Uninspired?

Somedays, I'm just too tired to be inspired. 

You know what I mean? 

That's why, I was so happy when some friends of ours invited us on their boat for a ride on Lake Minnetonka. 

What an inspiring night it was. 

Beauty everywhere the eye could see.  I have pictures.

This one is my favorite.  What a great looking sun?

A great looking view.

Sweet cottage.

Couldn't you just write a best seller here in this cottage, only way to it is from a boat?

Bill

Toni

These two are some of the most talented people I know.

They have awesome taste and they turn every home they live in, into a masterpiece.

Each time I go to their home, I feel like I am walking into the pages of House Beautiful Magazine.

I photographed a few area's in their yard.

The Pond

The view of Lake Minnetonka from their backyard.

Patio

Bill painted his deck floor with two colors.
Love it.

Nice.

Thanks Bill and Toni for a great night.

Let's do it again soon.

Doodle Inspired Yay!

Oh my, I just hate that feeling when I sit down wanting to draw something and everything looks like ick.  What's happened to me?  It feels horrible.  Just like that nasty writers block I tend to try to avoid by not writing.  Well, the other day I was paging through a magazine and it hit me.  OMG, how beautiful is that design?  It sparked a design of my own.  Oooh, I'm just in love with black and white, curves and dots, lines that move freely and continuously.  It's pure pleasure to create, and to admire.

I love it when inspiration like that comes to me.  Just love it.

TaDa!

P.S. I'm working on the opening of my Etsy store.  Art will be available for purchase there soon.  I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, other news is:  I'm working on the novel and think I'll have it available on Amazon very soon.  I can feel it.  I just have some last minute formatting and extra back pages to finish up.  You'll be the first to hear when it is available to purchase.

Thanks for checking in.

Virginia
www.virginiajbailey.blogspot.com

Pictures of My Backyard

Thank you all for your comments about my photography.  I love to walk around my yard or anywhere and capture that perfect view.  It's been a very warm summer here in Minnesota and I am fortunate to have a swimming pool in my backyard.  Summer has been so busy.  July always feels like the busiest month of the year.  August is a close second with our local Carver County Fair and then the biggie, the Minnesota State Fair.  That's where I first fell in love with my L'Paige Lipsticks.  (visit my online store for more information on that.)  So, here are some pictures I took the other day.

Each summer a mama bird picks this bird house to birth her babies.

I can hear them chattering away.  I see them wiggle around in the nest but I'm sure

to keep my distance.  I don't want the mother to abandon them.  I can see her

watching me from a tall pine tree close by.

Keep cool everyone.

Motivational Art #12 Try Thankfulness

My Process

I love watching artists create their paintings.  Each step of the way I find myself admiring their work and saying okay,  Stop.  It's perfect.  But, no.  They keep adding and adding.  I didn't understand.

They would add a new color that I'd think is way too dark, then they would add another color, or this shape or that texture.  Soon, I would be loving this too.

Finally they would have that feeling.  The feeling of this is done.  It is what I want.  But, it was that whole process, the creating, the changes that was the feeling that makes them feel the creation process.

Not unlike a recipe.  With each new ingredient or step it takes on this new look, new feel or taste.

Now, I get it.

Here's my process:

Is it done?

I add darkness.

Maybe some color?

More color...

Now,  I feel like it might need light again.

What do you think?

Nature Inspiration

 Crawling Vine?

Bleeding Heart

 Chinese Lantern

 Bleeding Heart Leaf

 

My Rose Bush

Some photos from around my yard.  It's nice that I don't have to go far to find beauty.

It's everywhere.

Motivational Art #11 Honor

Painting With One Color Pan Pastels

At the art store the other day.  I treated myself with one (yes, only one) Pan Pastel.

I've heard so much about these paints but had yet to try them.

I was a little surprised at how chalky they were.

So, with only one color.  I wondered if I could create something

fun with shading and playing around.

Here's what I came up with.

Pan Pastels - love the possibilities.

Guess I'm going to have to buy a set.

Here's a link.

Artist's Play Room Challenge #14

Okay, here is my drawing for this week's theme for the Artist's Play Room Challenge.

Monochromatic. 

I had a pink flower painting in mind for it but then I went and darkened it with a
Sharpie.  Oops. 

So, here's one I did using a black ink pen.

Hope you like it.

Tim Mahoney Concert In Chanhassen 6-21-12

Do you remember seeing Tim Mahoney last season on the reality t.v. show called, "The Voice?"

He was on Adam Levine's team.

I think he is really talented and I wished he'd have gone further in the contest, but oh well...

Last night, Chanhassen, MN had a free concert in the park and it was Tim Mahoney.

Awesome weather and great music. Yippee.

I just happened to have my wonderful Ipod, and couldn't resist recording a bit for you.

Here's a short video clip.

Enjoy.

Flower Fun Doodling

Just having some fun with my new Sharpie Marker and some paint.

My Favorite Trader Joe's Products

I've been selling L'Paige Lipstick for almost 5 years now.  A couple weeks ago my friend Laura featured my lipstick on her blog.  Go check it out. http://lmichele.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/05/smitten-south-west-kansas-life-photographer.html

Laura is a photographer and I love the picture she did of the lipstick.  (Thanks Laura)
I'm one of those people who is always looking for great products. When I first found L'Paige lipstick at the Minnesota State Fair.  I was so impressed with the product, I started telling everyone about it.

Here I am years later, still feeling this is the best lipstick ever.  It's long lasting, moisturizing, leadfree, and beautiful. 

But, this is not the reason for this post.

My latest love is Trader Joe's.  Have you been to this cute friendly little grocery store?  It's quaint, comfortable with nice lighting and a healthy decor.  I love walking the isles and browsing for the next new item I want to try.

In our vacuum retail store, I like to ask customers about their favorite products.  Lately, the conversations have been about Trader Joe's.  Customer's share with me their favorites.  I of course can't wait to try them out and see for myself.

Here's the list of my favorite Trader Joe's Products.

1.  Trader Joe's Jojoba Oil - I love using this each night to remove all of my makeup.  It takes my waterproof mascara off in a flash.  Of course, I use my favorite wash cloth with it.  I'll share about that in another post.

2.  Trader Jacques French Liquid Orange Blossom Hand Soap - OMGoodness, this stuff smells so yummy.  Plus, the soap feels so silky and moisturizing.  You only need a small dab for a nice soapy feel.

3.  Trader Joe's Antiplaque Toothpaste - This toothpaste is a natural healthier alternative.  Made with essential ingredients like Fennel, Propolis and Myrrh.  It tastes like black licorice to me.  I love the way it cleans my teeth, leaving them with a smooth feeling, and a sparkling shine.

4.  Trader Joe's Brownie Truffle Baking Mix - I had the opportunity to sample this item at Trader's the other day.  Delicious chocolaty goodness. I purchased two boxes ($2.99 each) for a dinner get together.  The mix was easy to make.  I added one can of maraschino cherries to the batter.  Then baked.  It was a really big hit.

5.  Trader Joe's SPA Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil - My daughter wanted me to add this one to the list.  It is currently the only face wash she'll use.  She tells me it has made a huge difference in clearing up her blemishes.

There are many more things that I love at Trader Joe's but these are the ones to make my list.  Prices at Amazon are higher than in the stores.  But, if you don't have a Trader Joe's near you, at least you have the option of getting some of these great products for yourself.

What are your favorite products?  I'd love to hear about them.

Motivational Art #10 Silent Gratitude

Artist Playroom Challenge #13

Last week I entered my "Less Tangled" painting on Jess's website called

www.justaddwatersilly.com. It was a lot of fun to be featured with all the other

great artists who also entered.  I encourage you to check it out.

I wasn't sure if I would enter this week.  The challenge was to sketch something.

This quote has been stuck in my mind for years.  It's one that always makes me

think about my goals.   What are they?  Have I put into motion the steps necessary to make

these goals happen? 

This is what this quote means to me.

www.virginiajbailey.blogspot.com

Get Grounded With Juil Shoes

After reading Clinton Ober's book, "Earthing," I was so motivated to get outside and walk barefoot on the earth.  I wanted to get grounded, feel my best, and have vibrant health.  All benefits of getting grounded. 

So, off I went to my favorite walking path.  A nice grassy place where I could kick off my shoes and sink my feet into the earth.  Perfect, right?

Wrong.  With each step, I had to avoid small thistles, sharp twigs, earth creatures, animal trackings, and more.  It was just not nice.  If I hadn't left my shoes in the car I'd have given up and put them back on.  No grounding for me.

www.juil.com

Who would have guessed?  They have shoes specially made for grounding.  They are called Juil shoes.

I couldn't wait to try them out.

I was really impressed with Juil.  My shoes arrived super fast.  Opening the box felt like Christmas.  Their packaging was so special.  Inside were the beauties I had picked out.  A nice white strappy leather sandal, plus a complimentary yoga carrying bag.

The quality of the shoes was amazing, sturdy, high quality leather, and those wonderful little copper buttons that would allow me to connect with the earth and get grounded while walking on grass, sand, cement, etc. 

As I understand it, the copper button's are energy conductors. This makes it possible for anyone who wears these shoes to get the benefits of being barefoot without having to worry about stepping into poo, or something.

I think they are fabulous.  I've been wearing mine pretty much non-stop.  Walking anywhere now is not an issue.  It's weird. Now that I know about this grounding stuff.  I'm thinking ooh, cement, great! I'm wearing my shoes.  Grass, love it.  I'm wearing my shoes.

I see it this way.  If I'm going to be walking on the earth throughout my day.  I might as well make sure the shoes I'm wearing are going to help me get the health benefits associated with grounding, and the style I desire.

Go ahead, check out their website www.juil.com and get yourself a pair, or two.  They have a style to fit every man, or woman's needs.

You'll be glad you did.

www.virginiajbailey.blogspot.com

Abstact Painting

Sometimes, I just want to let go.

No pressure to draw something.

No purpose.

Just create.

Lines

Colors

Sharpie Marker

Water Color

White Correction Pen

The end result...

Zentangle Challenge APR #12

I've just recently started visiting Jenn's blog over at www.justaddwatersilly.com and decided to accept her Artist Playroom Challenge #12.  The style chosen for this week was a Zentangle.  Of course, you can tell by my artwork I love to doodle.  Here's my version of a very zen like, zentangle.

 

Less Tangled

 



Motivational Art #9 Fill The Darkness

Last year at a show, I displayed this canvas.

Many people stopped at my booth to look at the art.

This one was a favorite.

It was my very first art sale.

It will always be one of my favorite pieces.

Even the quote is mine.

I was watching the sun rise as I worked on this one and thinking of

my friend Dominee who was feeling a bit down at the time.

Isn't it inspiring to watch a sunrise?

Wash away those dark thoughts with ones that are full of light.

Enjoy!

Earthing - What is it?

Okay, so I had never heard of Earthing either until last night.  I was browsing Amazon for books to read on my new Kindle.  I love to read.  Well, I purchased about 3 books and downloaded some free books too.

One of the books I bought was titled Earthing.  I had no idea what is was all about but summarized that it was a health improvement book.  So, minutes later I was reading.

This book actually proves to sound a bit wacky and yet it makes sense.

Could it really be that we are all in need of grounding?

What is grounding you ask?

Well, basically it's taking off our shoes and walking barefoot on the earth's surface.

"Earthing involves being connected to the Earth's eternal and gentle surface energies. Earthing can be accomplished by walking barefoot outside and/or sitting, working or sleeping inside while connected to an Earthing Product - a conductive mat or sheet that delivers the natural nurturing energy of the Earth into your body. For more than 10 years, thousands of people around the world - men, women, children and athletes - have incorporated Earthing into their daily routines. The results have been documented and they are extraordinary."

Health Benefits Include:

Observations and research suggest the following benefits from Earthing; we expect many more to emerge with ongoing studies...

• defuses the cause of inflammation, and improves or eliminates the symptoms of many inflammation-related disorders.
• reduces or eliminates chronic pain.
• improves sleep in most cases.
• increases energy.
• lowers stress and promotes calmness in the body by cooling down the nervous system and stress hormones.
• normalizes the body's biological rhythms.
• thins the blood and improves blood pressure and flow.
• relieves muscle tention and headaches.
• lessens hormonal and menstrual symptoms.
• dramatically speeds healing and helps prevent bedsores.
• reduces or eliminates jet lag.
• protects the body against potentially health-disturbing environmental electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
• accelerates recovery from intense athletic activity.

If you are interested in learning more, you can download and read the first 50 pages of the book 'Earthing' here:

Read the first 50 pages of the Earthing Book

 

So that's what I've been reading.  I would love to hear about the book you are reading right now.  What's your favorite book recommendation? 

Motivational Art #7 & #8 Love Life & Love People