Finally...An Open Window!

Back on June 14, 2009

I began this blog and gave it a name based on

the inspiration that comes from having

'open windows'.

If you are interested, click HERE to see how

it all began.

Now, over 260 posts later (not counting my

second blog, The Play Date Cafe) and

nearly 400 followers,  I am very happy to say

that today, for the first time since November,

I was able to open the window once again!

I know, I know...probably doesn't seem to be a big deal,

maybe not even worth blogging about, but I would be remiss

not sharing this day as it's the total theme for this internet life

I've created.  It's currently 71 lovely degrees here in

Northern Illinois and I feel inspired!

Many of you know that this is no longer my view.

Just a little over 2 months after I started this blog,

the view changed and I was not happy!

I'm still extremely disappointed.

If you don't know the story and want to see

what THAT was all about, click HERE

I have yet to take a photo of the outcome because it's still

pretty messed up out there.

(what an oxymoron that is...pretty messed up?)

This was the view just a couple week's after the

land massacre began.

I've since talked to the City planning manager and he has

told me to be prepared that this is only the beginning.

That lovely field leading up to the farm in the first photo

will soon be an office development, and that will be 

located just on the other side of the new road.

By the way...in case it escaped your mind as you read

my saga....this road is literally 13 paces from my patio.

Am I still inspired by the view....mmmm, not so much.

But an open window is always the first sign of lovely

things to come....

and THAT'S what I choose to see.

Julie Ranae's Wednesday Night Favs!

I don't typically start out my posts with a negative, but I have to say....I SO do not like how this card photographs, but the card itself is so lovely, that I had to give it a go anyway. I tried every different backdrop, different lighting, blah...blah...blah. So I hope you will take it for what it's worth....a valiant effort to share!

Now on to my new favs for this week!

Last week I introduced some of you to LilyBean's Paperie. You LOVED it there, so here is someone that Melissa herself follows. A Creative Mint is a feast for the eyes if you are inspired by color. I think many of us have inspiration boards in our art spaces to assist us when we need a little help. This blog is like having an inspiration board on your computer screen. Make sure when you visit that you don't stop at the most recent post. This visit requires you to scroll through the archives to really connect with what I'm saying.

I have to admit, I am still in my shabby-chic phase with this next blog, but you will see why I must share this with you. Iralamija is beautiful...lovely...sweet...well, you get the picture! Beatriz Jennings offers descriptive content for all of her posts in both English and Spanish translation, without relying on Google Translator. There are classes and tutorials offered and lovely handmade items just waiting to be ordered.
Again, visiting the archives of this blog is a must for you to really
appreciate all the beauty that is offered.

I saved this one for last because, well....I'm not sure where to start and I can already tell you that I don't see an end in sight for my description of this blog. Maria Medeiros Photography & Design AKA Cozycomfycouch. Maria has been a follower here at The Open Window from very early on. She came by way of my cyber friend Paulette's blog. Maria, is not a stamper. She is not 'technically' a paper artist in the way that most of us think, but what she manages to 'put to paper' is phenomenal! Maria has a website and a blog and about 25 other things going on and the one constant is the beautiful photography she shares. I am so happy to say that she is participating in our tag swap using her photography and she is very excited about it. You can get a sneak peek at her tags on her blog. Maria...thank you for being such a loyal follower and I can't wait to see what you have for us next!

That's it for tonight. Please...please...PLEASE...when you stop by these blogs each week, take just a moment to leave a quick comment to let them know how you found them. We bloggers always appreciate that little tidbit of information. Sometimes we stay up half the night just wondering how someone in Katmandu came to log onto our blog...well, I do anyway...

Favorite Places to 'Hop' and Other Creative Ponderings...

This could prove to be a bit of a long post and my 2nd one of the day...how 'bout that?! It's nearly midnight here in the unseasonably cool state of Illinois, but I am looking forward to some great sleeping weather.

I managed to get a couple more cards done tonight using my new toy that I talked about earlier. I now affectionately refer to it as 'The Bug', so you do not have to worry about catching anything when I share project ideas with the aforementioned 'Bug'.

Also wanted to plug these great background cardstocks from Fancy Pants Designs. The 12 x 12 sheets of Design Cards are terrific for building your focal points on. Both of the cards featured here and last night's card use the design cards which are slightly collage-oriented, so those of you who are a bit 'collage phobic' will really like what you can do with these.
What I have decided to do is post a few new favorite blog sites each Wednesday. Blog hopping is a fun way to spend an hour or two, if you have the time, but if you only have 15-20 minutes and have NO IDEA where to go, this will be a great way to get you on your way.

If you read my blog roll (favorites list) you will find what I call my 'must visits'. These are blogs that I visit at least once a day, but usually several times a day. So check those out because they are consistently fabulous!

Here are my picks for this week's My New Favorite Blogs:

Vintage Papers is a great blog by Nancy Maxwell-James. The creativity from this blog has been seen in a variety of Somerset Studio publications and the unique perspective Nancy brings when sharing her life will keep you looking through all of her archives. I am anxiously awaiting a set of ATC's based on Marie Antoinette that I ordered from Nancy's collection. I believe there is something for everyone on this blog, so check it out.

While I was there, I found My Desert Cottage, an outstanding blog by Karen Valentine of Scottsdale, Arizona. I am a real lover of shabby chic and it's non-stop exploration when I visit here. She has a couple of other blogs that she manages as well which include handcrafted cards and gifts. She is sponsoring the 'Where Bloggers Create' Party on Friday, July 24th inspired by the publication 'Where Women Create', so mark your calendar and make sure you stop by to see over 100 other blog sites who have signed on to participate, including yours truly.

Last but not least, I was over at Mona Pendleton's blog Cupcake's Creations (which I visit many times a day) and hopped from her blog to one of her favorites which eventually led me to Ross. It appears to me that Ross started out possibly as a scrapbooker, but then I'm not sure...Ross is from Italy and the majority of her blog is in Italian. She definitely loves color, whimsy and mixed media. This is one of the most eye-catching blogs I have come across in awhile and I think it's such a fun place to visit.

I mentioned the other night that when you go 'blog hopping' you will find yourself traveling all
over the world. I have followers from England, Australia, The Dominican Republic, Asia, Canada and of course here in the U.S. Art is one of the universal languages in which we can all say "I speak a little...". Inspiration is found everywhere you look, so I hope each Wednesday you will plan to stop by to see where we'll travel to next!

We're Havin' Some Fun Now!

Been a long day of blog hopping, comment-leaving, inspiration-searching and actual creativity. I'm a bit later than usual sending my message out to you, but I find that when I go to bed without posting something, then I lay awake thinking about tomorrow's post.

Over the past couple of days I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about the things that inspire you.

So how much blog hopping do you do? It's a great way to spend some free time and there is so much fabulous inspiration to BREATHE
in.

If you're not sure where to start, just take a look at my favorites list and start from there. Before you know it, you will have traveled all around the world and taken in some remarkable creativity. There will be dialogue written in languages you can only guess at, but the universal language of art makes for an easy translation.

Tomorrow I am going to share with you some blogs that I have just found and what makes them new favorites of mine. So please make sure you come back with a cup of tea, a pen and paper and a few minutes to spare. In the meantime, HOP on for the ride and let me know if you have a favorite blog you would like to share.

Creative Struggles...I Can't Be The Only One?!

I've been at this stamping 'thing' for many years. Let's put it this way, I've been at it long enough to know that I really don't need to ask the question.









But there are still times when I feel like I am the only one out there putting BLUE and GREEN together and coming up with PURPLE !

When was the last time that happened to you? What do YOU do when you are in need of serious 'SPARK' ?

Leave a comment and let me know. I think it could be an inspiration to us all!

In the meantime, I am still looking for people who want to 'play' in the gift tag swap. Scroll down to the post below for all the details. It's going to be a lot of fun. You never know if one of those tags will be the 'SPARK' to help keep your creative juices flowing!

Being Inspired...Following Blogs

The subtitle to my blog is 'Letting Inspiration In...and Out'. Here is a terrific example of what that means to me.

Over the past week or so, I have fallen in love with Cupcakes Creations a beautiful blog from Mona Pendleton. If you make a visit there, you will quickly see where the inspiration for this card came from. I hadn't made distressed paper flowers in quite some time but I felt a sudden urge to do them again after following Mona's site for a few days.

Inspiration comes by way of so many places, but sometimes, you have to go searching for it. I can't even remember how I found her blog, but I am so glad I did.

So take a couple of minutes....or better yet, make a nice cup of tea and visit the archives of this fabulous creative place. You too, will be glad you did!

A Little Inspiration

Thought I would take a moment and share my 'Safari Box Purse' with you. I have made and sold so many of these in a variety of themes, but this has always been my favorite. It's the only one I cannot part with.

It's been awhile since I created this, but every time I look at it, I'm inspired. In other words, it's a reminder that whenever I experience 'dry' times in my creativity, I know that if I keep searching, I'll find creativity just around the corner.