A Kaleidoscope of Color - Tile REVEAL...soming soon!

So before the “REVEAL” later this evening (I’m currently editing some photos and adding numbers for our vote)…I wanted to share a quick story – because I believe that if you have an open heart and mind…there are many tiny moments in your life that can be...what I call a “defining” one, for yourself. One moment, one experience - that changes your course in life, and brings you to a place that you were always meant to be. So read these few paragraphs and always keep yourself open to new things and that chance to follow your heart - even if it’s for just a moment…my life is more meaningful because I did and continue to do on a daily basis...here’s my story…

Back in February, a close friend contacted me with a special request…she wanted me to create a necklace for a friend that has cancer – she wanted something unique that expressed all she was feeling…the struggles, the hope, the fight, the faith…the journey. All those inner emotions. Well, I searched on Etsy and Artfire trying to find the perfect pieces that would spark something in me that said “yes this is the one”. Has that ever happened to you? In my case, it became obvious that the only thing that was going to work was creating something extremely personal for them and something that allowed me to release all the caged energies of expression. So my years of formal (and informal) training kicked in and I found myself reaching for some different wood shapes and faux-painted them in a variety of subdued colors…

I was trying to capture a “weathered look” – that would depict all the struggles and darkness this special lady has gone through...but capturing that "determination to fight with heart, faith, wishes, and lots of hope".   It was then that I broke out my scrapbooking papers and images (my friend Jody of Scraptherapy would whole heartedly agree with me when I say that Scrapbooking is another form of expression that makes you feel warm, cozy and special)…and after going through my stash, I realized that I was looking for art papers that had a lot more layers and depth then the standard scrapbook paper.  With that thought in mind, I immediately went to my digital files and located the digital artwork of an Artisan on Etsy that I love…Angie Young Designs (LivUrPassion)– I took her "grunge" style art and did several layers with flame burnt edges around the inspirational words of “Wish” and “Hope” (read the complete heartwarming story of "HOPE" in the March section of our Blog).

And these two tiles sparked even more creations...in tiles and jewelry (some of which you will see in upcoming publications)

Art for me goes in cycles – and this experience had me revisiting my old watercolors and also reaching for my brushes to create some new little, teeny, tiny paintings.  I then scanned, digitized and formatted them so I could utilize them on a variety of wood pieces.  By doing that and seeing the printed out version - it was like bringing all I know, all I’ve done creatively for as long as I can remember - into one tiny piece of art.  It was mind-blowing.

It was at that moment, that everything just started popping in a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and shapes. Aside from wanting to share not only  my artwork and that of my favorites who digitize as well...I wanted to see if I could do the same with the photographs that never fail to inspire my creativity.  So I started taking pictures again just for fun (my Father taught me when I was in High School in the late 70s)…and having a background in Altered Art - as well as transferring photos to all sorts of surfaces…I thought why not create tiles for photos too? It was a perfect way to allow all my skills to come together while giving me freedom to express what I was feeling in multiple forms.  If I'm inspired...many more could be too.  So, in May we had a Photo Inspiration Challenge...which lead to even more ideas and designs in planning for my jewelry (it would be nice to have another 24 hours in each day to allow for sleep and more creative time though!).  Check out our Photo Inspiration Challenge Spring/Summer on our Facebook biz page at J-Lynn Jewels to see all of the talented and inspiring photographers - and how their art was translated into tiles.

Well that's part of my "story" - and a little later today you are going to get to see some colorful jewelry created by a variety of designers (newbie designers...designers that have their feet wet....and of course the seasoned ones) - Random.org did a fabulous job at being random and choosing 15 designer :)

Wanna a "small size" sneak peek??? 

DRATZ!  I am SUCH a tease!  You should all know that by now...;)Look for the TILE REVEAL this evening....!~J-Lynn