It's Not That Simple

"Imagine a world where we listen to each other's stories and learn we are all not as different as we are the same." Story People 

I made this simple card yesterday using Washi tape.  Afterward the quote got me thinking....is that even true? What I've come to understand just recently is that my white privilege allows me to think it's just this simple....that down deep we're all the same. It's not that simple.

I love telling my stories and I'm appreciative of those who are willing to listen....mostly people just like me. And....I love hearing other people's stories too...but for the most part I only hear stories from people who are also pretty much just like me. I'm finally waking up to that fact our stories are often vastly different just because of the color of our skin. I also believe that our stories make up who we are....so we are all both the same and very much different. 

I'm trying to make a concerted effort to seek out stories I might not normally hear....even if they're difficult.  And I still hope and imagine for this kind of world.....but I/we have a lot of work to do.

I started this card with some Washi tape on my cutting mat.....

I didn't want to use straight pieces.

Using my rotary cutter I cut the tape with wavy lines and easily peeled off the pieces for the card.

I taped them to a pice of white card stock.  I trimmed the edges but realized that I could have easily wrapped them to the back.

I added paint dots in between the straight edges of the rows....but wish I hadn't. 

I've learned the hard way to do my lettering ahead with pencil because I often either misspell or even leave whole words out. And I still need a lot of work on my lettering skills.

Next I went over it with a permanent marker.....

...and erased my pencil lines with a good eraser.

Even at this point....I often find a mistake. I'm a terrible editor!

I think this one is OK.

I mounted it....and sent it on its way.

A simple little card....for someone special.

She'll understand and appreciate my journey with the quote.

As I was cleaning my table today...look what I found!  A whole stack of super skinny Washi tape.  

So of course the cleaning stopped....and I played.

Now what!  Another simple little card?

Washi Tape

I continue to fall in love with my new Bowman's Root plant from my sister. 

The blooms are so special and such a nice compliment to the larger rain lilies right next door.  It's an absolute delight.  

The rain lilies, by the way, are coming at a steady pace....one or two at a time. 

I'm guessing almost every crafter has at least a few rolls of Washi tape in their stash....and I'm no exception. Washi tape is similar to masking tape...but way better. "Wa" means Japanese and "shi" means paper...and Japan is where it originated and is made from natural fibers like bamboo or hemp. It comes in wonderful textures and patterns and has all kinds of uses in arts and crafts.  

So when I saw this puzzle in a store window in down town Lexington....it drew me right in.  The store was closed because of the pandemic...but the owner was inside and peeked out to see if he could help and I safely made my purchase right there on the sidewalk.

This puzzle could have been done in one sitting but I stretched it out over several days....and I loved every minute.  I loaned it to Margie first....and she loved it too.  

I used Washi tape along the back edges of this accordion rainbow book I made for Connie a while back. If you're interested you can read about that here.  All the posts I've written about projects I've done with Washi tape can be found here.....and I've just scratched the surface of how it can be used.

And today I worked on a little card project that started like this.....

but I'll write about that tomorrow....this post is already long enough.

Today I read the next article in The New York Times 1619 Project called "Traffic" by Keven M. Kruse.  Once again....I'm blown away....I've just never thought about some of this stuff.  

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/traffic-atlanta-segregation.html

"While Interstates were regularly used to destroy black neighborhoods, they were also used to keep black and white neighborhoods apart.  Today major roads and highways serve as stark dividing lines between black and white sections in cities.  In cities like Atlanta, daily congestion is a direct consequence of a century-long effort to segregate the races."  Fifty years later "the city is still stalled in the past."