a gift from a gift

"A friend accepts us as we are yet helps us to be what we should."

~ Author Unknown

Sometimes we creative types can be misunderstood souls. We don't always follow the crowd or the rules, be they social or other. We dance to our own music and learn over time to be our true selves & not compromise our spirit. It is no wonder so many of us flock to the blogging community, Yahoo groups and other networking mediums to discover & connect with like-minded souls that respect different opinions & applaud individuality. Online I've met some of the most wonderful people in my life. People I care about very much. They are gifts in my life. One such gem is Tracey, who surprised me this week with a generous gift.

This beautiful mixed media piece is proudly displayed on a stand next to my monitor. I photographed the piece first where it's displayed (second photo below). Since this is a little dark (I like the ambiance it creates), I also photographed it in natural light. Gorgeous, isn't it? I love how the whole mood of the piece changes with the different lighting. To me, the flowers mark the entrance to the woods just behind, and I want to go explore....

"Spring on Over - Anytime" #004

8" x 10" mixed media

copyright 2010, Tracey Jean Kraft

Tracey is a talented, multifaceted artist with wonderfully unique works. Please do yourself a favor & take a moment to visit her...

ArtFire - Angel Wings and Whisperings

Blog - Whisperings 13

Etsy (art) - Whisperings 13

Etsy (vintage) - The Giggling Goblin

Zazzle - Wadsworth-Noll Studio

books - 2010 to be record year

I realized the other day I've read four books this year. That's amazing for me. I love to read, but am a slow reader and not one to sit still for long (without falling asleep...lol). Thank the stars for audio books! Three of the four I've 'read' this year were audio books. What a convenient way to learn & grow.

I've decided to make 2010 a record year for reading, and have updated the right side bar of my blog with book information. If you have a book you'd like to recommend, I'd love to hear from you. I enjoy books about creativity, arts/crafts, spirituality of all kinds, time management, understanding human behaviors, the power of being positive, motivation & self awareness, inspiration & ways to make a difference.

Happy reading!

1st photos in the light box & fp/glass pendant

I set up the light box last night and experimented a bit, then changed some things around this afternoon and experimented some more. I'm sure I'll be tweaking things a bit as it gets more use, but it will definitely get more use. Thank you, Chris, for sharing your inexpensive option.

Here are a couple photos of the altered Friendly Plastic pendant. I used a Dremel to grind down a mirrored glass piece (by Diamond Tech) and a craft iron to remove enough fp from the original fp piece to accommodate the glass. The back of the pendant is embossed pewter. Everything but the top of the glass and the bail is sealed with glaze. I like the results and am anxious to create more fp pieces. Have you tried this fun medium yet?

making a light box

Tonight I'm making a light box. I've admired the way Chris at Crafts by Chris photographs her gorgeous beads, jewelry & clay works, and in her last few blog posts, she's been sharing her photography process with her readers. If you're interested in how to photograph your small art/craft, or just want to check out some cool jewelry & other miscellany, click here.

I'll be back this weekend with a photo of the altered blue fp pendant and maybe more (I have a feeling it's gonna be a great weekend!).

Cheers!

wip ~ altering blue fp pendant

I decided the blue Friendly Plastic pendant shared in my last post needed something more (in addition to a bale).... something to make it truly unique. The idea came to me this past weekend. The process began Sunday and I've done a smidgen each evening. Tonight the back went on. Once I get it all sealed I'll share the results. For now, here's a peak at the back...

And lest I forget, a warm welcome to the new "followers" that have joined since my last post. Thank you for your interest!