Tuesday, January 31, 2012

"Red Dress" | example of daily digital coolness

Mixed Media Collage by collage a day
Mixed Media Collage, a photo by collage a day on Flickr.

Fantastic digital collage by collage a day. Check out the photostream for some inspiring altered vintage photos. Just keep clicking through the stream. Amazing stuff, collage a day ...

Could you/do you produce art every day? A serious challenge, for sure. Check out The Crafter's Devotional, a book of 365 artistic ideas so you're never out of techniques to try or media for experimenting.

Do you practice creativity daily? How do you stick with it?

Monday, January 30, 2012

"Do Much Good"

Do Much Good collage by Rebecca Sower
Do Much Good collage, a photo by Rebecca Sower on Flickr.

The title of this work reminds of this week's Sunday School lesson. In Deuteronomy, we studied God's (through Moses) instructions to the Israelites before they were to enter the Promised Land. God knew that the Israelites wouldn't naturally settle into the land full of love and generosity for each other. Some would own land, and others would work the land for them. Some would be orphans, and some widows, requiring justice. Some would require loans from those with money to lend. God instructed that all should treat each other with respect: to give generously and not even expect repayment; to treat the poor with dignity; and to demand justice for those who cannot get justice for themselves.

There are lessons for me in Deuteronomy. I am really working on the "give generously" part - giving out of love and not out of duty, and not expecting recognition or "credit." I want to "do much good." And I know that only when my heart is right can I ensure that.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

fun flickr tools at bighugelabs

jewelry mosaic by KimWJenkins
jewelry mosaic, a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

have a flickr account? you can create mosaics with your own or others' pics (if they allow sharing) with mosaic maker from bighugelabs.com. i was just foolin' around and this isn't the best composition, but it's a rockin' tool. try it! you can adjust background color, space between squares (pics should look good in square format), adjust number of rows and columns, etc. like i said, rockin' - and free!

warm inside, snow outside. how can you make it warm for others today?

i took this picture through our front storm door which is covered with condensation because it's toasty inside and so cold outside. looks kinda ghostly, huh? i am so grateful to have a house which God provides for us, to shield us from the elements. more than once today i have heard about people in need of clothes to ward off the cold weather. praying that we will all give where God leads us to. He commands His people to give with a loving heart, from the bounty that has been given to us.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

"our font"

A Friend by bockel24
A Friend, a photo by bockel24 on Flickr.

Whenever I see the font used on this collage, I instantly and easily recognize it, because we used it on our wedding invitations that we designed ourselves! I might see "our font" on a grocery store sign, or in a magazine ad, or in a piece of art like Marion's pictured here and I think, "Hey! They didn't ask permission from me!" Isn't that funny? Being protective of a font? Silly and sweet, huh?

kirk in the woods

Another sight while geocaching today. So c-c-c-cold! But worth the trip to see the travel bug motel set by our friends, Dave and Mary. Want to know more about geocaching? Check out geocaching.com. My husband calls it "a hobby where you use multi-million-dollar satellites to find Tupperware in the woods." That's pretty accurate.

bee boxes - "say cheese!"

  by KimWJenkins
, a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

While on a geocaching trek today, we discovered these beekeeping boxes. out of season and artfully stacked, they made for a beautiful picture.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

sweetly distressed ATC

I love this distressed Artist's Trading Card (ATC) by thekathrynwheel. It includes a collection of "inchies" (1" squares) that are often combined to make a piece of art. Here's more info about inchies from craftster.org. It's got me itching for inchies!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Sweet art in a tin .. and more from hen's teeth

small Pastilles tin # 1 by hens teeth
small Pastilles tin # 1, a photo by hens teeth on Flickr.

Love the idea of a secreted note inside a mints tin ... and love the stitched dog - with wings? Beautiful. Here's the artist's blog with her screen prints, monoprints, collages and bunny brooches with ears made out of the fingers of leather gloves. Sweet!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Love Danita Art's paintings!

I have admired Dainta Art's work for some time. Love the sweet, moody figures, like The Mushrooms Collector here. Check out her etsy shop for original paintings and giclee prints on wood, among other items.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

"Bloom where you are planted."

184 / threesixtyfive by Tonya Doughty
184 / threesixtyfive, a photo by Tonya Doughty on Flickr.

What does this instruction (attributed to St. Francis de Sales) mean to you? For me it suggests patience, not wishing for what you don't have, or to be where you're not, because God's got a plan for you, right where you are. What do you think?

More beautiful work by Roben-Marie

Points of Two - Week 43 by Robes-Pierre
Points of Two - Week 43, a photo by Robes-Pierre on Flickr.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Roben-Marie Smith's work ...

I AM FULL by Robes-Pierre
I AM FULL, a photo by Robes-Pierre on Flickr.

... so inspirational. i *will* get out my paints and pens and papers, i *will* get out my paints and pens and papers ...

Adoring mixed media tonight

My favorites by Pretty Arty
My favorites, a photo by Pretty Arty on Flickr.

Artists on flickr are inspiring me to explore mixed media again. Sweet little notebook by Pretty Arty.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Ladder stitch bracelet fun!

After seeing so many versions of these ladder stitch bracelets, I just had to give them a try. Here are my takes. 16" long, will wrap twice on my wrist. Chunky, fun, colorful. Both available in our etsy shop.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Zumba Kick-Off at Merriman Road Baptist Church

Can you believe this crowd?!?!?

Couponing is in Fashion

With some of my Christmas money (thanks, mom and dad) I purchased a very chic coupon wallet. Yeah, I said a chic coupon wallet. Miles more beautiful than my old ratty plastic one with the limp elastic band to keep it closed. And it velcroes to the cart, and stays open while I shop! I'm still couponing after a phase during which I was a bit too intense about it (paid subscription to a matching service, etc.). Sometimes I let the coupons dictate what we ate, not the other way around. So, with a goal of continuing to eat healthy in 2012, I continue to clip coupons for things I know we'll need, and what I know is pretty healthy. And I use these free sites like these to discover serendipitous matches:
Oh, and here are some great etsy sellers who make cool coupon wallets.

Share your faves!