Showing posts with label Sneak Peek Friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sneak Peek Friday. Show all posts

Friday, March 1, 2013

studios that (in)spire


When we talk about being creative most of us have a picture of our dream studio that comes to mind.  For now though we tell ourselves we would do more art, more reading, more praying, more fill in the blank if only we had such a space.

We talk ourselves out of being creative because the “perfect” space isn’t there.  "That” room is for guests or kids or a play room or a home office.  How much is that we don’t give space to the creative?  Or is it feeling we don’t “deserve” the space?  Or is it that we are afraid?

I know for me it was a mix of all of those things and likely many more I don’t want to look at yet.  In talking with my (in)spired sisters it is clear that even without the dream studio that need to create finds its way into our current spaces…


“My studio space right now is the corner of my couch, with projects piled on the end table and under the end table. *sigh* Wishing for the energy to set up another space, a "real" one, in my basement. For now, the couch and table are my real create space.”


“My chair in the living room with TV trays to hold my stuff. I do have an easel that I set up there too.”

“ My current preferred space is one of my kitchen counters...I like the height and being able to stand while I create - plus access to the sink. But it gets a bit dicey when I need the counter space to actually cook and the art isn't finished, yet.”

“The kitchen sink or a table in the living room behind the couch”

When the time to create comes, we make space for it to happen.
For the first time in my life I have my own “studio.”  We had a guest room with few guests now that our nest is empty.  So I covered the bed with an old door and added a card table.  Ta-da! 



My first ever space that was all mine to create, be messy, and play.  My art and more supplies than I have ever had before have taken over (and I can move the door if we do have guests).


A question about dream studios and current spaces with some sister friends led to sharing about birthday promises that include one converting a home office into a studio space and another remaking a portion of the empty nest into the studio.  One sister even moved taking an art class up on her priority list.  Another is going to paint a room and put her paintings on a wall in her space.

God has given us the ability.  We have the space (even if it is a tiny corner in a room or on the couch).  We have the creativity in us.  What stumbling blocks keep us from taking the space and using the gifts God has given us?

What about you?  What keeps you from claiming the space and the ability to co-create with God? 

Join us next week as we begin putting our (in)spired studio into virtual reality!

Linking up with Jennifer over at studio jru.

Friday, February 22, 2013

sneak peek friday ~ february twenty first



Remember last week’s birds that I was less than happy with?

This is what they grew up to be…



sorry for the glare!


 Amazing what a few book pages, 
some inks, 
and some cool calendar 
pics can do!

What did you create this week in your studio**?
Please share here or over at Studio JRU.

**remember a studio is anywhere 
you find yourself creating art***

***art is what you do 
when you bring beauty into this world 
and we are all artists 
who happen to use different tools

Friday, February 15, 2013

sneak peek friday ~ february 15th


I was on retreat last week and never got around to posting.  I learned again what happens when I try to "copy" someone else's work...


I hated the results and these pieces will be gessoed over and begun anew.
I re-remembered that when I have a picture in my head I take God out of the creative process...that is a problem for me and likely why I do not like the results.

Pieces begun while on retreat and finished this week:



both gifts for some amazing mentors on this journey.

This was inspired by what I saw out my window.  
Not sure what it will grow up to be.


How have you co-created with God this week?
Please share here or over at Studio JRU.


Friday, February 1, 2013

Sneak Peek Friday


It is Friday!  
time to peek into each other's studios.
remember to visit Jennifer @ Studio JRU
(she has yet another gift for us today).  

As I was beating myself up for
an "unproductive" week others
 allowed me to recognize
the voice of the discourager.
These were the words
I shared,
the words meant for
myself:

a reminder about art...
it is not always about paint, fabric, pens, etc. 
It is about creating beauty 
wherever you are 
as you do what you do. 
My greatest lesson last year 
was that I want 
to make loving others art. 
So as you cook? 
clean? 
fold clean clothes? 
paint? 
sew? 
write? 
You are creating beauty. 
That is art. 
End of soap box. 



Will you share your art from this week?
Here or over at Studio JRU.


Friday, January 25, 2013

sneak peek friday


it's time for peeking into studios
yours, mine, and 
our friends at studio jru.

this week i found a great deal
on embellishments!
 as i wasn't feeling to creative
i added them to some
"finished" pieces...
this is a new piece that might be finished...


what happened in your studio this week?
share here or at studio jru.

Friday, January 18, 2013

sneak peek friday return


finally ready to share from the studio again and to link up with jennifer and friends over at studio jru.

i made most of my gifts for christmas and didn't want to post until they were all given.  here it is the second half of january and some still sit waiting for their home...

this week i began preparing for a retreat i will soon take.  this is the third year i will attend and each year the four day retreat held at a nearby conference center gets better.  

it is a time of prayer, meditation led by someone wiser than i, and listening.  the hardest part?

it is silent.

those of you who know me well, know that being quiet around people is hard for me.  yet it is something that has become a part of my spiritual discipline as the time allows me a new way to experience community (meals the first morning will be rushed through as silence is hard with people you don't know well, yet our final morning meal will be leisurely as we enjoy being together).  

it is also a time to be still in a way i am unable to be at home.  i find myself writing more than normal when i am there.  last year i made a journal using a Moleskin journal, this year i created one...

the front cover is made using some scrapbook paper i have loved but was saving for something special, a little fancy trim, a tiny bow, and some letters that were a gift (a whole great big pad of punch out letters!):


the inside pages were "painted" with watered down acyrlic inks:


and the back cover used the same materials as the front with a piece of the trim to "hide" a seam:


i used two of the packages of 8" x 8" Zutter pages and a set of covers and put them all together with my Zutter (my best ever ebay buy!).

excited to see what fills the pages!

how did you create this week in your studio*? 

won't you share here and over at studio jru?


* a studio is any place you find yourself creating



Saturday, December 1, 2012

Sneak Peek

It is Friday Saturday
time to peek into the studio,
mine, yours, and Jennifer 
and friends at Studio JRU.

Here is a piece that has already been given:






I used my favorite  acrylic modeling paste and acrylic inks on a prepared 6x6 project board.

Will you share what you created this week?


Friday, November 23, 2012

sneak peek friday ~ november twenty third

it is friday
time to peek into the studio
yours, mine, and our friends

this week i finished 
my liturgical series
which was featured here back in june.

here is my Advent piece:


just in time for Advent 
which begins shortly.

will you share a peek into your studio?





Friday, November 16, 2012

sneak peek friday ~ birthday backgrounds

Thanks to a husband
who gets me 
i spent most of my
birthday in my studio.


it was a productive day
to make backgrounds
and complete thank you 
gifts for people who
minister with me
(which i am not showing
so they remain a surprise).










backgrounds made with
acrylics, inks, punchinella, and various
texture mediums
on a prepared board.

how did you create this week?
share here, over at (in)spired or

Friday, November 9, 2012

sneak peek friday ~ november 9th

it is friday...
time for peeking into the studio...
yours, mine, and our friends
at Studio JRU...

this week found me sharing 
new places with old friends
and less time in the studio.

the theme of choosing joy
from Habkakuk 3.18
has been present with me 
and became this...






you may remember the background.
i added a new medium to it
that i am not real sure about
yet, then a little ribbon, and
some ink for the "choose".

how did you co-create with God
this week?
won't you share here,
over at (in)spired
or at Studio JRU?

Friday, November 2, 2012

sneak peek friday - november second

it is friday...
time for peeking into the studio...

this week was one of making gifts for others, which means i can't share until they make their way to new homes...

this piece is in the hands of those who will take it home...




friends who are living a dream in a new home in a beautiful place.

how did you create this week?
please share here or over at Studio JRU.

Friday, October 26, 2012

studio sneak peek ~ friday october twenty sixth

it is friday...
time for peeking into studios...
yours and mine...

feels good to be consistently back at work.  those backgrounds i began last week became these:




and this piece from last week?


made it home to the author who inspired it.

and i found some amazing letters and punchinella 



from skybluepink...they have some amazing things at great prices.

and my fifth favorite day of the year happened this week...

my 2013 calendar came full of new hopes, dreams, and visions.  but it was a boring black.


and now it is not...


won't you share what you have created this week either here or over at Jennifer's studio?

Friday, October 19, 2012

it's (finally) sneak peek friday!!!!

phew...sometimes life just happens and i get so overwhelmed i forget to take that time to be still and create!  after way too long away i took time to play in my studio this week!

this piece is still drying so the finish looks off.  it was inspired by posts from Haiti and the book "Come Alive" by Elora Ramirez (which is hard and holy reading)...


these are new backgrounds i started and am impatiently waiting to dry...






not sure what they will become, would like words, not sure which words yet.  know of any good lettering tutorials?

remember to link up with jennifer at studio jru to see what our friends are up to....

and share here or there your creations this week.