Friday, November 4, 2011

Craft Fair tomorrow

Hello, all!
I am late (again) in getting this out. I have been going down all kinds of bunny trails, trying to sort out my things I want to sell tomorrow. Getting the displays right, inventory, etc.
Eek!
I have started on a blog, but it is proving to need more of my time than I want to give today, so it is saved for another day!

Yep, I'm going to fall back on one of BIG favorites today - paper dolls!

Here is a complete set for you:
Candy:





Yes, I know I have offered part of this before, but here is the whole shebang!
It is kind of a small set, so here is another one for your enjoyment.
These are Danish paper dolls that I have tagged "Dorte":





ALL of these dolls are just perfect to make lots more clothes for!
Get out those pencils, tracing paper, patterned paper scraps, bits of lace, ribbon, glitter....oh just all kinds of materials to make your costumes special!

Enjoy.
I probably won't post Saturday, as I will be filled with Craft-Fair-itis.
:0)
inkspired
http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/
http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Peace, G-d, a little Hebrew and International favorites

Hasiti

(There is a little 'tent' over both 'i's, but my program doesn't allow me to type those.
Sorry.)

'Hasiti' is Kurdish for
PEACE


So much unrest, cruelty and disunity around the world these last months.
Floods, droughts, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes.
If I did not believe that God has a plan,
and that He is ultimately in control
I would be very depressed.
Fortunately, God left me His Word - His plan for my life, and for yours -
in the Holy Bible.
The Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages,
so for certain I am not getting into any discussions about
'which translation is correct'.
As long as the translation is originated- and keeps the spirit and meanings of-
the original documents, then I am happy.
And I think, so is God.
I had some questions about an earlier blog, where I used
G-d to represent the word 'God'.
First, the capitalization:
I believe there is only one true God, and that He is
'God over all other gods'.
See the difference in meaning there?
Just as Jesus is mentioned as 'Lord over all other lords'.
The capital letter (G or L) shows the 'top boss' so to speak!

'Earth in Hands'

Second, the missing vowel:
In the original, ancient language that the earliest Words of God were written,
there was no word for 'God' as we use it today.
In ancient biblical Hebrew, the closest English equivalent is
YHVH {called the tetragrammaton}.

Biblical Hebrew contains no vowels, so we don't know for sure how the name of
GOD was pronounced.

YHVH means "I AM"

Some scholars believe the pronunciation to have been
"Yahweh"
but this is only an educated guess.
Jews have traditionally believed that it is wrong to mention God's name and will not do so.
It is in extreme respect for God that He was so holy- that He did not have a name that we, as unholy peoples, could say aloud much less write down.
Some people call it "the Name that cannot be spoken"
or
"the Name above all other names".
Very Orthodox Jews, even when writing in other languages,
will leave out the vowels.
In English, "God" will be written
"G-d". 

As a result, many Jewish people (G-d's chosen people) would be offended if I were to write the word "God", as this is disrespectful.

As a "goyim" (Gentile, non-Jewish person)
 you will find that I vary between
God and G-d.

I want to thank Mrs. M. Walker for her kind response to my questions.

An ancient document written in Hebrew on papyrus. Dated around 100A.D.

And now for something competely different!

I do hope all of you have been at least introduced to
"Fawlty Towers", a British comedy series.
This is John Cleese in one of the programs.
He is so hilarious, and his superb crew backs him up perfectly!
Or sets him up perfectly I should say...


In case you missed this from an earlier blog,
Here is Phil Keaggy playing a wonderful song with guitar and vocals:

Such an incredible talent.

c.1919


Oman Bedouin woman casting vote in the state of Bidiya, east of Muscat.

Pakistani boy, 10/2011
Thanks to my Pakistani readers!

Minsk, capitol of Belarusia, 10/2011

Well, the day keeps getting later, so I need to post this
before it is tomorrow!
:0)
inkspired
"Camera Savvy"
original Collage Art Doll by inkspired

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Autumn leaves budget crafts, coloring sheets and free paperdolls with quotes

Bueno!

As I look outside through my frost splattered window
it is hard to think about bright autumn leaves, crunching leaves in the park, etc.
I haven't finished with Fall!
I am still thinking of beautiful colors, and warm drinks of apple cider,
lots of squash recipes with soups and stews...
brisk walks in the twilight.

Not today!
It would be more like slushing through city park
and seeing lots of fallen leaves covered with sloppy snow.
My brisk walk in the twilight would be my
oh-no-it-is-so-slippery trudge!!!

c.1908

"Delicious autumn!
My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird
I would fly about the earth
seeking successive autumns."
- George Eliot

white oak leaves



Can you make Lenci more clothes?

Have you missed the window of opportunity
for gathering and pressing Fall leaves?
No fear!
Here are two wonderful decorating and reycling projects:




Please do be careful when dealing with old lightbulbs.
If I recall correctly, there is something lethal inside,
 like a small amount of mercury or something.
Just to be sure, wear craft gloves (or surgical gloves) when working with them. Work in a ventilated area, and dispose of the innards into a container
to go to the trash. I would use an old coffee can if I had one.
If not, I would wrap in plastic. Then wrap that in plastic and then dispose of.

If there are regulations or anything out there that I am not aware of,
tell me!
I have made leaving a comment SOOOO EASY!!
no sign-ups
no sharing of your e-mail
no requirements,
just leave a comment!!!!

If  you don't have fresh evergreen in your area,
go to the craft store. They make amazing silk leaves and flowers now!
They also have dried florals, like the purple flowers in the lightbulb.
The craft store is also where I get my clear glass ornaments.

There are many retailers that skip Thanksgiving,
and go straight from Halloween to Christmas.

For those of us in the United States that is so
wrong!!!!

Thanksgiving is a truly American holiday.
Unique to us!
It is a time to be Thankful for all that God has given us,
and for the friendships of people we previously didn't know.
There is so much to be thankful for:
good health
and good health for our families and friends
eyesight
family
good friends
children - not neccesarily our own!
healthy food
a roof over our heads
the freedom to say what we want to
the freedom to do what we want to (within reason!)
the freedom to worship God as we choose
a loving pet companion (dear Tanner)
computers that work!
scanners and printers that work!
the USPostal Service for delivering mail
your significant other (that means you, Michael)
being literate
my air conditioner
my furnace
good neighbors
a car that runs
oh my, the list would just go on and on.

But most importantly,
I am thankful for God, and His incredible gift to me-
salvation through His son, Jesus Christ (Yeshua).
It just doesn't get any better than that!
:0)


"Winter is an etching,
Spring a watercolor,
Summer an oil painting
and Autumn a mosaic of them all."

- Stanley Horowitz



Why not make your own leaf people?
Cut and fold your cardstock to desired size.
Take a pressed leaf or a silk leaf and place glue on edges and center.
Adhere to cardstock.
Draw faces, arms and legs around the glued down leaves.
Color with favorite art pens/pencils/crayons/etc.
Add details with a fine tip permanent marker.
Fill in areas as desired with stamped acorns, small leaves, tree branch, etc.

These would make pretty refrigerator decorations,
or frame on the wall
or send as a Thanksgiving card to friends and family.
Cut out individually and seal with plastic (laminate).
Place a flat tape-type magnet strip to back. 
Super gifts to a teacher from his/her student!

Sorry that's so blurry, but it came in a really small file.

If you haven't had snow, why not print out this sheet,
and give to each child.
Then take a walk around to see which ones you can find!
You could laminate the sheet if desired.


vintage little French girl paperdoll

Well, the snowplow just plowed our street.
Amazing!
I am getting ready for the craft fair
at the Brighton Senior Citizen Building.
November 5, 2011
8am - 2pm

It would be so fun if you stopped by and said hi!


"Sharing and giving are the ways of God."

- Sauk Proverb

Wood Cherry Fairy original Collage Art Dol by inkspired


inkspired


Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Paper pretties

Hello, and welcome
Spectral zenith by Jen Stark

Today I want to show you some beautiful artwork that is made completely from
PAPER

First, let me feature a few pieces from the gallery of Jen Stark:
Coriolis effect by Jen Stark


'Pedestal' using paper, wood and foamcore by Jen Stark
Radial Reverie by Jen Stark,
only paper has been used
Reciprocal by Jen Stark
made with wood
'Sunken Sediment' by www.jenstark.com

Check out more of her amazing work at the above website!

Next I would like to share another phenomenal paper artist
Peter Callesen

'Castle' by Peter Callesen



'Snowballs' detail, Peter Callesen

'Down the River' by Peter Callesen

'Down the River' detail



I would encourage you to check out his website also!
You will find more of his incredibly detailed paper cuttings,
and some fantastic room sized cuttings!


papercutting from a paper doily

She has many other beautiful papercuttings from doilies, so check out her shop!

The last artist I would like to feature today is
Gerlof Smit

You can go to his website and see the huge undertaking he did
by cutting portraits of each member of his home town
ages 0 - 81
project Schingen, the Netherlands

'Amazement 2' detail by Gerlof Smit

'Plane Tree Leaf' by Gerlof Smit


'little garden' by Gerlof Smit

I hope you have been inspired by these amazing paper artists.
I know I am!

If you have time, I would also recommend:


Very inspiring!

Have you recently done any paper cutting?
Scherensnitte?
Papel Picado?
Wycinaki?
I would love to see your work!

Here are a few of my recent Halloween/Day of the Dead papel picado cuttings:

and

The patterns are courtesy http://www.thetoymaker.com/

With winter weather coming for many of us,
paper cutting is a perfect inside pastime.
They also make super Holiday cards!

Until tomorrow -

inkspired

'Over and Out' by Jen Stark