creative wanderings

one little word 2013: savor

savor

savor

savor

SMASH Stick and Leftovers

I like to collage cards, journal pages, envelopes....it is a great way to play and use junk mail, left over wrapping paper, and maybe even a rubber stamp and a strip or two of duct tape. Everybody loves duct tape, right? Even the plain old gray kind can lend some texture and a good background for a word or two.


Rip some paper, tear some tape, grab your glue stick--or better yet--the new SMASH Stick--glue stick one end and pen on the other. A very fun tool for anyone crafty-at-heart. Check out all the SMASH products at K&Company you might just find some fun stocking  stuffers or the perfect gift to get someone started in a life of creativity!

What do you like to do to reduce stress? 

Inspired by "Art Saves"

This is an amazing book. The kind of you see and instantly know that it has a life changing quality to it. Jenny Doh has pulled together interviews, stories, artistic processes and techniques of 20 dynamic artists into this treasure of a book. But, it is much more than a how-to book of creativity and art. Art Saves includes, life lessons, wisdom, practical ideas, ways of giving back and much much more. This is a rare find and well worth checking out. 

To learn more simply click on the book above. 

Like to sketch, doodle, draw or scribble?

No matter what your Crayola of choice is...give yourself a break and do a little doodling on Sunday afternoon. You are intrigued are you not? Well, click the button on the right that looks just like the picture above and you will be whisked through cyberspace and into a very creative blog called Blue Chair Diary where you will find the same button and along with it the description of how to participate. Have fun!

Be inspired

A friend sent me a link to  I Should Be Folding My Laundry ... and I love her You Capture project. It more than piqued my interest it stirred my creativity. So, I have to take the challenge--at least off and on (I'll be realistic and recognize that my time for creativity is limited--but I do carry my camera everywhere and love to take unusual ways--see left) to see where it leads.

To read all about the You Capture project just click on the picture the right-- the woman holding the camera and read all about it.

a favorite place

In the "Artist Den" people were making baskets, kumihimo bracelets and much more. We went down there to bind a book. Found all that we needed save an awl and one of those things you wax you thread with...but being determined and resourceful she bound her journal all the same. Inkel looms, floor looms, tabletop looms, sewing machines, knitting needles, crochet hooks, friendship bracelets and tie-dye were all dabbled in and enjoyed by artists young and old...-er.

I like finding colors and corners where I can sit an journal. This is the first year I did not take a small load of rubber stamps, a few stamp pads, paper to use in collage, etc. I only took Sharpies and other pens to adorn wording along the way. I did crawl through the cupboards one afternoon in the Artist Den to see what rubber stamps were stashed away...and very few were available--none satisfactory for my use. I was looking for mountains and trees, rocks and stamps that reflected my surroundings. There use to be some of those around the Artist Den--I know because I have provided some of them over the years. Ah well...I did fine thinking, pondering and writing. It doesn't take much to let creativity have its way--but it does take sitting down once in awhile.

clearing the desk-clearing the mind

I cleared away the last two week of "Reflective Journaling" necessities...it was a good group and put my mind right back into journaling. The stillness of writing together even for short times is very nourishing to me.

And now, at least a small portion of my desk is ready for the fresh and new....whatever that might be!! Oh, there is lots more to put away and sort through. I've been sending small boxes and large envelopes of paper/stamping/scrapbookish items on to my island daughter who is into creating cards and other things. Excellent to be the recipient--my mailbox has cried for lack of real mail of late.
But now it sings. :)

my knitting, reading and writing notes

In the Knitting Realm
Well, last night I got back to and into the eyelet section of my Nirvana Shawl #2 and now need to dig out my second skein before continuing. I picked up my current hat, put it onto the four double ended needles and started the decreasing so that is nearing completion. I am still slugging away at a special scarf that was meant to be a Christmas present--except that I started it over once and now that I am nearly 1/2 done I am having the urge to start over again--something about it just isn't right.....

In the Reading Realm

I am nearly done with The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and it has been quite a ride. I will not spoil it for anyone who hasn't read and plans to, but...there is a lot to the book and in the story. I can't imagine what David Wroblewski will come up with after writing this as a first novel. I can't wait to finish tonight. (Even though it is huge, it is my bedtime read.)

My morning read is A Beach Walk by Joan Anderson and I happen to be near the end of it as well. It is filled with wonderful conversations with her mentor Joan Erickson (I hope this link to a video of her works!) Before reading this book I read two others of Joan Anderson's, but now I would have left her second book An Unfinished Marriage till after this book.

Ah well, I am reading other creative things like Life is a Verb and a few new magazines from Somerset : Journaling, Artful Blogging, Somerset Life, Where Women Create, Somerset Sew well, you get the idea...I am letting my mind wander and wiggle in the free room of the week.

In the Realm of Writing

My great accomplishment yesterday was to actually almost finish my Heart Prayers book on Blurb. Right up until I made one move and somehow added a page or lost a prayer...I have to go back and figure it out today...I had even finished previewing the book and fixing the font size irregularities!!! URG.

Into my New Cubbyhole

Well, at last I have almost accomplished one of my odd ideas. I have always wanted to have (or perhaps it is a returning...) a very small, cubbyhole like space in which to write. To write my way out of eventually.

As I went looking for the Chinese New Year scene I had in my mind from one of Amy Tan's books...I came across this in The Bonesetter's Daughter and smiled:

"Back at the flat, Ruth put the groceries away, set the orchid on the

dining room table, and went into the Cubbyhole. She like to think

that limited space inspired limitless imagination."

If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it...I plan on rereading it myself here shortly. I won't spoil what/where the Cubbyhole is in this book. My Cubbyhole is in part of the slightly over deep closet in my Nook--the room filled with all my clutter for making things...and the dresser drawers full of ephemera for collage...hence the blog name. Good things come from these old mismatched dresser drawers. Words, letters, photos, scrapbook paper, Scrabble tiles, things long ago made from Fimo....and more.

For now, my back is tired and it is time to head to bed and get lost in my current very long read, A Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Perhaps tomorrow I will have things straightened around enough to take a picture. For now goodnight patient blog, goodnight.

one last week of January

As of Friday night at 6:03pm we had heat! The only one in the family unhappy with this is--yes you guessed it, the cat who had to give up living with the standing heater, come out of the bedroom and resume living in the rest of the house. I can tell you for myself it was hard to leave the next morning knowing I would be gone all day...I just wanted to enjoy the house coming to life again...and curl up one the couch in the living room and read a book. Alas, I had an event to go to.

I can see from right here at my desk that the lilac tree has amazing buds showing already. I can also see that little flakes of snow are skirting here and there through the air. It is brittle cold out, but already buds are showing and bulbs are sending up shoots--I saw those by the front door. These signs of new growth make me itch to get outside--to see the yard come alive again, the white dogwood tree burst into bloom. I have learned I must be attentive to see it--this bursting forth can happen in an instant and then I find myself thinking, "when did all this happen?"

Well, too soon for me to be outside--with heat restored I can return more easily to my work up in the Nook. I can get back to some creative collage, some cards I've wanted to make and yes, to cleaning out the closet and reorganizing. But mostly to some regular moments set aside for creativity. Journals in need of some attention...additions here and there...scraps of paper, my beloved found ephemera and little photos....there is one last week of January to finish creating my 101 Things in 1001 Days list too!

my newest toy and helpmate

So in the process of trying to downsize...I made the leap to a tiny photo printer. Most of what I do is in the 'tiny' realm for pictures in comparison to most people. For cards, journaling, collage and the like I like small to tiny.....postcards are as big as I go--and that is to keep family without the Internet happy. So I used some Christmas money and bought a HP Photosmart A636 and it is amazing what this little package can do! I am just in the toying stages still--because of all of life's other little interruptions but needless to say-it is fun! This little printer is smaller than a small watermelon and has a handle to take along...now that I really love.

undoing and redoing

I spent about 2 hours yesterday moving a desk from the corner to the adjoining wall...a total of maybe 4 feet. I could not believe the amount of 'stuff' it meant touching, picking up, finding an alternative space for.... ah, the stuff of my life...

• all the little pieces of paper--saved for journaling and cards
• small thumbnail pictures--saved for the same reason
• leftover tea pouches--for taping into journals for pockets
• etc... of which there is plenty and provides plenty of creative possibilities

This is part of what I want to get back to this year...hmmm.

But first I must excavate and reconnect with the room.

creative outlets

I spent much of today doing "have-tos" rather than the favored Saturday, "get-tos." But, I did lots of them in my p.j.'s so that was compromise.
My favorite creative outlet had nothing to to with rubber stamps, making cards or journaling even. It was instead--making a crock pot turkey soup...very good for those in this house ailing from that awful unwelcome house guest: the winter cold.
My favorite Paul had brined and roasted a turkey a few nights ago...and hence the leftovers.

My soup included:

turkey bits, chunks and a wing

organic chicken stock with a chicken bouillon cube dissolved in 1/4 hot water

chopped onion, celery, baby carrots

one can of corn w/some of its juice

one small can of kidney beans w/some of its juice

3-4 shakes of Fine Herbs

This all did its thing in the pot on low all day....I baked some cheese herb biscuits from the freezer. Just before serving the soup I reheated two large scoops of brown rice (from last night) in each bowl in the microwave and then scooped and ladled the soup over the rice. It was very good and we have just enough to serve with pasta tomorrow or rice, or decide to freeze.

Well, time to take my little self off to read in bed with Christmas music in the background. Long day coming tomorrow and little energy likely to carry me through...so I will go soak up as much as possible in the form of rest.

a small dresser drawer and then some

I admit it. I am a collector of a variety of things. postcards among them. Now mind you, I send them to people regularly--"postis" (pronounced post--ees)as they are referred to in this house. It is just that my collecting of them over the years out paced the actual mailing of them at enough different times that I find I have a substantial collection of them now. The are both visual and soul-food inspiration to sit and look through... be they black and white, muted color, humorous, sacred, endearing, travel, art history, or one of many more categories. I admit to having a small dresser drawer filled with them and a few small gift bags besides, and then some. There are times when they are used as decoration--no it is more than mere decoration, but what? Adornment? A heart rendering?
The right posti at the right time can be my muse, my unspoken prayer. And they are ever so much better than receiving a bill in the mail...who knows I may be sending you one soon.

Two Fav Places

I visited two of my favorite places the other day. First I went to Fusion Beads and picked out some needed charms for a scarf I've been working on for my niece. Of course, once I found the charms I wandered all over the store--lost in the rainbow of beads, good music and fun store people. As usual I found a bit more than I intended, but I reminded myself that we no longer have a bead store in Kent and gas being what it is...better to make one trip.

From Fusion Beads I drove around the block and parked directly across the street at The Episcopal Bookstore. This is a wonderful place for books and art for the soul. Here, again I was cradled in good music, delights for the eyes, heart and mind, and a needed moment to touch base with two wonderful people--John & Nancy, friends of the heart and journey.

...and then there was: NIRVANA

Ok, the two little mystery skeins are a treasure. Their color sent me off in search of more shades of turquoise for a shawl pattern I found called, "Aunt Phebe's Comfort Shawl." It just begged for some deep-tropical-turquoise-sea-blue. I found it in this yummy soft Angel Hair/Turquoise yarn by Sensations. So I have started my first triangular shawl. So far it looks like a diaper for a large stuffed bear. It's coming along--between all the other things I need to fit into my days and evenings....including the house being shown by surprise yesterday afternoon. I find now that I have two hats and two shawls going at the same time. All different yarns, different colors, different textures and so they fit there is something to work on no matter what my tactile mood happens to be at the moment.

I have collected enough odds and ends, quotes, patterns, pictures torn from things...I feel a knitting journal coming on. I reason that I have to have somewhere to put it all--why not have that somewhere be somewhere creative and fun? This realization demands making a choice of size, type, etc. More fun!

Speaking of fun, a friend from our Prayer Knitting Circle made me this hilarious bag for my knitting. It was a surprise birthday gift earlier this summer and it makes me smile every time I pick it up. Yes, it is chickens/roosters knitting. You can turn it inside out and then the material is a much more 'sedate' ball of yarn and two needles...you know, in case I need to be in company who would just not take to roosters knitting. Why would I want to hang out with folks like that?

It matters that we speak out--or write it down

I came across Sabrina Ward Harrison's The True and the Quetions: a journal (again) the other morning and flipped it over to find this great quote:

"I journal to understand my life as I'm living it. I use my journals

as a place to to put the things that spill out over the edges of my life: photo negatives,scraps of paper, poems I have heard and loved, my sorrow and epiphanies, the true and the questions. My journals have become guideposts for my life."

One of my favorite this about the journaling for me is that it is a usually a messy process. Bits and pieces of all kinds of things make up our lives, and I regularly pick up bits and pieces of life to stick in my journal. Maybe it is the color, the texture, the angle, the raggedness, who knows--but all of it helps visually portray LIFE at the moment for me.

Why do you suppose it matters that we do this?