Deer Watch

I love getting out in Nature, back to the source. I can get re-energized, find peace, find inspiration and happiness. On Saturday I went to Elm Creek Park Reserve and found all those things. It was wonderful. On the way home from the Nature Center's Deer Watch we saw more deer (a buck even!!) he was too sneaky for me to get a shot of but it was so much fun to see these beautiful deer playing in the sunset.

What's your favorite animal to see in Nature?

I guess my favorite might have to be an eagle with deer and a loon coming in at a close second. (Yes, I'm a tired and true Minnesota girl) I get all gitty and excited like a 5 year old when I see wildlife in nature!

What animal makes you squeal out in the car "Look, Look it's a ______________!!!" I'd really like to incorporate more animals into my artwork. Do you have a favorite animal you incorporate into your art or like to photograph? I'd love to hear about it!

Love in a cookie

I have been struggling with a blog post about what’s been inspiring me this week. What to share with you? What to blog about? Yesterday was the first day I went into my “Art Room” to create. I did create a cool logo this week at work... I thought I could share. But then this morning I spotted an eagle 2 blocks away from my house on the way to work. It’s good luck. It’s inspiration. Oh, Happy Friday! But then it gets better... For my morning snack at work... I find love in a cookie. On Valentine’s Day I went out to dinner with my parent’s because my Valentine had to work. We celebrated last weekend at the Valentine’s Event at Gale Woods Farm. It was magical... Stars, laughs, s'mores, a carriage ride, wine, good food... One for the books.
But on with my story.

I really wanted to visit my grandma on V-day I made a rose bouquet for her that I wanted to give her and I wanted to express my love for her. I really, really admire this woman. She’s caring. So caring. So giving. So loving. In a way I never understood as a child. Something I’ve only grown to appreciate and understand now that I’m all “grown up.” (I don't EVER want to grow up by the way!) We visited with my grandma, shared how we were doing, it was so nice. Before we left my grandma gave me some molasses cookies she made. “They are better with coffee or tea, I think I let them cook a little too long” She told me with a smile. I hadn't tried them all week. But this morning I tried one with my Tazo awake tea... And wasn’t expecting too much. But. There it was.

LOVE.

BIG LOVE.

A tidal wave of grandma’s love washed over me.
Not only was the cookie delicous... through the cookie her love had touched me!
Happy smiles over here today! She is my inspiration.
What inspired you this week? Do you struggle to find inspiration?

Thank You Sun!

Beautiful Sun! Thank you! Thank you for shining your face today. Thank you for being so beautiful! Thank you for filling me with glowing light.

Thank you warm breeze. You smell so good. It feels like spring today although it's probably still a month and a half away. The beautiful Sun gave me hope today. Filled me with love and smiles! What is filling you up today?!

If your answer does not come right away... seek... find... fill yourself up!

Seek beauty... do what you love!

Love Day Inspiration

To be inspired we must be IN SPIRIT. When I fist heard this... it made so much sense. I read about it in one Dr.Wayne Dyer's books... Check out his website here for some inspiration. I LOVE IT. Both yesterday and today I seemed to be tapped into spirit! The chocolate sprinkle donut... what's not to be inspired by? This morning I woke up early with an urge to paint. Probably because I was up all night working on wire! It feels like this force with in me.. that can't be stopped! =) And it feels good... so I'm goin' with it! I made homemade Valentine's with some Artist Trading Cards! When I bought them awhile ago I didn't know what I was going to use them for... until this morning!

I also made some little mini canvases... and stuck magnets on the back!

Here is the wire heart I created last night... I learned how to do wire art from the beautiful artist Jen at Bird From A Wire

And wrapped it up for a sweet made from heart/hands - Valentine's gift!

What are you making for Valentines day? Cookies? Cards? Cake?

Relying on INTUITION

I had an inspiring weekend... stirring up my living room! The sun didn't show it's face all weekend and I needed to re-energize my living space. It was like making a recipe... a little of this, a little of that... simmer over lighting, add new paintings.... and FINALLY a room I love! I love when I get a recipe right... it's the best feeling.

I am a newbie home owner, and picking the colors of my house was so much fun! But decorating the rooms was a different story. Don't get me wrong... I'm an artist/Graphic Designer and have a great eye for color... but I never really put my heart into decorating each room with heart. Sort of because I thought I wasn't that great at it, and sort of because I didn't think I had the time. Our one living room has no TV so we never spend any time in it. How sad is that statement? But it's true. If I'm not watching the tube I'm in my art room or the cooking in the kitchen. The only times the room is ever really used is when we have parties... which isn't too often with my husband's crazy busy schedule. Our living room with the TV has a fireplace & is super cozy so that's my main relaxation spot in the winter.

I want to spend time in the room with NO TV though... I want to change that statement I just typed above. I wanted to love both of our living rooms! It was so boring, no pop, sort of dark, and uninviting.

So I decided to rely on my INTUITION when it came to re-doing this room. Instead of the things that sounded like they would work.... like look for ideas in magazines, or going out to buy new.
I just used what I already had, and re-arranged things in a way that felt good to me.
I ended up...
• Rearranged paintings from other rooms - A painting swap!
• Hung up some new prints that are new/old (just hadn't time to hang them up yet!)
• Re-arranged furniture/ lamps
• Added my book shelf from my other living room
• Added my photo collage suitcase on to my nightstand from my bedroom (the suitcase collage was sitting on the floor in the kitchen-um hello!) and yes...now I don't have a night stand
• Re-arranged items on my hutch and added some old mini paintings for color POP!
• Changed out a couple of photos in frames• Added photos to some photo coasters I got as a gift awhile ago• I think that giant ball of orange love makes a great rug too

The results... BLISS!
What do you do to re-energize your environment? I think our environments have such an impact on our mood. Surrounding ourselves with things that make us happy is so important!
GO... Re-arrange your bedroom, your office... try your intuition this time... it might just work!
My NEXT re-do project: Master bedroom

Hello Blog World!

Hello Blog World! Today is the day... I took a leap of faith! And landed somewhere out there in the internet world! (It's kind of big and scary!) Hi, I'm Natalie. I've grown up in Minnesota my entire life, the cold gets a little sickening but I love the seasons! I'm a Graphic Designer, color freak, tree hugger, life lover and all around artist! My main gig is painting but I love collage, sculpture, jewelry, drawing, scrapping, photography... just about everything! I love experimenting with new mediums.

I've found so many beautiful blogs that I follow and would like to get my feet wet and join in on the fun! I've been busy with life the past couple of years and my art had taken a back seat. Join me on my journey as I search for the artist that's deep within me, as I seek to find inspiration in the world around me, and chase dreams! I've done so many creative projects this year... it's really exciting. I joined the Goddess Circle http://www.goddessguidebook.com/goddess-circle/ and the beautiful Leonie has inspired me with her e-courses to dream big! I am taking the Creative Goddess e-course and I LOVE IT! I'm am trying to exercise my creativity at least a couple of times a week and it just feels so good to finally be back at it!

Here is a sketch I did today of my nearest and dearest love! Buddy Bear! My husband and I adopted this giant ball of orange love about a year ago on V-day! For the first time ever I got him a bone from the meat market.... he was in heaven.... now he's pooped out!