Inspiration Avenue

School's Out!

2012-05-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Memorial Day to all Americans and Happy Monday to anyone who doesn't celebrate Memorial Day.

Hi. It's Lou Anne again. I had so much fun hosting the mermaid challenge last week that I volunteered for the next one. Some of you may not know that I was an elementary school teacher for over 20 years. Since many of my friends are teachers, I can't help but think about the last day of school and the promise of a summer vacation. Of course, teachers don't get paid for their time off. When I was teaching I found my vacation time getting shorter and shorter every year. Still, the idea of school being out for the summer has stuck with me since childhood.

Old School Photo

I loved going to school when I was a child, but that excitement I would feel at the end of the school year is indescribable. It meant that I could stay up late playing kick the can and chasing fireflies and sleep in as late as I wanted. It promised long summer days, laying by the community pool and trying to get a tan, even though I ended up with just a bad sunburn and lots of freckles. My summers consisted of camping and fishing trips, visits to see relatives, and vacations at the beach.

One year I attended Vacation Bible School at a local church and made a mosaic chicken from different colors of beans and macaroni. My friends and I put up lemonade stands. Occasionally we presented spontaneous theatrical performances for anyone who would watch. Every Fourth of July I'd adorn the spokes and handlebars of my bicycle with red, white, and blue crepe paper and proudly ride in a parade around my neighborhood. One year, my dad helped me plant a miniature garden that produced a tiny watermelon and two little ears of corn. The smell of freshly mown grass, the sound of the sprinkler, and the taste of a ripe strawberry bring it all back for me.

Graphics Fairy

Most adults don't have an extended summer vacation. In fact, kids don't even get the whole summer off anymore. But there is something special about the completion of a year of school. It's a major milestone for all children. You might be a parent who has kids that just finished the school year. Like the Old Woman in the Shoe, you may be hoping summer will pass by quickly.

Graphics Fairy

This week's challenge invites everyone to take a minute and imagine that school is out for the whole summer. Maybe that means you get to relax all day and drink iced tea while reading romance novels. Perhaps it's your invitation to get those white sandals out and wear them all the way until Labor Day.

It might bring back a memory from childhood. Perhaps you'll think of making more mermaids or just creating a piece of art because you feel like it and it makes you happy. It's up to you what you decide to share with us. I'm confident that everyone will have some connection with the fact that SCHOOL IS OUT! If you don't believe me, here's your certificate:

Reward Of Merit

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Mermaids Results

2012-05-27T13:54:00.002-04:00

Where do the Mermaids Stand?

This week I challenged all of you to share your interpretation of a mermaid. It was my first time hosting a challenge and I couldn't wait to see what all of you came up with. I discovered a beautiful bouquet of mermaids from some very unique and talented artists during this magical journey. I also got to know each of you a little bit better.

On one blog, I found someone who shares my love for animals and developed a mermaid from her alter ego. There were lots of pretty mermaids, some were voluptuous and others, transparent. Most had hair, but one was in-between hair-dos. There was even a tiny baby mermaid. Many had dual purposes, like marking a book page, catching the sun, spreading love across the world, traveling through the mail, or beautifying a paint box. Each mermaid was the inspiration of a fellow artist and all represent the magic we carry in our imaginations.

I must admit, I knew all along where the mermaids stand. You're all here, right beside me and my fellow image makers at Inspiration Avenue. We are presented with the gift of your creative visions every time you share a piece of art, or pause to comment on one. I am honored to stand with all of you in this gallery of mermaids. I hope you'll visit each of the blogs and get to know each other better.

Thank you all!

Tamarai

Rachel K.

Lori

Ritu Dua

Yvonne

Peggy

Kim

Maggie

Sandee

Darla

Debbie

Anne (Cornucopia)

Jenn

Gemma

Lou Anne

Kirstin

The only tough part of this whole thing was to select a winner. I looked at all of the images, again and again. I loved them all but I had to pick one. That was my job. So, I finally decided to choose one with a vintage flair and a postcard format that tied in with our postcard swap.

And now, for the walk, I mean swim down the red carpet,

to be showcased in our Red Carpet Gallery

and receiving the coveted Red Carpet Winner Badge

The winner is Anne.

http://annescreativecornucopia.blogspot.com/2012/05/mermaid-postcard.html

Please don't forget to return tomorrow for our new challenge. I can't wait!

Where do the Mermaids Stand?

2012-05-21T03:16:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! I'm Lou Anne, AKA Misplaced Mermaid. I'm one of the newer members of IA and this is my first time hosting a challenge. I was able to choose one of my favorite topics for this week and you'll soon see that I'm a mermaid fanatic. I'll start with a little bit of mermaid history.

Mermaids are mythological aquatic creatures with the head, arms, and torso of a woman and the tail of a fish, as represented in the folklore, literature, and popular culture of many countries worldwide.

A male version is known as a “merman,” while either males or females may be referred to as “merpeople” or “merfolk.” That being said, I suppose a “Mailmerman” would be a “Mailmerpostaldeliveryperson.” Fortunately, not many mermaids go into this field due to the fact that walking is a major part of the job.

In Greek mythology, mermaid-like creatures, called sirens, would use their beauty, charm, and lovely singing voices to lure sailors to their deaths.

In both English and Scottish legends, mermaids were unlucky omens for sailors. They even have been known to swim up rivers to freshwater lakes.

Sometime between 1895 and 1905, John William Waterhouse, a member of the British Royal Academy, painted “A Mermaid.” Though hidden in a private collection for many decades, this painting resurfaced in the 1970’s and is part of the Royal Academy collection.

In Denmark, The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen captured the imaginations of generations of children and adults alike. A bronze sculpture of her, made by Edvard Eriksen in 1913, is a major tourist attraction in Copenhagen.

Many movies have been made depicting mermaids. Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid, Splash, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and The Little Mermaid depicted mermaids as either evil or beautiful creatures and captured the hearts of many worldwide.

Claimed sightings of both living and dead mermaids have come from places across the globe. In British Columbia, sightings were reported during the late 19th century and again in 1967. The infamous pirate Blackbeard and his crew reported seeing many of these bewitching creatures, perhaps after drinking several bottles of rum. In Israel, a prize was offered in 2009 for $1 million for any person who could prove the existence of a mermaid off its coast. That prize hasn’t been awarded to date.

Beginning in the mid 20^th century at an aquatic park called Weeki Watchee Springs State Park in Florida, young ladies have entertained audiences by performing underwater as mermaids.

Submariners during WW2 wore US Navy Mermaid Liberty patches on the inside of their sleeves, which only showed when their sleeves were rolled up. This pair is advertised on Ebay.

Finally, my favorite piece of literature about mermaids is in Robert Fulgham’s book All I Need to Know Learned in Kindergarten.” He explains that mermaids are special people who don’t quite fit into the standard “box.” I believe that many artists, myself included, fit that category. You can view him telling the story here.

So for all of you mermaids or mermen out there, I invite you to stand here on Inspiration Avenue beside my fellow mermaids and me and share your artwork as it relates to the topic of Mermaids. I am excited to see how each of you interprets the topic. Here is one more example from my portfolio.

Birth of a Mermaid

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Art with Heart line-up!

2012-05-20T14:02:00.000-04:00

A wonderful, beautiful, straight-from-the-heart line-up this week!

Each and every one of the entries for this weeks theme really

lived up to the challenge! I was blown away as I went from blog to blog.

Such great sharings - to me that is the essence of blogging.

When the door of someone's heart is standing wide open,

one feels so welcomed and heartened by the warmth found inside.

Please take the time to follow all the links to the blogposts and entries below

and read the posts.

I promise you you will learn much, laugh much, be inspired and feel your heart soar in the presence

of such creativity!!

http://wrightstory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/cornwall-claimed-my-heart-ia-art-with.html

http://artyventure.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/embossed-atc/

http://amusingmuses2.blogspot.com/2012/05/port-du-cur.html

http://www.thevivere.blogspot.com/

http://marciabeckett.blogspot.com/2012/05/spring-is-here.html

http://craftymoosecrafts.blogspot.com/2012/05/ia-challenge-art-from-my-heart.html

http://all-the-wright-stuff.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/who-am-i.html

http://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/2012/05/inspiration-avenue-heart.html?showComment=1337533883493#c116044007384771269

http://misplacedmermaid.blogspot.com/2012/05/inspiration-avenue-challenge-sacred.html?showComment=1337534879706#c598714002774744805

http://decide-what-you-want.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/ia-challenge-art-with-heart.html

http://inthehillsofnorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2012/05/cartoon-noun.html

http://theyorkshirefox.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/mr-postie-delivers-distress.html

http://fromseatomountains.blogspot.com/2012/05/inspiration-avenue-challenge-51812.html

http://www.imgirlwithoutwings.com/2012/05/art-with-heart.html

http://gemmashouse.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-heart.html

http://annescreativecornucopia.blogspot.com/2012/05/lock-and-key-postcard.html

http://artangeloriginalart.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/lovely-feature-and-little-heart.html

http://kirstinmcculloch.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/art-with-heart-inspiration-avenue.html

http://yogiemp.blogspot.ca/2012/05/th-12-tags-2012-feb-apr-may.html

http://www.justaddwatersilly.com/

http://newendstudio.blogspot.com/2012/05/heart-thats-green.html

http://shelinwa.blogspot.com/

http://thebellarose.blogspot.com/

And now for the walk down the Red Carpet

to be showcased in our Red Carpet Gallery

and taking home the coveted Red Carpet Winner Badge

The winner is :

Darla

http://fromseatomountains.blogspot.com/2012/05/inspiration-avenue-challenge-51812.html

Be sure to come back tomorrow for an all new challenge!

love

Hettienne

Art with Heart

2012-05-14T05:13:00.004-04:00

cianellistudios.blogspot.com

Hearty greetings everyone! I have been away for a while
and am very happy to be hosting this week's challenge.
What an act I have to follow on though!
Last week's challenge on Hands by Loretta and Shelly,
was for me, one of the best ever.
It was so moving and so straight from the heart.

Palmarin Merges : In the Studio

And that exact thought led me to this week's challenge :
art with heart.
You cannot separate the hands from the heart.
When you open your hands and your arms to receive or to give,
you open your chest and your heart!

www.mycutegraphics.com

When we create from the heart, it makes all the difference.

www.flickr.com

When we speak from the heart, we truly touch others
and we heal ourselves and the world.

www.juliaspeerart.com

Sometimes our hearts are so broken, and then by creating art,
we recycle all the old junk and we birth
a beautiful new piece of art

http://apatchyplace.blogspot.com

When we live from the heart, all barriers and boundaries
and ideas of 'being different' disappears
and we realise that we are all the same human beings,
facing the same trials and tribulations
and the same joys every day!

Looking forward to your entries.
May you all have a week filled with Heart!

Hettienne

Show us your "HANDS"

2012-05-13T14:16:00.004-04:00

It has been so much fun this week to Co-Host this weeks challenge with my sweet daughter, Shelly. Everyday I would go onto the website to see what was new. Okay I’ll be honest….I went on numerous times during the day. All of you have done such amazing Interpretation of the HANDS theme Shelly & I chose.

I do hope that this week has given you a new respect & thankfulness for the amazing hands God created for us.

Bless each of you and

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!!!

Nancy

Now lets put our HANDS together for the lady heading down the Red Carpet…….

Congratulations

Michelle V. Alkerton

What a pleasure it has been

Come see us tomorrow for a new challenge!!

LORETTA and SHELLY

"Hands" What do you see when you look down at your hands?

2012-05-07T11:52:00.010-04:00

Good Monday Morning & welcome to this weeks IA Weekly Challenge. I am Shelly's (Pics by Shel) Mom, Loretta, and Shelly has given me the honor of co-hosting this week’s challenge with her. What a special treat it is, and with the challenge ending on Mother’s Day! With that in mind I have chosen this week’s challenge theme to be “HANDS”

You see me in the challenges from time to time from my blog:

Whatever comes to my Mind

Source Shelly's husband reaching down to their daughter

Source Shelly's son reaches out to sisters feet the day she was born

source: Loretta taken of some butterflies she made for the

The Tears Foundation where she volunteers

HANDS…………..Written by Loretta

Have you ever taken the time to look at your hands? Usually I look at them if they are hurting or not doing just the right things that I want them to do for me. Rarely do I take the time to just look down at them and study them.

I used to glance at my hands and what I saw were MY hands! Then one day, not to long ago, I was doing something with my hands, that caused me to look down at them, and much to my surprise I saw my MOTHER’S hands in front of me. Gosh I didn’t remember my thumbs looks so much like hers looked. When could this have happened? Then I remembered. I used to have acrylic nails and decided to have them removed and that is when I saw my hands looked so much like Mom’s. At first I was upset, because they also reminded me of her father, my grandfather, and I don’t have very good memories of him, especially his hands. But I have been able to put those thoughts aside by remembering all the things my Mom did with her hands during her lifetime. And now all those things my hands are doing in my lifetime.

Did you know that the word hand appears in the King James Bible 1296 times? Now that definitely shows us how important hands were to God, our creator. Don’t you know He put a lot of thought into creating our hands, knowing all the things they would do for us in our day to day activities?

Take a few minutes to look at your hands. Put them out in front of you on your table. What do you see? Do you see your Mom’s hands or maybe you Father’s hands? Some of you may see a combination of both. Maybe you see one of your grandparent’s hands. And what about ALL the things you do with your hands? If you made a list of the things you do, requiring your hands, I bet you would be amazed at how many there are and how much you take them for granted.

I would like to end by sharing something I found on the internet about hands and may you have a whole new “LOOK” at “YOUR HANDS”.

May you have fun with the challenge this week, because your HANDS will be doing a lot of the creating, so treat them well.

I would like to end by sharing something I found on the internet about hands and may you have a whole new “LOOK” at “YOUR HANDS”.

Blessings Loretta & Shelly

For another great stories on "Hands" here are some link:

Grandma's Hands

All the HOW TO Directions for entering our challenge are to your right sidebar~~~~>

_____________________________________________

TIME FOR CHALLENGE RESULTS

2012-05-06T14:46:00.012-04:00

The challenge this week at Inspiration Avenue was the "Days of the Week". It was fun to see the day of the week each person was born on and the submission they created with reflection on that day according to the days of the week nursery rhyme. We had 16 fabulous entries and her are the results beginning with Monday.

MONDAY'S CHILD

Peggy

TUESDAY'S CHILD

WEDNESDAY'S CHILD

THURSDAY'S CHILD

FRIDAY'S CHILD

SATURDAY'S CHILD

Can you believe it? We didn't have a Saturday's Child, so I did a fun fill in!

SUNDAY'S CHILD

BLEUBEARD AND ELIZABETH


TERRIE


MICHELE

Many thanks to all the creative souls who played in this week's challenge and great
job in letting your imaginations SOAR! It just goes to show you that everyday of the week is a great day!

THE PERSON TAKING THE RED CARPET WALK THIS WEEK IS:

SUNDAY'S CHILD.. MICHELE

Congratulations Michele and grab your Showcase Winner Badge on the sidebar to proudly display on your blog!

Stay tuned for the new challenge coming up this week hosted by Shel and her mom!
Have a blessed week!

DAYS OF THE WEEK ~ WHICH DAY ARE YOU ?

2012-04-30T00:28:00.003-04:00

Hi, I am Kim from IMGIRL and I am your host for this week's challenge at Inspiration Avenue.

The challenge this week is "The Days of the Week" from the
age old nursery rhyme that was written to help children to learn the days of the week. The challenge is not specific to the days of the week, but rather to the actual day of the week that you were born according to the nursery rhyme.

If you don't know the actual day of the week you were born, I have included a link to a handy dandy birthday calculator that will help you make that determination.

Here is the Link to the Birthday Calculator to find your day.

And here are some examples of just a few possibilities for each day!
Use your imagination according to your day and any medium is a go!

MONDAY'S Child is FAIR OF FACE

http://www.etsy.com/shop/dimestoreemporium


http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanetLaunarey

TUESDAY'S CHILD is FULL OF GRACE

http://www.etsy.com/shop/kawadallah

Http://www.etsy.com/shop/mayrarroyo

WEDNESDAY CHILD is FULL OF WOE

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PaperPetite


http://www.etsy.com/shop/AngelicAspirations

THURSDAY'S CHILD has FAR TO GO

http://www.etsy.com/shop/collageartgirl

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JaggedTouchStudio

FRIDAY'S CHILD IS LOVING AND GIVING

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BellaluByTraci

http://www.etsy.com/shop/chloeandsofiasmom

SATURDAY'S CHILD works HARD FOR A LIVING

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sunnybuick

SUNDAY'S CHILD IS BONNY, BLITHE, GOOD AND GAY

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MariaPaceWynters

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NaturallybyDenise

CLICK HERE for the Challenge Rules of participation:

1. Try to do the day of the week you were born, but you can also do any day of the week if you like one better!

2. Use any medium as long as you created it and it is relevant to the challenge.

3. Submit your challenge back here with Mr.Linky by noon on Sunday May 6, 2012 and leave a comment.

4. Last one:
You must have FUN!

That's it and please, as much as we love them, ..... no days of the week dish towels or underwear. :)

XO

Inspiration Avenue's Postcard Swap

2012-04-29T13:44:00.004-04:00

Last chance!

The postcard swap is looking like a great success so far!

Just a reminder, today is the last day to join

You can still sign up until midnight (edt)

to join us in this creative challenge.

Scroll to the post directly below or click HERE for details!
IT IS NOW

NO MORE ENTRIES IN THIS SWAP BEING ACCEPTED!!

The Postcard Swap is Here!

2012-04-22T23:40:00.007-04:00

Signups for the May 2012 Postcard Swap are closed.

Below are the details for everyone who signed up.

For anyone who didn't join us this time,

check back this summer for the next postcard swap!!

Our First Postcard Swap!

We believe there is just not enough Good Stuff

in the mail these days, so we're doing something about it!

Introducing Inspiration Avenue's

Do your part to keep

Good Stuff

coming in the mail!

more Good Stuff :)

Here's how to join:

Sign ups start now and will be open until midnight
(eastern daylight time ~ consult our clocks in the sidebar), April 29, 2012.

Leave a comment on this post to say Yes! I'm interested!

Then send your snail mail address to

inspirationavenuepostcardswap@yahoo.com.

(Sending your info to this email address instead of posting it in the
comment section will ensure that spammers will NOT see your address.
And, we at IA will NEVER, EVER use your address

for anything but this postcard swap.)

Start creating 5 postcards as soon as you can!

Soon after April 30, you will receive 5
names and addresses of the recipients of your postcards.

This will be emailed to you at the address you emailed us from.

Then, create your postcards, if you haven't already started :).

Pull out your art supplies,

ephemera,

your goodies stash,

bits and pieces
you've been saving to recycle into art,

and turn it all into 5 postcards that you'd love to mail to someone special.
They can be paintings, drawings, collages, mixed media, anything

creative. Just remember, you will be mailing them, so design accordingly.

Remember that we are a global community
so you may be sending a postcard or two overseas.

Postcards must be finished and in the mail by June 1, 2012.

Our very tiny list of Requirements:

The size of each card should be 4 x 6 inches. Make 5 cards.
Each piece, since it will be original art, should be posted
in an envelope or package of some kind in order
to protect the piece.
This one's optional, but we'd love to see the back designed
like a real postcard. There are lots of images (copyright free)
of vintage postcards that you can print and use.
You may have to enlarge them a bit to make them 4 x 6.
You know, something like this:

In fact, you can click and copy this one.

Or make up your own! Get creative!

You can even include a message on the back :)

Other than that, the sky's the limit!

We will do all the hocus pocus necessary to match your address
with 5 others so that everyone sends and receives 5 postcards.

Just be sure to follow through if you join,

because it's a real live person who will not receive a card

if you sign up and then don't participate. Boo Hoo :-(

Sound like fun? We all think so, and can't wait to get started!

As always, click the sample postcards above to visit
some Etsy sellers who have wonderful postcards in their shops!

The regular weekly challenge will return next week!

IA Challenge Results

2012-04-21T00:12:00.270-04:00

Well the time has come to end this week's "Inspired by Words" challenge. I confess that I was a bit nervous about doing this, never having "hosted" a challenge before. But seeing all the wonderful and the diverse creations was pure joy! I love seeing other artists, their styles, mediums and visions!

Here are all of the fabulous entries for the Inspiration Avenue's "Inspired by Words" art challenge.

This, the first entry, an exciting mixed media collage, was inspired by the book "Rebecca" and created by Titbelsoeur. The lush green reminds me of the canopy of trees when the 2nd Mrs. DeWinter was riding into Manderly for the first time.

...................................

Jenn McLean, artist and IA's go-to-gal for all things tech, is always stretching her wings! Jenn tried something totally new, she enhanced her original work digitally. Her colorful and exciting piece is paired perfectly for her chosen quote by the artist Matisse.

"Color helps to express light, not the physical phenomenon,

but the only light that really exists, that in the artist's brain"

........................................

Kathy chose Shakespeare's Sonnet 54 as her inspiration for her gorgeous mixed media painting.
Here is an excerpt of the sonnet

..."Sweet roses do not so;
Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made:
And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,
When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth."

..................................................................................................................

Peggy Gatto created a fun & fresh digital art photograph to go with her haiku!

Grass is for Cartwheels!

Do one then another one

Spinning and Laughing!

.......................................

Cindy Garner is one of our newest members in the Inspiration Avenue family and selected a simple word... PINK ! She loves this color and "it delights her heart", and her piece is delightful!

............................................................................

Yogi used the quote "The Hum of Bees is the Voice of the Garden" made a card incorporating stamping, rubber bees and paper quilling! A lot of detail and her design goes so nicely with the quote!

.....................................................................

Sharon a poet and artist, created a most interesting piece incorporating her poem "It's Not You". What makes this especially interesting is the cold almost depressing tone of the verse & the bird of prey in the painting, contrasting with the very beautiful color palette. This is a very intriguing work of art.

It's Not You

What you read in these lines

is not you. A kestrel takes

a sparrow from the garden.

Neither of them is you.

The crudely carved bowl

on the pine shelf represents

nothing; not you, not the poet,

not the cruelty of love.

It is just a bowl on a shelf.

The tangled blackberry bush,

the arrogant crow, the dead

snake on the asphalt

have nothing to do with you,

your life, your pain. They

simply fell into the poet’s gaze

and migrated to the page.

They mean nothing, nothing

at all. They are not about you.

.............................................................

Kim, an IA member who is famous for her colorful, inspiring and empowering collages, does not disappoint with her entry. LOVE is her theme, and she wrote "don't hide from LOVE". Her piece doesn't hide, it is charming, bright & wonderful!

.......................................................................

Nancy McCarroll is another brand new member of the IA family who creates is many mediums. She selected the poem "Irises" by Edith Bunker Edwards. She created this lovely painting on silk! This is part of the lovely poem......

Iris, most beautiful flower,

Symbol of life, love, and light;

Found by the brook, and the meadow,

Or lofty, on arable height.

You come in such glorious colors,

In hues, the rainbow surpass;

The chart of color portrays you,

In petal, or veins, of your class.

.........................................................................................

Jeanette's piece simply stated "Life is Beautiful" and it is simple.... simply gorgeous,! It glows with beauty!

...............................................................................

Debbie created this mixed media aceo (2.5x3.5 inches) with one of her favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The earth laughs in flowers" incorporating polymer clay for the faces of the flowers and grass. It is a lighthearted piece that brings brings out a smile!

..................................................................

Lou Anne is another new Inspiration Avenue family member who is also a stand-up comedian! She created a beautiful digital art collage whose inspiration was a poem about one of her favorite flowers, violets. Her piece leaves no doubt that the poem and art belong together!

"Here are violets,

beautiful violets

all bright in their purple

and fresh in their bloom...."

..................................................................................

Gloria's piece is entitled "Lucy carries out Benjamin Disraeli's Advice". What did Disraeli say? "But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day!" and Lucy? her dog who delights in each moment!

..........................................................

Anne submitted three illustrations for this challenge and each one is lovely! I decided to show the word "STRETCH" Don't you think it embodies the word beautifully?!

...............................................................................................

Donna Letterse, author and illustrator whose work is found in the book Samurai, The Graphic Novel
submitted a page from her story, "The Warrior and the Nightingale" from the above mentioned Samurai novel. Her style is strong and bold! Please go to her page and read all about the story for yourself!

.....................................................................................

Andrea created this very lovely watercolor painting inspired by her haiku.

"Chamomile or Chai

Or Peppermint with Honey

In a Pretty Cup"

..............................................................................

Darla submitted a humorous based upon a quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, from "women who run with Wolves". "If you have never been called a defiant, incorrigible, impossible woman...have faith, there is yet time." It's obvious that the woman she illustrated has yet to be called defiant or incorrigible!

..................................................................................................

Claire selected this poem by her favorite poet, John Keats. It's a very moving poem and a very moving collage interpretation of the poem. I encourage you to visit her blog and read about the process for this piece.

When I have fears that I may cease to be

Before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain,

Before high-piled books, in charact'ry,

Hold like rich garners the full-ripen'd grain;

When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,

Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,

And think that I may never live to trace

Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;

And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,

That I shall never look upon thee more,

Never have relish in the faery power

Of unreflecting love!—then on the shore

Of the wide world I stand alone, and think

Till Love and Fame to Nothingness do sink.

.....................................................................................

Terrie Purkey created three works for this challenge. I selected this oh so very beautiful piece with the inspiring words "Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures".

............................................

Elizabeth has a favorite saying, "Home is where the heart is." from which she created this fun and lively mixed media piece. I love the whimsey of using hearts for the windows. It just makes me smile.:)

.................................................................

Shanna selected Emily Dickinson's poem about death. Although it's a "dark" subject, the light of the sun suggests immortality. It's beautifully done!

"Because I could not stop for Death,

He kindly stopped for me

The carriage held but just ourselves

and Immortality. "

....................................................

Annie selected lyrics from the Beatles song, "In my life" and created a beautiful digital collage!

There are places I remember

All my life, though some have changed

Some forever not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends

I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life I've loved them all...

The Beatles

........................................

Michelle entered a geometric abstract in warm earthy colors with one single word... Murmur leaving the interpretation of the piece to the mind of the beholder. Nicely done!

...................

Emily who loves everything about vinyl records, the look, the sound, even the smell; submitted a photograph of a record player and gave it an antique vintage look with a quote by Chuck Berry.

"Music is an important part of our culture and record stores
play a vital part in keeping the power of music alive"

......................

Shel, our highly esteemed member of the Inspiration Avenue family, offered up this beautiful fine art digital collage with one of her favorite Scripture verses, Phil 4:4-9 "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all, The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

..................................................................

Kirstin submitted a whimsical piece of 3D art... a bed for her daughter! Inspired by her love of mermaids and a line from poet John Donne "Teach me to hear mermaids singing"

.............................................................................

Another 3D work of art is by Angie. She named it "Unwritten Poem" and is inspired by her favorite words. I love all the details in her work, yet it's kept from being too busy by the soft neutral color palette she gave it.

Thank you so much to each and every artist who let their imagination take flight and entered our Inspiration Avenue's challenge!
It may be a cliche but it really was very difficult selecting a winner! I found merit in each entry, some are so beautiful that i could gaze at them forever, some brought a huge smile to my face while others were moving emotionally, in fact one moved me to tears. But my selection, was outside the box, it grabbed me & has kept me there.

And the RED CARPET WINNER IS....

Angie

and her "Unwritten Poem"!

Congratulations Angie!
Now go grab the "I was a Showcase Winner" button on the side of this page to display on your blog!

With thanks, blessings and joy to all,

Meet & Greet

2012-04-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Cindy Garner

It is my happy pleasure to introduce you all to our newest member! We've been so lucky lately to add several talented artists to our roster of members, of which Cindy is our latest. Cindy is a wonderful watercolorist. Her art has a gentleness to it, an ethereal quality. I would always recognize a Cindy Garner painting, no matter how much she tried to fool me.

Here's a quote from Cindy...

"I just love the colour Pink, as you can tell.....
I can sit down with pencil and paper and think & (there's that darn thinking again)... I am going to create something "rustic" looking perhaps... but in the end... it looks pretty and Pink.
It's just what I love to create, so I'm going with it!!!♥

She has a love affair with roses, she loves to paint them, I've read several of her blog posts titled something like "My Teapot" and what's shown is a spectacularly painted rose with vines and curlicues winding around thorny stems. What was going to be a teapot or teacups becomes roses because
that's what drives her creative spirit. I actually completely understand her plight. I, too, try to paint one way and it always comes out as "my" style. What's wonderful is that Cindy has decided to embrace her uniquely lovely style.

The way she paints with watercolors makes pieces that are always one of a kind masterpieces. Althouth there is a high degree of artistic brilliance sprinkled throughout Cindy's family (both grandfathers, mother, uncle etc.) she is completely self taught in her chosen medium and this explains her original and purely "Cindy" style. Her artistic soul hasn't been diluted by what others say is "the way" to paint in watercolor. Let me illuminate my point with a selection of her work.

(Please click on the picture to see it in all it's glory!)


I think this was going to be teacups, if I remember correctly. I'm so glad she went with roses!	Beautiful rose frame.	Cindy loves to doodle, such cloud-like beauty!

Cindy also loves to paint tulips, and thank God she does, as she captures the delicate nature of a tulip with such an expert touch.


Pink Tulips	Art created for her mom.	She has such a distinctive style.

Cindy has a lovely post to explain the center tulip painting. She aptly points out that what we feed will be what grows so if we feed our creativity instead of our logical critical mind, then the creative part of ourselves will grow and blossom. She used an analogy of feeding the weeds or the flowers, that's why the painting is of a blossoming tulip. Always remember to Feed The Tulips.

I forgot to mention that Cindy is a Proud Canadian, just like I am! She hails from Midland, Ontario in the Eastern part of Canada. Alas, I'm in BC's West Coast or I'd totally be making her a hazelnut coffee in my kitchen right now!

I'm in LOVE with her decorated moose, with the luggage tag hanging off the "Fresh Canadian Snow" jar... and those socks & special Olympic mittens too... (they were a collector's item and really difficult to get when we hosted the winter Olympics a few years ago!) Cindy is offering this "Proud Canadian" button on her blog if you'd like to display it proudly.

Just in case you think that Cindy only paints flowers (and Canadian Moose), let me assure you that she paints many things, like her birthday cake and present! I also did finally come across that teapot she wanted to paint and instead found herself painting roses...


Cindy's Birthday Cake (I didn't know they made pink Dream Whip!)	A pretty wrapped present.	I knew she'd do a teapot eventually!!


If you'd like to visit her blog, just click on her blog button...	Or, how about visiting her Etsy shop? You can buy her art there! Click her Etsy Shop button!

Please help us, here at Inspiration Avenue, warmly welcome Cindy to our group. We're so glad and thrilled to have her talent & creativity amongst us! I'm sure she'll be a valued member of our growing team and I can't wait to do one of her challenges!

Meet and Greet for Lou Anne

2012-04-18T15:38:00.003-04:00

May I introduce to you Lou Anne

She comes to us from beautiful California and brings her mermaid magic with her.

She comes with a background in still photography and teaching.

Her mermaid theme n her own words : I decided on the mermaid theme because of a story in Robert Fulgham's "All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." The story focuses on the children who don't quite fit into a standard box. I related to it on two levels-as a child who wasn't quite "normal" and as a teacher who recognized uniqueness in children. Mermaids became a symbol for me, translating my vision as an artist from

"weird" to "unique."

She quit teaching two years ago to pursue her art endeavors.

Her blog is

misplacedmermaid.blogspot.com

Her Shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MisplacedMerMaid

~~Here are some of her works of art:

Upcycled Necklace Nautical Mermaid

birth-of-a-mermaid

purple-play-digital-collage

Lou Anne is our very own first Stand up Comic

You can get to her comic blog from her main blog!

Please join us in welcoming

LOU ANNE

Inspired by Words - IA Team Challenge

2012-04-16T00:32:00.010-04:00

Hi! I'm Diane & I want to welcome you to Inspiration Avenues Weekly Challenge.

April is National Poetry Month and in honor of that I thought it would be fitting to have our challenge revolve around poetry, but also include other forms of the written word, a favorite quote, or novel, or perhaps merely a special word.

What inspires you, and how does it make you feel? Pour out those feelings artistically! Whether in oils, collage, watercolor, mixed media, photography, digital art... anything goes, just express it!

Here are some examples of "Art Inspired by Words" that I found browsing Etsy.

This mixed media collage with charcoal was created by Laura Prill called "Bare Ruined Choirs", it is inspired by Shakespeare's bittersweet masterpiece:

"....Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang.

In me thou seest the twilight of such day...

"This thou perceiv'st which makes thy love more strong,

To love that well which thou must leave ere long."

Sarah of Celio Designs, made this sketchbook which was Inspired by the poetry of Lord Byron "She Walks in Beauty..."

"Ode to Simplicity" is a beautiful fine art photograph by Alice W. It truly is lovely in it's simplicity with the poem by William Collins.

One of a kind mixed media original art inspired by the lyrics of Johnny Cash, "Because your mine, I walk the line". Created by Sherry Williamson of Meow Bark Art.

Erin Leigh of Art by Erin Leigh, created this colorful mixed media piece inspired by one of her favorite Scripture verses, John 15:4 "Abide in Me & I will abide in you".

This letterpress art print by Jim Cokas, of Jim Cokas Art & Design, perfectly enhances the mood of the poem "Virga" by Kay Ryan!

This last example is a mixed media piece that I created with one of my favorite art quotes..

"The moment one gives attention to anything, Even A Blade Of Grass, it becomes a mysterious awesome indescribably magnificent world in itself." ~ Henry Miller

I hope these pieces help get your creative juices flowing and that you'll join in on our "Inspired By Words" challenge!

Have fun & let your imagination take flight! :)

The simple rules can be found right here, and please remember the contest ends SUNDAY April 22, NOON (Eastern Time). And when you post, please let us know what was your inspiration!

See you later!

FOLIAGE Challenge Results

2012-04-15T11:45:00.014-04:00

Thank you so much to those of you who participated in my challenge this week. It was such fun to make up and then watch your submissions come pouring in. The theme challenge this week was FOLIAGE and I told all of you to interpret it however you wanted, and you DID. I didn't just get paintings of leaves, although I do love those, I got so many different submissions, you're all so creative!

It always amazes me just how different each piece of art is. Each artist tweaks & twists the theme differently, I LOVE that. It makes for some spectacular results! Here they all are!

Artist: Jenn (IA Member)
My Comment
I didn't get my submission
completely finished this week.
Sowwies, one would think the
hostess would at least finish
her own challenge.

(Please click on the pictures to Enlarge)

Artist: Edna
My Comment
Edna is "preaching to the choir"
here! I live in BC, Canada where all
the old growth forests are, I'm also
a proud treehugger, lol. This photo
is just spectacular Edna, I'd love to
try and paint it!

Artist: Dion Dior
My Comment
I always love Dion's work for it's exuberant
color. She's giving a couple online classes
soon on using the products she loves to create
with. Such inspirational color splashes!

Artist: Cathy Calamas
My Comment
I am a lover of bookmarks as artwork.
They're easier to make for the artist,
they use up small pieces of ephemera, and
they're less expensive for our Etsy buyers!
These lovely bookmarks are so textural, you
just want to get your fingers on them!

Artist: Peggy Gatto
My Comment
I love what Peggy did with this photograph,
since I know nothing about computer
manipulation I couldn't speak to how
difficult this was to do but I sure love
the results!

Artist: Kim (IA Member)
My Comment
I love the bright green of this collage
and especially the quote, you can read
the full quote on Kim's site. The eyes
looking through the paper is wonderful.

Artist: Cindy (Our Newest Member!)
My Comment
I love Cindy's art and I'm so glad she's
our newest member. She loves to paint
roses and as you can see, she does them
so darn well!!

Artist: Donna
My Comment
A very loving painting by Donna.
I think this also has a Mother's
Day theme, it would make a beautiful
mother's day card.

Artist: Abby
My Comment
This is terrific, Abby! I totally laughed
with the chickens crossing the tracks!
This piece has a whimsical nature that makes
me smile, and as I said the chickens, lol.

Artist: Jeanette
My Comments
I love this piece, the green covered
entrance with nothingness behind, it
allows your imagination to work.
I wonder where the door goes?

Artist: Lisa (IA Member)
My Comment
I really love this, Lisa. She looks
so sad and forlorn, the leaves seem to
be cuddling her, trying to comfort the
lovely sad woman. Beautiful!

Artist: Lori
My Comment
Once again, similar to Lisa's above, the
subject seems sad. Is it because one season
is dying while another blossoms? Or is she
a wood nymph with no one to play with?
I do love guessing games, this is a
beautiful one.

Artist: Elizabeth
My Comment
I love this collage piece, it
makes me think of operas and
wonderful music in outdoor
amphitheaters. So great.

Artist: Darla
My Comment
He's so cute! It makes me
think of a ballet of wood
nymphs and woodland fairies!

Artist: Michelle
My Comment
Here in Canada we can get some really
beautiful Northern Lights, this is a
wonderful interpretation of just that. So
well rendered.

Artist: Andrea
My Comment
I love mandalas and I admire people
who can do them. THis one is lovely, the
zentangles in green in some of the corners
remind me of cabbages and the large leaves of
tropical plants, love this.

Artist: Terrie
My Comment
This is a lovely piece that Terrie has
done for inclusion in an online book. The
words under the tissue say I am worthy,
you certainly are terrie.

Artist: Debbie
My Comment
I like this simple tree drawing. The amber
falling leaves make me think of cold weather
and hot bowls of soup! Such a sweet submission.

Artist: Yogi
My Comment
This would be a lovely birthday
card to recieve. The flowers are
made by quilling, so original.
This must need a three dimensional
envelope!

Artist: Maggie (IA Member)
My Comment
I always love Maggie's work.
Her Primavera woman looks so
ethereal and Spring-like, she
should go play with Darla's
sketch above!

Artist: Diane (IA Member)
My Comment
This is such a lovely piece, it
reminds me of fall, but then I
also feel like I'm underwater too.
I love that there's so many
interesting emotions that this
illicits. So well done.

Artist: Lou Anne (New IA Member)
My Comment
I don't know why this piece affects me
so much but I do know that I love it. Maybe
it's all the greenery, green always
makes me happy. It and fuchsia are my
goto happy colors. Thanks for entering
this piece Lou Anne, it's true love.

Artist: Shanna
My Comment
I love how Shanna kept the perspective
perfect in this collage. I know that's hard
to do. What a wonderful piece, it makes me
want to go exploring!

Artist: Angie
My Comment
Simplicity can also be beautiful and that's
what Angie has gone for here. I did a
series of leaves when I first started
painting and they're still my favorites.
Thank you for reminding me that simple is
beautiful.

Artist: Loretta
My Comment
I'm always in awe of computer generated
artwork, probably because when I had a
copy of paintshop I couldn't work it to
save my life! This is a lovely scene
Loretta. Thanks for sharing!

Artist: Shelly (IA Member)
My Comment
I'm sooo happy to see that Shelly
is just like me this week, not able
to finish her piece. (i'm not the
only one!!) Although she has a valid
excuse, the flesh color she needed
has seemed to walk away and hide so she
couldn't colorize this lovely garden
nymph. Her hair is made of leaves and she
wears a necklace of leaves. I can't wait
to see her completed Shel!

Artist: Kristin
My Comment
I can't get over how Kristin
does the eyes of these lovely
women she paints. The face is
captured so perfectly, and I
totally love the leaves added
as wings, just perfect!

Artist: Gemma
My Comment
I love this submission!
The spectacular greens make
her so ethereal and special.
She mesmerizes me.

Artist: Annie
My Comment
I love all the greens of this
amazing submission, and the tiger
peaking through the foliage is
inspired! WOnderful!

Gosh, I always have such trouble choosing a winner from all the submissions. All the artwork is spectacular, especially this week! I mean, just LOOK at the color/form/creativity. How does one choose. I'll do eenie-menie-minie-moe!!!!

Ok, getting serious here! Throw the confetti, let the drums roll! The winner who gets the privilege of walking down our RED CARPET this week is...

Abby

Congratulations ABBY! You can pick up your "I'm A Showcase Winner" badge on the right hand sidebar. Please feel free to proudly display it on your blog. Thank you to you all who participated, I really appreciate all your effort in art creation and helping to make this another successful Challenge.

I do want so say welcome to our two new members, Nancy and Lou Anne, we're thrilled to have them both as new IA members. They're both spectacular artists, click on their names and go check out their blogs. I'll see you all hopefully over on my blog for my Artist's Play Room Challenge this week! The Theme is Coffee & Tea. Come on over and I'll make you a cuppa. ;o)

Best,

P.S. We here at Inspiration Avenue would really appreciate it, if you enjoy participating and reading our Challenges and posts, to please sign up and follow us using the new Linky Follower Tool. Since Google Friend Connect will be phased out even for Blogger by the end of the year, we want to get all of our followers in our new Follower tool so we don't lose track of you! If you have any trouble using or signing up for the new Linky Tool please leave a comment in the comments section of this post. If we get several confused follower commenting we'll do an explanatitory post just for the linky tool. OK? Thanks ever so much!

2012-04-12T14:35:00.001-04:00

Meet and Greet

Nancy McCarroll

It's my pleasure to introduce to you one of our newest team members,

Nancy of Nancy's Arts, Crafts and Favorites.

In addition to being a wonderfully talented artist

who works in oils and watercolors, Nancy's accomplishments

run the gamut from a career in health administration

to playing national tournament Scrabble! In between, her interests include

gardening, travel, fiber art, reading, and volunteer work.

Hmmm...tournament Scrabble?

Sounds fun ~ I love Scrabble but doubt if I'm good enough :)

Click the button above to visit her blog and

find out more about this amazing artist!

Nancy comes to us from Grand Junction, Colorado,

where, in her words, she has “two adult daughters, several animals

(currently two small, mischievous female dogs)

and one most excellent husband.”

We're happy to have some recent new members from out West.

Shelly is pleased to have company who are closer to her time zone!!

(Jenn, Nancy, and now Lou Anne)

Nancy says she is planning to add more items to her Etsy shop,

but I already have favorites from the items she has listed.

This shawl looks wonderfully cozy, and you can see how

her love of beautiful colors has inspired her.

To see the two Etsy listings above, click on the pictures,

or the button below takes you to Nancy's shop:

Just in case you were thinking Nancy's art

is limited to the wonderful florals she paints,

let me assure you I think she can paint absolutely anything!

~ Please join us in

a warm welcome to Inspiration Avenue ~

Welcome, Nancy!

Weekly Art Challenge - Foliage

2012-04-09T05:33:00.004-04:00

Hi It's Jenn again, back as your lovely hostess with the mostess-t. Hehehe. Ya, who am I kidding! Did you know that I love the color green? If you're a reader of my blog, Just Add Water Silly, you definitely do! I also wanted to herald the coming of Spring with this challengs so I decided to go with a theme that celebrated Spring, my favorite color and one of my favorite things to paint.

FOLIAGE!

My challenge this week, for all you lovely bloggy friends of Inspiration Avenue, is to paint, collage, draw, photograph or even crochet something that involves foliage. Now, this does NOT mean that there's only foliage in your piece and the foliage doesn't have to be green either, lol. Be creative, add what you want, just make sure there are some purty leaves/ferns/foliage of some kind within the artwork. Here are some creative examples...


Etsy Shop Designs By Peeno	Etsy Shop Tamara Garvey	Etsy Shop AndreaLesleyCrochet


Etsy Shop VH McKenzie	Etsy Shop MeadowArtShop	Etsy Shop TrehndiMehndi


Etsy Shop Bomobob	Etsy Shop TheExpressivePalette	Etsy Shop Color Blast Art

Alright, have at it, go for the gold, create that artwork then come back here and share, share, share! If you need the rules, click here to read them. Remember that your submission MUST be added by NOON SUNDAY April 15th. I'm so excited to see your creations!

Best,

Frida Fiesta Art Gallery

2012-04-08T12:25:00.004-04:00

Happy Sunday,

and for many of you Happy Easter.

When I wrote this challenge,

I didn't realize it would be Easter Day when I posted the gallery.

I wish I would have painted Frida as the Easter Bunny,

painting eggs....that would have been fun :D

I LOVE this week's Gallery!!!!

Thank you for sharing you artwork, each of you has

delighted and inspired me.

Welcome to Fiesta Frida!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth

Please visit everyone

and check back Monday for a new challenge.

♥♥♥

OH! The Red Carpet Winner!
I had the hardest time...
But in the end,
my eye kept lingering on this piece...

Congratulations Lori!
Pick up your button for your blog!
The code is at the top, right side bar.

Weekly Challenge Frida Fiesta

2012-04-02T13:15:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone:)

It's me, priti.lisa.

Don't be scared.

I am notorious for making challenging challenges,

BUT

This week will be fun Fun FUN.

About million years ago (maybe 20)

I bumped into Frida Kahlo

and she changed my life.

I have read every book about her (in English)

I have studied her art, her poetry, and her philosophy.

She became my Hero.

My Champion.

My courage, strength and reason...

for becoming an artist.

I know it seems Frida has been over done, over exposed,

But not for me.

I can never get enough.

Frida was/is the Queen of self portraits.

Even when she wasn't painting herself literally,

she was painting her essence in still life paintings.

Read all about her HERE

THE CHALLENGE:

Let's celebrate Frida.

Let's emulate Frida.

Let your soul speak.

Use your ethnicity, your culture, your background, your family.

Make a self portrait.

OR...

Recreate Frida.

Or...

recreate yourself.

This challenge is in no way limited to paint or paper.

Cooking is an art.

Gardening is an art.

Interior Design is an art.

I have used all Mexican images here,

but, BE YOU.

I love to explore other cultures,

other religions, because we all are

ONE.

I look forward to seeing and posting all of the art you will create.

Let Frida, my Patron Saint of Artistes

envelope you and bring you to new dimensions creatively.

Now for some pictures...

Gloria's Blue Frida
Gloria is an artist that needs mentioned here (even tho you prolly know her)

Self portrait by Frida

And some inspiration from Etsy...

http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.297531575.jpg

http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.320015317.jpg

http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.295057938.jpg

http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.276427136.jpg

http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.311690101.jpg

How will Frida inspire you?

The rules for the challenge are on the right.

I will see you back here on Sunday around noon

to open the Art Gallery.

Have fun♥♥♥

Stormy Weather Results

2012-04-01T12:12:00.003-04:00

Wild Weather!

Stormy Weather Gallery

We had a wonderful variety in the entries this week!

There was a sharp difference between the dark and stormy ones

and the lighter, whimsical ones. Instead of displaying them in order of

submission like we often do, I decided to curate them kind of like

an Etsy treasury, displaying what I thought looked best together...

dark and stormy first and ending with whimsy!

That was fun, and I love how they look!

Lisa W

Diane

Lou Anne

Claire

Gemma

Shelly

Elizabeth (and Bleubeard)

Emily

and now for our

Showcase Winner!

Choosing just one to be the Showcase Winner for the week

was nearly impossible! But I kept coming back to Abby's piece:

I just love the delight on the girls' faces!

Abby's art will be on display on the Red Carpet Gallery.

Be sure to visit! And don't forget to pick up your

Red Carpet badge to display on your blog, Abby!

2012-03-26T08:13:00.002-04:00

Stormy Weather

After every storm the sun will smile;
for every problem there is a solution,

and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.

~ William R. Alger

You don't have to think of stormy weather as a somber theme,
but as an opportunity to express a deep and richer side of nature
as well as human nature. The picture below may have a rather
dark aura, but look at the magic in the sky!

I had two themes going around in my mind for the challenge this week.

Both are related. . . if I didn't call it Stormy Weather, it was going to be

Raining Cats and Dogs

In the end, I thought Stormy Weather would give everyone

more ideas to choose from, but if you like

cats and dogs (like I do), let's see them!!

This little fellow was irresistible to me.

Don't you just want to pick him up and pinch his cheeks!
(Poor little guy, I'm not sure he has cheeks!)

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up,

snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather,

only different kinds of good weather.

~ John Ruskin

Don't forget, you can express stormy weather in any medium.

I love this lampwork bead.

Isn't a rainy day romantic?
In spite of the brilliant colors in the painting below,

you can feel the drenching rain.

This painting is a bit more threatening, with its angry sky
and barbed wire. Still, I love the brilliant wheat field.
It's titled "On the Fence". Mother Nature is deciding whether

to let the sun shine or bring on the storm!

When was the last time you went out to sing and dance in the rain?

Please visit the wonderful Etsy shops that all the above
art came from by clicking on each picture.
I hope you are inspired to create something stormy this week!

As usual, the guidelines for the challenge are
in the right sidebar. We are using Mr. Linky to make it
even easier to leave a link to your entry.

Don't forget, your entry has a chance to be selected as the
Showcase Winner for the week, to be displayed on our
Red Carpet Gallery. Visit the Gallery now to see
the previous winners for this year!

Happy creating!

~ Maggie

Dolls! Challenge Results and Red Carpet Winner

2012-03-25T12:17:00.000-04:00

What an absolute delightful line-up this week! That is the advantage of hosting the challenge on Inspiration Avenue : one gets an eye-full of your favourite art and a heart-full of inspiration! Take a look and please take the time to visit each one's blog and to share the love.

Yvonne

Deann

Lisa Richards

Her Grace by Hettienne

Peggy Gatto

Barbara

Imgirl

Bluebeard and Elizabeth

Darla

Andrea of Falling Ladies

Craftymoose

Kristin Dudish

Donna

Shanna

Jenn

Michelle VAlkerton

Anne

Shel

Loretta Mangum

Kristin McCulloch

I wish I could choose a winner and many runner-ups - each entry had something to it that made it so special!

This week the winner that will be walking down the Red Carpet

and

to whom our beautiful badge is awarded

is

Darla and her Spice Can Girls

Thank you for playing along and be sure to come back tomorrow for another fun challenge

Happy creating

Hettienne

Dolls!

2012-03-19T06:30:00.001-04:00

Once upon a time there was a little girl, called Vasalisa.On her deathbed Vasalisa's mother handed her a handmade doll dressed in an outfit identical to her own. She told Vasalisa : 'my darling child, always, always, keep this doll with you. Keep her safe in the pocket of your dress or your coat. Keep her as your secret and do not tell others about her. Whenever you feel lost or you do not know which way to turn, she will help you. Whenever you are in need of help, she will help you. You can ask her any question and she will answer. Keep her close to your dear self, my child. ' Soon after this her mother dies and the adventurous story of Vasalisa starts. It is one that we have come to know well in various shapes and forms: her father marries a stepmother and Vasalisa also gets two stepsisters. It is not long before the stepmother and stepsisters decide that they need to get rid of Vasalisa and they set various traps for her. Ideally they would like her to get lost in the forest and be taken by the Baba Yaga, the old hag that lives in the forest.

(Vasalisa and her doll is a story told in the Russion and Baltic cultures and it is known as Vasalisa, the Wise.)

It soon becomes clear that the small handmade doll that Vasalisa carries everywhere with her, is her intuition or her intuitive self. Each trap that the stepsisters set for Vasalisa she is rescued from by her doll. She warns her, she whispers into her ear of shortcuts throught the forest that no-one else knows about; she tells her what to eat, when to eat and she whispers the secret words to Vasalisa. The doll symbolises the small quiet voice that lives in everywoman's heart which is so often drowned in the noise of busy lives.

Dolls have been made through the ages, in all cultures and they have become laden with mystical and magical meanings or just wonderful playthings!

And that is our challenge this week : dolls.

I love dolls. I love making dolls and I love telling each doll's story to the world.

Here I re-created the scene of the skeleton-like Miss Havisham from

Charles Dickens' Great Expectations

A Spanish doll depicting the Rom festival of

St Sara la Kali in Saintes Maries de la Mer in France

where this doll comes from

A small vintage costume doll becomes Little Miss Muffet, sitting on her tuffet,

eating curds and whey

AVictorian dressmaker in her shop - she herself made from paper and pieces of cloth

A tiny kewpie doll dreams of becoming a ballerina

A little woman, sitting with her embroidery, luggage ready, dreaming
of visiting Paris in the springtime

So, this week I invite you to participate in the Dolls Challenge with me. Often some of you comment that the challenges are so wide you do not know what to do. I like a wide challenge, so I am not going to limit you or your ideas in any way - I challenge you to create any form of art and to mix media to your heart's content and then to share its story with us - as long as it has to do with a doll or dolls and the voice of your heart!

Join in with us by adding your name and entry to Mr Linky below. I hope you will have as much fun as me with this challenge!

happy creating!

Hettienne

2012-03-18T12:34:00.001-04:00

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