West Coast Inspiration

This week I've been a little slack on posting.  So sorry.   Here's my excuse!

I've been in Fabulous Las Vegas visiting my friend Lori who has helped start a church out there, LifeSong Church!! Here we are in front of the Bellagio!  Her church is planning on putting on a Joy Prom, which is a full-scale blowout prom for individuals with special needs, and she flew me and my friend Katie out to consult with their church on how to pull off the event.
It's a 5 hour flight, so I had a chance to start a new book that I would TOTALLY recommend, "The Hidden Art of Homemaking" by Edith Schaeffer.   She talks about how it is important to inspire others to be creative as well as to communicate by one's own creative acts.  One creative artist gives courage and incentive, and germinates ideas in others for producing more art.  So one poor, humble, unknown artist might easily provide the spark which kindles the fire of a great artist!  It was so awesome to be able to walk through the casinos for the first time and see all the glitz and glam of Las Vegas.  I was right smack dab in the middle of the canvas of so many incredibly inspiring artists, so I couldn't stop taking pictures!!
My favorite casino was the Encore, the mirror image of the Wynn, and the newest casino on the strip.  These pictures are all from the Encore.  
Most casinos are very dark on purpose, because they want gamblers to loose track of time while there.  Not so with the Encore.  It is open and airy with tons of plants and windows to the outside gardens.  I was totally inspired!
Not that this is anything I'm planning on doing at my own house. But I loved the color palate, the greens, the reds, the crisp whites, the blown glass chandeliers, the mirrors, the techniques used.  Just as Edith Schaeffer says, the Encore's creative artists have given me the courage and incentive, and have germinated in me ideas for producing more art. (And not to diminish it one bit, but seeing God's awe-inspiring creation-the Grand Canyon- from the plane had the same inspiring effect!)  My hope is that these pictures and this blog do the same for you!