Thursday, February 28, 2013

Listening To The Whispers

 

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful then the risk it took to blossom."



-Anais Nin

Even though I have bits and pieces of jewelry that are waiting patiently to be finished I do not seem to have the creative energy to finish them.  Instead I felt a great need to create a collage. It had to happen .... there were no ifs or buts... just the need to create a collage.  And so I cut little bits and pieces and moved them around and around  - drew a little face and moved the pieces again and again until the puzzle was completed.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
And then I thought about Jane Davies and her request for postcards to try and keep her little post office open, and decided I should alter it and make it into a postcard to send to her.  Not sure if it will be the version above .... below.... or at the beginning of this post. 


Monday, February 25, 2013

Creating Daily

 
Five or six years ago I made a new year's resolution to 'Create (almost) Every Day'.  My goal was to create daily, but if I couldn't find the time daily, I would accept that and be happy when I could. 
 
Over those years, I have come to understand that my need to create is a big part of who I am.  I must do it just the same as I must brush my teeth or eat healthy food.  I can survive without it, but it is not good for me. Without it I feel out of balance, a great anxious feeling builds up within me. 
 
What I have discovered is that the creations don't have to be big, or perfect... although my liking them does help in my feeling of balance and happiness. 
 
Last week I purchased a tiny sketch book that I can easily take with me, and draw in.  It is a perfect place for some small creations that helps keep me balanced when I don't have the big bits of time in which to create. 
 
 

 
 



Thursday, February 21, 2013

Finding Red

 
In my search for red I found some lovely pressed geraniums
 
 
and decided to make a small accordian book
 

that contains geraniums and other bits and pieces
 
I don't know what it is about these little fold out books
but I enjoy them every time I make them.
 
 
 
I enjoy the making
and then I enjoy looking at them afterwards.
 
If you are looking for more red, make sure to check out Jennifer's and Julie's blogs

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Fish Creations

 
I have always thought fish are beautiful.
 


and a while back I drew this one
 
I was planning to use this drawing in a few creations....
 
 
 and this past week I decided to use the fish on a journal page. 


I have no doubt he will show up in other creative bits and pieces in the future,
and I hope more fish will join him in my sketchbook.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day




 
 
Two of the three valentine's I made
 (forgot to take a picture of the third)


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Rustic Pins


I have so enjoyed making these pins...... 


 
....hand drawn little images on old book pages with text that I painted over
..... captured in resin and wax
....... mounted on hand cut and filed reclaimed metal
 
that I attached a small pin too, and etched my signature on the back
 

 
taking way longer to make then they look like they should when they are finished.
 
 
 I then decided to mount them on a card
 
 
that when folded in half contains my name and address

 
and when opened

shows off the pin with a wee bit of information about its making.
 
All of it was so enjoyable.

Monday, February 11, 2013

1/2 Way There.....

 
I have played hockey since I was a young girl, and it has brought me much enjoyment.

A year ago today, I was playing in a small 'just for fun' tournament, and received a concussion that changed my life. 
 
During the past year, I have worked extremely hard with physical and occupational therapists,
and many many hours on my own in order to heal. 
 
One of my specialists told me I would heal.... it would just take time - probably 2 years. 
 And I have clung to her words  - hoping for a full recovery, even if it takes me another year. 
 
It has been hard, it has been slow and it has been painful,
 but it is happening, and I know I am getting better. 
 
After months of  hard work  and beaucracy  I have been okayed to return to work for 8 hours a week. 
 Tomorrow will be my first day back to work. 
 
 
I hope to be back with some of my creative meanderings in a few days.
 
 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Of This and That

This week I have spent some time

enjoying winter's beauty
 
and light
 
 

as well as finishing
 
this project
 
 
that took far too long

in the making

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Success of the Unsuccessful

 

I have been wanting to try and make larger images on tea bag paper, and so I gave it a try by glueing tea bags together to the size I needed, and then using a photograph, some paint, some ink, some collage bits and pieces and my pen. 

But I wasn't happy with it, as it turned out flat.... muddy .... lacking some light. 
 
 
 
I will try the process again another day, as I love the process.

And I love the texture of working on tea bags. 
 
 

And then today, I had some fun playing with it on the computer (top and bottom photos).
 I like how this image turned out, and  I may use it on something yet... perhaps a card? or on a book cover?
 or on my calendar that I have only made 6 months worth so far? 
 Perhaps a partial success in the end.