Children with Proper Tools

I am a avid believer in keeping creativity in our children. Its leaving our schools at a startling rate and yet we push our children to strive to do something in the world. Yet how in the world can they when we take the very thing that creates dreams?

*gets of her soap box*

I am a avid believer in giving our children the tools they need to create. Give them the simple things to imagine. Then give them the real tools to refine the ideas they come up with.

The other day I decided to give my daughter my camera. The one I spent several hundreds of dollars to use for my own work. She loves to be the subject of my work. And she loves to watch me work. Then I decided to give her the real equipment to see what she would do.

She doesn't know all the rules. She doesn't know all her limits. But she is learning them. She is refining them. From fuzzy pictures to something clear. She chased her imagination and was given a tool to bring them to life.

Give a child a camera and see what they do with.They will capture random things we don't always understand, but we see who they love. Give them a real canvas and paint and they will create something that can be so simple but speaks volumes.


Just a few words of inspiration for today.

You are created for amazing things.

God bless


Nata

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Aniexty

Anxiety. It is one of those things that can drive you crazy. But it can also be something that drives to you to do something.

My anxiety is something that is triggered randomly. Things like purchasing a house? What are my children? Where are my children going in life? Am I striving after Christ as I should be?

It is an internal struggle where I know one thing. My heart goes another way. My brain thinks in another direction. Spiraling lost in my thoughts I usually fall back to the place I started.

I go to what I know. I know how to paint. I know how to create things. I know I am loved and I find some motion of peace when I create. When I paint I am creating something, whether inspired from another artist or something of my complete own creation, I have my anxiety leave for a bit and I can rest sensing and knowing truths.

Another post for another day

You are created for wonderful things.

God Bless

Nata

Leather Tassel Key Chains

This is just a simple craft you can do in your spare time or for large groups! Really easy to make!


You can use crap leather. I know Michael and Hobby Lobby sell bags of scrap leather pieces for $5-9 dollars at full price, which would be enough to make tons of these for large groups.I used lobster key hooks but you can easily get a bag of key rings for much cheaper.

You simple cut out about rectangle piece about 3-4 inches long.

Cut thin strips about 3/4 all the up. (Leave an edge at the top.)

Take another thin strip of leather and slip your key ring over and hot glue that to one edge of the larger piece of leather.

Then roll it up and hot glue the very end of it.


You can had charms to if you like.

You could probably also use different fabric as well.

if you want to use string you can make some to use for cellphone charms if you like. :)

Embrace You Soul-A Purple Paisley Chouch

Embracing your Soul.

I think we how controlled our society is today it crushes our soul. Like when you get married, everyone assumes the white dress, but maybe never thought about a dress. Really you wanted something silly and laid back. Or how you love large purple paisley couch! But whenever you bring that idea everyone looks at you with a weird look and you feel your taste is ugly. You style doesn't fit what is on "trend" right now. And if you dared to get that purple paisley couch, what in the world would people think.

I think though to change the way society thinks is to embrace our souls. Embrace what we like is beautiful. Accept that our style may not fit what everyone thinks it should be. Love who you are and what you like and embrace whole hardheartedly. Get that purple paisley couch! Paint that room neon yellow or get married in your jeans and bare foot! Life is not about pleasing everyone to the point you can no longer see what who you truly are. Life is about being yourself. Be yourself bravely and willing to flourish with others through it.

Embrace You Soul.

Stay creative and Stay inspired.


Wish I had purple paisley couch...they don't any....

Children and Art

This is my daughter. This is my daughter with a box of her tiny glass beads making bracelets. She just turned 4 but she has been stringing beads on wire since she was two. (No worries I was always with her around small bits.)

I could have gotten those chunky blocky bead toys that help kids learn fine motor skills and not that I don't like those kind of toys or kiddy things, but I see parents just stop there. Little children are like sponges and the learn by doing things hands on. Give children crayons and markers are woderful, but have you ever wondered what they do with more real art supplies?

When I was 8 I asked my mother if I could learn to paint. Everyone told my mom to get me a little paint set and paint by numbers. Which those are fine, but I wanted to learn, really learn how to paint. It took a long time but eventually my mother found me a classes. I remember going to the store to pick out my paint brushes and choosing my real oil paints. It cost a small fortune, but I loved every brush and tube and pencil. I had my ups and downs with paint, but it has been something that stuck around with me and will for the rest of my life. If mom had followed what everyone did by getting cheap paints and paint by numbers I would never had the skill I have today.

My daughter may not become a famous designer of jewelry, but she could if she wanted too. She may make her own jewelry, or become an artist. Or maybe this stringing the beads is starting her skills to be carpenter or a surgeon. Who knows she has a whole world before her. All I know she has finer motor skills working with something that is real.

Don't be afraid to give your kids the real tools to try something.

Until another day

Toodles

Cupcakes!

Its simple. Buy or make your own cupcakes plain and go all out with decorations. I bought mine and just put simple sprinkles on them and played with some ribbon and plates to stage a pretty tasty looking cupcakes.

If you have little ones like I do be aware they will watch you snap pictures of a cupcake like you are an idiot, because cupcakes are for eating, as my little girl repeatedly told me. :P

Don't worry about perfection when you are searching for inspiration in the little things. Find the joy in the little moments, like sprinkles on a cupcake or swirl of the icing. My favorite is the icing on the tips of the noses of my children. :)

Stay creative and inspired!

Mason Jar Centerpieces

Nothing can brighten up a table like a well put centerpieces. They are the center to the wedding tables, the conversation starter in your living room, the piece you give to a friend as a get well. The easiest way to start is with a vase.
But sometimes these centerpieces can be expensive. A pretty vase alone can cost you an arm and a leg. But what do you always have around? Jars. Jars are awesome because they can be created to be wonderful centerpieces for any table.

Recently my local area had me put together the centerpieces for MOPS Extend Your Reach program. With 80 women attending we had to think of something that we could easily put together, that was pretty, well put and didn't cost an arm and leg. Bring your jars! Mason jars or Prego jars or even baby food jars. These glass containers have many uses.

Nothing a little painting change up. Take your brush and some cheap paint and have at it. Pinterest is chock full of ideas. These jars I simple got cheap paint from Walmart. (The 50 cent stuff.) With a brush I painted on a few layers and got beautiful colorful jars. Some of them I got spunky enough to put a layer of Mod Pog over it and sprinkled glitter all over it.

But don't just stop at the jar add something of interest. Use fake flowers or make your own with coffee filters. I did this one with coffee filters I dyed pink. (Watered down cheap walmart paint.) Then I took an old book and painted it to give it characters. Don't be afraid to try something like painting the covers of old books as well. If you have the tools I would slice your own wood pieces and paint those as well.
 Have fun with it.

Until another day.
Toodles.