We are doing fine...

As NYC recovers from Hurricane Sandy, 

please know that Superman, my Creative Dept, and I are doing fine. 

We have not lost power (as of right now) but internet connection is spotty (as we use broadband to connect).

NYC is a mess and it will be interesting to see how long it takes for public transportation to return and the clean up to take place.

I am taking advantage of the time and creating art (painting, doodling, stamp making). 

October Color Challenge

Blogtoberfest Day 28...I fell off the wagon for a few days.

I'm linking up with Louise Gale's monthly Color Challenge.
This month color challenge was woodgrain. I love browns so I enjoyed this and found that I wanted to use brown often.

If you've been following along this month you may have noticed that I'm a little obsessed with leaves lately. I am having so much fun drawing, doodling, painting, stamping, etc.

I was inspired to use a large oak leaf and my watercolors to stamp.

I painted the back of each leaf with  watercolors and pressed the leaf to the paper. Depending on the look you want you may want to dry each one as you go.

I then created an abstract painting using the same technique. 

                     

I love how the abstract turned out. The lines, the pattern - it reminds me of aspen trees in the snow.

During a walk in Central park yesterday I collected very small leaves and will be creating more leaf art today. Be sure and visit and see what else I create.

Visit Louise's website to see all the wonderful art that was created with this color combination.

WOYWW - Art comes in many forms...

I'm linking up with Julia over at Stamping Ground but my work desk this week isn't my desk.

I traveled to Mississippi and participated with a few day job colleagues to volunteer and renovate a house for one of our clients (I work with many non-profits).

This is the second year that I have participated and we returned to the same house that we worked on last year. (You can read about the first year here.) The few days that we were there were filled with long hours, hard work, and full hearts.

Making a house a home for a family brings me great joy.

This was my work desk...(after we put up new ceiling and interior walls) we installed new hardwood flooring.

These were some of the tools that used.

I did find time to sketch over coffee one morning. Napkins work great, by the way.

Please stop by Stamping Ground and take a peek at what everyone else has been working on this past week.

And, I'd like to encourage you, if given the opportunity - give back, there really isn't a better way to feed your soul than to be thanked by the family that you've helped. Pure bliss.

Shared Messages from the Universe

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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I am on a trip with some day job colleagues. We are volunteering. Working together in a new way with hammers, nails, saws, wood, paint, and a whole lotta love. We are renovating a house that in most communities would be deemed unlivable.

Last year we roofed, insulated, and sided the house. This year we are focusing on the inside. We have insulated the interior walls, replaced the ceiling, added paneling, and laid a new floor.

This message from the universe speaks to me and of the work I and my friends are doing. We each bring different skills and, most important, we each bring the desire to work hard, long, and together. It is beautiful what can and will be accomplished.

I believe that everyone should give back in whatever way you can. The work us hard, ling days, but the smile in the face of the family touches my heart.

My Dad taught me how to build, use power tools, roof, and do construction. Thanks, Dad, for teaching me in the same way you taught my brother. The skills you taught me have come in handy and made the difference in a way that I cannot explain.

This lovely family has never seen kindness, they have had a difficult life, and they are so grateful. Their house is almost a home. Happily another group will arrive in a few weeks to renovate their bathroom and kitchen and complete all the work. This makes my heart sing and brings a smile to my face.

I encourage you do something today, however small, to help someone else.

Friday and a Little Bliss

Blogtoberfest: Day 18

Just a little bliss this week to share:

By the way, I'm off on a trip this weekend to volunteer with a nonprofit (a day job client) to help renovate someone's house. I am going back to Mississippi to cotton fields and one of the most impoverished areas of the country.

You may remember my post from last year (I Made This With A Whole Lotta Help). I hope to blog from my phone while I am away but just in case you stop by and there isn't an update it is because I probably didn't have service (we are staying in dorms this year and not a hotel) and not for a lack of trying.

This week has been filled with little moments:

Dinner with friends and dancing with their daughter in the middle of the restaurant. Oh the things that I will do with a child that I wouldn't do alone. The giggles, the laughter, the joy of this family just makes me happy to be a part of their lives.

Moments of joy during my daily lunch walks. I love Autumn.

The friendly people where I buy soup once in a while. They are so happy (at least that is what they express) and for that I am grateful. It is always more pleasant to shop where the employees are happy.

Creating art. This week as you've seen from my previous posts I'm fascinated with leaves so I have been painting, stamping, and drawing them. I predict that this won't stop for a few more weeks so I apologize in advance if you are tired of seeing them.

I hope you have a bliss filled week.

My Latest Obsession...White on Black

I hope you aren't tired of seeing leaves.

This time of year I get a little obsessed with them.

I'm also in love with white on black or white on chocolate brown.

Yesterday while out during my lunch break I picked up leaves. All afternoon I thought about getting home to my black paper and white gel pen.  I love it when something sparks like that and I know that I just have to get it out.

I hope your day is filled with things that spark creativity.

WOYWW - Leaves

Blogtoberfest: Day 17
(blogging every day during the month of October)


I'm linking up with Julia at Stamping-Ground today for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW).

Well, my desk kind of looks the same, but I live in 320 square feet, and I haven't found a home for everything I bought with I visited my parents. So, to use my desk I just move piles off and put them back. I'm sure that my desk will look like this for a few weeks.

At the top of the picture above is a collage that I made for a page in the Sketchbook Project journal that  I am doing. Simply made out of origami paper.

Over the weekend I created art from leaves. 

Sketching...

and stamping by painting the back of the leaf with watercolors and pressing it to paper. 

Here I stamped and sketched...

Autumn Leaf Stamping           http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com  (c) 2012 Lori Moon

And, here is a glimpse at one of the pieces that I worked on for Louise Gale's Creative Color Challenge for October. You'll have to stop back on the 28th or 29th of this month to see more of this. 

Hop over to Stamping Ground and check out a few other desks.

As always, thanks for stopping by, leave a little love in the comments section.

Tidbit Tuesday

Blogtoberfest: Day 16

A few little tidbits about me...

I prefer to walk in the park than go to Times Square.

I wish I had walls and doors to divide my living space. (I live in a 320 sq. ft. studio apartment.)

I enjoy museums and prefer not to rush through them.

I can sit for hours (with a good cup of coffee) and people watch. I secretly make up stories about the people that walk past me.

I long to travel the world with my camera and Superman.

There is something that I love about the smell of Autumn.

Tell me a little bit about yourself in the comments.

Shared Message from the Universe - Screaming

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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Each weekday morning on my way to work people stand at the entrance to the subway and distribute a free newspaper. Each morning I take one, if for no other reason, honestly, so that I can read my horoscope and do the puzzles while I commute.

The message above took up the entire back page.

This is a very loud message from the universe.

It didn't whisper to my soul it screamed.

I would love to have creativity be my career (and not have my crazy day job).

It is a dream, one of many.

And, I'm not sure that I can say much more, except...each day that I create I move a little closer.

Each day that I choose to take a photograph, draw a picture, doodle, paint, twist wire, collage, edit photos, be inspired by other artists, carve a stamp, print, stitch, etc...

Each - is one more step toward fulfilling my dreams.

What have you done today to take a step toward your dreams?

Remember, nothing happens over night.

Enjoy the journey.

Celebrate the little things.

Always be moving toward your dreams.

Create the life that you want to live.

The life that makes your soul dance.

Sunday Color Snippets

The flowers of the Fall always amaze me. 

I think it is because I expect flowers in the Spring and in the Fall I expect pumpkins and squash so I am always pleasantly surprised.

My recent Union Square Farmer's Market walk presented the follow beauties.

I hope your day is filled with color.

Leaves and a Plan to Make Art

Blogtoberfest: Day 13

Today I plan to create some art. I collected leaves while visiting my parents with the idea that I would stamp with them using watercolors the day before I left. However, I spent the day fixing jewelry for friends and family. 

I brought the leaves back with me between the pages of a book.

So, today I plan to stamp using them with watercolors.

This reminds me that I also want to use a Ginkgo tree leaf...I'll have to bundle up to get one this morning. It is cold outside today in the Northeast. Brrrr, winter is around the corner.

Check back later this week for a peek at what I created.

A Little Bliss...

I'm linking up with Liv Lane and her Little Bliss List today. I am really enjoying sharing what has brought me happiness and joy this past week with you. The real truth is that it makes me more aware throughout the week, more grateful, more positive, more present. I love it! 

The wings below in the photo remind me that angels are watching us.

This past week has been filled with blissful moments:

1. Bonding with my brother roofing part of our parents house. It was fun, even though it was hard work, shingling the roof. He knows that I am capable, doesn't hover, so it was a great time and we got it done quicker than we thought.

2.  Spending time with my parents. I stay at their house when I visit, in my old room (which is now my Mom's quilting room), and there are moments when I feel like I'm 16 again. 

3. While visiting my parents, someone asked my Mom what I did in NY and my Mom answered, "She's an artist". No mention of my day job just nonchalantly, "She's an artist". It made me smile.

4. A trip to the orchard with my parents. It took me back to being a child. Autumn in Wisconsin for me is filled with memories of the orchard and a Sunday drive to get apples.

5. My niece, she is a beautiful, almost 19 year old, freshman in college. Love her to death!

6. Superman welcoming me home with a cute note, warm embrace, and muscles to carry my bags up 3 flights of stairs. 

I really am so blessed and blissed this week.

Hop over to Liv's blog and visit a few more lists then look back on your week and remember those simple moments of bliss.

My Recent Wanderings...

I just want to reach out and touch it.

I want step out of the plane and hop from cloud to cloud.

These were my thoughts early Tuesday on my flight back to NYC.

I don't mind flying.

I prefer a window seat.

I read and chew gum during take off.

I usually buy 1 magazine for my trip and bring other unread mags from home.

The time...to me goes quick.

I love to see NYC upon my return out the window.

Do you like to fly?

WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday

Blogtoberfest: Day 10

I'm linking up with Julia at Stamping Ground and WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday).

It's been awhile since I've shared my desk and today is probably not the day to share it because for the past week I have been visiting my parents so my desk is piled high and deep...but here it is.

The pile after traveling. 

The cute container with the women on it holds the stamping supplied that I took with me. The top books under that small plate are some of my purchases while I was home. A few of favorite finds (which I'll share in an upcoming post) are the ledger book from 1913, an old music book, and a farm record book with no writing in it.

This past week I stamped some more okra, check back next week to see how I embellished the stamp to make some really great flowers, I fixed a lot of jewelry for family and friends, and I created a stamp using foam with a sticky back found in the children's crafting isle. So cool!

What's on your desk?

Dare to share?

Hop over to Stamping Ground and see what a few other artists have been doing.

Tidbit Tuesday

A few little tidbits about me...

I can fall asleep faster to the sound of a cat purring.

I have to have coffee in the morning but prefer tea in the afternoon.

I prefer to wear sandals but once it is below 55 degrees closed toe shoes are necessary.

Autumn is my favorite time of year. The photo is of my recent haul from an orchard near my parents. Yum!

Share a little tidbit about yourself in the comments, I'd love to hear from you.

Shared Message from the Universe -

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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I am reminded recently that life is short. 

As I reviewed my recent photographs this one spoke to me as if it were screaming.

This was on the outside of a store window in NYC.

Find Something You Love

I remember when I took this that I smiled, camera in hand. I had just spent a few hours photographing at the farmer's market. I think I smiled for blocks because at that moment I was doing what I love.

I have recently decided that I am going to create more art. 

I love to paint, print with stamps, doodle, art journal, take photographs, and make jewelry. I am going to continue to create. It is what I love.

Having a business where I sell what I create will take a little more time and I need to be okay with that. 

I have a full time day job and, for now, I need to have it. 

Thus, I need to create to feed my soul by creating art in order to balance myself out...because it is what I love.

Find Something You Love

What do you love?

Can you do it every day?

Sunday "Color" Snippets

Blogtoberfest: Day 7

My recent trip to the Union Square Farmer's Market resulted in tons of color. 

I hope your week is filled with color.

Autumn in Wisconsin

Blogtoberfest: Day 6

Autumn is my favorite time of year.

A few activities today to celebrate: walk in the leaves, quilt show, garage sales, apples, apples, apples, and a nap later.

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful day.

A Little Bliss

Blogtoberfest: Day 5

I am linking up with Liv Lane today and her Little Bliss List. I am really enjoying sharing what has brought me happiness and joy this past week with you. The real truth is that it makes me more aware throughout the week, more grateful, more positive, more present. I love it!

1. To be home...by this I mean my childhood home. There something that slows me down when I escape NYC and visit my parents. Maybe it's the small town, the wide open spaces, because walking somewhere isn't about getting somewhere but just about walking, the way people say hello - there are so many blissful moments and I am continuing to enjoy them through the weekend.
2. Creating a little art. I spent Sunday stamping with my newly carved leaf stamp (I'll share it will you next week), white ink on brown and black paper. Loved the process and they way they turned out.
3. My niece, she is adorable, even at almost 19. Her energy, spark, the way she reminds me so much of me - I absolutely love her.
4. It is the little things, that seem to also touch my heart. The help from strangers: helping me pick things up at the airport as I juggled too many things and dropped a few. The kindness of giving me a couple of napkins as I sat at the airport with my bags and ate a snack but didn't have one and the thought of taking everything with me to get one wasn't worth it - you saved my sleeve. The man in the airplane who help to put my bag up into storage on the airplane and got it down for me before I even got out of my seat and attempted it - you have no idea how thankful I am for the lack of Fibromyalgia pain, had you not been my superhero I would be achy. 

I hope your week is filled with blissful moments.

Hop over to Liv's blog to share in some other blissful moments from the past week.

My Recent Wanderings...

Blogtoberfest: Day 4

Superman and I recently attended the DUMBO Arts Festival in Brooklyn, NY. 

Artist's studio tours, outdoor art installations, sculpture, music, tons of people.

A few of the things that I found interesting:

Performance art on sculpture under the Manhattan Bridge. Beautiful!

And, we missed how this canvas got painted but...

She is wearing the canvas. Amazing!

Have you seen any interesting art lately? 

WOYWW - Stamp Making - Flowers

Blogtoberfest - Day 3

I'm linking up with Julia over at Stamping Ground for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW).

Over the weekend I posted about creating a flower pattern using okra. If you missed it go here.

I was so inspired with the flowers that I have decided to create my own stamps using the image that was created.

I took tracing paper and and traced the smallest flower image, I like a challenge.

Lay the tracing paper on the rubber sheet (it's like an eraser but specifically made for making your own stamps and is softer so it is easier to carve) and rub so that the image comes off. If I wasn't copying an image I would have just drawn directly on the rubber to create my image.

Then you carefully carve away what you don't want to be stamped. I knew that I wanted 3 different versions of the flower. Full petal, outlined petal empty inside, and outlined petal with imprint inside. Thus, I carved 3 different versions.

The stamps create these images (below).

Flower Stamps inspired by okra                  (c) 2012 http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com

To work with them, because they are so small, a little easier I am going to glue to them to the end of corks.

Next up, creating even more flower stamps from the other images making larger custom flower stamps.

What have you created lately?

Hop on over to Stamping Ground and check out the other artists this week.

Tidbit Tuesday

Blogtoberfest Day 2

Tidbit: a choice or pleasing bit (as of information)

Bits of information about me.

Autumn is my favorite time of year. 

The colors.

The cool mornings.

The leaves changing.

Wearing bulky sweaters.

Did I mention the colors?

Apples.

Apple pie.

Apple cider donuts.

I am looking forward to visiting Wisconsin and my family in a few days for a long weekend. A little antique shopping (which I'm sure I'll share some pictures here), a visit to the apple orchard, playing cards, creating art, and decompressing from living in NYC. 

My home town has 5,000 people in it. I bet the 4 blocks near my apartment have 5,000 people. Funny, I love them both for totally different reasons.

Wisconsin in Fall, my favorite.

Blogtoberfest & Shared Message from the Universe

Blogtoberfest: Day 1

Last year, you may remember that I participated in Blogtoberfest, blogging every day during October. I remember that I hadn't been blogging for very long, I didn't think I would be able to to do it, it pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and I made many new friends during that month. So, here I am again, with many of the same thoughts. :)

It isn't too late to play along, pop over to I Saw You Dancing and learn more about Blogtoberfest.

For those of you who are new to my blog, each Monday I share a message from the universe.

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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This past Sunday in the NYTimes magazine they featured stories, quotes, and snippets about inspiration. This single sentence on the cover page to the inspiration section spoke to me.

Most of all, try again, repeatedly.

So many things in life are instantaneous. You can call a friend, video chat with them, buy what ever you want online, have food delivered, etc. Living in NYC makes instantaneous easier.

I've learned, over the past year, that making a creative life is not instantaneous. That, most of all, I have to try again, repeatedly. 

Carrying a full time job means that, for me, it will take longer.  I don't have the hours each day to create, take orders, ship packages, write my e-course, plan, plot, do my own accounting, etc.

I often have to prioritize based on time and energy. 

I am okay with this, I have to be, it is where I am right now in my journey

I will get there, but I cannot get there all at once,

and...

most of all, I have to try again, repeatedly.

This message reminds me that it is okay, and part of the process, to try. If it doesn't work the first time, try again, tweak it a little...and try again, repeatedly.

So, you will see not only photographs, which I love to take, but my newest obsession, stamp making, carving and stamping, watercolors, art journaling, book making, etc. 

I've found that to balance my crazy day job, I need to play by being creative, in any way that makes my heart sing.

So, while you are reaching for your dreams, remember that they won't appear instantaneously. Be prepared to most of all, try again, repeatedly. 

Have you seen any messages this past week?