#AEDM2013

As I mentioned yesterday, this month I am participating in the Art Every Day Month challenge. I can create however I wish and with whatever medium.

I bought an empty art journaling book and have decided to "journal" in it for the month. My theme is thankful/grateful but I may or may not stick to that. I will just see what it brings me.

I may share here every few days instead of every day.

Here are days 1 and 2. Enjoy!
~Naila Moon

Day 1-Spirituality

Day 2-Celebration of Day of the Dead 

Couldn't sleep so I made art!

Last night I could not sleep for the life of me. I had major insomnia! I even tried to crawl under my comfy covers but nooooo!

So, I just decided to stay up. Since it was nice and quiet I decided to  do another piece of artwork. Now I have to admit that I did not take before and after shot of my progress so I will have to walk you briefly through it. I made a choir girl.

I took a plastic soda bottle and cut off the top. I added white lights to the bottle. I then inserted a styrofoam ball that I had painted brown.

At a local thrift store I had found a Santa tissue box cover. After disassembling that, I took what was left and covered the bottle with the material that made it look like a dress.

Santa's "cheeks" became ear muffs that I attached with some gold garland that I also found at the thrift store. 

I made a "song" book for my little choir girl to hold. After everything was dry, I drew a simple face on her.

This is what she looks like. I think she is cute.
~Naila Moon

I got inspired...oh yes, I did!

Today I was totally inspired in so many ways. It started out with having an amazing conversation with my cousin this morning over chat.  I do not get to talk with her a ton but when I do, I love it.

Then over on Monday's Music everyone was playing songs that inspired them (including me). Everyone had different tunes from classic rock to country to gospel.  I was enamored by one in particular called "One Sweet Day". It just spoke to my heart.

The day has been an emotional roller coaster for me but the inspiration just kept on coming.

Tonight, I was inspired to do another painted art piece with found elements.  While you are checking that out listen to this from today.

It started out like this. Just some news paper/

I cut out a green advertisement and painted the  Fall tree with falling leaves. Looks like someone carved their initials in it. hee hee

The angels and falling hearts are found address stickers.  The  tire swing is an old medicine bottle cap. The words are more newspaper as well as the medicine man at the bottom.

Totally finished!

What inspires you? Tell me in comments.

Day 25...Art vs Craft and my art too! :)

 

 I am getting in a bit late this evening with this post but better late than never right?

Anyway, I have been working very diligently on a piece of art but before I show you the done deal, I want to address something I saw on another bloggers blog today. That is...

Is there really any difference between art and craft. My immediate answer is no there isn't and my research showed that most people see no difference. I mean after all, can't a craft also be seen as art? 

However, upon further research, I found an article that summed it up this way.

1. Art is a form of work that expresses emotions and expressions. Craft is a form of work, which has a physical form just like in moulding and carving.
2. While Craft is quantified, Art seldom is.
3. One can create duplicate craft forms, which is not possible with art.
4. Art forms move people emotionally, whereas crafts attract people.
5. Unlike craft, art is known to come out of the heart and soul. Crafts are a product of the mind.
6. In art, it is the emotions that flow out whereas in craft no emotion is involved.
7. Art comes out from a person’s innate talents whereas craft is the result of experience.

Source

Although, I get the point here it still seems like to me that the difference comes down to the eye of the beholder. There is certainly some things that I would never consider as art but in the art world they are all the rave. 

Anyway, on to my own art project. This took me a few days to gather the materials and to actually do. Materials used: posterboard, acrylics, found tags plastic holly piece, real wood. I give you my advent calendar.

Me beginning my painting

finished with painting the tree and adding tags (each tag has a number on it that will be turned over each day)

added a snowman -yes, I painted him/her too. Tamirisc got the real twigs for me at a local park.

made "presents" to go around the tree-yes, they are painted too

My finished advent calendar for Christmas

So, do you like it? Tell me in comments. I would love to hear from you.

Wordless(ish) Wed. and Art A Day Update (Day 19 & 20)

Remember I was telling you about how our first Thanksgiving together in 2008 went? No? Well, go HERE then. I'll wait.  So, as you see, it was a comedy of errors.

  

 So, since it is Wordless Wednesday today. I thought I would show you our cooked bird prior to me finding the surprise!

Look how determined I am there! LOL
------------------------

I need to get up to date on my Art A Day post so...

Day 18-Friends and Art a Day

source

One of the most grateful things I have in my life are my friends. I have two best friends who I have mentioned numerous times before. Kelly and Debra are true blue for me and I do not know what I would do without them.

Here in Colorado, two people came in to my life whom I also call friends. Trish and Stormie arrived when I was feeling lonely for Missouri.  As Kelly and Debra are, Trish and Stormie are two very different people who make life happy.

source

In addition I have many online friends. There are several who I have known only on line for years. I have been able to know them so well that I consider them family. We all have been through some good times and rough ones too.

I also have a few recently met online friends. They are pretty special people in their own right and I am glad I can call them "friend".

source

I have a motto that is: Take a moment to know me and I will take a life time to know you. This motto is very true for me. Those people who have taken the time are truly my friends and for that I am happy and grateful.
----------------------------
My art today is made strictly out of thrift store finds. It stands up and will be going on my wall later on.
I hope you like it today. If you do, give me a little "jingle" will you? lol

Peace...
~Naila Moon

Day 17-My Art Reveal and some more thankful thoughts

Hello everyone! I told you that I would be back today to post the rest of my art piece that I had been working on. I suppose it was pretty mean of me to only give you a taste of what was to come. *chuckles* Here it is!

This was a really fun piece for me. I have been looking for some apothecary jars that would not cost me an arm and a leg. I found this beauty for less than $3 at a local thrift store. I love a good thrift store!

I also found the tree, the music sheet and Santa too.  Guess what the "snow" is made out of? I took 2 plastic Walmart bags and cut them up. Oh yes, I did! Ha ha!  Hope you like this as much as I do.
----------------------------------------
Today I am thankful for inventors. I think about all the things we can do and use thanks to the inventors of today and yesterday.
Think about this. We are able to talk on our cell phones, blog on our laptops or Ipads due to inventors. We have medical technology today that can save our lives or enhance it.  We have things to keep our food fresh and to keep us cool or warm depending on the season. We have transportation that gets us places faster.  There are so many things that inventors have created that we take for granted and I for one am grateful to them.

Until tomorrow...peace,
~Naila Moon

Friendship/Aloha Friday with a twist of Thanks and art...maybe.

Question Of The Week
If you are in the United States:
How will you celebrate this Thanksgiving?
What are your favorite family Thanksgiving traditions?
Do you have any special recipes or crafts to share?

My answer: This Thanksgiving as in the past few (with the exception of last year), Tamirisc and I will be celebrating mostly alone. We will watch the parade on TV and then feast.

We are going to invite some people who have nowhere to go but they may not come.

source

My biggest tradition is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. I love the floats and the balloons.

We do not make anything but the traditional meal. I do love green bean casserole!

---------------------

"In Hawaii, Aloha Friday a day of rest. So we're doin' the same. On Fridays we're taking it easy on posting. Therefore, our hostess is asking a simple question for you to answer; nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d  like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at the very friendly place of Islandlife808.com. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends and find new followers! 
Question for the week:
I was listening to the song, "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music, what are some of your favorite things for the holidays?

----------------------------

source

Today I am/was most thankful for public transportation here in Colorado. If it wasn't for having that available to Tamirisc and myself, we would be out of luck. We simply would not be able to get anywhere for groceries or a date night.  I am glad we have such a wonderful system here! ----------------------- My art piece today is actually going to take two days to complete. So, I will only give you a teaser today.  Let's just say when we went out today on the RTD transit system as mentioned above, I went a bit crazy and found all sorts of stuff to create with. Squeal....

See you tomorrow. Have a great weekend. ~Naila Moon

Art for today and Featured Faces a day early

Yesterday I did not post any art work because I took the day off to organize my growing art supplies. The truth is not all my art supplies are here. The majority of what I have is stuck in a storage locker in Missouri. When I moved here I could not bring a lot of my stuff right away so, that is where it is.

I literally have boxes full of scrapbook paper, a drawer full of paints, a drawer full of markers, pens, pencils, glue...oh my gosh, ribbons and bobbles. Oh sigh...just to think I have all of that waiting to be used, to be created with and all I have here is this: 

I suppose I should be thankful I have that right now.

Today I had angels on my mind. In fact, two of them.  They came out with total personalities of their own.  Please forgive the photos, the light was terrible.

The first one I call the "Red Headed Choir Angel". I think I am dedicating her to my red-headed best friend, Debra. :)

The second one I call, "The Angel Done With Her Job or Fly Away Angel".

_______________________________________________________________

This week I am featuring two of my followers.  Both of these people I have met in the last year. You will be featured all week in the upper right corner. Do not forget to grab my button over there--->

Go by and visit, tell them I said hello!

Natasha from Oz (Australia)...don't ya just love that!

http://www.natashainoz.com/

http://keepingthechristmasspiritalive365.blogspot.com/

Arlee Bird (from A-Z April Challenge)

http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/

Day 13-Positive and Happy People

With all the crazy things going on in our country and the world, I am truly grateful to have positive people in my life. Their happiness makes life bearable and worth getting up in the morning for.

There is a lesson to be learned in positiveness. If we look at things in a better light than dwelling on those things that are negative, then we are drawing the positive to us.

I realize that sometimes people are just having a bad day or some sort of pain has happened, that is just called life. However, being happy for most part and having positive outlooks can only make life enjoyable for you and those around you.



Have a great evening and I will see you tomorrow.
Peace...Naila Moon

PS: My art today is a reflection of genuine happiness. I made the piece as a outer cover for my new art journal. It is made of paper,marker and found objects.

Day 11-Art a day-Veteran's Day

For veterans everywhere, especially those within my family, THANK YOU!

~Naila Moon

Day 10-LaZy day roof

photo source

Today has been a lazy day for me. The hubby went out to the grocery store to stock up early this morning leaving me at home alone.  

Ohhhh a girl could get in trouble being alone at home but not me. No, in fact I watched a Christmas movie (yeah, I am one of those people) and snuggled up in my blanket on the couch.  

It started turning back cold and icy rain. As of this moment it is snowing. Where am I? Still snuggled up on the couch! Tamirisc made me some homemade Chinese food and I just seem to be perfectly happy to be right here. Soon we will be watching another Christmas movie. *chuckles*

Honestly, I am thankful to have a roof over my head where I can have those lazy days if I want to. Not too long ago I could not be for certain to even have a place other than couch surfing.
So many people do not have a place to call home. I feel so deeply right now for the homeless at this time of year. I only wish for their safety out of the elements. I hope you are grateful too when you can snuggle up under a warm blanket. I know I am!
---------------------------------------------
I have an art project to share with you of course and even it seems to go along with a lazy day. I was reusing my supplies from yesterdays project.  It is a bit weird but was fun creating anyway.
I call it, "Floating balloons among the flowers".

Take care and peace,
Naila Moon