Here we are entering the month of November. I'm glad to be turning this calendar page. October was filled with me trying to do things I 'used' to do and giving up on them half completed. Grrrr! After my last 'stuff it in a box and forget about it doll' I realized that I still need/want the safety and joy of 'box lid art'.
At this point in my life I'm not pushing myself to continue working on something I don't enjoy anymore, just to say 'I can do it' *smile*.
Over my creative life I have tried many, many things. Some have been successful (to my eye), others not so much. Some went the way of the weekly trash pick up and others I still have sitting here in my studio, cheering me on. For now I'm ready to stay on my 'boxed' in path.
As for the month of October, I so enjoyed being outside. Crispy cool mornings, slightly warmer, sunny afternoons. Heaven is: shuffling through the dried leaves while I walk the roads of our community; watching huge amounts of rain outside my studio window; standing in the sunshine knowing that soon I'll be wedded to our heater; and lastly letting myself start a project - stop it in mid stride - and not feel guilty. "All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on."- Havelock Ellis
Here it is, October - one of my favorite months of the year. I am getting 'comfortable' in my new self. My box lid art is moving ahead -- slowly but steadily -- much like a snail moves. But that's all right, that's just me these days.
I find I like these long, stay-at-home days. Curled up with a good book, I savor small squares of dark chocolate and enjoy cups of hot tea. I mustn't forget the most important thing -- a bit of art inspiration each day.
"Let thy step be slow and steady, that thou stumble not." Tokugawa Leyasu
I've missed you! My life has taken a bit of a side road over the past few months while I coped with health problems. Oh how invincible we feel until we aren't! I am definitely in the snail mode - moving slowly and hiding in my shell at times. Thanks to all of you who have contacted me privately, I love your emails.
Scattered in here you can see my 'rehabilitation' projects. Once home from the hospital I knew I needed to create. I also knew that I couldn't/wouldn't take on any long and laborious tasks. Thus came 'box lid art'! I had a bunch of purchased boxes on hand and going through my stash (another good recovery project) I found all manner of fun things that I could use.
Two mindsets have gotten me through all this 'upheaval' -- acceptance and gratitude. I thank all of you for 'being' there - your kind words have given me the strength to get back to blogging. " A calm mind brings inner strength and confidence that's very important for good health." - Dalai Lama
Its time for me to take a little vacation from my blog. A series of events, both medical and clerical have bombarded me lately and I need some quiet time. Time to move slowly and do what I have to do, time to recover from the vagaries of life, if you will. I thank you in advance for your patience and for all the lovely friendships I've made through this blog. I hope to be back at it this coming Fall. Have a wonderfully creative Summer. A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it. - Robert Orben
Recently our "Inspired Arts" group took on a challenge. We were given a piece of this fabric (although it was white with black printing when it was passed out I quickly stuck it in a cup of tea) *smile*.
Our instructions were to use some or all of this fabric and to use it in some form that you usually work in. Uh-0h!! Because I was deeply involved in "The Owl Project" I didn't want to stop that, plus I had no idea how this fabric could be used with punch needle.
As I read the words on the fabric, an idea came to me. And so I fashioned "A Box of Good Intentions" using the fabric attached to paper tags that I made. Voila!!!
"We shall act with good intentions, but at times we will be wrong. When we are, let us admit it and try to right the situation." - Joe Peterno
