iCreate

Sometimes I wonder if 'creativity' is more than just a gift that one is born with.  I was always told it was my gift, it was that certain thing that made me special and unique....and I do believe that.  But then sometimes when I've been up for two days straight, because I am on what I call "a creative bender"....well then I can't help but wonder if creativity is also an 'illness' or an 'addiction'.  Because when I am in that 'creative zone', I really can't stop.  I will forgo food and sleep just to finish whatever creative project I am engrossed in, almost as if the world is in immenent danger of collapse if it does not receive my finished art project.  And honestly....that's just a bit insane!   But 'creativity' can also be 'therapy'.  When I am feeling low, I often have a great need to lose myself in a creative project.  This submersion into the creative realm is my 'zen' place.
It acts as a means of 'catharsis'...and is very healing.

But then think about that for a minute....the 'gift' of creativity, morphs into a  curse of 'addiction' while also being the very same 'catharsis' that soothes the spirit so that it can overcome 'illness' and return to the place where its 'gifts' are fully functional.  Wow!  That's really mind bending!  But then again...that's just what creativity is supposed be right....Mind Bending!!  :o) And speaking of creativity....this is my latest project!  As a new iPhone owner and creative soul....I just could not bear to protect my new phone with a generic case that everyone else has.  So I did what any good creative person would do.....and set about designing one of my very own.  I used one of my favorite art pieces called 'Autumn Equinox', and pulled from it to create a customized phone case that showcased some of my favorite things....color, autumn, owls, changing leaves, the moon and the night sky!  I wasn't sure how the case would look in person...but when it arrived I was absolutely delighted at how great it turned out!  Here's to originality, creativity

and the impending return of Autumn! 

Easter Greetings at pingg.com

 
 

Well it has been a crazy year!  Busy, busy, busy...and that's an understatement!  I did want to share some news however.  Remember the days when we sent PAPER cards?  Well I do, and honestly, I am a stationary fiend....so I still love the look and feel of paper cards.  But there is no use denying that we are full force in the technology age and paper does mean we have to cut down trees.  So what's a gal (or fella) to do these days when they want to send a greeting or sentiment to someone special, or where does a hostess (or host) turn when they need to send out invites for a large event?  Well I'll tell you where they go....they go to Pingg!  Pingg is....well only the hippest and most creative On-line Invitation Station on the world wide web!  Here is Pingg's Vision in their own words....

"Our vision is a world where online invitations & announcements can exist in the same sentence as "cool" and "awesome" (or if you're British, "wicked awesome"). The time has come to elevate the online experience--yes people, to RAAAAAISE the bar artistically and technically-so that online and traditional postmarked invitations can live together in peace, harmony and celebration... like yin and yang... like Cheech and Chong."

So why am I introducing you to Pingg you ask?  Because yours truly is one of those crazy, hip artists that contribute over there, that's why!  And I am honored to announce that I was selected the Pingg Plus Spotlight Designer of the week today....woo hoo!  (Can I get a hi-five?)  Hooray!  I started with Pingg last summer and won an honorable mention in their Summer Design Challenge.  Of course I was all over the Halloween Cards and Invites back in October, and now I have a new batch of Easter designs ready to be E-Mailed or Snail-Mailed to all your favorite peeps.
Pingg...Artist Designed Invitations and E-Vites

So help me support the 'Artists Movement' by sharing the news, posting a link, twittering or better yet....sending out some cards and invitations today!  Spread the word and help a sista out!  Here's wishing everyone a very Happy Easter!!

The Artful Gypsy's Bohemian Marketplace Now on Etsy!

 
So I haven't posted here since the winter holidays because I've been busy with an assortment of different things that have taken up all my time.  Spring in Florida has all but come and gone in the blink of an eye.  It was too cold, then it switched to being too hot just like that.  There was no long stretch of perfect Spring weather like there was the year before, and that has been disheartening.  I do have lots of photos and images to post, but it seems that I never have enough time to do all that I want to do.  Is it me....or does time seem to have sped up in recent years?

I know they say that it speeds up as you grow older.  But I mean it feels as if it has sped up for real....for everyone young and old.  Remember being a kid and the days seemed to drag on forever?  School seemed as though it would never get out for the summer, then the summers seemed to drag on endlessly.  I thought I'd never reach 16 so I could drive, or 21 so I could drink legally....but they did eventually come and then they screeched away at the speed of light.  But my children agree...they feel that time is short and that days, weeks and months speed by.  How come they feel it too?  Could it be a real phenomenon?
 
There are some articles about it that say that our days are actually shorter in time than they used to be due to some change in the earth's vibrational rate.  I suppose there are any number of theories, but there is no denying that time is one of the most elusive substances we have (or don't have in my case).  Of course when you are an artist, time seems to work differently than it does for others.  Making one piece of art can take hours, days, weeks....even a month if the circumstances are right.  What seems to others like time you've wasted loafing on your computer....is actually you working diligently on your next creative manifestation.  And sometimes we give up sleeping just to buy ourselves some more time.  I can always sleep tomorrow I tell myself.

 

One of my latest projects that I've been working on is a place online to sell my art and photography.  I have several websites of course, but I do not sell my work from those sites.  And I have several stock agencies that sell my work for me, but they only have selected pieces.  Writing two blogs, aside from taking up another chunk of my time....has put me in contact with people who have inquired about purchasing my art, photography and poetry.  So I finally stole some time away from other things and created my Etsy store.  Etsy is an on-line marketplace for all things handmade or vintage.  Having no place previously on the web to showcase my art, I thought it the perfect environment.  I've been telling people that I create art, but I think they may not have believed me since there is no place other than my blogs for them to see it.

I just started this weekend, so I don't have nearly everything in there yet.  But I started with simple 8x10 graphic art illustrations because it was easy to get them listed.  I continue to add things every day.  So I am asking all my friends, family and fellow blog kin...to please help me get the word out.  If you can forward the links to others, or tweet it or blog about it, please do....as I would be eternally grateful.  If you know anyone who loves Halloween or Arts and Crafts, please let them know since Halloween art is one of my specialties.  And keep it in mind in case you need unique hand crafted gifts for giving.  I've included a few images with this post and I'll post more, but there's plenty in the store and more being added everyday.  Please help me spread the word.  Thank you!  :o)
My Etsy store is called The Artful Gypsy's Bohemian Marketplace and the address is:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/artfulgypsy