oliveloaf design

creative mojo by stacy

Voluntary Simplicity May 20, 2013

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I heard a marvelously inspiring piece on NPR this weekend

about Voluntary Simplicity

what life can be about – a less complicated existence animated by inner joy.

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it resonated with me as I clearly have been aspiring

or evolving into this lifestyle – without having a name for it

becoming less encumbered by possessions & consumerism, time for other people and oneself,

caring about the environment,

getting back to nature…

{see/hear more at http://www.humanmedia.org}

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{a little harvest from le gardens}

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“We’re really led away from what we’re here for,

which is to learn how to live sociably with others and soulfully with ourselves.

And consumerism is relatively shallow and life is deep.”

~Duane Elgin, author of Voluntary Simplicity

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{still life with wild daisies}

Wild Daisies by OliveLoaf Design

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{a walk in the woods}

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{homemade strawberry pie/vegan}

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handmade gifts {from up-cycled materials}

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crafting art {from re-purposed resources}

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observing the wonders of nature

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“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating;

to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter…

to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring

these are some of the rewards of the simple life.”  ~John Burroughs

 

sunny respite January 14, 2013

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I love the woods around le homestead. I go to get quiet & find creative inspiration.

{and to walk the dog}

This was a pic I snapped last Tuesday by the lake

during a sunny respite from the rain…

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Quiet Sun by OliveLoaf Design

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“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” ~Ram Dass

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2013::Crafty & Bright January 1, 2013

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“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

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*Welcome to a new year friends!

I fell behind in my postings for most of December

so in an effort to catch-up & and to jump-start the new year

I thought I would post a wrap-up…

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forest findings glitter ornaments

acorns & black walnuts found in le woods

Forest Finding Ornaments

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under construction gold leaf papier mache trinket bowls

IMG_1237

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inspired by artist kelli murray’s diy

paper mache bowls by oliveloaf design

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I loved gold leafing so much I may gold leave everything!

paper mache bowls by oliveloaf design2

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a papier mache whale ornament for my new nephew

paper mache whale ornament by oliveloaf design

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homegrown & harvested seed packets

compostable envelopes, washi tape {a new favorite}, stamped & up-cycled paper bags

seed packs by oliveloaf design

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wildflower seed bombs

made with newspapers & the bags are compostable too!

the picture on the tag is of our 2012 wildflower patch

seed bombs by oliveloaf design

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a blooming hippeastrum

just in time for christmas & new year!

Hippeastrum blooming by OliveLoaf Design

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vegan pho & vietnamese summer rolls

mr. d & I celebrate being 8 months plant-strong!

vegmeal

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may your days be crafty & bright

crafty & bright

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stacysignature1

 

art in school matters November 8, 2012

“…the arts incarnate the creativity of a free people.”

~John F. Kennedy

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{by barbara rucci of art bar}

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from art bar

…an article in the Boston Globe about the importance of teaching art in school in this era of standardized tests

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“Art for Our Sake: School arts classes matter more than ever – but not for the reasons you think”

By Ellen Winner and Lois Hetland

“There is a very good reason to teach arts in schools,

and it’s not the one that arts supporters tend to fall back on…[that] art makes you smarter.

In a recent study of several art classes in Boston-area schools,

we found that arts programs teach a specific set of thinking skills

rarely addressed elsewhere in the curriculum –

and that far from being irrelevant in a test-driven education system,

arts education is becoming even more important as standardized tests…

exert a narrowing influence over what schools teach.

We need the arts because in addition to introducing students to aesthetic appreciation,

they teach other modes of thinking [and skills] we value.

Such skills include…reflection, self-criticism, [persistence], [expression] and the willingness

to experiment and learn from mistakes. All are important to numerous careers,

but are widely ignored by today’s standardized tests…

which reveal little about a student’s intellectual depth or desire to learn,

and are poor predictors of eventual success and satisfaction in life.

Those who have learned the lessons of the arts…how to see new patterns, how to learn from mistakes,

and how to envision solutions – are the ones likely to come up with

the novel answers needed most for the future.”

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“Pass this around to EVERYONE!

And give your child’s art teacher a big hug when you see him or her

to let them know how much you appreciate them.”

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{{HUG!}}

AFTA Logo

Be part of the movement to guarantee healthy arts funding and arts education in America.

Join the Arts Action Fund

Read their initial post-election analysis on the Arts Action Fund blog.

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fall: a color study October 24, 2012

a day in the life of fall

in south central kentucky {october 23, 2010}

a color study…

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Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird

I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”

~George Eliot

 

autumnly September 4, 2012

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“nothing is more fleeting than external form, which withers and alters

like the flowers of the field at the appearance of autumn.” ~umberto eco

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well…it is a bit early to announce the arrival of fall, but i spotted this

fall~ish leaf yesterday whilst trekking through the deep woods of

mammoth cave national park {cedar sink hiking trail}…

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congrats again to my oliveloaf design handmade giveaway prize winner

your box of delights is finally out the door & on its way to you!

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here’s a recent commissioned project: a frame for a baby ultrasound

made from re-purposed glass & a box

and paper-mached with up-cycled cardboard & newspaper; painted with acrylic

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have a lovely tuesday & here’s another shot from the hiking trail

the road not taken…

 

chef hats & lucky 13 August 7, 2012

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i have a friend & a friend’s kid in chef school

so i thought i would make paper mache chef hats for little gifties.

they were going to be brooches ~ then i decided to make them into magnets

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i’m thinking about offering them in le shoppe

as brooches with a pin-back or magnets…

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totally customizable with names & choice of flowers.

what do you think?

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in other crafty news…

in the newly continuing series {only this is the first submission}

“things i saw on pinterest & thought i’d give it a try”

i spotted this super clever idea for those boring number birthday candles

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and whipped a set up for miss m’s 13th birthday…so cute!

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small pleasures August 6, 2012

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“think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.” ~h. jackson browne, jr.

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in my continuing quest to collect moments and not things, i humbly submit the following inspirationals…

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an intricate mushroom in the woods…

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a delicate swallowtail enjoying purple flowers…

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a stunning cloud formation…

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spectacular sunflowers in a vase…

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a moonflower on its singular bloom…

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a gorgeous listada de gandia eggplant from le garden…

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hello sun July 23, 2012

Filed under: garden,i made it,inspiring...,kentucky,quotables — OliveLoaf Design @ 10:01 am
Tags: , ,

happy monday.

have a great day & inspired week!

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change the world June 21, 2012

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 this.

{via papersaurus creative}

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