Finding Color Inspiration...

Where do you find your color inspiration?

iPhone Hipstamatic picture of Venice Beach, FL Fall 2011

I tend to look towards nature…

On Etsy it is amazing to sit and look through tons of Artists work to see their color inspirations and palettes they are drawn to.

Especially paintings and photography.

Can I admit how addicted I am to making treasuries from my favorite items?

The colors alone inspire me...

I'm ok with layers from photoshop or whatever program that enhance the image to take it to the next level…

Actually, I find that visually I prefer it - especially in photographs.

Blurred backgrounds & edges with rich muted colors are stunning.

"The Seed" by MoonLightPhotography

The Seed by MoonLightPhotography on Etsy.com

"Bunny Races" by AmberAlexander

Bunny Races by AmberAlexander on Etsy.com

Oh, the colors…

Oh, the artwork!!!

So many talented people out there…

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I've got a contest coming up.

Have to come up with a catchy name & parameters.

I would like to have it be a monthly contest.

Has to do with picking out color palettes and translating them into the silks that I sell through my Etsy shop and website.

2mm Silk Knot Bundles of 10 strings

Will have a monthly blog post where people can add their palettes, then favorites will be picked.

You can help get people to vote by posting links through social media outlets. 

Top 3 to 5 will get pulled, and the ones that sell the most in that next month - the winner will get:

1. The silk palette named after them with a thank you link to their Etsy shop in the listing.

2. A bundle of the silk knots in their color palette (qty depends on # sold).

3. Links to their blog and Etsy shop in follow up blog posts about it.

I think bundles that don't "win" can be submitted again.

And that there is a 3 knot, color palette limit to the number of colors each person can submit each month. Not sure though…

What do you think?

Any fun names for the contest?

Check back soon or watch on my FaceBook page for details!

Finding Color Inspiration...

Where do you find your color inspiration?

iPhone Hipstamatic picture of Venice Beach, FL Fall 2011

I tend to look towards nature…

On Etsy it is amazing to sit and look through tons of Artists work to see their color inspirations and palettes they are drawn to.

Especially paintings and photography.

Can I admit how addicted I am to making treasuries from my favorite items?

The colors alone inspire me...

I'm ok with layers from photoshop or whatever program that enhance the image to take it to the next level…

Actually, I find that visually I prefer it - especially in photographs.

Blurred backgrounds & edges with rich muted colors are stunning.

"The Seed" by MoonLightPhotography

The Seed by MoonLightPhotography on Etsy.com

"Bunny Races" by AmberAlexander

Bunny Races by AmberAlexander on Etsy.com

Oh, the colors…

Oh, the artwork!!!

So many talented people out there…

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I've got a contest coming up.

Have to come up with a catchy name & parameters.

I would like to have it be a monthly contest.

Has to do with picking out color palettes and translating them into the silks that I sell through my Etsy shop and website.

2mm Silk Knot Bundles of 10 strings

Will have a monthly blog post where people can add their palettes, then favorites will be picked.

You can help get people to vote by posting links through social media outlets. 

Top 3 to 5 will get pulled, and the ones that sell the most in that next month - the winner will get:

1. The silk palette named after them with a thank you link to their Etsy shop in the listing.

2. A bundle of the silk knots in their color palette (qty depends on # sold).

3. Links to their blog and Etsy shop in follow up blog posts about it.

I think bundles that don't "win" can be submitted again.

And that there is a 3 knot, color palette limit to the number of colors each person can submit each month. Not sure though…

What do you think?

Any fun names for the contest?

Check back soon or watch on my FaceBook page for details!

Bloomberg - Google's Schmidt Says Jobs Merged Art, Science [VIDEO]

I Heart Macro Fall Harvest & Critters

Here is my entry for this week's I Heart Macro.

Fall Harvest is upon us...

And lots of critters making their last show in the garden for this season...

Hope most overwinter outside and stop trying to make homes in our house.

I love insects and spiders & the like - but not inside…

See what others are posting for I Heart Macro this week:

Thanks for stopping by!

I Heart Macro Fall Harvest & Critters

Here is my entry for this week's I Heart Macro.

Fall Harvest is upon us...

And lots of critters making their last show in the garden for this season...

Hope most overwinter outside and stop trying to make homes in our house.

I love insects and spiders & the like - but not inside…

See what others are posting for I Heart Macro this week:

Thanks for stopping by!

Second Saturday State of My Studio

Every month I write a post over on the Beads of Clay Blog called:

State of Your Studio

In the BOC calendar, it falls on the Second Saturday of every month.

I've been a bit of a slacker on my MNS blog,

Not writing a post with 2nd Sat deadlines.

But then I have to remind myself that the Inlinkz Gadget is open all month.

And I can write a post, mention BOC and link it up at any time…

Sound like a bit of promotion?

Well, that is where most of my brain power is spent these days.

Beads of Clay

Delaware Etsy Street Team

AWE Team (Art Walk Etsy Team)

I am seriously considering creating some online classes about promoting yourself.

Although, I think I am more of an organizer of these things and not really at a promotional stage because I feel that a lot of these don't get the feedback or impact that I "dream" about.

And as an organizer, not quite where I really need to be.

My head has many thoughts that are crazy ideas playing out…

But then reality sets in…

I went to FL to visit with my dad & family because he's got some health issues going on, and I hope that things are ok. We'll see what path he has to go on in a couple of weeks.

Grandma Neal came back with us to visit for two weeks.

She leaves on Tuesday to go back to FL…

And right now, I need to scale back a bit on things I am doing outside of my personal life and Marsha Neal Studio and find my focus again.

My little ones are growing up so fast…

My garden is growing and silently suffering.

Although it would probably say it is doing just fine - without any help from me.

That's what mostly native plant gardens do - grown and take care of themselves.

It is at the end of the growing season, and really all I want to do is get out there and pull the remaining invasives and divide up perennials and put new ones in the ground.

What I should be doing is laying out a better design for my garden.

And for Marsha Neal Studio,

Finding Fall inspiration...

Need to make More little beads.

I am in love with making bracelets with these little beads.

Bracelets available at the Bellefonte Arts Gallery in Wilmington, DE.

I also want to make some toggles with Metal Clay to make more some adjustable silk bracelets.

These use my Fairy Ribbons.

These are simply tie on, and adjustable…

Maybe make or find some other large hole beads without rough parts for the adjustable part.

LeAnne of Summers Studio is an inspiration for grabbing some of that base metal clay to make toggles.

WholeLottaWhimsy for metal clay supplies

Marie Dodd for her ability to look into where you find your creativity.

Oh, and The Painting With Fire Virtual Book Tour - Got to keep up with that!

Here is a quick photo of me, Anita and her sister Chris from Thursdays

NCC Master Gardener trip to the High Line in NYC.

I'll be posting about that amazing trip over on my garden blog soon.

Here is a preview of what it looks like for early fall:

And with that, this girl is off for a mid-morning excursion up to Longwood Gardens with two little cutie pies, a very funny husband, and a seemingly ageless grandmother…

Second Saturday State of My Studio

Every month I write a post over on the Beads of Clay Blog called:

State of Your Studio

In the BOC calendar, it falls on the Second Saturday of every month.

I've been a bit of a slacker on my MNS blog,

Not writing a post with 2nd Sat deadlines.

But then I have to remind myself that the Inlinkz Gadget is open all month.

And I can write a post, mention BOC and link it up at any time…

Sound like a bit of promotion?

Well, that is where most of my brain power is spent these days.

Beads of Clay

Delaware Etsy Street Team

AWE Team (Art Walk Etsy Team)

I am seriously considering creating some online classes about promoting yourself.

Although, I think I am more of an organizer of these things and not really at a promotional stage because I feel that a lot of these don't get the feedback or impact that I "dream" about.

And as an organizer, not quite where I really need to be.

My head has many thoughts that are crazy ideas playing out…

But then reality sets in…

I went to FL to visit with my dad & family because he's got some health issues going on, and I hope that things are ok. We'll see what path he has to go on in a couple of weeks.

Grandma Neal came back with us to visit for two weeks.

She leaves on Tuesday to go back to FL…

And right now, I need to scale back a bit on things I am doing outside of my personal life and Marsha Neal Studio and find my focus again.

My little ones are growing up so fast…

My garden is growing and silently suffering.

Although it would probably say it is doing just fine - without any help from me.

That's what mostly native plant gardens do - grown and take care of themselves.

It is at the end of the growing season, and really all I want to do is get out there and pull the remaining invasives and divide up perennials and put new ones in the ground.

What I should be doing is laying out a better design for my garden.

And for Marsha Neal Studio,

Finding Fall inspiration...

Need to make More little beads.

I am in love with making bracelets with these little beads.

Bracelets available at the Bellefonte Arts Gallery in Wilmington, DE.

I also want to make some toggles with Metal Clay to make more some adjustable silk bracelets.

These use my Fairy Ribbons.

These are simply tie on, and adjustable…

Maybe make or find some other large hole beads without rough parts for the adjustable part.

LeAnne of Summers Studio is an inspiration for grabbing some of that base metal clay to make toggles.

WholeLottaWhimsy for metal clay supplies

Marie Dodd for her ability to look into where you find your creativity.

Oh, and The Painting With Fire Virtual Book Tour - Got to keep up with that!

Here is a quick photo of me, Anita and her sister Chris from Thursdays

NCC Master Gardener trip to the High Line in NYC.

I'll be posting about that amazing trip over on my garden blog soon.

Here is a preview of what it looks like for early fall:

And with that, this girl is off for a mid-morning excursion up to Longwood Gardens with two little cutie pies, a very funny husband, and a seemingly ageless grandmother…