Stand Up & Create + Get Owls!

Happy Wednesday! Hope all is great with you.

Great news! I'm the February Muse on Gingersnap Creations. Yay!


You'll get to see a Muse Showcase about me later this week (so excited!). And now I'm working on 2 fun tutorials for their blog this month. I have to keep the tutorials a secret...but let me tease you with a little peek at how I set up my art space when working on the first tutorial.

You can see here that I pinned up a bit of inspiration for my *secret* tutorial. I added the Gingersnap Creations logo to this picture to hide some of my inspiration. As you would expect, I've got a pile of vintage ephemera set aside. : )

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Here is my work space all set up. Let me tell you that I usually sit at my art desk when I'm creating. But this time, I played while standing up at my tall work table. I must tell you, I loved it! Try getting creative using your kitchen countertop or any surface that allows you to stand up and create, it's invigorating and will give you a fresh perspective.

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They say that having a ritual before you create can be very helpful to center you and to signal to your brain that it's time to create. My ritual is to make myself a cup of peppermint tea...very soothing.

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I recently purchased some of the new Martha Stewart paints...really enjoying them, I like their colors. You can see that my paint palette is well used, lol.
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For my water cup, I like to use this cup that was my grandmother's. My Mom would probably say that it's too valuable to use in this manner. I say that I love enjoying it all the time...instead of it gathering dust somewhere in a cupboard.

Do you see my computer screen in the background? Yes, sometimes I like to watch while I create. This time I was watching Masterpiece Theater's Emma  . I love anything Jane Austen! And after discovering Downton Abbey  (LOVE!), I'm gobbling up British historical romances like crazy. Do you have any that you would recommend?

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A bit of cushion underfoot is so nice when you're standing for a long period of time. I recommend investing in gel mats. They're awesome! I have them in my kitchen too.

After seeing my supplies and set up, are you totally curious about this *secret* tutorial now? : ) It will be posted around February 15th on Gingersnap Creations...I'll be sure to let you know when its up for your viewing pleasure.

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Last week, I asked you to post a comment and tell me what your favorite item was in our Birds shopping section. My kitty Inca picked the winner....drumroll please....#12 = CHRIS!

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Chris said that her favorite item was our owls. So, dear Chris, you win the new issue of Somerset Studio
and our Owl Paper Dolls and Night Owls collage sheets. Congrats Chris!

I bet now that you see these 2 owl sheets, you're wanting them too! Leave a comment here on my blog and tell me the title of an inspiring movie, mini series or show that you've seen. Preferably something historical with beautiful costumes and scenery. : )

My kitties will pick 10 winners that will receive these 2 owl sheets as digital downloads next Wednesday. Woohoo!

See you next Wednesday with more fun and creativity! : )

 

Comments

[Linda F.]

I just finished watching a 4 part miniseries called North and South about life in the English countryside in the south of England vs life in the industrial North. It was wonderful! I love your owls...thanks for the chance to win them.

[Marsha Gulick]

There is a wonderful book made into a series, Flambards, by KM Peyton. The series is 20+ years old, but I LOVED it. About a family in the UK around WWI. More about the homefront than the war. Lovely book, too.

[Laura-Kati]

I do love Pride and Prejudice too! Here in Finland we have seen some amazing Italian tv-series with unforgettable actors, beautiful scenery and amazing costumes: "Elisa di Rivombrosa" (Elisa of Rivombrosa) and "Il Falco e La Colomba" (The Hawk and the Dove). I don't know if it's possible to find them with English subtext, but they certainly are a must for every Italian lover!

[Renee Zarate]

Love the owls! Here kitty, kitty.....I also love "Downtown Abbey".

[Joanna]

Apart from Downton Abbey, which you've seen so you know how beautiful those costumes are, I really liked the recent BBC production of Sebastian Faulks's Birdsong. Not for the war bit (nothing beautiful or glamorous about that) but for the other parts of the story.

I'm lovin' those owl sheets!

x

[Diana]

Hi Helga,

Congratulations on being the Gingersnap designer for February!! They couldn't have done better.

I believe that my favorite series would be The Tudors, I thought the costuming was beautiful and very well done. And OOOH King Henry, wow. I also love that period in history.

[Susan G]

I simply can't get enough of The American revolution, and am also inclined toward frontier movies and some civil war... all American...so I hope you know these...

Mini series...John Addams
Movie...Gone with the Wind
" ...The Crossing
TV mini series...The Blue & the Grey
" ...Into the West
TV mini Series...North & South
Movie...Dances with Wolves

and one movie that has nothing to do with the above...Interview with the Vampire... lovely costumes

on the British end...I love "Sense and Sensability"

I am now also VERY much enjoying and await the return of "Camelot" on Starz, "The Borgias" on Showtime, and "Game of Thrones" on HBO.

I adore all your owls!!
thanks for making us all think and post ideas, as it is inspiring to read the other comments!
Hugs,
Susan

[jan]

As one reader commented, The Tudors was an excellent series that I too, enjoyed. And HBO's series "Rome" kept both dh and myself wanting more.

[Mary Wilkins]

Oh Helga! How great to be a muse on Gingersnap Creations and will run over and look at your tutorials! I also love owls and I have several of your lovely owl items.

For me, I am an Arthurian Legend kind of girl and I love anything about Arthur and Camelot, so I have the BBC series "Merlin" at my house to watch over and over again. Far different period than Victorian England, but one that I really seem to enjoy.

[Maggie M]

I agree, Sense and Sensibility and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (with Colin Firth) are two of my favorites. Congratulations on your 'muse' assignment. You'll do great because you have so many wonderful products at your finger tips!

[Linda K]

Hooray for you Helga! I'll be on the lookout for you on Gingersnap Creations. Love owls so it would be great to win!

SO many great period piece movies-wow- my faves are "Pride and Prejudice" with Keira Knightly and Colin Firth, "Enchanted April",the "Elizabeth" movie with Cate Blanchett,"La Vie on Rose" with Marion Cotillard and "Coco" with Shirley MacLaine both STELLAR!!, and of the newest movies (tho I'm not sure how much period piece they are) is "Hugo" and "Midnight in Paris"(how I'd love get a cab at midnight and meet the infamous artists in the twenties!)

[Holly McClellan]

I just discovered you through Gingersnap, and immediately had to go to your store to order some treasures. Can't wait to get them. Have you seen The Great Gatsby? I also loved Lawrence of Arabia.

[Justine L]

Oh I love watching Catherine the Great and the Tudors!