Gorgeous and Fun

Spring Goodness

Another cheerful spring picture! To enjoy more of outdoor goodness, take a stroll through Susan's a southern daydreamer blog.

I am wondering about this and I am wondering aloud because I am looking for some feedback. I have been thinking of starting a Monday night series called Creative Chats. The idea is to just talk about things that help us to create or keep us from creating, creating whatever we want to. I'll talk about the things that work for me and some things that just didn't. So what do you think?

Silk Scarf

More Happy Mail !!! This was a silk scarf I painted for the lovely Susannah of Ink on my fingers. Susannah is fantastic photographer, blogger and the teacher of "Unravelling". She is the kindest and nicest and I couldn't resist sending her something fun. But there was a bit of a twist to this story. I put it in registered mail just to ensure that it got there. And guess what? It vanished. Two weeks and I hadn't heard about it. So I asked Susannah (and ruined the surprise in doing so) and it hadn't made it to her. I was heartbroken and then I sent over pictures to her (ruining the surprise even more!) and guess what? It reached!!!! Two days after !!! So I am so glad that it made it to her even though it wasn't a surprise anymore. 

Pink + Brown + Generosity + Kindness

Today's post is about pink and brown and generosity and kindness! So here's a peek at a book I made. This is among the rare posts where I am posting lots of pictures, but I really couldn't resist sharing this! 

Where have I been? Off on creative adventures! 

Last weekend, I had the opportunity of taking three classes with Tim Holtz. This man is a fantastic artist, a genius product designer and a fabulous teacher. You know what always leaves me awestruck is not just the talent of artists like Tim, but their generosity. He is a creative genius but he is kind and generous. He shares so many ideas, tips, genuinely wants you to enjoy the class, gives foolproof instructions and everyone, and I mean everyone walks away with something beautiful. I knew I was in the presence of greatness but I wasn't just impressed, I was touched. And Mario, who organizes the zillion things that have to be brought to these classes (as a student you don't have to bring anything), is super nice! So if you ever have a chance to take a class with Tim - do it! And in the mean time check out Tim's blog.

More pictures of the book-

One side of the book:

Second side of the book.

Third side of the book.

And now a peek at the binding. I am not a stitcher (Is that the correct word? Sewer means something else :-) ) so I was absolutely terrified. I was plotting to hide in the back of the class and skip that part but I am glad that I didn't.

And the back cover.

Now for the front inside flap.

And now for the back flap. Note Tim's autograph :-).

That's it for the book binding journey folks. But I am not done with this post. So hang in there. I know this is an unusually long post for me.

All the lovely ladies who left me comments for last week's Pink Saturday, if you email me  your addresses I'll make you a pink and gold panel. Email address is gorgeousfun@gmail.com. And I know I had offered to do a couple but really all of you were so nice!

In the coming days I will be sharing more creative treasures, including those from the Tim Holtz classes, and the technique to make yourself a panel.

And please don't forget to visit Beverly's blog to enjoy more of pink and the Pink Saturday participants.

Buzz of the Week: Flourishes and Theresa

 

Flourishes and swirls have been on my mind for a long time! And I had seen Flourishes, the stamp company, on Split Coast Stampers. I had bought a gorgeous set of garden party themed stamps from them. And then I looked at their blog recently. The beautiful card on the top is from their blog. Travel there to see more beautiful and inspiring cards.

The second card is by Theresa Momber (now also featured on the Flourishes blog). If you go to this particular link, she even shares the steps to creating this gorgeous piece of art!

Buzz of the Week: Elzybells

 

Now doesn't that card feel relaxing? This cute image is from Elzybells stamps. This stamp is from a line called "Girls and Boys - For Girls". Go over to their blog to see more fun cards or store to check out their rubber stamps.

Buzz of the Week: Kelly Rae Roberts

 

Kelly Rae Roberts is a legend in the creative world and I just discovered her work earlier this year. I bought a book of hers called "Taking Flight". It is a book meant for inspiration and setting the creative soul free. In the book she talks to other artists, she talks about her own creative journey and poses some thought provoking questions. But my favorite parts are the step-by-step projects that she shows. I love seeing all the materials she uses. I have used a lot of those materials individually and her projects have helped me see some ways of integrating them. I think any creative soul can find some gem in this treasure trove. And Kelly blogs at kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com!

Colorful Design

 

At the moment I really like the bright candy colors. So here is a card putting some candy green and pink together. And remember that SEI Boathouse paper that I really like? That paper is used in this card. The Stamp is from AMuse. A certain pal has already received this card, so it is safe for me to post it now.

Today I'd also like to mention some of the blogs (or I should say some more of the blogs) that I enjoy:

If you ever can't decide what to make for food, go take a look at Erin's Fresh 365 blog. It will inspire you. I warn you not to visit the site if you are hungry. Cause you will want those delectable pictures to materialise like magic food in front of you.

I enjoy visiting the lovely Susannah's Ink on my fingers blog. Susannah is the nicest person, her photos are gorgeous and her site is just drool-worthy.

Since I enjoy art, I find it hard to resist artist Elizabeth Floyd's blog.

If you have noticed, there is a recurring theme with my posts - color. So when I came across Vicki's blog Matisse Color it went on my list of visual treats.

And just to feel inspired here's a blog that is fun to visit Moon Flower Images.

Also a quick shout out to Alex of the Strawberry Lemonade Blog and Dani of daniandluigi.blogspot.com.

Postcards from New England

 

A few ideas have been buzzing around my head for some time. I have been busy. In the last few weeks I learned a lot of interesting things from Holly Becker (www.decor8blog.com) and got lots of encouragement from fellow class mates at "Blogging Your Way". The creative juices have been flowing and the buzzing ideas are starting to take strong root. One of the ideas has been posting some pictures of New England. An added bonus for me is an incentive to play with a new camera. So I am kicking off this series today. At the moment, I am planning to post "Postcards from New England" on alternate weekends.

The weather is getting nicer everyday and I have to remind myself to carry my camera every day to catch the trees and plants in bloom. In just the last couple of days I feel like I have lost the opportunity to photograph some of the beautiful trees that have already shed their flowers. Now, mind you, I am a city kid. I can't name more than five of any plants or trees or flowers. So if you want to let me know what tree or plant I have just shot, I will be delighted :-).

Cupid's Charm, Creative Friends and a Blogging Party

I am excited! I am so excited that I had trouble figuring out how to begin this post. There are too many words and ideas dancing around in my head. So I'll begin at the beginning with Karen Harvey Cox.

I met Karen just a few months back at a creative get-together. It was one of those things where I was debating whether to go or not cause the event was on a week day, after work, far away and I'd be hungry. I had all these excuses but I wanted to go. So I pushed myself and I am glad I did. I got to meet the most amazing creative women. Karen was one of them. You know, every once in a while you meet someone and find that you are on the same wavelength or have similar interests. You have loads of fun chatting with this person whom you didn't even know a half an hour back. That's what happened to Karen and me. There will be a post just about Karen in the future (for those of you who don't like teasers, I apologize).

So Karen introduced me to Cupid's Charm, just this week. The talented Joy Jones who runs this blog makes lovely jewelry. Her jewelry is vintage-crossed-modern chic, you can see her distinctive style when you browse her blog. Joy has received a lot of recognition and is being featured in the Artful Blogging magazine that comes out today. Congratulations Joy! It's not just her jewelery that is gorgeous, her blog is gorgeous too. Joy is celebrating her Artful Blogging feature with a blogging party and I am thrilled that she let me join her party! So here's to Joy and wishing her lots of success.

As a part of the blogging party, I was supposed to talk about why I like to blog. I like to visit other blogs that fuel my creative juices. So I am hoping to make a small dent in the world, by trying to provide some creative inspiration to people who visit my blog. Also some day, I'd like to have to have a creative collaboration with someone. I hear of projects where one artist starts a piece and another finishes it. I call that alchemy! You don't know what the other person will do but whatever it is, it will make you see and think of something that you hadn't imagined.

PS: And since I am in a party mood I will actually add another post today!

Buzz of the Week: Tim Holtz

 

Hello again! I haven't had a chance to blog much this week. But I have been up to some creative adventures. I will talk more about these adventures in the coming days. But today is the "Buzz of the Week" day. I have been playing with alcohol inks. I couldn't resist alcohol inks. I heard the siren call.

So I was looking up some techniques and was looking at Tim Holtz's blog. He is like the rock star of the stamping world. So many of you may have heard of him. If you have ever used distress inks it is very likely that you have used the Tim Holtz inks. He is versatile and a creative genius. People who have taken classes with him say that they really have lots of fun and learn loads of fun tricks. I haven't ever had a chance to take a class with him. So I visit his blog. He has the coolest techniques. A visit to his blog generally sparks some idea in my head. Or even just visiting his gallery is creative fodder. So if you want to add some spice to that creative stew brewing in your head, take a look at his work. His blog is timholtz.typepad.com and his site is www.timholtz.com.

Image is from his blog.