style selection: be creative...

I haven't done a Style Selection post in ages...

But thanks to Pinterest, I have a whole slew of creative images & prints!

Make time.

This little beauty is available for purchase on Etsy.

An excellent quote.

Check out this fantastic typography!

A'int this the truth?!

Create.

Love the stylized look of this one...

I am a professional maker of messes!

This one has a tutorial so you can make one of these yourself or with your kiddo.

And this one just cracks me up.  :)

For more fun finds, you can check out my boards on Pinterest!

the artist's toolkit...

I have posted previously about some websites I like to use as resources for teaching art to little kids, but I'm always on the hunt.  This morning I found a great little interactive site--artsconnected.org/toolkit/index.html.

The ArtsConnected "Artist's Toolkit" is focused on teaching the basic elements and principles of art.  It has simple definitions and some great little animations/demos.  Today I was teaching one of my art students about organic & geometric shapes...

...she was way into the interactive features.

So if you are looking for a little educational fun for your creative kiddos, I suggest you check it out!

cute & cheap, just the way i like it...

If you have ever been to Michael's (the craft store), you may have noticed that they have a bunch of value bins. Joann's does, too, but the stuff in the value bins at Michael's is usually way cuter.

Last week, I picked up a bunch of these typography journals and magnets.

So cool, right?  The journals cost $1 and the magnets are $2.  I gave the "R" ones to my sister yesterday when I took her out to lunch for her birthday and she loved them.  (We're not big present people in our family...we usually don't get each other birthday presents at all.  So, yes, I gave my sister a $3 birthday gift.)  They would make great stocking stuffers...you know, if you're super organized and plan for Christmas in March. :)

I also got these super cute little frames for $2 each.

I'm not sure where I'm going to put them yet.  They would look pretty all in a row on a shelf in my art room, if, in fact, I ever get around to painting and decorating in there.  I was also thinking it might be cute to put a mirror in one or two of them and hang them with some larger mirrors I've thrifted.  We'll have to see.

my latest obsession...

Have you heard of Pinterest?

It is basically a virtual pinboard where you can "pin" images you love from around the internet all in one place.  I am such a visual person, so I think this concept is genius!  Previously, I had been saving images to my computer, but then I would forget where they came from.  Or, I would book mark sites and tutorials, but then forget all about them because I wasn't seeing the images...just a list of pages.

When I heard about Pinterest, I immediately applied and was accepted last week.  I went through all of my bookmarks, Etsy favorites, StumbleUpon likes, etc. and started pinning like crazy! You can organize your images into categories like "DIY + Crafts" or "Home + Furniture" and then name them whatever you want. My boards look like this...

 (click to enlarge)

Another cool feature is the ability to follow other pinners that you think have great style, "like" their pins, or repin their images to your own boards.  Your homepage ends up being a virtual bulletin board teeming with gorgeous-ness...

 (click to enlarge)

If you are interested in joining, go HERE.

(Once you're accepted, you can invite a few friends as well!)

And you can check out my pins and follow me by going HERE.

eye candy...

i would just like to take a moment to share a photo of some of the most beautiful cupcakes i've ever seen!

too pretty to eat.

thread installations...

i found these gorgeous thread installations by gabriel dawe via design*sponge.

dawe strings miles of thread around nails driven into wooden boards, creating these brilliantly colored, site-specific artworks.  i love the effect the viewing angle has on the pieces... sometimes they look architectural, sometimes they seem like a mist of color.

i also love that he's using materials traditionally associated with "craft" to make "art."  as one who enjoys many forms of creativity, i always appreciate it when those lines our blurred. 

the rainbow of thread spools at the fabric store is always so tantalizing...

how fun would it be to experiment and make a smaller scale version?  (and it would be SO fun--and crazy--to try it in a high school art class!)

if you are interested in seeing more photos or learning more about this artist, go here.

custom grocery list...

beckie over at infarrantly creative has an awesome tutorial for a grocery list tear off pad.  she even includes a customizable template that you can edit to your liking.  (awesome, right?)

i had been trying to figure out a more efficient way to compile my shopping list, and this seemed like just the thing. it's been on my to-do list for a couple of months, so i finally got my act together and made one.  the instructions were easy to follow...my list turned out great!

head over HERE for the all the details.

for all who love color...

have you checked out design seeds?

jessica (the genius behind it all) purchases photos, then creates these jaw-droppingly gorgeous color palettes/mood boards.

here are a couple of examples...

maybe everybody else already knows about this drool-worthy site and i'm just (fashionably) late to the party?

i dunno.

but i do know you should check. it. out.

seriously. go.

now.

you'll feel so inspired!

valentine voodoo...

i couldn't help but giggle when i saw this pincushion over at indiespotting...

i dunno about you, but i really could have used one of these when i was single.

haha.

want a "valentine the voodoo pincushion" of your very own?

here's their tutorial.

art for kids...

as i've mentioned before, i teach private art lessons to little kids.  i have four regular students, ages 5-8, with varying skill levels and abilities.  (plus, i got a call today from my little neighbor girl's aunt.  she's buying her a few weeks of lessons for her birthday next month.  isn't that SUCH a good gift idea?!)

anyway, i make my own lesson plans and adapt them for each child's needs...but sometimes i need help coming up with new ideas.  there are several websites i really love, so i thought i'd share the links for those of you looking for art projects to do with your kids at home.

art projects for kids is a recent find.  

the site is easy to navigate. you can sort by grade level, medium, artist, etc.

some of my students made these paintings this week...

they were ALL about "nemo." :)

mrs. brown's art class is another good one for elementary age kids. each project normally has several examples, which is really helpful.

my all time favorite is the incredible art department.  this was my go-to site during college and when i taught public school.  it has lesson ideas for all ages preschool-college submitted by art educators all over the country. there are lots of creative ideas that you can adapt for your needs.  it also has other resources--where to get supplies, art related articles, helpful websites, and even a list of art teachers' pet peeves! 

(i have a few things i could add to that list. haha.)

also, artlex art dictionary is a fantastic resource for defining art terms.  have you always wondered what "abstract art" means?  look it up on artlex!

so--if your child's school doesn't have an art program or you can't afford private lessons, you can still help your child have creative experiences at home.  kids need art...and grown-ups do, too!

rad...

this guy is so cool.  i'm serious.  i'm going to be a rad spray paint artist when i grow up.  probably not...but a girl can dream, right?



thank you, stumbleupon.com.

wait...first super sprayer, now crazy paper thing?!



where was stumbleupon when i was teaching high school?  i could have given extra credit for making crazy paper things and it would have been AMAZING...

if only.

what we're wearing...

for the SMS! giveaway...go HERE.

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 if you're looking for some last minute gift ideas (or just sick of what's in your closet), here are some recent purchases that i think are worth sharing.  i'm not getting compensated to write this either...i just like this stuff!

you know modbe is back, right?  they went out of business a few years ago, but downeast bought them and brought them back.  and i couldn't be happier.  i bought this dress about a month or two ago...

if you are tall, buy this dress.  NOW.  it's called the long & lean dress for a reason.  i'm 5'10" and it's the perfect length.  plus, it's cute (...at least that's what the husband tells me).  and the fabric rocks...not too thin, great drape.

speaking of husbands, mine gets a lot of free tees and polos from vendors at work.  which is fine...if you like a company logo on everything you ever wear.  i, however, feel there are some occasions which an actual shirt that doesn't involve business promotion is in order.  so i took matters into my own hands.

i picked up these bad boys at old navy for 8 bucks each....yesssss. they look great on their own or under a graphic tee...and my husband likes them!  in fact, complimented me on my outfit constructing abilities.

it's nice to know i'm good at what i do. :)

more DIY holiday ideas...

for the SMS! giveaway...go HERE.

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i didn't get around to making 3/4 of the holiday decor i had planned on this year.  oh well.  i'm loving all of these christmas-y tutorials scattered throughout blogland, though.   i HAVE to share at least a few...

check out this red-nosed wreath tutorial by megan at in words in pictures.

i love how she started with entirely different wreath-making intentions, but allowed it to turn into something else.  so fabulous.

this magazine christmas tree is so simple, but totally genius.

get the lowdown on how to make it over at green eyed monster.

big box detox was inspired by how about orange to make these felt gift bows.

creativity inspires creativity.  LOVE. IT.

these marshmallow snowmen at cute food for kids would be a great family craft...too cute.

and last, but certainly not least, we head to the creative chicks archives circa. 2008...

if i had seen this darling gift garland last week, i definitely would have been all over it.

i am SO making this next year!

time well wasted...

want some quick & easy winter fun?

check out make-a-flake.  

you won't be sorry.

more pretty books...

i posted about these lovely books about a year ago.  so gorgeous.

then yesterday, i stumbled upon these little lovelies...

how beautiful would these be all in a row on a little white bookshelf?

 the only one i'm not thrilled about is anne of green gables...

pink with frou frou cupcakes???

that is so NOT anne to me.

anne is violet vale and lovers lane and wood nymphs and poetry...

am i right?  (please tell me i'm right.)

remember how i love color?...

yeah, this kitchen belongs to a martha stewart staffer (surprise, surprise.) and i. love. it.

 those cute bowls arranged in rainbow order are killing me.
death by cuteness.
(that's what it's going to say on my certificate.)

i couldn't resist...

yes, this is another post of another modcloth find.
but my art ed friend rachel posted about this on facebook and i couldn't resist...

it's the art instructor dress!

this dress has some cute styling, but item description is the best part...

Today you're having your gifted art students draw circles for half an hour. Why? Because you believe in the beauty of the basics - and your philosophy extends to your wardrobe, as well.

i can hear my former high school students groaning. haha.

happy friday, everyone!

art teacher chic...

the art teacher in me thrilled a little bit when i spotted this necklace the other day.
how stinkin' cute.
i want a mini color wheel around my neck!
(i like it so much that i don't even care that it's not actually an accurate color wheel. that's saying something.)

the packaging is snazzy, too...
although, the price is not. (not snazzy, that is.)
i'm thinkin' there may be a DIY version in my future!

speaking of ruffles...

i bought these shoes a month or so ago.
(don't you just love target? i do!)

the following conversation ensued later that evening:

me: "honey, look at my new shoes...aren't they cute?"
hubby: "very cute. i like the curtains."
me: (amused) "curtains or ruffles?"
hubby: "oh, yeah...ruffles. whatever."

they have been known as my "curtain shoes" ever since. :)

gawking at this...

have you ever looked at craftgawker?
you should. it's fun.
i was browsing this morning when i spotted this...

colored pencil art jewelry by maria cristina bellucci

who knew colored pencils could look so good?