Let Me Introduce You to Connie

Several years ago a delightful woman in our church asked me to help her transition from her home into an apartment in an assisted living facility...and of course I was in.  Along with her daughter, Becky, I helped her figure out what furniture to take, what to buy new, and what colors to paint the rooms.  Then came the fun part...putting it all together.  We made a good team and it was the start of a long-term relationship that would bring much joy into my life.

Let me introduce you to Connie...

my friend, and accomplished artist.

Connie's media include
watercolor, acrylics, oil, rug
hooking, basket making, and
knitting.  She has even done a
little Japanese brush painting
and probably other things I
don't know about.

 A few months ago Connie was invited to participate in an art show at her place of residence and I helped her pull it all together.

We created a beautiful collage wall for the show showcasing her varied talents.  

More of her handiwork was displayed in this cabinet .

In addition, over the past few years I have had the pleasure of helping Connie reinvent some of her art.  By scanning and resizing her original work we have been able to turn it into notecards, bookmarks, gift tags, and special little accordion books.  

She enjoys giving them as gifts and is seen here selling her treasures at a craft show at her place of residence.

A tiny set of Connie's floral watercolors 
I made into accordion books that fit inside matchboxes.

Notecards, Bookmarks, and Gift Tags

Her oil painting of a canning jar can be seen in the collage wall above and is a favorite for many...including Connie. The original hangs in the kitchen of her apartment.







Stay tuned to see how we reinvented this lovely painting to give as gifts and more of Connie and her art.

Second Look

You know I'm a big fan of looking closely....and now I'm a fan ot taking a second look.

I mentioned a few days ago that I cut out all the birds from a 2002 Audubon calendar.  My lazy housekeeping habits paid off....because today I took a second look at the scraps that were still sitting in pile in my TV room.  A more fastidious housekeeper would have gotten them right to the recycling right away.

What I found were not only more beautiful images....but clear evidence of where the calendar came from....and now I love it even more.

Using two sizes of punches...I punched up all the interesting parts of the calendar that were around the birds...giving me a plethora of beautiful squares to collage with.

The calendar had renderings of birds in trees, marshes, and fields...so the background paintings were just lovely. They were full of soft and earthy colors....and sweet little nuggets like this pinecone. And they all coordinate beautifully together.

Totally worth the second look....don't you think?

 

Then the 2nd...."second look" find was clear evidence that this 2002 calendar was Connie's.  She had written in dinner dates with familiar friends and family, trips to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and various church activities.  I didn't meet Connie until 2009, so this is more evidence that she was just like me....saving old calendars she knew would have a purpose one day.  And the funny thing is...a few years before she died....I got her into punching squares and making cards. Once she started, she couldn't stop and she would have loved punching up this calendar! 

For those of you new to the blog, I met Connie when we first moved to Lexington...and she became a dear friend and mentor.  I was her friend, but also her decorator, gardener, errand girl, art buddy, and ultimately one of her caregivers. 

Connie's things are scattered all over our home and pieces of her furniture are some of my favorites. She's a voice in my head on a regular basis and her warm and generous presence is always in my heart. She was a fellow putterer.  

If you put her name in the search box in the upper left hand of the blog....dozens and dozens of posts come up of our adventures together.  

But this one...is where I introduced her here on the blog...back in 2015:  https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2015/01/let-me-introduce-you-to-connie.html

 

We did some good stuff together.  

Here's a calendar I made of her artwork back in 2017.

Connie loved her balcony garden.  One year this little pile of plants, along with a fall clematis....

became this. Location Location Location!

And here's how it looked from down below.

I enjoyed my second look at my Connie posts. 👀

Angel On My Shoulder

A six word story for today: Celebrating Connie's tools of her trade.

I'm working my way through another online class.....and since it's self paced I'm taking it slow.  This is a busy time of year for the Board and I'm still so drawn to be outdoors. I will share more about the class in general in days to come....but today's post is really about this sunshine yellow exacto knife.

One of the lessons in the class was papercuts....I think I'm hooked.  I have always admired these....but never thought it was something I could do. Turns out....I just needed a sentimental tool with a brand new sharp blade...and a little chunk of time.  And to perfect it...I'll need a lot of practice.

Many of you are familiar with my long journey with my dear friend Connie.  

I was her decorator, caregiver, gardener, craft partner, and errand girl.  She was a huge influence in my life and is dearly missed.  If you put "Connie" in the search box at the top left of the blog....dozens and dozens of posts will come up.  

Connie is sprinkled all over my home....furniture, kitchen items, her fabulous art, and lots of craft supplies. I often hear her voice in my head giving me life advice and cheering me on as I try something new.  Connie loved taking classes and the depth and vastness of her art still boggles my mind.  

I needed an exacto knife for the papercuts.  I had one....but the blade was dull and rusty and I didn't have extras.  One of the goals I have with the art classes I take is to try and make use of what I already have.

Then I remembered a box I got from Connie....and amazingly enough I was able to find it. The fact that it was in a beautiful box helped. It was like I struck gold.  

There were exacto knives of all sizes...a fabulous awl, and a few things that are a little puzzling that I'll have to figure out.

And win win...she had a whole box of new blades.  She was always prepared...and continues to be an angel on my shoulder. 

Here's a few more of my papercut experperiments....I'm just getting started and there's lots of room for improvement.  And lots of ideas.

And just in case you're wondering what I'm going to do with them....here are a few magazine collage thumbnails with a few papercut overlays.  Also for the class.

A Beginner

Much to my delight I inherited some interesting art supplies from Connie....including these water soluble crayons at the top called Neocolor II,  a starter set of another kind of water soluble crayons right underneath, some pastel pencils, watercolor pencils, and a black charcoal pencil. I already had a set of round pan pastels and the soft pastel set at the bottom....and I didn't know how to use any of it. 

All the above are water soluble....but I also inherited these old school pas sticks and oil pastels which are not. And I didn't know what to do with these either.

 

So what do you do when you want to learn something using things you already have?  You do what Connie would do....sign up for a class. And it just happened that an artist I follow,  Roben-Marie was offering an affordable class called Blending Abstracts...

"a beginner's course for learning how to use different tools and mediums, blending them together into colorful and messy abstracts." 

Score! I had a variety of media I didn't know what to do with....I have a hard time working loose and messy....and I'm most certainly a beginner. 

https://www.robenmarie.com/       

https://www.instagram.com/robenmarie/

Blending Abstracts is a self paced online class using videos and a classroom Facebook page for sharing your work, getting feedback and asking questions.  I'm off and running....and although it's way out of my comfort zone...I'm finding it quite intriguing.  It has even involved coffee grounds.

Here's a just a few inches of one of my practice pieces.  It's a wild crazy mess when you look at the whole thing...but when you just focus on a little chunk it seems to suddenly have some hope.  Connie would be proud of me.

For those of you who are new to the blog....Connie played a huge role in my life for 8 years.  She was my friend, mother figure, and teacher, and I was her decorator, gardener, shopper, caregiver, and art buddy. I introduced her here in this post back in 2015: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2015/01/let-me-introduce-you-to-connie.html

If you put her name in the search box at the top left corner of the blog...dozens and dozens of posts will come up where she is mentioned.  We went through a lot together....we collaborated on art projects and shared some interesting adventures.  She continues to be one of the most influential and life changing figures in my life and I am surrounded by useful and colorful things that once belonged to her.  I miss her.

And...the pad of sketch paper in the photo above was hers too....and turns out it's great paper to work on for this project. The price tag was still on it....she paid $1.89.  Just perfect for this beginner.

Collaborative Collage

My dear friend Connie bought this collage from my sale....the one I struggled with obsessed about. From day one she knew she wanted us to make something like if for her daughter Andi's birthday.

Connie wanted Andi's collage to be in neutrals and earth tones. I've been mulling it over for a while...but it was time to get started because Andi's birthday is coming up in October.

I decided nothing would be better than to use bits and pieces of Connie's art. Our starting point is this original watercolor...it has a nice earthy feel and will make a beautiful focal point at the top. Maybe I should make a copy....and not use the original. I'll see what Connie wants to do.

I scanned and resized a few images of Connie's art...the pine tree is actually a sticker Andi made from one of her mom's paintings.

I thought the recipe was a fun addition....it's one their family grew up on...I love that the card has all the smears and smudges from lots of use.  I sized it down and overlayed it digitally onto a creamy back ground. We will likely stitch around it and I didn't want to cover up the writing. I still hear the family reference "Betty Taylor's Oven Rice" and "Myrtle Cox's Chicken."

So here's what we're starting with....we'll be glueing, stitching, and embellishing and finally mounting it on a wooden paint panel. Stay tuned sometime soon for our collaborative birthday collage.

Handmade Planners

A year or so ago I was excited to learn the basics of bookbinding from my friend Muffy. She is an amazing artist and teacher and her talents are vast. Her collection of handmade journals and books is unbelievable...and I could sit for hours going through them again and again.

I have been practicing my new skill making planners for Connie. I particularly like this cover....I used a spectrum of hand dyed fabrics from Cherrywood fabrics.

This is the 5th one I have made...and yes, I am getting better...but there is still room for improvement. My first books contained just 4 months with a section for phone numbers in the back. Now I make them with 6 months because I recently made a separate phone book with all Connie's important and frequently used numbers. I want to keep the planner slim enough to fit in Connie's wheelchair pouch and be easy to handle.

I have experimented with a variety of covers...using both paper and fabric.  Notice a few of the "Sun Moon and Star" calendar squares mixed in with punched squares from photos of Connie's garden on the one in the middle.  I experimented with a magnet closer on the blue fabric cover...but haven't gone back to that.


Connie's current planner only goes through June...so I have been working on the next one and will share my process in the next few days.

Life

"There is no joy without sorrow....it is in fact the pain and the suffering that allows us to experience and appreciate the joy." The Book of Joy

I'm so lucky to have so many good friends....a few have reached out since my last post. So just in case you're wondering....I'm just fine. There has been a lot going on....so much of it good and wonderful. But, the most important priority in my life right now is my dear friend Connie.

I have talked quite a bit about Connie on this blog. As a matter of fact if you put her name in the little search box in the upper left hand corner more than 40 posts come up where her name is mentioned. That even surprised me. I've been Connie's friend, decorator, gardener, seamstress, caregiver, driver, and errand girl.  We've spent hours and hours crafting, problem solving, and puttering....she is an inspiration and a role model. My fist post about her was called "Let Me Introduce You to Connie" in the first weeks of this blog and she has been a regular presence ever since. It was always with her permission and she has loved reading her stories here so I know she won't mind if I continue.


Just recently Connie's health has declined and she is transitioning to Hospice care. I will be part of the team that will be helping with this end of life process whenever and however I can...it will be both difficult and powerful.

But....spring is coming, creative projects continue, and decisions are being made about houses and homes. Yes...life is full...but life is also very good. I'm so grateful for my very full life.

"The more we turn toward the suffering, our own and others, the more we can turn toward the joy." The Book of Joy

The White Box

We're making progress in Connie's new space...and here's a little sneak peak. It's still a work in progress...but it feels good to be finally hanging things on the wall....including a lot of her own artwork.

I really wanted to show what we started with....a white box...almost literally.

I have to chuckle because the idea of a "white box" reminds me of another Connie story. Paul and I moved into a newly renovated church parsonage 6 years ago...and once we were settled we had an open house for the church folk.  As Connie left my house she put her finger in my face and said, "when I have to move out of my house into one of those white boxes...I want YOU to help me fix it up."  She kind of scared me to death...but I also took it as a compliment...I think she liked my house.  I did help her with that first move 5 years ago....and now here we are again.

The walls changed from off white to wallpaper...a nice soft textured green with a little hint of blue.  It goes nicely with the treasures Connie picked.



Here's a peak at a new bookshelf located on the short wall next to the TV in the photo above.  Again...still a work in progress.

More treasures that will have to wait until my next visit.

A Transition Project

We drove to Maine yesterday for the weekend and there was a noticeable change in the landscape. 

The brilliant oranges, yellows and reds have shifted to the browns and rusts....and many trees are nearly bare. Paul commented how he likes the trees just as much now as when they are in their full glory.

 

I recently described October as a transition month...mostly outside.  I think of November as the time to transition inside...to focus on neglected house chores and art projects that are patiently waiting. But my inside projects will have to sit tight...because for now another inside project has presented itself.  A transition project...a creative project...one that deserves careful attention.

My dear friend Connie has had to move out of her two bedroom apartment in her retirement facility into a new space where she can get more care. The new space is quite a bit smaller but it needs to feel like home...it needs to be transformed...and that is what we're going to try and do.

Connie has given me permission to talk a little about the transition...and the transformation of her new space. One of the things she knew she would miss the most was the view of her balcony garden. She loved her garden...even in the winter when there was nothing but the dried clematis vines covered with snow.

She wanted a window view of her garden in her new space.

I found this picture frame at Home Goods...it was the perfect starting point.  I gave it a light sand....spay painted it white...and sanded it a bit more to distress it and give it a little character.


Next I scanned through my photos...and Connie's photos...looking for just the right one to start with....knowing we could change it up any time we wanted.

I chose one from the 2014 garden...when the fall clematis was just amazing and had it enlarged to 16 X 20.



So here's Connie's garden view...one of the first steps in making her new space feel like home.

Stay tuned for the rest of this creative journey.