A day at the McGill Rose Garden

 I feel very lucky to live near a beautiful public rose garden full of birds, trees, flowers and peaceful places to sit and enjoy it all . It was a really beautiful morning there.

"This memorial in honor of  Mrs. Helen McGill was placed in this garden where for nearly twenty years she devoted so much of her time and untiring efforts to bring pleasure to others through the realization of her vision that beauty can exist anywhere even in a coal yard"

Guest post on creativity from Marcela De Vivo

7 Things to Do to Wake up Your Creativity

We’re all born with an ability to be creative and to improvise our way through life. Within our beings, we have a unique ability to see the world in diverse ways that lead us to make different decisions and come to varying conclusions based on our specific situation.

That ability is simply our creativity, and we all have it too in one degree or another; however, many of us may feel that we aren’t as creative as others or as creative as we should be.

It’s a scientific fact that creativity can be improved on and “exercised” by how we engage our minds and how we spend our days. If you want to improve upon the creativity of your mind, there are some simple and effective ways that you can do so.

These are seven of the best everyday ways to exercise the creative muscle of your brain:

  1. Find an Artistic Outlet. Whether it’s playing an instrument, drawing, painting or some other kind of relaxing artistic activity, they all do wonders to work your creative muscle, increase your ability to think outside of the box and assess the creative worth that something might have.

You’ll also find yourself looking to pursue something that is both unique and attractive, while not sacrificing too much of one for the other.

2. Exercise. Getting even just 15 minutes of aerobic exercise a day can improve your frame of mind and actually make you happier, which will result in clearer thinking and greater creativity. It also helps you sleep better and maintain a higher energy level throughout the day.

 3. Learn a New Language. People who are bilingual have been scientifically proven to be notably creative and have improved problem solving skills. If you have the time and you want to increase your creativity, it’s definitely worth a try.

Even just working the muscle to learn the language will help, regardless of whether or not you’re ever able to speak it or become fluent.U It can ultimately help you improve your vocabulary in your native language as well, leading to more creative thinking. 

4. Listen to Music. Music is one of the best and easiest ways to engage the creative side of your brain. Listen to different instruments and analyze them in your own mind. Even if you can’t play those instruments, you’d be surprised at how much more familiar you’ll feel with them if you spend some time being intentional about listening to them.

5. Do Some Math. I know this might be a tough sell, but this does work the problem solving and creativity muscle of your brain quite well. That’s not to say that you need to become a math wizard, but just keep up with it. Spend 30 minutes a day going over material that you haven’t seen in awhile. Khanacademy.org is a great place to go for quick reviews and tutorials.

6. Read on a Daily Basis. Reading might seem like a relaxing and “disengaged” kind of activity, but it’s actually quite beneficial for you; it can greatly benefit your ability to think and be creative.

Reading requires that you picture what you’re seeing in your mind. So, not only do you need to read the words, your mind also virtually takes you to the world that those words are describing, thereby engaging in a creative activity.

If you don’t already make time for it, be intentional about reading for 30 minutes to an hour per day.

7. Start Something New. Even if it you start off not feeling inspired about a particular project or craft, the most important thing to do to wake up your creativity is to try, try, and try again. Picking up a pen or paintbrush, or even trying something unique like flower arranging, making decorative home decor pieces out of tissue paper or basket weaving, can be a spark of creativity, but persistent and trial-and-error is what really fan the flames.

Try not to get frustrated with it too soon; be patient, don’t push yourself, and let your inspiration come naturally.

You may already enjoy many of these suggestions on a daily basis. The next time you get writer’s block, or are having a difficult time coming up with a new design, try doing something new and you may like where it leads you.

Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer from Southern California whose writes on everything from marketing and tech to travel, health, and law. Covering such a wide variety of topics, she is always looking for new ideas and inspiration tricks for her writing process. 

  

This weekend's art journaling

Art Journal

A couple of quotes from this journal page:

"Smells are surer than sights and sounds to make the heartstrings crack"

and

"A multitude of small delights constitutes happiness"

Art Journaling

I found this little snippet on the right in a magazine and found the thought very interesting...

"Happiness consists in finding out precisely what the "one thing necessary" may be in our lives, and in gladly relinquishing all the rest. For then, by a divine paradox, we find that everything else is given us together with the one thing we needed."

Thomas Merton

spring sketching

The first tulip blooming on the patio, trees in bloom and tiny wildflowers at the park...

This is a drawing with a layout that has more writing than drawings that I like to do for something  different every once in awhile.

The second tulip to bloom and a couple of birds that I've seen this spring around the patio, that I think I identified correctly (drawn from photos not real life because they don't stay around long enough)

I would say that spring is probably my favorite time for sketching. I love seeing new flowers and birds.

Art Journal Pages

Make time for Art...

Roses make me happy...

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?

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...

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.

photo credit: Turning Stone Landscape | DIY planters | Hammock | Hydrangeas

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!

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!

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... 

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

Making Journals and Sketching

A few handmade journals using old books (I cut out the old pages and add in either watercolor paper or basic sketchbook paper with a basic binding technique) and cover with paper and images. I became addicted to the process and made quite a few at once. I use them for art journals or for keeping notes.

A couple of more recent sketchbook pages too....

 These are some drawings of a couple more of the covered books: one for memory keeping and the other is a one line a day journal.

new year art journaling

I'm having a hard time starting into the new year, I've  been procrastinating a lot and can't quite seem to organize the thoughts and projects in my head, because I do have a lot of things I want to do.

I have been doing a little bit of art journaling, this page is almost finished, it's some journaling about the word that I chose to focus on for the year, which is calm because lately I've been more impatient and irritated so I knew this was the word for this year, it helps me breathe and focus on the present. Did anyone else pick a word for the year?

Holiday Time

A  Christmas Wreath

Coffee and Fruitcake.

 I love fruitcake, I know most people don't but there is something  very 'christmasy' about for me. There are some really good ones out there. This is a French one from World Market and a German Stollen fruitcake with powdered sugar on top.

Some of the Holiday books I'm reading....

The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott

Immoveable feast by John Baxter(a french christmas)

Miss Reads Christmas

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

Let there be peace on earth

Winter-Christmas List

This is a list of things that I want to do this winter. It's a little notebook of lists for each season....

1. Make garlands and decorations
2. Light candles
3. Practice embroidery
4. Have a peppermint shake @ chick-fil-a
5. Make christmas cookies
6. Try December Daily
7. Watch Holiday movies
8. Have lots of hot chocolate and eggnog
9. Read Christmas novels and childhood favorites
10. Drive around and look at Christmas lights

Holiday Smashbook

I ordered the huge pretty pocket SMASH folio awhile back and then I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to use it for.So when the holidays rolled around, I thought it would be perfect for all my christmas inspiration and ideas like crafts, recipes and cookies. The large size seems to work well for this fun and whimsical time of year. So here are a few of the pages...

This is a label for the cover. I traced an Anthropologie card onto scrapbook paper and then used Rub-ons from Kand Company and green gems. I added red polka dot washi tape across the cover to look like it's gift wrapped.

This first spread is for ornament ideas and a little article on 'tree trimming 101'. I have room to add more.

 This spread and pocket are for craft and embroidery ideas and I added some washi tape to the yellow paper to make it look more festive. Some of the paper in the SMASH folio had a holiday feel but others needed more christmas embellishments added.

  This spread and envelope are for holding my favorite christmas cookie recipes.(I love the large envelopes that come in this Smashbook...)I also added adhesive borders to these pages.

This next section is for christmas decorating ideas and wreaths

 I put little pictures in the plastic sleeve that comes attached in the book. It has 9 slots on each side.

This area is for ideas on comfort and relaxation during the holidays.

The last part of the book is for more pretty pictures and an envelope for christmas memories. I added a Merry Christmas rub-on and chipboard pieces to the label already on the envelope.

 For the inside cover I paper-clipped a few recipes for the holidays and I have all of the tabs for each section- crafts, ornaments, cookies, relaxation, decorating, wrapping gifts, and memories.                                                                          

 

on the inside pocket of the back I added in extra things like this article from Victoria about the movie Little Women, one of my favorites during the holidays. Also a little quote I taped in:

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

Norman Vincent Peale