First Give-Away / Creative Every Day / 100 in 100

This week I have been finally able to attack my clutter. Right now I am trying to organize teaching files and units. I eventually hope to reclaim the family room and transform a back room into an art studio for me! Big plans, a lot of work but I really need to downsize (talk to my kids and they'll tell you the same thing!) Mostly though, I want to be able to create in a lovely space rather than at the dining room table and, I want to be able to find what I need, when I need it.



This past week as well as been an active one creatively. Being a part of Jamie Ridler's "Wreck This Journal" has been fun, even challenging at times. I'm finally letting go and just doing the pages.

But the doing has lead me to try other things as well. I am taking a lot of photos - skies, clouds, flowers:



I signed on for Rowena's "100 in 100" and altho I have been trying to be creative every day, it has been a challenge. Then this week I had the idea to create a deck of cards in collage. I had seen a challenge where each week participants created a card based on a prompt. I liked the idea, but several months had passed already when I heard about it.

I have the first 2 sets (almost) done. What I am looking for is some honest feedback. This is where the giveaway comes in!




**************FIRST GIVE AWAY ************************************

As this is the first time I have attempted something of this scope, I would like to see what else I might add to them. Any ideas?


The first set I did was the A's - for angels. Each card has a different angel with a different word.
The second set is J - for Jackson. (in memory). Each card has 2 different pix of MJ.


The other help I am seeking is - what could be the theme for 5's , 6's and 9's. ? I have themes for all the other numbers/face cards.

Anyone who offers any feedback will be entered into a draw for one of the angel cards ( 4 draws in all!) . Leave a comment for either question (or both - each answer puts your name in the draw) by Fri. July 17 and the winners will be announced Sat. July 18.
Thanks in advance!

Creative Every Day - SELF

Leah of Creative Every Day has had us focus on a new theme - that of "SELF". A bit scary as I have not done a self-portrait for a looong time! My first one leaves a lot to be desired but it loosened me up for some other art tonight.





For July as well, I am hoping to create a collage/piece of artwork each day as well as take a photo a day. (For 101 in 1001 Days as well as Rowena's 100 in 100 Days)


Here are my offerings for the past 2 days:


July 1



A sunflower - using oil pastels, glued to a watercolour background




The baby bird allowed me to get up close - we couldn't find his nest and he was certainly looking for food from mom or dad! We kept our cat in - as she is still a "killer" at age 17! What a scruffy little thing!



July 2



Another sunflower - this time with tissue, watercolours and collaged to a watercolour base.



Our gardens this year are blooming with some beautiful, colourful flowers. But this white rose caught my eye.

June 1st - The Challenge Begins

Day 1 of 100 Days - have almost made it through the first day and so far so good!

I am joining Rowena's (Warrior Girl) challenge: 100 _ in 100 Days. Check out her blog for a pledge and more info on where it could take you.

My goal is to spend at least 30 minutes a day being creative - it could be collage, ATCs, journalling, photography, writing.

As well, I want to use these 100 days to be kind to myself - to eat better, to exercise or dance, to meditate and to be more positive. (Nothing like putting it out there for all to take note of! and yes, losing weight, is I hope, part of the taking care of myself!)

Three months is generally thought of as the time needed to change a bad habit or develop a new one. These are my goals then - to develop the habit of creating daily and being active and positive.

As Rowena suggested I am keeping a journal of my journey.

I finished my ATCs for the "Everything But the Kitchen Sink" Exchange today and mailed them off. (Once the exchange as been made I will share the results.)

As well I have been working on a watercolour collage - using pieces from previous works as a background. It has been fun.

I found the perect symbol for it - the heron.

I have been drawn to this graceful bird for a long time. In most places where I have lived, there have been herons. Recently one has nested at a large pond near us and I have seen it several times. Last summer I was only metres away from one while in a park in Victoria. I took a lot of photos.

Ever since reading about the symbolism of the heron on Collage Diva's blog, I have wanted to use it in my art. The symbolism of this bird is well known in Chinese, native and Egyptian cultures.

It is a symbol of going with the flow and of working with the elements.

For Native people it represents inquisitiveness, determination, curiosity.

For the Chinese, it represents patience, strength,purity, long life.

II am not sure where I want to go with this but I have definitely enjoyed the process.

100 in 100 Days

While visiting Rowena's blog (via Leah's Everyday Creative), I was blown away by her challenge.

She is beginning a 100 Day Challenge to be creative everyday. Amanda at Persistent Green has taken up the challenge as well.

The end of school is only 4 weeks away and then 2 months of choosing what I want to do beckons! It seemed the perfect time for this challenge to be taken up! Talk about synchronicity! Leah has just spoken about it on Creative Every Day, as has Collage Diva at True North!

When I created this blog in March my goal was to be more creative. Teaching does take a lot of my time, but I knew that I was missing something. The loss of my Mom really shook me and even though I have a supportive, loving husband, a wonderful family, a career I enjoy, I was "blue". The blog has helped, as has becoming part of 101 Things in 1001 Days has helped by giving me goals.

I have begun to take part in ATC swaps and art challenges, and following Creative Every Day. This additional challenge will be a good way to move me forward.

Thanks Rowena and Amanda.

100 Days starts tomorrow!

My goal for these days will to carve out at least an hour a day to be creative in some way - whether it is creating art (art journal, collage, photography, etc) or writing, or both!

I will continue to blog at least once a week, more as I feel the need.

Join us on the journey - it should be a fun one.