Last Night When I Got Home

I found myself thinking . . .

 

. . . a house in the suburbs—you know the kind with an attached garage—would be kind of nice.

 

especially when I’ve got a load of these, no kids at home to help and it’s raining.

 

Then I look out the passenger window and see this and I think, so what’s a little rain?

 

Then I thought about what my big plans for the evening included and I relaxed even more.

I have yet to get caught-up in Downton Abbey, but fully intend to do so (thanks to the loan of the first two seasons from my friend, Kimberly).  I thought I’d pop in a DVD and peruse the new issues of Mingle and Somerset Life.

I was able to achieve part of that plan.  I popped-in the DVD and started the first episode (I’m hooked, by-the-by), then remembered I promised Kendall I would get her the information she needs to post some future Artful Origins workshops.  So, I left the magazines on the ottoman and picked-up the laptop instead.

I was able to pull-together two workshops and watch two episodes of Downton Abbey.  Not quite as I planned, but I was able to check something off of the “to do” list, so sleep came a little easier.

Here’s a sampling of what we will be creating:

Two Birds of a Feather plates

This workshop will be on Tuesday, April 2nd at 6:30 a.m.

 

The other one I pulled together is:

flowers for flip flops

This workshop will be on Sunday, April 30th at 2 p.m.  It will be an early Mother’s Day celebration of sorts.  So, sign-up with your daughter, your friend or come by yourself—we will have lots of fun and we make these vintage inspired embellishments for a pair of basic flip flops.

For more information on these and other workshops, please visit our blog at Artful Origins.

Thanks, as always, for your indulgence!

Creating a Creativity Journal

I am feeling compelled to start a creativity journal.  I envision a few different types of journals, but I am stuck even before I begin.

I have been keeping a mini-journal of sorts in my scheduling calendar.  I’ve been writing notes about where we’ve been, what we did, who we saw, but (other than the initial creation of my journal-style calendar) it’s not very creative.  I think I’ll step-up the game and start including more art and mixed-media components, but I also feel like I want to do more.

Perhaps it is because I’ve been spending more time with my Stampington & Company magazines.  Perhaps it is because I am face-to-face with the creative inspiration of Kimberly’s art e-v-e-r-y day; plus, her inventory of ephemera, paints and gesso tempting me e-v-e-r-y day.  (I don’t even know why I want gesso or what I’d do with it if I had some, but want it, I do!)  Perhaps it’s because I’ve stepped-up my creativity game and I feel overwhelmed by all of my ideas and need to make a record of them. 

The other day I talked with a friend about the possibility of leading an art journaling class—more like an ongoing workshop—as a spirituality exercise.  (Is “exercise” the right word?)  But who am I to lead a spirituality “work-out workshop” when I can’t even get started on my own?  And why do I feel a spirituality journal sounds so contrived?

{And, here’s the real rub (as if I haven’t brought-up enough issues)—I am not an artist.  I know, I know—I’m not suppose to worry about that—I’m just suppose to create.  But I really, really want it to be cool and pretty-ish.  I want to look at it and be proud . . . I’m sounding really self-absorbed . . . I’ll be quiet now.}

So, here is my question for you . . . do you do this type of journaling?  If so, how did you get started?  Which media do you utilize—paint, markers, gesso?   Do you also write in your art journal?

I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for your indulgence.

Somerset Studio—The Art of Paper and Mixed Media

People are often commenting that they think it would be so much fun to have a shop like mine—especially when it comes to buying the inventory. 
They’re right.
But one of the more difficult decisions we have to make is when to let stuff go.  Sometimes, more often than I care to really consider, I buy stuff that just doesn’t resonate with others they way it did with me.  That is when I have to decide to put it on sale and/or stop re-ordering. 
I thought, in a moment of  “I need to cut-back in a few areas,” that I would look a the sales of my Stampington publications—some, honestly, move slower than others.  So I did what any responsible retailer would do—I looked at what was left on the shelf.
I only took a quick glance at the shelf and my decision was made, I would have to cut Somerset Studio.  I have to admit . . . it’s been months since I’ve even taken one home to peruse.  In fact, the real reason I carry this one is because my sister, Kendall asked me to stock it.
Wait a minute . . . you mean the sister, Kendall, that actually finds inspiration and the desire to create art—trying new techniques and exploring new media—that sister, Kendall???
Oh, alright, I’ll take the last issue home and . . .

. . . seriously?  Who thought it was a good idea to discontinue this fabulous magazine?   well, scratch that idea—we’re keeping it!


I flipped kind-of-right of-center and I was hooked!   The page I flipped to was part of the inspired by faith feature by Mary Beth Shaw.  It was a story about an artist who starts with paint by numbers kits and then proceeds to alter them in her own manner.

 
Then I was drawn to the Mèlange pages in the center; all I can think is “how do they just give this a away?”  They are free for the consumer to use in their own mixed media projects.  You can copy and manipulate it or just use it as you find it.



The Expressions pages were very inspiring.   There were a few to which I personally connected, but the others, I just enjoyed exploring the creativity of fellow readers.

In each issue, they provide information about how you can be included in future publications.  Their upcoming themes for reader submissions include Storybook Magic, Haunted and a Celebration of Winter.  Pick-up a current issue for more details.  Don’t forget to peruse Creative Corner while you’re here—Kimberly keeps it stocked with all of you mixed-media needs.
What will you create?
Thanks for your indulgence,

PS—stay tuned to Artful Origins for our creative workshops—in fact, I will be offering one inspired by one of the articles I just read!

Stampington & Company Obsession

My obsession with Stampington & Company continues with Somerset Life.  This isn’t my first issue of Somerset Life—oh no, I’ve already got several in my stacks.  (By the way, these magazines have their own separate “piles.”  They don’t join the slick cover magazines—the paper stock they use for these publications provides the tactile reason for their distinct segregation—their content, however, is the deciding factor.)

I enjoy these magazines so much, I started carrying a selection of Stampington & Company publications at the shop—so I don’t have to chase off across town to get them.  There is also the added bonus of introducing my customers to Where Women Create, Artful Blogging, Somerset Studio, Where Women Cook, Mingle and Somerset Holidays.

The only problem problems I find with these magazines is are:

(1)  I am so inspired, but I rarely find the time to attempt the things I find; and,

(2)  I feel completely inadequate—usually within just a few words into each article.

Mind you—I don’t allow either of these issues to prevent me from consuming each—cover-to-cover—like a starving child. Further, these issues are not, fundamentally, problems with the publications—I may be projecting . . . just a little.

In this issue (Oct/Nov/Dec 2011), I was particularly engrossed by the article Exploring Collaboration by Alexandra Cave.  She writes of her solution to desiring a few months off from her blog to spend with her newborn.  She solicited help from her readers by asking them to be a guest blogger on her blog.  You’ll be inspired by her enthusiasm and desire to continue these exchanges and explorations.  Visit her blog here.

There are many more articles, but this one truly opened my eyes to how many gifted and generous people are out there and all within reach, thanks to the blogosphere. 

I hope you pick-up a copy for your own collection.

(click on the table of contents above to view)

Thanks for your indulgence,