Thursday, January 30, 2014

Mood Board - Winter Hearts

I live in the Midwest and we have been getting extreme weather - freezing cold, huge amounts of snow and a lot of reasons not to go outside. So, I wanted to share a little bit of warmth, coziness and love to my blogging friends. From my house to yours, stay warm, snuggle in and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows of course!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Mood Board - Tops

I just love tops. I remember playing with them as a child, spinning them until my fingers hurt. We would have contests to see whose would spin the longest or the wildest depending on our mood at the moment. The brightly colored ones were the best because as they spun the colors would create beautiful bands of vibrant hues. When I stumbled across this fabric, I couldn't resist all the lovely images in various positions of spinning. Can you feel the excitement captured in the moment? I know I can because it brings back such happy memories of childhood.


Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Growth

Some Thesaurus words for "haze" are: brume, cloud, dimness, film, fog, fumes, haziness, indistinctness, miasma, mist, muck, obscurity, smog, smokiness, smother, steam, vapor.

Don't you just love the word muck? For me, this is the most powerful because that's exactly how I have felt - stuck in the muck. Trying to find an inspirational photo that showed persistence, growth and the willingness to push forward was quite a feat but I think this one fit all the meanings extremely well. When you look past the haziness of the lambs ear you see the uprising of a stem pushing through. It is unwilling to just lay there and not grow and explore as it was meant to. I really love nature for this reason and find much of my creativity surrounded by its everyday beauty. So, what are you pushing through today? Fight for it, it will be worth its weight, I promise!

Monday, January 13, 2014

Word - Haze

The word for the week is haze.

Its noun meaning - fine dust, smoke or light vapor causing lack of transparency in the air; vagueness of mind or perception.

Its verb meaning - to harass by abusive and humiliating tricks usually by way of initiation.

I took this photo in the late fall while leaves were burning and wanted to catch the smoke rising and swirling in the air. The effect of the smoke close to the ground was just what I was hoping for. I chose this word because I spent the later part of 2013 in a bit of a haze. Wanting to move ahead into a new direction but I was met with a lot of resistance within myself. Deadlines and responsibilities kept me going but in a lackluster way, just doing art to get art done. I am resolving to let my art life exist out of the haze, in true light and with a path that is undefined, risky almost. I am ready!. The haze is lifting and I want to explore 2014 in all it offers up with a new found freedom of simply starting each and every day. That isn't too much to ask, right? So, I am asking you, my readers, is haze a part of your life at the moment? If so, how can you push it aside and live in full light? I know you have the answer, just look past the smoke!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Mood Board Thursdays

I have been wanting to do a weekly inspiration/mood board to share what I love, collect and find excitement in with all of you. I also did it to post my own photos on Pinterest and keep my creativity stirred as well. This grouping was all about texture. I started with the background rattan, the natural ribbon and the cabbage flower. The rest came together easily because I wanted it to be about nature and the things I collect. The butterfly box is actually matches but of course I bought it for the graphic. How could I resist after all? It is a butterfly. I had to group the leaves to the right because I wanted to add a bit of color and shininess there. The square piece is fabric that I bought for its color but also the movement of the pattern. Designing it was so much fun and I can't wait to share 52 weeks with you!

Feel free to post to your own Pinterest boards, I would love it if you did! You can come visit me there at http://www.pinterest.com/kelh2/, happy pinning!

Friday, January 3, 2014

Yucca Glory

I love yucca seed pods, they have to be my all time favorite and well, I really don't even know why. They are just so intriguing! The little chambers that hold the black seeds in neat and tidy rows. Their skeletal form bursting open like popcorn to expose the treasure inside. The delicate way they open as if holding something wonderfully exquisite. But most of all, I love that they will last through the winter standing upright with such conviction you can't help but notice them in the garden.

Here, they just remind me of a summer snow cone treat although they are only filled with snow from the evenings storm. The color in the photo is such an earthy one with the glorious yellow browns, the extreme winter whites and let's not forget that rich, vibrant royal blue sky. This is one of my favorite photos I have ever taken and now you know why. I hope you will look into the garden and see what remaining treasures are waiting for your attention. Be curious, take a camera and get inspired by nature!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Dreaming BIG in 2014!

2014 is here and I am going to dream BIG this year in many ways. I have chosen "freedom" as my word representation and couldn't be more excited! I want to play in the studio more and worry less about perfect art. I want to just enjoy the moment of today instead of always worrying about what is next on the list. I want to take more photographs, I missed being with nature capturing a delicate moment or two. I will read more, it enriches my soul and sends me to faraway places. I want to grow and expand this year heading into new markets and not letting resistance stand in my way. I want to reach beyond what I think I am capable and embrace any possibility that arises. And this year, I want to visit the place I have been dreaming of since I was in 8th grade, the magical world of Paris. As you can see, dreaming BIG in 2014 is exactly what I am doing. How are your dreams shaping up for the New Year?

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Welcome 2014!

I cannot believe how quickly 2013 went. I mean, where did the time go?
I remember my parents saying that you should appreciate childhood while you can because when you get older, time just passes you by. I now know they were not kidding. So my wish for all of us in 2014 is to enjoy life a little more. Let's get creative, laugh everyday and share your love whenever possible. It is going to be a glorious year, can you feel it? I know
I am ready, willing and able to start this new year. Let's make it a magical one - Happy New Year!