• Art - Blog - Creativity

    Sounds like Autumn

    I haven’t worked in any of my art journals in quite some time. I’ve been kind of obsessed with sewing lately. But today I was inspired when I saw the new theme of Autumn over at Art Journal Journey.

    sounds like autumn art journal page

    When I think of Autumn, the rustle and crunch of leaves comes to mind. Memories of shuffling my feet through the leaves alongside the road and jumping into piles of raked leaves abound.

    sounds like autumn art journal page

    Warm colors and abundant texture dominate the landscape.

    sounds like autumn art journal page

     I love this kind of page…  I used to be afraid of white spaces. Now I embrace them on my pages. Negative space can be quite powerful.

    Art Journal Journey
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    A second look: Friendship

    Today I’d like to share a second look at an assemblage I created a couple years ago.  This is one of those pieces that I keep thinking I’m going to give as a gift or list in my etsy store but I just can’t seem to get myself to do it.  In fact, it’s currently sitting right beside me on my desk.

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    Perhaps I need to make another similar piece so I can let go of this one.

    Take a look….

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    6/4/2014

    I spent some time on YouTube last week….likely sent there from Pinterest.  (See why I try and stay away from the screens…I get lost…sidetracked…and waste oodles of time.)  I often like watching “fast forwards” of journal pages, collage and painting. I’m most interested in seeing how people go from blank page to competed project. Not the particular products they use. Not to emulate what they did.  Just the process. The stumbles.  The bad choices of color or image and how they kept going and turned it into something amazing…or not.

     I often search out new unique ideas in an effort to continue to use the stacks of book pages I’ve torn from my journals and salvaged books. Since I’d been using some paper flowers on my cards and other projects recently, I thought I should potentially make them from book pages myself.  I found a rolled rose tutorial. The technique is very well explained yet I immediately deviated a bit from what she said. I’m not big on following the rules and directions. I prefer to make it up as I go along. 20140603_5026This first one is made mostly like the tutorial states…so it’s a tightly rolled flower.

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    These are more my own style and lay much flatter…more useful in a variety of projects.

    But the ones used in the project below are my first blossoms. I just had to see how some spray mists would look on them. Gorgeous! Now what…20140601_4994Well…I had picked up a bunch of embroidery hoops at a garage sale a couple weeks ago to add to my ever growing collection. I have a thing for circles. I can’t seem to pass them up. This hoop happened to roll onto my work surface and land on some glimmer mist splattered paper. The idea I had seen on YouTube popped into my head. An embroidery hoop as a frame. Of course, that video used 3 hoops and was a wall hanging scrapbook layout. Like I said…I use videos as inspiration…not copy.20140601_4995It’s a little bit vintage… a little bit shabby chic…and a whole lotta me. 😉

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    Thanks for joining me today for Second on the 2nd.

  • Blog

    T Tuesday: Ryder Cup edition

    Welcome to T stands for Tuesday! This week is an odd for for me… My kids have barely started school and now they are off for a week due to the Ryder Cup which is being held smack in the middle of our school district. When I first heard about this about 2 years ago I was like….

    really

    Now that I know more about it I realize that having this event really is going to disrupt things and having school in the midst of an estimated 250,000 additional people isn’t really going to work.  Leaving town, like so many families we know, just wasn’t going to work for our family this week due to both work and sports. Instead we are going to treat this time like a stay-cation. as much as possible between obligations.

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    Mini-me snapped this photo after a volleyball game. We didn’t go to the shops but heard from those who went that it was pretty amazing what has been built on the golf course grounds. It’s like a small city they said. The celebrity cup starts today I believe and the real competition begins on Thursday.

    Yesterday Mini-me and BFF went to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. It’s over 100 years old. Of course there have been many changes and more humane treatment for the animals. I was telling the girls about what it was like 40 years ago when I was a child…just the changes that have about since then are amazing.

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    The flamingos were nearly orange instead of pink which was odd to me but beautiful anyway.

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    Speaking of orange…isn’t he gorgeous! I can’t even begin to count how many crumby shots I took before getting this one.

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    The giraffes always make me smile. Can you see the one in the background stretching his tongue out to grab a leaf?

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    The primate building is always so much fun. These two sat hugging each other the entire time we were in there. They’d adjust a bit but just sat there snuggled. Made me say AWWW more than once.

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    This guy made me think of a teenager on a day off…living a life of leisure.

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    But this one was my favorite with his awesome mustache.

     Since the zoo is clear on the other side of the Twin Cities from our house, I’m not familiar with any restaurants or even fast food in that area. The girls and I decided to eat at the zoo cafe…super expensive for what we got and totally not worth it. It was super busy…captive audience I’m sure.

    We were going to go into the conservatory next to see the gorgeous flowers…

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    but then we realized that both girls had food and drink with them which is a big no-no. We walked around the exterior while they tried to finish.

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    This building has changed very little if at all since I was a kid. I remember going there after church some times and marveling at the warmth inside the building and beautiful flowers in the middle of winter.

    I love being able to share places I explored as a child with my kids. This little day trip made me want to do more of them.

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    On our way home Mini-me snapped a couple of photos of the new Vikings stadium in the heart of Minneapolis.

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    It was fun to see from the freeway but now I definitely want to see it up close and personal.

    Today I’m not sure that we’ll get out for any “day trip”. Lots on the plate for today…an appt, volleyball match and work will keep everyone busy until past dinner time today.

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    So I’m starting the day with a good breakfast.

    What are you doing today?