I have been having much of the fun lately playing with thread and paint and paper. I decided to share a bit of it with you. To that end you can now find a few new creations in my little shop. Stop by and let me know what you think.
Have a lovely Monday and don’t forget to play.
Yesterday I celebrated my Easter Sunday quite simply- by getting outside and enjoying the wonder of Spring in my new home. I started by gathering some supplies: water, my iPod, some poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke and a lovely bag from a wondermous friend to hold it all in. Then I went to my hammock which is nestled in the pecan grove next to our home. I had such a lovely time- reading poetry, listening to music both from my iPod and from the lovely birds all around and generally soaking in the goodness all around me.
It takes days like this for me to realize how wonderful it all is. This is simple stuff, but it is what makes the world a beautiful place to be in. I find that I can easily forget this at times. One can get so wrapped up in blah- that it is easily forgotten that the cliche about the best things in life being free is quite true.
Meet Bertrand. He is the first four legged friend to join us in quite some time. Unfortunately, right when we got Bertrand he had to have surgery- so quite unhappily he has been having to wear an Elizabethan Collar- which makes him less than pleased. Other than that he seems quite happy with his new surroundings.
Because he is in recovery he was not quite ready for a photo opportunity- so I created this collage as an homage to our new friend and his trials and tribulations with the aforementioned collar.
Today is not a day for the mundane, but alas– here the mundane surrounds me. Laundry to be done, dishes to wash, cats to medicate….
Today I should have woken up in a luxury suite in Paris. A light knocking at the door would rouse me around eleven with the news that my breakfast of cafe creme and croissants had arrived. A man, very much like my husband, but with a I’m in Paris spring in his step would later walk in the door- with the morning paper and some fresh flowers. He would find me lounging on the veranda sipping my cafe and slowly twisting apart a croissant. He would then inform me that he had secured tickets for some fabulous matinée this afternoon and that dinner tonight was a surprise, but one that I would adore.
Yes, this is what my day should be like today.
So, I suppose my charge today is to find a way to step out of the mundane and into a day of beauty that I am craving. How do you step out of the mundane?
Colouring my hair is a secret vice of mine- not that I think that it is bad for me, but because it is a sure thing that I can do to get a little lift. I can go to the store pick out something… saucey- or spunky- maybe sweet- but something- then I can go home lather it on and wait- for my look to change just a bit or maybe even quite a bit. Don’t worry I don’t go blond or anything there are some things best left to the professionals… ok many things- but I digress… It is a little something that I can do that is fun and harmless- unless you try to go blond (can you tell that I have screwed this one up before?).
A little something- that was what I was looking for today- something to put a little spring in my step- so I sit here marienating and having fun playing- who knows maybe I’ll paint my toe nails next. Truly fun. Truly silly.
Tonight I needed methodical craftiness to get me going- so I decided to start to work on binding a few mini books which I am hoping to put in my Etsy Shop in the next day or so. I love this kind of creating – I get to play and work with color and it is a calming and orderly process. They are currently resting under much weight to prepare for tomorrow.
Today was an interesting day filled with powerful thunderstorms in short spurts, a visit to a local hot dog stand and a semi frustrating trip to the dmv (or shall I say dds in georgia) where I learned that even though I have been married for almost seven years I need to bring my marriage license with me because , oddly enough my name now differs from my birth certificate- not my passport, my social security card or my current driver’s license, but my birth certificate- oh well- I shall try again another day.
As for the rest of the evening – I play with a collage, watch some tv or maybe a movie and then perhaps have some tea- exciting, eah?- well I am pretty happy with it. Have a lovely evening.
Well, I have decided to take the plunge and put some of my artwork for sell on Etsy. It is a scary step for me, but one I have been trying to get the nerve up to do for quite some time. You see- I keep making things and I only have so much space for such things, but I want to keep making stuff and so it goes and we shall see. To start with I have put up a few paintings, some collage work and a journal that I made. I would love to hear what you think- as all of this is quite new and scary to me.
Today was a day of play for me- which was so good. My wonderful friend, Shimelle gave me a sewing machine- so today I set to work on figuring out what the heck to do with it. I thought of some things….
I made an apron for Jon, the chef of the family, from my Simple Sewing with a French Twist. I also made the page you see above using bits of scrapbooking material that I collected from the wonderful people that I met at Scrapbowl using what I learned in Shimelle’s Paper Patchwork class. Twas much of the fun.
I played today- and I created the page above to remind me- that, for me, creativity begins with play and that even if I have no idea what I am going for… if I just play- I will most likely have fun and like what I end up making.
So here’s to a day of play. Woohoo!
So- um- wow. The last week was a whirlwind of activity for me and so much fun. I had the pleasure of attending Scrapbowl as Shimelle’s assistant last week and it was so much fun. First and foremost I got to hang out with Shimelle- who I have been desperately missing since we moved back to the States from London. On top of that wonderfulness I got to meet some amazing new people (The Get Croppin Girls- Marirosa and Ashlie, Tia, Emily, Kristina, Donna, Margie, Stacy and all of the wonderful women participating in and helping with the classes) and be surrounded by crafty goodness. I love crafty goodness! It was, in short, much of the fun.
So much to process from last week. Thanks to everyone who was involved- it was an experience that will not be forgotten.
P.S.
Since I did not have enough forethought to bring a camera the lovely pictures above are some that Shimelle took- Thanks for letting me use them:)
So I just stopped with the journals and the thing a day and I am not quite sure why… but I can’t quite get myself to continue at the moment…. so I am not- and I am going to attempt to not feel bad about it- I am just going to admit that right now it is not happening…..
and then for some reason this song came to mind…. It is Same Thing by Barenaked Ladies and it makes me smile-
What does it mean to wake out of a dream and be
Wearing someone else’s shorts?
I’ve been around the block, at least on my bike
I was prepared for the news but not for
The Third World War
I found me an answer, in a grocery store
I found me an answer in the form of an old man with
a cardigan on, this guy’s got thirty years on me but
he stops and smiles just to say “Hello,
didn’t I see you on TV?”
Must’ve been the same thing
Must’ve been the same thing
Must’ve been the same thing
Charlie Brown went through
I’m in a comic store
Lookin’ for some mistakenly priced comic I could make
A fortune on and in walks the Fantastic Four
I say “Don’t go;
That last issue was cool!”
Must’ve been the same thing
Must’ve been the same thing
Must’ve been the same
These
things all end
Who asked you anyway?
You’ll have to bend
Who asked you anyway?
I’m in a thunderstorm
Staying out from under trees never holding
Gold clubs, but still seem to be getting
Struck by lightning… must be
Something in my veins
My weathered veins
Must’ve been the same thing
jen h mont 