Scrappin' Memories

What a wonderful way to count down to the new year. I got together with my sister and my friend last night and scrapped. Here are a few layouts that I finished. I got several more almost done. Just need to print out some more pictures for them. It was so nice to shop and scrap and chat and shop some more! It's always inspiring to work on projects with others. My sister and I only see each other a few times a year so it's always a treat to have some time with her away from the wee ones doing something that we both enjoy. I love that these layouts are simple. When I make custom layouts for people I tend to put a lot more "stuff" on them. Partly because I'm not working with pictures, so I have to compensate. For my own layouts I like to focus on the pictures and of course I love patterned paper! The Daisy D's paper for the pointsettia pictures above is so pretty. I was just checking to make sure that link worked and Daisy D's has a new line of paper called Attic Heirlooms. YUMMY...is all I can say!!! Lovin' it:)

The other big project going on here is my hubby is working on transforming our laundry room into a craft/studio space for me! He's building a huge set of wall shelves to hold all my goodies and I'll have my sewing machine in there as well. I'm always facinated and inspired by others studios and personal spaces. I'm anxiously awaiting seeing the book Where Women Create by Jo Packham. I have it on hold at the library. It looks fantastic!

Where do you find you are your most creative?

Happy Birthday Patti Smith

"In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth." Patti Smith

Literary Mama

I've always had a passion for books

I recently received an email from Amazon.com with a book recommendation. As a librarian I'm always interested in readers advisory and am always curious to see what books are recommended based on books that I buy from them. This time they were letting me know that the book Literary Mama: Reading for the Maternally Inclined by Andrea Buchanan was coming out in paperback. I hadn't heard of this book and was surprised that a book on "mothers who think" had slipped past my radar. I clicked on it to see what it was about. It sounded pretty good and mentioned that the writings in the book were the best of the best from the online magazine literarymama.com. Of course I was on the site in a flash. It looked fantastic! There were many links to writings of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and the like. On the sidebar I noticed there was a blog!! The blog looked like it is updated regularly and has lots of food for thought for the mama-type.

There was also a post about an article found here about mommy blogging. It talks about blogging as an outlet for mothers to "speak their truth". This certainly applies not only to mothers. I think this applies to any blogger, writer, artist, creator. So, what is YOUR truth?

Be Here Now...

I have been encouraged by some of you to show more of my art work. I have a link to my picturetrail on the side bar, but haven't incorporated my own art into my blog much. As I reflect during this week on 2005, I appreciate the gentle nudge to be more comfortable with what I produce. I've always been about process. It's not the end result, but the journey that led me to get there. However, it is fun to be inspired by others work. I am a big fan of Teesha Moore's collage style. She also has a wonderful new zine out called Art & Life. She inspired this entry for my first page of an art journal I started two years ago. I have so many journals that have begun in earnest and then peetered out over a few weeks, months, or years. I'm thinking about taking Shimelle's art journal class starting next week for twenty weeks. I've seen wonderful work inspired by her "journal your christmas" class on Shelly and Ali's blogs. The class encourages at least one journal entry a week based on prompts and inspiration that she provides. I will post my entry each week on this blog to motivate me. Sounds like fun!

I'm also lovin' this fairy girl page right now because my sister gave my daughter a darling naartjie brand outfit for Christmas this year. I guess it's a boutique brand that is mainly sold in California, and comes out of South Africa. I went to their web site to check out their other clothes and absolutely fell in LOVE with the fairy line ....and I swore I would never spend all my money on baby girl clothes:)

SPT #3- Reflections from a mud puddle

It has been such mild weather here in Minnesota, bean and I went out exploring....

Joy

We had a very nice Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve day at my parents with my sister and her family making cookies. Christmas Eve we spent at home with the kids, reflecting, relaxing and enjoying each others company. Christmas morning we headed back to my parents (glad they only live a few miles away) and opened gifts. I took this pic of my mom opening up the PEACE sign I gave her that I posted a pic of previously. She absolutely loved it! The hand made scrapbook calendars for my sister and my mom were also a big hit! We took the kids home for naps and then went back for a wonderful Christmas prime rib dinner. Today we headed down to Iowa to my cousins for a lovely day of mingling and singing Christmas songs with all the wee ones jingling their bells. Good times!

Speaking of moms, I loved Elsie's ode to her mother post the other day!

That Christmas feeling

...because it's Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

wishing you peace, joy, laughter and love

Christmas tea

I absolutely love this teapot! I have collected teapots for awhile now, but don't really buy them for myself. It's mainly a collection of teapots from my parents world travels. It's perfect for when they're going somewhere exotic and ask what they can get me. Instead of an obligatory t-shirt or shot glass, I ask for a teapot! So I have wonderful teapots from China, Turkey, Chile and beyond. This one is extra special. It's from right here in Minneapolis. Several years ago my hubby and I went to see Gulliver's Travels at our favorite local theater, Theatre de la june lune. We were a bit early, so we stopped at a funky little gift shop next door. I saw this teapot and I had to have it. It so whimsical, quirky and festive. It seems part elf, part winter sprite. So it was my anniversary present that year and each year since I look forward to bringing it out for the holidays to enjoy it's cheerful presence.

MamaSaysOm ~Traditions~

Dear bean,
I'm so excited that this year you were able to participate in one of my very favorite Christmas traditions...making sugar cookies. Last year you were so young, I kept thinking that I couldn't wait until you could participate in the things I remember doing as a child during the holiday season. Santa is going to have to wait another year, but this year has been all about cookies! I think that you thought the dough was play dough, but you enjoyed cutting out the shapes nonetheless. It was fun to watch you take your very first bite of your sparkling cookie. Merry merry!

These layouts were made with Flair Designs paper and stickers.

The art of giving

I started wrapping gifts tonight and I thought I'd share a few fun wrapping tips that I've come across and used. For wrapping paper I used butcher paper that my son had painted on. I then attached the initial of the receiver of the gift cut out of scrapbook paper. Check out these gift tags.
I got the book The Starving Artist's Way: Making your world a work of art by Nava Lubelski at the library today. It's a fun book with the philosophy:

Make it Yourself ~ Make it Cool ~ Make it Cheap

It also had some easy funky wrapping ideas:
*Glue buttons onto the package.
*Make a potato print like you did in kindergarten. Make an image with a cookie cutter or any other metal object. Cut off the excess, print with tempera or thinned acrylic paint.
*Use ribbon made from bright or shiny fabric.
*Put a few stickers on the package, that always keeps the excitement level high.
*Cut logos are funny bits from packaging and cut out a window. Write a message in the window. This is a quick sort of greeting that says "I love you enough to spare a tree's life in your name."
Fun stuff!

SPT #2- Reflection

I found it among curios and silver
in the pureness of wintery light.

A woman painted on a leaf.

From A Woman Painted on Leaf by Eavan Boland

Handmade holidays

"There is a life to the objects made by hand that a man made object could not possibly reproduce" Keri Smith- wish jar journal

I just went down my whole list of 60+ favorite blogs and it sounds like there are many, many frazzled people out in blog land right now. I was most blown away by artist LK Ludwig's unbelievable "to do" list for this week. Yikes! What I found out is the vast majority of you are making wonderfully unique hand made items. I wish I could be a little elf running from blog to blog helping out where needed. Is it weird that I don't feel stressed at all? I did do hand made touches for nearly every gift this year, but I actually didn't procrastinate and did them bit by bit over the last month or so. For instance, I did this rag bag for my niece. Super easy! I chose to really simplify things and not get sucked into anything to complicated. So I'm pretty much ready for the holidays. My sister just came into town last night from San Diego with her two kids. I'm looking forward to a pretty quiet week of playing in the snow, making sugar cookies, scrapbooking and just hanging out with my family. Sounds like a good Christmas to me. Happy Holidays!

MamaSaysOm- Window

Dear bean,
I took this picture just the other day just after you had gotten up from your nap and quietly sat at the table eating your snack. The winter sky was beginning to turn a deeper pastel blue, then yellow, then dark. I look out these windows so many times each day. Watching the world go by around us. Sometimes I feel like early motherhood is like living in a bubble, oblivious to the rest of the world. My life energy completely wrapped around you and your sister. Yet so many people are looking in, telling me what to do, how you should behave, what milestones you should have passed. We've been going through so much lately. Me growing up right along with you. You, me and Chloe doing our daily routine dealing with the ups and downs. I wish I could know what is going on in that little head of yours. You are so full of life and want to express so much. You will be get there very soon and we will always be here with you.
Love,
mama

Christmas cookies and holiday hearts

Ok, the heart was in another post, but I am in full-on cookie eating mode now. Here are my schnazzy Basic Grey take out boxes filled with yummy cookies ready to go to their new homes. Here's the template again along with TONS of other really unique free templates!

I had a cookie exchange today with my girlfriends from my stint working as a naturalist. It was years ago and we still get together every couple of months. We've all taken different paths and it's always fun to see what everyone is doing and have an afternoon of laughter and friendship. I went away with a whole slew of cookies and feel all warm and fuzzy. I think this was my first ever cookie exchange. Strange how I can be 30 years old and make cookies all the time, but I've never done a formal exchange. It always seemed overwhelming. Like I'd be making dozens upon dozens of cookies to give away. This one was four women and we gave six cookies to each. Perfect! That leaves plenty left over to eat!!

Life as Art

Wow, I am overwhelmed with the creativity in the blogging community! I was lucky enough to find Michelle at a sweet life blog right away. She's been a joy to get to know and I appreciate her candid advice for a newbie blogger. She also was sweet enough to put a link to artsymama on her post. I was both greatly appreciative and a little overwhelmed. Is my site good enough for all that traffic? Will people that read Michelle's wonderful blog find anything of interest on my blog? I decided to skip the self deprecating talk and open my arms to this community. So for those of you checking out this blog for the first time, or if you've checked back often in these first weeks of publication, I just want to extend a wholehearted thank you. Thank you for your interest, your comments, and your inspiration. In the last few days I've been looking through dozens and dozens of unique and creative blogs. I enjoy looking down the list of favorite links that many of you have. So far my own favorite links list now tops 60 blogs! I wish I could check each of them every day.

I'm not sure how this blog will evolve, but my intention is to keep posting as often as I can. I will share personal art, writing and photography and also some fun artsy links and inspirations. So pull up a chair, grab a hot cocoa and a scone, take a peek at my world and please share yours as well.

Primitive Holiday

I just received this gorgeous heart ornament in my Christmas card from my lovely artist friend Chrissy. Thank you! I've known Chrissy for a few years now by her yahoo group Artistazine. We both live in Minnesota, but have never met. Isn't it amazing how the world seems so small through the internet, we are in touch with people from all reaches of the globe, yet some really do live in our own "back yard" and yet we never meet face-to-face? Someday hopefully we will.

I love how Chrissy distressed this hand made fabric heart. She said she used tea to darken it and it adds a wonderful smell! I just love the primitive look. I would characterize the style of my tree and decorations as either rustic, folk art or childlike whimsy. Some of the artists that I really enjoy are Lori Mitchell, Dan DiPaolo and Heather Goldminc. My favorite are finds like this snowman that I found at an estate sale. Before I go, I have to share this adorable button wreath ornment.

Soft toy creature feature

I've had an on-going facination with goofy little knit dolls. When I was pregnant with my daughter I got into making rag dolls (see previous post) and was on the look-out for instructions on making sock and other homely creatures. Now I have noticed these critters of every shape and size all over. The blogging world is full of them. I keep finding more and more unique creations, blog after blog after blog. They're made of fabulous fabrics; some vintage, felt, wool, corduroy, you name it! Many of the patterns seem to come from Japanese craft books. If you could give me some insight into this, I'd love to hear it.

I was pushed over the edge when the winter issue of Martha Stewart Kids magazine (LOVE it) had an article on making small hand sewn creatures inspired by your children's drawings. I thought that idea was genius. So today during nap time I created my own. My kids aren't old enough to draw their own little creatures yet! So... I introduce to you Walt. Not sure what he is and there's definitely room for improvement, but he is a friendly little guy and that velvet body is oh so soft:) If you're inspired, check out all of these "stupid" sock critters and there's even a book ...gotta find me a copy!

Catching snowflakes

Snowflakes
by Anna MacPherson
Each one comes in a different light

A different reason a different night

The brightest thing you'll ever know

Love for them will forever grow

Every one has a different face

Each of them their own special grace

It's in our lives they frolic and sing

Just to see them alive is a beautiful thing

They bring us joy they give us love

they're a beautiful creation from God above

They laugh they play, make us smile and gleam

Let's walk amongst them and share their dream

A sparkling snowflake is truly unique

Its your understanding they wish to seek

Open your hands and soon you'll see

What beautiful people these snowflakes can be

Winter Wishes

It seems that signs with Peace, Joy, and Hope are abound this holiday season. Such wishes are a nice way to pizazz up your decor. Inspired by Wendy Addison's lovely glitter words I made this Peace sign for a gift. I simply started with wooden letters that you can find at any craft store. I love the font of these. My dear husband made a small base, slapped on some glue and we were set. I then did a base coat of gold metallic paint. I added a coat of "weathered wood" effect and then painted over that with white for the distressed look. I could even add some glitter! Fun and easy!!!

Another fun idea is to gather the old retro ornaments that you have from back in the day and glue them to a wreath. Not much to it. This one has ornaments from my childhood and also my husbands. It's a nice way to preserve the memories.

Self portrait Tuesday

This is my first time participating in Self Portrait Tuesday . I like the concept and figured it's easy enough to take a picture of myself once a week. So I thought! This month's challenge is reflective surfaces. It did make my day quite interesting noticing exactly how many items in our world reflect our image back at us. I chose to take a picture in this mirror, because it is located on the far wall of our main living area. I was intrigued by the thought that so much of my daily life is reflected back in this mirror. I love how this picture reflects one "ordinary" moment during my day.

I've always been inspired by Jim Brandenburg's "Chased by the Light" project. He took only one photo a day in the northwoods for 90 days. The results are stunning. While I'm not a professional photographer, I still think it would be fun to have a photo documentary of my life right now with two young children running circles around me. I've always wanted to give myself a goal to take a picture a day for a year. I think it would be really telling to see what I decide to take that one picture of for the day and how putting them all together would really encapsulate the year. Hmm....I smell a New Year's Resolution brewing!