Back to School Sale Time!

I'm having "Back to School" Sales in both my shops this week.  It's probably the last sale till the holidays, so don't miss out.  I've got lots of new items in both shops:

Block Party Press 20% Off Sale  - Use Code "B2S2012" at checkout

Here are some fun "Back to School" Necklaces:

BOGO SALE at Block Party Prints - Buy one print and get a 2nd of equal or lesser value free(limit 3 free prints per customer) Just put the name of your free print in the "note to seller" at checkout. Here are some new prints:

 

Inspiration Revealed - Cherry Blossoms

"Inspiration revealed" is a new feature on the blog. I will utilize a collage and/or photos to show the inspiration and the end product. If you have a photo of something that inspired you and the piece of art you created from that inspiration, please send me some photos and I will post them in this feature. It's great way to share and get some free promo as well. If you have an online store, I will be happy to link to it!

Here's my first Inspiration revealed:

All those cherry blossom pictures I took this Spring were not for nothing. Their inspiration led to this lovely little addition to my "Out on a Limb" Series . The necklace and the inspiration below!

Artist feature with Carol Dean of SandFibers.etsy.com

I thought it was about time to do an artist feature. I haven't done one in a while, and I am sure you are all getting a bit tired of just my perspective on inspiration. I chose Carol Dean from Sandfibers.etsy.com because I am totally in awe of her artistry as well as her patience. I cannot imagine sitting down with those teeny tiny beads and making anything. I am a clutz, so after a while I am sure I would spill the beads and after about 10 min my lack of artistic patience would kick in, along with my lack of love for numbers, geometry and precision. I am sure I would give up before I finished anything. Thankfully there is someone out there who has the passion, patience, artistry and skill to create some amazing beaded jewelry.

Here's what Carol had to say about the inspiration for this beautiful bracelet:





















What inspired this piece? This particular piece was inspired by a front page on etsy that was created by heather91. I've actually included a photo of that page in my etsy listing. It wasn't the first time I've seen this color combination or the first time I thought I should do something with that color combination, but it was the time that finally pushed me into doing more than just thinking.

Can you detail how you translated your inspiration into your work of art? The inspiration came from the color combination of orange/purple (tangerine/grape), so that was rather easily translated into bead selection. I wanted each color featured equally in the design, which is why I chose the simple positive/negative image pattern using the two colors. Since I only used one shade of each color, the piece is really simple. There's nothing subtle about it. I'd like to do something more complex with an expanded palette, something softer, less geometric. (Like I need a reason to buy more beads!)

Where do you tend to find inspiration for your art pieces? My inspiration comes from striking color combinations, fabric patterns, symbols (especially spirals), simple geometry. When I'm not up to designing an actual pattern, I'll take my beads out and create "mixes" that appeal to me. Then the random "order" in which I pick up beads becomes the pattern-maker.

Any advice for someone feeling uninspired? Relax. Open your eyes to the world around you. Doodle. Work in a different medium.

You can see more of Carol Dean's fantastic work on her blog at http://sandfibers.blogspot.com . Her flickr is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandfibers/ and of course her Etsy shops at http://Sandfibers.etsy.com.

Her work was also featured in the Jan/Feb AND Mar/Apr 2008 issues of Step by Step Beads!

Inspired by a Splash of Red

Last week, we had our first snow storm of the winter season. The next day while playing in the snow we saw a beautiful red cardinal admidst all the white. What a lovely, inspiring site. So inspiring that I decided to create a treasury of Etsy items featuring the male cardinal.


One thing I think the cardinal can teach us is to not be afraid to stand out, or to be afraid to create things that stand out. While most animals try to hide and blend in with their environment, the bright red cardinal is bold and is more concerned with attracting a mate than hiding from predators. So take some time this week to take a cue from the male cardinal. Create something bold, be courageous and step out of your comfort zone (strut your stuff!), create something inspired by love (or lust) and of course create something with a splash of red! Here are some words inspired by the cardinal which will hopefully help to inspire you :


Here are a few more inspiring items that I feel embrace the spirit of the cardinal, that offer a splash of red, or convey one of the inspiring words.





































Click on each photo to be taken directly to the Etsy listing and to see more of each artists work!

1. Lust by Mikiye.etsy.com
2. Striking Holiday Cards by Blakeswork.etsy.com
3. Sweet Stripe Earrings by Clevergirl.etsy.com
4. Pop Art Heart Necklace by zencreations04.etsy.com

Here's my little homage to the cardinal. It is a birdhouse I painted for my father in memory of the cardinals who lived in our yard when I was a kid. the female is on the other side of the entrance.

You Were Inspired By What? - An Ogre & An Onion?

A couple of months ago one of the Etsy forum challenges was to create something inspired by a fairy tale. Being forced to watch Shrek almost nightly, I started sketching things inspired by the movie. My favorite part of the movie is when Shrek says that Ogres are like onions because they have a lot of layers, so I started drawing some onion shaped things and then began adding swirls and leaves and ended up with this pendant, which I entered into the challenge and that was basically the end of it.

Recently, I was going through my sketchbook when I came across one of the sketches and it made me think of a crest that would be perfect for Princess Fiona. So I headed off to create the block and ended up with this necklace, which I call "Ogres Are Like Onions".


You may not be inspired by onions and big green ogres, but I was. Think about a favorite movie character or fairytale character this week and make something inspired by them, or something that they might wear or keep in their house. Putting yourself in a movie character's "shoes" can help open your eyes to possibilities that you may not have seen on your own. Their character traits, where they live, their family and their likes and dislikes can all become your inspiration. Here are some more works of art inspired by onions and ogres (click the photo to be taken to the artist's Etsy shop):























I even found something that would be perfect for Shrek and Fiona's triplets:

Inspiration from a Story - Featured Artist Beadkeepers.etsy.com

I featured a piece by Karen McGovern of Beadkeeper.etsy.com earlier in this week's "Be Inspired" feature and after reading some of her descriptions, I asked her to do a feature. She has an interesting series of "Story Book" Necklaces, like the one pictured below that evolve from a story that she writes about her inspiration. I think this is an amazing way to bring your inspiration to a final piece. A story is a great way to bring further meaning to your piece and it's inspiration. Here is what Karen had to say about the inspiration for her Vela Liya Polymer/Mixed Media Necklace:











"The inspiration for the piece came from a lovely moth wing I had. I have a line of necklaces that I call "Story Book" necklaces. I write short stories and build the necklace around that. Vela Liya began with a myth/story I wrote about a special flowering vine that is pollinated by owl moths in the dead of night. The vine is known as the "Climbing Woman" vine--part mythology and part imagination. I incorporated the moth wing in the necklace using an optic glass/sterling silver locket. The rest of the necklace represents different aspects of the story--including handmade polymer pendants and beads. Most of the designs have a spiritual inspiration based on my love of nature. I believe art and nature are one and the same--all my designs reflect my deep respect for wildlife and our natural world. I donate most of my proceeds to the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, www.rarespecies.org. My goal is to draw attention to the link between art and nature, and to raise funds for wildlife conservaion.

My advice for anyone feeling uninspired is to simply step outside. Find a quiet place in nature. Visit a local park, beach, garden, or museum. The play of light reflected on water, the colors of a garden of wildflowers, the textures in driftwood--these are the things that bring inspiration to me, and also clear my mind of all the day to day distractions that can stifle creativity."

To see more of Karen's inspirational work, check out her etsy shop, her direct website, www.beadkeepers.com, and her page on IndiePublic, www.indiepublic.com/profile/rarespec. And please check out the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, www.rarespecies.org, for more information about wildlife conservation and how you can get involved.


















With the addition of a story, Karen's jewelry becomes more than just adornment. It takes on incredible meaning and can really connect the buyer/recipient with the artist, their inspiration and their creative process. Karen includes the story along with each "Story Book" necklace which makes them perfect for gift giving, plus proceeds go towards animal conservation! Take a little time to create a story of your own and you may be surprised by how it inspires your art. You don't have to be a great writer or scholar to create a story. You don't even have to write it down, but being creative in your story creation will help you to be creative in your work. A story can help you further explore your original inspiration, as it did for Karen, and help you bring more "layers" and meaning to your finished art piece. She could have stopped with the moth wing component, but to properly tell the story through her art, Karen added the other elements as well to create a final piece that is as beautiful to the mind as it is to the eye!

Inspired by Moths

I didn't choose this week's inspiration as much as it chose me this time. It seems for some reason moths keep popping up all around me. I sold one of my Moth to a Flame Pendants last week, and as I was packing it up decided that it would look great in a palette of browns and creams, so of course I had to make one right away. I love how it turned out. I think it celebrates the more subtle coloring of moths. Unlike butterflies, moth's don't always shout their existence to the world. They are more content to blend in with their surroundings. I think that may be one of the reasons they fascinate me.

Well after making the pendant, I jumped on Etsy and went to the treasury to see what was poppin and low and behold the little magic box was there. I was so unprepared, but the moth was fresh in my mind so I went with it. I started thinking about moth's and their deadly attraction to light and so Fatal Attraction was the perfect title. I had at first intended to include lamps/lightbulbs and moths, but after I found my first Entry, JohnWGolden.etsy.com's print, The Enamored Moths, I knew I wanted just one light bulb with the moth items surrounding it. here is the list for a little inspiration:


After making the treasury list, the boys and I went to the park for a little outdoor fun, and we found this amazing hummingbird moth sipping nectar from a thistle and I was able to snap a pic.

So since the universe was telling me to take a closer look at moths, I thought I would do the same for you. Tonight after dark, turn on one of your outside lights and see what it attracts (beware of the lurking mosquitoes). Take a look at the subtle colors, shading, patterns and camouflage of the moth. Make note of their fuzzy bodies, ever moving antennae and the shape of their wings when open and closed. Check out this "How to Start Mothing" PDF from mothscount.org for information about attracting moth's to your yard, or here to learn which flowers attract moths. If you can't find any moth's of your own, check out a Moth reference book or field guide from your library or purchase one from your local book store and explore Here's one to share with your kids, A Luna Moth's Life by John Himmelman. You can even incorporate moths and their wings as art. Like these works by some Etsy artists (click the photo to see more work by the artist):













Remember, if you are inspired to create something from one of the Be Inspired features, please send a picture and description to my e-mail, blockpartypress@yahoo.com and I may feature you on my blog. The piece must be inspired by the Be Inspired post and cannot be an item created prior to the posting. If your Be Inspired piece is featured, I will send you a free pendant from my Etsy shop (I will choose the pendant and it will be a surprise).

I will leave you with this inspirational photo I found on Flickr by theinfonaut .

You Were Inspired by What?

OK, I have to admit that I have been inspired by some strange things. Probably the strangest was when I actually found inspiration in spilled milk. I was cleaning my counter when I noticed a drip of milk that was shaped like a woman. Now don't write me off as a looney, I'm not claiming to have seen Elvis or the Virgin Mary in my food (not that there is anything wrong with that!), but she was there. I have photographic proof . Yes it is very blurry (isn't that always how it is when you are trying to prove something with a photo), but it is there, I swear!













Well, I took that image and drew it out on a block and commenced to carving. The milk drops had a perfect circle as the head and the perfect curves at breast and hip. The 2nd photo is the finished pendant entitled "Modern Goddess" and it is for sale in my Etsy shop. So the lesson today is don't cry over spilt milk , be inspired by it! (You knew I was going to say that!) Keeping an open mind and akeen eye out, you will find inspiration in places you never thought you would. This may be another regular feature (monthly or when I am lacking writing inspiration). I am going to poll some artists and see what the most bizarre thing is that has inspired one of their works of art. If you are an artist who has had some some strange or bizarre inspiration that turned into an amazing piece of art, contact me at blockpartypress@yahoo.com and you may get a feature!

Take a Closer Look for Inspiration

Taking a closer look at things is a great way to gain inspiration. I mentioned this in this week's "Be Inspired" piece. Things can look very different up close. Textures can be more vivid, shapes can be more pronounced and colors can be completely different from how they appeared from further away. A leaf or a flower may look like a solid color from far away, but upon closer inspection, you may find that there are a number of colors or shades that didn't know were there. This is exactly what inspired Stephanie of Stephaniegibson.etsy to create this gorgeous bracelet:


Here's what she had to say about the piece and it's inspiration:

"I take a lot of inspiration from the colors and color combinations found in nature. We have some beautiful day lilies in our garden, ranging in shades from the palest, almost white, yellow, to deep, almost black, purple. Those colors inspired the choice of stones for this bracelet. I love to mix different hues and tones of the same color. I think this adds to the depth and interest of a piece of jewelry. Just as, from a distance, a flower petal looks pink, but upon closer inspection, you may find varying shades of whites, pinks and reds all together. So naturally, my advice for those feeling uninspired would be to take a walk and look closely at the world around you."

To see more of Stephanie's beautiful, stylish jewelry check out her etsy shop or visit one of her blogs:
http://stephaniegibsonjewelry.blogspot.com (personal blog)
http://mirafinds.blogspot.com (etsy artist feature blog)











Take some time today to look at things a little more closely and think about how you can use what you find in your art. It is always a great idea to keep a sketchbook handy to sketch out what you see or write down ideas about how what you see can be translated into art. Make close note of how the colors interact up close and how they blend further away to create a whole different color. Another idea is to play with your macro setting of your camera and get out there and take some close-ups of different things to have as a reference later on when you are ready to create. So stop stalling, put on your glasses and/or get your magnifying glasses out and take a closer look!