Retro Art Challenge

Oh, That's SO 20th Century!

Things happen so fast in this time we live in,
I have heard the phrase, “Oh, that's so five minutes ago!”

How about taking a big step back in time to say
“That's SO last century!”?

 

The 1950s and the 1960s, to be exact.

Some of us (ahem . . . not admitting anything here, mind you) 

were actually alive back in the old days. And some of you 

were not even a gleam in your parents' eyes yet.

But either way, many of us love the design, the colors, the seemingly carefree life
minus the mid-boggling technology we have today.  Back then, the words
"social" and "media" were never used in the same sentence.

 Cell phones? Tablets? MP3 players?

Even computers were only on the minds of the nerdiest of scientists.



Is this your idea of mom-and-apple-pie?
Maybe not, but the media was starting to make us think
that things would be ideal if we would just spend, spend, spend! 
(Have you ever baked this many things at one time??)

 
We felt lucky when we upgraded to a color TV.  
(Okay, I admit to growing up in the 60s)

You can still find fabric like this in thrift shops if you're lucky
(or look on Etsy ~ Click the link to see these 50s place mats)

Things went a bit psychedelic in the 1960s.

 Groovy!

Whimsical flowers were so mod!

I'm picturing Twiggy in a mini dress made from this fabric.

So, this week, in whatever medium you prefer, design something "Retro".
As you can see, design changed quite a bit from the 50s to the 60s.
So pick the style dearest to your heart.
Create something that takes us back in time!

I've only scratched the surface here with pictures.
The internet is full of ideas on home decor, cars, toys,
travel, fashion, and entertainment from the middle of the last century.
I hope you are inspired by it and will join in the challenge this week!

Start as soon as you like and leave your link here as soon as you can!
But no later than Sunday May 26 which is the deadline.
Most of all ~ have fun traveling back in time!


~ Maggie ♥


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Inspiration Avenue Challenge-Sad Girls with Flowers in Their Hair

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen

There comes a time when sadness can reflect much beauty. Spring has Sprung for many of us.   I have chosen the theme of Sad Girls with Flowers in their Hair.

 There are many celebrations that lead the girls to place flowers in their hair; it usually arises from a large transition. They are happy, yet they can be sad for leaving an old part of them behind or because of an unexpected time ahead. 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/girl-with-flowers-in-her-hair-olinka-broadfoot.html

 For instance when you get married, most women are overjoyed, but there is a soft sadness that is left behind from their childhood years, from the support and love of her parents.

http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/99079260523851466_pQEDTrXk_b.jpg

Sad girls with flowers in their hair can arise from a celebration of teenage fertility.  Some cultures practise the coming of age into moontime with a full moon celebration.

http://www.look.com.ua/50522-noch-luna-devushka.html

She would look fabulous with flowers in her hair. 

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Girls/4581487

This little one may look sad, though the artist says she is waiting for her lover to visit.

I hope you will have fun with this theme. Perhaps you can tempt yourself to try to create one portrait a day for the week of this challenge. Perhaps you already have a drawing or a painting. Any medium is accepted. We would love to see your creativity. We will share your blog with the others.

May you create with much beauty and love.

Kim P

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Sunrises and Sunsets

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

(source Instagram)

Breathtaking sunrise over Canyon National Park, Utah

We have all encountered sunrises and sunsets.  Phenomenal ones.  Join in with Inspiration Avenue for this week's challenge and share one or several pictures that you especially enjoy, and we can all marvel at breathtaking moments.  Look for pictures in print media, paint one, snap one.  It matters not how you come across them, just share!

 

 Here are a few pictures that will inspire you and maybe get you started:

 

Pinterest (Key West, FL at sunrise)

source

from Floral Art Blog

source Etsy by David Ryan

source

“ I did not know until now that clouds could be like this. I did not know that the sky is the sea and that clouds are the souls of happy ships, sunk long ago. I did not know that the wind could be tender, like hands as they caress - what did I know - until now?” - Unica Zürn

Now show us your favorites and link in with Mr. Linky below.

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Happy May Day at Inspiration Avenue! New Announcement is...

First of all  

Happy May Day!

When I was a little girl living in Rapid City SD we would make May Day Baskets and deliver them to the neighbors, ring the bell and run so they opened their door to a surprise. I moved to Montana and then Alaska, there they had never heard of such a thing.  So a fun good old memory from my childhood.  ~Shel

NOW FOR OUR Announcement!!

• Every month we would like to feature one artist.
• We will choose from the talented artists that participate in our challenges every week.
• We will do a write up and the art that is chosen by the artist will be featured
• We will present a badge to the artist chosen every month for their blog or web site.
• How the artist will be chosen and selected will be posted in the next week.
• No need to respond to be featured to this post.
• We will have an official "HOW TO" SOON!

"High Heels" This weeks challenge! OH and did I hear SOMETHING NEW COMING?

"High Heels"

Do you wear them?

Do you collect them?

Do you love/Hate them?

a fun thing to be taller

I (Shelly) personally get a kick out of people trying to walk in them that 

need a wee little more practice. 

I personally do not wear them but my daughter LOVES them and has many many pairs and 

pulls it off well. 

So now,  here this week 

you can get creative in a shoe sort of way. 

Tell us what you think of High Heels!

Paint

Draw

Tell us a story

Put cute shoes on your whimsy

Hang a pair over your shoulder, door or hook & take a pic

If you have an old pair you have never worn you could paint them and share with us!!

Have fun with this 
Step out and do something new
We love all that we see every week!!
You have until Sunday at Noon the 4th of May!
Post on our Mr. Linkey 
Visit each other!
SO fun.

AND...
May 1st, May day something new is coming to Inspiration Avenue
We will post it then so check back for sure May 1st!!


 

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Inspiration Avenue Challenge-Talk to the Animals

Happy Monday!  I'm hosting our challenge this week because I've been involved in a very special project with some designers from Pixel Scrapper.  We're creating a digital scrapbooking kit called "Talk to the Animals" and it will benefit 100 farm animals that were rescued recently.   I'll be posting more information on my blog once the kit is released for sale in May.  You can get updates here.

This is a preview of my portion of the kit.

That's what prompted the challenge this week.  I kept singing the "Talk to the Animals" song from Dr. Doolittle in my head while I was working on it.  I know there are lots of other animal lovers out there so I thought it would be fun to create a challenge celebrating that.   I've got a few images to inspire your creativity.

Just in case you're always wondering what your cat is trying to say, I wanted to make a collage to explain.

This collage was made for a 4x4 swap I joined.  The person I made it for loved playful animals.

This is our chicken chum, Henrietta and her lovely chicks.  We met when we were vacationing in Kauai two years ago. 

This California Condor picture was part of a challenge called "One Beautiful Thing."

Whether you create with paint, beads, digital images, paper, photographs, ink, pencil, crayon, fabric, or some other medium I hope you'll join us to create something on the theme of "Talk to the Animals."  As always, you may interpret the challenge in your own unique way.  The main idea is to have fun!

Blossom

This week I thought I would bring spring on!!!

Knowing in some parts there is still that white stuff!

As it is April!! 

Blossom is a fun theme 

The possibilities are endless 

When art is involved.  

 We are all about art here and 

YOU the "artists" bless us each week!!

Here are some fun examples 

source 

source 

Source 


Bring your Talented
Artistic 
awesomeness and join us this week for the challenge
The directions are on the right sidebar!
~Shel

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Challenge for the Week of April 8: Share a Tutorial!

It is so much fun to learn something new.  And it is just as rewarding to teach others what YOU have learned. Most of my crafting, decorating, cooking and painting ideas and efforts have been taken from what others have already done; when the person has explained the process so others might take advantage of that knowledge it is even more fun.

The Challenge that Inspiration Avenue is presenting you this week is to share a video, or any "How-To-Do-It" method as it relates to just about any creative effort.  One of my favorite sites on the web is How TO Do Things (just about any and every thing is covered there with clear directions).  Also eHow is a good resource.  Any and all tutorials are welcome.

Here are a few tutorials to put the Challenge wheels in action: Grosgrain Ribbon Tutorial on Vimeo by Jasmin and Gigi of the KnitmoreGirls:

Visual Featurette- Grosgrain Ribbon Tutorial

This tutorial shows how to make a watercolor chart.  Ian McKendrick did it so well!

source

Have you ever tried to paint on silk?  Betty the Wood Fairy shows a tutorial here:

complete tutorial on Betty's blog: http://betty-thewoodfairy.blogspot.com/2011/06/wood-fairy.html

Perhaps you might like to sew a double sided flannel baby blanket?  Look here for a tutorial from Nancy's Arts & Crafts. Two sided blankets make for easy play on the floor with baby, or as a nursing cover.

Maybe you or a friend has need for a comfy bra insert due to a mastectomy.  This tutorial is quite renown and is a free pattern from Crystal Palace Yarns.

Not quite so glamorous, but a constant annoyance to many of us, is when the "toilet runs".  Don't laugh. Don't get mad.  Instead go to this tutorial to learn how YOU can fix that flapper!

Go ahead, take the challenge and share your favorite tutorial(s) and link up with Inspiration Avenue via Mr. Linky below so we can all benefit from what you have found to be of interest.

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