ten for creativity day.10

Week 2 in Review:

On Day.6, we jumped right in and chose our own creative fun.

On Day.7, we did a bit of word play.

On Day.8, we attempted a bit of refashioning.

On Day.9, we wrote a letter to ourselves.

Day.10 is now.

 

I added some links to the sidebar of the blog…

• where you can see who is participating in Project: Ten for Creativity.  Let me know if I forgot to include your name and blog. 
• You can catch up on the days you missed. 
• I finally added buttons that you can add to your own blog,  there is one for Project:10, the Saturated Palette Blog, and the Palette Theory shop. 

 

Day.10  Photo Fun Friday

Photograph:  a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.  ~Ambrose Bierce

Grab your camera or phone and let the fun begin.  Have a mini-photo shoot.   The subject matter is your choice.

Here are some suggestions:

• The many faces of your children
• Plants, flowers, trees
• Your favorite household items
• Take your favorite scarf, piece of art, or necklace and photograph it in different places.
• Coffee cups
• Neighborhood sites
• Textures
• Buildings
• Birds
• Bugs
• Books
• Things that inspire you

Perhaps you want to try new settings on your camera to push your photography skills?  Take notice of the uncommon.

I definitely would love to see your photos, so share your blog link in the comments.

Happy shooting… (in the picture taking sort of way.)

-olivia

ten for creativity day.9

Confession:  my attempt at day 8 was a bit of a failure.  I tried making a fabric necklace that started looking bizarre.  I toyed with the idea of adding all sorts of vintage buttons to a plain shirt, but I wasn’t feeling it.  So I do not have anything to show for day 8, but I did in fact try and that’s mostly the point.

On that note, let’s move on.

 

Day 9:  Dear Me

Never mind searching for who you are.  Search for the person you aspire to be.  ~Robert Braun

Last year, I worked through the incredible book, The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron.  I highly recommend it.  One of the exercises that I really appreciated is today’s project.

Creativity is all about self-realization and discovery.  The more honest you are with yourself… the better.  The more you examine your life, the easier it is to discover what you really love doing. 

Today, I want you to write a letter to yourself.  Write down your goals and dreams, your hopes and fears.  Record your greatest joys and proudest moments.  Jot down those truths that you always want to remember.  Make a list of things you love.  Are you happy?  Are you stuck?  Do you feel like you’re on the verge of something new waiting to plunge into the bliss of the unknown?

When you’re done, date it and seal it in a envelope.  Put it somewhere that you’ll find years later, {maybe a journal or a keepsake box}.  You could write in bold capital letters, DO NOT OPEN UNTIL XXXX, that is what people do in the movies.

This can be pretty personal, so don’t feel like you have to share, but I’d love to hear about what you thought about writing the letter, was it easy or weird?  Was it hard to be honest? Would you want anyone to ever read it?

Hope you’re having a great week…

-olivia

Ten for Creativity Day.8

Day 8: wardrobe Re-Create

You understand that I needed to make the title rhyme.  It had to be done.  It’s just necessary to rhyme on occasion.  Trust me.

I have something fun planned for today, it may be brand new to some of you, and new might scare you.   Scary can be good.  That’s my motto. (Except when it comes to movies.) 

I want you to look in your closet or dresser.  Find one article of clothing that you’d like to change.  We’re going all Project Runway with this one.  Maybe it’s boring and needs some cool buttons or it could use some embellishments, of  sorts.  Maybe you just want to cut it all up and turn it into, a pillow case…  there  are literally one hundred million things you could do.   You don’t need a sewing machine, mine is broken.  Fabric glue works or just a good old, needle and thread.

You can find all sorts of inspiring redesigns all over the place, here are a few to get you thinking:

-Jessica’s Doily Re-redesign

- All sorts of brilliant ideas here

So, are you ready to step out boldly into the world of fashion?  I dare you to have fun doing this…

I preferred sewing to bossing little children.
Mother Jones

:::

Here is my exercise from Day.7. 

Ready. Set.  Associate.

1.  Red little wagons

2. Comfort equals campfires

3.  This pattern makes me feel crazy  -animal prints

4.  This pattern makes me feel happy –navy blue and white stripes

5.  I could spend the whole day at the bookstore.

6.  This type of art- jewelry making- intimidates me.

7.  I wish I could have coffee with Becky, Alicia, Sara, Danielle, Erica, and Sarah.

8.  The perfect color combination is mustard yellow/charcoal.

9.  The elements to perfect inspiration are the ocean waves, a hammock, and kites.

10. If I could live in another decade, it would be the 50’s.

11. This musical artist inspires me Regina Spektor.

12.  I want to wear more hats.

13.  I think my curtains are just perfect finds.

14.  The last thing that really caught my eye was a beautiful, rusty, old shed on a farm.

15.  When I visit the museum, I want to watch all the people.

16.  I wish I knew more about letterpress.

17.  The best smell in the world is coffee, rain, freshly baked cookies.

:::

Thanks for playing.  Catch up on all of the exercises here.

-olivia

shop update

{Charcoal Peacock}

  {A Hymn of the Reeds}

two new original paintings in the shop.

-olivia

ten for creativity day.7

So…  tell me, what did you do yesterday?  I painted.

After seeing so many varieties of peacocks (peafowl) over the weekend, I was amazed at how stunning the charcoal peacocks are.  Naturally the ones that catch the eye are full of bright blues and greens, but they are all so beautiful… and very noisy.  I might have a slight fascination with these creatures.

:::

Day 7:  Word play

Today, I have a super fun word association exercise for you.  Simply read the word and finish the statement.    This can  get you thinking about new creative ideas and things you’d like to change.  It can also make you laugh and laughing releases endorphins, which makes you happy.

(Use as many words are you’d like and go with your first instincts.)

Ready. Set.  Associate.

1.  Red_______.

2. Comfort equals _________.

3.  This pattern makes me feel crazy _________.

4.  This pattern makes me feel happy _________.

5.  I could spend the whole day at __________.

6.  This type of art ___________ intimidates me.

7.  I wish I could have coffee with ________.

8.  The perfect color combination is _________.

9.  The elements to perfect inspiration are _______.

10. If I could live in another decade, it would be _______.

11. This musical artist inspires me ________.

12.  I want to wear more ________.

13.  I think my curtains are _________.

14.  The last thing that really caught my eye was _______.

15.  When I visit the museum, I want to ________.

16.  I wish I knew more about ________.

17.  The best smell in the world is _________.

 

So, if you want to leave a comment with your answers or send the link  to your blog post, I’d love to read your answers and I bet everyone else would too. 

Hope you have a lovely and inspiring day.

-olivia

front page news.

I came home on Sunday to discover that my painting, “A Hymn of the River,”  was included in this treasury that made its way to the very front page of etsy.  A huge thanks to Alicia from Anycards for including my work in her collection.

Take a second to visit her shop, it’s full of lovely things.

ten for creativity day.6

Good morning lovely readers and friends! 

How was your weekend? We had the best time up north celebrating my cousin’s birthday.  Our weekend was full of bonfires, cookouts, chocolate covered strawberries, long chats around the kitchen table, a bathtub from my dreams,  a giant Sunday morning brunch, and a lovely walk down to the river.  We visited a farm, full of {amazing} peacocks, swans, {scary} cows, {beautiful} horses, and {sweet} baby kittens.  It was so refreshing and delightful…  I’m full of inspiration, as in I literally can’t wait until it’s nap time, so I can paint.

This little trip was just the inspiration I needed, I could hardly fall asleep last night.  I wanted to stay up and paint, but I guess we fired the morning nanny, so she wouldn’t be coming in today. 

:::

Day 6: go.do something.

As we start week 2 of Project: Ten for Creativity, I’m insanely excited.  To be honest, last week, I was less than inspired in the worst way.  A new stream of creativity was coming, but until it did, I was stuck.  I hate being stuck, as an artist, it’s the hardest place to be.  I’m certain that a weekend away from my computer and routine was just what I needed.

Today’s exercise is simple. 

Go. Do something creative.

It’s up to you, take ten minutes or three hours.  Today we simply play in the land of creativity.  You may already have ideas brewing, but if not, here are some suggestions:

• Take your camera on a walk, take pictures of whatever catches your eye.  Notice the things you normally miss.
• Open your sketch book and draw.
• Finger paint.
• Change the pictures that are hanging on the wall.
• Try a brand new recipe.
• Write a poem.
• Read a short story.
• Cut up an old shirt and turn it into something new.
• Scrapbook.
• Paint.
• Knit/Crochet.
• Make a necklace.
• Collect fabric for a blanket or quilt.
• Sew.
• Garden.
• Turn on some music and just feel it.
• Write a note to a friend and send it via snail mail.
• Make a card.
• Make a hat.
• Do origami.
• Anything you want to do.

Have the most fun ever.

“Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things.”

-Ray Bradbury

 

-olivia

ten for creativity day.5 plus week in review

Today is day five of Project: Ten for Creativity, the end of week one. I think it’s off to a brilliant start. 

The thing is, you just need to start somewhere.  Sometimes beginning is the hardest part.  We have to overcome the fear of what people think, the guilt of taking time for ourselves, and the lie that we are not creative. 

Because:

If we worry about what people think, we’ll never do anything, because there will always be someone else who is better, smarter, or more talented.  If we don’t ever take time for ourselves, we’ll be too tired to take care of everyone else.  And creativity is not just about fabric, paint, paper, and yarn… creativity is everywhere and anything. 

Here goes day.5…

Day.5:  Three little goals  or more

Now that the creativity might be flowing, it’s time to be intentional.  Some people find that it is super important to make lists and goals… I have become one of those people.  Everyday I make a small list of the major things I’d like to accomplish.  Sometimes, I do all of them and some days not.one.single.thing.  C’est la vie.  Drinking coffee is always on that list.

It’s important to include creative time on those lists and make it a priority, otherwise,  it won’t just happen.  Period. I mean, feed your children and pay your bills first, but make be intentional.

Today, let’s make a small list of goals for ourselves (regarding our creative lives). 

Here’s my list:

1.  Get my sewing machine fixed or find a  new one, so I can start sewing again.

2.  Re-focus on the creative side of my art, less on the “making money side.”

3.  Find one quote, poem, or song for inspiration daily.

4. Get my knitting supplies out of storage.

5. Bake something new each week.

 

You can share your list in a comment or keep it a secret.  Send me the link to your blog if you want.  Let’s encourage each other to actually work on those goals.   Pick one item on your list… go for it.

 

IN REVIEW: Week one

Here is week one of Project: Ten for Creativity in review:

- Maddie  sent the link to one of her favorite poems, here.

- Jessica  wrote her thoughts on Day.3 and creativity here.

- Sue posted her lovely sketch from Day.2 here.

- Tiffany shared her honest responses about Day.1 here.

 

If you missed a day, find them all here.  It’s never to late to start.

Have a great weekend and for the love, do something creative.

-olivia

i need you to know something…

i am absolutely crazy about this bag

from bayousalvage

:::

and this scarf

from foulard threads

:::

and this book cover

from clevercatbags

:::

now that you know, I feel much better.

-olivia

ten for creativity day.4

I’m loving all of the feedback from you about Project: Ten for Creativity, at the end of the week, I’ll share a recap chalked full of your responses.

So, how was yesterday?  If you missed it, find it here.  If you’re just joining the fun of this project, you can jump right in or start back at day one.  Feel free to add a link to The Saturated Palette and Project:Ten for Creativity, if you want to invite others to play along, too.

Day Four:  Pause for Poetry

Confession: It always seems to happen that I go way too long without even thinking about poetry.  This is such a shame, because the art of poetry can be one of the most inspiring things, ever.  Today, we are taking ten for poetry.  This is the easiest exercise yet.

Find one poem.  Read it.  Slowly.  Read each word.  Drink them in.  Pause for a moment and then answer this question.

How does this poem make you feel?

:::

Here is my favorite poem, by E.E. Cummings.

somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond

somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond any experience,your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skillfully,mysteriously)her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully ,suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands

This poem makes me feel mysterious, amazed, and lovely.  The last two lines are especially breathtaking. 

the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands

….I may need to paint

:::

Happy reading today.  Remember, you can find almost any poem online, so there is no excuse.  Good old Google.

Taking more than 10 suggestions:  Take a book of poetry to the park, with a blanket and an ice cold lemonade.  Take a journal, write your own poem.  Enjoy the wonder of nature and the beauty of poetry.  (wow, that’s so Earth day of me!!)

If you want to share the poem you chose, leave a comment here, include a link to the poem or copy the whole thing.  Don’t forget to share how the poem makes you feel.

-olivia

10forcreativity day.3

How was yesterday?  Did you do it?  Did you enjoy it?  Was it overwhelming or fun?  As you continue to do more creative exercises, no matter how big or small, they will begin to feel more natural and fun.

Ready for day 3?

Day Three: Inspiration hunt.

“Self-knowledge is the discovery of the new, it looks beyond the world that has all the answers and no solutions.” – Barry Long

Today, we gather and collect things that inspire us and make us happy.  So, collect THREE things, take a picture (if you want) or put them in a small bag, labeled day 3.  

Here are some possibilities:

• A flower
• A piece of paper
• A word
• A quote
• A scrap of fabric
• A photo
• A button
• A ribbon
• A string
• A blade of grass
• A scent
• An herb
• A pencil
• A postcard
• A coffee mug
• Anything that you could possibly imagine.

Now, make a list of the three items, leaving space under each item. 

In one word or a sentence, write how that item makes you feel, why it inspires you, or why it stands out to you.

Underline the words that seem to jump off the page and stand out to you.

What are those words?  Are they big sources of inspiration to you?  (Probably).  Pay attention to those words and try to incorporate them into your life.

Leave me a comment with those words, I’d love to hear them.  Send me the link to your blog, if you do the exercise and blog it.  I love hearing from you. 

Taking more than 10 Suggestions:

Take the words that you underlined and write them on a post-it or a fun piece of paper.  Post them on your fridge or bulletin board.  Start making those words a part of your daily routine.

 

P.S.  From now on, I will share my exercises on the following day’s post.

-olivia

10ForCreativity Day.2

How did yesterday go?  Ready for day two?

Day Two:  Draw it

Today’s exercise is fun and easy.  Name one thing that has been especially interesting to you lately.  Find or take a picture of it.  Draw it, however you wish.  Use pen, crayon, pencil, chalk, marker, charcoal, anything you want.   If you don’t have paper, use a napkin or a receipt. 

If you have a paper copy of the inspiration photo, attach it to the sheet.  Date and sign your drawing. (Send me the picture, if you dare! I dare you.) o(dot)moore(dot)art(at)gmail(dot)com

I know, I know, we’re not all good at drawing, I’m not super great at it either, but who doesn’t sketch or doodle?  If anything, it might give you a good laugh and that can’t hurt.

Let me know how it goes and have fun.

 

Taking more than 10 suggestions:

Carry a small notebook or sketchbook around with you.  Sketch things that catch your eye.  Make a list of your thoughts.  Compile a list of things that inspire you.  If you get inspired through out the day, write it down and come back to it when you have time.  Be intentional about creativity.

Here’s my results:

my inspiration:  buildings

and my drawing…

See you tomorrow.  Same place.

 

A drawing is simply a line going for a walk. – Paul Klee

-olivia

 

Project: Ten for Creativity Introduction

It’s Monday, April 19.  We’re starting a new adventure.   Project: Ten for Creativity starts now.  Each day, (m-f), we’ll attempt one ten minute activity that will motivate us dream, be inspired, be creative, and enjoy the small things in life.  seriously ten minutes.  We all have ten minutes, I promise.

Here are a few suggestions:

Find something: a journal, a folder, a hat box, or a drawer to keep all your small projects, writing activities, and materials together.  You could assemble an inspiration board, or keep a blog, or a folder on your computer, a sketch book… anything.

If you journal, write about the activities, write about what you liked, what you didn’t, what you discovered about yourself, dreams that you’ve never shared or dare utter aloud.  Never underestimate the power of the journal.

For me, the best time to be creative is the afternoon, while H is napping and the husband is working. That is my time.  Find the time that works best for you. Is it early in the morning with coffee or late at night when the tasks of the day are completed?  I found that once I set a time to write and work on my art, I did it more often.  See what works for you.  Try to stick to it, but don’t be hard on yourself when life happens.

Most of all, have fun. Be brave.  Anything can happen.

Day One.  Begin.

“Creativity is merely a plus name for regular activity. Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or better.”- John Updike

Today, we’re going to start off with a fun and thought provoking writing activity.  Finish the statements.   How easy is that?

1.   Nothing inspires me more than…

2.  I’ve always dreamed of being a…

3. If I had more ______ , I’d be more creative.

4. One new thing that I want to try is…

5.  One thing that I am rather proud of myself for doing is…

6.  One place that I desperately want to visit is…

7.  When I was younger, One thing I loved doing…

8.  Today on a scale of 1-10, I feel…

inspired:

creative:

----

Here are my answers.

1.   Nothing inspires me more than…  the ocean, rain & art stores

2.  I’ve always dreamed of being a…  writer

3. If I had more _discipline_ , I’d be more creative.

4. One new thing that I want to try is… making soap

5.  One thing that I am rather proud of myself for doing is…  believing in my art

6.  One place that I desperately want to visit is… France.

7.  When I was younger, one thing I loved doing… writing stories.

8.  Today on a scale of 1-10, I feel…

inspired: 7

creative: 6

 

 

Day One- Check.  If you want, share your answers in the comments or send me the link of your blog.  Spread the word about 10 for Creativity.  I’m going to post a list on the side of the blog with participants.  Let me know if you want to be included.  Feel free to save the image and link here. 

Thanks for joining me.  Come back tomorrow for Day 2.

 

-olivia

what I really want to do, announcing..

As an artist, I face the constant struggle between how to gain recognition and success (in the eyes of others) and being true to myself. It’s quite the battle when frequently it feels like the process is easier for everyone else—which, of course is not true.

I know it is a process, difficult, exciting, tedious, occasionally discouraging, and  often inspiring.  Strange how that sounds like most great things in life?

The truth is, I love selling my art.  I love sharing it with others.  I love  seeing that someone across the world find merit in my work.  But, frankly, it’s not about the money.  It can’t be.  The moment I sit down to create something that would sell, I lose the inspiration.  Internally, it’s no longer fun.   It’s an obligation, which is why I don’t do custom work (incase you were wondering).

What is important to me is creating art, to take the inspiration from my heart and my head and translate it to the canvas.  I want to create art that shares truth, beauty, mystery, love, hope, goodness, emotion, and life.  I want it to speak volumes in no words at all.  I want to honor my maker by sharing the beauty of his world.

I find great success and encouragement in living an inspired, artistic, and genuine life, so that someone else may be encouraged to believe that THEY are creative, that they are talented, and that they have great potential to achieve impressive things.  I get SO excited about this.  I got  a message the other that a friend of mine bought canvases, paints, and brushes, because she wanted to paint more.  I heard from a friend who told me that she was so inspired by the lyrics of a song that she wanted to paint something with those words and hang it in her living room.  Another friend just started a blog, because she wanted to share great recipes with her friends and family.  Another dear friend decided she needed a new creative outlet and is making a headpiece for derby day inspired by a fantastic milliner.

I love it.  I really, really do.  It’s so easy to start.  It just takes a bit of time to discover a new interest.  It just takes a bit of gumption to try sometime new.  It just takes an ounce of desire to rise above the possibility of failure and take the plunge.

I know we’re all busy, so busy.  I know there are ten million things to do and even more people who want your time and attention, but, I believe that people make time for the things they love to do.

So, I’m starting a new project here on the Saturated Palette and I really would love it if you join me. 

What:  Project: Ten for Creativity

When:  Starting Monday, April 19, 2010

Where:  HERE, Saturated Palette. (saturatedpalette.blogspot.com)

Goal:  Jumpstart imagination. Gather inspiration.  Go create.

Each weekday, I will share a fun, simple idea of how to  find inspiration and engage in creativity.  Most of these ideas can be done at home, with few supplies, mostly things you already have.

Ask yourself, what new adventures you’d like to try.  Dream.  Scheme.  Start looking around your home and gather supplies. Find a box, a drawer, a journal,  or a folder… anything to collect your projects.  Tell your friends.  Spread the word.  Aspire. Create.  Ten minutes a day.

Project: Ten for Creativity, will you take ten?

-olivia

once I painted a moment and here it is.

Sitting on the sun porch sans the sun, the birds are softly chirping away songs that can only speak of the coming rain. The sky surrounding me is brushed with shades of grey, similar to those in one of my favorite pieces, Silent Song.

The rain taps in a soothing rhythm  on the roof, sometimes softly and at others with reckless abandon.  It streaks down the window panes and fills the air with that unmistakable, delicious smell making its presence known.

As the earth is refreshed, so am I.  In this moment of stillness, with each breath, I soak in the beauty of this place called Earth and revel in the one who made it all.

Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.  Psalm 74:19

-olivia

six impossible things before breakfast

Oh, have you seen it?  Isn’t it just wonderful, magical, beautiful, crazy, brilliant, inspiring, creepy, enchanting, and delightful?

Friday night, we dropped off the little boy at Gigi’s and headed out, just the two of us.  It was one of those, we really need a break nights and luckily being here, I could actually call my mom and say, help!  Naturally, she welcomed the opportunity.

We enjoyed the always delicious Chipotle and then went in to watch yet another great, Tim Burton film.  That Tim Burton, we love him.  The film was everything I wanted it to be and more. 

PS.  I must also add that I LOVED Alice’s wardrobe.  Truly incredible.

Have you seen any great movies lately?

-olivia

just because art

Remember last Friday, when I had a napping baby and art supplies inviting me to play?  This happened.

It felt so great to just be creating and painting again. 

I wasn’t trying to come up with my newest print to sell or to create my lifetime masterpiece, I just reconnected with the colors and brushes.  I took images from my head and brought them to life on paper.

for no reason.

for no one else.

just because.

I loved it. 

I needed to feel that way.

It’s so easy to begin to think of my art as if it’s for other people and when that happens, I believe something gets lost in the process and a bit of the magic is gone.  Sometimes, we need to create just to create.

art for the sake of art.

My question for you, have you done anything like that lately?  I’d love to hear about it. 

Keep creating.  Keep playing.  Keep dreaming.  Just because.  Never lose that.

-Olivia

today

This morning was different from others of the past year, because this morning, my husband got up early and started a temp job.   It’s only a temp job, but friends, it’s a job, something that has been really hard to acquire since February 2009.   I’m sure it’s a nice feeling for him to be here only two weeks and this position becomes available.

So while it’s amazing that this day has come, it’s strange too because, well we are all used to being together all the time. .  I cannot deny that my life has been easier during the months that he was home.  I’m not quite sure how I’ll ever manage my daily responsibilities without him here to help with the little boy and the million other things that he did.  Even more, I don’t know what H will do, he woke up this morning and immediately starting looking for him, “dad?  dad?”  He heard the sound of my brother’s keys as he was leaving for work and ran to the bottom of the stairs, thinking daddy was home, “dad?”  When Matt called during a break, H's face filled with the biggest smile, “hi dad!”  This baby loves his daddy.  Since he was four and a half months old, he’s been home with home nearly everyday.  They are buddies.  They played, ate crackers, and watched morning cartoons.  I slept in till maybe 9, woke up to coffee, and sometimes breakfast.  I really got spoiled.  My husband is the best.

Now it’s mommy and H during the day and we’ll have a good time, but we miss daddy already, we love having him around.  But, we’re also so thankful that he is willing to work hard to provide for us too, so we have no complaints.

Only much for which to be thankful.

In print

In the grey, haunting beauty sits a bird upon the branch of one solitary, mysterious tree. The song of stillness rings so loudly, no other can be heard.

After many requests, I am pleased to announce that “Silent Song,” is now available as a print in my shop.

It’s available in 8x10, 11x14, 12x18, and 16x20.

If you are interested in a specific size, please send me a message palettetheory{at}gmail{dot}com and I will be happy to create a reserved listing for you.

{Watermark does not appear on print.}

great art.

I’m really hoping to unpack some art supplies soon, but for today here are some other bits of art that I find to be just lovely.

|Milk Print from mrseliotbooks|

|three are free from drenchedinwhite|

|Elephant Tea Jungle Girl from lindsayart|

|Bonjour mes Amis from wallenvyart|

|Hydrangeas Day from CityofDionne|

|Poppies from Cityonahillcreations|

Hope you’re having a wonderful Monday.

I’m back.

Hello.  I’m back.

Here is a quick review of the past ten days:  Dad visiting, baby sick, ER trip,  baby ok now.  say goodbye to our beloved church family, finish packing,  load up moving truck (not me, the husband), clean apartment, spend wonderful last day with friends,  say goodbye to empty apartment, get in car and drive to Kansas, spend day with in laws, watch The Brothers Bloom- beautiful film, drive to Minnesota, see family, meet new nephew, unpack, attempt to get settled, return moving truck, convince my husband that I need at least two items from the liberty of london line,  meet mom for dinner, sign up for employment agency (via mother), watch Lost, hear gunshots from down the street, witness neighborhood being turned into yellow tape party/crime scene, and finally, spend this entire day doing nothing but just being and recovering from the ten days of crazy land.

We’'ll be living with my brother and sister-in-law for a couple months until we find work and our own place.  It’s nice to be around them.  And we already have people to watch Lost with on Tuesday nights, which is very important.

Now, I’m sitting in the beautiful sunroom with the wind chimes dancing in the wind.

It’s been way too long since I’ve done anything creative, unless fitting my little family of three into a large finished basement counts, which I would argue that it does.  It’s rather cozy down there, but it’s much different than the three bedroom home that we just left.  The box spring to the bed wouldn’t fit in the basement, so our mattress is on the floor.  It kind of feels like a fort and we like forts.

So that’s my update on this adventure of a life…  it’s a good one.

Don’t forget to check the other blog that will catalogue the journey of our little family with big big dreams…. away we go.