Shadow Shot Sunday

It's that time of year when the weather changes so quickly. All week I have been wearing a light coat but yesterday the temperature dropped considerably. We even had flurries last night and this morning there was a coating of snow still on the lawn and bushes. Yes, I do love snow, but not on highways. Wouldn't it be great if snow fell such that roadways were spared? Oh well, we can dream.

I got a few shots this morning of shadows in the yard. The shadows on the snow were faint but I wanted to highlight the snow.

Be sure to check out all the wonderful shadows from around the world here.

Shadow Shot Sunday

It was a lovely morning  today as I went to check for shadows. The sun was shining, the air was crisp. It will be a perfect weekend for the  Santa Claus parade!
After a long week of being sick, I am hopefully on the upswing. As we gear up for the holiday season, I so want to be able to enjoy all the festivities this year.

Here are a few shadows I found today:

Be sure to visit here to see interesting shadows from around the world.

Gelli Plate

In September I won a gelli plate from Marcia Beckett of "Art is Basic" - a fabulous blog for art teachers and those wanting art ideas.
It wasn't until tonight that I actually got it out and experimented - and now I am addicted! I was feeling sick today and really not feeling like doing too much. Then I remembered the gelli plate - and the video I  had recently watched.
What fun it was to just play and not worry about what I would create.

Here are a few of the pieces I made:

This was the table top after I was done!

This is using bubblewrap.

I can see so much potential for this. great for journal pages and ATC backgrounds.
I will definitely be playing with paint, stencils and the gelli plate a lot!

Thought I would an some additional video for you to see and check out the fun:

at Carolyn Dube

There are so may more on Youtube - be sure to check them out as well.

Wishcasting Wednesday

Today at Jamie Ridler's blog, Jamie asked this question:

What change do you wish for?

Each week Jamie poses a very challenging question that guides you to consider ways to achieve your dreams.

This week's question is a good one. Especially as we are nearing the end of 2012, it is a time to reevaluate where you are with your wishes and dreams for this year.

As I looked at some of my dreamboards from this year, especially the last 3,  I know that the issues of health have been dominant. I have tried to exercise, cut back on some things, drink more water,. But not much has been achieved. The pain from my knee and hip has at times made me not feel like doing anything. I tried celebrex for 2 weeks, but yesterday had to stop as my stomach has been so painful. 

What I really must change is my attitude. I need to see living healthy is a must, a way of life, a way to improve the quality of my health and life.  I have to focus on doing and not on the pain.

As Jamie says:

" You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants.  It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

With November comes AEDM as well as other challenges. I have started taking part in PiBoId  and on day 4, I now have 4 ideas for picture books as well as a good start on my quotes cards. AEDM makes it so much easier to make time for art.

I just discovered "An Attitude of Gratitude" blog and am enjoying the prompts and quotes, videos and art lessons. Lots to take in there. By the end of November, a gratitude journal should be well established.

Saturday I had fun just playing with paint. I created a number of backgrounds - with fingers, sponges, stamps and credit cards.

Today I turned those backgrounds into the backgrounds for my quote cards. I have started 2 but need to embellish them more.

And there are several more cards waiting for their quotes.

Take some time for art/ creativity  this month - your soul will soar!

Shadow Shot Sunday

After a week of rain and clouds, it was lovely to see the sun again (and of course shadows!)
I quickly grabbed my camera and got a few shots around the back walkway.

Be sure to visit here for some wonderful shadows from around the world.

PiBoIdMo

Visting blogs through Creative Every Day this evening, I came across Tara Lazar's November challenge "PiBoIdMo".

My secret dream is to write a children's picture book and Tara's challenge really provides a step in that direction.

The challenge of PiBoIdMo is  " 30-picture-book-ideas-in-30-days challenge". What a great idea!
At the end of the month, there will be 30 ideas for writing a picture book. Who know where that will take me?

If you check through the Pre posts about PiBoIdMo, Tara highlights a number of writers and what their successes  have been. They offer ideas and hints as well.

Love this quote Tara has:


PiBoIdMo’s motto…from Roald Dahl’s THE MINPINS…

And above all,
watch with glittering eyes
the whole world around you
because the greatest secrets
are always hidden
in the most unlikely places.
Those who don’t believe in magic
will never find it.

So I am joining this challenge as well as AEDM.  Now I must get to work as I have 2 days to work on!

AEDM

Here it is November 1st and Art Every Day for the month of November has begun. This is a wonderful way to encourage your creativity and make time for art.

Leah Piken Kolidas of Creative Every Day has hosted AEDM for several years and  provides much support and encouragement. It is also a wonderful community of artists.

I will be taking part, as I have for the past couple of years. As I wrote about on Sunday, I will be creating a set of quote cards, with my art and quotes that have meaning to me.
This is my first one:

I also quickly carved a new stamp - just an abstract with straight lines to get me back into carving. I want to continue work on my course and on stamp carving this month.

While visiting Collage Diva, I came across this very interesting twist on tracking your gratitudes.
Lauren Tober is hosting a daily  photograph challenge.

 As she says:

"What ever your camera of choice, come November, fire it up and start photographing the things that make you the most grateful"

I love this idea and as I am already writing out what I am grateful for most nights, I am going to add this element of photographing what I am grateful for each day.

Today I am most grateful for art - that it definitely feeds the soul.

I will not be posting daily, but will most likely post on Sundays as part of my Sunday Weekly Wrap-up.