creating and exploring on the weekend

The weather is better, in the 40s and the snow is melting.  I've spent the weekend journaling, creating journals, and exploring Pinterest.  I haven't pinned anything yet, but have wandered around from color to carnivals, from abandoned decay to childhood toys to clothing styles to paranormal to vintage photos.

I'm using Evernote to clip some pictures and articles for idea generation, and am amazed at how much I can find to really look at.  There's a lot that doesn't register or that I'm not interested in, but quite often I am struck by a scene or a color combination and can save it to really examine it and think about it later.

it's not all pleasant - scenes from wars, Chernobyl, Victorian memento mori images... but it is a way for me to learn.  Many times I go to the original website for the pinned image and can read articles or blogs.  I even discovered a couple of new  to me  musicians and singers.

Here's the fabric journals I made, one for a friend and two for me - composition book covers from a pattern at this etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuiltersCrib  It was fun to do using some of my leftover hand dyed fabric, and I found that "vintage" composition books are bigger than ones from the dollar store so i had to adjust the pattern.

I also used up some of the paper bags and old notebooks and vintage paper and cardboard I've been saving, to make paper journals.

Did you know that on the bottom of some paper bags, you can see the name of the person who made it?  Really interesting.  I am not sure where I will find time to write in all of these, but recycling all that stuff, a large box of it, into something useful feels good.

Next I am going to make a color wheel using crayon shades, for my color journal, and overdye a jacket for a friend.  I love weekends!

snowstorm's over for now

This storm was a heavy snowfall, we even paid to have the driveway plowed since Keith and Kyle wouldn't be able to shovel it all.  I got to leave early yesterday, and took today off, so after stopping on the way home for a few groceries and bird food I was glad to be safe inside.  The birdies were glad for the food, we have had the usual finches, juncos, tufted titmouses, or is that titmice, and chickadees.  We have an occasional cardinal and blue jay, and a few mourning doves just hanging out.  Today we even had a woodpecker.

I spent time cleaning out books to donate, and then I sorted my paints into bins, by color.  I am so excited to have found a bunch of Golden paints that I didn't even realize I had!  I can't always afford to buy them so this is just wonderful to have the supplies.  The snowstorm before this one, I cleaned out and organized all of my papers - the cardstock, typing paper, accounting paper, music paper, and more, that I use in journaling and mixed media.  I get a lot of them at this very junky flea market in Ravena, NY.  I always find something interesting there and it isn't very expensive either.

I have also had fun wandering around Pinterest, first for art journals, then fiber or fibre art, then textile art, and art quilts... I have found so many things for inspiration and colors.  I seem to either choose very bright, colorful things or very neutral white, tan, off white and then denim or indigo blue things.  Have found some great quotes too.  I am starting to feel like I maybe want to create something, I just don't know what.  It's been a strange few months without a desire to create.  And I still sometimes wonder if it is ok to just be who and what and where I am...

I haven't taken many pictures lately, but will try to post some eventually, once I've got something to show.

the possibilities are endless!

I am good at making lists.  I am good at planning.  I am not so good at doing.  I find that sometimes I am overwhelmed at how many choices there are:

• books to read, 
• free books to download, 
• projects to start, continue or even finish
• blogs to read, 
• patterns to try
• journal entries to write
• poems to revise
• cupboards and shelves to clean, 
• recipes to download and cook, 
• places to visit... 

and that's just my personal stuff, not counting work or family.

It's great to have these possibilities, but I am realizing that I need to be responsible and actually do things.  In the last several weeks I have decided that I want to get back to journaling, create a color journal, continue organizing my stuff, eat healthy, sew some clothes for me, work on some art projects...  the list is quite long and my free time is very finite.  This three day weekend I am setting some goals that I believe I can accomplish:

• I am sorting my pencils and pens and markers into color families.
• I am sorting my rubber stamps into those I absolutely love and those I use occasionally.
• I am putting all of my magazine clippings and paper pieces into one large box.
• I am gathering all of my other paper working tools into boxes.  

I'll see how I do!