Practice Pie Eating Before Thanksgiving. Life Is Short.

Hi, Creative Friends-

The Thanksgiving holiday is slowly falling like a beautiful autumn leaf into our lives. By now, we have started to jot down a preliminary list of traditional recipes and ingredients to buy. More importantly, we might be asking ourselves how we will find thanks before loved ones start bustling through our front door. Well, here are a few thoughts…

Let’s Eat Practice Pie And Find Thanks With These 3 Creative Ideas…

1. Tree Of Thanks: Create gratitude by making a thankful tree. Find a tree branch, grab a beautiful vase, and download and print this lovely fall leaf template. Cut out each leaf and write down simple words of gratitude. Watch joy spread and healthy attitudes abound as the Thanksgiving guests read each leaf placed on the Tree Of Thanks.

2. Make A New Tradition: In our house, eating pie happens one week BEFORE Thanksgiving. We realized a few years ago we were blissfully too full to enjoy the best part of the Thanksgiving meal, the pie! We started a tradition of buying pie ahead of the holiday and trying different flavors and supporting local bakeries. Besides being together, this creative tradition has become the best part of our Thanksgiving. Find something joyful in your life, and make it into a lovely and sweet tradition!

3. Create Kindness For 25 Days: A good way to give thanks is to do simple things to create kindness in our world. We can be so altruistic and ambitious in our need to give back, like sponsoring a large food drive, we fail to deliver on our attempt to be helpful. Here is a simple way for the whole family to remember to create thanks and give back: The Kindness Advent Calander. The FREE Digital Download can be found here. Download, print, cut, and fold each kindness star. Hang the stars on a branch or place them in a jar. Every day for 25 days, you will unfold a simple kindness task. It’s a great way to give back, keep it simple, and give thanks for the opportunity to help others!

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or the way you will find thanks!

Also, thanks for reading along. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

The Art Shop Is Open!

Purchase Original Satsuma Watercolors Here

La Moustache Print At INPRNT

Hi, Creative Friends-

November is here, holiday demands abound, and as the year comes to a close, we can feel our old friend stress make a rude entrance. This makes it a great time too, to pause and find gratitude. Did you know creating a gratitude practice can create overall wellness? The benefits include everything from feeling more positive emotions to strength in friendships.

Here are 3 Creative Ideas On How To Focus On Gratitude This November…

1. Find Your Rose. Bud. Thorn: Finding gratitude and empathy for our lives can be as simple as asking at the end of the day “What was my rose? What was my bud? What was my thorn today?” My nine-year-old brought this idea home from school and I think it’s been invaluable for connecting and finding gratitude for ourselves and finding joy with each other. Read more about the “Rose. Bud. Thorn.” exercise here.

2. Health Visuals: Having gratitude for our bodies and minds can be a daunting task. Taking care of our health can sometimes be last on our list of priorities until we are faced with a health challenge. Surrounding ourselves with positive visuals can be an important step in a gratitude practice. Whether it is posting positive affirmations like this “You Are Doing Great!”, framing one of these fresh original Satsuma watercolors, or gifting a La Moustache art print for the Movember Movement, each can be a reminder to make November healthy.

3. Branch Out: The simple act of writing down can lead help with gratitude by making it tangible. Try this DIY project the whole family can participate in: “How To Make A Gratitude Tree” from the Artful Parent. Use these FREE special leaf art to create a tree full of beauty, joy, and gratitude.

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or what you are doing to find gratitude this November.

Also, thanks for reading along. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Practice Pie Eating Before Thanksgiving. Life Is Short.

Hi, Creative Friends-

Thank you to all my friends who popped by the Art Fair last Sunday and purchased my art! I’m giving thanks to everyone here who supports and reads this newsletter too. Remember “Creativity Is Contagious” so if you think someone in your life might be thankful to receive this weekly newsletter, please pass it on with this link “Sign Up For the Create & Change Newsletter Here.” I will be doing a giveaway in December and everyone on the newsletter list will be entered to win a beautiful one-of-a-kind watercolor!

Now on to this week’s 3 creative ideas…

Let’s Eat Practice Pie And Find Thanks With These 3 Creative Ideas…

1. Sketch Away The Stress & Find Gratitude: The holidays are stressful and can churn up lots of emotions. It can be hard to be thankful and find time to reflect on and find gratitude in our lives. Did you know using drawing as a form of meditation can help? Sign up below for a FREE virtual sketch along on Instagram Live. No drawing experience is needed. Sign up here for the FREE November Sketch Class On Instagram Live - Wednesday, November 24 @12pm (noon) PST.

2. Make A New Tradition: In our house, eating pie happens one week BEFORE Thanksgiving. We realized a few years ago we were blissfully too full to enjoy the best part of the Thanksgiving meal, the pie! We started a tradition of buying pie ahead of the holiday and trying different flavors and supporting local bakeries. Besides being together, this creative tradition has become the best part of our Thanksgiving. Find something joyful in your life, and make it into a lovely and sweet tradition!

3. Create Kindness For 25 Days: A good way to give thanks is to do simple things to create kindness in our world. We can be so altruistic and ambitious in our need to give back, like sponsoring a large food drive, we fail to deliver on our attempt to be helpful. Here is a simple way for the whole family to remember to create thanks and give back: The Kindness Advent Calander. The FREE Digital Download can be found here. Download, print, cut, and fold each kindness star. Hang the stars on a branch or place them in a jar. Every day for 25 days, you will unfold a simple kindness task. It’s a great way to give back, keep it simple, and give thanks for the opportunity to help others!

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or your idea for a new holiday tradition.

Also, thanks for reading along. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Holiday Art Shop Is Open!

La Moustache Digital Download

Hi, Creative Friends-

Did you miss the creative newsletter last week? I paused last Friday to drum up some new thoughts for you and absolutely missed sending out three weekly creative ideas to you all! Well, I’m back and November is here. Which makes it a great time to give thanks for all the people and things in our lives that make our world better.

Here are 3 Super Creative Ways To Joyfully Give Thanks This November…

1. Movember Movement: Do you have a man in your life? Maybe a dad, brother, uncle, or a good old friend that needs a check-up or check-in? Support him and give thanks for all the ways he contributes to the world around him by bringing awareness to Men’s Health by supporting the Movember Movement. Bring awareness to men’s health and grow a mustache! If sprouting facial hair isn’t possible, consider purchasing this “La Moustache” instant digital download, make a few art prints or cards to share with the special men who make everyone’s life better. Through November, 20% of the profits of this digital download will be donated to the Movember movement.

2. Practice Pie: What’s the best thing about Thanksgiving? The Pie. All you stuffing lovers out there, don’t even try to change my mind! However, making a pie can be intimidating, frustrating, and confusing. There are many tricks that have popped up over the years on how to make an amazing pie crust. Add a tablespoon of fridged European-only vodka to the dough while mixing, roll the dough out in a northward direction while signing Don McClean’s song “American Pie” or bake the pie in an oven set at 347 degrees and open the freezer door 8 times all while praying to the baking gods the crust won’t be tough. Then BOOM, these tricks will create the Perfect Pie, right? Nope, making pie crust is very simple and you can master pie dough with Molly Wilk’s Virtual Pastry “Mini Class: Easy Pie Crust” class. Take her class, make pie and start a tradition of “Practice Pie,” where you spend the whole week leading up to Thanksgiving giving thanks for practicing the art of making and eating pie.

3. Deep Breaths & Sketch: The holidays can bring on waves of anxiety and stress. It can be hard to find joy and happiness and a moment to give thanks. Did you know using drawing as a form of meditation can help? Sign up below for a FREE virtual sketch along on Instagram Live. No drawing experience is needed. More details about this fun live event will be sent to you via email next week!

FREE November Sketch Class - Sign Up Here

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or what you are doing to give thanks in November.

Also, thanks for reading along. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Hi, Creative Friends,

Do ever find yourself needing to create a big thank you to someone special? Whether it is your Mom, a helpful co-worker, or a super-engaged teacher, a special thank you can be hard to find. That’s why this week I rounded up 3 creative ideas to say thank you now!

This week, say thank you, with these 3 simple creative ideas.

1. Be Bars Above The Rest With A Watercolor Card: Chocolate is a delicious way to say thank you! Wrap a few bars of Endangered Species chocolate up with a ribbon, like the Caramel Sea Salt + Dark Chocolate flavor, create a lovely thank you card with these Strathmore Watercolor Cards & Arteza Classic Watercolors to create a super heartfelt thank you! Best of all, Endangered Species Chocolates give 10% of net profits to save our wildlife.

2. Molly J. Wilk’s French Pastry Class: This one was mentioned last week but it’s so good I thought it was worth a mention again. If you have someone that loves to bake and the idea of a gift certificate makes things easy, Molly J. Wilk has a solution. She offers accessible french pastry classes virtually from her kitchen in Versailles, France which can be found here on her website Molly J. Wilk Virtual Pastry Classes. All classes are held on Zoom and she provides recipes and the ability to access a private Facebook group to interact with other bakers. Molly also has a cookbook coming out in June called “French Pastry Made Simple” which can be pre-ordered! Either or both the pastry class and her book would be a great way to say thank you to anyone!

3. Giant Flower Power Thank You: Nothing says thank you more than a big bunch of beautiful flowers! What’s better? Creating one big special thank you that will last a lifetime with a few supplies and this tutorial here Giant Paper Flowers. Or head over to Society 6 and send a thank you art print such as this Modern Mom Flowers print. Whatever you do, don’t forget to say thank you!

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or a creative idea on how you will say thank you!

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Thanksgiving Greetings Wrapping Paper

// Hi, Friends-

Can you believe Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner? This year, the holidays will probably look a bit different…

We will most likely skip the in-person meet-ups. That means a lot of family traditions might be put on hold this year.

We probably won’t sit around the Thanksgiving table together, ruminate about old vacations, volunteer our time to serve up meals at a soup kitchen, or make the grandparents happy by giving them big turkey hugs.

The “might not” can be hard to digest.

However, if you are a bit like me, times like these give opportunities to create something new.

A new tradition, an experimental way to celebrate, and a moment to get creative while still connecting with people we love.

That’s why I created this Thanksgiving Greetings turkey wrapping paper. Yes, turkey wrapping paper! You can wrap up happiness and drop it at someone’s door this Thanksgiving! Just go to Society6 to pick up the 5 sheets of Thanksgiving paper inspired by the turkeys of Albany!

If you need creative ways to use this paper to celebrate your Thanksgiving, here are three fun ideas:

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Darling Place Settings

Use this lovely thick paper to add character to your Thanksgiving place settings. Make any Thanksgiving Tablescape darling!

Thanksgiving Greetings Wrapping Paper

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A Sweet Loving Donation

1) Wrap up a can of pumpkin puree such as Libby’s (it’s my personal favorite) in a brown paper bag or buy fun wrapping paper such as Thanksgiving Greetings turkey paper on Society6.

2) Make a donation to a food bank like No Hungry Kid, Feeding America, or your local food pantry.

3) Add a bow and print this FREE “A Donation To A Local Food Bank Was Made In Your Honor” tag.

4) Drop this wonderful, loving gift on a friend’s porch!

Thanksgiving Wrapping Paper

Wrap Up Something Special

A box of chocolates, a Mini artist print, a bottle of wine, or a bunch of flowers will look so festive wrapped in Thanksgiving Greetings, all of which can be dropped off on the doorstep of someone very special this Thanksgiving.

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No matter how you celebrate this holiday season, may creativity inspire you to make things for people you love and wrap your Thanksgiving in happiness!

Sending you much love and light friends! //

Hey there. Who overindulged yesterday? It was a lovely day to give thanks. However, four slices of pecan pie and a pound of butter are still sitting in my stomach and are making for a slow start on a Friday. Maybe when we tried to slide on our pants today and our stuffing made it a bit harder to button the two side of our pants? Perhaps the belly feels an over-inflated balloon? Our digestion might just be a little off today. When I feel like the pains of over consuming, I turn to a smoothie.

Just the thought of a smoothie makes my body perk up and pay attention. It's easy to jam pack 8oz of gut calming ingredients into a drink. One smoothie has the potential to make our bellies and minds feel better in just a few short minutes. In fact; new studies show the gut bacteria we carry around sends signals to our brain and can affect our mental well-being. Here is an excellent article in "The Atlantic" on how gut bacteria affects our mental health: "When Gut Bacteria Changes Gut Function."

Today's project is to create kindness for your body and mind today. You can whip up a smoothie, take a walk or meditate. Do something kind for yourself today. If you need a little extra push, here is a smoothie recipe created just for you to aid in digestion.

Help! Digestion Smoothie

(makes approximately 2-8oz drinks)

• 1/3 cup brewed and cooled Allegro Brand Organic Happy Tummy Tea (or mint tea)
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 2 cups almond milk
• 1/2 a granny smith green apple cored and sliced

Step 1: Brew the tea and let cool. Add a few ice cubes to quicken the cooling process.

Step 2: Add the cooled tea and green apple in the blender with lid. Pulse till smooth.

Step 3: Add the blueberries, strawberries, and almond milk to the blender and blend for 1 minute or until smooth.

Drink up and give some TLC to your belly and your mind!

Until tomorrow overindulgers! 

Happy Thanksgiving Turkeys! As we all scramble to get the bird in the oven, the appetizers together and the pie baking, we might feel a little apprehensive of what will be talked about at the Thanksgiving table. Thanksgiving has a strange way of churning up feelings and emotions. Maybe it's the flowing red wine or the tryptophan in the turkey that makes us brave enough to speak our minds and draw lines. In these moments, it's good to have an escape pod when the conversation goes sideways and the people insist on getting a little too passionate about their viewpoint. This is when empathy is no longer in play and nothing good can come of the conversation. 

Today, create a list of 10 conversation starters. Consider this your detour and saving grace at the Thanksgiving table. Here are 10 ideas to get you started.

Let me take this moment to give thanks to you dear readers. It's been an amazing 330 days and I am deeply grateful for all people who take time out of their busy day to read and support this blog. All I can say today is thank you!

Until tomorrow.

Hello, little turkeys. Remember when we were kids and things were a bit more simple? We didn't worry about world politics, paying the bills or the specific direction life was taking us. At least in my childhood, there was a sense of being in the present and feeling pure joy. Don't get me wrong, childhood can be a very stressful time but there was something about childhood that created the feeling of true joy. Somewhere along the way to adulthood, I left joy in a parking garage and didn't the note the location. I've been looking for it for a while now and each time I think I have found it, it slips back into the dark parts of the garage. In other words, why do we reach a certain age only to find pure joy is hard to obtain? 

Take, for instance, drawing hand turkeys. Remember as a child, placing your hand down on a piece of crisp construction paper and carefully tracing with a marker around each finger? The turkey would then be completed with a beak and a waddle. It was pretty amazing to see a simple line drawing turned into something more. There was joy in that simple process.

Today's project is to create childlike joy and trace your adult hand on a piece of paper. Take your time and work slowly drawing a line over each curve and down into each valley. Add a beak, waddle and maybe some feathers. Most importantly, without judgment register your feelings before and after the process. 

Until tomorrow turkey lurkey.

Hello. It is going to be a good day because we are alive today. It's funny how we often take life for granted or at least I do. In fact, I find myself taking just about everything for granted these days. It's easy to do as we carry on with everyday life. When was the last time we stopped, picked up our heads and pointed out the good stuff? With thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought we could take today and make a plan to put in writing what we are thankful for in our lives.

Today's project is to take the next nine days and create a gratitude list. You can start small and find thanks in the tiny moments that make life better. Maybe it's finding gratefulness in a hot cup of coffee, the fact clean water came from the faucet this morning, or you are alive. After the nine days are up, it will be Thanksgiving here in America. We can all then find out what happens when we turn on our filters and see gratitude in our lives.

Until tomorrow.

Hi Ya! I woke up this morning on the wrong side of tomorrow. From all perspectives, life today seemed fine. Just fine. Not great. Not bad. Just fine. I brought my fine to the park, with my kids, where they were whiny and not fine. I brought my fine to the grocery store where my kids were asking for everything and acted not fine when I told them no. I brought my fine to the lunch table where my kids didn't think lunch was fine. I then had enough of fine. I had enough of my kids not acting fine and I almost lost it. My general loosing it usually entails, yelling and telling them to go to their rooms. Today, I tried something different.

Today, I made a grateful & thankful jar. I sat myself and the kids down with a pen and paper. We all then came up with 10 things that make us feel grateful & thankful. It took some coercing but each of my kids dug up 10 things and wrote the thanks on a slip of paper. We then dropped our thanks in the jar. Their thanks included being grateful for me (yes! they better), the park, their backyard and trucks. Mine included being able to spend the summer watching my kids grow, sitting down to work and having a friend that was willing to put up with my fine behavior. Funny enough after putting our grateful & thankful thoughts in writing, their behavior changed. So did mine. 

Creating a grateful & thankful jar changed the way we all interacted and felt about the day. Let's see if it changes you too. Today's project is to make your own grateful and thankful jar. All you need is a jar, strips of paper and pen. Write down 10 things you are grateful and thankful for and slip them in the jar. Now pass the jar around.

Let me know how it goes and what you are grateful & thankful for. See you tomorrow and thanks for reading today!