Cinnamon Pink

Gabriela Delworth's Book is Out

Gabriela Delworth's new book, Paper Head Dresses, is now available.  This is the book you need if you want to design your own paper crowns and tiaras.

You will learn how to make your own templates and decorate your pieces using a variety of embellishments. The book includes step-by-step tutorials accompanied by beautiful photography. You will also receive a basic kit of decorative papers, and embellishments, from Gabriela's own collection to give you a quick-start on creating crowns and tiaras.

If you ever visited Gabriela's blog, you know that she is a master of design and elegance. Gabriela is currently hosting a giveaway to win her new book. Hurry up and enter now.

Take a Moment to Meditate

I just finished reading the book, One Moment Meditation: Stillness for People on the Go authored by Martin Boroson. (Full disclosure: I did receive a review copy of the book.) The author’s book is packed with many powerful ideas that could make you rethink the significance of a mere moment.

Boroson explains how a moment of meditation can bring us healing, inspiration, joy, opportunity or a fantastic new idea. Furthermore, each moment offers us a chance to refresh and recharge ourselves, many times, throughout the day.

How can one moment do this? Boroson says, “You can experience such peace in the moment because, at that moment, you are not carrying the past or chasing after the future.” Instead, you take the moment to refresh your awareness.

He differentiates between recreation which just gives us a rest from our stressful lives. And focuses on re – creation where every moment is brand new. I especially like the final words of Boroson’s book: “With this breath, I am reborn. And everything is fresh and new.”

After reading his book, I practiced the “Basic Minute” which is the foundation of the One-Moment Method. I tried this meditation before attempting a new drawing. I did feel calmer as I sketched which resulted in a more relaxed and better drawing. For more information, visit onemomentmeditation.

Looking for New Ideas?

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas - and ways to improve my mixed-media art. I recently purchased two new books that caught my attention:

Caffeine for the Creative Mind (250 Exercises to Wake Up Your Brain) authored by Stefan Mamaw and Wendy Lee Oldfield. The book's purpose is to help readers prepare, and train, to create ideas in greater quality and quantity by doing the suggested exercises.

The other book, Design Basics Index authored by Jim Krause, is targeted to designers. Although I'm not a designer, I like the book's focus on the Principles of Visual Design - and Exercises to help readers flex their own creative muscles. I really believe the book would be helpful to many artists.

I have quite a few books on Creativity and Idea Generation. When I'm beginning a new project, or hit a dry patch, I like to grab a bunch of these books and randomly glance through the pages.

When interesting ideas begin bubbling through my brain, I start to take notes. Eventually, I come up with pages of project ideas or new creative paths to explore.

I probably will use these two new books in the same way. Do you have any favorite books that get your creative juices flowing?  Have a Creative Day, Darlene