I was asked by Kelly Angelovic and Janna Krupinski to join the World Wide Artist Blog Hop. I'm flattered they both chose me as one of the artists who inspire them :-) In this Blog Hop Post I will share some of Kelly's and Janna's gorgeous works, answer some questions about my own creative process, and I will introduce you to some artists friends who inspire me: Claudi Kessels and Sophie Dufresne. Kelly Angelovic Kelly Angelovic is a Colorado based illustrator which I know from Lilla Rogers Bootcamp. Her work is quirky, playful and I love her combinations of shapes, linework and nice color palettes. 'Let's Play' is a Journal Cover Design for last years Global Talent Search, where she ended up as one of the 50 semi-finalists. Below a Wall Art piece she created inspired by her favorite beverage. It's one of a series of three and you can purchase them here Kelly has written a Blog Hop Post last week, where she also features my work. You can find her on Facebook and on Pinterest Tabula Rosi is the Alter Ego of Janna Krupinski, She lives in Germany, where she creates beautiful, colorful and happy Art. I also met Janna online during Bootcamp (such an inspiring community:-)) I love all those nice little details and engaging textures in her work. Her handlettering is beautiful too. Look at this funny character she created with the little bird on his toes :-) With 'a jar full of joy' she won the Hallmark competition. So well deserved! You can find Tabula Rosi also on Facebook, on Pinterest and on Spoonflower Janna will write her Blog Hop Post next week. You can find it on her Tabula Rosi blog Some questions about my work and creative process Kelly and Janna passed me some questions: 1. What am I working on? 2. How does my work differ from other work in its genre? 3. Why do I create what I do? 4. How does my creative process work? 1. What am I working on? Since I took part in Lilla Rogers Make Art That Sells course, I made my first pattern, which I loved. During this summer I joined the 'Make It In Design Summerschool' which ended yesterday. So I made lots of patterns, I've added a whole new category to my portfolio: surface pattern design. I recently joined the Global Talent Search, which was quite a journey. I'm working on some new products for my Red Cheeks Factory shop and my Etsy shop, which I'm gonna tell more about later. I'm also busy with updating my portfolio Here are some examples of my work in progress of an Animal Alphabet, I'm working on at the moment: 2. How does my work differ from other work in its genre? Not an easy question. I hear often: "your work is so you". But what is that 'so you'? I love to create characters. Draw often people, faces and animals. If I can I also give faces to inanimated objects. They almost all have red cheeks, People often smile and become happy when they see my work, they say it's whymsical, quirky and characteristic. I use a lot of handpainted textures. Maybe a combination of all these things make my 'Red Cheeks Factory' style... 3. Why do I create what I do? Because I looooooove it! It gives me red cheeks. I love the creative process. To invent new things and to surprse myself. I like to tell little stories with my work. 4. How does my creative process work? It depends on what the assignment is and how much time I have. But mostly I get inspired by seeing lots of images. I gather material (Google and Pinterest are great sources), Make sketches on paper or directly on my drawing tablet. When the idea is clear I choose a color palette I work on it in Photoshop till I'm satisfied. inspiration Enough about me, now I like to introduce to you the work of two artists, who inspire me: Claudi Kessels An illustrator based in Amsterdam is Claudi Kessels I met her online this spring during the Make Art That Sells course and I immediatly fell in love with her work. It is unique, inventive, clever, beautiful and poëtic. Not only her work speaks to me, I met Claudi in Amsterdam and she is also a very kind person in real life, with her long curly hair and beautiful positive, supportive attitude. Below her interpretation of the vintage kitchen / tropical fruit bolt fabric assignment. It was immediately one of my favorites: She also made a lot of nautical drawings. Here's one of them, so inventive! Claudi also uses real materials as shells and feathers in her work, see more here Below: an editorial piece about meditation. So poëtical! I love those little details as the birds on the girls swimsuit which go over into the birds in the sky. Very nice and inspiring how she creates her own imaginative world, as it were a dream. 'Sea you' is a little drawing Claudi sends with her e-mails. I love it! Yes Claudi, I will certainly 'Sea you' :-) You can find Claudi also on Facebook and on Pinterest Sophie Dufresne The second artist I want to introduce to you is: Sophie Dufresne. She is originally from Montreal, but now based in Los Angeles. I also met Sophie this spring. We were in the same class with Claudi. I love to see Sophies work. It's nice, appealing, clean, bright and clear, I love her shapes and subtile use of textures. During the MATS class, I was always looking forward to Sophies blogposts, where she described her creative process in a very detailed way. An inspiration to follow. Below: In the land of no coffee, a nice illustration for Bootcamp about beverages, read more here I also love her animal fables. She makes up a little poem and illustrate it. Such a nice idea! Very poëtical too: Below another playful animal illustration: Her nautical band, which she made for Bootcamp, you can almost hear them play... You can purchase this one on several products here You can find Sophie also on Facebook and on Pinterest This was my longest blogpost ever. I hope you've enjoyed reading it. It was fun to write it. I'm happy with all these inspirations and like to share it with you. Next week you can read a Blog Hop Post on the blogs of Sophie, Janna and Claudi. I'm already looking forward to it! Happy weekend!
A blog that celebrates the world of pattern design. Covering greetings cards, gift wrap, fabrics, kids design, wallpaper, stationery and more.
Welcome to Wednesday! You've made it this far already, and that's no small feat. Consider it this way: you are currently being more effective as one person than the 4.8 million (according to the Business Insider) people who make up the U.S. national government! Sorry, couldn't resist. And in all honesty, most of them are completely innocent in this unfortunate event. However, it does make us feel a little more productive on the individual level. I've had a real blessing of a week so far. I'm finding that God's presence really is enough to bring me joy when I'm dragged down by stress and chaos. I'm still praying that I will experience more of his love in an emotional way, because I haven't really had that yet in my journey for more of God. I'm not sure why, but I do know that there's a great reason for it. This past Sunday, I went forward at church to be prayed for in regard to having more of God in my life. I am amazed at the power of prayer, and so grateful that the Holy Spirit nudged me. There's no huge moment, no giant miracle, that has since occurred. Yet, I feel a greater sense of peace and belonging. I think I might be beginning to truly comprehend that his constant state toward me is love, and not anger. I am enjoying pleasing him and talking to him, and I am finding that my mind is more frequently on his presence. Like I mentioned though, I haven't experienced a lot of the emotional side. Perhaps that is so I will draw closer and really listen. Sometimes, I figure it should just be easy: God should give powerful dreams every night of his glory and I should see visual displays while I'm walking to class. Heck, it would be nice if I saw an angel or two sitting in the treetops while I'm biking to workout in the mornings. Ya, it doesn't always work that way. While I'm not saying we shouldn't seek that revolutionary power of God, I am saying that when we, as believers, look only to the marvelous wonders that force us to look at God, we miss the subtle miracles that bless us as we draw near to God in order to notice them. That is a lesson I am still learning. However, I am praying for all these things, because his word says to ask for more of him and he will give it. Book review HERE It's true: he really will give you more. He will do so in such a way that you're tongue tied and not quite sure how to explain it-- like I am. All I know is that I am desperate for more of God, hungry to be fed by only him. It's a place that delivers boldness and peace, and reckless love. That is where I want to be. Always. I am thankful that God keeps drawing closer to his children as we seek him. Yet, I'm also grateful that we will never get to the point where we say, "Ok, I've already seen this. *Yawn*" The nearer we walk with God, the more we see there is to him and the more we want that. I pray that today, you will walk with him. Take the least stressful hour in your day and see how often you can meditate on God (Click HERE to see how I started doing this). It is talked about in Practicing the Presence (RELATED: God's Joy!), and it's something I've been finding great joy in (RELATED: "Practicing His Presence" book review). The past two days, I've noticed it spills into other times in my day and that's exactly how faith should be: uncontainable and ever growing. That is God's desire for each and every one of our lives. Click HERE to read my review on "Practicing His Presence." Do you struggle with resting in God's grace and love for you? Me too! That's why I wrote THIS post a few weeks ago on God's perfect peace. Check it out!
Starting the morning well sets the tone for the rest of the day. Here is a Morning Joy Challenge for your daily routine: Breathe, Be Thankful, & Plan Hope.
Welcome to One Word 2021-Joy!This is where you will find all of my posts describing my journey with JOY. Join me as I discover true joy!
CARD This is a stunning holiday card design created with the Stampin' Up Peace & Joy bundle. The Peace & Joy Bundle includes the Peace & Joy Stamp Set and the Joy Dies. Send your warmest Christmas wishes with handmade cards you make using the Peace & Joy Stamp Set. The coordinating Joy dies include the words "Joy," "Peace," and "Bright." Use them on handmade cards, scrapbook pages, and other projects. They're perfect for Christmastime but you'll find uses for them all year long. This card was designed by Veronica. Check out the gallery below for more beautiful holiday card ideas created with this awesome bundle.
So, I bet you came over here expecting to see a long list of buttons and thank you notes, but... NOPE! I am D-O-N-E ... Done with that assignment. (That doesn't make me less grateful, it just makes me glad that I completed SOMETHING!) Today I am linking up with my sweet friend, Kristen, of Ladybug's Teaching Files, who has a Linky Party going on that invites you to share an anchor chart or two (or several!) If you haven't been by to visit Kristin lately, you have GOT to see how she has revolutionized the teaching of CAFE and Daily 5. That girl is a GENIUS! And she is generous with her sharing too. I could look at those cute little circle cut-outs all day long! At the moment, the anchor charts in my room focus mostly on reviewing for The Test. I will post some of those later this week. Today I am sharing two strategy charts that we have just revisited. My students often distance themselves from their reading. They seem to be more intent on turning pages and proclaiming (to my dismay) "DONE!" I feel like I am constantly asking them to engage with the text (and the characters when we are reading a narrative) and to think more deeply about what they are reading. I urged them to go back to their September strategies: Ask Questions, Visualize, Determine Importance, Make Connections, etc. We had just read a story and were were making connections to the text. Soon the whole discussion seemed to devolve into who had done the same thing as the author. They struggled, however, to make their connections support meaning-making in their reading. We had been talking about a text which included the character's affection for her dog. One person had shared a connection--and then that connection inspired more "connections," and we moved further and further away from the text. Five minutes into the "discussion" and it was hard to remember what the TEXT was about. They weren't making connections that helped them make sense of the text! The last three graphics are from DJ Inkers clipart So we made two charts. First, we talked about the different kinds of connections we can make when we are reading. This sparked the need to add Text-to-Media connections because that comes up a lot when sixth graders participate in a discussion. Then we discussed how the BEST connections bring you back to the text and help you make meaning. I simplified the concept so that all of my kids can understand the idea--even those with limited English skills. I recopied the charts at home (because my on-the-spot printing is atrocious). You can't tell because of the poor lighting in our room, but the connections chart has little plastic "connecting" chain links--and the link back to the text has a glittered pathway. I never added sparkle to an anchor chart before. I think I might like it! This morning things went a little better. As our discussion was about to get sidetracked (again), one student suggested we were "getting off topic." Another added that we were "moving away from the text." Suddenly sunshine flooded the room and I could hear angels singing... Okay, that didn't really happen. But I did point to the chart and ask them, "How does your connection help you understand the text?" It's hard to get 'tweenagers to invest in their reading. Maybe this strategy review will help draw them back into the text.
Empowering women with insights and encouragement for living a more joyful and positive life. Join Positively Jane on this inspiring journey.
Meet photographers Michelle Norris and Forrest Aguar of Tropico Photo, a husband-wife team known for bringing a vibrant aesthetic to their life and work.
A picture is worth a 1,000 words - this picture represents Joy! Read about human emotions and how this picture came to be.
Empowering women with insights and encouragement for living a more joyful and positive life. Join Positively Jane on this inspiring journey.
Discover my favorite joy quotes to contemplate from why to choose joy to finding joy in simple things that are meaningful for our lives
Discover how to find joy in life again, even during difficult times. These are the 15 strategies I've used to bring joy into my daily life.
If you pre-order the book or Bible study before January 6th, you’re in for a treat. The publisher has put together some incredible gifts just for you:
This high resolution DIGITAL DOWNLOAD is available as a download only, no physical print will be shipped. The files can be downloaded as soon as your payment is processed at checkout. Purchase includes THREE sizes: 5x7 8x10 11x14 All files are high resolution, 300dpi JPGs. The 5x7 file includes crop marks to make trimming easy. All designs © 2017 Trautman Design Co.
Joy isn't just the subject of my blog, it is something I'm contending for in every part of my life. I'm checking in to see where your joy lives.
Who's the person with whom you'd most like to spend an afternoon?
Nothing is more important in life than finding out what makes you happy! In this article, I’ll share a few simple tools you can use today to find out.
You may feel ill prepared and unequipped to enter into someone’s crisis. You tell yourself you don’t know the person that well. You count up the months and years since you lost touch.
Empowering women with insights and encouragement for living a more joyful and positive life. Join Positively Jane on this inspiring journey.
In this blog post you will discover what the 100 languages of children means, where the idea started, why it is an important element of a child-centered education program and how you can use the 100 languages of children in your classroom.
10 HTML and CSS codes all bloggers should know how to use on their WordPress blog.
(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!) As a reader and follower of this blog, you might be wondering if there is a special formula for creating a not so busy life. Perhaps you’re hoping there … Continue reading "Not So Busy Is Not Really About The Not"
This list of the best blogging resources for Christian bloggers includes everything we use to create and manage Kingdom Bloggers.
In a dirty, stinky mess, they gave birth to joy. I will tell my children about the first Christmas, in all its imperfections. Christ came to save.
Well, friends, here we are at Day 15 -- almost halfway through 31 Days: Braving the Broken. So many of you have commented or emailed with deep needs and hurt and I want you to know that I'm praying for you. I hate the circumstances that cause the pain, but I know God will meet you there abundantly. Keep putting your feet to the floor and carving out time in His Word at the expense of other distractions. God can only ever be faithful to us. xoxo When life as you know it shatters, it can be hard to imagine
This article discusses how you can experience joy, what joy is and 9 ways you can cultivate more joy in your life.
Joy can be found in some surprising places.
Welcome back to Day #3 of the Love Grows Wild Blog Anniversary Celebration! I’ve been partying it up this week with some fun crafts and giveaways, and today I thought I would share with you some of the best blogging advice I have learned over the past year! When I first started Love Grows Wild,…
Joy is an inside job. Only YOU can grow joy for yourself. Five ways to grow your inner joy so you can have more ease, lightness, and peace in your daily life.
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Can you still make money blogging? I went from $0 to $3,878 in 3 months with NO experience. Learn how to make money blogging, by reading this!
How can you find joy in your present circumstances? Joy may not be dependent upon our circumstances, but we can still try to surround ourselves with opportunities to increase our Joy.
Resolutions not working for you? Ditch that system and try this instead! 5 Steps to help you choose your Word of the Year (WOTY)
We've all suffered from it at some point or another- and social media doesn't help. This is the condition of FOMO or "Fear of missing out".
Finding JOY hasn't been easy and It's taken awhile but I am beginning to learn what a life filled with JOY is!
