His Eye is on the Sparrow

I finally found the copy of me singing at my nana's funeral. It was a few years ago and taped over the church's sound system, but it was a great celebration for me. It was requested in her WILL that I sing this song--which happens to be one of my favorite hymns. However, true to my nature, I like to play around with the arrangement a little. It sounds a bit 'tinny' because of the low recording quality--but enjoy.

Connecting

I have been feverishly working on finishing my Master's program lately. It is a concentration on technology in education, especially on the emerging web-based applications like blogging, wikis, nings, media and social sites, etc... We even looked at things like virtual worlds (2nd life...) and what is happening with those applications right now and considered how they might apply to education. (I found it interesting that Harvard is actually starting to conduct classes in a virtual world.)
But regardless of the advances in technology a large comfort level gap exists between digital immigrants (those who did not have technology around for the majority of their lives) and digital natives (who grew up with the internet, computers e-mail, social sites and the like all thei life--they speak 'geek' so to say). This 'comfort level' discrepancy tends to breed a certain fear of technology making people less interactive and personal. Although it isn't talked about much, there seems to be a fear that the more we rely on technology in this fast paced world, the more we will loose our sense of connection to each other. But I am finding, to the contrary, that once I push past my fears and become comfortable using the technological applications, my ability to connect is actually stronger. Sure, I still need to see my friends, laugh, hug and watch their facial expressions as we swap stories; but becuase of emerging technological programs, I am able to interact with my friends (albeit virtually) in a more efficient way because it is done asynchroneously instead of trying to capture shared free time in people's busy schedules. So here is to venturing out and connecting in the vast virtual world!

Design Dilemma Podcast--Color

On this second podcast of Design Dilemma, I cover two of the four major color schemes while talking about the power of the color wheel and how to choose color teams. Monochromatic and Analogous color schemes are featured on this segment as safe and subtle ways to include color into an outfit, home decor and more.

Design Dilemma Podcast

Design Dilemma is an inaugural podcast aimed at helping the design disabled. My goal is to demystify the rules of good visuals because I strongly believe that all of us are creative. Too many adults, when they find out I am an art teacher, try to categorize themselves as uncreative by saying "Oh, I can't even draw a stick figure", and while that makes for funny small talk, the sad part is, too many people avoid art out of fear once they are an adult. For those of you who had overly critical art teachers, accept my apologies for them, for those who just never had the opportunity to develop more visual skills, break out...and to all who want to develop your creative side and what I consider to be an innate, God-given desire, let's move forward together.
Check it out here:

Dreams & Changes

This is one of my impulsive midnight paintings that started out with large blobs of color thrown onto the canvas and then blended into an O'Keefe like floral.

I've been learning a lot about dreams and changes. Dreams can be like that comfortable old blanket that sits around just waiting to wrap you up in warmth. You can collect dreams and store them away like treasures that no one else gets to see--because what if they did see...what would happen? There is some fear associated with sharing the things that are your secret treasures--for instance, you may have someone laugh at your dreams, or maybe someone will smash your dreams...so you tell yourself that it is okay to keep them hidden safely away where only you can daydream about them.
But I think that dreams, just like those little foam animals that come in pill-sized capsules, grow, like the foam toys, when they are let out and put in water--or in the case of dreams, if they see the light of day! Dreams need to be played with, acted on, even in small segments, and not just thought about as they collect dust in the closet of your heart and mind!

I have found the richest times of my life are when I dare to enjoy the things that make me smile and not worry about the impracticality of my craft, or dance, or song or girl's night out, or being goofy with my kids! Dare to enjoy the little things--they are the fertilizer of dreams!

Return Reflections

It's almost been a year and I feel like I have been in a design desert. Not that the ideas and inspriation have stopped...but that life needed emphasis in other areas for awhile.
I went through some frustrating medical issues but finally feel better than I have in so many years!! It feels so refreshing when you can feel your 'groove' start to return! We also moved, and with two small boys, full-time jobs and graduate courses...just getting readjusted to the schedule of life, takes the effort of the whole family and many months!

But last month I finally unpacked my art supplies and organized my 'design studio' ( a little room I claimed for my own). I made sure I created a space where my kids could come and create with me.
My sons, now Kindergarten and 1st grade, take my breath away as I watch them innately sit and design. I never intended to push my interests or wishes on them, but they naturally love to create, explore and design. I feel honored to be a participant in their life and to support the unveiling of their interests. Those of you who are parents, teachers and coaches know what I mean, I'm sure! What a priviledge!

Designing with my son:

My 1st grader also loves the computer and has one of those 'engineering' brains. He is constantly curious and always wanting to try new things, so our activity the other night was to make a blog for him. He got a digital camera for Christmas and loves to document the things in his life. However, he always wants to print out his photos. So I thought, what a better way for him to feel proud of his photos than to display them online so he can show his friends, teacher and family without having to always print! It has been a good excercise in helping him to practice writing his sentences as well! He is personally vested in his project, so getting him to write sentences has been pretty easy. He has been so proud, that it thrills my heart. http://www.benmphotos.blogspot.com/ Here is his blog if you want to check out a 1st grader's world.

So...I guess I have been busy designing some memories even though I haven't posted many personal visual examples as of late. I think times like that actually help to bolster a new kind of creativity and inspiration. "Time-outs" can be good for all of us!

Here are some samples of my inspiration from the tiny hands in my home

Tall Layouts

Wow--you are seeing more and more vertical layouts these days. I have fallen in love with this style because of the freedom it gives me. I feel like there is so much room and I can use my smaller photos without looking having them look dwarfed by the 12 inch size paper. These are two of my latest 6"x12" layouts. I find that wallets, 3.5x5 and vertical 4x6 photos tend to work the best for this size composition. Remember gravity--largest and heaviest objects toward the bottom...so just as it is important for a skyscraper to have a good solid foundation, a tall layout needs some 'grounding' too! To ground your design, place a photo or darker/larger paper at the bottom of the layout.

Still Life

This is a 2 page vertical layout with 12" papers. I recieved a package of new papers from the A2Z company and was utterly inspired. The swirls of bold color reminded me of a sketchy painting by Picasso and a vase of flowers needs a table which then reminded me of Matisse. So I based by self-portrait still life on the works of those great masters and had an incredible blast with the whole process.
The other products used were: Hambly (chandaler), Micheal's Stores Inc.(ribbon),My Mind's Eye (tabelcloth pp), Prima (bling crystals), Creative Imaginations (Black ornate frame. I hope you enjoy. TFL

A Year in Review

Dreaming of Spring

These large paper dolls are so fun to make. I was afforded the wonderful opportunity to play with the Love Elsie "Zoe" kit thanks to A Million Memories. It really reminded me of "Punky Brewster" does anyone remember that show? I loved to watch her when I was young. Anyway, I guess she was my muse, along with the wonderful and funky teens I get to work with everyday as a high school art teacher! This is a 12x 24 in. LO

Feb. Kit at AMM

I got a Cricut for Christmas, can you tell? haha The title of FAMILY is cut from one of the sets--Yippee! I enjoyed playing with this new toy. The awesome thing is that my LSS (Local Scrap Store*) has a Cricut Club where you can rent the cartridges from their library for $6.95 a week. How cool is that! Kudos to Memory Lane of PA!! This was our attempt of a holiday family portrait although my sons didn't really feel like being there! LOL I used Ki Memories lace paper behind the Scenic Route PP! I also used Prima Bling for accents as you can see in the detail picture. Love those companies!

Maya Road Rage Call

Maya Road did an open call for CHA projects. I decided to think outside the box by taking their paisley sheers and turning them into wearable art. This necklace was constructed by sanding the edges, inking the sheers and using a Pentouch silver pen on the edges for accent. then the sheers were turned and punched with my Crop-a-dile and eyelets held them in shape. I used sterling silver wire to make links for the necklace and to hold the various parts together. I then turned the Maya Road tin into a Jewlery Box for the piece. I hope you enjoy!

Fashionista

This layout was inspired by current fashion 'sightings' of pleats. While I was glancing through various magazines, I noticed glamorous uses of pleats in satin and high end tailoring right down to the teen flair of plaid kilt-like mini skirts. I used a metallic bronze paper and simulated box pleating for a double-layered look. I also found this felted flower at my local craft store and thought it was the perfect textural accent. TFL!

Dream Street

Thanks to A Million Memories, we also get tons of kits from different manufacturers. This one was from Dream Street. TFL!!

**I loved the thinner quality of Dream street's chipboard because it was perfect for altering! I could easily cut it with a scissors and alter the shape (I included several 'before' pictures). You can see how I cut an organic curve out of the front cover and used it as a small accent/stand for the mini book. I did this with the taller book as well and used two leaf-like shapes to help balance the mini book so that it could stand on its own. The tragic thing about mini books in my opinion is that they get shoved away some where. By making it a display piece as well, the sentiments are more likely to be shared and loved by many.

10th Anniversary Cake

As you can tell by the pictures, I used a magazine inspiration for this piece. I adore quilting and looking at fabrics--not because I sew mind you, but because of the patterns and colors. I am in awe of the coordination and design of textiles when they are used in harmony. I saw this advertisement for purlsoho and couldn't take my eyes of it. I said to myself--hey this isn't much differnt from scrapbooking! So I visually worked at conquering this challenge by playing off the idea of stacking layers. I stacked layers of patterned paper and embellishments. While I was working with it, I noticed it looked like a tier cake...so I went with that! This was a lot of fun.

Winter's White space

December Kit--A Million Memories