A Metaphorical Smack to the Head

I have very little updates on the past almost - good golly - three months in terms of crafts.  My mojo left me and is still struggling to find it's way back. Although, I am happy to report there have been glimpses here and there sort of like a magical creature flitting near your eye or a pesky garden gnome.  So...luckily I do have some card making to report.  However - before I get onto the crafty goodness - I must relay my latest obsession - none other than the talented crew from NCIS on CBS.  Just look at the loveliness...

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My father got me hooked on the show and all it's crazy, quirky goodness.  I would give a list of all the characters I love - but it would be ridiculously long.  The only one that drives me crazy is Director Vance so there you go - the short list.  Sadly - two characters are no longer on the show due to two separate, tragic shootings.  Watch the show to find out!  On a happier note - Mark Harmon has the greatest smile in the world which almost makes me forgive him for being a starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins.  I'm a USC Trojan for life and frankly just writing those blasted words (UCLA Bruins) makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit.  Remember the smile...remember the smile.  I digress...I also love that nut Tony.  Many minutes were spent with my dad asking what in the world is wrong with that guy.  My dad would like to give him a good kicking in the gentles if you know what I mean.  Good times.  I love the show so much I've started watching it's Los Angeles spin-off.  Let's face it - LL is not to bad to look at and it's really a good time - although not as good as the original - at least not yet.  

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On a crafty note - I actually participated in a challenge today in honor of what used to be Humpday Challenge day on this little blog.  The sketch comes from Taylored Expressions and can be found here.  This is my humble interpretation of the sketchy goodness including the most hysterical sentiment in the world.  Let me just warn you that the lighting absolutely blows in these pictures - wish I took better photos - must work on that.

Here's hoping everyone had a rocking Wednesday!  Believe it or not I have a few more cards to present later in the week so look for those.  I hope the rest of the week treats you well.  I for one need to get my butt in gear and whip my bedroom into shape or I need to find Gibbs to give me a good smack on the back of the head.  Here's hoping I get my butt in gear because frankly if Gibbs shows up it means I'm hallucinating and I'm in far more trouble than I've ever realized. :)  Until then...

It's Been a Long Time. I Shouldn't Have Left You...

...Without a dope beat to step to...just kidding.  It has been a very long time and once again it is summer vacation for yours truly.  I'm still putting in a few hours at work - but thought this might be a good time to recommit to this blog - I do truly love doing it.  So I'm easing back in with a (drumroll please) Reading Pledge inspired by the great (and newly found) Caiti Santa Maria.  She did this great post on reading pledges and libraries circa 1986 (for me) and it really resonated with me.  I for one was in love with the Book Mobile.  I loved the weekly visits to this mobile library near a park very close to my house - although then it seemed miles away.  I guess it's like those silly stories your parents tell about walking up hill for miles with no shoes both ways to get to school - but I digress.  So I've made a list - and I've checked it far more than twice and have come up with a pledge number - TEN.

TEN!  I know that seems like a lot but I'm the only person I have to answer to and this is a fun exercise not hard work.  I've read that many books in a summer before - so at least I know it's achievable. A friend reminded me I was making it harder than it needed to be when I started debating about the length of books and how I would get them done - so I made a command decision and cut one of the longer books from my list.  The good news...I already have two of the ten under my belt and I feel like I'm making okay progress.  My deadline is Labor Day Weekend which is actually after school starts but really who the eff cares?  If anyone comes knocking down the door because I finished after school started...frankly they're getting kicked in the junk...so there!  So - here it goes - my list.  Thank you Caiti for the inspiration.

1. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (completed)
2. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (completed)
3. Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova (in process of reading now)
4. Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
5. The Department of Lost and Found by Allison Winn Scotch
6.  Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
7. Semi-Sweet: A Novel of Love and Cupcakes by Roisin Meaney
8. The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation by Elizabeth Berg
9. This is Where we Live by Janelle Brown
10. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

So quick run down...there are no rules.  I have chosen books already living in my home or my nook.  This list might change at any time.  I've removed The Passage by Justin Cronin because it's so long and I just don't know if it'll interfere with my numbers - not that there aren't other books that are long as well - just saying.  There is one Pulitzer Prize winner on the list which is really enough in my opinion and some pretty fun reads as well.  There was one other I wanted to put on the list so it might be an alternate if any book gives me lots of trouble.  More on that if the time comes.  So that's it...I'll have some updates on what's been going on with me later in the week and will have cards to share (which is a minor miracle - more on that later).  I recently signed up for The Mother Load by Lain Ehmann on BPC - so I should have some updates coming from that as well.  I hope everyone has had a nice couple of months.  I for one have been spending the time with my father (the magic I needed from my previous post) and cleaning house.  It feels very good.  I hope everyone has had a lovely Tuesday.  Until then...

I Need a Little Magic

"There are moments when you absolutely need someone to show up like magic, not because you need something nice, but because you need your world view transformed.  You need hope to be born in you.  You need to know in one moment that someone believes in you.  You need a kindness midwife to hold the space so you can show like magic for someone else the next time around..."
--Jen Lemen (Quote is from Creative is a Verb by Patti Digh; pg. 91)


Isn't this quote the absolute truth?  I need someone to show up like magic for me right now - desperately.  One day until my big day, and all I can think about is creating a new life with meaning.  It's the question shaping my life right now - the one I'm driven to answer.  I wonder...what's the question shaping your life right now?  Where do you need a little magic?  I wish I could be that for someone - that someone could be that for me.  Here's to finding a little magic today.  Have a wonderful Tuesday!  Until then...

P.S. The photo is from morguefile.com with a little texture magic.

The Daily Practice of Being Creative - Part One

I'm really into daily practices right now.  At the present time - I have exactly zero daily practices (which is a little hysterical).  Despite my lack of anything approaching a daily practice (taking my daily meds is a struggle), I'm ready to start something - to break up the monotony of this present day life.  It's not easy to identify a daily practice when your days consist of surviving your daily struggles and stresses.  I do know one thing for sure - I want my daily practice to be about creativity and being present.  So with my 34th birthday looming in just a few days - I'm ready to start taking the steps to living a more creative life.  The most important part of this shift for me is looking at creativity in a broader way.  I use to think living a creative life was about making things (preferably high art).  Now I know art has a variety of forms including craft - a place I know well.  Anyhoo - in honor of my starting a daily practice in my 35th year of life - I'm bringing to you some of the creative books that have shaped my life and ideas of creativity.

My first book on creativity.  I love it so much.  It's definitely got an artistic perspective - but totally usable for those of us who identify ourselves as crafters.  Love Rice Freeman Zachary.  To hear more of her creative goodness check out her podcast "Notes from the Voodoo Lounge."

Twyla Tharp is highly respected in the modern dance community.  Don't let this scare you off from this book.  Her thoughts on creativity can be applied to any creative practice.

I just can't say enough about Kelly Rae Roberts.  She is a true inspiration.  We have similar job backgrounds and I would love to push my limits and dive into art with the gusto and fearlessness characteristic of her creative life.

This is a pretty big book and I'm half way through.  I'm not sitting down and reading it cover to cover.  I pick it up when I need some inspiration and want ideas for shifting my perspective to more creative pursuits.

Jo Packham is a genius at showing craft spaces while paying credence to women's creative lives.  She's also the creator of Where Women Create and Where Women Cook.  Need I say more?

I am currently reading this cover to cover and am totally in love.  I love Patti Digh.  Her writing style is amazing and speaks to a part of me I don't usually make time for.  I know some of her tasks will become part of a ever changing daily practice for me.  I already have a great idea!  I'm thinking about coloring/doodling/stamping a 1" square for my 35th year.  Still percolating on whether this is the project I want to start.

So there you have it.  My favorite books on creativity.  I'll have more books to share later this week.  I'll continue to keep you posted on my daily practice.  I hope everyone has a nice Monday.  I woke up with GERD throat at 2:00 in the morning - hence the early post time.  Hoping the day starts to look up.  Until then...

P.S. If anyone knows when to use who or whom, I could really use a lesson. :)

Finding Your Way

I signed up for two of Karen Grunberg's classes in the first part of this year - Embrace Imperfection and Finding Your Way.  Embrace Imperfection was a two week, free class from Big Picture Classes.  Finding Your Way is a four week class and we're a little more than half-way through.  As any reader of this blog knows - my crafting cycles pretty hard.  And I've been in the rut of all ruts for going on 9 months.  That's not to say I haven't crafted here and there, but I haven't had the feeling of being in the zone in ages.  Let me tell you it blows hard.  I was hoping Finding Your Way would be the jumpstart I've needed and in some ways it has - I've made seven layouts since February 24th - but I'm still struggling.  Scrapbooking seems forced and it's really starting the piss me the eff off.  So - I'm going to share a few of my new layouts.  These are the few I'm crazy about. Sorry for the lousy pictures - they're from my iPhone.  Can't find my friggin digital camera battery charger.

These first two layouts are a bit of a departure from me.  I usually don't "do" multiple photos on a one page layout.  Nevertheless, I love the way these two layouts turned out.  I love the layering of patterned paper.  I love the use of a paper grid as the foundation.  I love the embellishments put into a visual triangle.  I love love love these layouts!

The last layout has me written all over it.  It's a pretty typical layout for me nowadays.  One picture, patterned paper, flowers, and buttons.  I love the grid background (more on that later) and the egg drop soup paper from jillibean soup.  I would eat that paper up if I could.  This color scheme is also one of my favorites.  I've really been embracing the gray lately.

So here's the big question - am I really finding my way?  Part of finding your way is defining your scrapbooking voice.  But...despite lots of time thinking about my voice (see this post from last summer) - I'm not sure I'm actually finding my way.  I have a lot of pictures from Christmas and plenty of stories to tell - but when I sit down at that table I feel...nothing.  Not sure where to go from here.  I do know a few things for sure:

*I love one photo layouts - but feel comfortable putting more than one photo on the page when it's a portrait orientation.
*I love using grids as a foundation.  I prefer it over cardstock or other types of patterned paper.
*I gravitate towards clean lines but will rock the tilt in a pinch (and love it).
*I love flowers, buttons, and brads.  I also love flair buttons.  I need more embellishments that I like!
*I'm a story-based scrapbooker.  Event scrapbooking scares me to my core - can't seem to do it.
*I like clean journaling - grid foundations facilitate this in a big way.
*I like using bold letters (especially American Crafts Thickers as titles).
*I'm also learning to love longer titles.  Need more letters to continue this practice.

Where does this leave me - almost in a good place (I think).  It's given me a little more clarity and hope.  I'm going to totally focus my crafting energy on kicking this latest "hiatus" in the junk.  I know I can push through this.  I miss my crafty life.  I miss my blogging life.  I miss so much.  And I'm just done waiting for it to come back.  I'm just done.

Give Me Some of that Old CHA Madness - Patterned Paper Style!

I have a intense love of all things pattern.  Despite being in the creative rut of all ruts - I still can appreciate the number one product I love.  For me, the world looks better when you have a beautiful pattern in your hand, eye sight, etc.  I love everything about patterns.  It's probably the thing that attracts me most to scrapbooking - the beautiful paper.  So without further ado - here are my top 10 picks for patterned paper from the winter CHA show..

10. Sunny Day by SEI

9.  Corrine by SEI.

8.  It's the Little Things by Fancy Pants (the birds are so stinking cute!).

7.  Countryside by Studio Calico - definitely check out the link - I've chosen some of my favorite papers as a representative of the collection.  So much good stuff at Studio Calico right now.  I could live in this color scheme.

6. Cute as a Button by Crate Paper.  I absolutely love what they do with paper.

5.  Salt Air by Cosmo Cricket - I also love the butterflies and doilies.  So yummy.

4.  Emma's Shoppe by Crate Paper

3.  Upcycle by Cosmo Cricket

2.  Portrait by Crate Paper

and a drum roll please...

1.  Social Club by Cosmo Cricket

Hope some of these items make you happy.  I know they give me a little bit of joy on this blustering Tuesday morning.  Can't wait to have some of these pretties in my stash.  I hope everyone is doing well. If you're weather is cold right now - bundle  up and stay warm.  If you're in a warm climate, lucky!  I hope this Tuesday finds you in the place you were meant to be.  Until then...

Self Portrait a Day

I've been searching for a project or challenge to ground me this year.  I have an ongoing list to choose from and I'm happy to announce I've made at least one decision.  I want to do a self-portrait a day photo challenge.  These are two pictures from today.  I recently got the iPhone 4 and am loving everything about it.  I have a lightroom app on the phone that is absolutely outstanding.  I've been playing with a lot of the settings.  I love the effects of both of these pictures - love the emotion they convey.  Today wasn't a stellar day - if you couldn't tell - and this is one way of documenting that.  I feel like the paper part of crafting life is failing me right now - or I'm failing it.  In any case, this is one more way to be creative.  I'm excited to think of different ways to document me.  I have so more ideas to expand the challenge - I'll keep you posted as those come along.  I've been gone so long - I'm not really sure if anyone is reading this right now.  If you are and have some ideas for innovative ways to take a self-portrait - please let me know.  I'm going to need a lot of different ideas.  So that's my only update for now.  I hope everyone had a nice day.  Until then...

I'm Back and Ready for Business...At Least I Think I Am?

Hello!  It's been such long time.  There have been so many changes in the last three months.  I'd love to give a full update - but I think that would take forever.  Let me give you a quick rundown.

*I was diagnosed with GERD - no more coffee, no caffeinated tea, chocolate, tomatoes, onions, garlic, citrus, cola sodas, and unfortunately the will to live.  Don't get me started on how crazy this food life of mine is right now.

*I made a few scrapbook pages and two mini-books.

*I've stopped making cards - tired of my mass of stamps.  New things don't seem to help.

*I went home and realized I need to be closer - like right now.

*I've continued to stalk my favorite blogs.

*I've enrolled in three more online classes.

*I got an iPhone and Barnes & Noble Nook Color.  Santa was very good to me!

*I've fallen in love with a number of iPhone apps.

*I got a flat screen TV and thought about killing a cat.

*I've missed this blog terribly.

So...now I'm back and a little worse for wear - but happy to be here.  I have some plans in the works for the blog and can't wait to tell you about my big plans for 2011...coming soon.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful new year.  Until then...