Tag: CREATIVITY

DIY with What You Have Spring/Summer Wreath

Creative Confetti, Uncategorized

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A bamboo wreath from Dollar Tree, which I already had.

Leftover twine and tweed-like ribbon from a “cowboys & girls” themed party, tape, butterfly ornament and flowers picked up on an essential run to Dollar Tree.

I tied three pieces of twine together like a long rope and wrapped it around the wreath, then securing both ends with tape. I did the same with the other twine ribbon.

The bamboo wreath has slithers of space and after I cut the flowers I stuck them in those spaces. It took some maneuvering and rearranging them to get the look I wanted. It took about an hour and a half to finish. As usual, it may not take you as long. My hands were a mildly achy during this task. However, I was determined to finish. I try to make my spring wreath one that can be used throughout summer. It saves on money, time, and work.

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~Nikki

 

Confetti Weekend: Art. Orijennal Art to You

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Last year I had the opportunity to sale and show my work at an art event for African American/Black artists in the Fall of 2018. The B.A.E (Black Art Experience)! It was the first showing of my art and I sold three pieces I believe. In the city of Memphis, and many other cities, there is not enough exposure or outlets for people of color and their art. Well, this young lady created an event that did just that.

Fast forward to this year and here she is opening up her own art gallery, teaching art to children in a school system, and with many more things on the horizon for all things art!

This was the GRAND OPENING that houses several artists in the city, including her beautiful art of black women and girls. Hopefully, I will be able to get a piece of my art in there soon. I marvel at the artists and their works. I got to speak with one of my favorite artists at this opening, Mosal Morszart, and met many more new artist.

Seeing their work on the walls really inspired me and talking with Mosal gave me a confidence boost in my own lane as an abstract artist. Jennifer, has also been very supportive and encourage of my work. This means so much to the black girl inside of me who’s work was shunned by an art teacher in High School. Up until then, many teachers were supportive and I was asked to take on many creative projects in school. I stopped painting after that teacher in High School. It wasn’t until about two years ago I put the brush to the canvas and it was like I never left.

Each artist was able to speak about their work.

Not only is there art for purchase, there is also art to wear and art for your home. I really like this space and I am really proud of Jennifer, a sister that has opened up another door for artists. Click the link for more Orijennal Art!

And also check out Mosal’s Page!

https://www.facebook.com/oriJENNalart/

https://www.facebook.com/morszartmosal

Also, you can find my art and my crocheted art on my Facebook page and you can find me on Instagram @theconfettishopbynique

https://www.facebook.com/TheConfettiShop/

~Nikki

A to Z. Jump. Empowerment, My Personal Journey.

FROM MY SPIRIT, Uncategorized

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I had researched enough. I had practiced enough. I had thought about it long enough. I had stood on the sidelines watching and observing others. It was time to JUMP. TRY MY HAND AT IT. LEARN AND LIVE THROUGH THE PROCESS. RIDE THE WAVES. It was writing a book. It was putting it out there. It was learning to crochet, selling it, and doing festivals. It was working on a mini-series. It was taking sewing lessons. It was creating abstract art and putting it out there for the world to see.

JUMP. It’s scary. It’s nerve wracking. It’s exhilarating. It’s freeing. It’s fun. It’s faith building for sure!

~Nikki

A to Z Challenge: Create; Empowerment, My Personal Journey

Creative Confetti, FROM MY SPIRIT, Uncategorized

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Creating is empowering to me. Finding that “thing” or doing what you love can empower you. It doesn’t matter if it’s a hobby or going back to school to be what you always wanted to be. It could be starting a business. All of this can be empowering and leading you into that feeling of satisfaction, joy, or accomplishment.

Painting, crocheting, writing, decorating, fashion, and teaching spiritual things are empowering to me. Blogging is creative to me. Find your “thing” and let it empower you to do more of it and to learn more of about it.

~Nikki

Confetti Art: The Luxury Collection

Creative Confetti, Uncategorized

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I’d bought one huge canvas and was intimidated by it. I was at the art supply store and I wanted another one, but why? I hadn’t painted the other one. As I stood there debating a young curly haired girl appeared on the aisle and she started tossing canvases into her cart because it was a sale. My cart was filled. We chatted about the sale. Then she said turned to me after she got the huge canvas. “Do you want me to help you get one?” I said “Oh, no. I don’t know. I have one and I haven’t painted it because it’s so huge and I am a bit intimidated by it.” She said, “Oh no! You must get it then. You must. If you afraid of it you must do it! Come on let’s get this thing in the basket.” We got down, but not in the basket and I dragged it to the front with my daughter pushing the cart (She is an artist, too.) And the young lady smiled at me and as we all walked out she waved. God bless that art angel. I did it! Abstract art is my niche and well, here you have part of the Luxury Collection is City of Dreams.

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City of Dreams

 

 

Reflective Luxury.

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My cousin commissioned this one. It was my first commissioned piece and my first sale of this year. Sunset on the Mountain.

Sunset on the Mountain. This one reminds me that even though the journey is rough there are beautiful sunsets along the way.

Creative Confetti: Modern Asymmetrical Ponchos

Creative Confetti, Fashion Confetti, Uncategorized

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A few weeks ago I tried a pattern with chunky yarn and it looked nothing like the photo. After what we call “frogging” the project and many attempts, I came up with my own way of doing it. I was pleased and so were the people I made them for. I figure sometimes this happens not only when a person creates a pattern, but also when manufacturers don’t give clear and concise instructions. I see it often in the crochet and knitting groups. We are all about making adjustments!

~Nikki

Just Keep Writing/Creating/Dreaming

FROM MY SPIRIT, Uncategorized

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As a writer and an author, if I were to be honest with you (which I choose to do because why not?), being a babe in this industry can be frustrating, confusing, challenging, discouraging, and frightening. Literally, for those of us who are starving artists and care more about the art than being fed at times, until you hear the growl in your belly or notice the negative sign in your bank account. We work, we hustle, we do whatever we can to produce the best work possible. Many of us don’t have big bank accounts to match our big dreams. At least, not yet. However, we will save, we will sell, we will do whatever it takes to see the pieces of works manifest.

I have two novels I need edited. I have learned the hard way, the hard headed way, I cannot edit my own books. So as I vet our editors, I also vet out pricing. In average I need about $350 per book for the editorial services I desire. I do some soft editing, writers organization and consulting, book formations (manuscripting) and etc. for a heavily discounted price. I’m like the blue collar consultant (lol). Right now my two novels are on soft release on amazon. Before I go full fledge promotion, I want them to be the best they can be grammatically. I have received amazing feedback and I know I have the gift.

I wanted to encourage some writers, artists, creators today because I had that tiny feeling that “things are not going my way as easily as I had planned! Not as quickly as I want them to!” When deep down inside you know this is like the artist “right of passage.” Your initiation into the creative world.

JUST KEEP CREATING! JUST KEEP SAVING YOUR COINS! JUST KEEP WRITING! KEEP COOKING! KEEP PAINTING! AND NOW I SHALL BREAK OUT INTO THE CHORUS: “DON’T STOP!…BELIEVIN! DON’T STOP! BELIEVIN!” #JOURNEY Sing along everybody!!!

 

~Nikki

Creative Comrades: ON YOUR MARKS

FROM MY SPIRIT, Uncategorized

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It’s the quiet thought that floats around in the back of your mind as you create your work of art, your book, or your music. I don’t know where you may have gotten it from, television, some disparaging soul, or authority figure. You know “You can’t make a living being an artist” some doubtful person poured into your subconscious. When I hear some sort of doubt rise in the back of my mind about being creative as an artists or writer, I always think about if I am being creative ONLY for an income. No, I am not. I am being creative because its who I am and I can not separate that from my being.

If you have hidden your creativity and stuffed it somewhere in the closet  of your heart, because of what someone thought or of a bad experience, you are not as happy as you are pretending to be. So, I am here to encourage you today with the TRUTH and that is “YOU DO NOT NEED ANYBODY’S PERMISSION TO LIVE A CREATIVE LIFE”- ELIZABETH GILBERT