Happy Earth Day... one of my creative inspirations :-).

Happy Earth Day everyone!  Earth Day was celebrated in my home to the same capacity as nearly every other holiday as we grew up.  Now that I am an adult it has taken on such a powerful symbol to me.  I could attempt to list the environmental (and social-environmental) problems which are near to my heart and which I care about but, alas, the list would go on for quite some time... and when we got to the endangered and extinct animals, I would feel necessary to list pictures of each one so that people could see the faces of the devastation. 

This is my creative inspiration, because I often find art to create using recycled, upcycled or reused materials!  I also love to highlight living art in what I do.  Finally, it is an inspiration because often, the earth... alive and well... is an inspiration to many of the projects that I create. 

I encourage you all to check out Etsy and search for things like "recycled", "upcycled", "reused", "green" (albeit that is also going to bring up the color), "natural", "organic", "earth friendly", "fair trade", "botanical", "plants", "nature"... and so on today!  (And to continue to do it the other 364 days of the year :-)... just to see what is out there!) 

Be well... Live a colorful life... and keep a rich and colorful planet :-).

Creative Inspiration with Forks!

Business Card Holder- Spoon Head
Forked up Art

Oftentimes I see art and I am in awe.  Sometimes I see art and I wonder what inspired the artist to use materials in the way that they did.  Usually in those cases the artist used a material that isn't always used in art, or they used a material in a creative or alternative way.  Sometimes art moves me more so than other times. 

Today's Creative Inspiration Feature is a case of "That is is awesome... what made you start doing that... and to continue to come up with different combinations and designs?".  I haven't asked the artists as I haven't met him.  That said, I am still highly intrigued and moved by the creativity in his work.  Each day as artists we are often asked about our inspiration, our creativity and more.  Some days we are curious about others.  Today, I would like to put aside my questions and simply honor the work of Judson Jennings. 

Recipe Card Stand- Fork Head
Forked Up Art

Judson Jennings's designs which are featured in the etsy shop Forked up Art.  Indeed, as one may guess from the name of the shop, forks are a part of his design.  He also uses spoons frequently along with other utensils and materials.  Jennings creates pieces of art that are creative and functional.  They are contemporary, sleek, fun, innovative, playful, entertaining, and...  sometimes they make you laugh.

The iFork Stand
Forked up Art

Forkellaneous Spoon
Forked up Art.

Salt n' Pepper Spoon Head
Forked up Art

Judson profile states that he has been welding since he was 16 years old, and his skill is evident in his work.  He has a young son and his love for both his creative art and a fun-loving spirit are both evidenced through his art.  Check out some of the amazing things that are happening and that you can find at Forked up Art!

Creative Inspiration- Skinfolk... Getting Creative and Inspired with Self-Care

Califia- Queen of the Californias. 
by Skinfolk

It's been a little while since I posted one of my own favorite etsy shops and my own creative inspirations.  Today, I'd like to share an etsy gem with all of you.  I love sharing :-).

Readers, meet Skinfolk, a lovely shop on Etsy.  Skinfolk is a fantastic shop that is brimming with luscious body butters, healing herbal soaks of all sorts for your body, mind and spirit, fantastic healing salves... and more!  Also meet Tisha who is the amazing owner and creative mind/healer behind Skinfolk.  Tisha has a home base in the San Diego, CA area.  She loves learning and teaching (I feel connected to her on that level also!)  In her etsy profile she states that she "feels abundantly blessed to teach about our wonderful Mother Nature".  Rock on Tisha!  She also shares that her passion in life is "increase awareness of our beautiful sameness... trees, seas, babies."  If you are in the San Diego area you can check her out locally at the Hillcrest Farmer's Market and take in her pure, organic products and holistic healing blends first hand.   

Just some of the highlights of what makes Tisha's products at Skinfolk and her methods special and extraordinary include: 

Organic, raw, fairly traded ingredients
used by Skinfolk

• creating her recipes from scratch 
• using solar infusions of virgin olive oil and *organic* herbs in EVERY creation
• including *natural* ingredients in her products including natural preservatives of vitamin e, honey, citric acid, and essential oils.
• embracing a globally ethical and sustainable business model which results in the best ingredients for her products and the best energy going into her products.   
• only uses fairly traded, organic, raw and sustainable items which she herself loving picks from reputable suppliers. 

In addition, she makes a choice to NOT do what many other companies do and this makes her products and company also stand apart.  For example: 

Skinfolk Love Set of 3
by Skinfolk

•  She doesn't add water to her product.  
•  She doesn't add mineral oil to her product. 
•  She doesn't use hydrogenated oils. 
•  She uses NO chemical preservatives!!!
•  She never uses fragrance oils.  Only the real stuff :-)

Throughout the shop, within the description of each product, you can read customer reviews of that product, as well as Skinfolk in general.  Here are some of the things people have to say... 

  "Love how this feels, very nourishing! Thanks so much for such great products!"

Tree of Karite- Fairly Traded Raw Shea Butter-
1.7 oz recyclable glass jar
by Skinfolk

"Rave! My hair loves it and its' scent is light but delightful!" 

"How exciting to find the most fabulous raw butter mixtress!!! A plus plus plus for Tisha! She is a doll, the best at customer service, ships asap and your products are packaged so beautifully!  Enclosed list of ingredients and what they do! And filled to the top! This is creamy dreamy healing power! And she included a lovely extra! I urge everyone to try her goodies! She far exceeded my expectations! She is just lovely seller and lovely product, you know she truly takes pride in her creations!!!"

Rainforests of the Amazon- Velvety Smooth Tucuma Butter-
1.7 oz recyclable glass jar
**Pictured Here- Raw Tucuma**
by Skinfolk

" *•-:¦:-* Pure delight this sachet got me in a bath tub to soak and relax, thanks for the sample of this because without that sample I would be missing out on pure bliss. This smell so relaxing with the lovely lavender and my bath tub looks like a big tub of tea that is how I know this is pack with so many good yummy ingredients. I felt revive and rejuvenated after this soak and vow to take a soak once per week. Thank you for bring back bath time."

Selah- Pause and Enjoy Life Bath Sachet-
Stop Insomnia, Dry Skin, Bad Attitudes with One Soak.
by Skinfolk

Tisha of Skinfolk has an amazing assortment of products for your body, skin, hair, spirit... and so on.    Check out her shop.  You can also follow her blog here.  Tisha has definitely provided me me with some seriously inspiration recently and has been one of the catalysts pumping the creative juices through these owl wings!  As spring arrives the desire to nurture my body and emerge from my cocoon, spread my wings, and show the world my bright seasonal colors is bubbling up.  Thanks to Tisha and Skinfolk, my wings will be much more vibrant, comfortable, and hydrated due to a thorough slathering of these body butters, my mood will match them thanks to the soaks, and my hair will be healthy and creative thanks to the Khepri.  Skinfolk will surely help me to continue my self-care rituals regularly and keep my creative juices flowing, while looking like it too.  

Here are a few more of my favorite products from Skinfolk.  Enjoy!

Exotic Body Butter Set- Intense Moisture and Vitamin
Rich with Amino Acids and Anti-oxidants
by Skinfolk

Khepri- God of the Rising Sun- Nourish Hair Food-
Transforms split ends, itchy dry scalp,
and chemical damage. 
by Skinfolk

Superfruit to the Rescue- Cold Pressed Indian Mango
Butter- Elevate your spirits while alleviating dry skin.
by Skinfolk

And the Winner is... The BALM- Pain Relieving
Herbal Salve- Amazing Relief Lies Ahead.
by Skinfolk

Creative Inspiration- Light Bulb Terrariums

Recently on Etsy I began introducing Living Art.  I love it!  One of the inspirations for my living art was my introduction to Tillandsias, or Air Plants as they are also sometimes called.  The plants are native to Latin America.  Tillandsias absorb all of their nutrients through the vegetation on the plant itself-- the roots are simply for steadying themselves and operate as a sort of wire-like base.  They are magnificent for all sorts of arrangements, botanical interior designs, as well as terrariums! 

Early on in my work with these botanical wonders, I stumbled across this video on a How-To-Tuesday Etsy Blog.  It served as my own creative inspiration and started my own living art that hasn't stopped and continues to keep going.  Today, I work with all sorts of Tillandsias, other succulents, and lots of natural materials. 

It seemed appropriate to share it today-- to spread my creative inspiration.  In addition, it is now March in Michigan... and a hope for green is here :-).  Terrariums and living art are a way to keep nature with us all of the time, regardless of where we are and what season it is.  In Michigan winters it is even more splendid!  Now that spring is approaching there is even more desire to bring the green and living indoors.  Hopefully this will give you some ideas on how to do just that. 

I hope this video will inspire some of you to try your hand at terrariums, or other living art.  I hope it also reminds those of you in colder climates that warmer weather is on its way :-).  And even better... it also will help you recycle :-).  Bring mother nature in, and care for her at the same time!