Tribute to My Mother

For one of my art projects, I started with a red and white background made from using a gelli plate. There was a slightly elongated light white area which, somehow, reminded me of a picture of my mother taken shortly a…fter I was born. I added the cut out picture of her standing next to the radio, a piece of furniture everyone had in their homes at the time (pre TV) and then added some stenciled flowers in white gesso. I later added this SoulCollage piece to my moleskin art journal for Document Life Project.   I also used this as a large  insert covering a few pockets for Project Life.  Of course, journaling about my memories of her and what I learned from her and have carried within to this day are part of both the Document Life Art Journal and Project Life album.

Homemade Greeting Cards

I have really enjoyed making greeting cards for all occasions for loved ones.  As I cut and paste, color and paint, create and plan, I further think of the person and my gratitude for he/she being in my life.

Embellishments are added, along with washi tape, which give dimension and interest to the card.  Some cards are made for my grandchildren and use their interests as a base.  In this card the picture part of a postcard from the US post office provided a perfect image complete with drawn in buildings and vehicle washi tape as the traffic below for a young grandson.

This was for a young granddaughter complete with bareback rider with recipient’s face pasted on, along with circus images and circus washi.

From the remarks received, the recipients appreciate the extra thought that goes into making  a card especially for them.  I also use my scans of the completed cards to put into Project Life albums to further commemorate their birthdays, anniversaries, new births, congratulations, etc.

Washi warms up a snowy day

This picture exemplifies how washi tape can warm up a snowy day – both visually and by using it to create while it is cold outside.  Just the right touch of color inside against the whites and grays outside.

I appreciate a cozy and creative day doing Project Life albums!

 

Washi Tape Ornaments

This year I made washi tape ornaments for everyone, a different design tape and patterns for each.  This was an easy and fun way to personalize presents and let people know I’m thinking of them and appreciate them.  Here is a sampling of some of the possibilities:

The base was a thin wooden tree or star shape from Hobby Lobby then covered with various designs of washi tape. The children received the more interesting shaped Santa and reindeer going over rooftops at night.  On the back of each I clipped a piece from a LOVE tape and added the year.

These pictures then became Project Life cards in my album along with a little explanation on another journaling card.  Fun, colorful, easy, expressing creativity in a small way for showing my gratitude for others.

Combined Project Life & SoulCollage

This is another example of where I have combined making a SoulCollage card into a Project Life 4×6 card.  I do this frequently as I can then keep track of what I am creating and my thoughts on the “I Am the One Who” reflections about the card in one place.

First comes the making of the collage card, using either digital Pinterest images or photos or magazine pictures or a combination of all.  (See previous post for the card)  Words may or may not be included.

Then I fill in the “I Am the One Who” sheets I have on the  computer to express what the card is saying to me.  Frequently during this process, new  ideas or patterns appear from the unconscious regarding the topic.

I then print out both items to fit  into my Project Life album so I can further reflect on the collage, the writing and place it all in context of what else is happening in my life at that time.  Or I make a Project Life card reflecting the process with a synopsis of the “I Am the One who” aspects.

All comes together in appreciating the healing wholeness and holiness.

Wounded Child Transformation

Years ago I did a Wounded Child SoulCollage card but have not been able to find it.  Recently, events inspired me to do another when I found one of the pictures I had used on the first SoulCollage card and saw a series of related documentaries.

I Am the One Who came into this life wounded from past lives; was conceived, gestated and lived early years in an atmosphere of a wounded World War II world; was subjected to the woundings from wounded people around me.  I Am the One Who grew up wounded even though there were many moments the Divine Child manifested: both potentials that  could move positive or negative.  I want you to recognize your processing which helped you to transform beyond that Wounded Child even while appreciating and honoring her.   Remember: we are all struggling souls.  I give you the capacity  to forgive where necessary, both others and yourself.

I have used this card in my Project Life album to commemorate my further healing of my Inner Child.

‘Joyful’ Journal Page

Someone I know was trying to find some joy in her life so I created this collage using various images gathered from various places, and added washi tape for a finishing border:

She pinned it up on her cork-board in her nursing home room so she could see it and be reminded of the things in her life she could still be grateful for and joyful about.  Many thanks to everyone whose work contributed to someone’s joy.  The process enhanced my life as well as hers.

A Real Snake in the Garden

Imagine my surprise, that after posting about a handmade knitted snake and a real experience about a snake years ago, I go outside and mow a bit then come back inside.  Later, I go out again and find a snake about 4 feet long by the mower.   It allows me to go back into the house and get my camera to get some pictures.   When it starts to move away going down the hill, I go up on the deck to keep it moving in that direction. 

A real snake in the garden.  Not that it is so unusual  (mostly turtles are seen roaming) but to happen on the same day I posted about a knitted snake is interesting.  I took the pictures and made them into another 6×10 insert for my Project Life album along with a section relating the details of the story.   I enjoy using Project Life to combine journaling with pictures to tell a more complete story.

 

May 17, 2013

As I watched the snake, I was aware of how graceful it moved, like ripples in the water.  The scales barely moved yet there was a pattern of motion , and I wondered if the snake could feel that as they propelled him along.  Or was it all so natural and familiar that he didn’t notice at all, or appreciate his own grace and beauty. 

Often we are unaware of the impact we make on others and of our own type of beauty.

 

 

Happiness is…

This weeks Top 10 on Tuesday link party list from Shabby Blogs presents the question of what makes us happy. 

ShabbyBlogs Tuesday Ten

It is hard to stop at only 10 items, but that is what was asked for.  Again, I was able to make it into a card that I can use for my Project Life album.

How lucky we are regardless of what our struggles may be.

Visual Nourishment

One of the reasons I so like Pinterest is the Visual Nourishment it provides me when I look at the pages of either my boards (here is a sample) 

or the boards of others.  It almost doesn’t matter what the topic is – the visuals are wonderful and are very important to a visual person such as myself.   So as you are looking at the pins others have put on their boards that you follow either because you are interested in the topic  or just like to look at a topic, you get to choose which pins you want to put onto your boards.

 One of the choices you make is what to name your boards.  Most do  it by nouns: turtles, gardens, dance,  flowers, labyrinths, mandalas, art journals, quotes, childhood memories, etc. 

For some reason I tend to think in patterns and so named many boards for a theme that occurs in many different areas but all sharing the same trait, so turtles and gardening are on my Healing Haven board, the wonders of people’s faces and diversity of cultures are on Faces of Wisdom and Faces of the World boards, Project Life pages people have completed or cards available for printing are included in the Project Life board, while mandalas, labyrinths and meditation/spiritual pins are all on my Journey to the Center board.  

I’ll be more specific about the boards on a follow-up post and also include how the pins assist me in doing my Project Life albums.