Whether you are a believer in the nine muses of Greek mythology  (and no, there are not just three) or not, there is something magical about inspiration “happening”. 

In a previous post, there was a discussion about inspiration, which you can find here. 

Some of the best advice on enhancing your creativity is to “spend time in solitude with your artist child is essential to self nurturing”  (Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way”).   

By ”filling the well and stocking the pond”, Julia Cameron explains that “Art is an image using system.  Any extended period or piece of work draws heavily on our artistic well” and she goes on to say that it is necessary to fill the artistic well constantly.  Makes sense to me.

This is not only true for visual artists but also for writers, poets, musicians etc. 

So, if you are wondering, how could you  draw in those nine sisters to aid  in your own creative path, here is a great article.  

Here’s what I do  My Secret Sanctuary to “fill my well”. 

How do you draw in your muse?  Comment below.

Ode to the Ancients: No. XXVII        Copyright 2008 Donna Branch, All Rights Reserved

Glass, cast, carved with battuto, sandblasted, acid-etched, steel frame, 16.6″H x 8.5″W x 6.5″D, edition limited to twenty-five

Often artists (not just visual artists, I mean writers too) are asked about inspiration.  

Where does it come from? 

What incites inspiration? 

 What exactly is inspiration? 

Just to get the creative juices flowing, Webster’s has a few definitions.  Here they are, then you can tell me what you think.

• (a) a divine influence or action on a person held to qualify him to receive and communicate sacred revelation 
• (b) the action or power of moving the intellect (c) the act of influencing or suggesting opinions;
• but I like the definition for inspire because it more closely shows what this post is about: Webster says of inspire “to exert an animating , enlivening or exalting influence on.”

Those who have followed my work know that I love the natural shape of trees and leaves as exhibited in The Serenbe Project that you can find here.   Or, bark patterns on the trunk of a tree shown in the photo above.

What inspires you as an artist, writer, musician, lover of nature and life?   

If you have any questions or comments about this piece or others in my portfolio at donnabranch.com   , you can leave those on the blog also.  

Your inspirations?  Comment on the blog. 

What Do You Heart About February 14? 

A quote from Kahlil Gibran says “Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving”. 

I love how the trees look in winter

Rain

Drops of morning dew

Family and friends

I am grateful for those who have shown support of my work and workshops 

Jester’s Gallery, Nashville Tennessee opening February 4 

Remember the song “Day Tripper”?

It may be time for a day trip to Nashville Tennessee to check out Jester’s Gallery, making its’ debut on Thursday, February 4, 2010.  Stop by whenever you are in Nashville and introduce yourself to AL Sherick, the gallery’s owner.  

Jester’s will carry all of my work including small gift items from the studio such as crystal dew drops, other Lampworked itmes, and cast leaves which make great paperweights (and Heart gifts). 

The leaves that I love are white oak leaves from The Serenbe Project and make perfect gifts for (Heart Day) February 14. 

Refreshments will be served during the evening from 6-9 on Thursday, February 4. 

The gallery is located at 5133 Harding Pike, Suite C1, Nashville, Tennessee  37205   A grand opening is planned for later this spring.  We will keep you posted.  

If you are not in Nashville, you can call the studio 205.612.3317 and we will be glad to help you with gifts for February 14.  Sustainable artful gift wrap is available.  

We would love for you to tell us what YOU heart about February 14  your gratitude, Nashville, or anything else. 

About Tara Glass Art Studio

Visit the new web site

I was going to write about artistic inspiration today, but instead decided to introduce “Bear” the newest member of those who hang out in the studio sometimes. 

When I returned home last Friday evening, my husband, Dan, presented me with a gift of  , a Great Pyrenees.  We named him “Bear”.

 We adopted “Bear” from the Tuscaloosa County Animal Shelter  in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, after he was found roaming the city.  He had been at the shelter for several weeks and was nearing the maximum time that he could be sheltered without adoption. 

Since we found  “Bear” in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, home of the Crimson Tide,   we liked this name for him.

Here are pictures from the workshop that was held on December 5, 2009.  My apologies for these not being posted earlier, but I should have asked Santa for a new digital camera….more on that later.  

We had a lot of fun and the studio received very positive feedback from those who participated, thanks to all who took part in our short survey.  Those who took part in the survey will recieve a 10% off the regular price of any item or workshop. 

The Studio donated 10% of all proceeds from the workshop and sales that day to Honor Flight Birmingham and Honor Flight was delighted to receive the donation. 

Enjoy the pictures and let me hear your thoughts.  So….leave me a comment!

If you feel like leaving a comment, please do!  This was a good time!

 After the December 5 Holiday Ornament Studio Workshop, Claire Weyton, one of the participants in the workshop,  asked if I would share wassail recipe.  Thanks, Claire, I’m so glad you enjoyed it.  Thanks to Margie Satterwhite, we have it here:

Margie Satterwhite’s Wassail  Recipe

1 and 1/2 quarts cranberry juice

2 quarts apple juice

4-5 cinnamon sticks

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoon whole cloves

1 cup Captain Morgan’s Rum (optional)

Method:

Put juices (and rum, if you like) in a coffee percolator; place spices and brown sugar in the basket where you would normally place the coffee; perk until it turns off automatically. 

Because we are in the South, we serve this in a silver-handled glass carafe that has a tea light underneath to keep the it warm. 

Cheers!

Double recipe for large party.  It is delicious!

This is a glass “ikebana” choker/necklace/pin that is available from Tara Glass Art Studio.  The necklace features fine suede with sterling clasps and is adjustable.    It is approximately 16-17 inches long.  There is a pin bail on the back. The glass “ikebana” all vary in size, but usually are from 1 inch to 1.5 inches or so.  There are no two alike.  The piece is delivered in a black faux suede jewelry pouch so that it will not become chipped.   If you are interested in purchasing, please contact donnabranch@taraglassart.com  The ikebana is $35.

This is so easy!  All you have to do is go to Donna Branch Glass Studio Blog  and start a conversation with each other on the blog about buying handmade and taking the Handmade Pledge.  You do this by leaving your comments on the blog and bringing others to the blog to take part in the conversation.  You can send me examples of your own cool handmade items to donnabranch@taraglassart.com and I will post them as a conversation starter.  You could even post sources of  where others could find cool handmade items.  The person that serves as the biggest conversation starter on my blog, and brings other people into the conversation about the subject of buying handmade, sustainable lifestyle, slow design and taking the Handmade Pledge will receive one of my limited edition ornaments.  You can bring other people into the conversation by sharing my blog link and mentioning where you posted or forwarded my link.  I will be checking in on the blog at least once a day and taking part in the conversation.  This idea came to me as an offshoot of the Studio Workshop that will take place December 5 at the studio. 

Each time someone makes a thoughtful comment, (not one word, please), their name will be entered into the “hat”.  The contest will end December 18 at midnight and announcement of the winner will be December 19.  Those who entered will have to check the blog for the winning announcement and the winner will be ask to email their physical address to me so that the ornament can be shipped to them, so be sure to bookmark the blog page now or subscribe to the feed. This is a straightforward competition and all decisions regarding the winner will be final.  

The purpose of this competition is to engage the community conversation about buying handmade and doing our small part to change buying habits.  I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say! 

How can you change your buying habits and what products do you find to be the most compelling?  Go to the blog and tell us  now.

Here is a picture of some of the ornaments we will  create in the workshop, “How to Etch Glass”.

Just a reminder that the studio workshop will be held on December 5, 2009!  

Yes, I know that it is the SEC Championship Game. 

 Participants will be learning how to etch glass ornaments and it will be a lot of fun.  So far, both sessions have participants and we still have a few openings left.  Each session will be limited to 10 people.   So, I hope you will take the time to use the link below to register.

After the workshop, we will post pictures here of the workshop so everyone can see what we created. 

If you are really interested in registering (and kicking Christmas up a notch), you can get detailed information on the sessions here, or you can register  here.  Hope to see you at the workshop! 

10% of all proceeds will be donated  Birmingham Honor Flight. 

Would love to hear your comments

You are invited to our first Holiday Studio Workshops on December 5!  

There will be two sessions and each session will be limited to 10 people:  

Session 1      10:00a-12:00noon   

Session 2       1:00-3:00p   

You will learn how to create hand-etched glass ball ornaments.  The workshop fee is $30 and includes instruction and all materials to complete one ornament.  Each additional ornament is $9.  If you don’t have time to create as many as you need, we will have finished ornaments for sale.    

Ornaments make great gifts for teachers, co-workers, friends or anyone else on your list and are very reasonably priced.  Artful gift packaging  will be available for a small additional amount.   

There is a special event page for each session so be sure to visit the page for more information.    

In honor of our World War II Veterans, 10% of all  proceeds will be donated to Honor Flight Birmingham.  

Registration is required.  If you are interested in attending please use the links below for the registration pages.

Session One Registration

Session Two Registration

Hope to see you there!