Planning the magical 2015

As I said before, I don't make plans. At least, not BIG plans. But from time to time, especially at the end of the year (or the beginning of it, how you want to put it), I love to take some time to think ahead of what could be happening in the year to come. As you can see in the short {Instagram} video above, 2014 has been a wonderful year. Now let's take a look forward into 2015.

Aside from wanting to be healthy {an important wish, though, that many forget about}, on my wish list there are several goals I want to accomplish in 2015. The list is not long at all, but this are very dear wishes.

On the top of the list is ...learning a new language. If you know me, the Linguist inside is screaming for more languages all the time. This year I'm all about German, a language that I don't understand almost at all and that was spoken by my gran-granmother and grand-granfather. So it is something coming from my family origins. Also, my husband is speaking pretty well the language and understands it even better, so I want to be able to at least understand it and be able to have a conversation in German.

Next on my list would be rearranging my working space. I need more room for my crafts and art supplies and I'm going to do something about it. I need a new sideboard and new shelves for storage.

Third, I want to take more time to create ART and posting about it. It/s pretty hard to find time to make art, and sometimes seems impossible to write about it, even if at the moment I take step-by-step photos with the process of creating a page or another.

What are your resolutions for 2015?

Dreaming of summer days

Inspired by Jane Davenport online class, I drew this beauty into my journal-book. A journal book with hard cover and glossy pages, but perfect to add gesso on them and then color with acrylics.

Here you can see the name of the book on the right page. I just added more color and completely transformed the page, so can no longer read "master chef".

Saying "Hi" to 2014

Good morning or good evening where ever you are, dear creative soul! I know I haven't been writing much on this blog, and it's mostly because I've been doing a lot of writing on another, publishing articles about life and personal development, finding your soul and practicing forgiveness. I'm on a journey, and I only now discovered how much I really enjoy to write.

I haven't been neglected my art journal, though - I have a lot of beautiful and inspiring journaling pages I'm going to post about in here, so bear with me. 

I'm gonna leave you with this art journal page while I get myself back to post about what has been going on in my life and with my art creating process.Until then, stay tuned on your way and keep that smile on your face, shining like nobody else can, but you!

Not perfect, just like me! Oh, but I love her ;) 

Another week begins

It's 11.11.2013 and it's the first day of November when there is actually cloudy outside. We got used very quick with high temperatures for November and the shining sun feeling like 27 degree in the air! No more of that now! We'll have to bear with this till Christmas. Or maybe not. Maybe the sun is planing otherwise. Either way, I have prepared myself for winter: have been taking lots of sun for Vit. D and lots of happy from the kids running and laughing around me when I was out for a walk.

With all of that said, I cannot help feeling dreamy. If it's the monotone November or the waiting for Christmas, I cannot tell. I think is a little bit from both of them. Knowing that another year is close to an ending and that Christmas is so close that I can even hear the carols. Maybe that's why we have Christmas at the end of the year, after November, so everybody can chill and sing to the joy of life. 

Happy independence day!

Happy independence day to all Americans out there! I have to tell you I have many American friends and I'm always celebrating along this beautiful special day!
Also today, it is my great pleasure to announce that starting today you can buy my art prints from Fine Art America web page.

You can find all my work following this link. I will add more and more work at least once a week, so you  can choose from a variety of prints and dimensions. If you don't want to miss any of my art, please subscribe to my mailing list.

Mini-Journal page "I trust my intuition" - happy face ;)

Do you remember the mini-journal cover from the other post? The mini journal has glossy paper and it's kinda tricky to work with it, but I've managed to create this read-purple-headed girl who seems very content, she's happy. :-) She's smiling. This is painted on a regular mini-diary I had at hand, so I think it's pretty neat. Maybe I'm going to try to paint a boy next time.

I have to tell you from the beginning that I haven't used the clear stamps for this page. They are too big for the page size anyway. I just grabbed my Fabel Castell grip pencil and begun to do a free sketch.
I came up with this little cute face, which transformed little by little into a more colorful one.

I don't have too many step by step photos, as I was too under the process of painting it, so I totally forgot to take photos. But even so, here is another draft:

Then I added some contour...

I am pretty happy with the final result, although there's always place for a better one.

I've tried to create journal pages before, but none of them turned so beautiful ;-)

She even has some eye makeup! And as I'm a purple fan and I'm using and prefer it when I choose my make-up colors, I had to use it on my girl, too!

I've used aquatone sticks mainly, but also a bit of INKtense pencils for the eyes. INKtense pencils are vivid and vibrant and I love to use them for small details. I've also used some felt cariocas and Uni-ball Signo Angelic (white) Gel Ink Pen (0.7mm) for highlights and dots. When I bought the aquatone sticks I thoought they are more like neocolors II, soft and creamy, but they are waxy and hard to blend when not using water. They say you can use them dry, but I love the creamy feel they have when you add water to them and brush directly from the stick! 

Online class with Andrea Gomoll

I don't know why I have chosen Andrea Gomoll as a teacher. I don't know her, I never meet her in person, I  only find her blog online and fall in love with her creations. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty talented artists out there, I just had to choose one and...act!  I loved the fact that she presents her classes in very deep details, so I knew from the beginning what my money worth.

I joined her class late (on May 15th!) and even at the moment I haven't got the chance to see all her beautiful, well explained art videos. I still have time, because you get 1 year 24/7 access to the class, which is fantastic! Not to mention you can download the videos! I gotta tell you that the fact I can access the videos at all time made me purchase the class. The FACEcinating girls online class helped me develop my skills: I haven't paint any girls before, only a few isolated attempts, but Andrea convinced me that I can do it. And I can, no matter if it's not quite perfect! ;-) Thanks you, Andrea!

My first attempt using the stamps returned a not-so-perfect picture, but was my first try so a little practice will make the difference. Meanwhile, without stamps and too much watching the videos, I've done my first girl ever!! It is sure not perfect, but for me was a great step forward to a new world full of adventure! I've discovered (or rediscovered) how much I love to paint, get my fingers messy, have a bunch of painting tools all over the table and so on.

My first girl ever

Because I've joined late, my stamps were not here just yet, but my urge to draw and paint was too big to just sit and wait. So after doing this girl, I've started to draw a new one, this time with a better result:

The the stamps finally arrived (in one week time, I think), and I could start using them and practice my own way. Of course, when you see Andrea's videos all seems nice and simple, but you need practice and devotion to get a nice-to-gorgeous result! And - of course - you need to LOVE ART! I am an artisan with artist soul and I see world in colors even when there's only black and grey in the picture. 

I still have to work a lot to get the result I want, and for that I have to watch the videos with face shading, eyes and lips again. This mini-journal cover turned to be sad, I still have to work on it and make some changes. Also, I don't have all the supplies she uses, and I'm crying for some gelatos, but unfortunately here in Romania they are not available. BUT lucky me, I have a friend in the US who sent me some Faber Castell gel sticks, they are on the way, but I still have to wait quite a lot for them to arrive. Not so many colors in the sets, but there are still 18 colors to play with. Anyways, gelatos are a little bit too expensive for me at the moment, so I'll just stick to my favorite INKtense pensils and aquatone water soluble sticks.
If you want to join the fun, don't hesitate to signup the FACEcinating girls online class, you're going to love it all the way!

Horay! Today it's my birthday!

I've been expecting this for a long time. Actually dreamed about it. If I ever I forgot about it, there was always something to remind me about it!

When I was 18 I've received as a birthday gift a bottle of perfume. Was my first perfume ever, so maybe I'm sentimental and that's why I like it so much, but ever since then there was something missing. Of course, I had other scents and some were really close to this one, BUT was not THIS ONE.
Today I've received my bottle of cologne with the vanilla scent inside. Vanilla Fields, to be precisely! yeey! I was jumping with happiness with this bottle in one hand and with the package in the other. Then I've tried on my hand and here's the joy: it smells THE SAME as I remember it more than 10 years ago! I had to order it on-line, because here you cannot find it in stores. I read the reviews left on the product site, and some of the people were saying there this perfume can be found at the gas stations! No way, Jose! Not here, anyway! I guess the person was from United States, because he was talking like there's no way he would buy this perfume on-line. The fact is that I never ordered perfumes on-line, but this was the ONLY place where I've found it - and because I wanted this SO MUCH, I said I should give it a try! I even thought that I'll wait almost a month for the product to arrive from USA in Europe, but the truth is that I got this in 12 days! yeey again! ;-)

I love the scent of vanilla, and even if it's a cologne and doesn't last that much, I am happy I can have this on my skin and wear it everyday! Once I've tested and saw that I'm not allergic to this, I couldn't be more happy! I was afraid that I may be allergic, because I've been through this with hair dye, body lotion and other stuff, so I was a little worried about this, but Saint God it's OK!

Today wasn't really my birthday, but I've ordered this perfume on my birthday as a b/d present! But anyway, I consider every day is a new day that I can make MY DAY!

Hugs,
Love

I'm an angel

It's hard being an angel. People staring at you like you're not there or something. Hearing "I'm an angel" make them just smile. Like yea, you're not for real. Like a real angel should have white wings and a small little circle above the head. Like we should be all invisible and help you get through hard moments or push you to do this and that. It's nothing like that, you do all the job. You make the decision. And, most of the time, you call for us and expect to be there.

I've helped an old man with orientation yesterday. And when I say that I mean the directions for where he was heading, because it was an tourist wanting to see the old city. Old city was on my way, so I've decided to guide him until the destination.

People act strange when they see you want to help them. The question "May I help you, Sir?" makes one to wonder if I don't want to cheat on them, steal their money and run away. This man answered: "um, Yes and No!" ..."Hmm, Yes, I want to get to..." People are so unreliable nowadays that you cannot blame them for thinking such thing.

Yes, there are living angels among us and I'm one of them. People look odd at me when saying that, but I'll continue doing it because this is it what I am: an angel. I have to be there when people need me. I have to keep an open eye when walking down the street. And pay attention what people say around me, you never know when one may need my help.

You can create an exceptional life!

You Can Create An Exceptional Life by Louise L. Hay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What people do really want in this life? What would be life without wishes?! And what would one do if there's nothing to fight about?!

Life is full of unexpected situations, big opportunities, small sweet things...life is wonderful! And if you get to see this sparkling side you're on your way! You found your path! Be happy, relax, do what you like and make life as you want it to be! You hate your job? Do something and change it, discover the things you like to do and do that instead of going every day at work doing what you really hate! You're no longer in a good wonderful relationship? Then do something! Change it, see what's wrong, do the right moves, discover the trouble and move forward! Never stay in a relationship just because your friends say so, or your parents or the society! You have the right to be happy no matter what! Don't be ashamed! Step aside! And the list can go on.... BE WHAT YOU WERE MEANT TO BE and all the rest will come to you!

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10 things

10 things by cristina_love_peace on Polyvore

Fashion Quotes Latest Fashion 2011
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Cameron Diaz Fan @ CameronFan.com - Photo Gallery: Clicca...
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Arrow
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Feather brush
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Bubble shape
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Heart shape
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Number 10
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Časopis ELLE, broj 100
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just a quick thought - Letter of the week 9

In spite of everything they say about the crisis and all that hard living situation, my instincts tell me that I have to go. I don't know why and I don't really know how, BUT I have to do it. A part of me screaming for this and I guess I have to pass through this experience on my way here, on Earth. And the reason I feel this way is because I had a meeting with maybe the most 'beaten by the faith' man I've ever met in my life: a man that was at some point more dead than alive and who stood by and believed that he can do it! And HE DID IT! So, what's keeping me back? !

I'll be back :)

My dream wedding is...

The thought of moving to Barcelona still pumps in my head and I cannot stop thinking on how it will be to organize my wedding there, right on the beach. With a small audience will be a perfect wedding. ;-) well, perfect for us. We should thou get civil married here in our country of residence because you have to be civil married in order to have a wedding, being on the beach or not.
Here is what I've found just looking for 3 minutes, with the help of our dear friend Google:
Destination Weddings in Barcelona: http://weddings.about.com/od/weddinglocations/a/BarcelonaWeddin.htm

And also this one: http://www.barcelonawedding.com/types-of-ceremony/

And I found this beautiful blog with lots of information and things you need for a wedding in Barcelona, but not only, it's a bout weddings in the whole Spain:

http://sunshineweddingsspain.com/blog/

image source: dress

Why people stop dreaming?

Why do we end being so miserable? When do we stop dreaming and start acting like real adults, with real worries and real wounds? I cannot imagine life without a smile and life without the sun, be it just deep in my heart. I cannot imagine living next to a man who does not appreciate me the way I am, with goods and bads. I cannot imagine why people stop dreaming for something better, for something good in their lives. It is because life it's so hard we cannot see the good part of it, or just because we were taught to just accept everything that comes along without arguing about it?

Of course, it's a good thing to take life as it is when you cannot change the facts, but it's deplorable when you don't look any further. And I see this "acceptance" every day, when I look at some of my friends, especially to the females: I have a friend and she's so not wanting to see the things in other way then the one she was raise. With all the religious believes that drag her back, with all the social dogmas and all it comes with it. She just can't see herself earning more than 500-700 euros per month, nor doing something out of the ordinary. She just wants to follow a pattern and stick with it. And if she will never dream more than that, it is a fact that actually she'll never have more. And that is so sad. Why do people stop dreaming and start grumbling!? We only have one life and we can make so much out of it. Why don't we take advance of it and just do it? I would like all the people to start look into the mirror and actually realize that this is now, it's happening now and they have NOW the chance to do something. The past is past. The future is something it will come, someday...tomorrow, the day after tomorrow...but THE PRESENT! Oh, the present is it a present! Make the most of it!

A perfect rainy day

This seems to be a perfect rainy day. I'm all alone, enjoying a glass of green juice/smoothie and making the most of it: relaxing in front of the computer writing this. Yeah, you probably would say that I should lay in bed with a cappuccino or hot chocolate. Maybe, but I got up today thinking that I should make this Saturday mine. And this is what I just did till now, when talking a break to finish my translation, then eat some almond cheese with tomatoes and union and ..uh, a little piece of avocado. .And now I'm going back to the kitchen to finish things up: meaning wash the dishes and prepare some avocado pate!!! And...ummm, some sponge cake,,maybe! I'll leave this open while I keep myself busy and come back to add a few lines and maybe pictures with food! yam!

I have the cakes in the oven and I'm waiting for them to bake! I also have a terrible (for me) headache, and I say terrible because I don't suffer from this very often, in fact, I'm even wondering if I don't have a low magnesium-calcium level or I'm not drinking too much water... :( Going to see the cake..

And the cakes are ready: not so sweet as I wanted them to be, just because I didn't want to put too much sugar and have them too sweet. BUT I can drop some fine sugar on them and they are sooo yummy! The thing is that doing house keeping and all those raw creams and pates took my appetit for sweeties. I have a coffee next to me, the headache is still there, but I would say the pain is a little bit softer than earlier. STILL, I cannot keep wondering where this pain is coming from!? I 've also took 3 calcium-magnesium pills (you can take up to 5 a day) and I was hoping this shall pass. But here we go again, I really feel dizzy, tired (I have worked a lot these days, been up early and went to bed late)

I'm having a bite of this nuts and cocoa cake and sip of this fantastic coffee I've made myself. BUT I really think I should lay in bed for a few hours or so, and even try to get some sleep. I will post some photos with the cakes later ;-)



EDIT: May 20, 2012
Here are the photos with my cakes :-) I made just two, so I won't eat too much of this! LOL

These two should be two hearts, one with blueberries and other similar fruits, and the other one with cocoa heart and nuts! Nuts about you! ;-) But they ended up being a little bit distorted - anyhow, I don't know where the blueberry one disappeared because I couldn't find it in the fridge. I guess my mum took it or my dad and eat it all ! Or some guesses came in and she offered them the treat...with lots of sugar on top, I may guess, because, as I was telling you, I have used so little amount of sugar!

Here is the core, so flossy! That's all I had, because the rest was "stolen"!

Letter of the week (4) - I know you from somewhere

We've spent a very nice Saturday in the park, first in the morning, then we come back in the evening. And the evening walk was even more delightful because of the soft wind blowing so nice after a hot day. If the evening walk was dedicated to move and stretch&yoga poses, the morning one was for hot pictures. Yes, I love this HOT word: HOT!!! It's already summer here, we love to walk in the park and wear soft transparent clothes. I have a lots of pictures today, about 30 or so, but only a few we really to die for. One of them is shown below and I gotta tell you I'm getting obsessed with detail photography! I love putting details in the focus and transform a simple ordinary photo into a stunning one!

I know you from somewhere is the title for the Letter of the week, but I have no inspiration nor the time to write this now. It's almost midnight and I'm pretty tired. I'll get back to this, I have so much to tell you!

Letter of the week

I have this incredible urge to write. It doesn't matter what, I just feel like putting down some words.To express myself in different words and shades.

I intend to write a letter every week to tell you the most important things happening on that particular week and feature the stories: what if I get to write a novel? That should be the start of it, then putting all together! It all began after reading this.The whole point is to write and tell a story, act like an scenarist and get the best out of an situation.

That's another great IDEA: to write down my thoughts, my experiences and my life: the story of my life.

I've spent about $15 this month for the women's magazines...

As I reviewing the magazines I've brought the other day, I've realized that out there are women who are actually gift hunters, staying right there are waiting for a magazine to get out of the print and get on the news stand. Is this actually a sport or something? How many women do this on a regular basis? Do this women need the products offered as a gift along the magazines??

As I was wondering that, I could not notice the fact that I was one of them this March. I went to the news stand to actually shark the magazines with the gifts inside and measure their potencial: do I need that lip stick? Is that shampoo what I should use for my hair? How about that hand cream?!? I couldn't decide what I need the most, so I've took one AVON pink lips stick, one ALMOND Watson shampoo and...that's about it. I would have loved that lip gloss too, BUT I've decided to buy Cosmopolitan without it. What a pity! it was only half dollar more than the regular price. But I had no clue!

Anyway, this 'sport' can get us all if we don't pay attention. I've spent about $15 this month for the women's magazines...BUT I did so thinking that this is March, the women's month, and I'm gonna treat myself in every way. As a matter a fact, I'm going to pay a visit to Paul's, my fancy cafeteria I was telling you about and haven't finished the whole story...

When the sun comes up

I like early mornings. Correction: I love them! It's that part of the day that has such an incredible energy and you feel you have a long way ahead. You can drink your coffee and set for the day, build up your schedule and see what's do be done for the day. Mornings have something special, like also have the late nights. But I realize this feeling has to do with the ones biorhythm - not all people are full of energy in the morning. I like to be up very early just because the sun invades my bedroom with its light, and I have a yellow-orange wall where the sun rays create magnificent spectacular appearance. I like early mornings with coffee and biscuits, in front of my computer setting the tasks for the day. I love summer early mornings and now that we are getting over winter, I have to say I'm anxious  for summer to come because being March already transformed the day from a short one to a pretty long-light one! :-)

I'm gonna bring my coffee and then I'll get back to some writing expecting to be finished!

Women INPOWER!

Yes! March has arrived in town! This month is my month and for that I've bought all the glossy magazines for women that I could buy! Especially those including gifts! Among those, I can mention Cosmopolitan, JOY, Beau Monde, and others, but I'm thinking to buy even WOMENS and other magazines with gifts, if those gifts in question satisfy my interests when talking to beauty products.

Anyway, I have to go now, get my boots out of the house, wear my natural smile and buy some great gifts! ;-) see you all later!