Culture
Cultural facts, history, traditions, events, festivals, foods and more from a location.
-
Summer Creative Adventure No.1 – It’s Picnic Time
This summer I’m determined to take the time to have some summer creative adventures. I plan to send out a weekly email with a free printable on a variety of creative ways to slow down, and enjoy the season. During the week I’ll be sure to post my adventures on social media. Join me and be sure to tag #summercreativeadventures so I can see what you are up to! Our first summer creative adventure is to head outdoors and enjoy a meal. Click on the image below, print it out and enjoy your picnics this summer!
-
Travel Journal – Charles Bridge, Prague
The Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic is one of the top sites to visit. This historic bridge spans the Vltava river and connects Old Town Prague with Prague Castle. In the summer it is bustling with tourists exploring the city and soaking up the views. It’s the perfect spot to stop and capture in your travel journal. I used a simple layout for each image to help convey the beauty of the landmark. Here are a few of my journal pages. We came to this spot twice to soak up the view of the bridge an Prague Castle, once during the day and once at night to see the…
-
Art School: How to Draw a Taco
Who doesn’t love a good taco? I make them every week on Tuesday (yes, my weekly meal plan is pretty repetitive) and still never tire of them! There are just so many taco options- beef, chicken, pork, fish, vegetarian– they are all so good. In celebration of this tasty food, I’ve created a simple taco tutorial! Enjoy.
-
Digital Travel Journal: Visiting a Llama Farm in Peru
After we left Cusco, Peru. we headed down into the Sacred Valley and stopped along the way at a the Awana Kancha weaving center to get a glimpse at how the beautiful Peruvian wools are produced. This small spot provides a self guided tour of the different steps it takes to make wool for weaving. In the first area are penned up animals (llamas, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos) where you discover the differences between these camelids and can see how their wool varies. (Vicunas have the most coveted wool, as it is very soft.) All the animals are domesticated and quite friendly, and of course love to be fed. The…
-
Travel Journal: Wandering through Le Marché aux Puces de Saint Ouen Paris, France
There is something so romantic about going to the flea market in Paris– oh the treasures you might find! Here is a travel story about visiting the famed markets in Paris, France.
-
Finding Inspiration: Tips for Using Pinterest Effectively
To me, Pinterest is the mother of online inspiration! I absolutely love the platform. Well before Pinterest was ever a thing, I was that person who had a bulletin board pinned with inspiring images and ephemera. Illustrated post cards from a trip, tiny paper ornaments, decorative business cards, magazine cut outs, my board was and still is always filled. So, when Pinterest was first announced, I eagerly requested an invitation so I could create potentially a million little inspiration boards like the one I had at home! Lo and behold almost 10 years later and I still use the platform almost daily for inspiration. I use Pinterest in 4 ways-…
-
Art School: How to Draw a Mask
Masks are a part of many celebrations around the world, namely Carnevale in Venice, Italy; Carnaval do Brazil; and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Some believe masks were a pagan practice to ward off evil spirits, but now they are more worn for anonymity and decoration. Enjoy this tutorial and have fun designing your own decorative mask for any occasion.
-
Creative Inspiration from Sara Midda
I’ve been a huge fan of Sara Midda and her gorgeous art for many years. I first came across her work when my parents lived in St. Remy de Provence, France in the mid-90’s. Her book, South of France, A Sketchbook, is dreamy journal of her own experience of living a year in Provence. Her journal is filled with tiny thumbnail drawings of her moments. She has a spread of postage stamp sized loose watercolor paintings of mas’ (Provencal farm houses) and typical Provençal buildings in golden hues. She paints snapshots of everyday activities like an evening in the park playing pétanque. She discusses (and paints) the fruits and vegetables…
-
Art School: How to Draw a Box of Chocolates
When did a box of chocolates become synonymous with Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day has a long history, yet it wasn’t until the mid-1800’s when British chocolatier Richard Cadbury was trying to perfect his drinking chocolate when he inadvertently created what he called “eating chocolate.” He cleverly put his new found confection in a decorated box that he himself designed, and seized the holiday with his treats! Enjoy this “how to draw a box of chocolates” tutorial and Happy Valentine’s Day!
-
Travel Journal: Meandering on Miyajima, Japan
