Unfurl

Where did this day go? Some days are like that! 

But don't you just love the playful way black-eyed Susans unfurl? I know I do!  

   

 

I thought I would share of my favorite photo montages from Alyson.

It's a curling and unfurling montage!

And here something curly from the past. Starting in 2024 I worked on a tag project....making little collages on a set of tags gifted to me from Roseann. I loved these mini collage projects....and I do have another set...so maybe I'll revive it!

All those posts are here. https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/search/label/tag%20project

Hydrangea

Magic exists where you choose to find it!

It was a glorious summer day with just the right mix of chores and play.

I'm not sure if this was a chore or play...but I got the papers cut and folded for 50 more match boxes for Folly 101. It was a picture perfect afternoon on the patio while I folded...and I was hoping to get a glimpse of the baby bluebirds that fledged while I was gone. No such luck.

Look at this fabulous found object Paul found while was gone! And the best part is that it lights up when you bounce it.    

 

I had a good visit with Patty today....and her hydrangea were gorgeous...coming and going.

I ADORE her peace flag...that color is just perfect!

We could sure use a little world peace right now!

Speaking of hydrangea...going with my now and then idea...here's a few little arrangements I did a while back that still make me smile. I'm choosing to find magic in hydrangea today!

Shoutout

The body heals with play, the mind heals with laughter, and the spirit heals with joy.

No matter how wonderful a trip is....it's always good to be home. I have to give a shoutout to Paul for doing such a wonderful job taking care of the plants and the birds. Everything looks happy and healthy!

It was such a delight to come home to several sweet white rain lily blooms. And how comforting it was to start to slide right back into my quiet daily routine. 

Romanticize the routine, not the result.

Fully Present

I've been talking about it for several days now....but I'm finally heading out of town this afternoon. I will arrive in Madison, Wisconsin late tonight for a week with family and friends. I'll get to see sweet Max...and his new little brother Miles! And of course...a lot of adults too. 

I always have a little bit of angst when I leave home....it's my happy place. I'm leaving Paul in charge of the gardens and the birds....and he has promised to keep me posted on the baby bluebirds that are most certainly going to fledge while I'm gone. Mom and dad have been busy keeping them fed and we can hear them chirping deep in the house cavity. 

I had time to make the rounds in the gardens this morning...cutting things back and dead heading and I'm excited about the black eyed Susans that are starting to unfurl. This is my NOW! 

I know for a fact that once I get where I'm going I will be fully present. I'll be enjoying other people's gardens...and sharing joys with people I love.

Per usual when I travel my posts will likely be late in the evening when the days have wound down. 

Looking for joy while I am way and sharing it here is grounding for me.

Then:

This is the moment I decided to start adding fused fabric to my watercolors while taking the Watercolor for Relaxation course. It started by covering a mistake...and now I do it intentionally.  https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-thing.html

I hope you are fully present wherever you find yourself today!

Now and Then

Now(ish):

While I was visiting Janice a few days ago I got a tour of her neighbor's gardens and her whimsical coneflowers captured my heart.

The petals were long and loose and flopped around in the breeze like they were dancing. It was right out of a Dr. Seuss book.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Dr. Seuss

Why is it that right before I'm getting ready for a trip my mind can't stop thinking of all the art projects I want to do. They'll have to wait because there's a long list of things to tend to these few days before I head out of town for a week.

So I thought I might start something new called Now and Then that I might tap into while I'm traveling. The Now...will something from my day that brings me joy. The Then will be a link to something I've created in the past that still brings me joy. There are several new blog subscribers that may be looking for something arty.

Then: 
Back in 2007 I started a cathedral window quilt. The whole thing is hand stitched so it was the perfect take-a-long project. My initial intention was to make it bed size...but 13 years later I finally got it to the point where it could be a wall hanging in my studio. Absolutely the right decision for me.

Here's the post where I celebrate those last stitches: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/06/ahead-of-schedule.html

And for you interested quilty types...this is a link to the thread of "cathedral window" posts over the years where you can see my process and progress. There is much more in these posts...so while I'm a bit distracted this will be a way to get to know me a bit. 

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/search/label/cathedral%20window%20quilt

It really was the perfect project to take on the road then. I need something similar for now!

Simple Tasks

Today I'm choosing kindness, but we'll see, it's still early.

I chuckled when I saw this quote. My mood is always a little touch and go when the humidity starts to rise again. 

I'm excited about our family gathering and Sam's birthday celebration tomorrow evening....followed by some special lunch guests on Saturday. Having people in my home pushes me to tidy things up a bit and that's always a good thing.

I was struck this morning how satisfying it was to do the simple task of sweeping the front door area and walkway. I want the entrance to our home to be warm and welcoming....for us...and our guests. 

I was out for.my after dinner walk and Patty's hydrangea shrub was glowing in the early evening light. 

And while I'm celebrating her hydrangea...here's  a montage of her pink hydrangea from her backyard with photos I took several days ago. Well done Patty! 

Things to Celebrate

The Maine Senate race is in turmoil right now....but I remain hopeful things will turn out OK. There is so much to be concerned about in our country and the world....so it so important that we celebrate and find joy in the things that land in our day. 

I'm celebrating these tiny mushrooms today. They are popping up all over our yard...and doing great things for the soil.....helping break down decaying matter.  When I pick one....I toss it into the woods and it becomes food for the animals or gets composted into the forest floor.

I'm celebrating two new rain lily blooms today. A couple at a time are coming pretty regularly now and that makes me happy..

I'm celebrating a busy bluebird house as mom and dad go in and out....feeding the babies inside. It's so much fun to watch.....and really hard to photograph. Today they were trying to ward off a couple of bluejays that were getting too close. It was interesting watching these small birds defend their home turf. 

I'm celebrating my son Sam who turned 37 on Monday. I'm also celebrating Kelly who decorated their campsite for the occasion. Don't you love the birthday sunglasses! We're having a family birthday party on Friday. I just love it when we gather.

And finally....I'm also celebrating this beautiful gifted handmade booklet from Candy G. 

It's full of pockets and pouches holding snippets, poems, and fun things that I can pay forward...and use in my own projects. Thank you Candy for giving me one more fabulous thing to celebrate today. 

It's a Start!

It's not about being good at creativity, it's about creativity being good for you! 

Marita and I took a walk this morning and came across this amazing wildflower garden filled with Sweet William. It stopped us in our tracks.

Every shade of pink was represented!

Speaking of pink....I got a start on my concertina....and it probably won't surprise you that I am going to work through the full color spectrum. I started with PINK (for Kimberly).....and am transitioning to red. I'm thinking I might add a little white and/or black to that overpowering pink background. So far I have used fabric, watercolor, colored pencil, a couple black pens, alcohol markers and pages from a book and catalog. 

I just finished the red in my rainbow puzzle....and am transitioning to orange.

I think this counts as my rainbow for today!

Look what I got in the mail... a lovely handmade tag from Roseanne. It will certainly find a good home in one of my journals! Thanks Roseanne!

Summer Project

Butterfly Weed is one of my very favorite early summer plants to watch. I don't have one...but there's one in our neighborhood that I walk by almost every day. 

Every single stage is so special. The tight green buds turn to bright orange balls which open to fabulous flowers with tiny yellow centers. It makes my heart sing. 

I acquired a large watercolor pad from a friend and cut and folded a couple of concertina/accordion books a while back. I have several things in mind....but it was time to do something with one of them. Completely inspired by an Instagram post by Connie Fong I used my stencils to trace overlapping designs on one side.

I wondered whether I wanted to color....paint or doodle....so I decided to all three.  I'm also going to add collage and fabric elements. It's going to be a quiet...ongoing summer project.

This was a collage I did back 2024 for Color week of the Conscious Creativity Class with Philippa Stanton. I love it enough to revisit the wonky technique. 

It's OK

My morning walk took me by a lovely garden filled with foxglove. 

My photos weren't that great because the sun was too bright....but this closeup made me laugh out loud! Do you know what it reminded me of?

Those dreaded chin hairs! 

 

A week or so ago I started this rainbow puzzle. I sorted the pieces into my box tops and started putting the border together.....and within minutes decided I needed to let this one go.

The pieces didn't fit together easily...making it more or a chore than a joy. So I dumped it all back in the box and added it to my thrift pile. It's OK to stop...and just let it go. 

Someone might like it....so it's in my donation pile.

After that I did these two quick and easy rainbow order puzzles. The first one is a 75 piece mini from Philippa...and second is a 300 Shelfie puzzle from my sister. It's OK to do something easy.

Now I've started this fabulous Pencil Rainbow puzzle from Philippa.

Speaking of Philippa....she posted this photo a week or more ago....doesn't it just ooze joy! And doesn't it look like the artist that assembled this colorful pencil collection! If you want to see what joy looks like in action...check out her video from the same photo shoot: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYnVFelAoO_/

Doodling and Coloring

I was excited to come home to my first pink rain lily blooms! The foliage is still filling in...but it always throws up a few teaser blooms early in the season. It's loving the summer weather.

Right behind it...the Bowman's root is in full bloom...and my sweet little yellow day lilies are  starting to bloom. I love my June garden.

Before we had headed to Deer Isle....I did a little slow doodling on the patio. 

I drew the whimsical little Bowman's root stars over and over. It was meditative and relaxing.

I took it with me in the car....and using a few colored pencils colored in the flowers. Not sure what's next with this...but doodling and coloring is good for the soul.