Hodge Podgy

Another Sunday of this and that.....catching up on a hodge podge of things that bring me joy.  Sometimes joy is a little hodge podgy!  

This quote from Donna Ashworth caught my attention this morning.  I think I've become a hopefulist.....sprinkled with a little joy of course.

It's been a too long since I finished my last puzzle....so I started working on these colorful marbles today. 

It's comforting for me to have one going on my table for my breakfast and coffee time...and all those in between moments here and there throughout the day. The border is done and I'm slowly sorting the pieces into my album boxes. 

And how lucky am I to have a table full of treats!  And there's my little found object arrangement still in the background. I spent the morning with my friend Marita...and she brought me tulips!

And my sister and her granddaughter Maeson sent me cards and coloring.  They spend a lot of time together doing arts and crafts together...and I hit the jackpot today!  

 

My niece Clarke is in town....and she brought me the fabulous frame for an early birthday present!  

Every time I talk about Clarke...I have to acknowledge that she's the one who helped me get this blog started...and continues to be my tech support.  

She'll be consulting with me later this next week.  

She's here with her boyfriend Seth...and today they did the mailboat run on Casco Bay. 

We also had a family pizza night on Friday....and for the Maine Shupe family to have a group of 7 is amazing!  We're generally a small...but mighty group.

And finally every once in a while I have to share my wordle for the day. I love it when it just works out like this in just three tries....starting with one letter...then getting three...then getting six!

There you have it...my Sunday catch up! And how can a post that includes the words hodge podgy and hopefulist not ooze joy!

And how fun is the word blimp!

Week One Homework

After a couple days of rain we got back out for a morning walk this morning....and I was anxious to check out the scilla on Abby Lane.

The lawn is filling in...and was just beautiful in the morning light covered in raindrops.

I submitted most of my week one homework for the Conscious Creativity course, but it doesn't mean I'm done looking and seeing.  That's an ongoing thing for me...for the rest of my life!  

I spent quite a bit of time this week getting acquainted with the "unfold" app that Philippa introduced us to.  With it I can make better looking posts and reels for Instagram...and I can use the images here on the blog as well. 

I submitted my homework as a "reel" which is a short video.  You can view it here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5tfg5_RRUa/

My Instagram home page:

https://www.instagram.com/joyfulputtering/

The app has a limited free version (which I used) where you can choose a few different layouts, add captions and a few other things to enhance the photo experience.  Here are just a few pages from my reel that I wanted to explain a little. If you want to see all the images...use the link above.  

The cover photo above is looking up at a fire escape during my Portland field trip.  It was an interesting abstract angle.

I already shared my opposite images a few days ago with the padlocks and the fabric...and I didn't get a chance to find similar images on my field trip.

But I had taken these photos looking down into a few of the bottles and vases in my dining room window as I was doing some looking and seeing around the house.  

I was photographing just the outside of the vases and bottles at first....but then decided to see if I could photograph the inside.  Turns out I could!  And although they didn't look so similar on the outside...they certainly looked similar on the inside.  

Another thing we were looking for was "mess"....and there was a box of pressed leaves on hand that I had used on the gelli plate.  

They were covered in acrylic paint....and quite beautiful.  I may spend a bit more time photographing them in some sort of an arrangement.   

 

And the final image in the reel is an arrangement I did on my table with the objects I put in the bowl at the beginning of the week. It included all the objects that Paul and I found on our walks this winter...and a few others.  They're not beautiful things....but they all have a secret story and there's a little magic in not knowing what that is. I tried to arrange them in a way that told a new story.

I did a second arrangement getting rid of a some of the extras....and these ARE the found objects from the winter. 

(Again...all the homework images can be seen on my Instagram page with the link above.)

Card is in the Mail!

For the first time in weeks I sat at my table in the studio and painted....it felt wonderful.  Tomorrow is my dear friend Jane's birthday....and I hadn't taken the time to make a card yet.

But lo and behold Jane just sent me a link to an artist she wanted me to check out...so Louise Browning was my inspiration for Jane's card.  Check her out!  https://www.instagram.com/artsolute_beginner/  And I love her Instagram handle: artsolute beginner!

Not bad for a first try....but I'll be playing around with versions of this technique again.  

Thank you to Jane and Louise for getting me back to my painting table!

I know I can improve on the overall technique for design and doodles....

but I don't think I could improve on an envelope liner....this one is just perfect!  

Happy Birthday Jane!  

Your card is in the mail!

Tell and Share

I've had this screenshot on my desktop for a while...mostly because it made me chuckle. But then a day like today comes along and it's all too true.

My Thursday did NOT go as planned....it was a bit of a Blursday.

So I was pretty tickled when Patty told me that she enjoyed my recent shadow search....and texted me HER favorite shadow photo she took in the south of France back in 2019. Isn't it fabulous!

So....tell your stories and/or share a favorite photo with someone. You never know what memory it will trigger....or the impact it might have on their day.

Thank you Patty for sharing your joy with me on this Blursday!   

Special Object

Paul and I visited the hackmatack tree this morning...

and I think the pine needle buds are just starting to form!  I can't wait to watch the needles emerge!  

I'll be keeping a close eye on it!   

In addition to looking and photographing this week...we're also spending some time with objects for the Conscious Creativity course.  One object I chose was this roller I got from my dear friend Connie years ago.  It's very hard plastic...not a soft brayer like I use on my gelli plate.  I've never known what to do with it...but just recently I've discovered a use...and maybe even what it's intended for.  

I am getting big head start on covering 300 Christmas match boxes for Folly 101.  Much of the Christmas paper I use is a lightweight cardstock...so it's hard on my hands and thumbs to repetitively fold and crease.  

But once I wrap the paper around the matchbox and get a light fold.....the roller does the creasing.  It works perfectly...and once again I'm thinking of Connie while I craft.

I've been trying to do a handful in the evening... so it sits here by my TV chair. 

We were supposed to collect a bunch of random objects and put them where we could see them all week.  I have a crazy assortment of objects...including ALL the winter found objects that were sitting here and there around the condo.

I chose to put it all in the butter bowl and keep it on the table.  There are a few other odd things...a dead branch I found under my norfolk pine...a spent Christmas cactus bloom, some leaves I found pressed in a book and some other things I picked up in the yard.  The rest of the things were just at hand for one reason or another....including Connie's roller and my eclipse viewing screen.

It's an odd assortment of stuff....almost of it found. Later in the week we will be doing something with it. 

And I just added the tiniest found object ever!  Do you see it there on the ball! I have not idea how Paul saw this!  

Places and Spaces

I took advantage of a warmish sunny day and had a little field trip downtown.  I love exploring Portland....this time I was looking for light and shadows and abstract angles as part of an exercise for the Conscious Creativity class. The best thing about taking a class like this is that it gets me out my head and normal routine and takes me to places and spaces I don't often make time for.  And that's a good thing.

These were some of my favorite shadows.

I was quite take with fence shadows.

I was also looking for opposites....and I thought these two images couldn't have been more opposite.  Similar colors....but one was ordered and soft...and the other was chaotic and hard. 

This abstract angle shot works on a couple levels.  The mural is a literal abstract art piece of angles...and another angle is created where the buildings meet. 

And a bonus I didn't notice until I uploaded the photo is that fabulous reflection of the tree in the window. 

Exploring places and spaces is a good thing.

Light and Dark

"Seeing, after all, is all about light and dark.. And seeing is way bigger than looking." Jude Hill, Spirit Cloth

It was perfectly clear and unusually warm here in Maine today.....a perfect day to appreciate the light and dark of the eclipse.  And Jude Hill's words resonated with me....seeing is way bigger than looking.  We all can look at the same thing...but might not see the same thing. Seeing...is just bigger.

It felt festive in the neighborhood....people out and about....gathering and visiting in the streets with their chairs...snacks...and of course their viewing glasses.  

And then in the middle of the afternoon....it felt like dusk for just a few minutes....when the light faded towards darkness. Not completely dark here...but enough to feel special...and strange.  And the shadows were incredible!  

And on this first day of looking and seeing for my class...

I noticed so much light and dark in the melting chunks of snow!

Opportunity

Our power came on last evening and warmed the condo up just in time to crawl into bed.  We were so grateful.  

"If you are actively exploring, appreciating and experimenting with the world around you, your work will always be richer for it." Philippa Stanton

Right in the middle of a puddle of emotions yesterday afternoon an amazing opportunity presented itself.  A gift actually.  A generous and wonderful gift that lifted my spirits and put a spring in my step.

Many of you know that I am a big fan of Philippa Stanton...also known as 5ftinf.  She has been one of my influential teachers and a constant source of inspiration.

I just found this oak leaf pressed
in a book and fell in love with the
 beautiful cut-out in the middle.

Philippa helped me learn how to really look closely and appreciate the world around me...finding beauty in imperfection and joy in the tiniest of details.

Philippa is offering a six week Conscious Creativity course similar to the one I took several years ago as part of a whole series of things to help fund an upcoming book. And much to my surprise and delight....Philippa has gifted me a spot in the class. It starts Monday....as in tomorrow!

I already had a busy month ahead...but why wouldn't I take advantage of this generous offer and wonderful opportunity....most things can wait.  Of course I will make a donation to Philippa's book project....and I am tickled to have the chance to learn from her again. 

The rest of April is going to be a wild ride....and I'll be taking you along for some of it!

The lesson this week is titled "On Looking, Seeing, Noticing and Perceiving..."

By the way...

Dotty let me know that the beautiful thread wall from yesterday's post belongs to Kathie Sever.  And article about her  beautiful machine embroidery can be found here.

Thanks Dotty!

Comforts of Home

Today has been a little challenging....and somewhat emotional... but how can a day not be improved when this much color lands on your phone screen.  

Dotty sent the photo...and I have no idea where she got it. But THANK YOU to Dotty and the  artist who took the photo!  

Paul and I have parked ourselves at the public library in Falmouth for a little while this afternoon.  It's such a beautiful space...with most of the comforts of home including power, heat, and internet.  I'm hoping ours will be restored soon...but in the meantime...we're doing just fine.  

It's hard to do art with gloves on....but I'm dreaming and scheming in my head all the time. 

I hope there is color....and joy in your day....and that you have all the comforts of home.....even it it's not at home.   

Joy in the Storm

The greenhouse where Becky works in the summer posted this a week or so ago....and it made me chuckle.  Today seems like the perfect day to share it here.  

We had a pretty big snow storm yesterday....wet heavy snow starting late Wednesday night and all day Thursday.  Our power....along with thousands more in the area went out yesterday morning and is still out as I write this.

Paul and I are at Margie's getting showers and warming up as we take advantage of her power. Here we go again!  

But it's a mixed blessing....and I am finding joy in the storm.   

Because of the storm....there was a cancellation and I was able to have a medical procedure that I might not have been able to have until at least June.  

I jumped at the chance and spent yesterday and night at the hospital....and all is well.  Really.  All is well.  

And I am so grateful to our friend Jay...who delivered us to to the hospital in his truck. It was a mess yesterday morning!

So Paul and I will bundle up....and settle in for the evening with our headlamps and books tonight and find joy in the storm.  

Rainbow Day!

I will be out of the house all day tomorrow Thursday, April 4th, so I've decided to take a day off from posting.  In the whole 9 years I've only taken a few days off....so I know it will feel strange from my end.  I've wondered recently about pulling back some....and I think I'll know when that time is right.  I don't think I'm there yet....so I'll be back to my routine again for a Friday evening post.  

"Try to be A Rainbow in someone's cloud."  Maya Angelou

Becky sent this image to me this morning...who knew there was such a thing.  I looked it up...and yes...it's actually a thing! Today is National Find a Rainbow Day!

Now I know!

I found a rainbow in my photos I have been meaning to share. Emily, Becky's daughter, and my goddaughter, made this fabulous cake for her son Max's first birthday last week.

I had given Max the slug when he was born....and he seems to have bonded with it.....so Emily made him a slug birthday cake.  I'm pretty sure it's one of a kind....but so is Emily!  

Happy rainbow Day! 🌈

Say Something!

I'm so excited that the scilla I watch along one of our walking routes every year is just starting to show its colors.  

In a few days it will be covered with snow....but it will melt soon enough and I'll be visiting this yard again again to watch the progress. Because IT....will soon be covered in beautiful blooms rather than snow. 

If you see something say something.....that's how the saying goes.  But what I am trying to also do more and more is if I feel something....say something.  It feels good to compliment someone on something we see....but it also feels good to thank someone and express gratitude for something that makes us feel good....or was meaningful to us.  

I wrote Wendy Solganik, the instructor for the Watercolor for Relaxation course, and thanked her for the course.  I included what I wrote on an Instagram post where I had a posted a little video of my journey through her course. You can see that video here:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C4xqULtrVUr/

And much to my surprise....Becky alerted me that my Instagram writeup was published in Wendy's last newsletter including one of my pieces as she continues to promote her class.

And another course that was at the time time for me was way back in 2017 when I took the life changing Conscious Creativity course with Philippa Stanton.  

Phillippa is offering a version of it again....and recently used part of my testimonial from back then for her advertising now.  

It feels good to say something!

Time at the Table

We have another storm coming...but for now I'm enjoying signs of spring!

And I saw my first bee!

Sally was here all afternoon for Time at the Table!  It was fun working one on one.....she's interested in everything.  Ida will come back on her own when Sally is away on vacation.  There's still so much to explore!

Sally mixed her own colors and worked on a small gelli plate with hand cut stencils. It was all about layers....and then embellishing with paint pens. 

We packed A LOT in and we even tried something I've never done before. We had a blast!