super cool Sharpie color bursts...

good afternoon darling reader,

I was going down the newsfeed on FB and came across a post about making color bursts on fabric with Sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol (from Crafster.org). I've got lots of sharpies in my studio and I bet you do too. Before I pick up some plain fabric, I think I'll use an old pillowcase or tshirt perhaps to play around with - to get a feel for how it works.

hmmm...I could make some interesting tshirts with this method...or dye some plain fabric and sew small bags, sachets...or use some dyed fabric in a mixed media piece...my wheels are turning. Are you going to try this craft?

click here for instructions or visit my How To page for the link.


photo credit: craftser.org



Found: great blog my Artist friends will want to follow plus motiviation to sketch daily

good afternoon darling reader,

I came across a blog with ideas and tips for artists...it's called Fine Art Tips Blog. I added this blog to my "cool blogs I follow".

While browsing there I found a good article with ideas on how to keep motivated to sketch daily in your sketchbook. I know my drawing improves when I sketch more. read it here



Enjoy your day,

beautiful Rumi quote from artist friend Schar

good afternoon dearest reader,

I was reading some blogs I follow and came across a beautiful Rumi quote from my artists friend Schar. It is worth reading.
Namaste my friends,

Help Needed: do you lapse then blog then relapse again? how do you stay motivated to blog?

good evening dear reader,

What can I say, I blog then lapse, then blog again. Any hints on how to prevent blog lapses? I have been blogging for year and I can't seem to break this habit. Can you share with me your experience with blogging?
Thanks a bunch,

cleaning up studio - what happened in there?

good morning dearest reader,

I'm wondering, do you have a problem keeping your studio or arts/crafts area organized and neat?  I do.  Several times a year I take a few days to get almost everything in my studio put away, organized, cleaned and ready to create.  Cool.  Then, I don't know what happens...chaos fairy? tornado? explosion of creativity causing explosion of stuff all over? boom Boom !! - the room is crazy messed up again. 

I think perhaps it's the result of a creative mind with a space to play. What do you think?  Does this happen to you too?

before...

during...

after...

I hope you have a spectacular day,

you NEED this: Color Design Tool (free)

good afternoon darling reader,

I came across a super cool color design tool called Color Scheme Designer. It looks like this is to be used for designing websites however I think it can be used for a myriad of purposes such as assisting in color choices for art, crochet, jewelry design, home decorating and so much more.  I'm sure all of my creative friends can think of many ways to use this tool.  

Pick a color on the color wheel to start, then you can pick a color scheme: mono, compliment, triad, tetrad, analogic or accented analogic.  I picked a medium blue then triad as an example, shown in the partial screen shot below. 

This is also an excellent tool if you need to brush up on color theory.  What do you think?  Is this something you could use in your creative endeavors? 

10 secrets to selling your art (or crafts) by Sharon Bratcher Cummings

good afternoon darling reader,

I read this on my friend Betsy J's FB page today and I had to share it with you.  It was written by a wonderful artist, Sharon Bratcher Cummings. Please take a moment to view Sharon's art here. 

"Secret #1: Create something EVERY DAY. Whether it is digital art, drawing, painting, sculpting, writing, etc. Keep the creative flow going....do not let it stop.

Secret #2: Treat it as a career and not a hobby. Successful careers

merry "Little" Christmas - do you celebrate ?

good afternoon darling reader,

Merry Little Christmas to you.  It is our tradition to take down our Christmas tree on this day, January 6th, aka: Little Christmas.  Many people have feasts today to celebrate the 3 Wise Men arriving with their gifts for the baby Jesus (this day is also called the Epiphany).  Do you have any traditions or celebrations that you do on this day?

quote to ponder...only one of you in all of time/keep channel open

good morning dear reader,

I have a cold and am in bed reading some blogs this morning and came across this quote on Olive Bites blog...

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open . . ." - Martha Graham

This is a powerful message...one to contemplate...perhaps to use as a personal mantra.  What do you think? 

Have a blessed day, 

post script: I wish my cousin Ardis was alive...I would read this to her over and over again.  She passed away Oct 2011, age 56, gone too soon. She gave up on life - lost the will to live. She was a sweet soul who was misunderstood at times. Ardis was a very talented visual artist and she loved her pets with all her heart. I miss her.