Before and After

Do you remember the picture as work in progress in the post  'Work in progress - or the healing power of creativity'? I was healing my hurt soul with the therapeutic art expression.

When you create, lots of processes are going on in you - the process of  purifying, self analyzing and deep thinking… That's what was going on with me as well.

And that's how this little picture with a special title was born: 'Be natural':

Hmmmm…

Are we ever natural? When? How we 'are', when we are natureal?…

When we are natural, we grow. When we are natural, we bloom. When we are natural, we are playful, curious, amazed… When we are natural, we are relaxed. When we are natural, we are the way we are.

How do you feel, when you are (or think you are) natural?

PS: the print of this inspirational painting can be found in CreatissimoLab e-shop :). Get inspired to Be natural every day!  

Mixing

What a great creative week it was for me this week… And on my hands too! Paint on my fingers all day long… and there was hardly any time to take it off and do some 'business' stuff as well. Good feelings and energy which I think I've got last weekend when I went away to 'my' place. 

Your answers to my question on a FB showed that you want to see more of my works and hear about art and phototherapy here, on my blog.  Maybe you've noticed that I listened to you already and talked about that in my last few posts :).

And as for my works… It's not that I hide them or don't want to show you my creative process… It is just that I have the time and practical 'obsticals' that keep me stuck where I am. When I'm in the process, with dirty fingers and all, it is just impossible for me to take pictures and photograph the process. Maybe it would be easier to record everything with the video-camera on a trypod…, but at this point I can't do it as there are other things that I have to do as well. Maybe… some day…

Anyway, in all that creative spirit this week, I also decided to try Vladka's challenge to combine different stamps. I like mixing things; it is my 'style', so I had fun with it. This is what I came up with in my playful mood:

Let's take a closer look what I did:

Observations

I took a break, maybe I even escaped… I found my inner peace at my special place where I usually get my energy back. Among fields, meadows, woods, the river, stones… Besides collecting the blisters on my hands, I could afford a big, relaxing 'nothing'. I was observing. I was just looking at the grass…

…through a window:

…closely (after the rain):

…from far:

…in the wind:

…and the Sun:

And from another point of view:

Do you know that an ordinary grass can be an inspiration for creating, too: 

Have you looked at it (closly) lately, the grass? As you know, inspiration can be waiting for us right in front of our nose…

Work in progress – or the healing power of creativity

Surely you've heard of the healing power of creativity. Many studies have proved that. My field of work is mainly focused on art therapy and phototherapy, although sometimes the work also includes other forms of art, creative thinking. At the stage of getting to know the client I choose such tasks, which would show me which areas are best to work with a certain client.

Many mix up art therapy and phototherapy with therapeutic art expression and photography, which are healing as well, but in this case, we  'treat' ourselves, without a therapist or consultant. We try to heal our soul, the pain, or we put on our canvas the joy, enthusiasm, fascination. We do this ourselves.

(in progress…)

This World…

…is full of inspiration. This World is full of fun. This World is wonderful!

Many times I get inspired by the things and creatures around me. Many times I'm amazed by the creations of Nature. Many times I can't believe I'm a part of this wonderful World!

A new auction for the phototherapy project - an auction of my works is on the go and this time the theme of my works is dedicated to this amazing World!

Please, visit my CreatissimoLab FB Page to bid for the work you like and help us with the project. Also, you are invited to answer the question there, about what you'd like to read more on this blog. Thank you!

PS: If you don't have a FB profile and would like to participate (or have questions), e-mail me and I'll add your bid there for you. 

Various flowers

Aren't they interesting, all these flowers: of various shapes, sizes, colors, ages…? It's hard to find exactly the same flowers, and that's fascinates me and inspires me. So, where does it say that we have to compare with each other if we are not the same??

The flowers should be a great example to us… Aren't all lovely, special, interesting, different…??

Flowers on the trees:

Earth Day

Today I'd like to say Thank You, the Earth.

Thank you for all the forgiveness, tollerance, energy and the beauty that you give us every day. 

(I love your hugs!)

You are loved!

Do what you Love – Love what you do

'Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm…' (Charlie Chaplin)

What do you do in your Life, with your Life? Do you do what brings you joy and hapiness? Do you listen to your heart and dreams?

Easter on your mind

Only one week to go and Easter will be here. My statistics shows that some people are searching for my Easter works and ideas on my blog and website. So, to make it easier for everybody, I gathered some of my Easter creations in this post (with the links)...

 

Here they are, but first, read what you will see after you follow the links below:

Magical world

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, in December 2010, magical things happened in the old place with Slovenian name Slovenjske Konjice. During the night, immediately after Christmas, fairytale heroes populated the old, abandoned shop windows of the old town. And when Santa came into the town with his sleigh and reindeer with gifts, along his way he shook the magic powder on the road and brought fairytale heroes into the life! And so the stories from the shop windows started to live...

You don't believe it??

Well, well, well, you non-believers! I was there and for all you who don't believe my words, I took some photos to show you the proof. Take a look!

The sweets were waiting for us at Hansel and Gretel:

Grandma was waiting in her bed for the little Red Riding Hood...:

...while the wolf was waiting for Red Riding Hood outside, in the dark:

Snow Queen was walking among the snowed trees:

The Prince visited Cinderella to see if the found shoe fits her leg:

Slippers Cat was waiting for someone who would forget the sleepers:

Sleepy Star tried to wake her sleepy eyes with starry dust:

Pehta was waiting for us in her bare feet and with her healing herbs for Love:

The good fairies at Cinderrela's place took me among them as well...:

...and turned me into a good fairy:

Magical world of fairy tales impressed me so much that I didn't manage to take lots of pictures of all the events there... And under the influence of good fairies and the magical dust I created four pictures (art works) of four fairytale heroines. Can you guess which four tales inspired me?

These four original art works are now given on auction for the phototherapy project this week. I hope that the happy owner (or owners) will be as inspired by them as me! :)

You are invited to the CreatissimoLab FB Page, where the action is taking place. PS: if you don't have a FB profile and you want to participate anyway, please, write to me via e-mail and I'll put your bid on FB for you.

Wishing you a beatiful, fairy magical day!

Watermarks

Often I read comments regarding watermarks on the photos. Some people like them, some hate them - I read all sorts of stuff. I have my own opinion about watermarks.

Of course, in some way I want to protect my works, but I also know how to remove the watermark from a photograph, so I know that the watermark will not save me from those who have bad intentions. Therefore, my watermark is not very big and noticable, and is not intended to discourage the viewers, even those with bad intentions; I still try to make it in harmony with the photograph.

For me, the watermark means quite something else! Information! Yes, I like watermarks on the photos, especially if they give you some information about the artist.
Sometimes I save photos which I find on the Internet, because they inspire me or give me creative impulse. When you save a file, you usually don't have time to rename the picture or write down the author or the website address where you found it, so I love the watermarks on the photos, esp. those which hold such information, so that I can find the author at any time.
In such cases, the watermarks are for me very helpful and useful, so I'm always happy to see them! :) How about you? What kind of opinion or for what purpose you use watermarks in your photos?

This 'mark' has accompanied me all my life. If it was mine and the house would be renowated, I would frame it and keep it forever...

PS:
The auctions of my Easter bunnies will last until Friday evening! After that they will move into the e-shop, but the prices there won't be so special as they are now. So, why don't you catch them while you can??
Direct link to the auctions on the FB page.
A post about the auctions on the blog with more explanations.

Auctions of my works for phototherapy project

Well I finally gathered some of my works, that I wish to scatter among you!

As Easter approaches, I chose to start with my naughty bunnies. Some are: curious, in love, unhappy, dreamy... Adopt the one that touches your heart the most! :)

And I will also have some spring art works and some for different tastes. Depending on the response...

Auction can be found at CreatissimoLab FB page. Anyone who does not have Facebook profile, and still wants to participate, can write their offer here in the comments and I will put his/her offer on FB for him/her. For any questions about the auctions, please contact me by e-mail.

I'm sure you know the rest:
Money from the auctions will go for the phototherapy project. You can read about the progress of the project on a special blog.

Here are the links to the auctions that I will add continuously:



Thanks in advance for your cooperation! All we involved in the project are sending you our Love!

Women's Day

Have a nice day today, dear ladies, women, Moms, Grandmoms...

PS: If you haven't heard fresh news yet - here are two:

• I start the phototherapy project this week. Yupie!!
• and on my FB page I wonder if I should do an auction of my works... (we still need photopaper and inks for the printer)...

Sweet hearts

Thank you with all my heart to all of you, sweet hearts, who follow my blog, visit my FB page and Twitter tweets.

What would we do without friends, eh?
Show your friends that you love them! If you don't know how, I can give you a suggestion: my little gift book Mačji recepti z mišjo prilogo.

That's what they've written about it:
"In the cute little book Mačji recepti z mišjo prilogo, the cats and mice give us advice for long-lasting friendship and true love."

But if you have other things in your mind, like sweet hearts...

Have you ever wondered how Valentine's sweets were made in the old times and where you could have found them? Check it out and see yourself - on the photos from my old photo-album:

(hot love?)

(squeezing hearts?)

(and what flavour is your love?)

Love each other - on Valentine's Day and always!
xoxo

*
PS: In the previous post I'm still waiting for your creativity to show. Aren't you creative lately?? You can show us more works, ideas... if you can't decide for only 'the one' ;)

Zagreb too

More impressions from Christmas Market in Zagreb, where I was last December.

You could find:

Hand-made works (warm, printed on fabric, to hang on, to wear)...

and also those with Xmas themes and romantic look...

Of course, you could find my works there (these, on the picture were the most looked at - the blue collection) and me too ;)...

That was luck, as I was able to meet and chat with the dear creative bloggers from Croatia. Before, I only knew them via their blogs. It was so great to meet them personally! Now I even more love to visit their blogs! Why don't you visit their blogs too:

Bubamara šarena
Kek's made
Nasmijano nebo
HobbyChic

From the street

Today's inspiration, gorgeous street photographs...

...reminded me on my favorite street shot, which I took years ago in Vienna (Austria):

(from my old photo album)

Wishing you a beautiful, creative day!

PS: more inspiring pieces can always be found on my CreatissimoLab Facebook Page. Join me!

The beginning or the end

Here we come to the end, the end of the game and the end of the year... - with mixed feelings...

It's hard to say goodbye, close the door, to say goodbye to another era, but on the other hand we want something new and fresh, we are waiting with excitement for a start of a new era.

(Magical snowy landscape
- creative workshops with children in Trzin)

Are we ready for an empty, a blank page? Are we waiting with a pencil or paintbrush in our hands? Do we fear that everything will be as usual, are we going to be disappointed (again)?

For me, the end of this time, is a time of forgiveness and a purification time. When it's time to clean up old stuff, take what is good, clean our inner and external 'us', and during all of that explorations find our soul and its essence. Have I followed my path? How many turns it took for me to return to my intended path, how many obstacles I had to climb...? Do I still find myself on a map of my life?

Each new year is a new day of my journey. I know it will be interesting, unpredictable, exciting! I know it will be different than yesterday, I know it will be full of surprises.
For this new year I have chosen this manifesto that will guide me - so that I'll stand on solid ground, but also will allow me to want more. Really, that's my life after all!

(Thanks: Holstee)

Today is the feast of old and new, beginning and the end, light and darkness... Today, it's a feast to celebrate you or to celebrate the others (or with the others). Therefore, today I say thanks for the holidays. The holidays bring us back to our essence, they slow us down, they offer a possibility to forgive and start anew. Thanks!

Question No.10:

Who or what you would like to thank for an interesting experience, memory, etc... in 2010?

This is the last question of the game 'Giving thanks and giving gifts'. You will have time to answer all the questions and to check if you have fulfilled all the conditions and rules for participation until Jan.6, 2011. In the meantime I'll check your blog, and see if you put my button there, etc... You will read further info regarding the game after the holidays... :)

In the new year 2011 I wish you much inspiration,
lots of creative moments,
inner peace, harmony
and the sparkles that will light a fire in you!

Let you keep warm! With Love,

Jožica

Sparkles

Sparkles everywhere. Sparkles on the trees, sparkles in our eyes, sparkles in our hearts. Because of all this playful dazzle the World around us looks magical, friendly, don't you think? I love magic, I love playfulness!

I wish you a magical Christmas in the circle of your loved ones, in a warm place and under a strong roof. I wish that in these festive days you meet a lot of sparkling eyes. I wish you warmth and safety. I wish you Peace and inner joy. I wish you all the best!
And stay creative!

And on Saturday and Sunday, just after Christmas night, I invite you to come into a magical world! Yes, you heard it right! Magical World! You will find it in Slovenske Konjice, in the Old part of the town. There you will find me doing magic together with the magical characters from the fairytales (and Santa Claus will be there too). We will sparkle joy and laughter! For more details, see the CreatissimoLab website under the title:

Magical World of Xmas

(click on the link)

You are welcome to join us! And I can't wait to see sparkles in your eyes!

Sparkles in the eyes often tell us that curiosity, life, hope lie behind them... Therefore, I wish you lots of curiosity this season! Look forward to all the attention that you get, to small steps that you do, warm hugs, shy kisses. Rejoice, laugh, enrich your inner self!
And if you forgot the recipe for curiosity... you will definitely find it here in this video. - The best recipe I say!! ;)

(another inspirational and creative animation I think)

Question no. 8 (the rules can be found in previous posts):
What do you like about Creatissimo blog? What you read with curiosity, what are you looking forward to read? What kind of posts would you want in the new year, what kind of posts make sparkels in your hearts?

I wish you a beautiful holiday season and hope to see you in Slovenske Konjice tomorrow!

No words...

...which would mean more than a 'thank you'.

Are you already waiting for the new post, new question? Have you missed me, because I was quiet for too long?

I tell you, these december postings went totally out of the planned route. I did not expect to get such open and personal responses, deep thoughts, and even personal contacts by email. I was prepared for a more playful, easy game.

But now I'm totally taken over by your great responses! And I am glad that this game became so personal, warm and connected us together! So much energy has been sent to me that I hardly can take it anymore! - I can't sleep because of excitement, I have butterflies in the stomach, my soul is singing... How can I say to all of these just a little, humble word: thanks?

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!... Not enough! It doesn't say enough!
I would like a word that would tell you that I am grateful. I would like a word that would describe the feelings of joy, because I can see that things are possible. I would like a word to give you a warm hug and protect you. I would like a word that would say more than a 'thank you'.

My previous post about the wishes and dreams has started a spark, a spark of hope! Some marvellous people contacted me offering help to make some of my dreams true. Imagine! Just when I almost started to believe to those who told me that my dreams will never come true here, the beautiful souls answered my hopes and prayers and will try to help. Thank you for your faith and support. I will definitely not forget this December!
If only I knew the word that would mean more than a word: thank you!


Well, I do have a tiny 'problem' now because of my posts and your reactions. I supposed to prepare (read: create) for the Xmas market in Zagreb (Croatia), where I'll go over the weekend. But the butterflies in the stomach, the excitement, enthusiasm, joy, gratitude, and communications with people who want to help me in achieving my wishes for others, don't give me any peace! I'm all into planning, exploring options, finding the ways, etc. - anything but creating! Oh, no!

Only three days are gone, but (my) world turns around in a completely different direction!
Really, there are no words that could describe those feelings!

Thank you for your dreams, thanks for your hopes and believing in a better tomorrow!

And today? There's a question for you, of course. Question no. 5:
If you would like to thank someone and the word 'thanks' would not be enough, what kind of your (created) gift would you give her/him and why? (you can also link to the product, if it can be seen somewhere on the net).

You are on my mind! Take care!