What a wonderful day this has been! My joy list is long...but here are a few of the highlights.
Joyful Puttering: Collecting Creating Connecting
C
"I do believe in an everyday sort of magic...the inexplicable connectedness we sometimes experience with places, people, works of art and the like; the eerie appropriateness of moments of synchronicity; the whispered voice, the hidden presence, when we think we're alone." Charles de Lint
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Pardon My French!
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Story as Medicine
This past semester Margie (Paul's mom) has been meeting with Alyssa, a student from the University of Southern Maine as part of a collaborative writing program with students and seniors. The presentation of the essays was today....and Paul and I had the privilege of attending.
Over the semester Alyssa spent time interviewing Margie and listening to her stories about the important events and places in her life. Alyssa drew a literal map...and wove Margie's stories into an essay for the class. All the essays will be published into a book called Story as Medicine, Now and Then.Can you believe she is 92 years old!
OK...now I'm going to embarrass her further. Her hair actually used to be pure white...but is turning back to her original red color. Maybe she's actually getting younger!
Monday, April 22, 2024
Beach and Bottles
and we took a little walk on the beach and around her neighborhood.
I fall in love again with her bottle collection in her windows.
Sunday, April 21, 2024
What a Difference
"The secret, Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make your heart smile. It's then, only then, that you'll find Wonderland." Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
What a difference it makes to have my partner back home. This afternoon we took a walk around Mackworth Island....it's always a bit of a wonderland.
It was a bit windy...but the views and grounds were beautiful as always.So many spring greens and interesting textures.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Thing to Share
I'm sharing today's Story of the Day from Flying Edna:
"There is something to be said for living quietly and loving the things you love without any explanation." Kia Skye
I love this quote. Although I am good at loving the things I love...I often don't do that quietly here. I usually have an explanation here. But I think that's my point.
But for everything I share here that I love...there are dozens more each day that I just love quietly.
I'm sharing this youtube video from Marian that actually made me teary. It's worth watching...this little boy really understands that what you practice you get good at....and you should practice joy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMML1jkBePQ
I'm sharing the link to my Rhythm and Movement homework on my Instagram page for the Conscious Creativity course. Although we looked for implied movement in still lines and images...I've paired many of them with actual videos of movement in my reel.
Philippa sends a personal video with feedback each week and among other things I was charged with being less literal and more abstract.
I think I accomplished that in some cases....and I'm fairly happy with my results. Take a look if you're interested....there's a little glimpse of the marbles and balls in motion.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5_9--exaxY/
Dotty has shared examples of rhythm and movement she's noticed on her morning walks. That brings me joy.
And finally...I'm sharing the fact that Paul gets home late this evening.
He's been away with friends all week and I've missed him. We are better together. And we will have so many things to share with each other.And I don't think the forsythia was in bloom as you enter our complex before he left...so he's in for a treat!
Friday, April 19, 2024
Is it silly?
Is it silly that getting Wordle in just two tries makes me kind of giddy?
I think not.Thursday, April 18, 2024
Child or Artist?
I had the pleasure of spending the whole afternoon with my niece Clarke.
We walked and talked...and even puttered a bit. She helped me move a few pieces of furniture and tackle a few tech projects...and I helped her dream and scheme about decorating her Chicago condo. It was a win win for both of us sort of day.I haven't gotten out and about as much this week as I had hoped to....but I remembered that one of the things Phillipa offered up for the Conscious Creativity class this week was to create our own movement.
So after some chores and before Clarke arrived I spent some playing with marbles and paint. I felt like both a child and an artist....and I had a blast. I wonder if this is how Jackson Pollock felt after doing a painting.
This is how I started...watercolor paper taped into a box.....a handful of marbles and a few drops of liquid watercolor paint.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Artichokes
"No one is more determined than a woman rearranging furniture by herself." I'm not sure who said this....I can relate!
It was mostly a put things back together day in the condo and I'm discovering tasks and more cleaning that need to be done along the way. So putting things back is taking much longer than taking things out. But I'm just rolling with it.
I did forge out for a little field trip trying to interpret my Rhythm and Movement assignments....and my success is yet to be seen.
I made a quick stop at Trader Joes and was smitten with the color and texture of the artichokes.They leaves actually have a bit of rhythm.....so I'll take it as a win!
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Movement and Rhythm
This fuzzy pussy willow branch caught my eye on my walk today!
The large branch actually broke off in the last storm...but the buds have been opening up and I've enjoyed the close-up view.That meant everything (except the big furniture) had to come out....and it also meant that it was the right time to do a good spring cleaning in those spaces. I got into the rhythm of it all....and it felt good to be taking care of our home. I'm tired...and I'll sleep good tonight.
Speaking of rhythm....this week's Conscious Creativity lesson is all about Movement and Rhythm. Yes...it's about capturing and celebrating actual movement...but it's also about findinding implied rhythm and movement in lines and patterns. The homework is going to be challenging....but I'll do my best. It was already a busy week! I'll take a little field trip trip somewhere tomorrow in search of the theme.
Monday, April 15, 2024
SO SWEET!
I've been intrigued by Roben-Marie Smith's 100 day project where she's been taking scrappy bits of this and that and stitching them together using water soluble fabric.
Roben-Margie Smith |
You can check them out on her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/robenmarie/
Isn't this tomato tray from Janice SO SWEET! I've got several...and use them all the time.
They have a history....a story...and I love to imagine what that might be.
then put another piece on top and stitched a grid.
I could have rinsed all the soluble out so it would feel more fabric like again...but I wanted some structure. It's like a starched shirt.
Taking my cue from the tomato box...I think it's SO SWEET!
I think this could be interesting on a card or in a collage...but I think this one may end up in my art journal.
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Hodge Podgy
Another Sunday of this and that.....catching up on a hodge podge of things that bring me joy. Sometimes joy is a little hodge podgy!
This quote from Donna Ashworth caught my attention this morning. I think I've become a hopefulist.....sprinkled with a little joy of course.And how lucky am I to have a table full of treats! And there's my little found object arrangement still in the background. I spent the morning with my friend Marita...and she brought me tulips!
And my sister and her granddaughter Maeson sent me cards and coloring. They spend a lot of time together doing arts and crafts together...and I hit the jackpot today!
My niece Clarke is in town....and she brought me the fabulous frame for an early birthday present!
Every time I talk about Clarke...I have to acknowledge that she's the one who helped me get this blog started...and continues to be my tech support. She'll be consulting with me later this next week.She's here with her boyfriend Seth...and today they did the mailboat run on Casco Bay.
We also had a family pizza night on Friday....and for the Maine Shupe family to have a group of 7 is amazing! We're generally a small...but mighty group.