Everyday Notions {Sharing} and {Emptiness}

These are the collages I made as part of the first exercise for the Everyday Notions Challenge. The items in the collages are things that passed through my hands for the first time on that day. Many of the sqares below are from vintage cookbooks and images from old patterns that I discovered that day at a church rummage sale. The trim and the bird above are from an estate sale and were in my daily box I shared here. Lots of fun stuff and what a wonderfully relaxing time I had putting them all together to tell the story of that day. I added quotes I wrote out on vintage ledger paper from the book Foolsgold that really spoke to me on that day.

Both collages above are available in my etsy shop, since part of this challenge for me is making art and then sending it off into the world.

It's been so fun to see the collages that others have posted on their blogs for this challenge: here, here, and here. Join in anytime! I got into the mode of using squares after I had been working on my Bits and Pieces Collage for Jenny's swap. Here's a peek below at the collage I'm making for Tammie. She said she was into red and turquoise lately, so I took on the challenge. What fun bold colors to work with!

So I said that I was going to post an exercise for the challenge on Wednesday's and Saturday's. First off, if you can't get a hold of the book Foolsgold, don't worry about it. I will be explaining as much as you need to know for the exercises here on my blog.

My thoughts for today are on emptiness. In the book, Susan talks about the creative being spawned from emptiness.

"Giving over to silence, waiting, allowing, listening....In the emptiness we might get an inkling- as if something lights up and twinkles- of how we'll begin to form and open to who we're becoming, who we most truly are. We need to leave space both for what we'll discover and what will emerge to discover us."

Notice what is overfull in your world. Bookshelves? Your head? Empty a day on your calender, a drawer in your bedroom, a shelf in your refrigerator, to make room for something new. "For as long as you want, leave everything empty. Soon you'll see the whole world makes offerings."

I'm going to give this a try. Let me know how it works for you.

I'll be back later this weekend with more food for thought.