Unapologetic Selfies & Some African DIY Style!

Everybody who knows me know that I am a craft junkie.  If I go more than a week without creating something I get the shakes, involuntary twitches, and spasms.   Basically,  my body began to experience craft withdrawals.

Yes, seriously I need help.

So this week, I give you my African inspired earrings. They are my latest creation and my precioussss.....(In my best Smeagol voice from Lord of the Rings)

   I don't have a name for them just yet but they are available on my etsy shop, Beautyandthegreen.etsy.com.

If you have any ideas for what I should call them help a sista out! 

Cherio!

Tales From a Craft-Head - Quick and Easy DIY Organizer

I have a home office and there are always papers and odds and ends that I need easy access to without digging in a drawer.   

With that in mind I decided to make a cute organizer to keep those items contained in a way that has a little style to it.  I am a serious craft head so I decided to make my own.

 I took a nice and sturdy box and covered it with burlap.

I am not a gal who measures everything so I just guess-timated it all and let my hot glue do the rest.

Once I had covered the box completely on the outside I needed a trim so hmmmmmmmm, what do I use?  I could have used ribbon but decided to use an old belt I no longer wore.  I cut the belt in half and buckled it in the front.  It was not long enough to go all the way around but it did extend down both of the sides and that was good enough for me.

I think it adds an element of surprise and if I must say so this came out rather nicely.  Hope this inspires you to try one of your own.  If you do, let me know how it turns out.

Cherio!

A little Bit Of "Me Time" In My Life

Last week I have to admit, I felt like a hamster on a tread mill. No matter how much ground I covered there was more to go.  What a a week!  I feel like in the process my sweet little blog got neglected but am back and happy to have a minute to share and relax if only for a little while.  Hope you had a wonderful week and got a lot accomplished.  If not, hey, tomorrow is Monday, a brand new week awaits.  As Tim Gunn says "make it work!"

Well, as always whenever I find a little "me time" I get so excited I don't know what to do with myself.  And I really mean that literally. I don't know if I want to paint, watch a movie, order in and read a book or go out.  The good thing is though, whatever I decide I ALWAYS have fun.  Here are a few things I did with my "me time" this week end.

I painted the opening picture and had a blast doing so. And since I was already dabbling in paint I made these darling little paper weights.

Then, I made earrings to match this gorgeous cocktail ring I just bought.  

And then I bought a few pieces to add to my dragonfly collection.  Nothing major, just little things that make me happy.  Now I am going to hang out and spend some time with my son. We are going to watch The Hunger Games and order takeout.

How did you spend your weekend?

Cherio!

Just B R E A T H E

Lately life has been coming at me hard and fast...and that is not necessarily a bad thing but it could be overwhelming at times.  I want a lot out of my life so I work hard, sometimes harder than I should perhaps but that's okay with me.  It's funny though how hard work may not seem to be paying off then wham!  Opportunities open up and you are swamped and even a little confused as to what direction to go in.  In times like that I am learning to B R E A T H E, and just take it all in before I make decisions...  

This weekend was really a blur of activity and decision making so I made myself slow down and create something, anything.  For me, creating is therapeutic, I think so much better/clearer when I am crafting...maybe because I am more relaxed and feeling zero pressure, who knows.  Whatever it is though, it works for me. 

 Here are two weekends worth of therapeutic crafting.  I hate to say it but "two birds with one stones comes to mind".  Have a fabulous day!

CHERIO!

Craft Of The Week

All A'bloom

 When I started this blog, my intention was to post craft projects weekly.  Somehow though, mostly due to my work schedule, these postings became farther and farther apart.  I am not happy about.  At all.  And so, this post will be the first of "creation/craft of the week" which will be whatever I created for the week.  I am looking forward to learning new techniques and crafts....good, bad or ugly, I will be sharing it so stay tuned.


 Here are a few pieces I painted this week.

You Are Not Alone

As For Me And My House

These are all mix media pieces (acrylics and pastels on heavy weight paper) and I had so much fun playing with the colors.  Next time though, I will use a new medium or technique to ensure that I am challenging myself and learning something new every week.  Sounds like a plan?  I think so......let's do this!  


Cherio!

Are You Ready For This!

About a month ago I on a whim entered a major gallery showing.  It was competition based so my sketches/ideas had to beat out numerous competitors to qualify. I sent the sketches and forgot about....that is until I got an email saying I had made the cut!  O. M. G!!!!  

And so, just like that I had a life changing opportunity in my hands.  I was so happy to finally have a major platform to express my heart through something that I love so much.  Art.   But then, I starting looking at the formidable competitors and envisioning what they might be bringing to the table and the more I did that, the more nervous and apprehensive I got.  My ideas were not coming together properly and the ones I did like soon became "not good enough".  I was second guessing myself and it was getting me nowhere.

The back and forth and vacillation between excited and overwhelmed continued until my son put an end to it.  He looked me dead in the eye and informed me "you gat this mom!".......gave me a big hug and and walked off.  Well, turns out that was all I needed.  After that I had fire in my eyes.   No matter what happened I was going to create something amazing. Something I can be proud of. 

 The first piece I made took a whole day to make but it was a little off so I scrapped it and started over from scratch.  I did not let it get me down, I just knew I could do better....... and I will.  At the moment I am working on two of the three pieces required for the show and everything is coming together quite nicely.  I am started to get excited now because I can envision/see the final product......the finish line.  I will probably have a Steve Urkel moment at the end, like "Did I do that???!" but in a really good way.  I am going to make sure of that.  

Well, back to work I go but I will be posting the pictures here when everything is finished.  Have a beautiful weekend everyone.

Cherio!

Simple Pleasures

 Art and crafts excites me....

It's the only activity that allows me to both lose and find myself at the same time...

And the cares of this world?..............Well, they just fade away.

The whole world seems to be "on pause"

Like 5:00pm.........already????  Whew...where did the time go?....

When I create, I am the truest and highest expression of myself.........and my creator.

A better and more beautiful person on the inside.  Where it matters.

So, to me creating is like a cool drink of water on a very hot day. 

 Refreshing. 

 Necessary.  

To be savored and enjoyed.  Thoroughly.

What are you passionate about?......... 

 What makes you happy?

(Watercolor quotes I painted last week)

Cherio!

Native American Design...All kinds of Amazing

 For as long as I can remember, I have been totally fascinated by Native American Art.   The textiles, crafts, and jewelry all seem to have a spirit/story that gives it a life of it's own.  And, the craftsmanship..........well, it's just exquisite.  

Native American artwork is crafted with care and patience, and is still handmade by many different tribes. These very skilled artist have many religious and spiritual beliefs which they infuse into their design.   As a result, the pieces are both beautiful and expressive. 

Wood has always been and still stands as one of the most worked-with materials in Native American art but there is so much more to the art.   Bone beads, seed beads, coral, silver, feathers, turquoise, seeds, animal skins and even porcupine quills are all used in the art and jewelry making as well. In other words they were "green" before we even thought about it.  Native  Americans love the earth and they believe in taking care of it.  Their relationship with the land is one of total inter-dependence.

Here is a a beautiful quote by Owatsinas of the Nuxalk nation that about sums it up.
"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees."
~ Qwatsinas, Nuxalk Nation

There will always be a special place in my heart for Native American design.  The skill, creativity, patience and love that goes into each piece makes the Art so very special.  

Here are a few of my favorites!

Cherio!