Fitting Ending

My sister LaVonn sent this photo today from Wisconsin.  They just had a snowstorm and this sunflower plant we've been watching finally broke off.  Seems like a fitting ending to 2020....a little bleak and broken.

I first wrote about it back in September :
https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/09/cheerful-greeting.html

The again in October when I was there in person:
https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/10/wabi-sabi-sunflowers.html

My sister Marilyn snapped these photos just a few weeks ago while she was visiting and shared it with us on our sister message board.

We've had a lot of fun with this sunflower....it brought us a lot of joy in a very difficult year.

I remain hopeful for 2021....bring it on!

Wabi-Sabi Wonderful

There was a fun story waiting for me in a text when I woke up this morning that I just have to share. And since I spent most of the day dealing with issues on the phone a little splash of joy first thing this morning was just what I needed.

On December 23rd Tracie's family celebrates "The Festival of the Radish." It's an annual celebration in Oaxaca, Mexico where they carve root vegetables into Nativity scenes....yup.....it's actually a thing. I checked it out online and this is one of the amazing and unusual carvings I found.  

In honor of the festival Tracie's husband Loon carved radish heads representing all the members of the family. Aren't they wonderful!  You have to love the one of the son-in-law who shaves his head....and the teeny tiny one representing the youngest grandson.  Well done Loon! I do think that the idea of these heads on the sticks is also just a bit creepy.

But the best part of the story is that this is what they look like now....wabi-sabi wonderful!  

As part of their celebration they also made these star gingerbread trees covered with peanut butter and birdseed.....you got it...for the birds. Such a clever bunch!

Holly Jolly!

I got a couple of Christmas cards today from Aras and Ayla, my niece Holly's children who live in the UK.....they absolutely captured my heart!

The back of Aras' envelope was covered in snowflakes and stars may have been my favorite part. I know he sent cards to a lot of people so this bonus on the back was impressive!

Check out the intricate little Christmas lights on the tree! 
And don't you love the view through the window!

Pretty precious!

Ayla's Rudolf was adorable!

And what's not to love about swirling stars and that adorable tree and snowman!

A holly jolly Christmas and New Year indeed thanks to Aras and Ayla!

Stitching

Paul's cousin Caren sent me a little JOY today....I love it when that happens!

My fused batik project is coming along. Just recently I got to the point where I knew it was going to work out OK so there was a little extra spring in my presser foot when I did the stitching. It will be a little while before I can share the finished piece....but I love giving little glimpses of color.

Seaking of color....here's Margie's latest puzzle....another fun one I'm looking forward to doing too!

Send the Note

For those of you who've been following along on this blog for a while know that Philippa Stanton, known as 5ftinf has been an important mentor and teacher. Her online Consciously Creative class literally changed the way I experience the world. I stay in touch with her through social media and her art, energy, and zest for life continue to inspire me. 

I have such fond memories of visiting her home in Brighton England with my sister Nancy and having tea at her beloved table where she takes so many of her beautiful photographs.  And I got to photograph it too!

https://www.instagram.com/5ftinf/

https://www.5ftinf.com/

Almost exactly a year ago I posted this photo of a vintage pencil puzzle in progress on Instagram....and Philippa commented "OMG!! This is my DREAM puzzle!!!!" Without hesitation and thanks to Amazon UK.....I had one sent to her home and it arrived just a few days later.  She was so grateful.

Just today....this photo appeared on Philippa's Instagram Stories.  She just recently lost her beloved cat "The Cheeks" and for that reason and for all the ones we all know too well this was a Christmas season to just stay home and be quiet...and the perfect time for her to put together her "dream puzzle." 

The joy of giving it to her came right back to me today when I least expected it.

So send the note, make the call, give the gift....it might be exactly what someone needs right now....or a year from now. And I know for sure is that the joy of reaching out...or giving...will bounce right back at you when you least expect it in one way or another.

In addition to the post in Philippa's "Stories" she sent a few extra photos and a personal note thanking me and celebrating how putting this puzzle together reminded her how much she enjoys them and was a good distraction while she is grieving "The Cheeks."

I especially love that this "in progress" photo that is very similar to the one I originally posted. Thanks Philippa! Peace be with you in the New Year!

Trashy Treasure

Trash or Treasure? I think it's both.

A few days ago I was pretty excited to find something rather unusual on our walk.  It was a little hard to tell what it was but we're pretty sure it used to be a golf ball.  The colors and textures are quite amazing....and it has something different going on from every angle.

I described it as "wabi-sabi awesome" and Paul described it as...."somewhat trashy." 

It has a landing spot for now....we'll see where it finds a permanent home.  It is trashy? Yes....but it's MY trashy treasure.

Nativity

"For unto us a child is born."

Today I'm celebrating this Nativity scene made by my sister Angie. The characters are made up of several pieces of wood that are intricately cut, stained or painted, then put back together. It belongs to Margie....and is proudly displayed in her apartment.  We didn't expect Angie to be with us another Christmas....but she celebrated with my sister LaVonn and her family today....and is holding her own.

And just for fun I'm including a photo of this hand drawn Nativity by my son Nate when he was 5....one of my treasures.

Merry and Bright

Merry Christmas Eve! Here's to connecting in whatever way you can with people you love.  

Tonight's virtual Christmas Eve Service at Hancock Church was moving....the last one for Paul before he retires. At the end we passed the candlelight to our church family from our own homes and the imagery was marvelous making us all feel very connected.  Merry Christmas!

Last evening Paul and I took a little drive to take in the colorful lights around Portland....always a highlight for me. I'm taking you along for a bit of it.  

I hope your Christmas is Merry and Bright!

And just in case you were wondering.....Janice's morning buns were fabulous!!!

The Gift of Friendships

I have been blessed with wonderful friends my whole life. I've known Becky since I was 5 and she seems more like a sister as a friend.  She and I had a nice long conversation this evening....and because we have a shared past there is a depth of understanding that goes beyond the words we share. 

And one of my newest friends is Lynne who I got to know through this blog. I still have not met her in person but feel connected to on so many levels and I just got a little package from Lynne with a few of her creations. She knows I am inspired by her art...and she is very tuned into the many layers that are happening in my life these days...her gift came at just the right time.

And...there are dozens of amazing friendships in between who foster my creativity, lift me up, and make me laugh or smile right when I need it. I am truly blessed with friendships.

Lynne's gift included 4 beautiful homemade cards she made from torn floral images collaged over  painted background pages from a repurposed art journal. The torn edges against the textures of the negative space create a wonderful effect! I'm going to borrow the idea!

Lynne's package also came with a note on the back of card #57 of her 67 Day Project inspired by my 100 Day Project a few years ago.  I told her 67 was the perfect place to stop.  The 67 Day Project has a nice ring to it!

Without hesitation I trimmed up her card and stitched it into my Sketchbook Challenge book that I started a little while back....it paired well with one of my first gel print experiments I had already added to the book.  The print was done on a map using a piece of string as a mask.

I added a cutout from another gel print in the crease of the page tying the two pages together. 

I love that Lynne's note is still visible on the back....and something "Lynne inspired" will go on the opposite page. Oh how I dream of those endless days in the studio!

But for today....I'm grateful for the gift of friendships.

Then this showed up at our door this evening from Janice (delivered by her elf husband Jay)! How lucky are we! It's pretty clear what we'll be having with my morning coffee! 

Gotta' love the gift of friends! JOY!

Stillness of the Snow

 "In the falling of the snow there is hope for today, a promise for tomorrow, and peace for the future. For in the stillness of the snow, all things are possible."  Samuel L. Barrett

Every winter I try and work this quote into the blog. I saw it on a Christmas card years ago and it has stuck with me ever since and I used it today on my newest 4 x 6 card. 

I'm still waiting for Becky's round 6 card from last week...I know it's in transit...but this is the week we keep our creations. It would have been really easy to put it off....with Christmas coming and the craziness of getting ready for a move there is so much to do! But I settled in last night and got it started....and finished it up today. It always feels good to create something.

Going with the same theme of pine branches on one of my grandmother's vintage postcards I tried something different...just a simple row of trees.

 

I think I could have done a little better with the design....but it's what I did so I'm telling myself it's just right. Starting over was not an option. This is how far I got last night. I think the little tiny one is my favorite.

Today I added a few glitter glue stars and white paint pen dots and snowflakes.  I used a gold pen along the edge and stitched it onto the index card and added the quote. It's hard to capture how it glistens in a photo....but it is quite sparkly.

If you are new to the blog you can read about how the 4 x 6 exchange got started in this post: http://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/08/something-new.html

And you can see all the cards by clicking on the "4 x 6 exchange" label along the side of the blog. All of the posts will come up...starting with the current ones...then in reverse order back to the beginning.

Into the box it went....and I'm already thinking about some ideas for round 7! 

"In the stillness of the snow....all things are possible."