journal pages were to be usable for the recipient to write, sketch, or collect/store special mementos. I used a series of pullouts, hidden journal note/sketch books, tags, and pockets to provide plenty of recording and storing space.  Inspiration for the page designs were to be our interpretation of nature's blessings.

My main ingredient for all my pages was glitter, lots and lots and lots of glitter, a whole container of glitter!  I was in a glitter kind of mood.  If you have followed my blog for very long and like to play "I Spy" you might see tidbits of past projects, supply stashes I made up, even tags or pages from my art journal recycled into the nature journal pages.  For instance on the layout below you might spy hand dyed/ stamped ribbons as well as skirts and wings from a fairy cupcake topper class I did a way back when.

Page inspiration:  Watching my grandchildren chase butterflies and pick dandelions, the awe, the wonder, and the joy of simple natural pleasures.

Page inspiration:  I spent the summer watching a robin family build a nest in the wisteria bush just outside my studio window, three tiny eggs rested in the nest and it was pure delight to watch the little hatch-lings feed, chirp, grow downy little feathers and finally gain their independence and leave the nest. 

Page inspiration:  Seasonal changes, autumn and winter, crisp frosty autumn mornings and glimmer snow dusted winter days, colorful foliage and falling snowflakes, the twitter of birds at the feeders.

Page inspiration:  Purple cone flowers and the large lilac bush blooming in my grandmothers garden where butterflies collect in profusion sipping natures nectar.

Page inspiration:  A color filled botanical garden stroll where every flower imaginable bloomed in profusion and the air was punctuated with bird song.

Page inspiration:  A little yellow warbler I photographed while strolling down a country lane, yellow sunshine and flowers spilling into the roadside, the sparkle of water from the creek crossing, patches of cool leafy green shade that provided resting places to admire the brilliant blue sky.

Page inspiration:  Cool ocean tones of blues, greens, and tans that mimic surf, sky, and sand...vacation at the shore where collecting shells, sending post cards, and watching seagulls sail are a few of my favorite past times. 

Page inspiration:  An abandoned fallen nest I found over the summer with three tiny eggs in it, I watched it for days to see if the mother bird would return but sadly she did not.  I collected the little natural wonder and saved it.

Page inspiration:  A colorful quilt patch that reminded me very much of the paper pattern, a quilt that was carried on many childhood picnics where clover chains were made and worn as jewelry, tasty treats were consumed, and softly slipping into naps on my favorite flower patch while listening to the cadence of my grandmothers voice as she told the cousins and I stories.  Sweet memories.

Page inspiration:  The simple pleasure of a walk in nature exploring, observing, collecting, something I have done since childhood.

Page inspiration:  Pockets and pictures, it seems I never set out to explore my natural surroundings without a handy pocket or a means of snapping a photo.  My pockets fill with little tidbits especially found feathers and I snap happily at whatever catches my eye.  I have recently framed some of my nature art to decorate my home.

Page inspiration:  The Victorians, during the Victorian era there was a surge of artistic representation of the natural world.  They had an entire language and symbolism of flowers, much poetry of that era reflects upon nature, painters created pastoral scenes, there was an emotional attachment to the things of nature.  Quaint children, chubby cherubs, and dancing fairies frolicking in natural settings were often depicted on fashionable greeting or calling cards.  The study of natural science became in vogue, private collections of natural specimens became popular, quite observation, recording and/or painting or drawing of observations resulted in nature journals. 

I can't wait to receive my swap pages in return!

I hope you all enjoy a fantastic week.

Blessings,

Sandy 

GIVE AWAY WINNERS...

I would venture to bet that some of you were wondering if I were ever going to choose a winner or winners for the input on choosing a tag line for my blog.  I chose not to choose just one person or even a couple of people, I mean how could I choose a winner when I am still pondering the idea myself.  So what is a girl to do if she has yet to take any of the suggestions?  One thing is to decided on a winner...You ALL win!

If  you were one of the 20 responses to this post, please access the email link on my sidebar to send me a mailing address.  Each of you will receive an ephemera and embellishment inspiration kit from my studio, lots of fun goodies to kick start your art.  I will be contacting you all individually through your comments in addition to this posting.  Congrats! 

Why the delay in announcing?  I had to make up the kits first :)

Thank you for all the wonderful feed back!

Many Blessings,

Sandy

DEFINING MY BLOG GIVE AWAY....

GIVE AWAY  CLOSED
How does one sum up the purpose or content of ones blog in 10 simple succinct words to make it clear, understandable, relate-able,  leaving a positive impression of what it has to offer the reader?   The simple answer would be to have a good tag line.  The hard part is coming up with one.  I recently contacted my sweet friend and blog designer extraordinaire, Karen Valentine of Valentine Design and My Desert Cottage, to give my tired blog a fresh new look and she did just that.  Now I need to define the focus of my blogging.  That is where I need your help...please, pretty please, pretty pretty pretty please with a cherry on top?

Truth be told you only have a few seconds to make an impression on your reader and for them to get the content of your blog, hence the tag line.  Tag line:  a memorable phrase or sentence that is closely associated with a particular person. (ex: NIKE - Just Do It!)  I am looking for a tag line that will help define my blog content but also capture my artistic style and passion for words.

I am a self-taught mixed media Indie artist, hobbyist nature photographer, and word smith.  I consider this blog my online journal where my individual creativity and imagination are expressed in visual form of mixed media art (primarily collage, fiber & textile arts, book arts, and jewelry) and the written word.   I draw much of my inspiration from my natural surroundings and personal life story collections to marry art and words in one mixed media style or another.

Long walks and deep silences help me to get in tune with my intuitive creative self.  A saunter through nature with camera in hand connects me with creation which is an endless fount of inspiration of texture, shape, and color combination.  Many natural forms turn up as personal imagery in my work such as leaves, nests, birds, feathers, flowers, etc. My artistic style often incorporates vintage textiles, ephemera, and/or images, found objects, hand made embellishments, and careful attention to detail combined with text.

Here is where I need your help. Tag line ideas please!  For now I have my favorite art quote under my blog banner but I want to replace it with a tag line.  My first thought was to use the greatest compliment I have ever been given about the way I see my world..."She sees art in everything..."  But I thought that might be a bit general so I could tack something on the end like "She sees art in everything...mixed media art with a story." or "She sees art in everything...narrative mixed media art." or "She sees art in everything...narrative mixed media creations."  I am not sure these are quite right either.

"She sees art in everything..."

"Nature based art with a story..."

"Art with a story..."

"Narrative mixed media art..."

"A mixed media journal..."

"Shared moments, shared creativity..."

"Inspired by imagination..."

"Slapped by a frog..."

Ok, that last one was just to see if you were paying attention.  Seriously, any of the above, none of the above, I am completely open to suggestions.  If I use your phrase or the idea of your phrase then I will send you (could be more than just one of you if I combine phrases or ideas) a jam packed art inspiration kit from my studio to get your creative juices going.  For those that are not chosen, I will draw a few extra names from the comments and send out kits to those as well.

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment with a vote for one of the phrases above OR your phrase OR a 10 word or less sentence based on the above information I have given on who I am and what I create.  Any and all are eligible to enter, no standing on your head, linking, tweeting, or chirping required.

Thanks so much for your help and have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Sandy

P.S.  The photos are this weeks inspiration as I walked along a country roadside with masses of Black Eyed Susan's literally towering over me and spilling out into the roadway.  Exquisite!

SONG OF HAPPINESS...

In a previous post I shared how I have been trying to pick up the pieces of a broken routine and found inspiration in a photo full of shards of broken bits.  I also showed the beginnings of a new piece of jewelry using one of those broken treasures.  I finally worked out the kinks in the enamel process and reworked the piece of ironstone until I got all the bubbles out of the surface and then the fun began to see how to turn a piece of pottery into wearable art...

I was inspired to use an image of a happy bright Eastern Blue Bird after weeks of trying to capture a photo of one of these winged beauties but it has eluded my camera lens.  It dips, dives, chirps, poses, and plays in the garden pond waterfall that is until I get out the camera.  He is a cocky little fellow who is happy to show off as long as I sit still observing, I guess he is camera shy.  Not being able to use his real image a copy from an old bird book was a good stand in...

Blue birds are said to be a symbol of love and happiness.  The feisty little blue bird flitting around my home has helped me to embrace the beauty, love, and happiness that creativity brings me.  Blue birds also connect me to my heritage of the Cherokee.  Blue Bird Medicine (in Cherokee: tsaquoladagi nvwati) was considered sacred for their blue color like the sky.  The Cherokee believed that at one time the birds were white or grey, then one day Bluebird found a lake up in the mountains, she bathed in it turning her feathers as blue as the sky.  They are considered messenger birds from the Great Spirit sent to teach lessons in admiration, love, contentment, hope, and happiness...

My lessons have been learned well this week as I have been a student of nature admiring the handy work of the Creator.  I have dipped into my love for creating something with my hands and found great contentment in my work.  My heart has been singing a song of happiness.  My hope has been renewed that broken things can indeed be made beautiful again...

Now, I am off to tackle a piece of bottle glass, until next time, wishing you all a song of happiness all your own.

blessings,

Sandy