Embellished Bag
The Human Pinball gave me this bag a couple years ago. I have nearly worn it out. I love it. What is not to love? Deep turquoise patent leather!
Here is what you do:
1. Tear strips of the length of the fabric about 1 1/2" wide. 2. Knot one end of a strip around the base of one handle/strap. Leave a 4-5" tail of fabric. Tightly wrap strip around handle. Put a piece of double stick tape on the handle every couple inches to help keep the fabric strips from shifting.
3. Knot the end of the fabric strip at the final end of the handle. Trim the tail to the same length as the first end. Repeat for second handle.
Here it is, all ready for another couple years of life.
Take your Vitamin C!
Picking a Color Palette
So, considering we are doing a women's shelter, I wanted something a bit feminine, but not overtly so.
I don't feel the need to be super trendy in room design, but if you keep to the trends somewhat, it makes it easier to buy things to go in the room. Besides, everyone looks better in a pink room. Not kidding. Pink also evokes a feeling of unconditional love and nurturing...according to color psychologists. That seems a good color for a shelter where abused women live.
We will not be painting the walls pink, but we will use it as an accent. Maybe pink tablecloths, something like that. Our color palette is on the left side of the top photo. We will paint the walls in the color range of the bottom four color chips. Soothing, calming.
Take your Vitamin P!
Where will you use pink today?
Art in the Park
Maybe it is the economy here, maybe it just gets harder and harder for artists. I don't know. There was less art than normal, more craft and more ... stuff. You know that weird stuff like having your kid's name put into a book or a CD? Jewelry seems to still be big. I would guess jewelry booths were at least 50% of the show. And most of them were mediocre to really boring.
But, I did see a couple things I thought were nicely done and cute!
Next weekend, the huge art fairs in Ann Arbor. I am really interested now to see if they are similar in make up.
Take your Vitamin C!
Every Story Has a Bracelet
I tend to make bracelets to go with my stories. Some people do it the other way around. But, almost every one of my 2346345232 bracelets reminds me of a story.
Last summer on my mission trip to Germany, we had a day in France. We visited a flea market and you can imagine how exciting that was for me. Most of the rest of the group was bored silly and only allowed me one hour. So, you can also imagine the adrenaline coursing through me as I tried to see everything in one hour. I found a few things I could not live without, this old watch being one. I had to haggle with the vendor, but I took it home.
You can easily make one like it, even if you don't have a watch from France. Maybe you have an old watch from your Grandma or just a cool vintage piece. When I wear it, it always gets comments.
This bracelet is a story about lampwork beadmaking. I have remade this bracelet a couple times, it is on its third incarnation. I wish I had pics of the first two versions...and then again, I remade them for a reason. I love the bracelet, love the dangles, and love the cute Stephanie Olin silver charms. But, I have not always loved the beads that I made that were a part of this bracelet. So, I made new beads with new skills, took the bracelet apart and remade it to look better. It was good to see that my lampworking skills were finding some improvement along the way.
Even Bible stories have bracelets at my house. After doing a study of the story of Joshua, I made this bracelet to remind me of it. In Joshua's day, the Israelites made monuments to things that they learned and did not want to forget. Same for me, but in bracelet form. In Joshua chapter 4, the Israelites have just crossed into the Promised Land and Joshua sets up a monument of 12 stones.
And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”
When I wear my bracelet, I think about that.
This is a story about procrastinating. One night I had a pile of homework to do and I really wanted to watch "So You Think You Can Dance." I could not justify just watching TV when I should be doing homework, so I got out this pile of Barbie shoes that had just come in the mail. I did eventually get the bracelet published in Bead Unique magazine, so the procrastination was justified as work. And, not to worry, I got an A in the class. Sometimes, when your brain is screaming for a break, you need to listen.
It is almost art fair time. I feel blessed to live in a place where I have quick access to two of the best art fairs in the country. I have been to several all around the USA, so I can make that statement. I don't buy, I go for the inspiration...to see what is trendy, to see what kinds of materials are being used and how. Stuff like that. The last time, I went to the Ann Arbor art fairs, (yes, there are more than one at the same time in the same place) it was all about peace signs. On everything. Well, I am a child of the 70s, and I am hip to the peace sign. I feel it is my right to rock a peace sign, or 50, so I came home and made this.
Do your stories have artwork?
Take your Vitamin C!
Gate Inspiration
When I go for my walk in the morning, if the sun is shining, I make it this far down the road, and the good Lord is willing and the creek don't rise, I have walked about a mile and a half. And that means after I walk back home, I have done 3 miles.
Weirdly, this one shadow on the sidewalk inspires me to keep going so I can see it. I just really like it. Some days I stop and look at it....if nobody is outside or driving by to think I am nuts.
Now, if the sun is not shining, all bets are off and I might be a slacker and not go that far.
Every time I walk by it, I think it is such a great pattern, and I should use it for something. I just have not figured out what, yet. Any ideas?
Give me some Vitamin C!
Vitamin F
My very own Vitamin F, Barbara East, sent this along. It is a good reminder to find balance between alone time and friends.
My Vitamin F"
Why do I have a variety of friends who are all different in character?
Some of them can be considered marginal even.
How do I get on with them all?
I think that each one helps to bring out a "different" part of me.. .
With one of them I am a polite, good person.
I joke with another friend.
I sit down and talk about serious matters with one of them.
With another I giggle at every silly thing.
I have my tea with one.
And dance with another.
I listen to one friend's problems and give her advice
Then I listen to another advising me.
They are all like pieces of a jigsaw,
When completed they form a treasure box.
A treasure of friends!
They are my friends who understand me better than myself,
who support me through good days and bad days.
They are like colorful anti-depressants that I take on different days.
Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health.
Dr. Oz calls them Vitamins F (from Friends) and counts the benefits of friends to our well being.
Research shows that people in strong social circles have less risk of depression
and terminal strokes. If you take Vitamin F constantly you can be up to 20 years younger
than your real age. The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your tense moments
it decreases the chance of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50 %.
I am so happy that I have a stock of Vitamins F!
In summary we should value our friends and keep in touch with them.
We should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together, not forgetting
to open our mouths big to swallow the floating vitamins F !!!!
Take your Vitamin F, get younger!
Weekend Variety
I spent the holiday weekend in the basement where it was cool and creative. Working on several different things, my creative ADD was satisfied.
First, I finished my canvas that I started during collage class last week. I have been singing this song in my head and it came out here on the canvas. Anyone know the song? When I started this canvas, I was ready to pitch it. I had done too much dark brown on it and it was heavy looking. But, I worked and re-worked and I am now happy with it. It is not in my happiest color palette, but it is good to break out and do something a little different.
Next. Glitter!
Take your Vitamin C!
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