Deep Blue

It's rare that I forge out at night. But last evening I went with a neighbor...to watch another neighbor in a play. It was called Deep Blue Sound and took place on an island in Puget Sound. It was about small town neighbors....their relationships and their heartfelt commitments to each other and the natural world. It was an absolute delight. 

It was intentional for this small theater company to have the performances about life on an island actually ON an island. So Faith and I crossed the bridge over to Mackworth Island to see the play in the Baxter School for the Deaf auditorium. As we drove across the bridge the evening sky was so many magnificent shades of blue...and they were all bouncing off the water. I snapped this photo while she was driving....and it doesn't do the deep blues justice. It was an absolute delight.

Sumac #2

It's not the weight you carry 
but how you carry it -
books, bricks, grief -
it's all in the way you embrace it, balance it, carry it 
when you cannot, and would not put it down. 

Advice from Mary Oliver's friend Daniel from her poem Heavy.

How lucky am I to get these beautiful watercolor poppies in the mail from Roseanne! 

Aren't those speckles just the right finishing touch. Thanks Roseanne! 

I finished sumac painting #2.

Just this morning I saw this branch...another inspiration for watercolor! Are the stems always red? Or is this part of the fall change? 

My painting started with this cyanotype print from a few days ago....and it ended up as a card for a friend.

I just looked back at some of my photos on the blog...and lo and behold the sumac stems are sometimes red! Not always...but sometimes.

I love noticing something new! And as I was looking back I came across this photo from a few years ago of a stunning sumac leaf! Maybe it will be the inspiration for sumac #3.

Brought to You...

....by the color pink!

It's nice when a rainbow comes along just when you need it. 

I thought of Kimberly on my morning walk! She thinks every rainbow deserves a little pink.

And I had to smile at the juxtaposition of the tiny red car...next to the large tire tracks. A small...but mighty ride!

Thanks to the driver of the grownup car...this driveway rainbow spread into the street. True shared art!

I've been working on one color at a time on this Vintage Sewing Box puzzle...and I'm loving every colorful minute.

I started with the blues...moved to yellow then red....and just recently started on pink! 

And pink was the color that helped me make the connection from the top to the bottom. Now I just need to connect side to side....that will be brought to you by another color!

The Pink Panther responded with high fives....

I needed a little silly today....I was tickled pink!

Just Like That

I've printed and painted a few more cyanotypes....this time using meadow rue leaves. 

I don't have the greatest conditions for growing meadow rue...but I keep trying. The blooms are so delicate and airy. I just love them. I didn't get a lot of blooms this year...but the leaves are doing fine.

And since they are fun to print with....I'll keep trying to grow these pretty plants.

I started with just one pressed leaf sprig for the first layer under a piece of glass. This is the image that will be white. After a minute or two I added a second sprig under another piece of glass....and finally a third. As the chemical processes in the sun the blue gets darker so the last leaf is the darkest....appearing to be in the background. It continues to be a fascinating process for me.

Here you can see the white and the two shades of blue. 

If I want more contrast I just wait longer between layers.

I will admit that I planned to leave this one just the way it was because I really liked it in its original form. Oops!

But I was on a painting roll last night and painted everything I could lay my hands on. 

Meadow rue leaves don't turn these bright fall colors...but every artist gets a little creative licence. 

And just like that...I have a card ready to get in the mail.

Perspective

Subtitle: Begin Again

I had an unfortunate setback in a long term project I've been working on...the details are not important. But for a little while this morning I was devastated and felt defeated. But time and space are a good things.....and by the end of the day I was able to gain some perspective.

I went for a couple of restorative walks finding so many little moments that caught my attention and made me pause. 

Fresh air...sunshine...and a sweet little dragonfly were just the perspective I needed.  

Then I heard on the news that there was another school shooting in Minneapolis. 

My personal inconvenience seemed ridiculous next to this horrific event...giving me yet more perspective.

It's beyond my imagination how our society seems unwilling to do more to prevent gun violence. I said a little prayer for these families that are forever changed....hoping that the day will come when kids can feel safe in school again.

I puttered and puzzled...and even took the first steps in restarting my project.

Doing things I enjoy...and tackling tough stuff gives me perspective.

Then late this afternoon I stumbled on the Elissa Altman's article from Roseanne that I shared a few days ago. It happened to still be open on my computer.....so I read it again. This passage resonated with me today: 

All of the personal, small stories in this vast, ridiculous world: they're all tiny corners. Just the fact of them tethers us to the earth and to each other, and whether they're good stories or bad, they still manage to keep us human when we're grasping at straws.

This setback....is just another tiny corner....keeping me humble and human. There's always going to be gut wrenching news and life setbacks....but we always have the chance to get some perspective...and just begin again. 

Simple Joy

I'm hip deep in a couple of projects...and I've spent all my creative energy for the day. So I'm keeping it short and sweet tonight. 

But I AM celebrating today's blue sky and fluffy white clouds. It was a spectacularly gorgeous day even though we desperately need rain. 

I'm not sure I've had this many white rain lilies at one time....

simple joy was all around me today!

Painted Sumac

Another tiny corner of my day yesterday was a mixed media art project inspired by the hints of fall in the branches of the neighborhood sumac trees. 

I gathered a few small branches...including this larger one for color inspiration...and brought them home for some layered cyanotype/sunprints. 

This was my favorite print...with three very distinct layers. I like it just the way it is.

But these two were destined for some hints of fall watercolor. 

I started with the one on the right....a total sunprint flop. But there was just enough distinction between the two branches for it to become a painting project.

The cyanotype print wasn't on the best watercolor paper...so that makes a difference for the painting. (an excuse?) And....I was a little rusty....but it was good practice. I think the dark blue cyanotype background really sets it off.

For better or worse...I added a little loose penwork giving a the leaves just a bit of definition. Could have done better...but I'm happy enough with it.

I enjoyed this tiny corner of my day yesterday.

And revisiting yesterday's corner...a big thank you to Paul for delivering the buttons to Marita's door knob on his bike ride. She was so appreciative. 

And you know how I love sharing your art. Lynne sent me this photo of her "leave no scrap behind" art moment above her sewing machine. It features buttons, bobbins, and 1 inch fabric scraps. Well done Lynne! Button button...she's got the button!

Button Button....

....who's got the button?  I do!

Subtitle: Tiny Corners

Roseanne sent me a delightful Substack article by Elissa Altman called beauty is the language of care* On Finding the Tiny Corners of Peace After Being Hit By a Bicycle Messenger

I loved the whole piece...so much of it relatable. But my biggest takeaway is thinking about our days as being filled with tiny corners. The experiences we have....the interactions with others...the art we make...and the posts we write...all tiny corners of peace.

My day was just packed full of wonderfulness...each nugget could be a whole post. But for today I'm choosing just one tiny corner to share....I'll save some of the others for another day.

I love being a resource for people.....I always say...If you need something...ask me before you buy it! If I have it...it's yours!

So when Marita was mourning the closing of our local JoAnn Fabric store as a resource to replace some broken buttons on a thrifted shirt....I had her covered.

This jar of buttons has been collected over time. Many I have acquired/found or thrifted...some I inherited from my mom or grandma....and some may be from my sister Angie and Connie. And this is only a drop in the bucket...button bucket that is....of my entire collection. I love buttons. So if you need buttons....let me know...I'm ready to share!

It was fun sifting through the jar searching for small 4-hole buttons for Marita.....she didn't even mind that they didn't match perfectly. And how fun for her to think about who these buttons might have belonged to. A connection she will have to people she will never know except in her imagination.

Thrifted buttons...for a thrifted blouse.

And I just love handling buttons....there are some pretty cool vintage ones in the jar. I have such fond memories of going through and sorting my grandma's buttons.

I have always been fascinated by this facetted one....it's just so sparkly. I think I need to do something with it.

 

Thanks for coming along with me into one tiny corner of peace in my day.

Puzzle Groupies...

....and lots of color!

Janice brought us some colorful veggies from her garden last night....aren't they beautiful! 

There is something very special about anything homegrown. 

Paul found this adorable little school bus on his bike ride.

 Isn't it adorable? 

It may live on the puzzle table for a while....joining The Pink Panther, 

Tiny Jesus, and T-Rex. My little puzzle groupies are growing!

And...I'm making really good progress on Tracie's altered journal....just a hand full of pages left to alter. I'm enjoying every minute! 

And I love that our Rainbow Connection art group exchange made it into the background...right there at the top of the photo. THAT was a fun project! 

Someone asked me yesterday how to live an extraordinary life & I said I had no idea because I always thought it was more interesting to live an ordinary life & not miss a second of it. Flying Edna

Smiles

Where did this day go? Some days just fly by!

I've been tracking this flower at the pond ever since I spied the first tight bud several days ago. This photo was taken this morning with that first bud fully open. It think it's just stunning. 

I just looked it up in my plant identifier....and the name made me smile! It's called sneezeweed....or swam sunflower! Now I love it even more. 

This is a montage of the past week's viewings that I made for Alyson...starting with that first bud that caught my eye. I think the tight little buds are so interesting with their little bumpy stripes.

I don't think I could love it more...and there are tons of buds coming. I'm going to keep a close eye on it....it will make me smile every time I walk by. 

Jay and Janice are coming for dinner and cards...and that makes me smile too. 

Joy Journal

I realized I didn't share more photos about my Joy Journal from our recent art group trade. Since today was mostly an errand day....it's the perfect day to share.

I had so much fun working in everyone's journal...trying to personalize and add to what was already there. 

I'm not sure the others have their original journals back yet...but that will happen soon. Then hopefully we'll have a Zoom chat to share and celebrate the finished products. We all saw some stages of each one...but we've only seen the finished product of the last one we did. And we all may end up doing more in our own journals. I know I will.

We started  this project back in April when we were together...and I wrote about it here: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2025/04/rebirth.html

My original journal was filled with a variety of recycled and repurposed papers and artwork. A few pages were blank.

There were pages to color, doodle and embellish...and there were pockets to fill. It made its way around the circle and everyone could do anything they wanted. There were no rules...and nothing was off limits! 

I'm not going to post every single page...but I wanted to give you a sampling of the joy that is inside.

I can see the personality of each person coming through. There are a few things I'm not quite sure who the artist is...but I'll find out.

The original page here was from a garden center catalog...so the sunflower seed packet was perfect. I'm not sure who added that.

The circle stickers are on watercolor paper...so it will be fun to add to that. And I love the little pencil faces along the side...I think that's Tracie's work.

This cute little cat is tucked in the pocket....

and I love the Vonnegut quote!

A friend is what the heart needs all the time! 

Henry Van Dyke

I love these colorful wonky circles! 

I'm guessing Brenda did the colorful swipes...and Becky probably added the vase....? But now I need to put something in it. There are more pages...but you get the idea. I'm going to have fun adding my own touches here and there. I'll keep you posted on this Joy Journal Journey. What a fun shared art project this was!