A Handmade Wrap Job

It was a busy busy weekend with a birthday party, errands, and a lot of stitching to be done. I'm prepping for the art fair I'll be participating in this July. I tend to worry about events and over-prepare. So although I don't feel all that ready I do have a growing number of flowers, hearts, and birdcages accumulating in various areas throughout my house.

On Saturday morning, as I was wrapping the birthday present, I thought it was looking kind of cute so I took a couple of pics to share with you. It's amazing how good a couple of paper grocery bags can look with just a little ribbon and paint added.

A few months ago I decided I'd rather spend more money on the present and skip the expensive wrapping papers and committed to using recycled materials or materials I had on hand whenever I can. Every thing I used for this wrap job was something I had here around the house.

I've also begun doing tags instead of cards, as the kids usually just skip the card opening and go straight for the present anyways. To make it cute I used a scrapbooking paper folded in half and then cut into a tag shape. Next came the grommet- it came with my crop-a-dile and is SO easy to add. Then a little stitching, and Voila'. Simple and easy. Of course you could skip the grommet and the stitching.

The time it took to do this was WAY less than you would think AND much quicker than making a run to Target for the supplies. Plus, I think it looks kind of cute. :)

For more ideas for wrapping with paper bags check out the pics here and here.

Vacation Mode- Are You Ready?

Dreaming about summer vacations today. It's another rainy day and I'm really longing to get out and take a good roadtrip. That has to wait right now, so I thought I'd do a little dreaming with you here. What about you ? Do you have any vacation plans for this summer? If so, or if you're just dreaming like me, here are some Vacation Themed goods straight from Etsy that are sure to inspire!

This "take a hike" plaque by Mary Kate McDevitt strikes the perfect tone for me. Our last two summer vacations were to Glacier National Park, and I had a blast last summer doing a little "hiking" with my 5 yr old.

Love the photos in this Roadside Attractions Vintage Sign collection. By Bomobob on Etsy, this is a shop I hadn't found before but now LOVE!

Ok this "roadtrip" bib was just too cute so I had to include it. :) But it would be the cutest vacation-ware ever! I found it in Mountain Aven Baby's Etsy shop. She actually has a couple of cute baby girl dresses using the same fabric I used for my Won-Ton bag a post or so ago.

My mom (shameless plug) has a really fun vintage clipboard that she altered with paper and accents for a fun road trip theme. The top photo is one of my grandpa taken while he was on a roadtrip in the '40's.

Then there was this id tag necklace that seemed to say it all. The sentiment is a favorite of mine but I love how the tag looks so battered and worn. As if it truly belonged to someone who spent their life "taking the road less traveled." I found it in the Etsy shop Happy GoLicky. They strive to make jewelry that makes the "soul smile." I love that sentiment.

The Best Kind of Present

Tomorrow morning I have my first actual painting class. It's a plein aire watercolor class and I'm taking it with a few friends.

When they first suggested it my first thought was "I can't do it". There were too many obstacles. For one thing, it's in the morning and I have a little boy at home with me. Then there were the materials, I had none. That's right a studio filled with art materials and I had none of the supplies. Oh, except a kneaded eraser and pencil. So there was cost involved there too. I really didn't think I'd be able to participate- it seemed too hard to make work.

But here's where the wonderful comes in. Out of nowhere my mother in law (the watercolor artist) decides she no longer needs some of her supplies. She's upgrading or they just aren't ones' she would use. Would I like them? I thought I must have told her about the class but no, it was just one of those amazing things that happen. Paints and brushes, check. Then my husband says he can work from home when I'm at the class. Babysitter problem solved- just like that.

Everything that I thought would keep me from this class has just fallen into place. Even down to the gift card to Michael's some friends gave me, and the 40% sale they just happened to be having on watercolor paper. God is making this work for me and I am so grateful. Sometimes it takes everything falling into place for me to see how God is moving in my life. I mean I know he's there when life is hard, and I lean on him then. But receiving a gift, which is what this class feels like to me, is one of those unexpected gestures that shows love. Like your dad sticking a $20 in your wallet when you're not looking. It's giving simply because you care.

So although I was feeling pretty nervous about this class, I also feel certain it's going to be a great experience. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Creative even when you don't feel like it.

It's dark and rainy today and really a perfect day to stay inside and be productive but it's sooooo hard when all you want to do is cuddle up and read a book. Good thing I've got my son to keep me going. Otherwise, it would be too too tempting to crawl back under the covers.

Do you create only when you feel like it?

I've found that if I wait to create when I feel like it then days can go by without having anything to show for it. But I do still work with my moods. For instance, I've learned to do the wild experimental things on the days I feel like I can conquer the world, and reserve the "get it done" kinds of things for days like today. I don't really feel like stitching. But I do feel like snuggling on the couch and watching a movie. I can stitch a few things at the same time.
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Here are a few quotes that really inspire me to "get to work."

"Amateurs look for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and get to work." - chuck close

"People who are not artists often think that artists are inspired.But if you work at your art you don't have time to be inspired". -jamie wyeth


"Just as appetite comes by eating, so work brings inspiration, if inspiration is not discernable at the beginning". -igor stravinsky

Fear or Faith- You Choose!

I rarely bring past posts back but this post about fear keeps coming to mind as I'm reading the comments from Kelly Rae's"flying lessons" class. There are so many of us that experience a fear that keeps us from flying.

But we can choose to overcome that fear and we can all, I know, fly. I hope you find this post helpful in your journey. So this is for all you "flyers" out there, enjoy!

You Choose- Fear or Faith

Fear grounds us. It keeps us down on the ground where we're comfortable. It tells us we might get hurt if we venture forth. That it won't work, or that we'll look ridiculous for having tried. Better not to try. Better to stay where we are and hold our ground than to make the bold move forward that might result in disaster. Fear talks to us dramatically. It's always the worst possible scenario we imagine. The worst possible result. We're asked what's the worst that can happen? Fear answers back with a vision of the Apocalypse.

But really- what is the worst that can happen? Realistically. Instead of focusing on the worst possible result, imagine the best. Realistically you might fall somewhere in between, but what would you have gained from having tried? Or lost for having not tried?

At the times when fear threatens to influence me for the worst, I turn to faith to bring a measure of reality. Faith that my skills are there, faith that good will come of the situation, faith that I won't jump off the cliff only to fall, tumbling to the very bottom of the cliff. Faith that God has a plan for me and has given me my abilities, my dreams, and a desire to pursue them for a reason. I might not see it, you might not see it, but that's not to say it isn't there. So I stand here, afraid- but ready to fly.

What challenges you? Is there something you're afraid to pursue? Something you long for and wish to be, but are afraid that if you try and fail you'll never try again? My dream for a long time was to be an artist. Because I was afraid that if I actually tried to become one and failed that I would never be able to screw up my courage to try again, I eventually gave up art all together. But somewhere on the journey I began to have faith.

Faith that God gave me my talent, my personality, and that dream for a reason. Not to hide it all, not to push down that desire, but so that I might have everything I need to live the life He created me to have. I hold onto that whenever I'm afraid, or feel rejected, or think I'm not good enough. Today I want you to look at the pieces you're given. What are your skill areas, are you a good writer, a skilled logician, or do you have some other natural abilities? What are your dreams? What hope in your heart of hearts do you treasure and protect? What experiences have you had in life that prepared you for entering a certain area? Do you have a heart for service, an abusive relationship in your past, and a love for art? Do you dream of helping others with your art? Do look at Art therapists and wish somehow you might do that?Do you have a heart for children, or do you love to create? To introduce beautiful things into the world? To show others that beauty? Give it some thought and then- believe!

3 Ways to Alter a Canvas Tote Bag

Weekends I try to spend a little more time off screen so today I have some photos for you. They're of a self-challenge I set for myself a few years ago. I was stalled in my art and looking for something that would get me thinking and trying things outside my norm. It worked great!

Canvas Bag Self-Challenge
All three bags began as the same sized canvas tote. I was in need of a challenge when I did these and set myself the task of seeing how different I could make each bag. How far could I push the "armature" of the canvas bag? How much altering could I do until it no longer resembled the original canvas bag? I also limited myself to using fabric and floss (no paint markers etc.)

The first bag (above) I kept the basic look of the bag and just added some raw edge appliques and stitching.

The second bag I used fusible interfacing to wrap a large strip of fabric around the bag. Then I added the raw edge applique and the decorative stitching. I use this one for library books all the time. It's just kind of cute.



The third bag is my Won-ton bag and was one of the first batch of things I had published. I wrapped it in fabric similar to the one above but didn't leave any of the canvas showing. Then I cut off the tote handles (because they SCREAM tote bag) and added my own. I also did some thread stitching, outline embroidery, and beading on the cover of this bag.

All three are different takes on the same challenge. You can come up with your own challenges too. Curious about a medium or material? Make it a challenge to create something with it. Or simply push the edges of the everyday like the bags above. It'll get you thinking in new ways, experimenting, and it'll get you producing. All good things. :)

For more ideas about altering canvas accessories check out this cute canvas apron from Single Stone Studios here. Other options are the canvas camera bags that Donna Downey has for sale. Super cute!

Affirmations

I titled this post "affirmations" because I was going to show you a piece I just completed with affirmations I wrote during the book process but never did anything with. However as I think about it I want to tell you about another experience I've had with affirmations this week.

All week I've been enjoying my "flying lessons" with Kelly Rae Roberts and I think the best part has been connecting with the other flyers. This is my first online class and I had no idea that there would be this much interaction between the students. I wish I could read you some of the comments but of course, can't. The overall feeling I get though is not that these are "in it for themselves" creatives trying to make it but generous, giving, and vulnerable artists who are going to make it, but not by themselves. It's a community and each is supporting the next in their goals, whatever those goals currently are.

For some it's getting started with a blog or etsy shop. Others are looking to make enough money to support their (art) habit, still others have yet to really see themselves as artists but have dreams of doing so. I think it was the dreams that brought them to this class but what I see is the affirmation they are all receiving from both what Kelly Rae is posting, and the other" flyers". I love it. So inspired by this interaction I dug out this list of affirmations and finally created a work of art for it.

Believe it or not I am 36 but still have hopes of changing the world. I know that by now cynicism should have set in but I still have hope. I want to see every artist from child to adult get a hand up as they reach for their dreams. I want to see a world of people living their creative dreams. So there you go. My big secret- I want to change the world. :)

The Creative Process- It gets messy

It gets a little messy here sometimes. You could call it a creative flurry, multitasking, or whatever you want. But in the end I get the work done and the mess, well, it pretty much needs to be gone by 6 'cause I'm working at our only table. We can't "picnic" on the living room floor very often.


I took a quick pic of the table today though because I noticed that I was simultaneously working on three sides of the table, on three different pieces with another half done on the floor. It seemed symbolic of my life and I had to laugh at the realization.

Why the mess? As a mom you get used to using the small moments. I keep my stuff out during the day so I can quick put a seal coat on when I've got a few minutes. Then later, another free 5-10 minutes come my way and I'm able to do some drilling..... It's truly snatches here or there but it gets the job done. I also experience the benefit of "found" inspiration when I'm working on multiple projects at once. The bit of ribbon I left on the table because it didn't work on one of the projects is often just the thing I need to finish another.
Plus, like any stay at home mom, I spend an awful lot of my time cleaning and picking up Star Wars toys, dinosaurs, and the like. I find that sometimes, it's sort of cathartic to make a big mess of my own.

Dreams are Tricky Things...

I was thinking the other day about dreams come true. I lived so much of my life on the strength of my "someday" dreams that now that some of them are actually happening I feel a bit at a loss. Has this ever happened to you?

So I went back to my list of "to-do's" and "someday's" and realized that some of those dreams aren't really what I want to do any more. Skinny dipping in the Mediterranean for instance... that one's flown by (ok so I made that one up- but if I had thought of it...). Or backpacking around Europe, you get the idea...Still I had a list of majors.

Having a booth at an art fair was one of those. Ever since I was little and went with my mom to her craft shows I've wanted to do it. For years I visited the local art fair and imagined what it would be like to know that one of those white tented booths is mine.

Then just a few weeks ago I found what looks like the perfect entry-level experience for me. It's the Woodbury Lakes Art Fair and the cost was good, they were offering tent rental, and I could choose to participate on just Saturday. So I did it!

BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PREPARE for this. I've read books about craft fairs, I re-read the Crafty Superstar chapter on it, I've checked out the tips over on the Buzz blog, and feel like I have a basic idea of how they work. But still I don't know how to display my work, if I need lighting... I'm really hoping they have a wi-fi thing going so I can process credit cards. All these little details that I never thought about because I've never actually got this far.

What I expect to get out of this experience is well, actual experience. Dreams "coming true" means they lose that "dreamy" fog where reality doesn't infringe too much on your perfect scenario. Dreams are safe, stepping up and making those dreams a reality brings risk of difficulty and failure. But it also brings reward beyond imagining. Just knowing that you did something you've always wanted is hugely fulfilling. And it leads to either closure, or new dreams- I think it's worth the risks to find out.

Reaching for More

Back when I was a floral designer I started to notice an odd pattern. Whenever I got really good at something, like putting an arrangement together I would reach a point where all of a sudden I seemed to regress. All of a sudden the clippers felt unfamiliar in my hands, or the cuts I made weren't as confident. Basic skills that I knew I had were suddenly absent. I felt inept and confused.

After a while I'd seem to work through it- in fact be better than before . When I'd experienced this several times I began to see it as a pattern. Whenever I reached, really reached to be better at something I would see gradual improvement until I hit this "backslide" and then after some time there I would seem to work through it and then there would be this big leap forward.

Lately, I've been struggling to find a new direction for some of my works. I wanted to play with sculptures in shadowboxes and I wanted to try some freestanding that used wood for their base instead of my cork bases which have limits to how heavy or big something can be. I painted up the two shadowboxes a month or so ago but felt stalled part way through the execution. I'm still not sure that they're done. Kind of feeling my way but I like where they are now. And I feel better about the difficulty I've had lately because I recognize that it was another time of growth.

Do you recognize this pattern in your life? Have you ever experienced it? Growth can be difficult. It can sap our energy and make us feel drained, incompetent and defeated but if we persevere I believe, like the butterfly that struggles out of its' cocoon that we'll emerge transformed on the other side. Makes it kind of worth it doesn't it?