Happy Monday and hello friends - with temps still pushing triple digits (can you believe it!!!?) I am forced to create fall in and around my home this year. Doing so, I am reminded of forced bulbs, ya know where you convince a spring bulb that it has slept throught the winter months and you encourage it to awaken into a full spring bloom? I did just that this morning - bringing a touch of fall into my home . . .
This was such a quick, easy and rewarding concept to create! Drybrush a terracotta pot, fill it with florist's foam and top off with spanish moss. Trim fall fauna and sprigs (the real thing if you're fortunate enough to actually experience fall where you live) and tuck into the pot. I even used a few branches collected on my morning walks. Then tie ribbon around the mouth of the pot. I love juxtopostion so I used velvet & sheer ribbon with jute. I created a tag using art from my Classical Garden collection. Voila! a bloomin' beautiful pot that smiles at you each time you walk by. I purchased my fall sprigs from Beverly's. I would love to see your version. Take a photo and share it with us here (email pic to terriconraddesigns@ca.rr.com with a link to your blog or email address) and we'll share your creation with our readers.
I find it so fulfilling to be able to create concepts, and design pretty little things for my home and to give as gifts, as well as create the art for home decor, gifts, and paper products that my licensing partners manufacture. I really need both to feel complete and whole in my creative process.
I came accross these little pretties this morning and want to share them with you
from Lori Gentile - she created this oh so pretty banner using my new Inspired paper crafting products (see Webster's Pages for all Terri Conrad Designs' paper crafting products)
and this gorgeous wreath from Audrey Pettit
These talented women always bring joy to my heart when I see their creative expression with my products. Thank you Lori and Audrey.
Last week was a full week with devoted attention to art and design planning for a project I shipped out to my agents' office Friday afternoon. While I relish the intense focus and preparation of such projects, I also look forward to the refuling process . . .creating tactile concepts, connecting with you, writing, and reading (if even just a snippet of a good morsel). It's been too long since I've pulled out one of my daily devotional books and read an excerpt while having my morning coffee (Starbuck's Houseblend). Today, I read from Iyanla Vanzant's Until Today, where I was reminded that we all come into this life with a promise, gift, a passion and a deep heartfelt desire. Comforting and reassuring words certainly, but when we get so caught up in our day to day demands, responsibilities, challenges and basic stuff, we tend to not even think about what these may be, nor express gratitude for each.
With my next post I am going to offer a very special opportunity for you to do just that . . .until then, give yourself a moment (okay two or three) to ponder these questions:
(1) what promise did I come into this world with?
(2) what is my gift?
(3) what is my passion?
(4) what is my deep heartfelt desire?
Until then may you enjoy divine expression of your sweet self, and your creativity.
TTFN and xoxo
Terri
Terri..I had to come back and tell you how your questions touched me...I printed them out and see them every day. They are very thought provoking and I'm planning to use them on a page in an art journal project I'm working on.
Thanks again, Nan
Posted by: Nan Neely | November 17, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Oh, how I love your posts, Terri! You are always so inspirational, with your art, your creative projects and your words. I love your fall decor! Hard to do, though, with those temperatures you are having. Living in NC, I am enjoying the full bounty of beautiful fall color right now.
thank you so much for your kind words on my acorn wreath project. It means so much to me!
Posted by: Audrey Pettit | November 07, 2008 at 12:22 PM
beautiful work ;)
Posted by: Beatriz Jennings | November 02, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Hi Terri...I love your blog...and I am enjoying your new papers so much. I just made one of my favorite LO's with it for Iris' challenge. The pop of red is just beautiful! Thanks so much!
Posted by: Nan Neely | October 31, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Terri!!! Thank you so much! You are such a sweetie! I have been meaning to post that banner over at the Webster's site and haven't gotten around to it, yet. I'm such a scatterbrain these last two months. I really appreciate the comment and praise. I just got my hands on your Hello Beautiful in AMM's Nov kit and am DYING over it. It's stunning!!! Your DT is so darn lucky. Ha! Your creations are all lovely. I love your question #1. I'm still searching for an answer to that one after reading "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. If you haven't read it, you simply MUST. It's brilliant!
Posted by: Lori Gentile | October 29, 2008 at 02:25 PM