creative happiness

from the story, to the music, to the animation.....
i think this is so delightfully creative!

i hope your weekend is filled with many
sweet, artful moments just like these!
xox

holiday linky-links

'tis the season for little red berries on green wreaths.....

and little vintage red bird ornaments......

and tons of holly, jolly creative inspiration!


thankfully, the sweet little elves over at everything etsy have simplified the season
by offering lots and lots of lovely linkies to satisfy whatever is on your
holiday want-to-do-list this year.....

*for handmade holiday ideas, click here!
*want to create some ornaments?  click here!
*for some fabulous Christmas printables, click here!
* if you're looking for handmade gift ideas, click here!
*and to create a sweet advent calendar, click here!

{be creative, and be merry!!  :))}

be creative

being a happy person doesn't mean that you're void of problems.

believe me, i have them. actually, i have lots of them.

but i also have a choice. i have a choice of how i react to them.

i try to handle them the best i can, in the most positive way i can.

this approach doesn't always work, but that's what i aim for.

do i get bummed sometimes? yep.

frustrated, irritated? yep, yep.

do i want to be bummed, frustrated & irritated? nope, nope & nope.

therefore, i create.

because being creative makes me happy.

be creative=be happy.

doodle finished on graph paper using micron pen, thumbprint, watercolor pencils, 4B pencil

p.s. thank you so much for the sweet birthday wishes you sent my dad!! xox

black, white and grey all over

this is a little doodle that i came up with, trying to use the shading exercises that i'm learning in pam carriker's shades of grey online class. i must admit that using a black, white, and grey palette is quite different than what i'm used to.....trying to create the same doodle whimsy without using my rainbow stash of watercolor pencils has been a bit of a challenge! and this is probably the only time you'll ever see me color a heart grey!

journal page finished using pitt brush-tipped pens, micron pens, pencil

from the heart

my sweet bloggy friend becky shander continues to amaze me with her artistic genius and giving spirit. not long ago, she treated me to this gorgeous little journal created from repurposed dryer sheets and other fabulous materials.....a true treasure, to say the very least! and then this week the mailman brought me this beautiful little parcel.....a precious little birdie lovingly created from the heart, and the perfect masterpiece to hang from my favorite vintage-style glass knob (and where i'll see it and be inspired by it every single day!).

using cotton batting, tea-stained dryer sheets, and a variety of vintage fabrics and lace as her palette, becky reminds that beauty can be seen in the simplest of materials. i love her clever use of jute twine as the "nest", and i must admit that the sweet pearl bead eye, along with her fun stitching here and there, are the perfect finishing touches!

becky, i could never fully express to you just how much you have touched my heart with your generosity in creating this for me! i am so blessed to have met you, and i thank you so very much for sharing your creative self with all of us!

becky shander is an accomplished and published artist.....please visit her here!