Sunset

I have always loved a good sunset.  The colors are amazing and very awe inspiring.  However, I an also in love with the trees at sunset.  I don't know, but to see the trees back-lit, making these wonderful patterns of lace grab me every time.  I find myself driving around at dusk, making every excuse looking for that perfect picture.  Now I will probably never stop looking for these pictures, but I found a couple of great ones the other night.

 What's your favorite part of a sunset?  Is it the glorious colors?

Cigarbox purses.

It's been a while, but this was a fun idea that I ran with.  I made a few of these and looking at them hanging on my wall I thought I'd share.

I loved being able to try all different types of styles.  This was probably my favorite one to make.  I love the old world feel.

This one isn't a cigar box, bit it was so cute.  I painted it then added some silver and crystal elements to make it more interesting.

This one is special to me.  I love music and singing.  I took the sheet music to two of my favorite songs to sing and copied them in miniature then decoupaged them all over this cigar box.

What are some of the things you've tried in the past?

Marsh

Have you ever taken a walk through the marsh?  Have you ever even driven by and looked out the window as you pass?  It's an amazing sight if you really look.  All the life, the birds, fish, bugs and I'm sure plenty of other animals besides.  I had the opportunity the other day to take a walk on a lovely path through the marshes of Scarborough.  It was stunning, I don't have a good enough camera to get some of the pictures I wanted of the birds, and I certainly don't have the time right now to spend as much time as I would like waiting patiently for that perfect shot! But I did get a few shots of the winding stream that runs through the reeds and grasses.  I think it's lovely, do you?

Where did you find beauty today?

Apples

What?  Well it's been a few days since I've posted anything.  Update: wedding project almost complete.  Otherwise I've been busy with work and child rearing.  I managed to get out and go apple picking.  So inspired to make apple crisps, and lots and lots of apple sauce.  But I also think of all the crafts and art that can and are made with apples.  A great project to do with your child is to make apple prints.  Where you cut the apple in half and stamp it on paper.  What a great idea for wrapping paper!  I've never been into the whole dried apple dolls, but how fascinating to think that people can carve faces out of fruit.  What other arts/crafts do you use apples for?

I even got Will involved and picking only the most perfect apples he could find.

 We found a beautiful dragonfly that wasn't camera shy:

We also tried our hand at candy apples that night.  Will thought they were a great treat for dessert, but very sticky.

 Do apples inspire you?  More on apples later I'm sure!

Back to childhood

Today I took my son Will to my parents for a short visit.  While there I asked if my parents would watch Will while I took a walk out back.  My dad was skeptical about the walk because of recent rains making it very wet, but I was adamant.  I went out and relived a little but of my childhood.  This little knoll was probably the most popular place for me to play and dream. 

 Walking past that I found the tote road, the beginning of the rest of my playground.  During the winter I would cross country ski, but the summer was a time of discovery.

The ferns were always so lovely when making my bed in secret places.

 And the springy moss made a fine mattress.

 I found unexpected beauty everywhere.

 And the trail leads on.......

Where did you play as a child and did it inspire you?

People who have inspired me

Today, I feel like contemplating why I feel the need to fill my life with art and beauty.  I've always felt this way, but haven't necessarily always followed through.  This summer I met a beautiful young woman named Eileen Palmer who is very artistic, she draws and paints and I'm sure does many other wonderful and beautiful things.  I met her at my camp Empire Grove at camp-meeting.  She came with her mother who was the guest minister for the week.  She was sitting on the chapel stairs sketching one of the camps on the grounds.  We started talking, she gave me her blog address and I've been following and been inspired ever since.  You can go to my profile and see her blog there it's called "nature, whimsy, reflection"  I'd add the link here but I'm not that technilogically advanced.
Now while Eileen definitely renewed my passion, it was always there.  There are many others who have inspired me.  For example, with crocheting, although I've been doing it for a while my friend Sarah was the first to inspire me to make animals, before it was only afghans and scarves, with a few dishcloths, mittens and hats thrown in for variety.  But now, when I know someone is having a baby, out comes the yarn and an animal is on it's way!  Well, maybe not all the time, but you know what I mean.
I have a very dear friend (through my mother) who is amazing.  Whatever I have seen through pictures or in real life that she has created inspires me to learn to do it for myself.  She has just started her own blog, and although there is nothing posted as of yet I'm sure it will be amazing and I will be bothering her to teach me in the ways of art.  I think of her as the mixed media master, and I want to be her "grasshopper". Her blog, again I don't know how to add a link but it's "thingz take thyme"  I'm sure once it's up and running it will be a very inspirational place to visit.
For photography, my father has done the most to inspire me, although our family friend Steve Phillips is also a huge source of inspiration.  These two men in my life take some of the most beautiful photos I've ever seen.  I started out wanting to learn how to take beautiful photos as a way to have more in common with my father, something we could share, enjoy and talk about.  But throughout the years it has morphed into more for me.  It has become a passion in it's own right.  Not only do I want to do it for some common ground with my dad, but I want to do it because it is a great source of pleasure for myself.
As for the other crafting stuff I do, I have found my family a great source of inspiration, both grandfathers were into carpentry. (something I have not really tried my hand at but am very interested to learn), my grandmother was a seamstress, must be where I got the skills to sew some of the period pieces of clothing I did a few years back.  My other grandmother and mother were/are very talented at needle point.  My whole family got together every year for a craft sale at "the Farm" every year before Christmas.  We made Christmas decorations, from painted wooden Santas to tree ornaments to baked goods.  It was always a success and a joy to create with and spend time with my family.
My mother is (although she will tell you "not anymore I'm not") very skilled at crafts of all kinds.  She can knit, sew, needlepoint, bake, cook, scrapbook, create cards, draw, paint, stencil, calligraphy, and the list goes on.  We have been known to get together to create and share resources, though not lately, I'm hoping to start making the time to get together with mom and others who like to create.  I love learning new things and passing on techniques that I know to others who are interested in learning and growing in artistic talents.
There are others who have inspired me along the way and I'm sorry for not talking about everyone, but I just don't have enough time to extol the virtues of everyone I know and how they inspire me.  Just know that you do and I am grateful.  With out you I would not be the woman I am today.  Thank you and I love and appreciate you all.
Of course, Will is my biggest inspiration.  Trying to see the world through his eyes, and leaving something beautiful to inspire him to continue the family legacy of an art-filled life

Where do you get your inspiration?  And will you inspire others?

Sunflowers

I saved these from being cut down and thrown away

Beauty

 There's something about looking to the sky and seeing rays of sunlight shining through the clouds.  Or a tree that just seems to speak to you in it's perfection.

 Or how about a beautiful cow gracefully picking it's way through a field looking for that perfect mouthful of grass.....

One of the houses I work at has a tree full of peaches. this is one peach in three different looks.

 I can't choose which one I like best,

 and this one was just for fun.

Where did you find beauty today?

Creating

I know that so far, I've shared the photos I've been taking, but I do other things too, honest.  I love to crochet, I'm currently working on a project and will share pictures upon completion.  But for now I thought I would share some of the other art-filled passions in my life.
I crochet animals, turtles to frogs to penguins

 giraffes to elephants...

 even a dust bunny and tin of sardines is possible

 to pigs, turkeys, lions, squids, alligators and many more besides.  Crocheting gives me great joy when I am making something for someone to enjoy.  I have even been known to make a Pokemon or two for my son.

But that is not all I enjoy, I working on scrapbooks and making all manner of cards.  I use all different mediums, but here are a couple I made recently.

What are some things you enjoy creating?

My own backyard

So this isn't technically from my backyard, but it's close.

I went for a walk on the Green Belt, it's a paved path that goes out behind my neighborhood.  It's actually quite a beautiful walk.  I did about 2 1/2 miles this morning.  It amazes me how much beauty I see when I actually look for it.  These pictures had my imagination running.  I was having all manner of thoughts racing through my head.  Who knows?  One of these days I might be writing a little fairy tale/ short children's story based on the pictures I have taken  and the thoughts they have inspired.
Won't you take this journey with me?

 Stop to find the beauty in the little things we walk by every day......

 use your imagination to find new ways to see

.Let this journey continue...............