Whimsy and Stars Studio

"We all know that art heals. We all know there is something sacred, deep and completely transporting about being creative." (from a beautiful post from Andrea of Superhero Designs)

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I'm taking time to nurture my spirit & mind...time to sit and enjoy the stillness. Savor the daily blessings. To listen to wonderful music, to hug and laugh, sketch, meditate and dream. It feels so good and happy. This time is simply precious...

love, 

m.

Who would benefit if you were fully alive, fully engaged in the work that draws you in the most? (from Jen Lemen)

I'm really enjoying a fantastic post from Jen Lemen, very inspiring! 

April Inspiration....

1. Lumi #4, 2. 2008.03.08 Angel de la guarda, 3. Untitled, 4. Relief Society Birthday Party, 5. sandra evertson, 6. Spring or Easter Egg Wreath, 7. Thumbelina Fairytale Assemblage!, 8. Thumbelina Fairytale! Magic!, 9. Rag Doll from old Pattern, 10. art making space, 11. Delicate pretties......, 12. Untitled, 13. Untitled, 14. spring has sprung collage, 15. hear it sing, 16. love letters, 17. DSC00062_edited, 18. Garden, 19. red, 20. Silly Joey!, 21. Mariela, 22. redhood, 23. Three bears sleeping, 24. Holiday Display, 25. ♥, 26. virgencita ♥, 27. goodie bags ♥, 28. april garden, 29. my secret Shangri-la, 30. Pink front cover detail, 31. Vintage Sewing Notion tags, 32. cottageamy, 33. Springtime Table, 34. Spring Goodies, 35. My Booth, 36. More Booth pictures

Cool Book...and links...

Reading this week:

I highly recommend this book by Meg Mateo Ilasco. I started reading it today and I'm loving every single page. It's truly an exceptional book, practical and inspiring. I believe it is a must-have for all of us artists, designers and all the crafty/artsy girls who are thinking of making "the leap" to our dreams.

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One great website I love is Women Take Wing! A unique women-centric organization focused on women in independent businesses. I really love all of their interviews and great resources. Totally worth checking:

http://womentakewing.blogspot.com/

http://www.womentakewing.com/

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A few of my fav Artists...

I have a wonderful group of artists on my inspiring-list, its quite hard to pick just a couple...so here are just a few of them...

http://majeakann.wordpress.com/

http://www.liquidskyarts.com/

 

http://www.annejulie-art.com/

Inspire Company  
 http://www.inspirecompany.com/

 

http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/heather_bailey/   

http://www.beckykelly.com/

http://theblackapple.typepad.com/

http://www.theodesign.com/blog/

 

These artsy ladies are a great source of inspiration and I totally L-O-V-E their styles.

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Have a great week!

love, 

m.

itty bitty robin's egg blue book

I'm so thrilled to be part of the Itty Bitty Robin Egg Book Swap hosted by Mary Ann from Follow Your Bliss Designs. Thank you Mary Ann!!!

What a precious idea!! Here is my contribution (the front and the back view of my pages). Mary Ann will gather all the swaps and she will bind all the 31 pages together, creating a gorgeous miniature book. I can't wait to see all the pages from all the amazing-artsy girls. You can see a preview it here at the Itty Bitty Robin's Egg Blue Swap at Flickr.

Have a Blessed Easter.

m.

 

paper bag album
Originally uploaded by WhimsyAndStarsStudio.

I have received many request for this tutorial, so here is it once again.  I'm so happy to know you find it helpful to create your own paper bag album.

Enjoy!

love,

m.

I just L-O-V-E surprises!

 

This heavenly-gifty pen galore came from my new friends at JetPens.com, Thank you so, so much Lily, Shu and Adrian! What a surprise!!! Especially when my birthday is next week!

You guys just sparked great creative time this week!! I have been sketching for the last 3-days and I love all my new pens....pens that I have never seen before!!! Like the Pentel Aquash Watercolor Set.

They carry my fav white ink pen, the Uni-ball Signo Broad UM-153 Gel Pen (White Ink) (by far the greatest white opaque pen in the market) You can read my post back on March 26, 2006 .

The awesome thing about JetPens is that they carry very unique pens from Japan, I really love their selection of craft pens, super cute gel pens plus all the extra rare pencils, accessories and more pens!!

For sketching and drawing I have been using the Pilot Drawing Pen which has permanent/pigment ink. I find it very reliable when using water media like watercolors and inks.

 

I hope you stop by and visit these great and artsy people at JetPens, they are truly innovative and they keep their inventory very unique, artsy and with great prices.

Happy Artsy Week everyone!!!

m.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a cheery way to enjoy Valentine's Day!! Look at this precious gifty! I was the blessed winner of this gorgeous "Token of Love" give-away by the talented & artsy Sara of Sadie Olive.  Oh my goodness, these gifts are total eye candy. She wrapped and boxed everything so beautifully. I feel so happy and grateful, thank you, dear Sara!!

Visit Sara's blog: http://lejournal.sadieolive.com/lejournal/2008/02/token-of-love.html) to see more photos of her giveaway.

These are the sweet things I found inside the box:

1. Wendy Addison Glass Glitter Letters "X" and "O"

2. A box of chocolates from Michael Cluizel (a chocolatier in Paris).

3. A box of note cards created by Romantic Homes.

4. An envelope of five French Playing cards from Sadie Olive.

5. A Wendy Addison "Token of Love" Valentine's Day pail.

6. Jenni Bowlin Scallop Circle Chipboard frames.

7. Romantic Homes "Valentine's Day Issue".

Plus, a gorgeous postcard from Sadie Olive, a handwritten note from Sara!!

....I can't stop looking at these gifties!!!!

Thank U so much Sara, U have made my Valentine's Day an extra cheery one.

Gwen's Valentine's Tins

(Tin project by GWEN ZIMMERMAN)

(Tin project by GWEN ZIMMERMAN)

Looking for some really cute ideas for Valentine's Day?

Check my friend's Gwen' blog:  http://stampwithgwen.blogspot.com/2008/01/nifty-nugget-tins.html

She brought this cute tin to the Winter Retreat of The Angel Company and I just feel in love with it. It is so way cute! She even has a demo how to make them!!!

Love .

m.

Artsy & Renewing Time!

(created by the designers of The Angel Company)

(created by the designers of The Angel Company)

(created by the designers of The Angel Company)

(created by the designers of The Angel Company)

The Winter Retreat hosted by The Angel Company was inspiring and a time to recharge my creative spirit. Not only San Antonio, Texas was fabulous, but the fellowship with dear artsy friends made everything truly unforgettable. We created gorgeous projects, laughed a lot, learned about abundance & gratitude and receive great inspiration.

The photos above are some of the projects designed by the talented group of designers of The Angel Co., they brought lots of precious projects for us to work on and shared with us great ways to create one-a-kind keepsakes.

Here is a photo of one of our outings at Riverwalk, we had lunch at Casa Rio which is a delicious mexican restaurant.

(from left to right: Me, Shayla, Heather, Debbie, Cathy and Mischelle)

Here is the gorgeous view from our hotel room at The Menger Hotel which was built in 1859 and is located next to The Alamo. 

Thank you to all my dear "angel" friends from The Angel Co. for such fun time, I love ya, girlie's!

Have a fabulous weekend.

Love .

m.