Creativity, Crafts, Books, Movies, Greyhounds & Favorite Things

Creative space, craft room, artist studio, chick cave…whatever you want to call it, that’s what I’m creating.  Here’s what I want:

A pretty, fun and inspiring place to create and work

Storage for my supplies

Work spaces

An inspiration board and files

My initial budget is $150.  Check back and see the transformation on February 20.

I first read this book as a school assignment.  I knew it was a “classic,” but my definition of a classic novel was something hard to understand that would require someone smarter than me to explain it.  I never considered that it was a “classic” because it was a GREAT story.  Set during the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities has everything…history, romance, evil villains, noble heroes, not-so-noble heroes, twists, turns and surprises.  What was the first “classic” you ever loved?

This is a crime drama about two private detectives hunting for an abducted 4-year-old girl.  Twists and turns abound but the reason I love this movie is because it makes you consider what is right, what is wrong and what is best.  What is right is not always best and what is best is sometimes wrong.  This is not the film to watch if you like everything tied up nice and neat at the end.  The mystery is solved but the questions remain.  What’s a movie that left you with unanswerable questions in the end?

Inspiration:

Pretty Petals Online Fabric Flowers Workshop

Supplies:

Satin Pillowcase (100% synthetic fabric)

Scissors

Candle

Aluminum Foil

Needle & Thread

1.  Cut 4 circles from the satin pillowcase.  It’s important that the fabric is 100% synthetic.  I cut the largest circle approximately 5″ in diameter.  Each remaining circle should be 1″ smaller than the last.  I have a 5″ circle, a 4″ circle, a 3″ circle and a 2″ circle.

2.  Now, slightly melt the edges of the fabric.  Set up your workstation next to the kitchen sink.  Put down aluminum foil and place your candle on it.  Hold the edges of each circle near the flame and let the heat slightly melt them.

3.  Place the pieces on top of each other and sew a circle through all of them using long, widely spaced stitches.  Pull the  thread to gather the flower and knot it off.

4.  That’s all there is to it.  You now have a beautiful satin flower to add to a hat, a scarf, a pillow or anywhere that needs a little more pizzazz.  Want to learn more?  Take the Pretty Fabric Fleurs online workshop.

Freedom is 3 years old and our “dominant” dog.  Freedom is a natural leader.  She didn’t have to “develop” her leadership skills, she IS a leader, that’s that.  Freedom likes attention (petting) and she likes people because people give Freedom attention (petting).  She is a strong gal who knows what she likes and and isn’t afraid to ask for it or get it.  We can learn a lot from dogs.

Surgeon’s Skin Secret

Dry, cracked heels?…problem solved.  This moisturizer has a dense, waxy texture.  Beeswax, lanolin and mineral oil are its three ingredients.  You can use it on your hands, but mainly I like to use it on my feet.  I apply foot lotion first, then a little of this.

Goo Gone

I don’t like stickers on things and Goo Gone gets them off.  Caution…Goo Gone is oily, so don’t use it on anything porous.

NOOKcolor

I’m new to e-readers and this is the one I finally decided on.  I still love reading a paper book, but here’s why I wanted an e-reader:

1.  1 book takes up the same amount of space as 500.

2.  I can read in bed without a light on (well, this is why my husband likes an e-reader).

3.  Anytime (almost anywhere) I want a book, I have it instantly.

4.  Every book is a large print edition.

Lingerie Bag

A lingerie bag makes it possible to do “delicates” along with a regular load.  I also like to put things in it that I don’t want to “forget” and throw in the dryer.

I’ve decided to work through the plan outlined in The Artist’s Way By Julia Cameron in order to get back in touch with my “creative” side.  Here’s what I’m committing to:

1.  Devoting an hour (or a little more) each day to doing the exercises/tasks

2.  Reading through the “Basic Principles” once a day

3.  Doing Morning Pages daily

4.  Having an Artist’s Date weekly

5.  Reading a new chapter in the book every Tuesday

6.  Speed writing through the tasks at the end of each chapter

7.  Thoroughly working through half the tasks each week (picking the ones that appeal to me and the ones that I resist)

I’ll let you know how I do.

 

Nature or nurture?  Either way, there has to be a lot of creativity in me because my mom is AMAZING.  My earliest memories involve my mom creating and appreciating beautiful things.  Here’s a sampling of her work.

 

This is one of my most precious possessions…my Raggedy Ann.   She even has a special heart, just for me.

This is a masterpiece!  EVERYTHING in this Florist Shop shadowbox is handmade from paper and paper quilling strips

Felt Wizard of Oz Christmas ornaments.  Adorable.

Embroidered baby quilt block.

Cross-stitched Tooth Fairy pillow.

This book turned me into a reader.  Mrs. Meyers (my 3rd grade teacher) read it to our class, and from the moment she read the first line, “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” I was hooked.  I loved it so much that my mom bought me my own copy that I own to this day.  This is a book about helping each other, growing up and the magic, beauty and heartache of friendship.  What was the book that started your love affair with reading?

I’m a fan of Julie Christie’s and that’s what led me, many years ago, to Dr. Zhivago, director David Lean’s epic movie based on the novel by Boris Pasternak.  Dr. Zhivago is set before, during and after the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil War.  It is a tale of idealism, principles and beauty ravaged by the brutality of war and revolution.  It’s a visually beautiful film filled with compelling characters, turbulent history, romance and love.  Style-wise there’s no denying that it was made in the 1960’s and that’s part of its appeal to me.  What is your favorite epic movie?