Makers

Becky sent me this image today....it's just what I needed to hear.  I don't seem to have a lot of time for art these days....but the other stuff is important too.

Today I made room in the garage for all the patio and garden stuff and there's even room for the stuff that will be moved here from Lexington soon. I put together a basket of sticks and greens for the front of the condo and I worked quite a while on a couple of photo slideshows of my sister Angie. And I made a little progress on a few projects for the condo association board.  

So I was a maker today...even though it wasn't art.

And this little guy was a maker too...he was making a mess...and having a feast. At one point half his body was inside the pumpkin....and it was fun to watch. 

Yes...the world needs makers.

Pine Branches

I was looking for images on Pinterst of pine branches for a project and this image came up. I had to pause for a minute to figure out what was going on....and when I did I had to know more. It was done by Swiss artist and comedian Ursus Wehrli as part of his "Art of Clean Up: Meticulously Arranging Everyday Objects."  

I spent a little time reading articles and finding images that made me smile.  

https://www.manmadediy.com/1267-the-art-of-clean-up-meticulously-arranging-everyday-objects

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/garden/ursus-wehrlis-neat-and-tidy-world.html

Here you can see where he tidies up some famous works of art:  https://www.demilked.com/tidying-up-art-ursus-wehrli/

I was intrigued....and it was good entertainment. I chuckled when I read in the New York Time article that when his 2 year old son scribbled on the living room wall he just put a frame around it.  "Art or mess...is in the eye of the beholder." Yes!

The pine branch search reminded me of this card I made for Connie years ago.  After she passed away it came back to me and I actually think I'm going to use a similar idea for the project I have in mind. So stay tuned....but it's going to a little on down the road.

Just Getting Started

Every once in a while I'm compelled to buy a little fabric.

I saw this Alison Glass assortment of bright and colorful plaids online....and I couldn't resist.  It's going to be a while before I can do something with it...but in the meantime I'm just going to bask in the glow!

I'm just getting started on my commission fabric stained glass piece.  I've had the basic sketch done for quite some time....but life has take me in a few different directions as of late.  And...because it's a commission it seemed more important than ever to get it right so I was hesitant to even start. If I didn't start....I couldn't screw it up. 

I'm pretty much modeling it after this last one I made....with just a few tweaks.  The biggest change is eliminating the straight green horizon line...the whole lower landscape part is going to be more curvy. 

For anyone new to the blog...you can read more about this piece here:

http://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/08/in-studio.html

Since it's a commission piece I want Amy and Lisle to see the finished product before I write too much about it here....but I wanted to let you know one of the things I'll be up to in the studio for the the next few weeks. I've already worked my way into the reds and oranges so I'm making progress....but this all I'm going to share for now. It feels good that I'm finally getting started.

Celebrate

The very best parts of my day were being able to see people I love after finally getting covid negative results. Yesterday was Margie's birthday....and it was nice to celebrate a little with her in person this afternoon.  And finally, as of this evening Paul and I are in the same house....it's been four weeks.

About a month ago I put a request on Facebook asking family and friends to shower Margie with birthday cards.  She's received at least 20 so far....and they're still coming.  So thank you to those of you who heard the call and responded. 

89 was the perfect birthday to celebrate in this way. 2020 has been a challenging and crazy year and if we've learned anything we've learned that we really are all connected.

It warmed my heart to see all the cards and read the notes from friends and family. Some were homemade and they all were beautiful....too many to show and share. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!  JOY!

This pop-up from Joan made me smile!

Before I left for Wisconsin I gave her a few puzzles to enjoy while I was gone. It was fun seeing this succulent one all completed sitting on her board and I'm looking forward to doing it sometime.  The colors and textures are wonderful.

Then there was this silly card that I made while sitting at the kitchen table with Angie. Happy Birthday Margie!  Glad to be back in your zip code....because as the card says: two heads are better than one!  So glad I got to celebrate with you!

Beloved Wife

I was hoping this post would be all about a quiet birthday celebration with Margie....but my covid test results are still not in so I couldn't go see her. Hopefully we can celebrate tomorrow. 

Near the end of my stay in WI I emailed Paul a photo of this comic I found in Angie's stash.  

It was time for him to water the plants at the condo....and along with the photo was overly detailed instructions on what to do.....I thought the comic softened the email.  I chuckled....don't know if he did. But he did water the plants for his beloved wife.

And when he watered he gave me a heads up that I had some blooms coming....and this is what I came home to.  I moved this Christmas cactus from the studio to the kitchen so I could enjoy it today and when I have time to be in the studio again I'll move it back.  Today was not that day.

My blooms are more of a salmon colored...as opposed to the bright pink of LaVonn's and it brought me a lot of joy today.

Back to Art

It's card catch-up day!  Last week was the the third card in round four of our 4 x 6 card exchange.  (Yes...I'm a little confused too...I had to map it out on my calendar.) Becky sent hers to the condo....so I just got it today when I arrived.  If by chance you are new to the blog and wonder what the 4 x 6 project is all about you can read about how it started here in this post called "Something New": http://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/08/something-new.html

Becky celebrated the end of the garden season with leaf prints.  She used stamp pads to coat the leaves then printed them on cardstock.  I love the way she cut them apart showing little peek-a-boo stripes of color and how she built up parts to give it dimension.

On the back is a velum pocket with some of her post frost blooms....and a few of the actual leaves she used for her prints.  You're a clever one Rebecca Lou!

My card for round 4 was just like the others and I made it before I left for WI.  Last week was the keeper week so this one goes into my box. This week starts round 5 and I think I should have Brenda's card ready to go in the mail tomorrow.  I started it in Lexington this past week and since I was away from my studio it was one of those make it work projects.  I will not report on it for a few weeks as I want both Brenda and Becky to get theirs so the theme and technique will be a surprise. 

I think these cards look pretty nice together....I'm so glad to be getting back to a little art.  It feeds my soul.

I write these posts in the evening....but most people read them the next day including Margie. 

Happy Birthday Margie!

🎉🎈

Rolling With It

This has been a strange week.....and I'm just rolling with it.  I've had my covid test but still don't have results so Paul and I have stayed apart. Tomorrow morning we will pass each other on the highway as he comes back to Lexington for work and I'll go to Maine.  I'm almost certain that I'm fine but we just want to be sure.  I'll have the results on Monday so I'll stay quiet and quarantined....and that's OK.  I will be nice to be in Maine....it's been a month since I've been there.  Then it will be nice to be with Paul again....we are always better together.

I've been going through some of my own old photos and came across this one of the six sisters from 2008. Angie and I are in the back and Marilyn, LaVonn, Becky, and Nancy are in the front. 

LaVonn texted me a photo of her Christmas cactus I wrote about a week or so ago.  I don't think I've ever seen one quite so full.  Certainly something to celebrate...especially because it once belonged to Becky.  We miss her.

Common Ground

Angie had so many notebooks filled with this and that.  She didn't have internet at her house....because she just didn't need it.  But there were times she would be at her friend Marilyn's house between appointments and would go through Pinterst writing down ideas, quotes, and recipes.  

I took photos of several of her pages....and when I reread this one again...I chuckled at this quote:

"I've been single for a while and I have say, it's going very well.  I think I might be the one."

I do this same thing in sketchbooks and journals....jotting down quotes and sketching out ideas and it's comforting knowing that Angie and I have so much common ground.

I often found myself sitting at the kitchen table with Angie while she was working on something....and I would doodle while she worked.  I took one little book with me along with a few black pens.

There is something very relaxing about making repetitive patterns.

Holding Her Own

"Sometimes you'll learn and grow on the road, and other times you'll learn by being still. Embrace the ebb.....but don't forget the flow. Those uforced moments of joy matter more than you know." Morgan Harper Nichols

Angie is holding her own. Bodies can be surprisingly strong, sometimes fragile, and often unpredictable....and we are all grateful for this time for Angie without pain. She continues to enjoy her visits and phone conversations and my sister Marilyn visits often. And I'm so happy that my sister Nancy and her husband Craig from Minneapolis are going back for the weekend. They love to cook and that's always a good thing.

I've been tackling house projects while in quarantine...they aren't very creative or interesting so I'm glad I have have a few more treasures to share.

Angie is the one who inspired me to start collecting marbles and I always loved the way she displayed them. She gave me one of her marble filled vintage bottles and I wondered what might have come in this old bottle that says "FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS SALE OR REUSE OF THIS BOTTLE."  After a quick google search I learned that it was required on liquor bottles starting in 1935.

And I've always loved this little green Singer sewing machine oil bottle and am looking forward to adding it to my collection in Maine.

And have you ever seen railroad rocks?  Marilyn and her kids used to find these round stones along the tracks that had been tumbled over time by the trains.  Angie had a little jar of them and I was able to bring a few home with me.  I love stories like this.

This is a photo of one of Angie's shelves...with lots of marbles.

Collections

"Let joy be joy....even when it feels subtle and fleeting. For even when joy takes on the form of a momentary flicker, it is still worth noticing and keeping."  Morgan Harper Nichols

In between chores I unpacked a some of the things I brought back with me from the farm including these wabi-sabi souvenirs.

As I have mentioned before I have quite a seed pod and flower petal collection going....and when I reinvent the condo I'm going to find a way to display them.  

When I was cleaning up LaVonn and Tim's vegetable garden I fell in love with these dried green beans. 

I've always been a fan of a dried sunflower and I love the way the petals retain their intense color.

I was tickled that Angie picked a few vintage sewing notions and tools for me....and I do love blue.

I'll have to do a little research to find out what these two spools are used for....anyone know?

A Little Color....

 ....around town.

Paul scooped me up from the airport last night and with windows open and me in the back seat he dropped me off in Lexington and headed to Maine.  In a few days I'll have a covid test so we can be together again. In the meantime I'll be quietly quarantining at home.....just what I need during this time of transition.

I took a walk around town with my mask trying to avoid being near people.  Today was one of those unusual warm November days....but it is starting to look like late fall around here with most of the leaves on the ground.  But there was still a little color around town and I enjoyed the warm sun and the blue skies. 

The colors and curl on the leaf captured my heart.

Speaking of heart.....

A lovely new church sign was installed while I was gone....and can easily be read by passersby.  LOVE the rainbow!

And finally....sometimes JOY looks like a colorful fuzzy found object.

There's No Place LIke....

 Home!

It was a travel day....and I'm tired.  There will be time for reflection over the next days and weeks....but for now what brought me the most joy today was the sky....again.  I think I've bonded with the sky during this trip.  

I caught a glimpse of the sunrise this morning as I was getting up and it drew me right out into the yard.  I have been so focused on the setting sun and the western sky that I've neglected the view to the east. And...I know this is a little goofy and sentimental....but maybe today was the perfect day to look east...towards home.

It was smooth sailing from Madison to Detroit.

Then a mechanical delay while sitting on the plane in Detroit was a bit frustrating....

but the western sky kept me entertained....again. 

Coincidence?  I think not.

And 30 minutes later this happened....while still sitting at the gate.

Always look for joy.

Enough Said

I don't think we could have packed more into this day....and I don't think I could pack any more emotions into my heart.  I head home tomorrow....back to helping from a distance.

The western sky did not disappoint tonight....and I was appreciative. 

A few more of Angie's cut-outs. Enough said.

What a Gift

Brian Andreas

"It's time for our better angels to prevail."  

President Elect Joe Biden

LaVonn has a Christmas cactus in full bloom in her dining room. And the best thing about it is that she got it from our oldest sister Becky who passed away 7 years ago. What a gift it was in the morning light. Becky always was so full of light and life....we miss her!

And right next to it is an adorable little heart shaped cactus she got from a friend in a pretty pink polka dotted mug. Yes...these three little hearts are real!

https://www.instagram.com/lisacongdon/