365 Things That Inspire Me: December 2010

365 Things That Inspire Me

I also do posts for my clay group, beads-of-clay.org. Twice now, I have posted pictures that I took on walks with my dogs in a park near here, 3 Creeks. I post these as creative inspiration for my fellow artists and jewelry designers. These posts have been so well received that I decided to start a blog with daily inspiration in the form of pictures, quotes and poems. These pictures will be things from my immediate environment that I find inspirational or beautiful; textures, colors, contrasts, animals, unusual things, intriguing things. A daily dose of wonder....

"Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, and of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things."

"Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush is afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes."
E.B. Browning

It's all for Joy!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Dec 13 2010 Lights

Monday, December 13, 2010

Dec 12 2010 Holiday Lights

Dec 11 2010 Holiday Train

Dec 10 2010 Holiday Swan

Dec 09 2010 Holiday Lights

Dec 08 2010 Polar Bear

I took this photo at the new polar bear exhibit at the zoo. I photoshopped it and got this surreal look, kind of like a painting. He looks like a bear walking on the moon. The bears were playing with a plastic barrel that looked like an oil drum. I couldn't get photos because of the glass around exhibit. But it was wonderful...one of the bears grabbed the barrel, stood on his hind legs, lifted the barrel over his head and threw it at the other bear! All the kids were screaming with delight!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Dec 07 2010

Gum drops with a graham cracker door...icing galore!

Dec 06 2010

Dec 5 2020

This Santa is watching...you guessed it, a Buckeye football game! Now Santa, you're supposed to be making toys!

Dec 4 2010

Saturday, December 4, 2010

December 3 2010 Whoville

Another awesome gingerbread house. I was going to take my mom to a Christmas parade in Lebanon today that features over 40 antique horse drawn carriages. But the weather report is 1 to 3 in. of snow south of Columbus, so we have canceled the trip. I needed something to get me in the Christmas spirit! DAng!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Dec 03 2010 More Gingerbread

This one received my vote for best in show. The Worthington Inn is nearby in Worthington, OH. It is an old inn from the 1800's, and is used as a restaurant now.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Dec 2 2010 Gingerbread Dog House

Even has cookies and milk for Santa. My dog would have devoured that long before Santa ever got there!

Dec 01 2010 Gingerbread House

Professional, inspired by a Currier & Ives print. The roof is amazing!

Nov 30 2010 Gingerbread House

Isn't the tree wonderful? So realistic. It looks like it's made from pretzel dough.

Professional, inspired by a Currier & Ives Print

Nov 29 2010 Gingerbread House

Professional, House inspired by a Currier & Ives Print

Nov 28 2010 Gingerbread House

Every year Franklin Park has a gingerbread house contest. Here are some of the amazing and creative houses made entirely of icing, candy, cookies, gum, preztels and cake.

Professional, house from a Currier & Ives Print

Nov 27 2010 Poinsettia Tree

Nov 26 2010 Poinsettias

Nov 25 2010 Holiday Lights

This is a hallway in Franklin Park Conservatory. I love the colors in this..the oranges and the blues.

Nov 24 2010 Chihuly Glass Flowers

Nov 23 2010 Chihuly Glass

Nov 22 2010 Chihuly Glass

Nov 21 2010 Koi Pond

Koi Pond/ Chihuly Glass

Nov 20 2010 Koi Pond

Ok, I'm REALLY far behind! The cold weather and sinus problems have been keeping me inside. Here are some indoor pics I took at the Franklin Park Conservatory: Chihuly glass, poinsettias and wonderful, creative gingerbread houses.

Japanese Koi with Chihuly glass