Art Slam

Five things I am enjoying right now:

• Rollip – you can create Polaroid images like the one above at this site. I think it is a wonderful idea. Granted, I would love to have the film to go in my old school Polaroid and shoot myself, but I do not.
• Journal Spilling – Diana Trout’s book is simply amazing. I have been enjoying my copy of the book and especially love the wit and humor she uses when she writes. This book truly makes working in an art journal doable for beginners and offers something new for seasoned creatives.
• Bakerella – This site is clever, cute and I love seeing what new creations she has come up with. Mini cakes on a stick…love!
• Wacom Bamboo Fun – I know I mentioned it earlier in the month, but now that I have had a chance to use the new tablet and the touch technology, I am beyond impressed. It is slick looking, smaller than the previous tablet which makes it portable and there is a place to store the pen. I love it!
• Gap Body Gear – I received a surprise in the mail from Brand About Town for attending the Shutter Sisters Suite this past July. I had no idea what was coming and was delightfully surprised to find some of the softess lounge wear I have ever worn. I would like to thank them so much for giving me a great excuse to wear my cami, t-shirt and fold over pants anytime I like.

I love to read. In fact, I devour books. Here are a few I am loving lately:

• Life’s Companion – If you are looking to take your journaling to another level, this book is great for that purpose. I like that it makes me give purpose to my personal ranting and I actually end up with solutions and insight I would not have normally had from mindlessly writing.
• Writer Mama – This book is great if you are serious about having a writing career while being a parent. It has great advice for getting started writing and pursing publishing opportunities.
• All New Square Foot Gardening – Seriously, this book makes it so easy to start growing flowers or veggies in your yard.
• Style Statement - I love the concept of this book and the in-depth questions it has that assist you in defining your style statement and even how to embrace it in your everyday life. Only thing, this book could have been so much shorter if they would have gotten to the point quickly.
• Idea Spotting – Full of interviews, quotes, tips, creative exercises and success stories, this book is great for helping you generate your next big idea. I love any kind of book that gets my creative juices flowing.

Related Posts:

• Friday Lovefest
• Fitness Edition
• Food Edition

I am a little under the weather today, but my heart is truly full. Here are a few things that are making me smile:

• Sugar Jones wrote a wonderful post about how our friendship started and how special it is even now. I love her to pieces.
• My interview on Sisterhood, the Blog Radio with Ananda Leeke. She is a true kindred spirit I am so glad to have met at BlogHer this year.
• Susannah Conway’s Unravelling e-Course. I have been enjoying this course and loving the wonderful women who are a part of this. I am learning so many new ways of seeing myself.
• Satya Jewelry. I have finally decided on the necklace I want to purchase. It is all so pretty.
• Lucy Activewear. I love all of it. I could live in yoga clothes. Seriously. This is my clothing goal for 2010.

Related Posts:

• The BlogHer Edition
• One of the Best Things About Warmer Weather
• Cornflake Love

1 & 2. Lensbaby and Shutter Suite

After coming back from BlogHer, I have been revisiting all the things I enjoy doing with renewed interest and an openness to learning something new. I won a gift certificate from LensBaby as part of the Shutter Sisters‘ ShutterSuite and I decided to order the Optics Kit. I am in love with the Plastic Optic. It gives my pictures a moody, dreamy look, yet everything is in focus. It works well for portraits and still life shots.

3 & 4. Bill Me Later and Zappos Household CEO Confessional Booth

I have been writing like journals are going out of style. Moleskine’s are my favorites because of the quality of the paper and the variety of journals you can choose from. I have to thank Bill Me Later for allowing me to test out their shopping experience and purchase a supply of Moleskine journals. They are awesome and make it so easy to purchase online. I had an opportunity to participate in Bill Me Later and Zappos Household CEO Shopping Spree contest. I went into the confessional booth and revealed what it takes to fill my shoes. You can see my video here and I would love it if you would vote for me.

5. Kodak Zi6

I could not have been any more thrilled to find in one of my swag bags a Kodak Zi6 Pocket Video Camera. This little camera is awesome. I am always concerned about sound and picture quality from pocket cameras and Kodak did not disappoint with this one.  I have to thank them for the camera and Nancy Martira from Ketchum for explaining all of the great features.

Related Posts

• Fitness Edition
• 4th of July Edition
• 1st Ever 5 Fab Faves

Since starting back running, which I am enjoying more each time I go out, I have a few things that have made my new fitness routine a lot more enjoyable:

• Running Skirts. Just found this website recently after wanting to find more running skirts. I love them because they look great, they do not get in the way of my walking or running and they feel amazing. Runningskirts.com is a sister run business and their skirts are too cute for words.
• Nike+ sensor and Nike+ website. Love, love, love my Nike+ sensor and the website. I can track my runs, calories burned, set up challenges and goals and makes notes about the conditions of each of my runs. It also helps me keep track of my personal bests for a 5K, mile and so on. Love it.
• Slimperfect Swimwear & Activewear. I am in love with this live of activewear, which fits nicely into my obsession with running skirts. Slimperfect is running a BlogHer promotion through August 1 of 50% off already reduced prices. Make sure you enter the special code, “BlogHer” at check out.
• Runner’s World website. Great resource for beginning runners and those who have been doing it for years.
• Nike Air Track Star 2 Running Shoes. These are the shoes I wear for my workouts. It feels like I am wearing nothing when I have them on.

Other 5 Fab Faves Posts:

• Eco-Friendly Art Supplies
• Food Edition
• Inspiration Faves

I realized I had not done a 5 Fab Faves in a while and what better day than today for a little inspiration.

• Washi Tape Frames, Kitschy Digitals – Danielle never disappoints with her color digital designs. I am going to enjoy playing with these frames.
• Tiny Bunting Banner, Katie.Cupcake – Now I have something to do with all of that ribbon and scraps of paper. Love this and the pinwheels.
• Inspirational Pantene Commercial – I saw this and was blown away by the spirit and the message of the commercial. I have been getting all kinds of inspiration sent my way lately.
• Brave. Know. Love., post by Liz Lamoreux – Besides the beautiful soul mantra necklaces, this post really touched me.
• Practice Kindness Window Cards - Everyone can use a kind word every now and then.

Other 5 Fab Faves Posts:

• The Food Edition
• Eco-Friendly Art Supplies
• Art Journaling
• Kids Crafts

It is my goal over the next year to be a more eco-friendly artist. There are more art supplies than ever that are safer for our environment and I see no reason why I can not do a better job of making the art I love and having less of a negative impact with the materials I use. Here are a few favorites I found recently:

• Stubby Pencil Studio – Everything on this site is cute as heck. I especially love the recycled sketchbooks.
• Earth & Rowan – Natural Art Materials
• EcoArt Works – Earth Friendly Non-toxic Art Supplies
• Eco Art Supplies – Safe, Sustainable Art Supplies
• The Real Milk Paint Company – Environmentally Friendly Paint Supplies. I so must try the crackle paint.

Check out these 5 Fab Faves, too:

• 5 Fab Faves – Art Journaling
• 5 Fab Faves – Kids Crafts
• 5 Fab Faves – The Food Edition

Art journaling resources. Enjoy!

• Tammy’s Art Journaling 101 post. This is a well put together post with a lot of great information. Definitely worth checking out.
• Suzan Buckner’s blog. Lots of eye candy and colorful creations.
• The Creative Life, 52 Week Project. Regardless of whether you use digital products with your artwork, the challenges are a fun way to expand creative.
• Rhian Cooksey’s Green Grass video on YouTube. Love.
• Ruby.Claire. I am blown away by her work.

India.Arie
This is her best album ever. Each song inspires me and makes me so happy. My favorites so far are Therapy, Pearls (originally by Sade…India’s version is beautiful), River Rise, Yellow…every single one. Seriously, get the CD now. Target has it on sale for less than $10. It is worth the full price.

Organic Wear Makeup
I am a sucker for amazing packaging and I really like theirs. Plus, anytime you can find makeup that does not break you out is a good thing.

Heart Hair Clips
These are so viciously cute.

Envirosax, Botanica Series
As much as I use these and tell people about them, you would think Envirosax would give me one of every bag they make. Guess I can dream.

Sherbert Colorblock Headphones
The colors flashed me back to the 80’s. I don’t know if that is good or a scary thing.

I tell you, for all my good intentions, my plans do not always end up being exactly what I envisioned. Since coming back from Denver, time is flying by faster than I keep up with it. The stomach flu affected two of my three little people resulting in a rather exhausting day of taking care of them. That being said, I have collected all of these neat crafts for the Kid Slam and I am going to put them on hold until next month.

I actually want to show kids doing the projects, not me doing them and telling you how easy it is for kids to do them. Me doing the crafts defeats the purpose of the Kid Slam. So, after I am done with my travels, I can actually sit down with my little people and get to Slammin’.

For this installment of my 5 Fab Faves, I have to share some of the great Valentine Day finds I have come across:

• Felt Flowers made from recycled wool sweaters. I love these. Love it even more that I now have a good excuse to go to Goodwill and buy sweaters.
• Crayon Hearts from all those broken crayons.
• Candy Valentine Butterfly is just cuteness all over the place.
• Heart Tree…I heart a puffy heart.
• Crochet Heart Garland will make me pull my crochet hooks back out and make some for my middle child. She will love hanging them in her room.

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