Monday's Mandala

You may be surprised to see a "Monday's Mandala" post, but I couldn't let my winter project just fade off into the distance without a proper epilogue.

I decided to make a video of my mandala book.  I've included all 24 mandalas from my winter project as well as a few other mandalas I created before the project.  I hope you enjoy it.

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Weekend Journal

It's been an extraordinary week for me.  Mike and Nadia arrived safely from California last Saturday, so the entire family has been together for the whole week.  Yes - I'm happy beyond words!  There have been family cookouts and way too much food (but I've enjoyed every calorie!), quiet strolls along the beach, visits to parks, and hours just sitting around reminiscing and laughing.  I really hate to see it come to an end as Mike and Nadia head back to CA tomorrow.

Heather has been making mouth watering desserts for us all week.  My personal favorite - Biscoff Truffles.  Biscoff spread. Cream cheese.  Chocolate.  Speechless goodness.  Heather is amazing with the baked goods and has a wonderful blog: Bake, Run, Live.  If you want to see some great baked goods and sweets and collect some wonderful recipes, this is your ticket!  And the most importantl part - they're "made with love, not calories".  I've been telling myself that all week.

Other family members got in on the sweet action, too.  Mike and Nadia sent Keith this unbelievable box of chocolate covered strawberries from Sheri's Berries for his birthday.  They're deliciously sweet and crazy big!  Sis also contributed awesome chocolate peanut butter brownies to the dessert table.  

And let us not forget Nadia's creamy, luscious homemade flan.  Definitely no calories in this! (Ha!)

Of course, we had to offset all the food (a trip to Melt, breakfast at the 50's Diner, cabbage rolls, chicken curry, etc., etc.....) with some activitiy, and I also had to sneak in some journaling via camera.  Here are some snippets of our trip to the Cleveland Metroparks / North Chagrin Reservation in Willoughby Hills.

Squire's Castle front

Squire's Castle rear right

Looking up through the tower

Crab apple tree blossoms

Red Bud tree

Spring Beauty flowers

Yesterday was all about "the guys" as they washed, polished and "prettied up" the Mustangs.  Four-wheeled Mustangs, that is.  Mike, (videographer extraordinaire), attached his camera to the back window of my car and took video footage of the trip to and from the beach.  I can't wait to see the finished product and I'll be sure to share the link with you.  Here are a couple pictures from yesterday's photo shoot.

Mustang photos:  Keith Thompson

Nick's 99 Saleen, Keith's 69 Coupe and 96 GT Coupe

I have to admit to just a little journaling activity.  Remember the 29 Faces Challenge?  Mike helped me iron out my tech kinks and make a short video of the project.  Here's the finished video.  For the best viewing, watch on YouTube in full screen.

As this week winds down, I hope you are finding ways to not only create, but to celebrate and love this amazing journey we call life.  I hope you're surrounded by loving family and friends, and all the wonderful things that bring you pleasure.

Heather, Nick, Keith, Nadia, Mike

As for me, life just doesn't get any better than this.  I'm an extremely blessed and happy woman.

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Tuxpi

I've been having so much fun with this free,  photo editing site, (Tuxpi), that I just have to share it with you.  My friend, Geri, over at My Heart Art, is an amazing artist who specializes in digital work.  If you've never been to her blog, I suggest you check it our pronto!  Each one of Geri's posts is filled with helpful techniques and great website links as well as her creative artwork.

One of the last links that Geri shared is Tuxpi.com.  You can do incredible things with your artwork and photographs, and the best part of it all - it's FREE!

The first image I decided to play with was the easter egg artwork from my Weekend Journal post.  After a few adjustments (sorry - I neglected to write down which effects I used), I ended up with this image from the original PDF.

Tuxpi edited image

Original artwork

I had a PDF of the original sketch of my Easter eggs, so I also played with that in Tuxpi.  As I recall, I used the kaleidoscope effect and adjusted the color and saturation.  I also cropped the original image.

Tuxpi edit

Original image

Remember this journal spread from a couple weeks ago?  I simply added the Heatmap Photo Effect without making any other adjustments.  I love the way it looks!

Original image

Original image with Heatmap Photo Effect

And, of course, you KNOW there's no way I'm not going to play with an image of Angelia!  I love seeing myself with Photo film, Stardust and set to infinity!  

"Angelia - Infinity and Beyond"!!!

Angelia original image

So there you have it.  This is just a minute sampling of all the fun you can have with this free program.  No program is more user friendly than Tuxpi, and it's quite easy to download your finished images into your computer.  Thanks for the tip, Geri!   Now - grab your images and imagination and have some fun!  

Weekend Journal

I've got something really great to share with you today.  Several weeks ago, I was contacted by Max at Become.com  / Pocketchange to see if I might be interested in Angelia's Art Journals being featured in their "Best of the Web" series.  Well, I hadn't heard of the site before, so I took the time to check it out.

To sum up my experience in a word, "Wow"!  It took me all of five minutes to find a fantastic shopping site.  I would have probably looked for more but I was totally engaged in what I stumbled upon.  And when I looked through the previous blogs that have been featured, I found some really great reading!

I'm honored that Max wanted to feature my blog, and it is part of the "Best of the Web No 59".  You can view it by clicking this link.  Be sure to get comfy with your favorite beverage and comfortable chair because there are lots of great sites linked from this versatile website, for your viewing pleasure!  Be sure to check out the past "Best of the Web" posts.  I've already found some great new blogs.

Another great feature to check out is the "TIPS" section.  I'm sure you'll find something of interest and maybe even learn something new along the way.  

For those of you traveling and/or celebrating Easter, may your journey be safe and your time be filled with all the good things you've anticipated.  As for me, I couldn't be happier.  My son, Mike, and his girlfriend, Nadia, arrived this morning  from CA.  They will be here for the entire week, and the whole family is together now.  My heart is full.  Life just doesn't get any better than this.

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Get Out of the House!

I'm the first one to admit that I've become a homebody.  Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I've taken Dorothy to heart; "There's no place like home."  I like walking around the house in paint covered, sloppy clothes.  I like not wearing a bra.  I like having my coffee and laptop readily at my disposal.  I like my own company.  I like meandering around my yard.  I like all the comforts of home.

Spectacular color on this pansy!

I think modern day living makes it easy to become isolated - especially when one has the luxury of working from home.  With the click of a mouse, I can be be (virtually) anywhere in the world I choose, learning and/or watching and listening to anything my little heart desires.  

A stormy sky at dawn

The thing is, "real" life evolves around us as we sit hunched over the keyboard, in front of the easel or buried in a journal.  As we become engrossed in our own thoughts and ideas, we miss the beauty and wonder of the outdoors as well as the interaction and unique perspectives of other people.

Keynote Speaker for the annual Lakeland Community College Woman of Achievment Award ceremony,
Ohio State Senator, Nina Turner.  (And an awesome talk it was!)

Let's face it - a stagnant life leads to stagnant art.  Stagnant art is boring art.  To paraphrase Julia Cameron from the book, The Artist's Way, we have to "feed the well" (of creativity).  We need fresh ideas and new experiences in which to fill the well that is the source of our creativity.  We need the interaction with people and nature.

Woman of Achievement 2012 recipient, (and my adoptive Mom!),
Tina Bishop

Go exploring in a local park, the woods, or the beach.  Take a stroll through the city where you usually only travel by car or other transportation. Take a camera.  Notice architectural details and surface textures.  Take note of creative endeavors made by others.

A pyramid sculpture on the beach at Headlands State Park

Really look at the beauty and mystique of the things you walk past every day.  (If you're lucky, you may even find some new treasures!).

Large pieces of beach glass collected by Keith and me.

So get out of the house.  Get out of the studio.  Get out of your rut.  Go outside and get some fresh air and some new inspiration for your creative well.

A little blurry, but this is a praying mantis cocoon waiting to hatch (soon!) in our  forsythia bushes

Go outside in the early morning and listen to the birds.  Go outside after dark and look up at the sky.  We live on a pretty spectacular planet with some pretty amazing people.  Get out of the house and have an adventure!

Did you see the great allighnments of the moon,  Jupiter and Venus this past month?
Photo:  Keith Thompson

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE