FERNS ARE MAJESTIC PLANTS

…continuation from my Deep Lake Trail hiking adventure.  

On my hike I took pictures. I took lots and lots of pictures. I think I now have a few hundred images of ferns stashed on my computer for future inspiration.

I have this great fascination with ferns. I like them. I like all types of them. I like to touch them and look at them and admire all the details. I think they have a beautiful balance of visual qualities.  I feel a new painting in the works!

The ones in these pictures have a brown color stem in the center. It almost looks like they are flowering. Is there anyone reading who is an expert on plants/ferns?  Maybe this will require some research. I am intrigued!

 Here is a link to the American Fern Society. Honestly there is something for everyone in this world!  :)

Inspirational and Rejuvenating Camping/Hiking Weekend

Solomon (he's my main man for those of you that don't know me yet!) and I took a super cool nature hike this past Sunday while we were camping at Yankee Springs Deep Lake Campground. I brought the camera. Our pace was drastically slowed because of my picture taking craze. I seemed to be called by all the plants and animals and couldn’t stop shooting pics.  Good thing we weren’t in a hurry.  

Before we went camping I had been inspired to start painting again.  I had put the brushes down and the paints on vacation while I have been working with some paper crafts for the last few months.  It seems like the painting bug has bitten again. It is never gone for long!  I am hoping that some of these new images will be a strong inspirational base for a new series of nature inspired abstract paintings I am planning to start soon.  

I will share more of my hike pictures and some new sketches for the paintings as am I able! 

Peace Friends!

- Rachel

My Art Room Gets a New Look!

Five years of creating in the same room had turned my little art studio into a big art mess and a pack rat den.  Here are some before and after photos of a much needed purge. Many of items were recycled. Lots of stuff went into storage.  The dark blue walls got three coats of cheerful paint. Dark green carpet was swapped for a smaller rug.  Most of the facelift was free! I invested money into some paint and the rest was just time and energy to sort through years of art stuff!!

I am thrilled with the transformation. It is amazing how clutter can slow you down drastically.  I have spent lots of time sitting peacefully and creating in my new space!!!  Yippee!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

the T word - TWITTER

I am learning how to be really popular on the internet. Wow! Who knew there are so many ways to connect to thousands of random peeps. It is kind of cool, scary and strange all at the same time.

I have been learning (slowly) how to get virtual friends on twitter and how to use those friends as an audience for my etsy VidaDesigns and Racheljasmine websites. I have no idea if the whole thing is really working or if I am totally wasting time in a huge black hole. But - I am giving it a shot.

I read a really great tutorial on the etsy forums about how to use twitter for business purposes. (OH - that sounds so stuffy and formal! Gross!)

Anyway - give it a shot and check out the link: etsy forum post on twitter

You can follow me on twitter if you want. We can be friends. Don't worry. We can still be friends even if you are not a twitterer. :)

Click here to see my twitter pages:

racheljasmine

vida_designs