Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Things I want to do this spring

I like to make a list each season of fun things I want to do, with a few pretty pictures added in.

  1. plant a patio garden
  2. read biographies, memoirs and books on well-being
  3. sketch spring flowers
  4. make little flower arrangements
  5. put together journal on self-care ideas
  6. do a spring cleaning and get organized
  7. identify and sketch 5 birds
  8. press pansies and wildflowers
  9. cook something using asparagus
  10. go to Winghaven to see the birds and bluebells...
What do you like to do during the spring season, any special rituals or activities?

Thursday, March 21, 2013

little tea party drawings

another page of little drawings...
I switched  to a smaller notebook with white paper for my little drawings which for now I think I like better.
more drawings of teacups and sweets which are my favorite things to draw right now and I love the idea of a garden tea party...

Monday, March 18, 2013

Guest post:tips for inspiration boards

Today I have a very special guest post...Michelle Pino from Skana a beautiful spa in upstate New York would like to share her tips on creating inspiration boards for projects and ideas.


How to Create and Use an Inspiration Board

An inspiration board provides creative inspiration for a multitude of projects. At the beginning of a creative project, many people create this helpful collage from found photos, designs and bric-a-brac to find emerging themes and focus creative energy. Here are some simple steps for creating:

1.         Search and capture images, either digitally or from magazines. Digitally you can grab images from snapshots you capture on your cell phone or online from inspiring blogs. In addition to specialized blogs, Pinterest and Wiki Commons offer great inspiration.
2.         Make a list of what you need. Whether you are redecorating, planning an event or giving your wardrobe a makeover, it’s time to set aside those photos and figure out what you need and what you already have.
3.         Go back to your resources for more photos. This time your search will be a little more focused as you have determined what you need for the project. Now you can fill out your photo collection.
4.         Find an anchor. Look through your collection and note recurring themes. Is there something that ties the entire collection together? A theme might be a texture, a color or color value, a shape or an idea such as inspiration from movies or a particular era from which you have collected items. Choose an image that best represents your theme, and use it as your central image.
5.         Begin making connections. Sort through your photos, and pick the ones you like best. Determine how they fit with your anchor. Take time to order your collage. Let it evolve organically.
6.         Sit with your board. After everything is tacked into place, spend some time with your
creation. Does it feel finished? Place it somewhere that you can look at it frequently, but don’t touch it for a full week.
7.         Make any changes you wish after spending time with your board. Remove things that annoy you. Add things from your collection to finish the board. Sit with the board again. When it feels complete, your board will bring focus as you plan your project.

Many projects will benefit from an inspiration board. Use one to plan a wedding or create a new look for your home. You can even use an inspiration board to help you plan and update your wardrobe. In fact, you can draw focus and inspiration for any creative project with a visual aspect by utilizing this handy tool.

This spring I’m really looking to give my patio and landscape some extra attention, unlike past years.  I’d like to utilize my patio as my getaway, and space to relax.  To me that means lots of flowers and comfy lounging.  There is some great landscaping near where I work.  The Central New York wedding venue hosts several outdoor wedding ceremonies because of the gorgeous work they do.  Sprawling Tulips make for a beautiful landscape.  They are usually the first sign that the spring season has arrived.  Since spring flowers like tulips, have already been planted in the ground, local nurseries usually sell tulips in pots.  This time of year you can also find Easter Lilies and Hydrangeas.  Hydrangeas are very popular in landscape and even in wedding decorations. I used the picture of the potted hydrangeas as my source of inspiration.  Annuals usually aren’t planted until later in May.  Potted flowers are a great way to decorate your outdoor space.  Not only do they give off a nice aroma, but also they can add color to your space.  Lastly, I’ll need a comfy spot to read my books like a nice lounge chair or hammock.



This is my board that I put together in a notebook. I've always gathered pretty images into notebooks but had never thought of using one for a specific project. So I was very excited about this idea and put together my ideas for a patio garden.


Thank you Michelle for sharing your ideas with us!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

sketchbook


Some recent sketchbook pages...This first one was started in January but then I didn't finish it until March. It's a drawing of the book "The country diary of an Edwardian Lady" by Edith Holden.

This is a sketch of a few of my favorite Spring things: Pansies, the Tulip bulbs starting to come up, and chocolate egg candies by Cadbury. 

and this one is a sketch of a book that was recommended by a blog reader who sent me a really nice email. It's The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and I can't wait to start reading it, it sounds really good.   The other page is a drawing of some paper pinwheels that I made for Spring decorations.
I hope everyone is starting to see and the feel the first signs of Spring!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

little drawings

I used to like to do little miniature drawings but I haven't done it for awhile. So I had this nice leather journal that I haven't ever found a use for and I decided to fill it with little drawings from books, magazines, and my imagination. I found that I really like to draw food and teacups... 





Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Art Journaling

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post, I definitely didn't mean for this much time to go by . I'd really like to try posting more often and to get more organized about it.
So today I have some of my latest art journal pages with quotes and words from The Simple Abundance Book, which is such a wonderful book. I love going back to it again and again for inspiration.  

 Art Journaling on my bed which is one of my favorite places to journal.

 This spread is almost finished but I haven't decided what to write on the sticker yet. I'll wait till something strikes me. (the sticker is from a collection by Anahata Katkin's Papaya company and the photo is from Madelyn Mulvaney"s blog)

"The best thing is the feeling you get when you're inspired"
Penelope Dullaghan