Thursday, April 16, 2015

Where Joy Resides

 As Spring is moving in quickly and the temps are warming I am spending less time inside. Finally, walking days are here again! That brings me joy, along with too many other things to list. What brings YOU joy?? Another thing that brings me joy is art, which is why I decided to blog a few years ago. To share my art-my love of cards, and mixed media. To connect with other artists. So, on with the art...

 Earlier this week my friend LuAnn and I got together for a day of chit chat, a stop at Hobby Lobby, and a few hours of arting together! We made lots of background papers using new stamps and techniques we got from a recent stamping/scrapbook/ paper arts convention we went to. I'll have more pics to share next post. But here are cards I made using two of the stamped papers I made:



 I used this week's sketch design at Freshly Made sketches:

 
 
 Products used on my cards: ivory, blue, light green card stock; greetings (Papertrey Ink-Mega Mixed Messages); background stamps (Cover a Card series by Impression Obsession- Lotus, Wavy Lines, Scattered Dots, Flower Burst, Small Quatrefoil); Colorbox Fluid Chalk Inks ( Aquamarine, Lime Pastel, Sea Crystal, Tangerine, Rouge - Clearsnap); Class a Peels stickers (Stampendous); paper flowers (Studio G); sewing machine and thread.
 Linking to Freshly Made Sketches,  and the Simon Wednesday Blog Challenge for the theme this week of " make your own background".
 
 Another love of mine is Ireland. I've never been there. There are no family connections that I am aware of. Yet, the people and music and land are etched in my soul for some reason. I recently attended yet another Celtic Thunder concert-one of THE BEST ever and just had to create a journal page.
 
 It began like this:
 

The finished page:

                                                    
                                  Ireland...  I kept dreaming it, and one day I really was there...

 A detail pic showing some of the texture:


 This was painted using techniques by Serena Barton from her book Wabi-Sabi Art Workshop-which I have mentioned many times. It truly was an eye opening look into a special place for my art that I hadn't known existed. So, my sincerest gratitude to Serena! Materials used-magazine cut outs, reinker glazes, acrylic paints, molding paste.

 Linking to Art Journal Every Day, Express Your Creativity, and Paint Party Friday.

 Another question to ponder-have you ever felt a connection to a place not knowing why? Have you done any art to reflect it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

 Of course, I couldn't end this post without this beautiful song of Ireland done by...Celtic Thunder!


  "Find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss the joy is to miss it all."      Robert Louis Stevenson  

 
 
 






34 comments:

  1. Such beautiful cards and an unique amazing landscape Linda! Lovely song!
    Happy weekend Sweetie!
    xxx
    Susi

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  2. Gorgeous background stamping! Love your choice of colors! Thanks so much for playing Simon Says Stamp Wednesday “Make Your Own Background” Challenge!

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  3. Stunning cards you made Linda. And a beautiful painting of Ireland. Thanks for sharing the video, I love it...such handsome young men too.

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  4. Great work, love the texture, and thanks for the music! Hugs, Valerie

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  5. Linda your work is beautiful as always. I feel a great connection to Charleston, South Carolina. I was born in New Jersey and lived there until I was an adult. I don't why but I always feel that there is a great connection to Charleston every time I visit. I love everything about the city.

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  6. Love the art this week! That journal page is really beautiful with all of it's textures. The cards are nice too. I love making cards also. Thanks for sharing the music too.

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  7. Love your cards. I'd love to see what you bought at the paper arts convention. And you really must go to Ireland. I have no connections either but it is so green and very beautiful. Isn't this spring weather (finally) fabulous? I've been walk too and it puts a big big smile on my face.

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  8. Very nice work, lots of great color. Sounds like it was a very fun day.:)

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  9. Cool textures in this evocative painting of Ireland!

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  10. I love the close-up of the texture. And wow for those voices and a beautiful song! Thanks for sharing.

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  11. "arting together" nice verb, enjoyed the cards particularly and the video; the men look quite handsome in their irish kilts

    thanks for dropping in to view mine

    much love...

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    1. You did pritty cards together. Oh, Ireland, it´s a land to dream of, beautiful and the music is so beautiful too,

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  12. Great cards, Linda. I think if you keep painting and thinking of Ireland, it will come to be. Beautiful textures.

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  13. I can only imagine how much fun LuAnn and you must have had together. And love seeing your Irish piece bringing back memories from the 2 years I lived there back in the early eighties!

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  14. Your background pages are lovely, clever stamping and use of colour, and I always admire the way you interpret the sketch design.
    Very nice artwork on the Irish pages too.

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  15. Oh beautiful Ireland, I must get myself there at some point, I love these celtic lands! Lovely cards Linda and that Irish piece is beautiful with such texture!

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  16. I hope you get to Ireland one day :)

    I love the colour and textures of your 'Irish' inspired art today Linda and your pretty cards.

    So many little things bring me daily joy.... birds..... flowers..... blossom.... flowers... clouds.... favourite smells..... walking.....the smell of laundry hung out in the garden..... gosh.... I could go on and on!

    Karen x

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  17. Dear Linda I absolutely love your Irish page. It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your lovely creativity!

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  18. lovely card and paintings .really liked listening to Celtic thunder too

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  19. So glad you and LuAnn had a good day together, Linda! Your cards are so pretty and the journal page is exquisitely beautiful.

    Joy is all around us each day; I try to concentrate on those joyful things instead of negative thoughts, etc. Love the RLS quote today!!

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  20. What fun to have an arty pal to work with! I have been to Ireland many times (my husband is irish) and it is very GREEN! It drizzles lightly all the time but it is refreshing. Love your irish textured painting. You must get over and see the Emerald Isle sometime. Happy PPF

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  21. Love both cards with their pretty floral designs! Thanks for sharing them at FMS!

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  22. Lovely art work! Thanks for coming by my blog!

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  23. What a great post...so glad you started blogging. So many things bring me joy but a giggle with my kids and spring flowers are tops for sure. I have found a connection with colour that I have never quite understood... is it a gypsy thing? Yet I have no gypsy traveling spirit, I'm more of a homebody. I do feel connected to celtic music too though but part of my lineage includes those countries. I do have this amazing feeling when I go into a stain glass place...I have such a strong connection to it and don't know why!! I think you should plan to follow your dream. A great first step with such lovely paintings!!

    Hugs Giggles

    Hugs Giggles

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  24. I really thought you had some Irish blood, because you also celebrate St Patricks'day. Funny that! I have always been fascinated by Australia, and when I was there the first time (a loooong tme ago) it felt like coming home. And I have no family relations there either. Strange isn't it!? I love Irish music too, thanks for sharing the video. Your painting is beautiful, and I love that second card. Could you tell me which stamps you used for that please?

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  25. Maybe you have some Irish blood in you, way back when? I am half Irish (on my birth father's side) although I have never been there - but I love Irish music!

    The texture on your artwork is amazing, I must track down this wabi-sabi book, it's clearly been inspirational for you.

    Sounds like you had a fun and creative day with your friend, how lovely.

    xx

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  26. Oh wonderfully creative cards ~ love them and the texture you created in Ireland and great music!

    Happy Weekend,
    artmusedog and carol

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  27. Very pretty cards! Great patterned paper! love the soft tones. I would love to go to Ireland some time! It strikes me as such a beautiful place to visit! Thanks for joining us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

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  28. Beautiful cards! How nice that must be to have some cards on hand when you want to send one in the mail. :-)

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  29. love seeing the close up of the textures on that page... and it is walking weather here as well... except that it is because it is finally cool enough... way too hot in summer... but simply glorious at this time of year...xx

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  30. These are lovely, especially the Ireland-inspired art!

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  31. You've been hardworking again with beautiful results!
    Have a good week!

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  32. Fabulous

    Thank you for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week.

    Jo x

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  33. Hi Linda! I cam across your blog through google+ and I adore your work. They are very cutesy and brilliant. Thanks for sharing the info :)

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!