Messy and Beautiful

I seem to have dozens of things going on all at the same time....but it's hard to think of anything I'd let go. This is my real life. I'm just busy.

So Claudia Cummins' reflection called "Happy Right Now" was just what I needed to read this morning. She talked about how we may be confusing our comfort for happiness. She talked about redefining happiness....and making peace with things just as they are. Not a new concept...but it's good for me to hear it again and again.

"I smile when I consider the possibility of cultivating contentment amid the chaos, not in spite of it. It offers us so much hope. It's mesier, but more beautiful, too. And it feels honest, and quite possibly even do-able. And so very filled with love." Claudia Cummins

There was a full moon last night and I was so tired I forgot to head out and look for it. I actually think I was in bed before it even rose. 

But I did a little experiment today in honor of the full moon....and turned it into a simple card.

The experiment was fairly successful...

but think I could have done better with my plant choice and placement. And there were a couple other missteps.

To make the moon I placed a smaller punched white circle on the prepared paper before I placed the plants and the glass...which means it would stayed white.

After a few minutes of exposure I taped a slightly bigger tissue circle over the moon to create and give the illusion of a halo. (I put a piece of tape on the back to hold it in place)

I should have placed the larger moon sooner than I did so it would have been a lighter blue...the difference is pretty subtle. I also think I should have used a regular piece of paper for the larger circle as the sunlight might have gone through the tissue more than I thought it would.

I'll try it again....but basically the full moon experiment was a success! It's part of my chaos that is both messy...and  beautiful.

I had the idea of placing something on top of the glass as I was reading about how people get layers of leaves in their prints....which I also experimented with today.  Here I placed the first layer of leaves down under glass for just a minute or so in the sun. Then I put another layer of leaves on top of the glass...and added second piece of glass on top. The lighter blue leaves are the prints from the second layer. 

I let the whole thing set in the sun for about 5 more minutes....and this is what it looked like right before and after I rinsed it. It worked pretty well....there's so much potential here!!! 

I have been doing several quiet tasks around our condo association lately. I feel lucky to live here...and I want to feel a sense of pride and participation in tending to things that need attention. This is my home.

I snapped this photo when I put my feet up after weeding at the pool early yesterday morning. And now I realize that I was cultivating contentment amid the chaos for these few quiet minutes.

And then I got to go for a swim. How lucky am I!

Dreamy Quality

I continue my fascination with Queen Anne's lace.....it's everywhere right now. I love all the pieces and parts...and all of the stages. 

Sometimes...but not always...there's a hint of pink on the new blooms. 

I planted this fuschia for the hummingbirds...but I think it's a little hard for them to get to the flower because it faces downward like a long trumpet. But hummingbirds are small....and they find a way.

The blooms are so delicate and the long buds so delightful. 

I took a selfie from the hummingbirds point of view....and I was most excited about the way the trees in the background photographed. 

They have a dreamy quality....with the little bubbles of light.

UPR

Our son Sam stopped in today and shared some of his experiences at his new job at  The Collaborative School in New Gloucester, Maine. The school works with students who have complex emotional issues and the job is both challenging and rewarding. They are in summer mode right now giving Sam a chance to acclimate before official instruction begins later this summer.

The most important thing they do is build relationships with their students....and that is built around Unconditional Positive Regard, mutual respect, honesty, and open communication.

Unconditional Positive Regard! I love this phrase....and I've been thinking about it all day. 

Our world needs a little more UPR!

Tea Bag Project

The Vintage Pencil puzzle has been done for a few days now.....and it may be one of my all time favorites.

And it's not just because there's a "Miller" pencil...which is my maiden name....and now my middle name. 

Roseanne gifted me a little pile of unused tea bags....just in case I had an idea of how to use them in an art project. 

Could I sun print on them? 

Yes...I could!

The first one I cut apart so it was one long strip.

That worked well....and I haven't done anything with it yet.  But I will.

The second one I left as a little pouch....and that worked well too.  I tucked three little print scraps inside...and sent it back to Roseanne. What goes around comes around. 

Next time I'll print on both sides. I'm guessing the solution soaked through...but I should have flipped it over so the backside got some sun. 

A tea bag project with nothing but potential! Thanks Roseanne!

   

Art Friends

I'm so lucky to have art friends. 

Becky gifted everyone in our art group a set of these tiny art cards. The paper feels like watercolor paper....it's nice and sturdy and seems like it would take any media.

The cards fit onto these little discs...and are easily flipped through like a spiral notebook.

These sweet little substrates are going to be the blank canvas for our next art trade.  

We will create a little art piece based on a chosen theme for each round and send it to someone in the group. Becky, Tracie and Brenda got together recently to iron out the details and I'm just waiting to hear when to start, what the first theme is....and who to send my first one to. I'm ready to go...I think it's going to be fun! 

Stay tuned!

While they were together they had a gelli printing session and I Zoomed in for part of it. Becky joined the Zoom call on her phone and I was able to watch some of the fun...and offer tips here and there. It actually worked pretty well and it almost felt like I was there with them. I was in my guest room working on matches while I watched.

Here are a couple of screenshots:  Tracie is pulling some cats she painted on the gelli plate with sharpie markers.

And Brenda was creating a beautiful hydrangea print. She actually painted the blue on the BACK of the tissue or delli paper. Because the paper was translucent...the color came through the front but she still had the detail of the petals on the front. None of us had ever thought about this before....very clever Brenda!

  

Here's a little montage of some photos they sent me of some of their prints. 

They did quite a few where they printed leaves with the paper taped to the table....took the first print...then pulled the paper back to pick up the leaves then fill the space with with the ghost print. 

Dissected and Pressed

Oh how I love my white rain lilies! Three more blooms today and several buds coming. 

The original bulbs were a split from Becky...and I've also shared them with several people over the years.

Rain lilies just keep on giving.

You know I love looking closely at plants and flowers....the pieces and parts can be so interesting and beautiful.

I had already noticed the beautiful starry under part of Queen Anne's Lace....but it was hard to really see and appreciate in a pressed version of the whole plant....and in this print I shared earlier.

After a conversation with Gretchen I decided to remove the flower head leaving just that beautiful base. 

I collected...dissected and pressed these lovely stars getting them ready for printing.

I found an old journal that I wasn't using because it didn't open up flat. So I've cut out the pages and they are working quite well for sun prints. The pages were designed for mixed media so they can stand up to the rinsing parts of the printing process....and they are thinner than watercolor paper so will work well for collage.  

This is my first print on the journal paper....and there will be more.

I think these plant parts are just beautiful! Someone said it looked like a virus...not quite what I was going for...but it made me chuckle. 

Etherial

Gretchen came over this morning and photographed my meadow rue with her macro lense. Or is it micro lense? Whatever it is...it takes nice close-ups. It's such a delicate airy plant...and so hard to photograph.

The lighting wasn't quite right....and only a few of the buds were were open so she might give it another try on at a better time of day. 

I made this montage to send to Alyson...but decided to post it here too! I don't really have the best conditions for meadow rue...but I'll keep trying.  

Maybe because it's a bit blurry...this is my favorite photo! 

It feels kind of ethereal.

Here's one I took a week or so ago of the buds in portrait mode. 

Again...the blurriness makes it seem otherworldly.

Three Things

A favorite quote from Flying Edna came to my inbox as the Story for the Day:

"Three things to remember at the start of each day.

#1.  This is your real life.

#2. Joy is easier to see when you quit complaining.

#3. You never know what the third thing is going to be until later....so pay attention so you don't miss it."

My three things from today:

#1. Sun printing is my real life right now. Why not just go with it!

This was going to be the day where I didn't do any sun printing and tend to the house and gardens. I did a few chores...but I also did a some printing. I just couldn't help myself. This is my real life right now. I think of things in the middle of the night...and just have to try them.  

A few days ago I collected more of the wabi-sabi leaves I love from the pond and did this print on a book page. I love the ragged edges and the bug eaten holes...and every detail printed beautifully. I used a few of these leaves a while back in some gelli prints. 

Then late last night I wondered about stitching several pieces of paper together...and printing on them all at the same time. 

So I used the same pressed leaf...and did a quick test. It certainly worked...but the verdict is still out if I'll do it again. 

I do love the different papers in this quilty style....and I do like that the leaf image spans across them all.

But I would prefer more contrast in the papers. Some papers react differently and print lighter so that would be helpful. Maybe if the paper at the bottom started as a stripe...or a map...I might have gotten a better result.  I guess I'll have to play around a bit more. It is my real life right now.

#2. Joy is easier to see when you quit complaining. 

It's been hot and humid and I'm not a fan. And when I have to be out in it I tend to complain about it. So mostly...I don't go out. I swim in the early morning...and mostly stay tucked inside....except to tend to my sunprints.

But today I grabbed my big sunhat and went to Winslow Farm to pick a few blueberries in the humidity and the hot midday sun.

Blueberries are beautiful as they ripen and the joy was much easier to see when I wasn't complaining about the heat. I barely noticed it was hot.

Well...that's not true...but I just didn't let it get to me and was distracted by joy.

#3 You never know what that third thing will be until later...so try and pay attention so you don't miss it. And it might just be very very small.

My first white rain lily bloomed a few days ago...and I've been enjoying it.  And...there are several more buds coming.  

As I headed outside this evening I noticed it had started to close up for the night. It was translucent in the setting sun so you could see the shadows of the other petals. It was lovely.

Then I took closer look inside and found a little surprise.

You never know what that third thing will be...so pay attention or you might miss it. 

Life is Art

"I think everything in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone, and how you talk. Your smile and your personality. What you believe in, and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How you decorate your home. Or party. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks. And the way you feel. Life is art." Helena Bonham Carter

I was sorting ephemera papers that were scattered all over the place....and this happened. And then it was gone as quickly as it came.  

Life is art! Even cleaning up!

Promise and Potential

Ann texted me today telling me she recommended my blog to two friends. One who wants to look for joy no matter what was going on in her life...and one who does a lot of crafting and is trying to think of herself as an artist. Ann thought that sounded familiar. Check and check.....I'll take it as a compliment.

I've been a crafter my whole life...so I'm often the one people give things to they are done with. MaryAnn will take it they say! She takes anything sees promise and potential in everything. 

Several years ago Melodee gave me a stack of large plexiglass pieces. They were samples from her work to be used in offices I believe. There are a few different etched designs and they are quite lovely. I had an idea at the time but I needed to cut them....I tried with my glass cutter but no luck. I knew I could pay to have them cut somewhere but never got back to it....so there they sat.

They moved with me from Lexington to Portland 3 1/2 years ago and got tucked away still packed with promise and potential. 

Then I had another idea. Light can go through these lovely designs....could I use them in my sun printing? 

The answer is yes I could! 

This is a close-up of a piece of linen I printed this morning using the plexiglass. It was in the sun for an hour. The image is not super defined...but I absolutely love the intersecting lines and almost blurry texture.

I also love all the different tones of blue. The etching on the plexiglass is also a bit translucent...so some sun gets through those parts just a bit creating a slower reaction resulting in a lighter blue and almost no stark white. I think it's just beautiful. 

I want a few different tones and patterns on my fabrics....so the one on top is printed with the same plexiglass and was in the sun for about 1/2 an hour.

The wildflower print is from another day and on white muslin.

I want a variety of fabrics before I start cutting into them and creating some art quilts....but you can see how well they pair together.  

The darker fern is on cotton quilting  fabric that has writing on it. I love the dark inky blue...but the writing would show up more if the blue was lighter.

I think there is promise and potential in these fabric cyanotypes....

but Melodee's plexiglass has finally found an actual purpose. 

My experiment this morning featured fabric...but I had a little solution left...just barely enough to cover this piece of watercolor paper that I tucked under the plexiglass with the fabric.

It turned out pretty well and tells me how little solution I really need. This paper will be a nice filler is collage pieces. 

Thanks Melodee for passing these precious plexiglass panels with such promise and potential! 

(I couldn't resist all the P's!)