Art Inspired

 What is inspiration? Artists use inspiration. Where do artists glean their inspiration from? Is it pinterest, twitter, google, flickr, books, friends, other artists, movies, music?
 I see bloggers, photographers, musicians, writers and other art makers that I admire. I wonder what gives them a thrill, what makes their creativity flow. What makes them smile with delight. Where do they find their niche of inspiration?

Some talk and talk about staying inspired. "Be yourself! Be yourself!", They say. But they all look the same. Photos. Artwork. The pattern of their art looks a lot alike, but yet they keep saying that all you have to do is find your creativity, your beauty, your passion.

I want to believe them and just go out there and make my voice heard. "Look at me! Look what I can make!" But there is a problem, a big problem.

We can't do anything by ourselves. We can't take a breath without our Creator. We can't make a tree. We can draw a tree and take a picture of a tree. But if we look around at what makes us create and want to create and what makes us become inspired, it's what God has made. The nature around us, the animals, even people. We draw, capture, sculpt, re-create God's creation.

 You might say we're copy cats. Truly, artists love to capture life. We find joy in creating life, because God finds joy in creating life.We find joy in being an artist because God is an artist. We delight in art because God is our inspiration. I hope that my inspiration is always God driven and that my art is God designed and patterned after God's creation. May we as Christian be inspired by our Creator.

Introducing...

I now have a photography blog! I am really excited! I will mainly be posting photo sessions on this blog. Don't worry, I'll still be posting here. If you want to check it out just click the blog button on my side bar, or click here.

One Tiered Skirt Tutorial

You're going to need fabric, elastic, and thread. The seam allowances are 1/2 an inch. The skirt pictured in this post is for my little sister.

Measuring
For this skirt, there are two pieces: the top piece called the yoke and the bottom piece called the tier. To begin you are going to need to measure the waist of the person this skirt is for. Once I had the waist measurement I added 18 inches to it. In my case the yoke piece was 35 inches wide. I then added 20 inches to the yoke piece's width to make the tier width. The tier for the skirt was 55 inches wide. Make the tier at least 20 inches longer than the yoke.The longer the length, the fuller the skirt is going to be.

The length
For this skirt the yoke is one third the length of the tier. You can vary the two lengths depending upon the look you're going for. You could make the yoke longer and make the tier more like a ruffle. You could make them both the same length. Whatever you prefer. Just be sure both lengths together equal the total length you want, plus seam allowance.
 

1. Start by taking your yoke piece and sew both ends together, right sides together.
(No picture for this step) Do this with the tier as well.

 2. Take your yoke and iron over the top about 2/8 of an inch. Fold over again and iron about 1/2 an inch, depending upon the width of your elastic.
After ironing, pin and stitch all around the fold, leaving a small part unsewn, to form a casing. Now you are going to pull your elastic all the way through this casing. Start at the part you left unsewn and go all the way around. This can be made easier by attaching a safety pin to the end of your elastic. (Check out my scrunchy tutorial to see how to put the elastic in.) Now sew the elastic ends together and sew up the opening in the casing.

3. Now you can hem the tier. To do this, iron down how much you want hemmed, pin, and sew. (I hemmed mine down half an inch.)

4.The next step is to gather the tier. To do this, begin by stitching around the whole edge with a seam allowance of 3/8 of an inch, but do not back stitch at the beginning or the end. Leave a long thread on both ends of the row. Now you are going to pull on these threads. (Pull on the threads that make the fabric gather.)

5. You are going to have to gather just enough to make it the same circumference as the yoke. When you think you have it pretty close, begin pinning the yoke to the tier, right sides together. Keep moving gathers around and, with a little time, it should fit nicely. When you have it evenly pinned, stitch all the way around with the regular 1/2 inch seam allowance.

6. You now have made a skirt! You can cut all stray threads and then you're done. For another variant of this design, I made a skirt for myself awhile back with a 25 inch elastic, 55 inch yoke and 70 inches in the tier. (Click here to see) So, the difficult part is figuring the measurements. It all depends on the fullness you're going for and the style. (You can click here if you would like to see more photos of this finished skirt.)

If you have any questions, just ask!
Have you been doing any sewing projects?

Twirly, Swirly Skirt

I got the cutest floral fabric from my dear friend Shannon in Germany. Shannon sent it by mail and I fell in love with it. I made it into a skirt with a coordinate polka dot fabric. I really like how it turned out.

Tutorial on how to make this skirt, will be up on the blog soon. Stay tuned! 

A chest full of hopes

My sisters and I each got a hope chest for christmas. We were very excited. The dilemma was, they were unfinished unassembled hope chests. So until this summer they've been sitting in there boxes in the yard shed just waiting to be finished. We each got our finishing supplies, (our choice of color) our sand paper, our creativity, and went to work. They are now all sitting in our room just waiting to be filled with hopes. I used a stain called "weathered gray". I was going for a vintage-y look. It was a lot of fun to put together. (I got some first time experience putting a piece of furniture together, too.) I love that it's personalized and I'll be able to use in my own home some day.

Do you have a hope chest?

Aunt Jaime: A Photo Shoot

I had a fun time taking photos of my aunt several weeks ago. She is going to have a baby girl in just a few more weeks. We all can't wait to meet her. Babies bring joy, excitement, and much expectation.

Just Peachy

 The little crop of peaches from our peach tree. We made delicious peach sauce out of them.(The next best thing to apple sauce)

You may have noticed a few changes around here. I've changed my blog design up a bit. I have very little computer design skills but I like how it's turning out so far. Our summer has been consisting of a lot of organizing, crossing off check lists and as we're learning: A lot of frog eating. My mom's been reading a book about getting things done and being productive and it says eat the ugliest frog first. My sisters and I are working on organizing our room. We've been cleaning and getting rid of things. It's sort of like a jig saw puzzle. If you move something around you have to move something else around. I hope to be putting a few more posts out soon, but for now it might be a little quiet around here. 

 Have you all been enjoying your summer? Have you eaten any frogs?

Quiescent

                    My hair do... Photo credit: my sister. Hair style: my other sister Mags.

How has your summer been? Life here has been filled with unexpected days. Although I wasn't thrilled with the sniffles and coughs that permeated our home last week there is still so much to take in and remember. The last few weeks have been quiet (in their own way) and precious. To name a few things: Baking cookies with my little brothers. Two fun photo sessions. (One with my aunt Jaime and one with my violin teacher's baby boy.) Satisfaction in organizing- from our closet to my desk. Warm blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Reading good books and being encouraged by sweet friend. Listening to the rain showers every night of the week.


There is an uncertainty of the things to come when summer ends. How will the year unfold? But as we go through the last of summer -and strive not to be discouraged by the expectations of school books- we should remember each blessing that God gives us. Each bright new day that He lets us enjoy is something to praise Him for.

 What have you all been up to this summer? Have you checked off any goals that you set out to accomplish? Have you relished in any special memories with friends and family?




Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
     Lamentations 3:22-23

Journal writing

  I've found journaling to be a very satisfying pastime. I've kept journals for years. Many are filled with daily happenings, thoughts, study notes, a few song lyrics here and there, doodles and most recently added- to do lists.

My sisters and I like to look back on what I've written and giggle at my countless grammatical and spelling errors from years ago. It's so fun to look back and remember daily events and fond memories. I like to write down small blessings that give me joy. A conversation with my little brother, something new that my baby sister has learned to do, a funny event of the day, even what's made me thankful that day. Looking back reminds me of what I've learned and am learning. If God is teaching me something writing it down helps me internalize what He is revealing to me.

The thing I find the hardest is to make it a habit. It's hard to keep up with a journal and finish it. It's hard especially if you don't like to write. It's not my number one priority, but it does keep me organized and productive in my daily plans and my mind's thoughts. 

Do you journal? If so, what do you like to fill yours' with? 

That's what little girls are made of...

Last week we had a baby shower our Aunt Jaime. She is having a little baby girl in a few months. We are very excited! My mommy is a very creative women. My sisters, my mom and I put our heads together and had a lot of fun making the shower as frilly, girly, and creative as possible.
Here are a few photos of the party...

We had a few baby shower games, food, and gift opening.

Theme: Pink and Yellow

The door decoration.

We made at least one hundred pinwheels that we hung and taped all around.

We bought little vases and carnations for party favors. (My mom's idea.)

So...What have you been up to?