Comeback

"How to stay on top of housework when you have a craft room: You can't.  Find a new dream."

Paul and I thought this vertical coral cloud was interesting....and so pretty.

I put the last three envelopes of papers and Art Hearts in the mail today.  I thoroughly enjoyed this project and have appreciated all the conversations.....photos...and little goodies.

Thank you for supporting my Joyful Puttering!

I've shifted my creative energy into putting a few more things together for the Handiwork store.

An Ounce of Joy is making a comeback...and I told the story of the giveaway on an insert.  I've got six of these packets ready to go....and there seems to be no end to my supply of snippets and art experiments. 

Today is the anniversary of my sister Angie's death. She was the queen of art experiments and snippets.....and I think these would have made her smile.

The Test of Time

Some things stand the test of time....and some things struggle.

I have given people things over the years that I've made that I'm still proud of....and others that make me cringe just a bit.  Not everything is a masterpiece....not everything stands the test of time.

Margie was going through her things...and a while back she gave back some of the cards I have made her over the years.  She had saved them all....and I was touched.

I love this little quilt I attached to a Mother's Day card for her back in 2015....and to this day I still love it.  This little quilt has stood the test of time....and I will reinvent a purpose for it.

I wrote about it....and the scrappy project it came from here in this post:

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2015/06/quilt-card.html

This one however......is struggling....but it has has passed the time test in one significant way.   I made it WAY back for Margie when Paul and I were dating.  It's both sweet...and hideous at the same time.  

I lined the simple quilt with paper...so it holds up and opens like a card....also making it kind of crinkly.

And apparently....there was a sale on ric rac!  Or....more likely I tapped into my mom's sewing box. She had cool stuff.

But look what was on the inside! 

Even back in 1979 or 80.....I was promoting JOY.

JOY....always stands the test of time.

(Back then I was MAM....Mary Ann Miller.)

I put another star on my Ounce of Joy map....and an envelope is on its way to Portland Oregon! ★ I was so pleased that Mary contacted me....from the "other Portland." 

 She thought she signed up....but for some mysterious reason I never got the email.  So if that is true for you, please let me know at joyfulputtering@gmail.com  

Mary has been following along with the blog nearly right from the start.....and she reminded me of a post from 2016 that made me chuckle.  It's proof that my love for a good connection story....and a silly map have also stood the test of time. 

You can read the story of two Mary's from two different Portlands here in this post:

http://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2016/11/cool-connections.html

Something Better

"I don't think outside of the box....I think of what I can do with the box." Henri Matisse

I had a couple of tiny things to add to a birthday package for my sister Nancy....and how lucky was I to have the perfect box on hand! Surprise Surprise!

My plan was to wrap the box in pretty paper....but then I had an idea that turned this simple jewelry box into something better....and it literally took about 5 minutes. 

I connected three scraps of pre-fused fabric by overlapping the seams just a bit and ironing them on a piece of release paper. Next I cut it into a square just a bit smaller than the the box top using my rotary cutter.

Using the release paper as a pressing cloth...

I ironed/fused the square right onto the box top. 

I found the little prefused "JOY" in my stash....and thought it was the perfect finishing touch.  A simple box....became something better. 

That's what happened for me with the Ounce of Joy giveaway project.  It started with a simple idea with a clever name and it became something so much better. And I've heard from enough of you to be believe that it just might have been OK on the other end too.

It was so much fun for me to read all the things that bring you joy....and that for some one of them was reading the blog with your morning coffee....or before you go to bed at night. I have connected with many of you over the years....and I have loved that. And now through this project I've now connected with a few more....and I didn't expect how emotional that would be. So thank you for humoring me and participating in this little experiment. And thank you to all of you who continue to follow along.

Since day one I have had the words "Collecting, Creating and Connecting" at the top of my homepage.  This project celebrated them all at the same time!

One last joy came in....celebrating the friendships with her two grown daughters....and the fact that they entrust her with the care of their sons.  Joy indeed!

I sent out 26 envelopes....and you know how I like a good map....so here's where they went.  I hope that I didn't miss anyone.  The stars may not be accurately placed...but hopefully they're in the ballpark.  If you participated and don't see a star near you...or didn't receive an envelope (some may take longer)....please email me again at joyfulputtering@gmail.com  There are still plenty of snippets! 

Waiting Patiently

Subtitle: 2.6 Ounces of Joy

Paul pointed out this cute little arch formation on our walk this morning....and he waited patiently while I took some photos.

It's probably better that I not comment on this other little gem right behind it. 😉

Little did he know that I pointed the camera up. If he's not walking in circles while I take my morning photos...you'll find him waiting patiently....just like this.

This was a little later this morning....a spectacul sky with spring like temperatures at almost 50 degrees! I'll take it!

I've had a few last emails trickle in for my Ounce of Joy giveaway.  I'm a little nervous about the fact that many of them should be arriving at their destinations...and I'm just not sure what people will think.  But it was quite joyful from my end.....and the whole exercise had quite an impact on me.....and may lead to some other positive things. I will likely be sharing a little more about that here in the next few days.....then maybe I'll stop talking about it.  Maybe.

But as of today...this is the last envelope I have to get out...and this one got hand delivered.

Paul and I had dinner with Dana and Anne this evening and Anne and I always look forward to comparing notes and sharing our projects.  So for her envelope the Ounce of Joy turned into: How many ounces of joy can I actually fit into an envelope and still seal it up?

In this case....it's 2.6 ounces!

More on this visit another day....because Anne had a very interesting and amazing project to share with me....and you will just have to wait patiently.  (I just love it when I can work the title...back into the end.)

Sealed With A Snippet

We had another one of those beautiful sunsets last night that changed by the minute......and I love this view out our patio doors. 

Sometimes I just tickle myself. OK....there might be a better way to phrase that....  but it's gotta be a good thing when you can make yourself chuckle.

That's what happened this morning as I was closing up the giveaway envelopes and it dawned on me to "seal them with a snippet."

Here's a few of them....I hope they don't fall off!

Bonus points for anyone who recognizes where this snippet came from.

I've blogged about this resource a few times over the years......it's still one of my favorite things to cut up.  The answer will be at the end.

I got this delightful handmade card from Susan today. These funky feathered friends were inspired by the whimsical art of Terry Runyan.  Her work is colorful and playful....featuring cats, birds, flowers...and big hair!

https://www.instagram.com/terryrunyan/

A page from the book about "blob birds."

I have followed Terry's art on Instagram for years....so how delighted was I when Becky gave me her book when I visited last summer. 

Who doesn't want to paint happiness! 

Becky is one of the people I make a calendar for....so I decided this year's would be inspired by Terry's Painting Happiness Book.

I did the first 6 months as a Christmas gift.....and didn't even take one photo.  I asked Becky to send me this one....because I wanted to share them after getting Susan's card. I'm not really all that proud of them....but I was pretty tickled with the connection with Susan.  Maybe I'll be proud of the next 6!

The little snippet came from my favorite calendar I used for years and years when the kids were growing up. You can read about it here: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2015/04/sun-stars-and-moon.html  I told you every snippet has a story.

#fabricrecipes

Jayne Emerson is one of my textile heros.

I took her "Water Soluble Magic" course last year....I LOVED it....and hope to revisit the skills learned in new projects.  I'm signed up for her "No Rules Patchwork"course....but I've barely started.  I have unlimited access to it....and it just got put on the back burner.  My back burner...by the way....is pretty darn full.

For the month of February Jayne is once again sponsoring a challenge on Instagram called "February Fabric Recipes." Each day there is a prompt where she encourages us to share a past or current textile project honoring the day's theme. Inspiration abounds!

I'm trying to play along....and it's giving me a chance to look back at some of my past work....and my hope is to actually make some new ones.   https://www.instagram.com/joyfulputtering/

Today the day 6 prompt was "print"...and although most people shared images where they actually printed on fabric....I chose to revisit my cathedral window quilt celebrating 900 little "print" swatches as the inserts.  It's the focal point in my studio.

This is an old photo....I haven't cleaned this 1/2 of the studio yet.....it's that easily sidetracked issue. I need about a dozen 8th days of the week!  I'm seeing the green grass and leaves out my studio window in the photo...and although I'm not wishing winter away....it doesn't hurt to dream a little bit about the other seasons.

I'm almost ready to get 25 Ounces of Joy in the mail.....but I'm having trouble actually committing to sealing them up.  It seems so final. It's been a fun and interesting exercise for me...and although I had all the piles sorted....I tweaked every single one of them when I filled the envelope.  

Here are a few more of YOUR JOYS:

• A walk on the beach
• A line full of clean washing blowing in the wind
• Daffodils in the backyard
• Shared art projects
• Seeing the first snowdrops
• Getting together with the boys for a birthday celebration
• Joy in the everyday
• Falling snow
• Being an integral part of grandkids lives

And Lily shared this photo of things that bring her joy.....

handmade little houses, dried artichokes and roses from Christmas....all displayed in a handmade birch bark basket. 

 I'm calling this a #joy recipe!

An Eighth Day

I was looking back in my photos for something....and came across this comic my son Sam sent me several years ago. I've shared it before....but it made me smile again so I thought you might enjoy it too. He knows me well!  

Couldn't we all use an 8th day to just putter!

I had video chat with my 4 siblings today....two sisters are in the Madison, Wisconsin area, one sister is in Minneapolis, and my brother is in Atlanta.  And just yesterday  Margie had a Zoom chat with her two siblings. Her sister lives in Colorado, and her brother lives in Hawaii.  It's always a good thing to connect with family.  

I painted these little watercolors all at the same time in a grid a while back...then cut them up.  I think they're precious little snippets....and now I'm tucking them in some of the the envelopes.  

Speaking of the envelopes....that's what I puttered with today...on this 7th day of the week.  I've got all the envelopes for the giveaway all clipped and lined....and I thought I  share a tip.

Once I have the liner cut and folded...I glue JUST the part that attaches to the flap down to the crease...tucking the rest inside.

I tried glueing the whole thing....but that made it impossible to easily close the envelope. I have also come to learn that some of the small snippets might end up tucked underneath that lower part....so if you're getting An Ounce of Joy....be sure and take a peek.

I think it looks better to leave a little more of a border on the sides than I did here....more proportional to the top.  Didn't really notice it until I looked at this photo.

Elle sent me a world atlas a while back for collage and gelli printing....and I've already gotten good use out of it.  She recently suggested that maps would make good inserts for envelopes....and I couldn't agree more!  She also commented that these envelope liners could be personalized and made to match just about anything. Indeed they could! Thanks Elle! 

Now I just need an 8th day to keep puttering.  I am making good progress on the project....and I hope to have everything in the mail this week!

Noticeable Dent

We inherited window quilts at the condo.....and we've sure needed them these last couple of days.

Since it was well below zero overnight and single digits all today....they've been down for more than 24 hours. The condo feels like a little cocoon. It was a good day to stay tucked inside.

Mostly I've been working on my Ounce of Joy project....but like every other day....I had breakfast at the puzzle table. Hardly a day goes by where I'm not there for at least a few minutes....and it never matters how long a puzzle takes me.

I'm enjoying this winter stamp puzzle that Margie did a while back....

it's colorful and fun.

This delightful JOY card came from Linda....and seems to coordinate well with the puzzle so it's going to live here for a while. Linda is a big puzzle fan too....and she loyally does them from top to bottom or side to side....completely filling in as she goes along.  Or at least that's what she tells me. Her card makes me feel like she's watching over me....she's good at that.

I try her strategy from time to time....and that was my intention on this one.  I wanted to do it row by row....but then decided I'd work on two rows at the same time.  Well....that didn't last long either because clearly I'm working on three. But I do want to mostly fill in this top half before I push it up on the table and join the whole border.  I've made a noticeable dent....and loving every scattered minute of it.

I have gotten rid of several boxes during my sorting......but I was delayed in letting go of the smaller ones that can be used as trays. Sometimes procrastination pays off.

Much to this box lover's delight....they came in handy today.  I spent most of the afternoon choosing and weighing little piles of snippets...and storing them in these little box trays. This is what 20 ounces of sorted JOY look. 

And the funny thing...20 ounces doesn't  even made a noticeable dent in my stash. 

(You can see I have the studio closed up tight too...keeping that cold air out where it belongs.)  

This card from the Curly Design's Instagram page made me chuckle.  This tiniest path I've been clearing in my stash is certainly bringing me quite a bit of joy!  I've loved getting the emails....and learning more about some of you who follow along with my joyful puttering.

Here are some more of your JOYS:

• Finding joy in the everyday
• Sunsets on the beach....and the moon rising at the same time
• Creating with my granddaughters
• A child's laugh
• Puzzles and a hot cup of tea
• A warm cozy blanket
• The first flower....and the first snowflake
• Knitting
• Making cards
• Hiking....and the birds

JOY!

It was cold here in Maine today....and tonight it's going to get down to negative 17 degrees fahrenheit with wind chills colder than 30 below. We haven't had a cold snap like this in quite a while.  Thank goodness it's only going to last a few days.

This was the morning light as I took the dried mealworms out for the bluebirds.....I worry about them in this weather. But they know what to do....and I have to trust they will be OK.  

This was a fun day for me!  I've heard from more than a dozen people from all over the country so far....and one from Scotland for my Ounce of Joy Giveaway.  I was out most of the day today....but I'll get things rolling tomorrow and start putting the envelopes together.

I will run this giveaway for a few weeks...so there is still time to participate.  You can read the details in yesterday's post: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2023/02/giveaway.html

A couple people had technical difficulties with the email contact form on the blog....and I have no idea why. So I've created a separate joyful puttering email account...and I am comfortable putting that here on the blog.  

 You can email me directly at: joyfulputtering@gmail.com

I would love to hear from the two people who commented anonymously right on the blog....you can use this new email.

I am trying to do a quick reply to every email that comes in....so if you haven't heard from me please be patient....or try again. And I will go back through my email and make sure I didn't miss anyone.  This is a pretty low budget operation....and my only staff person is busy reading by the fire...and he's worse at technical support than I am. 

Here are some of the joys you have shared with me....I'll post a few each day for a little while while.

• Sunrises and sunsets
• The love of my husband, friends and animals
• The joy of living in two beautiful states...Maine and Florida
• When my 13 year old granddaughter asked for feedback and support on her poetry writing assignment
• Playing with fabrics....deciding  on a pattern and pulling fabric from my stash
• Color makes me happy
• Seeing photos of the natural world and beautiful artwork
• Reading a good book by the fire

This is a snippet from a project I did with Connie many many years ago. 

We shrunk her original artwork and made little accordion books that fit into matchboxes....and she sold at an art fair at her senior living facility.  You can read about my dear Connie....and see that little project here in this post: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2015/01/let-me-introduce-you-to-connie.html

Still having fun collecting and cutting up some of my painting experiments....and I can't help but audition a couple things together.  I did this little doodle on some lined paper with a brush marker and gold pen.  

This was another colorblock watercolor that was much better cut up into pieces.  

Thank you all for adding some joy to my day....and giving me a reason to play with....and give away some of the bits and piece in my studio.

Now it can go into 4 envelopes!