Tulips

working and walking in silence,
the tulips inspire me
to blossom today.

Warmth!

It is so funny to me that a Sunny Day with 50 degree weather is WARM!
I headed out for a walk to the post office and here is what I found.


a bouquet of colorful wire

peace to you

looking back

tuft of fabric caught in the fence

sirens......emergency!!

waiting

tiny buds

heading back home under the bridge

bolt detail....beautiful patina

just look.....
the beauty is in the details.

Thank you for coming along with me, Laura

Seventeen Things to Do to Kickstart Creativity

Inspired by a fellow "Ring a Day" friend and metalsmith, I have decided to make a list of Seventeen things to Kickstart creativity.






1) Write morning pages.
2) Go on an Artist Date with myself....out to a museum, soak up the displays at Anthropologie, enjoy a cappuccino.
3) Walk the dog.
4) Take a drive.
5) Fall asleep with a note book by my bedside.....write what comes up.
6) Look at art books ~ Miro, Calder, Jensen (these are some of my favs).
7) Walk in the woods, walk to the post office, walk, walk ,walk!
8) Avoid the computer as much as possible!
9) Take my camera with my when I go on outings, photograph neat happenings in my surroundings.
10) Take a bath without guilt.
11) Go thrift shopping or flea marketing.
12) Read a good book, fiction, magical realism, historical fiction.
13) Have a bead therapy day...string beads, revel in the colors and gems.
14) Get to the studio and just work on tasks that need to be done, this will usually jumps me into thinking creatively.
15) Look through my collection of found objects, stones and antiques for ideas.
16) Just do it.....the idea is not to think too much and just sit down to create.
17) Join a group of creatives with a challenge....for me it is the Ring a Day 2010 flickr group. RAD is a group of 280 artists from all over the world making a ring a day for 1 year. I am so happy to have joined and it has most definitely Kick~Started my creativity!

I wanted to share this list with you and inspire you to make your own list.
I plan to keep my list in my studio (maybe near the computer too!!) to remind myself of the things I need to do to give myself a little kick in the pants.
I also want to add that taking care of myself, by eating healthfully and exercising, is part of the picture. Two more things I need to remind myself each day.
~Laura

ps... I like to remind myself that I am perfect just as I am. I try not to compare myself to others (which can kill creativity).
Additionally, I would like to learn to meditate.

R & R

breathing in the sunshine
happily communing
with my childhood home.

rich blue skies and bright white snow

I wanted to share these photos from yesterday's
morning walk with my dog.
It was so nice to have the sun shining.
Have a good day today, Laura

I.Love.Snow.

the stillness when it is falling.
the fresh smell.
the powdery fluff.
hunkering down with snacks.

Helping the People of Haiti

When the earthquake devastated Port~au~Prince Haiti I wanted to contribute in some way. Seeing all of the destruction and pain in peoples faces on the news was scary. I wasn't sure what I could do to help. I watched the "Hope for Haiti" Telethon on TV and called in about 100 times only to hear a busy signal on the other end. As I was watching, I took note of the causes George Clooney chose to support with the money he raised. Oxfam International was one of them that I was familiar with, so I decided to help the people of Haiti through this organization, knowing their humanitarian relief track record was stellar.

I woke up the next morning I searched Etsy and found the site "Hearts for Haiti" which inspired me to sell some of my jewlery at
Modern Bird for Haiti relief. I am proud to let you all know that I have raised and donated $426 so far! Thank you so much to all of the wonderful people who chose to purchase jewelry from my shop because they knew that 100% of the proceeds would go to assist the people of Haiti. Your support does make a difference.

My Mom brought up a very good point to me when she said that giving in this way opens up more awareness to the cause. Instead of just privately giving, I hope that I have introduced people to Oxfam International and given someone an opportunity to contribute when they may not have known how they could help.

Peace to you all, thank you :)
~Laura