WOYWW - my desk today (well last night)

I'm linking up with Julia at Stamping Ground for 

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - WOYWW.

I started to play along with

Catherine Just this week in her photography e-course In Plain Sight. 

I am having a great time - you should check it out. 

My desk is pretty clean - which is amazing since it serves many purposes. 

The journal I am currently using, 

my glasses so I can see things up close, 

to the right are some to be flowers

 (yes, those light blue things) cut from an egg carton, 

supplies,

paint brushes 

(love the plastic bathroom container I found to keep them in),

 and at the top inspiration from friends.

The Believe art is from Jill's Dream 

and the Wonder Always is from Deborah Velásquez.

Do you see the paper peeking out from under the journal?

It is used as a scratch piece of paper that I scribble on, 

dab paint, it is messy but I want to use it for something. 

I'm just not sure what. 

I'd love to hear your ideas.

Hop over to WOYWW and visit a few desks for inspiration.

Paint Party Friday - Creating a Little Love

My week has been filled, over the top filled, with travel, conferences, presentations, long days, very little sleep, and not enough art. (All because of the day job.) So last night, instead of watching tv in zombie mode, I decided to paint some love.

I cut out some hearts from watercolor paper, painted, and doodled.

I love the way they turned out.

I am linking up with Paint Party Friday today. Hop over and visit.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Mandala

I'm linking up with Julia over at Stamping Ground today.

My desk is a mess, so my creative endeavors get moved to the bed, the coffee table, or the kitchen counter. (The things I do in the morning while Superman is sleeping.)

Inspired by a fellow artist, Linda a.k.a. Rappy, in Joanne Sharpe's Color Love class and her instructional how to which is on her blog, Rappy-Art, I created this mandala.

You really can get into a zone. Time flew by while I was drawing this. 

What's even more cool is that it doesn't have to be perfect. You'll see that my half daisies don't have the same number of petals each time, the center flower lines aren't exactly even, my lettering isn't identical all the way around, and guess what I don't care.

That's right, I don't care, it is my belief that the imperfections of a mandala make a beautiful piece of art when complete. That is only in these imperfections that the you find the beauty.

 I think that I'm going to add a heart above that half daisy, now that I look at it. 

It is time to add some color.

 I'll use my inktense pencils, tombow markers, koi watercolor, and maybe I'll pull out my peerless watercolors and colored pencils for some texture.

Check back later this week, hopefully I'll have made some progress.

Hop over to Stamping Ground and see what is on a few other desks. You never know what will inspire you.

Fly Tribe Blog Hop - Giving Back

Welcome to the Fly Tribe Blog Hop.  (Read to learn how you could win a spot in Kelly Rae Roberts' e-course Flying Lessons.)

One year ago I participated in Kelly Rae Roberts' Flying Lessons e-course.  I can honestly say that since then my life has not been the same.

I am a photographer, jewelry designer, and artist with a full-time day job. I took Kelly Rae's course to begin a dream, learn about the online art community, and live a more creative life. I gained so much more. I found a community of creative women that have touched my soul, shared my celebrations, hugged me when times were difficult, and encouraged my dream. 

When a fellow flyer recommended that we join together and give another creative artist the chance to take Flying Lessons for free - I decided to pay it forward and participate by donating. 

I was raised in a small community in Wisconsin, a town of 5,000 people. While growing up my family was always involved in the community (they still are), whether with my church, raising funds for a charity, volunteering at events, or simply helping a neighbor build a garage or fix their house - the list is endless. And, it is second nature to me. 

So much so, that for more than thirteen years I worked directly for some very wonderful charities as a fundraiser and now I work for a fundraising consultant company and help many charities via my day job. 

As an artist, I pay it forward by inspiring others with little bits of flower power kindness which I leave in public places in NYC. In hopes of making someone smile. 

Each Fall, my day job hosts a weekend volunteer trip to help fix up homes for people who can't afford to fix them. We spend 3 days roofing, siding, building, renovating, and anything else that needs to get done. Last year I had a great time and am looking forward to doing it again this year.

I am so excited that not just one of you but 16 of you will have the opportunity to participate in Kelly Rae Roberts' next and last Flying Lessons e-course. You will learn so much about having an online presence as an artist, about blogging, selling your art online, and you will also meet like minded creative souls. 

So, leave a message on my blog (I'd love to hear from you), hop around to the other participants who helped make this all possible (the links are below the photo), and then click over to the Fly Tribe blog, read the post, and leave a comment for a chance to be one of the lucky who get to attend for free.  Oh, and at some moment in the future when you have the chance to pay it forward or give back (however you want to look at it) please give, give, give...it feels so good.

I leave you with a bit of sidewalk art my a well known New Yorker, James De La Vega, who walks the streets and inspires us. 

Janet Forrest http://www.tatterednworn.wordpress.com

Cat Athena Louise http://www.catathenalouise.com

Stacey Bockness Curry http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/

Kris Lanae Binsfeld http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com/

Renee Burke http://happilyeverafterbyreneeburke.wordpress.com

Mary Sterk http://www.justmarydesigns.com

Michelle Reynolds http://www.shellsinthebush.com

Constance Rawlins http://livingwithinyourharvest.com/2012/08/19/fly-tribe-anniversary/

Kelly Hoernig  http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com

Cindy Jones Lantier http://www.lantier.org

Kathleen Conard http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html

Claudia Dow http://www.claudiadow.blogspot.com 

Susan M. Walls-Beverly http://susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com/2012/08/flying-lessons-and-art-of-giving-back.html

Linda Barutha http://baruthadesigns.com

Linda Kinnaman http://lindakaysart.com/blog/2012/08/19/my-dream-journey-one-year-now/

Cheryl Dossey http://www.cheryldossey.com/

Sofia Dabalsa http://sofiadabalsa.blogspot.com

Jill Lambert http://jill-lambert.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html

Sally Rose http://sallyhow2.blogspot.com/

Ursula Smith http://EasyScraps.com/blog

Deborah Eaton http://www.deborahgeaton.com/blog/

Lori Leissner  http://www.leissnerart.com/2012/08/giving-thanks-giving-back-giving-flight.html

Creative Clearinghouse http://creativeclearinghouse.com/Online-Class-Reviews/blog/Ursula-Creative-Clearinghouse

Lenore Angela http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.ca/

Katharina Star http://www.blog.katharinastar.com

Rachél Payne http://wp.me/pWRyw-10P

Sherry Richert Belul  http://www.simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup/gifts

Deborah Velasquez http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com/

Shannon Etnyre http://www.livingwithumami.com

Live Laugh Love Retreats http://livelaughloveretreats.com

Kelley Miller Artworks http://kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/

Wini Dougall http://artloveandjoy.blogspot.com

Carol Bray http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com 

Tracy Yarbrough http://chickpeastudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html

Diane Enright  http://dianeenrightphotography.wordpress.com/

Jamie Burch http://www.dancingdownserendipitystreet.blogspot.com/

Mary Cottingham http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com

Susan Dietz http://flutterbeforeyou.blogspot.com

Kim Hyer http://www.apaperaddict.com

Tina Carlborg http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com

Catherine Pistone  http://catherinepistone.blogspot.com/

Mary MacIlvain http://maryart.macilvain.com/

Carolyn Chenault http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/the-big-giveaway

Thanks for visiting!

Creative Color Challenge - July

I am linking up with Louise Gale and her Creative Color Challenge today.

She challenged us with 4 colors and asked that we use letters in our piece. I chose to play with a new stencil that I recently purchased and my pan pastels.

 

I think that I might add more tangle patterns to the piece then send it off to my Mom.

Make sure that you hop over and visit the other artists who played along this month.

 

WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday?

I am hooking up with Julia over at Stamping Ground. 

It has been too long since I shared my desk but below is why. My desk doubles as a cat perch (prime sunny window seat in my tiny apartment) and it has become the catch all for my supplies. I need to create more space in my apartment I just haven't figured out how or where to do that. My decision honestly is to move but in NYC that isn't easy so I will need to figure it out soon.

But, as you see there are some yummy buttons, markers, an inspiration deck that needs attention and piles.

Where I create has become the top of my bed. There is just more space. So, armed with newspaper and wax paper I often spread out and create. Besides the occasional cat stepping on something or often getting their nose painted this works for me.

Below is one of my inspirational decks. I am participating in a swap with the other ladies from 2011 Flying Lessons e-course. Many of us still keep in touch on Facebook and I signed up to do 2 decks and they are due next week so I need to work fast. This deck will all say 'small steps BIG celebrations'.  I believe that we need to celebrate the little accomplishments on the way to achieving our goals - it makes the journey more enjoyable.

A regular deck of playing cards and gesso then for this deck watercolors and waterproof markers.

Then I am also working on my Creative Color Challenge piece. This month the colors are red and Louise threw in a theme roses. So, inspired by photos that I took of a single rose while visiting my Mom I drew the below. Tonight I will use Tombow markers and water to add my color (thus fulfilling my Bloom page for my Color Love class). Wow, way to link all the fun creative things together - yahoo!  Check back on Friday when I post the finished piece and the photos that inspired me.

Do me a favor and hop over to Julia's blog at Stamping Ground - randomly pick 5 people from the long list of people who play along and visit their desks this week. 

You just never know what might inspire you.

What's On My Workdesk Wednesday

I am linking up with Julia over at Stamping Ground today for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday even though I'm going to cheat and not share my desk. It is honestly buried and I've been creating my sitting on my bed while Superman occupies the couch. (For those of you who are new to my blog I live in a 300 square foot studio apartment in NYC - space is limited.)

I have decided that I need to learn to use my watercolors and markers a little better. You know learn to blend and to combine. I find art journaling and doodling relaxing after a long day at my day job. So, I decided to take another of Joanne Sharpe's classes this time Color Love 101 (eventually I am going to have to go back and take Letter Love 101.)

Our first task was basically to take inventory of all the colors that we had in our arsenal.

Now remember, I'm a photographer, so to create color swatches of all the colors I have would never have even been on my radar. So far I have done my Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Derwent Inktense Pencils and my Prang Watercolors.

By the way, Joanne's classes are very affordable and you have unlimited access so 6 months from now if I want to go back and watch a video I can. So awesome.

Now to see just what I am going to create with all of these fun colors. Stay tuned an check back next week.

Thanks for stopping by - now hop over to Julia's blog, Stamping Ground, and visit a few other desks.

Day 23 May Flower Challenge & WOYWW

 Welcome to day 23 of the May Flower Challenge.

I'm fascinated with flowers. They are all over my tiny apartment. I photograph them all the time. I draw, paint, doodle them, create them out of paper... I also see them all over the NYC. Each day I will post flowers and I hope that you will join in. The only rules are that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more.  

This week I moved my desk to my bed. (Yes, the joys of a small apartment and a small desk.)

I wanted to change the flowers that have hung above my bed for years. When I first moved into this apartment I bought canvases and used my pastels to create some flower art which you will see below eventually.  

I love the wall clings/decals that you can buy on etsy. I especially love the flowers shaped ones and I figured that I could make them myself. Living in an apartment means I am not allowed to paint the walls so I decided to I created my own decals.

I went to local hardware store and purchased some contact paper - yes, the kind that your mother used to line the kitchen shelves. I chose a lovely red swirl on white design. Keeping it subtle since my bedroom wall is also my living area wall and we would see it every day all the time.

I first cut out a flower trying to keep it whole.

 Next, I cut around the flower that I just cut out creating another flower outline this time.

Then I cut out a bunch of small flowers.

The old pictures are on the top and the new do it yourself wall cling/decals are below.

Here is a closer photo. Sorry that I had to use a flash but it has been overcast and rainy in NYC during the past 3 days.

I really love how they turned out. I'm thinking though that 2 large flowers may not be enough. I think I may need to add some more.

Have you done any DIY projects lately?

Besides posting for my May Flower Challenge I am also linking up with What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - WOYWW over at Stamping-Ground so hop on over and visit a few desks to see what everyone has been working on this past week.

Participate by linking your blog post to my blog post. Each day during May, starting on May 1st, on my blog post I will have a linkytool available so that you can link your specific blog post (not just your blog but the post itself) to my blog post. And, please remember to link back.

Participate by linking to the flickr group - May Flower Challenge- and adding a photo of your flower creation. Make sure you add your photo to the linky below each day that you post.

Day 19 May Flower Challenge - Letter Love

 Welcome to day 19 of the May Flower Challenge.

I'm fascinated with flowers. They are all over my tiny apartment. I photograph them all the time. I draw, paint, doodle them, create them out of paper... I also see them all over the NYC. Each day I will post flowers and I hope that you will join in. The only rule is that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more. 

I like to doodle. 

I like good coffee, 

sand between my toes, 

the smell of the earth after it rains, 

hearing a child giggle,

the sound of a cat purring...

Sorry, I got distracted.

I like to doodle.

I have recently fallen in love with pens and markers, again. 

So much so, that during the past few weeks I participated in Joanne Sharpe's Artful Alphabets e-course. Joanne's classes are affordable. 

Her videos are informative and I had a lot of fun. 

I learned 25 different alpha lettering techniques. If you are lettering on your paintings and want to learn how to make it fancier I would recommend Joanne's class.

I love these pink Hydrangea. I can't get over how pink they were.

By the way, I think I want to do the whole alphabet in the daisy lettering that I did above. 

Today Superman and I are venturing to my favorite annual street fair in NYC - Ye Olde Village Fair put on by the Bedford Barrow Commerce Block Association.

 Juried artists, live music, and beer. 

So, if you are in the city go to the West Village and enjoy the day.

We plan to meet up with friends so come join the fun!

Hmmm, I wonder what kind of flowers I will see. 

Participate by linking your blog post to my blog post. Each day during May, starting on May 1st, on my blog post I will have a linkytool available so that you can link your specific blog post (not just your blog but the post itself) to my blog post. And, please remember to link back.

Participate by linking to the flickr group - May Flower Challenge- and adding a photo of your flower creation. Make sure you add your photo to the linky below each day that you post.

Day 12 May Flower Challenge - Inspired by Others

Welcome to day 12 of the May Flower Challenge.

I'm fascinated with flowers. They are all over my tiny apartment. I photograph them all the time. I draw, paint, doodle them, create them out of paper... I also see them all over the NYC. Each day I will post flowers and I hope that you will join in. The only rules are that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more. 

A few weeks ago I visited Brooklyn and the 2012 Sketchbook Project Tour.  I specifically went because friend, Pauline Leger participated and left me a note in her sketchbook. I wanted to see it personally and hold her book in my hands. You can read more about her book here in a post that I did at the end of April.  

When I wrote that post I stated that the following week I would post about the other 3 books that I checked out. Well, I'll be honest, I got wrapped in my flower challenge and forgot. 

So, I'm sharing the love today - and happily a few of the photos below have flowers in them so this still qualifies as a post with flowers in it - yahoo!

Besides Pauline, I also knew of 3 other friends who had created and submitted their sketchbooks so I  checked their books out too while I was there. In the photo above from left to right: Julie Hamilton, Pauline Leger, Lynn Richards, and Deborah Velásquez. 

Here is a little sample from each of their books.  Click on their names above their pictures or on the photo to be taken to their blogs to see what they have been up to since they created these lovely sketchbooks.

Julie Hamilton

Lynn Richards

Deborah Velásquez

Check out those flowers, those colors and the love that all 3 of these ladies put into their sketchbooks. 

I was so inspired that I plan to participate in the 2013 Sketchbook Project.  It isn't too late to sign up. 

I think my book will be all about flowers. :)  

I might even have to modge podge one of my paper Flower Power Kindness flowers to a page. 

I better get started. What are you waiting for? Sign up!

Participate by linking your blog post to my blog post. Each day during May, starting on May 1st, on my blog post I will have a linkytool available so that you can link your specific blog post (not just your blog but the post itself) to my blog post. And, please remember to link back.

Participate by linking to the flickr group - May Flower Challenge- and adding a photo of your flower creation. Make sure you add your photo to the linky below each day that you post.

Day 11 May Flower Challenge - Inspired by Chives

Welcome to day 11 of the May Flower Challenge.

I'm fascinated with flowers. They are all over my tiny apartment. I photograph them all the time. I draw, paint, doodle them, create them out of paper... I also see them all over the NYC. Each day I will post flowers and I hope that you will join in. The only rules are that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more.  

I was inspired by chives today. 

The lush green and beautiful purple flower go so well together.  At the Farmer's Market in Union Square in NYC there are farmers that each week have fresh cut herbs. The aroma can wake you up on a cool Spring morning.  It also reminds me of the garden that I used to have and still sometimes miss.

Last night, while I watched television, I took my black micron pen and my colored pencils and created this.

I'll be honest, I'm always a little shy to draw. 

My inner critic still speaks in the back of my head. 

Growing up my brother was the kid that could draw and I was the one who played the piano, wrote poetry, etc. 

Well, I am happy to say that I sent my inner critic to bed and I had a lot of fun creating this lovely chive flower. 

I believe that I can now try to draw other flowers like chrysanthemums. Or, maybe I'll start with something a little simpler like a Forget-me-not.  

Participate by linking your blog post to my blog post. Each day during May, starting on May 1st, on my blog post I will have a linkytool available so that you can link your specific blog post (not just your blog but the post itself) to my blog post. And, please remember to link back.

Participate by linking to the flickr group - May Flower Challenge- and adding a photo of your flower creation. Make sure you add your photo to the linky below each day that you post.

Day 9 May Flower Challenge & WOYWW

Welcome to day 9 of the May Flower Challenge.

I'm fascinated with flowers. They are all over my tiny apartment. I photograph them all the time. I draw, paint, doodle them, create them out of paper... I also see them all over the NYC. Each day I will post flowers and I hope that you will join in. The only rules are that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more. 


Today I'm not only hosting the May Flower Challenge but I am also linking up with WOYWW. You might be wondering what that stands for... What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. It is a weekly hop that Julia at Stamping Ground hosts. She has a large following but don't let that intimidate you - it just means that you'll get new visitors to your blog because someone is bound to hop by. So, if you are so inspired, feel free to share a picture of your desk (mine is buried so I will share what I have worked on) and link up to WOYWW today too.

Pen practice. I wanted to recreate the flower shape that I use in my twisted wire flower pendants (keep checking in as I will be sharing some later this month) in different sizes. So, I simply took my markers and tried to replicate the shape. I find that repetition helps me.

On Saturday when I painted the leaves for my Flower Power Kindness adventure, I also painted the flower below with my water colors. On Sunday, I then added the black pen.

I have also started a doodle flower. I will post this once it is finished.

Where have you been noticing flowers? Have you been creating them?

Participate by linking your blog post to my blog post. Each day during May, starting on May 1st, on my blog post I will have a linkytool available so that you can link your specific blog post (not just your blog but the post itself) to my blog post. And, please remember to link back.

Participate by linking to the flickr group - May Flower Challenge- and adding a photo of your flower creation. Make sure you add your photo to the linky below each day that you post.

Don't forget to hop over to Stamping-Ground and visit a few desks this week for WOYWW.

Day 5 May Flower Challenge

Welcome to day 5 of the May Flower Challenge.


I'm fascinated with flowers. They are all over my tiny apartment. I photograph them all the time. I draw, paint, doodle them, create them out of paper... I also see them all over the NYC. Each day I will post flowers and I hope that you will join in. The only rules are that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more.

On Thursday I shared the flowers that I am making out of paint cards/chips, if you missed it scroll down or click here to visit that post. So, to add leaves and the place where the message will be written I decided to create the leaves out of watercolor paper.

I then cut leaf shapes out of the paper.

Cut a piece of wire for the stem.

Wrote a short message on the front and my blog address on the back.

Saturday will be spent making 25 - 30 more.

The plan is to place 5 of them in public places on Sunday and the rest will be on my desk at the day job. My co-workers can then stop and take a message during the day. Also, during my lunch break I may take and place a few in hopes that someone will benefit from the smile.


On Monday I will post a few pictures of where I placed them and share the bouquet.

Participate by linking your blog post to my blog post. Each day during May, starting on May 1st, on my blog post I will have a linkytool available so that you can link your specific blog post (not just your blog but the post itself) to my blog post. And, please remember to link back.

Participate by linking to the flickr group - May Flower Challenge- and adding a photo of your flower creation. Make sure you add your photo to the linky below each day that you post.