New Website for Awesome Illustrator and Artist

Someone very awesome has a new website!  Check it out if you are interested in art or illustration.  

Smiles!

crazy mushrooms

crazy mushrooms
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

Look what we found growing on a piece of wood that we had in our yard! Mushrooms are just so cool to look at. The line and shape and design of them inspire me.

fire/fall

fire
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

It is getting cold enough at night to start having fires. I think fall is really here!
Just for fun, what does your favorite fall jacket or sweater look like?

Me and Roxy

Me and Roxy
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

silverware in the sink

silverware in the sink
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

My glasses

My glasses
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

Fruit Drawer

Fruit Drawer
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

This is part of the Ali Edwards (or a spin off of it) weekly challenge. She is asking people to take pictures of their daily life for one week.

Fun Night Out

Frank had a fun gathering at a new hotel downtown.  The party room had two large screens that played music videos from his iPod.  Later people played wii bowling, and I think I saw Guitar Hero out of the corner of my eye later in the evening.  We had JENGA at our table.  The boys had a couple of fun matches while the girls drank wine and watched.  By the way, Frank is a huge fan of Disney.  (He actually works for the company, too.)  There were little silver Mickey heads on all of the tables for decorations.  The last photo shows my friend holding one up for the camera.

Unrelated

Tonight I:

1.  Made instant Betty Crocker potatoes

2.  Ate meat loaf, potatoes, and green beans for dinner

3.  Did the dishes (yeah!)

4.  Paid a lot of bills

5.  Checked my email

6.  Blogged

I LOVE SARK

Click on this question mark to get to SARK'S awesome blog.  She has a wonderful audio journal entry about dealing with the difficulties of life.  I really needed to hear her message today.  Thank you, SARK!

Vid for you, too

TILLY & THE WALL - ALLIGATOR SKIN from Team Love on Vimeo.

Outsider Art

Oh, yeah, one more thing.  If you enjoy outsider art and folk art, check out Raw Vision next time you go to the bookstore.  There is such amazing imagery in this publication from artists of diverse backgrounds.  It is sure to inspire (if it doesn't freak you out too bad)!

Flowers for You

Just needed to brighten up this rainy day with some beautiful flowers!  Hope you like them, too!

Clown Feet

Snickel Fritz came to my school one day recently.  She came to teach the children that clowns are not scarey; they want to make people laugh.  She showed us all of her funny make-up and clothes.  I totally loved her clown shoes.  They reminded me of some rolled over "docs" that had been painted in bright colors.  So, in case you've never had the chance to see clown shoes . . . here you go. I hope they at least make you smile!

Playing Catch Up (or plain ketchup)

Itasca State Park is so beautiful.  We saw the beginning of the fall colors.  We had such a great time.  I would highly recommend visiting in the next couple of weeks to see even more fall wonder.

Off for a few days

Hi Everyone,

I will be taking a break for the weekend, but will have a lot to share on Monday!

Have a great one!

-Briana

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are cool, even in the rain.  I love sunflowers.  I especially like these orange ones.  This photo was taken at the apple orchard this past weekend.  I have some other photos to post of a clown and my night out on the town.  I'll try to do that tomorrow.  Until then . . .take it easy and be well.

Visual Journal Collective

Last night was the first meeting of the Visual Journal Collective.  We met at MCBA.  I am thrilled to be a part of this group.  I think it is going to be a lot of fun!

Home is Where the COLORS Are

I am home today, and I feel like my list of To Do's is endless.  Ever feel that way?  Life gets so busy.  It is hard to keep up and keep myself in balance.  I am constantly making goals for getting more exercise, eating healthier foods, developing a meditation practice, etc.  I know that my mind, body, and spirit are all connected.  It is simply hard to maintain a balanced life in our society.  It is definitely possible, but it is challenging.  At least it is for me.  Here is list of things that I have achieved today:

I drank 2 cups of coffee

I did some research on my health insurance

I scooped the litter box

I made a phone call to my health insurance

I ran a box out to the mail carrier (which saved me a trip to the post office)

I ate lunch

I did the dishes 

I made a post on my blog =)

Hopefully in the next few hours I'll get the rest of my To Do list completed!

What did you do today?

Orchard of Love

This is my new song for the day:

"Going to the Apple Orchard, where we got ma-a-a-rried.  Going to the Apple Orchard where we got ma-a-a-rried.  Going to the Apple Orchard where we got ma-a-a-rried.  Going to the Orchard of LOVE."

It rained all day today, but that didn't stop us.  We brought our rain gear and wore boots.  It was so much fun!  We brought home a bag of honeycrisp apples, too.  Can't wait to eat one!

Visit  www.minnetonkaorchards.com

fluffy plants in the sun

fluffy plants
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

Can't wait to see the sun again! It has been rainy off and on the past couple of days. Oh, how I love to sit outside and read a good book or zine! I hope I have that chance again soon before the weather gets too cold. I love fall, but am not quite ready to let go of the warmth of the sun felt in the summer.

An Orange so Sweet-2, Child Bks2

An Orange so Sweet-2, Child Bks2
Originally uploaded by Rosemary Riskin

Here is a small sample of my mom's artwork. I love the strawberries, don't you?
My mom is such an inspiration! I can't wait for her website to be ready so I can show off her work!
Way to go, Mom!

Chicklets

Chicklets
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

Here is a journal page from way back in 2003! I can't believe how fast the years go. Can you believe it is almost mid September already! CRAZY!

Just a Reminder . . .

Trust Your Crazy Ideas
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

Get Your Crayons Out

colorful crayons

Time for some kitty pictures!

These are our kitties.  They are both very sweet and cute.

They are brother and sister.   They get along great!  They both sleep on my head every night. Sometimes that makes for a difficult night's sleep.  Oh well!  They are very worth it! 

I love turtles

P7270131
Originally uploaded by BrianaCreates

This turtle was spotted while Tom and I were canoeing on a lake near our house. I get very excited when I spy a turtle, let alone get to take its picture!

Last Night

Last night as Tom and I watched a dvd of extreme snowmobiling, I did some visual journaling.  I was using the new Crayola crayons and colored pencils that I bought at Walgreens.  It is fun to see the new Crayola products. I always had to have a new box of 64 crayons each school year.  I love their markers, too.  They are fun to use as a watercolor wash, as they are water based. 

Old School House

This evening my husband and I took a drive in the country.  It was a beautiful, cool evening.  We took a turn off of the main highway to check out a small town near us called Scandia.  While we were there, we saw a sign for a historical marker.  It was an old school house that was built in the 1800's.  Because I am a teacher, and because I loved watching Little House on the Prairie when I was little, this was very exciting for me.  Here is a photo that I took from the outside looking in.  If you look closely, you can see Tom (my husband) in the window on the other side of the building.

Here are the eight traits of a creative person according to Mari Messer in Pencil Dancing.  

(Please ask for permission to use the image at left © 2008.)