Little Gem

Anything I let go of creates space for something new.

I've had this cover of a Quilting Arts Magazine in my stash for years. I adore the colors and design and I decided it would make a lovely mini joy journal cover for the Free Little Art Library. I actually like the back with the words as much...if not more than the front! 

Per usual.....I lined the cover with fused fabric for strength.

And this overlapping tissue paper experiment made for a fun first page. 

It's colorful...but also a blank slate for more.

So I'm including a little packet of snippets to get someone started. 

When I was going through my snippet bins (I have several) I found this little paper-cut from a calendar page and I loved the little gold accents...which were the letters of the name of the month. It was a good color...and it mirrored the shapes in the tissue page. 

I didn't want to add too much to the journal....but this little gem had to go in. 

I made a little info card to include and tucked in the snippets and it's ready to go. I'll make a couple more of these and I'll drop them off at the Little Art Library for someone to discover. 

More Precious Little Scraps

It's heartbreaking that there was another shooting in Minneapolis. We can all see what happened with our own eyes. God help us! 

I went to the post office early this morning to mail a package and it was cold with a wind chill below zero. I was the only customer and the postal agent greeted me as I turned the corner with Welcome! Thank you for coming! I had a few things to talk to him about....so I was glad there was no one behind me. We had a delightful conversation and thanked him for for his interest and enthusiasm. 

I had a few more stops...and there was a bounce in my step.

When I posted about Roseanne's journals I made a point saying I used every single scrap in her chunky joy journal. But that wasn't actually the case. Roseanne asked me if I would make a label for the inside cover of the altered art journal with my name. Of course I would....and I chuckled and said I would search the trash for a few scraps to stitch together. 

I did go through the trash....I swept the floor...and sifted I through the pile of cut-offs next to my paper slicer. Score! 

And yes...I'm going to write a whole post about these precious scraps because we all know that joy is often found in the little things! And we need every little joy we can muster up these days! 

I was surprised at how many more snippets I found. I make quite a mess when I work...so there is really no surprise here. 

Some were just precious. Just look at that little watercolor strip on top! It made my heart skip a beat.  

Once I had my card stock printed and trimmed...

I put down a strip of double sided tape.

I lined up some of the chunkier scraps on the tape.....

....and added a few more on top with a bit of glue.

Then I took it to the sewing machine finished it off with stitching.

I couldn't help myself from making a second card...and bagged the rest of the precious little scraps up to put in the mail for Roseanne. 

Joy IS found in the small stuff....even the scraps. 

My purpose IS actually hidden my joy. 

The gathering in Lewiston was moved to an indoor event space. Paul and I were ready to be outside...but the warm(ish) space allowed us to interact with people more easily and actually hear the powerful speakers who have been on the front lines.

Local leaders celebrated and promoted the power of community....neighbors helping neighbors...and the power of love. We are both glad we went.

Just Start

As I mentioned a few days ago...I was inspired by Dotty's Random Acts of Art project. I knew I was going to use snippets and scraps...and I was anxious to just start.

I may do a few different versions...but for now I'm sticking with a familiar format I used when I made some calling cards with my contact information a while back. 

They are easy to assemble and stitch...and a good size to tuck here and there. I'll add something on the back...but I'm not going to include my name or any contact information. I want these to be completely anonymous.   

I was tickled with this one because I found a use for something I didn't love. 

A week or so ago I did a cyanotype experiment...and until this morning I thought it was kind of a bust. But with a little cutting....and paired with one of my photo kaleidoscope prints...I think it works. The white zig zag stitching is just the right finishing touch.

The print started with these lobster claw rubber bands from the summer. Most of the lobster was eaten while Becky was visiting. 

I've always thought there should be a use for these. Maybe I found one.

Have I mentioned that I got a new toy? I bought a UV light so I can make cyanotypes inside on a rainy day...or even at night. And the best part about it is that Kelly can borrow it for cyanotype art lessons at her school.

I placed the rubber bands under the light on the treated paper for about six to eight minutes. (The light is sitting on my printer...it's the closest flat place next to an outlet...the cord is short.)

The light is small...and was very reasonably priced. I know I'll use it this winter.

This is what the rubber band print looked like when it was done processing.

And this is what it looked like after I rinsed it in water then diluted peroxide. I thought the wonky shapes were interesting...but I was a little unsure of the design. Cutting out chunks of the shapes was the game changer.

I used a few more of the rubber band chunks to make this card. I paired them with a piece of a watercolor doodle and a bit of black and white paper. 

I'm actually now quite fond of these little blue rubber band pebbles.....so I'll probably print them again. 

I have seven cards made so far...and more in progress on my table.

I'm going to put something on the back of these this evening....and since I will be out and about most of tomorrow I will start to distribute them. I am volunteering at Maine Needs...so will probably tuck a few into with some of the orders. 

I still don't have a name for this project...but I'm mulling it over. 

Maybe it doesn't need one....I just needed to start.

Precious Little Scraps

I've been trying to tidy up...and play a little bit in the studio. I'm so easily distracted...so it's a slow process. As I excavate my surfaces I'm finding all kinds precious little scraps. Every time I say that phrase I think of my dear friend Connie who had a file for everything....including one labeled "Precious Little Scraps." 

Taking inspiration from the Visual Sentence class I took from Jane Davies....I'm randomly glueing a few tiny scraps together that seem relate in some way. I'm thinking of the scraps as letters...and I'm trying to make little words...and sometimes add an actual little word. These words may get developed into sentences.

The letters in this word include a snippet from a greeting card...a half circle from scrapbook paper and a tiny little cut off from a watercolor experiment. 

I thought they made a sweet little three letter word...all it needed was a little HOPE.

It landed in my joy journal that we made during our last art group exchange. 

It works like a little tab to turn the page and adds a little interest to this small pocket page.

On the opposite page I added a chunk from a snippet roll I found in my stash. It's a lot of snippets glued to adding machine tape then stitched. I didn't love it after I made it.....so it got added to a pile. But a chunk of it works fine here...just for me.

I glued it in to the journal only at the very top and bottom so it acts as a belly band...or another little pocket. I tucked in this faith card that had been hanging on my bulletin board for years. I have feeling that this might be from Melodee W. I'm not sure...but I've always loved the simplicity of it. 

And now I love it tucked in my journal.

I think a precious little scrap project may be brewing inspired by Dotty's Random Acts of Art. 

I will develop the idea a little further....come up with my own name and turn these little word clusters into something I can quietly share around my community.  I think it will be fun. 

Here are more of Dotty's Random Acts of Art hidden around her community. I've enjoyed following along with her project on her blog.

On a Whim

Tracie reminded me of a quote that I love: 

How do we see the world as sacred again? By radical noticing. Looking for awe in all of life. Lucy Jones

On a whim I raided my snippet bin again for another little wreath last evening....and this one is a bit smaller than the other one. I find these quite satisfying.

Stitching the black is probably not a good idea at 8:30 at night...but I think I did OK. I do think the stitching ties it all together.

Imagination

Paul serves as a Sunday worship minister at a small church in Scarborough. It's the perfect part time retirement gig and he really enjoys it. Easter is a big deal....maybe the most important Sunday of the whole year. 

This morning Paul reminded us that the Easter story requires us to use our imaginations to see what is possible. During these dark days we have to resurrect our imaginations and plant seeds of hope for a better world and remain dedicated to the practices of love and justice, of forgiveness and tender mercy, of courage and fortitude. 

I also got an Easter greeting from Kate today reassuring me that people from the UK have us in their thoughts as our country is in chaos.

She shared this photo of her granddaughter Izzy as they explored the bluebell fields in their E. Sussex countryside. I am smitten....not only with the bluebells...but also with sweet Izzy.

No imagination needed to see the beauty and blessing in this! Thanks Kate!

Sifting through my big bin of snippets stimulates my imagination. These little bits of this and that are like seeds of creativity. 

This time...I made a little accordion card layering up the snippets...or maybe I should say planting the seeds to create an out of the ordinary birthday card.

It started off as just an experiment to see if the concept would work. 

In the end I decided it was a keeper and I added some of my printed words of encouragement on every fold reminding us to imagine what's possible. 

It folds up nicely....

 ...and fits into a little origami box. A gift and a card all in one!

Happy Easter!

Spring and Summer Colors

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." Georgia O' Keeffe

Dreaming about spring and summer colors while making a snippet color wheel. Or is it a rainbow wreath? Either way....it's a joy thing.

And here's a little color in the still snowy backyard....a fabulous found object! Well done Paul!

Happy Transgender Day of Visibility. I stand with my trans friends and family!

Paul and I are hitting the road tomorrow. Our destination is Perry, Maine to spend a few nights with our dear friends Patsy and Brian. 

And it gives me a chance to post one of my little little maps. We'll take a more direct route....but we won't mind the four hour drive.

There will be good food and conversation. And there will be lot of laughter and cards. Just the distraction we both need.

Timing for my post nuggets might be a little later than usual the next couple of nights.

It OnlyTakes Two

It only takes two to get a conversation going....and it only takes two to do some joyful puttering. I actually do pretty well on my own...but I wanted to try and widen my joy circle a bit.

I'm trying something new at the Handiwork Studio and Market here in Portland. 

The hope is to have a monthly Joyful Puttering session doing simple art projects with anyone who is interested...and my first session was yesterday. 

I'm not charging for these sessions...but I welcome donations to Maine Needs.

We had snow in the morning so that may have impacted attendance. I was hoping for at least two to get things rolling....and that's just what I got. I was thrilled to putter with with Amanda and her daughter Isabelle...and Margot came near the end and might come next time.

We started with simple strip collaging from my recycled cards left over from my Words of Encouragement project....and this particular color scheme that Isabelle created really caught my eye. She cut it up to make bookmarks.

We had a delightful conversation about our art and interests and some of the things they would like to work on. They thought they had friends that might be interested next time and maybe even a few younger kids.

I made cards to hand out with a little bit of my story and contact information and I stitched on some snippets for color and interest. That prompted our next project.

Next time we will collage with my vast supply of snippets and collage paper scraps. I will introduce snippet rolls and snippet color wheels that will be user friendly for kids. 

We'll see how it goes and it if catches on. But really...it only takes two!