Giving Back

One of the best things about working as an artist is the opportunity to donate artwork to causes that touch my heart.

With "our family" in Santa Maria de Jésus

 The cause that touches mine the most is our work with From Houses to Homes, in Antigua, Guatemala.   FHTH was founded by a man who inspires me to no end, Joe Collins, who is currently back in the United States undergoing treatment for stage 4 colon cancer.  We are all praying for him.

volunteering at Cambiando Vidas

This small, non profit organization has built homes for over 500 indigenous families living in poverty in the Guatemalan highlands, a medical clinic to serve all of those families, and two schools to educate the children. 

Over the past 3 years, since our first of 6 trips, we have become intimately connected with the two families whose homes we helped build, volunteered at the schools, and became godparents to the son of one of the workers.  (Notice Señora Gringa in the church!). 

Our lives have been changed so much by our work in Guatemala.  As much as everyone thanks us for our efforts, it is we who feel so grateful for and blessed by our experiences there.  So I was more than happy to design From Houses to Home's holiday card this year!  Here it is:

If you have a few moments, here's a video that Samy and I made for her school, which became the sister school to one of the schools in Guatemala!  It will give you a sense of just how much we were transformed and eager to share our experience.

Samy and I also wrote a book so she could convey her experience to other kids her age.  It's called "Old Enough to Do Good in the World," and would make a great holiday gift (hint hint)!  100% of the proceeds go straight to From Houses to Homes.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/jessica-sporn/old-enough-to-do-good-in-the-world/paperback/product-11041706.html

Linking to Artists in Blogland's Fall Fearless & Fly, Paint Party Friday, Creative Every Day,  and The Artful Maven's Holiday Blog Hop.

Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.

This I Believe

You must...

... if you want to smell the roses!

And now, a short list for Artsyville's List it Tuesday.  Warning -- this list may be shocking - discretion is advised...

The theme for the week:  Been There Done That!

1. Baking - I once baked.  I love when other people bake.  I truly admire people who bake.  But I don't bake.
2. Loading and un-loading the dishwasher - why?  Why not just use the clean dishes and pile them up in the sink until the dishwasher is empty and the sink is full, and then just put them back in the dishwasher.  What's the point of putting the dishes in the cabinet? 
3. Putting away my clean clothes -- why not just live out of the laundry basket?  Take 'em out, throw 'em back in.  
4. Spending a lot of time on my hair - once upon a time I ironed it on an ironing board (in the age before blow dryers), wrapped it in orange juice cans -- anything to straighten it out.  No more.  I'm au-natural baby!
5. Backpacking through Europe, traveling without reservations and just seeing what will happen, roughing it ... I did a lot of that as a teen and young adult.  I don't need a swimming pool, but at least give me a comfy bed and at least one pillow!
6. Clubbing/bar hopping/partying like it's 1999.  A good night's sleep trumps those in my book.
7. Meaningless romantic interludes... now, all I need is my sweet husband.
8. Extreme fitness workouts -- I'll trade "no pain no gain" for "no laughter no happiness" any day!
9. The mile high club -- overrated -- uncomfortable.  

No more time for these "been there, done that, things."  Time to STOP, close my eyes, and BREATHE!
  
How about you -- do you have a "been there, done that" you're willing to share?

Also linking up to Spark Your Creativity Now,  Show Me What You've Got, 
Art Journal Every Day and Creative Every Day Month.  Lots of inspiring artists to visit!
 
Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.

A Big Thank You

The 5th challenge at Fall Fearless & Fly had me thinking about the big influences in my life.

 

Here are the prompts:

Headline Prompt:  Lifelong Fan:  What or who have you consistently valued or looked up to in your life?  What lessons have you learned from people you admire?
Color Prompt:  Your favorite color now or from childhood or both!
Quote Prompt: "Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator; but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh."  W.H.Auden

I used the first two prompts: 

There are so many people who I have admired, and who have influenced my life:  The Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr.,  Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, and many influential teachers and friends.  

In thinking about them, I realized that all of these people had things in common:  they championed peace, tolerance, and the rights of oppressed or disadvantaged people.  And I realized that I am drawn to these qualities because of my parents and the values they have taught me.  So I dedicate this challenge response to my parents ...

... who taught me that all is possible, to do the right thing, to fight for the underdog, and to see beauty everywhere.  Thank you!

My favorite childhood colors were the colors of pop-art 60s (and I STILL like them!).  To make this art journal page, I used Pink Cat Studio Garden & Insect stamps,  Tombow markers, Scarlet Lime's fabulous waterproof black pen (my favorite), Sakura gel pens, and my favorite white Unibal gel pen.

Linking to Artists in Blogland, where Marcia Beckett is our guest designer on Monday with an amazing piece in response to the challenge,  Mandarin Monday, Creative Every Day, and Simon Says Stamp & Show (thank you challenge). 

I am excited to say that I was one of the winners of Simon Says "no ink stamping" challenge with Does She Dare!  Thanks to the DT at Simon Says, and to Marjie Kemper for turning me onto this site.  There's lots of amazing artwork there.

AND...  Don't forget - there are still three days to play along with us at Scrapping The Music!  We'd LOVE to have you play!  Come on over and check it out!

Announcing some WINNERS (courtesy of Random.org): 

 

From Fall Fearless & Fly #4, the winner of my butterfly zentangle is ... Denthe!  Email your snail mail address to jessicabethsporn (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll have it right on its way to you!

The winner of the Hebrew calligraphy stencil is Netty!  I already contacted Netty, and the stencil is on its way to her!

The winner of this watercolor is Judy Shea.  Judy, send me your snail mail address and I will get it right to you.  

Comment below by Wednesday for a chance to win my medieval leaves stencil, and join our Stencil Test Drive  on December 20.

12/3:  UPDATE:  The winner of the medieval leaves stencil is Gloria!

Gloria  November 26, 2012 4:49 PM

Wonderful vibrant colors, loving sentiments and a picture of JOY! I would love to win a prize!  

Gloria, send your snail mail address to jessicabethsporn (at) gmail (dot) com and I will get your stencil right out to you!

Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.

Fasten Your Seatbelts: It's The Stencil Test Drive!

Remember the Stencil Girl Products Test Drive I told you about last week?  Well, here's the schedule of the fabulous artists who will be in the drivers' seats, taking my stencils around the tracks over the next 7 months!  I am linking to the stencils they'll be using, in case you want to buy them to take them for a whirl yourself.   If you're playing along, you'll be able to link your work using that stencil, and each of my test drive posts will have a giveaway!  Comments and links will be open for one week, and I'll announce the winner after that.  More artists may be joining so stay tuned. I hope you'll fasten your seatbelt and play along!  The first giveaway starts today!  Comment on this post before the end of the day Friday (for Paint Party Friday!) for a chance to win the Hebrew Calligraphy and Hamsa stencil and take a test drive with us on December 6th!   

December 6: Hebrew Calligraphy

Carolyn Dube and Michelle Rydell

December 20: Medieval Leaves

Carolyn Dube, Corrine Gilman, Maria McGuire and Ronda Palazzari

January 10: Starry Night

Maggie Nemetz, Judy Shea and Revlie Schuit

January 23: Random Squares

Seth Apter, Kristin Dudish,  Corrine Gilman, and Diana Trout

February 27: Fun Borders

Marjie Kemper,  Nataša May, Maggie Nemetz and Christy Tomlinson

March 14: Retro Flowers & Circles

Nataša May and Maria McGuire

April 2: Embrace the Rain

Carolyn Dube, Marjie Kemper, Nataša May, Michelle Rydell, and Revlie Schuit

April 18: Flying Tulips

Kristin Dudish and Carol Merveille

May 2: Cascading Leaves

Nathalie Kalbach,  Michelle Rydell, Judy Shea, and Roben-Marie Smith

May 16: Apples & Pomegranates

Carolyn Dube and Revlie Schuit

June 6: Dots & Dashes

Jane Davies, Maria McGuire and Carol Merveille

Want to join the test drive?  Grab the button from my sidebar and put it on your blog.  Buy some of the stencils for the weeks you want to play along, and then buckle your seatbelts!  

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey."

--Babs Hoffman

UPDATE:  Stencil Girl Products has a great promo - 6 stencils for $75, or individual stencils for $14.  Free domestic shipping for orders over $50!  Click here for more info.

The winners, chosen by Random.org, from last week's post are: 

For the 5 borders:  Trece, who wrote:

I do follow your blog and find a lot of inspiration! I really like both stencils; I can imagine uses for either one. Lately I am loving borders. So excited for you all to be asked to work with a new musical artist!

And for the Rain stencil: Suzieq23 who wrote:

I love, love, love your new stencils especially Embrace the Rain. It is so unique and unlike any other stencil I have yet to see. I will keep my fingers crossed and maybe I will win a stencil? We will see.

Trece and Suzieq23, email your snail mail addresses to me at jessicabethsporn (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll get your stencils right out to you!

Thank you for visiting and, for my American friends, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.  Remember to comment by Paint Party Friday  for a chance to win the Hebrew Calligraphy stencil!

Caterpillars Into Butterflies

 

One thing I love about teaching art to kids is how quickly they jump in and embrace the project.  They don't think too much or plan, even when you want them to!  I just finished a session of art journaling at Samy's school, and have really enjoyed watching my little caterpillars morph into mixed media butterflies!  I hope I have given them enough tools for their journeys!  For our last class, we made journal jars based on this article in Cloth Paper Scissors. 

I had my students bring in clear recycled jars.  They decorated them with Sharpies (I found that they work best) and washi tape.  Then they wrote quotes on scraps of paper,  folded them up and put them in their jars for future journal prompts. 

Here are some of the kids with their jars and their favorite journal pages:

Gabrielle

Samy

Anna

Maelle

Sage

Ada's Cover

Gabriell's dance page

Hazel's collage

Sam's sunny spread

I'm so proud of these kids!  Now to plan 8 new projects...  (suggestions welcome!!)

Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.

If you haven't yet, comment on this post by tonight, Sunday, to win one of my new stencils from Stencil Girl Products!

This I Believe

Believe that you CAN, and welcome all that is possible into your life.

Linking to Art Journal Cafe color prompt:

and Play Date Cafe color prompt:

Although I ended up using a lot of other colors, I was inspired by these palettes.

Thank you for visiting! If you are so moved, please leave a comment. Hearing from you means the world to me.

Did She Dare?

To grow...

she would have to step away ...

 

and let go of what was safe and familiar ...

 

but did she dare?

Inspired by the current challenge quote at Artists in Blogland's Fall Fearless & Fly:  
"You can't make a place for yourself in the sun if you keep taking refuge under the family tree." 

Helen Keller

I hand carved the border stamp.  Instead of ink, I used Golden's fluid acrylic black paint applied with a cosmetic sponge, to be eligible for the challenge at Simon Says Stamp.   The entire canvas has an underlay of collaged tea bags.  The leaves on the tree are from Julie Balzer's Leaf Stencil.  The red warrior and horse on the bottom are from a Tibetan prayer flag, and if you look closely, there is a monopoly dog in the window of the house!

Remember to comment on this post by Sunday night to be eligible to win either my Rain or Borders stencil!

Thank you for visiting! If you are so moved, please leave a comment. Hearing from you means the world to me.

Linking up to One Little Word (dare),   AIB's Fall Fearless & Fly, Paint Party Friday, Creative Every Day, Create With Joy, and Art Journal Every Day!

Fun With Stencils & A Giveaway!

Remember this art journal page? 

 

Many people loved this woman, opening her arms with abandon to embrace the rain.    She's making a repeat appearance on this design I did for Scrapping the Music's newest challenge.  The song is Try Everyday by Transistor Rodeo, who approached Michelle Rydell and asked if STM would use his song!  How exciting to collaborate with a new artist.  The song has the lyric: "Nobody can stop the rain."  And I knew this woman would play a role in my response.

 

Now she has two other companions, all finding their own way in the rain.  All three are available on this new stencil I designed for Stencil Girl Products!  It's called ...

Embrace the Rain:

And who doesn't love fun borders?  How about 5 on one stencil! I used the checkerboard on my Scrapping the Music design.

Coming in December -  a stencil test drive/blog hop, with -- fasten your seatbelts --

Seth Apter, Jane Davies, Carolyn Dube, Kristin Dudish, Corinne Gilman, Nathalie Kalbach, Marjie Kemper, Michelle LaPoint, Maggie of The Fanciful Magpie, Natasha May, Ronda Palazzari,  Judy Shea, Revlie Schuit, Roben-Marie Smith,  Christy Tomlinson, and Diana Trout!  Details to come! (This logo is a work in progress -- comments welcome!)

Leave a comment on this post by Sunday night and I will send you one of my new stencils! And each time we do a stencil test drive, I will give away the stencil we're "driving."  Get extra chances to win by letting me know you follow my blog!

Thank you for visiting! If you are so moved, please leave a comment. Hearing from you means the world to me.

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