Best of Zazzle: Wedding Invitations

A fellow Zazzle designer created the most beautiful custom Wedding Invitations, and I just have to share them with you all. Can you imagine? You are planning the perfect wedding, and everything is perfect, then it is time to send out the invitations. Shouldn’t they be as perfect as the rest of your blessed event?

Check out the following designs by Leatherwood Music Shop to get inspired:

Sheet Music Wedding Invitation by LwoodMusic

Violin Music Wedding by LwoodMusic

Sheet Music Save the Date Postcard by LwoodMusic

Here are a couple of other designs that caught my eye, today!

White Groom and Groom Gay Wedding by fancyhouse

Modern Black and White Wedding Invitation by fancyhouse

All of the designs featured here are fully customizable! And you only have to order exactly as many you need. It could not be easier!

 

Haunted – A Flash Fiction

Frozen by the fears of yesterday, he stopped to light the  candle in the small church. No matter how many offerings he made, no matter how much he prayed, the hollow guilt never stopped haunting him. Wishing for a miracle, that would never come, he rested his head against the freezing wall of the ancient building before turning once again, toward the cold space in the small yard, where all hope, all love laid resting in a shallow grave.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

This post was inspired by the Flash Fiction Prompt “Offering” and the following performance of the song “From Yesterday” by 30 Seconds To Mars

 

 

The Birth Of A Dream

Image “Where Dreams Might Come True II” by SpaceCadet34 http://shrsl.com/?~7ikh

 

within the birth of a dream
innocence was lost,
but the power emerged
with such force,
that nothing ever kept me
from following my desires
again

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

(Disclaimer: The above image is by artist SpaceCadet34, and is called “Where Dreams Might Come True II”, and is available for purchase on RedBubble, of which I am an affiliate, supporting independent artist in reaching a wider audience”

Dream Song – A Haiku

 

Image by Amanda Cass
http://shrsl.com/?~7ftk

I dream in sweet notes
the melodies dancing around me
harmonic expression

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

(Disclaimer: The image is by an artist named Amanda Cass, and it is available at RedBubble, of which I am an affiliate – supporting independent artist, and helping them to reach a wider audience)

 

The Sounds of Nature

the soft, gentle melody
as ocean breeze moves my hear
natures sound comforts

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2014

This post was inspired by the Daily Prompt ” Cue the Violins”

Gratitude Summer Edition

Where ever you go, go with all your heart – Confucius

Gratitude is one way to be present wherever you are, and while I try to live in Gratitude, I do fall short of that goal to be present within it more often than I would like. So every once in a while I post here, what I am grateful for. Maybe you can join me, and all of the other wonderful people of this blog hop, and feel inspired to live a little more in gratitude.

I am grateful for the many books I have been reading over the last few weeks. Most of them have been absolute gems, and I am so grateful for the time I have been able to spent reading them. And sharing them with you all.

I am grateful that the rains have stopped. We had a very wet summer this far, and while it is wonderful that we on this side of the country do not suffer the drought that California has to deal with, there is a point where it gets too much. Finally, the weather has settled back into its normal rhythm here. I am grateful for that.

I am grateful for ranch dressing. Call me weird, but ranch dressing is that little something that makes me enjoy more raw veggies. And we all should eat a lot of veggies. A little dab of ranch and a pile of vegetables and I am happy camper. I am easy to please.

I am grateful for music. I usually start my day listening to my favorite musicians, more often than not 30 Seconds To Mars. There is something about music that can inspire, get you moving, motivate, and dare the impossible. Great music and a cup of coffee, a perfect way to start the day. Oh, and of course a slice of cake.

Now it is your turn? What are you grateful for?

Here are some other bloggers who shared their thoughts this week:

http://tuckedintoacorner.wordpress.com/2014/08/02/the-odd-trio/
http://wriculent.wordpress.com/2014/08/02/odd-trio-redux/
http://lgkeltner.blogspot.com/2014/08/celebrate-small-things-august-1-2014.html

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“Artifact” – My Obsession With A Significant Documentary (A Review)

Title: Artifact

Genre: Documentary

Rating: 5/5 Stars

I was introduced to Jared Leto via my daughters love for his band “30 Seconds To Mars”, and was hooked, even more so when I saw him in “Dallas Buyers Club” as the beautiful, transgender Rayon, marvelously brought to live by Jared. If you have not seen “Dallas Buyers Club”, you have missed out. But I regress. What I really wanted to write about today is the documentary “Artifact”

Essentially, this movie is about the band, their struggle to get a fair contract with their recording studio and them being sued for 30 Million Dollars as a result. On a deeper level, this docu shines a light on the world of greed, the status of the music industry and how we as consumers of the music should be aware that our habits of wanting the product as fast and as cheap as possible, make it harder and harder for an artist or a band to make a living making music. It is a wake up call to anyone who wants to be a musician, to become proactive before making any decisions of signing on with labels, and to have a clear understanding of what they are getting into.

 

The movie is also a statement of perseverance and continuing drive to create songs despite the circumstances. I consider this movie essential to be viewed by anyone who wants to work within the music industry, may it be on the artist side, or on the producing side.

The movie is available on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. Downloaded, talk about it, play it, but pay for it. Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.

 

A Daily Prompt Dinner Party And Then Some

Today’s Prompt is fun, so I thought I go for it:

You get to plan a dinner party for 4-8 of your favorite writers/artists/musicians/other notable figures, whether dead or alive. Who do you seat next to whom in order to inspire the most fun evening?

I can picture them well together – the band Thirty Seconds To Mars (Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo), Joss Whedon, and the guy who knows them all, Robert Downey Jr. Somehow this sounds like a fun, but slightly dangerous evening, as neither of them are what you would consider “normal”, all have the attitude of not caring about people’s opinion, and are imensively creative. A group of dedicated, creative geniuses, that have inspired me to dream, to dare, to write and to not care about what others think. I can not imagine that there will be much sitting still, therefore assigning someone a particular place to sit would be a waste of time. We would end up on the porch, outside, all over the house, engaged in conversation, rather than stationary. None of these people are the subtle, stationary type.

Of course the dinner would have to be made by a hired gourmet vegan chef (Jared is vegan). While my husband is an exellent cook, don’t ask him to cook vegan, so hiring someone in has to be it. Plus it leaves us more time to connect with this group of incredible people.

Here is what fellow bloggers thought about this particular prompt:

http://abozdar.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/hanging-out-with-the-cool-crow-dude/

http://guthonestfaith.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/the-living-dead/

http://abozdar.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/tryst/

http://alanewart.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/musical-musing-dead-alive/

http://tombalistreri.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/declining-dinner/

How would you answer this weeks prompt?

S Is For Starstruck

While I admire many people in the creative arts, there are only two at the moment in who’s presence I would turn into a starstruck fan girl, should I ever had the good fortune to meet them. Mainly because I admire them further then just the creative endevour of their many accomplishments, but also as people, with a depth, and character qualities that I think of as high in value.

One of these people is probably not surprisingly Joss Whedon. As a creative artist, he has accomplished much, sometimes despite of what others might have thought. Perserverance has brought forth some of the most highly acclaimed television shows and movies. But beyond that, he has shown a care for others, specifically for women’s equality causes, which has earned him my admiration. Let me share as an example his “Equality Now” speech with you:

 

The second person I want to write about is Jared Leto. While his music through Thirty Seconds of Mars is widely acclaimed, and I am surely a fan of his songs as well as his acting skills, it is his thoughtfulness for his family and his dedication to both venues he chooses to express himself in, that inspires me the most. His documentary “Artifact” showing a deeper look into the music industry and how artists struggle to get fairly compensated for their art – fighting at times both ends, the labels who are obviously into making profit, and those who illegally download and share the hard work of the artists.

Here is the trailer:

It is currently available through itunes and Amazon, watch it, even more so if you are thinking about working with or in the music industry.

 

 

 

Performance

The happiest memories of my childhood where on stage. Singing in our choir, having the honor of actually performing in theaters, at conventions, at festivals gave a break from an otherwise dreary existence. Our choir leader, was the head of the Musical Department of the town I grew up in. He took our performances seriously. So did I.

The teachers in our school where a part of the whole experience. The Director created a teacher’s band, who assisted us, my English teacher on the classical guitar. German schools are not exactly known for their creativity, but in this environment we could explore, sing in different languages, work with different instruments, express ourselves.

Speaking about expressing oneself. For the ultimate creative experience on how to make the most of your musical talents while playing with vegetables watch the video below. I did not know a carrot could sound so good.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/daily-prompt-we-got-the-beat/