Moon Flower

By the light of the moon an ethereal glow,
shimmers like the glitter of new fallen snow.

With jasmine and lilac she kisses the air,
her wings flutter playfully with nary a care.

She is ever so careful so as not to be seen,
a child of night and as fleeting as dreams.

Perfection is a state of mind

If you asked me what holds me back, 9 months ago I would have said fear. Fear of both failure and success can be crippling. To remain constantly in the planning stage is to never realize my dream. It also meant that I could never fail, that nothing could go wrong and everything would remain eternally perfect.


One day back in March of last year I decided I needed something different. Something just needed to change but I did not know what. I work across the street from Barnes and Noble complete with Starbucks coffee, a very dangerous combination for me. 15 minute break? (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) What 15 minute break? I just took my lunch hour and it's only 10:00 am!

Artwork by Grace ~ Click photo to be directed to her profile on The Artful Paper Doll

Anyway, I was guided as if by some unseen source directly to the New Age section of the store where I literally picked up the first book that caught my eye. The book was called "Ask and It Is Given." I will never forget that day because it changed my life. Guilt began to lift, I began to see the world and the people around me in a new way and I began to see myself in a new way. I am perfect already! I always was! The standards by which we judge what is perfect and what is not is an illusion created by ourselves. I am, in this moment, the absolute best and most perfect me that I can be! The beauty of this is that I am always in a state of becoming more than I was a moment ago and I can never go back to being less than I am now.



So, by the statements above, I was waiting for conditions to be a certain way before I acted on my dreams. I needed this, or that or the moon had to be in the right phase or . . . . on and on. I realized that to wait until a certain condition was met would mean I would wait forever because I would always be putting conditions on moving forward. I decided to act today, right now, no matter what! Yes, I had some fear but I'll tell you that 90% of the things we fear never happen anyway. So, if you are waiting for that right condition I can tell you it will never come. The conditions as they are now are as perfect as they will ever be. Dive in! Be free! Do it for love of yourself! Do it now!

Love,
Kitty Kellie

Call for Nominations ~ March Feature CLOSED

How often do we take a moment to truly savor the little things that make our hearts sing if only for a moment?


Think about a smile from a passing stranger, a kind word, an unexpected card from a friend, blue skies, fresh laundry, a good hair day, warmth on a cold winter day, the smell of fresh bread.


Today I will make it a point to appreciate the small blessings that come into my life. I will draw them into my being and experience them as I never have before.


In this moment, I will focus on what I smell, what I taste, what I see, what I touch and what I hear. By doing so will I be focused so absolutely in my present that I feel the power of now.


Instead of always wishing for something more to fill me up I will look at what is all around me and feel grateful for the many blessings which fill my life right now. I will be reminded once again of the personal power within me, the giver of my greatest love and my greatest joy is there.

The Artful Elite panel is now accepting nominations for the March feature. Please refer to About the Artful Elite Club for information about who can nominate a blog and how.

Enjoy and happy blog hunting!

Cheers! =D
~Kellie

The Artful Elite Proudly Presents: Tea with Ann~Denise

I am so pleased to bring you the very first feature of the month, an interview with Ann~Denise of Whim & Fancy Designs. What makes her blog stand out is her photography, her ability to tell a story with her photos and of course her lovely crepe paper creations. I wish I could display them all here. Instead I encourage you to follow the links in this post to see more of her lovely pieces. Click any of the photos to be redirected to her work.

Ann~Denise is also a current panelist for The Artful Elite. I thank you for volunteering and for taking the time to do this interview with me.


Q: What catches my eye when I look at your blog posts is the artful way you compose a picture. Your Marie Antoinette Birthday and Halloween spreads are perfect examples. Tell us how you went about setting up your photo shoot. Do you set these up in your home or a studio?

A: First and foremost, I love doing themed vignettes! When I set up for a photo shoot, it really depends on the theme, some require a more grandeur setup than others. Day and evening light will produce different types of pictures and can enhance the artwork and compliment it. I usually incorporate simple but yet elegant props, mercury glass, tiny lights or a luscious piece of fabric. I have a holiday room in my house and in this room I usually change the decor every holiday!

Q: How long does something like this take you?

A: It usually takes me anywhere from two to three days to set up my holiday room and when there is no holiday to celebrate it goes back to an eclectic french traditional decor. Now, if you are wondering where I keep everything? Well let's just say that I don't park our cars in our garage. I also get the best light in the house in this room. Because I set this room for the current holiday it makes it the best place to shoot my artwork.

Q: This leads beautifully into my next question in which I was going to ask if you take your own photos or hire someone?

A: I wish I could say that I was a super photographer but I do owe a lot of my touch-ups and fancy photo work to Picasa and Picnik. I love these photo /editing programs. These programs are free and so user friendly that I encourage everyone to give them a try. Although Picnik does have an upgrade program for a affordable price ,the basic program can still get the job done. I use a Panasonic Lumix digital camera and I photograph what seems appealing to me, not always trying to center the picture or make it perfect but more whimsical and spur of the moment kind of picture taking!

Q: How did you come up with the idea for this piece?

A: Let's talk inspiration ~ My idea for my Halloween Party and Props photo shoot came from a very good soul and friend Vanessa Valencia of A Fanciful Twist! For the past two years Vanessa has hosted the most sensational blog parties! This particular blog party wanted a Halloween theme where anything goes!

Q: I saw Vanessa's blog at Halloween and I agree with you, it was just incredible! I just love what you do with crepe paper especially your petticoats. How did you become interested in this medium and where does your inspiration come from?

A: I became interested in crepe paper about thirty some years ago! Crepe paper has always captivated me and I was always the one in my family to decorate for all the birthdays and of course crepe paper was fun, easy to use and also very inexpensive and still is!


As I grew older I was fortunate enough to be inspired by Amy Bartell, who was my elementary art teacher. This was back in the day when school actually taught art as an actual class three times a week. She was a fascinating person and inspired me with all the uses of paper and crepe included! I never had a formal art education and all my skills are self taught and a gift from up above!:)

Q: How do you go about putting a piece together?

A: I am constantly researching crepe paper and everything that surrounds it. I make it my business to be very well versed on the art of creping and crepe paper itself. Sewing is also one of my passions and I found that paper is definitely sewable. When I set out to sew crepe, everything just evolved. Hence the party petticoat was born from the love of my crepe paper and sewing and birthday parties!

Q: I can relate to pieces just evolving once you start getting into the creation process. I find that happens a lot in my art as well. Do you have any particular artists you find inspiring?

A: I wish I could say that there is one artist that I find inspiring but the problem with that is I find inspiration in just about all artist, mediums, genres'. Sometimes it's in the colors or uses of paints, fabrics, papers, etc. Because many of my ideas come from feelings and childhood memories, I find that my primary focus comes from my inner passion for the love art and creating.

Q: What would you tell other budding artists to inspire them to move forward with their dreams?

A: This is one piece of advice I give to others, find what makes you happy and what flows from within your inner soul. Never try to imitate but create from your heart and your own two hands.

Q: Beautifully said! Bravo! Where can we learn more about you and your work? Where can we purchase your work?

A: I am pleased to say that I am a guest artist and some of my work will be appearing in a close friend, mentor and gifted artist, Lisa Kettell's newest book, Art Circus, coming out his February in all major book stores and can also be preordered through Amazon books. Also one of my petticoats will be featured in Somerset's Apronology, date to be released. My work can be seen on my blog Whim & Fancy Designs and my etsy shop by the same name, also on Glitter and Grunge, a co-op of talented artists and Lollishops, a frou frou friendly marketplace.



Thank you for this wonderful interview Kellie, I hope this is okay:0 and your readers will be enlightened and find inspiration in this.

Thanks so much again for being with me today Ms Ann~Denise. I have enjoyed speaking with you and yes, it is absolutely perfect! I am so impressed with what you are doing and with your works and I can say I find great inspiration in your pieces. They are absolutely gorgeous! I appreciate your time and graciousness today. I wish you all the success the new year can bring you.

Hugs! =D
~Kellie

Disclaimer: All images posted in association with this post remain the sole property of Ann~Denise and Whim and Fancy Designs. Any reproduction or distribution either wholly or in part without her express written consent constitutes copyright infringement. Please respect her art!

The Magic of Winter's Gifts

December 21st was the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice and the start of the Yule season. Most of us know it as the beginning of Winter. Although this means the days are colder, it is the start of the solar year, a celebration of light and the rebirth of the sun.


I took a walk to the local market today. As new snow quietly fluttered down upon me, and crackled under foot with each step, I thought about all the wonder and beauty surrounding me. Nature has many secrets to tell. We need only open up our hearts and minds and little by little, her message is revealed.


Sparkling, crystal snowflakes landed delicately upon my eyelashes, nose and lips like gentle fairy kisses. Through the softness of the winter breezes, her fairy wings did whisper to me of nature's never ending promise of renewal.


I see the winter as a time of patient waiting, of quiet contemplation and appreciation for the cycles of life as shown to us through the seasons. We begin the new year full of hope and positive expectation for what may lie ahead for us. I find such possibility in new beginnings and I, like most have set my sights on change in the coming year.


If I could say one thing to help others along their path it would be to listen to your inner fairy. She has great wisdom for you. She is full of love, light and has only positive, affirming wishes for you. Believe in yourself, and listen to your heart for there is where your joy will always be.

Call for Nominations ~ February Feature CLOSED

The Artful Elite panel is now accepting nominations for the February feature. Please refer to About the Artful Elite Club for questions about who and how to nominate a blog.


Leave the link to your nominee in the comment area by copying and pasting the web address from your browser window. Do not attempt to leave it in html code as it will not work, I've already tried. If you miss type the address, we will not spend time searching for the correct one so do be sure you check them carefully before posting.
I would love for visitors to be able to see who is being nominated and by whom just to keep things honest!


Be sure to include a brief (no more than 2 sentences) about why you believe your selected artist should be featured. Be creative as we will include your statement and a link to you in the feature article.

Enjoy and happy blog hunting!

Cheers! =D
~Kellie

One Lovely Blog Award

I am flattered and delighted to have been nominated by the lovely SueAnn of SueAnn's Journey for this beautiful award. Thank you so much for thinking of me! Be sure to have a peek at some of the thought provoking work she is doing which is just magnificent!



Below are a few guidelines for receiving and passing this award on:

1. Add the logo to your blog.
2. Link to the person from whom you received this award
3. Nominate some blogs (as many or as few as you like)
4. Leave a message on their blog, letting them know they are "One Lovely Blog"!

I want to thank the beautiful ladies who are members of my Ning network of the same name. Below are a few of my picks for this lovely award! Thank you for being part of the magic at The Artful Paper Doll Ning network!

Fleur de Bee ~ An absolutely elegant blog!

Michelle Brown ~ Exquisite watercolor paintings!

Sharon's Cottage Quilts ~ Beautiful shabby chic, cottage charm!

Alison's Heart Sings ~ Love her beautiful girls!

This Good Day ~ Such delectable pretties!

This is in no way meat to be an exhaustive list. I wanted to recognize of few of my members and hope to do this on an ongoing basis. Thank you for enriching my life with your artistic expression.