Creative Clown

Please Read This --To My Subscribers

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:59:00 +0000

There is no way for me to know who all subscribes through RSS feed to my blog. I need to let you know that I'm changing blogs, but have no way to contact each of you other than posting here.

I have moved my blog back to http://creativeclown.com. But there is a glitch somewhere, and I can't find it, so I can't just automatically switch all of you subscribers over there. I'm truly sorry for this inconvenience.

I am going to have to delete this blog, it appears, in order to allow people to subscribe to my new blog. So I wanted to let you know that if I disappear, you can find me at Creative Clown, and you can re-subscribe there.

Again, I'm sorry. Technology is wonderful but sometimes it causes unwanted problems.

Thanks for following me!

Catching Up

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:10:00 +0000

Wow...so much has been going on in my life that I don't know where to start.

Kris was here for two weeks and it was wonderful to visit in person. We kept talking about how cool it is to see each others' mannerisms and facial expressions. We've been friends for 5 years and have only seen each other in person 3 times. But we talk on the phone every day.

And, oh my gosh, the art time we had was so wonderful. It is so inspiring to create with someone else who shares my interests. We both learned and got inspired from each other. Of course, we did a lot of shopping, too! We found a scrapbook store only 20 mins away from me that has the coolest stuff!!!

She and I found this great paper, in sheets of like 3 x 4 ft at an estate sale. It's printmaking paper which is just luscious. We intended to make spiral bound journals with it, but my Zutter Bind it All is so hard to work with that we gave up and decided to just sew the binding on them. Well, my wonderful Mister, bought me a brand new binder!!!!
It is really cool. It's by Cinch. The little pink pegs can be pushed and pulled for where you want the holes punched.

So, with it we made each of us two journals. I don't have pictures of them unfortunately. We made covers from x-rays and monopoly boards. They are very cool!

Mister was supposed to have surgery today, but he got a cold so they cancelled the surgery until he gets well. It was very unfortunate. The surgery is an aortal bifemoral bypass. It's a very serious operation and we have both been mentally preparing for it for months. So now we have to start all over whenever they reschedule it.

He and I quit smoking two weeks ago. We've been trying off and on for months but we finally did it. The first week was awful. Last week wasn't too bad, really, but the past two days have been horrible for me. I'll be so glad when I'm further along and not so lost. I can't concentrate on anything very long, and just feel like I've lost a body part or something.

My son, Lanny, and his wife are closing today on their first home! They are so excited and I'm so happy for them. They have 4 kids so it will be so nice for them to have a bigger home and yard for the kids.

To All People Who Have Commented on this Blog

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:16:00 +0000

I owe all of you a big apology. I didn't realize that I needed to tell Blogger to notify me when people commented. I have thought all this time that I wasn't getting any comments! I see them now, and I am so grateful to those of you who have been thoughtful enough to leave comments. I now have changed the setting, so I will know when you comment and I will reply.

Moving from Wordpress to Blogger was a decision that I was sort of forced into after the hackers got me on Wordpress. But I'm finding that I have a lot less control on Blogger and it's difficult to get used to. I'm trying to have a better attitude about it, though :)

So, please don't stop commenting just because I was dense and didn't realize all the nice things you all have said.

Friends of the HeART

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:56:00 +0000

My good friend, and art pal, Kristina and I watched a video by Pam Carriker where she demonstrates how to do a drawing in charcoal from a photograph. Whenever Kristina and I get together we always do a page in each other's art journal, so we decided to try doing a portrait of each other using Pam's technique. I'm quite proud how they both turned out.

Here's Kristina's drawing of me.

I wish you could see it in person. This scan doesn't show the subtleties of color and value very well. She did a great job!!

Here's my drawing of Kris.

The mouth really looks a lot like hers. The eyes aren't exactly right, but they're close. I like this one best, because I had such a young, pretty subject to draw :)

We had so much fun doing these. Kris used Conti crayon to draw hers and I used Conti charcoal pencils.

Blog Tour And Giveaway - Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing by Kathy Cano-Murillo

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:00:00 +0000

My apologies to Kathy and her staff. Time has gotten away from me this month and I just now realized that today is my day to post a review and giveaway of Kathy's newest novel!

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Kathy Cano-Murillo, also know as the Crafty Chica, who is a super, super nice and very creative lady. She's always busy creating and inspiring all of us, and yet always has time to give a kind word. As an author her unique personality shows through in the lives of her characters. I just read this new novel and I can't wait to share it with you all!!

Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing is a really wonderful story. I am not a fast reader and I read most of it in one day, because I was so engrossed in the story.

Scarlet is an inviting, interesting, unique young lady. She attracts people along the way that are connected to her and each other in so many ways that the story becomes more complex than is first apparent. There is a juicy mystery that begins near the beginning of the story and lasts to the very end. With each turn, the reader thinks she has figured out what happened to Daisy, and who she really was, only to have that theory squashed with a new turn of events.

Kathy has woven her amazing creative ideas, her love of Latino culture and her wonderful ability to write, into one fantastic story. Like her previous novel, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter, this book is about an unlikely group of women who can't help but learn to love and support each other. In both books, I truly enjoyed watching the bonds develop as the group of women shared joys, sorrows, adventures and love.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. But, those of you who are interested in creative pursuits of any kind will especially appreciate the beautiful creative things that Kathy has woven into this truly touching novel.

This link will take you to a cute trailer about this great book.

And, you have a chance to win a copy of the book!! Kathy has graciously given me a copy to give away. All you have to do is share this link on Facebook or Twitter. Then leave me a comment here letting me know your facebook or twitter name and that you shared the link. I will draw a name from the comments (one entry for facebook, one for twitter) this Friday, March 11th, and announce the winner here. I will contact the winner by email, if you sign in to comment with your valid email address.

So, sign up and best of luck to you all.

Here are links to learn more about the Crafty Chica. If you don't already know her, please go check her out. You will love her, I promise you!

Reading Group Guide

Author Bio and Photo

@CraftyChica - Twitter

Facebook Page

Craftychica.com

Crafty Chica's photostream on Flickr

Crafty Chica YouTube Channel

Free Download - Photoshop Brushes

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 08:31:00 +0000

Last month Tracy Bunkers did 30 days of carving rubber stamps. She got me so inspired that I carved a few myself. I stamped them, plus some I had made a while back and scanned them. I made photoshop brushes from the scans. Here's an image of the brushes. I like the way they show the cuts and look handcarved.

These were made in CS2. I'm not sure what versions of Photoshop or Elements they will work with. If you find they won't load on your version, please let me know. Download them by RIGHT clicking here.

Art Journal Love Week

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Connie is hosting Art Journal Love this week at Dirty Footprints Studio. I wanted to play along, so here's my page. It wasn't hard for me to do a page on love since I'm practically still a newlywed. I'm keenly aware and grateful for the love I have. And that's just the romantic love! I am surrounded by people who love me and I'm so very blessed!!

Sorry I haven't posted a journal prompt this week. Hopefully I'll get it posted by tomorrow!

And in other news.... my bestie art pal, Kristina, is coming to see me in a little over a week!!! I haven't seen her in over 2 years so I'm so very excited. So look for some posts about art adventures in the coming weeks. :)

Recent Journal Pages

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 08:08:00 +0000

I'm trying a new service for collaging photos. These are some of my recent journal pages. Click on the image below to see it larger.

Weekly Journal Prompt

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:07:00 +0000

We have to do a page for Valentine's Day, right? Let's focus on love. Hearts is one of my favorite things to use on my journal pages, so I have all sorts of stamps and images of hearts. If you're not into hearts how about x;s and o's? What symbolizes love to you?

Try to create a page that says love in whatever way you're inspired to say it. It may not be with traditional love symbols. Maybe it's a photo of someone you love. If you like vintage images, below are some old valentine cards you can download to print and use in your journal.

Let me know if you are using the prompts, okay?

Journal Prompt

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:08:00 +0000

Better late than never, right? :/

"When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free." ~ Cathering Ponder

Is there someone you would like to forgive but just can't? I think most of us do. It's not easy, but it's important to remember that forgiving is not saying what they did was okay. It's just saying I'm not going to be chained to you and this resentment any longer.

In your journal paint a background that "sets the stage" for your resentment. Over the background, draw, sketch, paint or glue an image in that represents the hurt you experienced but haven't been able to forgive. Leave enough room to write on the page.

Write about the hurt. Get it all out. Then write your thoughts on forgiving the person who caused the hurt. Try to be open to the possibility of forgiving. Just let yourself imagine it. Write how that feels. Is it scary? Does it make you angry? Can you imagine what you'd feel if you did forgive them?

Photo A Day

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:42:00 +0000

Oddly, there was a hawk sitting on our carport this morning. I've never seen one hanging around town before. Sorry, if this grosses you out, but he was eating his catch. He sat there a long time. Maybe 30 mins.

The picture isn't real clear because I took it through the window. It's just too dang cold to traipse outside. I probably would have scared him away if I had. I got a couple of shots of him but you can't really see how large he is.

Photo A Day

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:33:00 +0000

Like much of the U.S., we experienced a blizzard last night and today. This evening the sun came out, just as it was beginning to set. This picture taken through a window captures, I think, how cold and quiet it is here.

Photo A Day

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:05:00 +0000

I remembered to take a pic today!!! I suspect I'll be taking some in the next few days because we are going to have a blizzard. It's just starting now, but we might get 18 in of snow. Surely I'll get some good pics from that.

I am seeing an eye dr, trying to get bifocal contacts. I'm on my second trial pair. The distance is fine, but we're having trouble getting it where I can read with them. So, I got a pair of reading glasses today at Dollar Tree for one dollar!! Aren't they cute?

Art Journal Prompts

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:24:00 +0000

This week for your prompt I'm going to share sites that I like for prompts and inspiration. There are so many talented people on the 'net that take time to share their ideas with us, so let's take advantage of this free inspiration!

Creative Revolutionaries

Diana has started what she calls Creative Revolution. If you go to her blog and click on the menu where it says "Nudge Creative Revolutionaries" you can go through all the promps she has already shared. Subscribe to her blog and you will then get the new ones as she posts them. She has a Flickr group I believe for those who are participating to share their pages.

GPP Street Team Challenges

Michelle Ward is amazing at teaching and inspiring!! She posts a challenge once a month to her Green Pepper Press Street Team. She gives lots of instruction, ideas and pictures for each challenge. If you have a blog, you put the link to your blog post where you played with the challenge, and you'll get great visitors who will encourage you!!

Green Isle Crafts

I've just discovered this blog. She provides prompts and she shows pictures and gives detailed instructions on how she created the page. I'm going to start following her as the prompts look fun!

One Year Journal

Rachel Weitz offers a monthly prompt. I haven't been following this blog, but it looks like she offers a prompt with some props (songs, etc) and has guest hosts who offer thier pages and thoughts on the prompt. It looks really good!

Milliande Art Journal Prompts

In January, Milliande does a journal prompt every day and offers a video of her making a page with the prompt. She's very talented and oh so creative in creating pages! Beside the yearly January prompts, she has lots of videos on other art journaling techniques.

Photo A Day 1-27-11

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:53:00 +0000

I'm not doing very well at remembering to take a picture every day. We drove out to a lake yesterday so I had lots of opportunities for taking pictures. We actually saw a bald eagle!! But I couldn't capture him with my camera, sadly.

But I did get a shot of this little armadillo as he was eating something gross, no doubt!

Wednesday Journal Prompt

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:59:00 +0000

Share a Secret

This can be as simple as “I think _____ is cute.” Or it may be something you’ve never shared with anyone. Start where you are comfortable. By sharing information in our journals, they become more sacred to us. When we develop a respect and trust with our journal they will then become a valuable tool for us in expressing our emotions, and working through concepts.

If you aren't comfortable with the secret being on the journal page, paint over it. Then add some collage items or drawing or whatever you want, in order to remind you of the secret that's hidden beneath. No one will know it's there but you.

If you have questions, or need more encouragement to use this prompt, please leave a comment.

I need art time!!!

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:40:00 +0000

I've been working on rebuilding my website for several days now. I actually like doing web design work, but it is tiring. I haven't taken much time away for art, so I need to do that soon.

I've been trying to remember to take a photo a day for a challenge, but I've only remembered twice. Here is the one that I have taken the time to resize.

I am getting used to blogger. I've used wordpress for years so it's different but I'm liking it so far.

I think I have transfered the RSS feed to this blog. If you subscribe already and are not getting the posts, then please go ahead and subscribe here. If you have trouble please let me know.

I dont' even know if anyone is reading this. Wordpress doesn't give me a list of the people who subscribe, so there was no way for me to notify my readers about the crash, and subsequent move. Blogger gives me a list of subscribers, so hopefully that will help in the future. But I'm really hoping there are no more hacks or crashes!

New Year - New Website

zura@creativeclown.com (Zura Ledbetter) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:24:00 +0000

My site got hacked. I am so frustrated with hackers and spammers!!! I am in the process of building a new site, but it's slow going.

If you subscribed to my old blog, I am trying to fix it so this blog will still be updated through your old subscription, but so far haven't learned how to do that.

I wasn't able to post the journal prompt for last week, but I have some new things to post and will do that soon.