I'm Calling It

Happy November!

I used one one of @reviveyourroar's poems on my moon post a few days ago. She has a powerful voice and I adore this one about making space for beginnings.

some beginnings

look like

starting.

some look like

stopping

leaving

trying again.

changing your mind.

some beginnings 

look suspiciously

like endings

until enough

time passes

to see

nothing

was taken

from you.

life was

just

making space.

 @reviveyourroar

Originally there was an 8th page on my summer concertina rainbow book.I started it...didn't love it...and wasn't motivated to figure it out. Summer was over weeks ago. So I ripped it off and felt liberated. I worked my way from pink to purple....there are seven official colors in the rainbow....and seven pages. That seems like a good place to stop.....so I'm calling it done making space for something new.

For those of you new to the blog...I started this at the beginning of the summer as a creative practice project.....and I loved it. I traced stencils onto an accordion folded concertina and filled in with watercolor, colored pencil, paint pens, fused fabric and paper collage. 

I started with pink....because thanks to Kimberly I fully embrace that pink belongs in a rainbow.

But maybe it's only half done! Maybe the back will be a winter project.

I think there's space for that!

BSOS

OK....one more rainbow. For now anyway.

Paul came across this fence on his early morning bike ride....and how can I not share it here! You gotta love their enthusiasm. 

We're in a full on hot and humid summer stretch here in Maine and I treat these days like snow days. Other than early morning swims and taking care of the birds....I stay inside where it's cool. Thank goodness I have a few hobbies....ha ha. 

I've mentioned the Bright Shiny Object Syndrome (BSOS)  before....when your trying to do one thing and are distracted by somethings else.

Do you remember this watercolor I found in my stash....then doodled? 

It's been floating around around the studio since then...and today it became the bright shiny object that I couldn't look away from.

I wanted to be picking up the studio and making space for what ever is next....but this bright shiny object kept calling me.

So I cut it up.

I shifted the strips and did a decorative machine stitch in the ditch....then painted the little leaves white. I wish I would have done the leaves a little wonky with free motion....but I did what I did.

It is better? I'm not sure...but it's still bright and shiny and it won't be distracting me anymore. There's nothing more that I can do except send it to someone. I actually think this may become the graduation card for my nephew Charles! He deserves something bright and shiny.

Actual Rainbow

I thought it was fitting for the last day of Pride Month to share an actual rainbow in our neighborhood from three years ago. I got a call from my neighbor shouting "GET OUTSIDE!" That's all he said...and when Dan tells you to go outside...you go outside.  I wrote about it here: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/search?q=neighborhood+rainbow

It may be the last day of June...but I hope I never stop searching for...and sharing rainbows. 

Patty invited The Traveling Flowers for a play date today with her yellow evening primrose white astilbe. She had fun doing a little photo shoot. 

It's kind of ironic....because as I was following the rainbow three years ago around the neighborhood I ended up in Patty's backyard and photographed this delightful spring bloom.

So I'm ending this post with the end of the actual rainbow in almost the very same spot in Patty's backyard You can't make this stuff up! https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/search?q=neighborhood+rainbow

Don't You Love It!

Making progress....and enjoying every minute. Here's how it started.

I'm halfway.

Don't you love it when things like this happen!

And don't you love it when a surprise comes in the mail! Linda D. sent me this fabulous Kaffe Fassett puzzle. It's going to be a challenge...but I'm up for it. I recognize...and have many of the fabrics. I just started one...but this one will be waiting in the wings. Linda was the recipient of my blue and white joy journal giveaway....and once she finished it she payed the joy forward to her daughter. Don't you just love that! 

New Respect!

Subtitle: Little Did She Know

My last yellow daylily of the season just bloomed and that reminded me that it was time for an update on the Traveling Flowers. If you are new to the blog...it's a little hard to explain the WHOLE story...but this is a good place to start: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/search?q=Chuck

I have new respect for Cherrie and Dale as they carted The Traveling Flowers to all the sites as they made their way from California to Pennsylvania. They're a bit heavy because they sit on a solid rock...and they're a bit awkward to carry. So kudos to them as the played along and had fun with that wonderful adventure. 

Here is a little bit of the journey they made around Parsons Pond. After spending several weeks in the TV room...they did a little more traveling. 

(Hang in there...this ended up being a long post.)

They were in the dining room for a while on Connies fabulous hutch. I enjoyed them for a few weeks...but it wasn't quite right. Too much going on.

Early this spring I put them out on the patio....thinking this is where they would be for the summer. But there was too much going on in that corner...and that's where Paul has to pull the grill...so I need to keep it really simple.

Just for fun.....a couple weeks ago I took them to the pool with me. While I was swimming they sat in the corner getting a little sun.

And don't they look pretty against the catmint.

They sat in the shade on a lounge chair next to me while I drip dried a bit.

A week or so ago Patty suggested we take the flowers down to the pond. She has enjoyed the journey of The Traveling Flowers as much as I did and liked the idea of them touring around Parsons Pond.

My photo isn't that great...but it was a beautiful day and the flowers were pretty sitting up on the railing.

I continued around the pond  to talk to another neighbor and Patty offered to drop them by my front door. They would have been a bit cumbersome to carry around the pond.

Little did I know that Patty had a little photo shoot of her own before she dropped them off.  She posed them in the little rock garden at the end of the street.

Here they are by the vintage metal laundry basket she gave me that I've filled with begonias. They are sitting on my precious granite heart rock that I've had for years.

And she took one more shot by the pots on the other side of the door.

I had a great idea earlier today that I thought Patty would enjoy.  Little did she know...that while I knew she was gone...I took them down the street and photographed them with her rainbow parade of pigs. Perfect for winding down Pride Month! 

In the end....they have landed back in the TV room where I spend almost every early evening writing these blog posts. I love them here....and it's where I appreciate them the most. Cherie and I have stayed in touch...and these fabulous Traveling Flowers have given us a very special connection...and I am grateful. And a shout out again to her dad Chuck...who made it all possible. I have a huge amount of respect for his handiwork...and his generosity. 

Joyful Abundance During Breakfast

I started removing the edge pieces from my puzzle (yes, I store them separated) this morning during my breakfast...and happened to open my phone. It was already on camera mode and I saw this scene on the screen and my heart was full. It was all right there in front of me...but seeing it un-staged on my phone really made an impression. So much to celebrate here in the early morning light:

My yummy bowl of steel-cut oats, apples, chia seeds and cinnamon...my colorful paper pieced mini placemat....that fabulous puzzle....my rainbow puzzle gang keeping an eye on me...Clarke's hand knitted frog...JP (joyful puttering)...my felted heart from Roseanne...the LED starburst way back in the corner of my living room....a colorful tapestry from Honduras my sister Nancy brought back from her Peace Corps days hanging over the back of the couch.....Joyful abundance during breakfast.

Per usual....Paul and I went to the 11:00 rally downtown....there are so many things to be concerned about. 

My rainbow parasol made the hot sun tolerable....and makes a statement at the same time. 

Honestly, I long for the day again when I can wake in the morning and not have to brace myself from some new horror committed by a man and his regime who are feeding themselves on the ruins of public liberty. Steven Beschloss

My fellow protester to my left....notice the rainbow hearts. 

Love.....makes a nation great!

Unusual Request

You can paint a world where humans treat each other and the planet with love, respect, and the creative passion and brilliance we were all born with. Lori Austill

Today's rainbow is brought to you by Philippa Stanton. I just finished her Rainbow Pencils puzzle and I loved every minute. I'm missing two edge pieces....but I'm OK with that because there is beauty in imperfection. And if I'm lucky...they might even turn up. 

I belong to a local Buy Nothing group where people give away things they no longer need and ask for things they do need. Things changing hands without exchanging money is a wonderful thing. I love when a post starts: "Before I buy it new...I'm wondering...."

I've found new homes for several things of my things...and I've responded to several posts with things I had and wasn't using: a space heater, artwork, fabric and craft supplies. Today there was unusual request: pine needles.

Hmmmm we have pine needles in the neighborhood...and I was certain that the condo owners would be thrilled to have some of them raked up. 

I actually recognized the name....Lori Austill, an encaustic artist I met several years ago when I visited her open studio right around the corner. Long story short...I responded to her post...we talked on the phone...I talked to my neighbors and this afternoon I worked with Lori filling a garbage can full of pine needles for her to use as mulch.

Turns out Lori is having another open house in July...and I'm looking forward to stopping by. I absolutely love that this unusual request led to connecting with an artist I admire.

Lori's encaustic work includes a lot of  yummy colors....I was especially drawn to this piece on on her Instagram Page. It's like a dreamy rainbow landscape.

https://www.instagram.com/loriaustill_wax_painting_art/

And because yesterday was the only day in June I forgot to post a rainbow...this second one is brought to you by Ann B. from Lexington. She is in Rome...and these little rainbow prisms are reflecting off the crystals that are hanging in the lobby of her hotel.

Blue

Subtitle: That's Exactly What I'll Do! 

It rained most of the day today...but I'm celebrating blue. 

This blue sky was from a few days ago...but what an amazing cloud formation it was! 

And while Sue and John were visiting....Sue and I played around with a few cyanotypes....this one of a fern with some vinegar spots

Here's the fern at the bottom which is growing like crazy...and there's a lot of new growth on my foxtail fern. 

I spent most of the afternoon in the studio. I came across this sunflower stencil cyanotype and decided it would make a nice cut out journal cover. Here's the front and back.

I used a mix of papers and pockets...mostly in shades of blue. I hope to make a handful of these for the free little art library in Falmouth and I will include snippets and collage fodder.

Today rainbow is a Dotty collage inspired by my rainbow collage I posted yesterday. I couldn't love it more and seeing it again inspires me to try something a little more organic like this. Maybe I'll make a small one for a joy journal cover! Yes...that's exactly what I'll do.

Rainbows

Tomorrow is Pride Day in Portland....so Patty and I are celebrating the rainbows in our yards. 

I adore her parade of rainbow pigs in her back yard! I grew up on a pig farm in Wisconsin so I have a penchant for pigs. And you know how I feel about rainbows.

And I love the rainbows at my front door. Patty gave me the vintage metal red laundry basket on the right.....it's now one of my favorite planters. 

All are welcome here!

I've been experimenting with lighter weight papers for cyanotype so I can cut things out easier. For this one I used one of my stencils on rice paper. My first try was a failure because it ripped apart when I rinsed it. The second time I treated it like tissue paper and left it on the glass while I CAREFUlLY rinsed the chemicals out...then let it dry right on the glass without touching it. Once it was dry it was easy to handle and cut. 

I mounted it on a page from one of my vintage manuscript books. 
I wondered if I should have fussy the lower part...but I kind of like the dark blue accent.