Great Mail Day!

Great Mail Day!

I just adore surprises in the mail.

First...

I received this beautiful postcard in the mail.

This one came from Oregon

Created by

Amie

This was her very first swap!

Isn't she talented?

 I emailed Amie, to thank her for this lovely postcard.

I also asked if she had a blog/site I could post.

In her email...

she was very honest with her reply, which I will share with you...

because I believe, this is very important to share!

Amie states:

 That she is always disappointed if she finds a blog she likes...

 added it to her favorites...

tries visiting the blog/site...

and...

a month or more goes by without any new posts!

Remember these words:

Disappointed

&

No new posts

This is 

very important to the viewer.

If you ever think...

posting frequently doesn't matter

or

 it is a waste of time...

you are wrong!

My advice to all of you, that are reading this post...

keep posting

keep posting

keep posting

Thank you Amie!

Next...

I received a handcrafted doll.

Created by

Miss Vicky

This was part of a swap:

The Artistic Journey Doll Swap

80 artist participates, including me.

Isn't she so precious?!

I simply adore this.

She is 5 inches tall...

so sweet!

I will definitely find a wonderful place to display her in my art studio.

Thank you Miss Vicky!

You are very talented and creative.

You can visit her at 

http://missvickyb.blogspot.com

You are in for a real treat!

One more...

I am a winner!

Yes...

I received from

Sylvia Drown

this beautiful printed artwork.

She posted an an "Anniversary Giveaway"

and I won this... 

Fine Art Giclee Print of her original- mixed-media -canvas artwork piece.

Title

"Love Has Reasons"

I was super excited to find this in my mailbox!

You can visit 

Sylvia Drown

and

see more of her beautiful artwork

HERE

http://baxtersmom1.blogspot.com

Thank you Sylvia!

You are a very talented artist.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Friday Goodies-Linky Love

It's Friday!!

and you know what that means...

share some love... 

Link Love 

that is.

Lets get started...

The month of May

 is just around the corner...

and 

how cool is this?!!

A 3-D

Tiki Calendar

get your

free download

here

http://curiositygroup.com/calendarofthemonth/

Next...

Have you met sweet adorable Sherry...?

You are in for a treat.

http://anniescupboard.blogspot.com

Her blog is filled with wonderful 

free patterns, scans and tutorials!

CLICK HERE

For her latest

  free vintage pattern scan

This is too cute!

On the subject of cute...

Michelle Allen

http://allendesigns.typepad.com

From

Her blog/site is bursting with inspiration!

Everything from...

crafty ideas, artist resources, and tutorials.

Michelle is a very talented artist.

One visit to her blog/site, and you will be hooked!

Check out these 

adorable 

whimsical treasure boxes

on sale

CLICK HERE

and...

Love it!!

How about...

sweet paul BLOG

http://sweetpaul.typepad.com/my_weblog

How cool is this...

Old Book Vases

free tutorial 

CLICK HERE

This is just one of the many great 

"Crafty Friday" tutorials 

available on this site!

Books... 

did someone mention books!!!

The Indie Rock Poster Book

http://www.chroniclebooks.com

This book is awesome!

Check out the cute video, it is so sweet.

It gets even better... 

The Indie Rock Coloring Book

http://www.chroniclebooks.com

Check it out for yourself!

Happy Friday!

Pink Houses- Thursday's Alteration

Little Pink Houses

If you haven't noticed...

I've got houses on my mind!

It must be the fact...

we will be moving out of state, after my husband retires.

Late this summer...

we will be packing up

moving on to another chapter in our lives

 and 

for me, I will be leaving behind my loved-ones.

I will admit...

leaving

  Sunny California

is going to be hard!

So, if you find me rambling on about houses...

see house photos posted on my blog... 

or

creating artwork with house themes...

please forgive me.

For now...

this is my only way to cope with this move.

Art heals. 

I find by creating art and using "houses" as the subject...

it releases some of my anxiety.

With all that being said...

here is my

Little Pink Houses

Altered Book Project

created by
April Cole

page 6

A recap of pages 

5 and 6

Here is a sneak peek...

 on my next altered cardboard page!

Can you guess what it is...?

I am just getting started!

I really am excited about this page.

Inspire others...

Explore new techniques...

Be playful with art...

and

have yourself...

A Happy Thursday!

Wishcasting Wednesday - What do you wish to focus on?

 Focus on where you want to go,

not on what you fear.

~Anthony Robbins

I wish to focus on

making my dream a reality...

living a creative lifestyle!

This requires a lot of time, hard work, and countless hours of effort.

A task I am ready to focus on!

I believe that if you are truthful to yourself.

Know with all your heart, you are worth it.

Remove all doubt and allow courage to guide you.

 If you are passionate about where you want to be.

You will create the blueprints that will allow you to live your dream.

To focus on...

knowing that day will come!

The day my dreams become a reality.

When, capturing all my "wishes"

one by one...

into the creative life I want to own.

photo source
 the-umbrella-academy 

To focus on...

 filling up my jar of

"wishes"

To focus on...

making each a reality, one by one!

 I know what path I need to take...

I've got the blueprints in my mind, heart, and soul.

Now... to stay focused!

Tuesday- messy with mixed-media

And away we go...!

Tuesday

I really treasure these type of mornings.

I was able to get up before anyone else... 

Enjoy a fresh cup of coffee...

Read the paper...

and 

Listen to the silence that surrounded me...

Such a blessing!

This really allows my creative energy to flow.

Thoughts of mixing mediums, 

explore new exciting techniques, 

and 

endless projects dancing around my head.

End result...

I was able to complete another paint.

My use of materials in complete this painting were:
vintage paper
acrylic water-wash background
pen & ink
scrap paper, napkin, & tie-dye fabric
and
a rubber stamp
(hand-craved eraser)

52 painting / 52weeks project

painting # 9

mixed-media
created by
April Cole

This one is titled

Be Truthful To Yourself

We all need to be responsible for our actions, right?

If we do not like the way things are;

weather it is our job we are miserable working at...

our relationships with others...

the life style we are leading...

 the home life we have created...

or

that we are unhappy with where we our in our life...

who is to blame?

If we want things to change, we need to begin with ourselves.

Point your finger at yourself!

Are you being truthful with yourself?

Are you making excuses for yourself?

Do you challenge yourself?

Are you allowing others to tell you what is best for you?

After accomplishing something...

Do you ever compliment yourself?

Here is

something to think about.

We all have the power to change...

Live the creative lifestyle we dream to have..
and
It all begins with ourself!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Monday's Inspiration- blindfold art medicine

Every child is an artist.

The problem is how to remain an artist 

once we grow up.

~Pablo Picasso

What a revolutionary concept.

Dr. Jon Tsoi

artist

By wearing a blindfold, he creates art from the mind to the spirit.

I love the reaction Dr. Tsoi has once he removes his blindfold.

How excited he is about his artwork piece!

Do you remember the last time, you got this excited over your artwork...?

He emphasizes on thinking childlike with our art.

I agree... this is a very important part of being creative.

Creating that freedom... let your mind flow free.

This is a technique

 I know

I want to explore with!

Happy Monday!

Easter Sunday!

EASTER

Sunday

My daughter made these chick-eggs for me.
What a wonderful present!
She is so creative.

The family got together to color Easter eggs.

What fun we had.

You are never too old to color eggs!

Yummy...

chocolate eggs!

Dinner was delightful!

We all pulled together to create a wonderful meal for this Easter Celebration.

 Of coarse...

all the flowers were out to bloom, in honor of this beautiful Sunday!

Carnivals- Iam Kid At Heart

the Carnival

Remember when life was simple.

photo
April Cole

As a kid, you would get so excited...

yelling, "the carnival is coming to town, can we go?"

I know I did.

cotton candy

fun rides

funny looking charters on stilts

 and 

tons of fun games to play; in hopes of winning a prize.

I still do get excited!!

Here are some pictures I took, of our day spent at the carnival.

Some take their fun seriously! 

While I was wondering around taking pictures...

 I caught my husband talking to another women!

Found some cool luggage for sale.

And of coarse... delicious cotton candy!

What a wonderful Saturday.

I was so excited over all the fun we had...

 I wanted to create some really fun

Carnival Tickets

Happy Saturday!

Friday Goodies-Linky Love

Sweet Spring!

In honor of Easter

I have some treats for you...

I know, even the Easter Bunny would be proud of!

Let's get started...

Vanessa Valencia

of

http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/

Has created these

Cutie Paper Puppet Head Printables (Easter egg wraps)

So cute!

Please visit Vanessa's Site for a 

free downloadable print

Egg Decorating from Macedonia

Visit 

Kathy Barbro

http://www.artprojectsforkids.org

Next...

This gal has some great "thrifty" crafts...

You are in for a treat.

http://www.auntpeaches.com

This is Peaches

Her blog/site is loaded with creative ideas 

all on a shoestring budget.

Munchkin-Friendly Easter Baskets

Free Tutorial Here

Spring

always reminds me of flowers...

Visit 

Paivi Eerola

at

http://peonyandparakeet.blogspot.com

She has created these incredible paper flowers.

Click Here

How to Make Paper Flowers Tutorial

This was just too "artsy" to pass up!

 Great part of the spring theme...

and

it was just too colorful for me...

 not to share with everyone!

HOME-KITCHEN-GADGETS

Sold at

ANTHROPOLOGIE

I can see using this to hold beads, buttons, and

even small brads in my studio.

One more...

Have you met 

Regina

Visit her blog/site

http://blog.creativekismet.com

You are in for a treat!

Regina is giving away a free print

of her

Bunny Art

There is tons of inspiration and creative ideas floating around her site...

Take a look for yourself!

Endless Tutorials

Click Here

Happy Spring!

HAPPY EASTER