Gorgeous and Fun

North And South

If you have ever talked to me or trolled through this blog you will have encountered book/tv show/film references. I can't resist reading fiction.

But turns out I have been living under a rock. Somehow I had never heard of this book/show called "North And South". This Sunday I watched the BBC miniseries and I absolutely loved it! If you like "Pride and Prejudice" (the book or the Colin Firth version miniseries - take your pick) or shows like "To the Manor Born" I would recommend this. I looked it up on the Wiki later and turns out it was based on a book (actually serialized fiction) written by Elizabeth Gaskell. I wish I had read the book first cause I generally like reading before watching the filmed version. Too late for that!

The TV series is beautifully shot, the story is compelling and the lead actors Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe are fabulous. The rest of the cast is great! 

Image from http://www.fanpop.com/

Being Creative #2 - How to Learn?

Hello, Hello! I have planned this post for about a year in my head. Yeah, I have been thinking about this even longer! There are loads of links in this post, you have been warned <chuckle>.

A big thank you to everyone who participated last week ! Keep Creating!

Let's get a couple of things out of the way:

-What activities are considered as creative?

Anything you create! And that means not just art. I know, I know we all think artists are the only creatives out there. But how is cooking or making music or painting those vases or shooting photos not creative? So are we settled on this - painting/art is not the only form of creativity? That's all I have to say on this topic.

-This party is to share "anything" you created. I find that I generally I have a tough time participating in themed parties because I can never create anything in the theme, LOL !

 

So now back to topic - about learning! Where does one begin to learn?

Let me a tell you a little story. About 10 years back I moved to Massachussetts and I didn't know a single soul! I worked a very demanding job so I couldn't sign up for any 10 week class because I knew I couldn't make it 10 weeks in a row. And I knew I wanted to learn to create something. The different creative activities I tried are topic for another day. But here's what I learned.

Let's talk about non-internet classes, after all back then there wasn't so much on the internet.

Here are some options:

1. Books - When I couldn't find a single class, books were my best friends. And they still are my friends, they are great for reference. Look for them in your book store, your library and dare I say it - amazon.com (I know I mentioned the internet, it is hard not to!).

2. Community Centers or adult education centers. They have multi-week classes or one-off classes.

3. If there are museums in your neighborhood, check them out. They might have schools. 

4. Look at the local ads/fliers in your coffee shop or grocery store or art supply shops. Even if there are people advertising to teach children, they are generally willing to teach adults too. A lot of art supply stores offer classes or if you talk to the attendants there they can tell you of any artists they know. Some of the artists I took lessons from I met this way.

5. Magazines - Magazines from stampington.com have not only loads of inspiration (that's another topic for another day) but they mention retreats and names of artists. Memorise this - artist names this is important! Some artists also sell tutorial DVDs.

 

6. Stamping Stores. They offer fantastic 3-6 hour classes, they give you materials to play with and you walk out with something very beautiful. 

Okay, okay now let's talk about the internet - it has changed everything including learning how to create something. And it is so convenient, from the comfort of your own home!

Now if you read blogs, which you must <big grin> if you are reading this, people mention classes they are taking or are interested in, on their blogs (like I will today), check those out!

So about artist names, google them and you are likely to find a blog. Artists share not only their work but tips and tricks on their blogs. And here is the important note - they mention where they are teaching their upcoming classes. And some of them teach online! A lot of them also have newsletters you can sign up for. See I told you artist names pay off big time these days. 

So I can't just leave you with this information and not give you some goodies! 

- For mixed-media classes: Suzi Blu. Not only is there loads to learn from her but she even lets you download the videos!

-For photography, digital scrapbooking, paper scrapbooking, paint, photo mosaic classes: Big Picture Classes. Great information and no pressure classes.

-Photography classes: PPSOP

-Painting class: Get Your Paint On

-Learn something about yourself and use your camera (even your point and shoot): Susannah Conway's Unravelling

-Photoshop classes: Susan Tuttle , Kim Klassen

-Strathmore classes:  Strathmore Classes. These are free!  I saw these mentioned on  Tricia's 'alteredschoolmarm.blogspot.com' blog, thanks Tricia!

 

Some creative folks who blog:

Julie Ebersole

Jenn Shurkus

Jane Davies

Dave Brethauer

Tim Holtz

Genine

Tracey Clark

 

My favorite stamping stores in the New England area (and yes, they blog too!):

Ink About It

Absolutely Eveyrthing

 

Also you can always search for videos on youtube and invariably you will find a  video teaching whatever you want to learn!

And this is my sharing for this week. Phew, after all the goodies I shared today I am tired! So instructions on this next week.

So what will you share?

Please leave me a comment if you would like me to email you to remind you about this party. Grab a button if you like and it's really nice when you link back !

 

Oh and before I forget next week's topic: Size and scale of your work and why it matters. Do you like to work on big projects or small ones?

Add your link below:

Pink Books

I have something to announce! Starting next week I am going to have a blog series/party called "Being Creative" every Sunday.

What's it about? It really is about being creative! Do you ever wish that you had more time to create or more space or more ideas or more of something else? Me too! There were times when I created nothing and then there were times when I was flooded with ideas.  I have a full time job where I create software. I create art or jewelery or play with photography in my limited free time. And it took me a while to figure out how to be creative when I do have a million other things to do! I have been fortunate to meet other creative souls and found that I am not the only one to feel this way.

So I have been thinking about sharing experiences, the things that helped me and the things that stopped me. And I would like to invite you to join in. Tell me about what worked for you and what didn't or just share something you created. Something that makes you grin madly every time you see it.

Here are the deets-

When does the party begin? Sunday, February 20th.

How long does the party go? 10 weeks.

How do you join in? I will have a gadget to link your blog. Feel free to share anything you created or your thoughts or feelings in your blog post or your flickr stream. That's it!

 

And here is my pink for this week. Pink books to inspire and books that provide lots of fun......

 

 

Please go on to Beverly's to see more pink!

Home, Paper, Scissors

'Home, Paper, Scissors' by Patricia Zapata, another nugget I found at the library. A beautiful book on making decorative paper accessories for the home. The above pink flower is on of the things that you learn to make from this book.

Go on over to Beverly's to enjoy more pink.

Why I love the Library

Because I feel like a kid in the candy store. Because I chance upon books that I might have never met otherwise.

Last year, I bought the Kindle for travel and it is great for travel. It is a small lightweight device which is so much easier to carry instead of lugging many books - because one never wants to run out of reading material and one doesn't know what one will feel like reading :-). But the problem with electronic stores is the lack of serendipity. You will only be recommended books based on previous likes, so the odds of running into a book, that is nothing like anything you have read before, are low. 

Last week when I was at the library, I happened upon a book called "Botany for the Artist" by Sarah Simblet. It  is a beautiful, beautiful book. I am very fascinated by botanical illustration and even tried my hand at it so when I walked past this book in the library, I had to peek. And the illustrations are stunning. If you ever want to try your hand at it, this book has great photos, instructions and examples. The illustration above is from the book.

So the library is one of my favorite places - such treasures to be found and inspiration abounds.What's your favorite place?

The Dark Road to Darjeeling

This month is such a treat since I like historical fiction and a lot of my favorite authors are releasing books this month.

The book in my hands right now is "The Dark Road to Darjeeling" by Deanna Raybourn. It arrived today! Not only do I tremendously enjoy Deanna Raybourn's books but having met her person I can say she is terrific in person too.

But it is Monday night, dare I start the book now? I can't put her book down once I pick it up and I do have to go to work tomorrow. Hmmmm, I think I will treat myself with uninterrupted time on the weekend to read it. To read now or not to read, is the question......

The other authors releasing books this month are Lauren Willig, Charles Finch, Tasha Alexander and Stephanie Barron.

So many good books to read, so little time!

 

Things to do on a Grey Sunday

When it looks like this outside, what to do?

Go to the library book sale and dig through stacks of books for gems known and unknown.

Find books from your childhood days that instantly transport you back in time to those summer vacations when you went on adventures and solved mysteries with Nancy Drew. I had a hunch ....

Come home and cuddle up with a book.

And maybe get some fresh air with a not-so-brisk walk and catch the beginning of the fall colors.......

 

Things that inspire

Art Journalling magazine published by Stampington.

A red Moleskine journal, with creamy smooth pages inside, inviting you to fill them up. It is for and from the Sketchbook project. 

Books and more books!

Do you ever worry that you will run out of fun stuff to read? And does going to the library feel like a kid in the candy shop? Welcome to the club. See the stack of books below, insane - I tell you. Among the million things I do, somehow I figured I can read most of these too (actually two or three books in this stack are hubby's reading, not mine)!

And see that cute little fish below? More to come on him in a post this week.

 

Now do you want a closer look at the books?

And in case you are curious about the list, here goes:

The Monsters of Templeton - Lauren Groff. This author is new to me.

The Fleet Street Murders - Charles Finch. I like this book series.

The Case of the Man who died laughing - Tarquin Hall. I read the first in this series last week, absolutely delightful!

The Lost Painting - Jonathan Harr. This author is new to me.

Simply Unforgettable - Mary Balogh. This author is new to me.

The Next Hundred Million - Joel Kotkin. 

Tokyo Vice - Jake Adelstien.

A Flaw in the Blood - Stephanie Barron. I love her Jane Austen mysteries, she channels Jane's language so well that I had to keep pinching myself that these books were not written by Jane. This book is not from that series but I am hoping it is as much fun.

A Carribean Mystery - Agatha Christie. One of my all time favorite authors.

The Beach House - Jane Green. This author is new to me.

What are you reading this summer?

 

Pink!

If it's Saturday, it's time for pink! This is one of my experiments from the Susan Tuttle Digital Expressions book. Loving this book!

Go on over to Beverly's for more pink!