Spreading our Wings Blog Hop

Good morning! I decided to start my day off differently and went right to the craft room while waiting for my coffee to brew. I must say that I was completely inspired by my Fly Tribe! They are a wonderful group that I've come to know through an online course I took. Today we are putting on a Blog Hop for you. I hope after enjoying the eye candy I have for you that you will visit them as well.  There is a complete list of all of their sites at the end of this post.  Enjoy!

Oh, and I forgot to show you the set of cards I made for my daughter's friend.

If you like what you see, don’t forget to subscribe, like and follow us!!!

Amaranthine Violet:  http://magic-gypsy.blogspot.com/

Amy Hillenbrand:  http://amyhillenbrand.blogspot.com

Beatriz Peñas B.:  http://beatrizbepe.blogspot.com/

Beth Cougler Blom:   http://sobliss.wordpress.com/

Carmen Patti:  http://carmenpattistudio.com/wordpress/

Carol Bray:  http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com

Christina Fajardo:  http://christinafajardo.blogspot.com/

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

Connie Rawlins :  http://www.dabblinginlife.blogspot.com/

Dana Brock: http://www.dzynbydana.blogspot.com

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

Elissa Brown:  http://thefreckledarmy.blogspot.com

Hillary Courson:  http://www.hillarycourson.com

Jacquie Williamson:  http://www.jacquiewilliamson.blogspot.com/

Jane Paynting: http://inkspiredwings.wordpress.com

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

Jennifer DeVille:  http://jenniferdeville.com/blog/

Jill Lambert :  http://www.jill-lambert.blogspot.com/

Julie Hamilton:  http://spaark.wordpress.com

Kanchan Mahon:  http://Kanchan-Mahon.blogspot.com/

Karen Claverie:  http://giddyupletsride.blogspot.com

Kari DeSaulnier:  http://karidesi.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Conard : http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/

Kathleen McKinnon:  http://harmonyschoolhouse.com/expressions-blog.html

Kathy May:  http://kathymaydesigns.org

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

Kelly Corso:  http://birdinatreecreations.blogspot.com/

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

Kim Hyer:  http://www.apaperaddict.com/

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

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

Linda Barutha:  http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com

Lisa Michele Products:
http://www.lisamicheleproducts.blogspot.com/

Liza Zeni Baker:  http://lizazeni.wordpress.com/

Lynn Richards:  http://alittlebluesky.blogspot.com

Lori Leissner:  http://leissnerart.blogspot.com

Lori Moon:  http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com

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

Mary Sterk:  http://justmarydesigns.wordpress.com

Megan Schmitt:  http://www.schmittenwithwords.blogspot.com/

Melanie Douthit:  www.douthitgallery.blogspot.com

Michelle Dwyer:  http://www.magnetisedbylife.com/

Michelle Reynolds:  http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/

Rachél Payne (Rae):  http://collectingyourself.wordpress.com/

Rain Hannah:  http://honeyandollie.com/

Rhiannon Connelly:  http://www.starrybluesky.wordpress.com

Ruth-Mary Smith:  http://patchworkfamilieshub.blogspot.com

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

Shirley Ann:  http://leonardarenaissancewoman.blogspot.com/

Stacey Chadwick
Brown:  http://staceybrownarts.blogspot.com/

Susan M. Walls-Beverly:
http://www.susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com

Teresa Cash-Czech: http://www.asmilemaker.com/

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

Tonya Love:  http://passport2creativity.com/

Ursula Smith:  http://www.EasyScraps.com/blog

Zulma Cadena:  http://edustory.wordpress.com/

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

Special Thanks to Michelle Reynolds for the use of her artwork(http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/)! For more info on classes by Kelly Rae Roberts visit www.kellyraeroberts.com or check out her new Hello Soul. Hello Business. http://kellyraeroberts.com/hello-soul-hello-business. Thanks for hopping with us!

Still playing with faces

I just couldn't stick with paper and pencil.  This was done on a wood with book paper, stencils, sprays, faber castell gels and markers.  This week's assignment looks very challenging.  I'll show you my "attempt" later this week.  Do you like creating faces?  The jury is still out for me.  Faces really are a challenge, but I do like how it makes you really study and look at things differently.  Thanks for stopping by;D

So conflicting

I am so conflicted these days.  I struggle between being what society would expect me to be vs. who I really am and how I really feel at the moment.  Case in point -- I basically work 2+ jobs.  I work full time at a typical 9-5 job, I maintain a website and do marketing for the local scrapbook store, and I have my own creative business.  But even doing all of this, when I actually treat myself to something that I've wanted for a long, long time, I feel guilty.

Earlier this week I splurged and bought myself an iPad2.  I've wanted one all year and knew I would make good use of it.  But, up until now I felt somehow guilty to share this indulgence.  Never mind that I work 2+ jobs and rightfully earned the money to pay for it.  I think it's because there are other areas in my life right now that are truly struggling and I feel like people expect me to be sad instead of happy.  I know that sounds dumb, but that's how I feel.  Because I'm a very optimistic, faithful person and I always choose to focus on the good instead of the bad, I struggle with other's expectations that I should be responding differently.  For me, it is possible to feel happy and sad at the very same time.  I find joy in the small things around me, like creating art or enjoying a conversation with my daughters.  I choose to focus on the good.  But, at the same time, I'm sad about us having to move and all of the hard work that's in front of us.

Like I said, conflicted.  Does anyone else ever experience this?

Just playing...

This journal page is still in progress.

Willowing Fabulous Faces Course

So, last week I started an online course offered by Willowing.  I've always wanted to learn how to make faces.  I'm not sure if I will actually use this in my art regularly, but I love to learn as much as I can.  After seeing my first couple of attempts, maybe I'll stick to other art forms.
Here's my very first attempt:

As you can see, I really struggle with the lips.  Here's my second attempt:

Kinda scary!  (I can't believe I'm showing these!)  Okay, here is my third and final attempt for today:

They definitely look like scary sisters!  LOL!  I have TONS of practicing to do if I'm ever going to master this!  This week she has us creating a face and coloring it.  I think I better stick with pencil until I like what I see.  

The question I didn't answer...

Earlier in the week, my fellow flyer and friend Jill interviewed me for her blog 'This Moment'.  In preparing for the interview, Jill sent me a list of questions.  I answered most of them, but one of them I didn't, which came to mind days later.  That question was:

"If you could have lunch with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be and why?"

It seems like such a simple question, but see, I've never been one to idolize the famous or feel that others are better than me.  I don't mean that in a conceited way, just that my brain doesn't work that way.  So, I left the question unanswered.  But a few days ago, the question and answer popped in my head and I thought I would share it with you.  If I could have lunch with anyone, it would be my grandmother who is now deceased.  My grandma was like a second mother and best friend to me.  I miss her terribly.  She left such a handprint on my heart that I just miss her unconditional love so much!  There is nothing in particular that we would need to talk about.  Just being with her would be the best!  I miss you and love you always grandma!!

Are you missing a loved one today?

My process...part 4

Well, if you call my color inspiration pages...

 I want to point out the beautiful wood coffee table pictured above.  That is some serious texture inspiration!  So here's my next plan in the process...

This will require some sawing!  I'll be back by the end of the week to show you my finished project;D

My process...part 3

As I typed the title to this post, I realized that I should tell you that my process is not necessarily the same for each project.  I'm just sharing with you what my current process is.

So, as I shared, the words came to me just before falling asleep.  It's a set of 3 -- I choose..., I am..., I love....  here is my second set of canvases for the "I am" portion:

Again, you'll notice that this keeps with my color scheme of pink, tan and a pool blue.  They read, "I am brave, I am happy, I am strong".

There is one more triptic to this set.

My process...part 2

Today I wanted to share with you my inspiration for the piece I'm still working on.

Yesterday, I told you my words for this piece came to me when I was trying to sleep a few nights ago.  The next day, with those words in my mind, I was checking my email and came across a message from Country Living magazine.  The minute I saw these pictures I knew they would be my inspiration to go with the words.  The rustic brown wood with a pop of pink gives it the shabby chic look that I crave.

Tomorrow I'll show you more;D

My process...

For the next few days I'm going to let you in on a behind the scenes look at my creative process.  I have been really focusing on fine-tuning my personal style and preferences for my artistic passion.  So, I thought a few posts about the process would be in order.

Two nights ago I went to bed and couldn't sleep because I was thinking about my next art project.  The same words kept resonating with me, to the point that I had to get back out of bed, turn on the light and find my journal to write down my thoughts.  Here are my thoughts...

I received an order from Scarletlime.com the other day, which included six 4x4 canvases.  In addition to the words above, in my journal I also wrote "I am...Brave, Happy, Strong and I love..."  You'll see more of this in the next day or so.

So today I started the first 3 canvases...

The zinnia flower you see on each is cut from a large canvas tag I received in an Art on the Go package I ordered from Donna Downey.  I LOVE CANVAS!  

Here's how my first "I choose" canvases turned out.  (I love them;)  

Stay tuned because I'll have more tomorrow;D  I'll also try to give you some closeups!  Happy Friday and GO BREWERS!!

Handmade jewelry

Inspired by some beautiful bracelets done by Christy Tomlinson at BeadArt.com, I made this one recently.  I never tire of leather;D