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

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Elizabeth I was one of England’s greatest monarchs, and this film chronicles her transformation from a young, sheltered princess to an iconic, masterful monarch.  The daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, this movie captures the formative events and influences early in Elizabeth’s reign and the personalities that surrounded her, both friend and foe.  The cunning and intrique of the royal court is fascinating and often deadly.  This is a stunning film of England’s Virgin Queen.

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Inspiration:

Darice® Jewelry Twists by Wendy Cooper & Marie Vetrano – Four Color Flower with Spray Pin

 

 

Supplies:

T-shirt

Scissors (I used a rotary cutting system)

Needle

Thread

1.  Cut a piece of t-shirt material and remove any seams.

2.  Cut strips approximately 3/4″ wide.

 

3.  Grab each end of the strip and pull.

 

4.  Gather strips and stitch the ends together.

 

5.  Grab both ends and twist until the strand curls around itself.

 

6.  Secure both ends in back with needle and thread.

 

7.  Repeating Steps 1-3, make a few strips in another color.  Loop together and stitch to secure.

 

8.  Stitch to the back of the flower.  That’s it.  Super simple and the size and color choices are up to you.

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Margaret Gorman with Long Goodie (1925)

Margaret Gorman was a Greyhound owner.  Who is Margaret Gorman?  She was the first Miss America (1921).  This petite, exhuberant young woman was only 16 years old when she won!

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Ambre Blends

Amber essence is the base of all Ambre Blends.  I love the way these smell and a little goes a very long way.  If you love natural, organic frangrance, give these a try.

 

Spray Bottle…That Works

I use a spray bottle filled with water like some women use an iron.  I lightly tumble dry my clothes, hang them up and give them a light spray…voilà, no wrinkles.  Unfortunately, it’s been hard to find a spray bottle that works.  I stumbled upon these aluminum spray bottles in the “dollar” bins at CVS.  They are fabulous!…pretty too.

Coffee Ice Cream

Edy’s is pictured, but I’m a sucker for ANY coffee ice cream.  Yum!

Terra-cotta Foot Scrubber

I picked up this pretty, functional tool at Ten Thousand Villages.  Crafted from terra-cotta, you use it on your feet like a pumice stone .

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Keepers of the Fire (Mark di Suvero) – South Bend, Indiana

My current creative learning project is the e-course, Make Art a Part (of Your Life).  This week, I read the section on “socialization.”  Kaitlyn, the creator of the e-course, talks about enjoying art in your community.  She talks about the difference between museums and galleries and covers many of the opportunities that galleries offer.  Kaitlyn also challenges us to notice how the art is displayed…the art of the curator.  Museums and galleries aren’t the only place to find inspiration.  Festivals, fairs, markets and even the art store get us out-and-about with others enjoying art.  Finally, she offers some very practical tips for navigating your way through the art store.

Kaitlyn’s challenge this week  is to use the internet and look for local art galleries, whether commercial (they sell art) or public (they show art).  Then, put together a list and save it for a sunny day-off.  Here’s my list:

Artpost

Fire Arts, Inc.

CircaArts Gallery

South Bend Museum of Art

Snite Museum of Art

Midwest Museum of American Art

Surrounded by all these art museums and galleries, I can only say that I have been to one, the South Bend Museum of Art.  Time for me to make art a part of my life!

The creative challenge this week was “drawing.”  I am intimidated by drawing.  Two contributors to the Make Art a Part (of Your Life) e-course offered two different projects.  I (kind of) did the one using patterns.  I didn’t draw out my design, instead I printed off a coloring page and added patterns to it.  This was a  very relaxing project…like doodling.  Imagine what fun you could have with this.

If you’d like to participate in this e-course, you may register at any time.  Once registered, you’ll have access to the full course for one year.  You can complete it at your own pace.  The cost is $45.00 and you can sign up here.  Kaitlyn also had a wonderful blog, isavirtue.

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I love blogging!  My “schedule” helps me.  Each day of the week, I write about a recurring set of subjects…Mondays – Creativity, Tuesdays – 4 Favorite Things, Wednesdays – Greyhounds, Thursdays – Crafts, Fridays – Favorite Movies, Saturdays – Favorite Books, Sundays – Whatever.

I’m starting to think about 2012.  Here’s what I’m thinking about:

In the Kitchen -  I’m not good in the kitchen or with entertaining.  I’d like to make peace.  This would encompass a variety of things…not just recipes.

If I Died Today – What would I wish I’d taken care of, if I died today?  When my ex-husband died recently, it made me think of a lot of things.

Lori’s Lists – Lists on all types of things.  I love lists, and I think I could have a lot of fun with this.

Creativity – Currently, this is one of my favorite days to write, and I’m not finished with this topic.

What I’m Working On – A peek inside my “studio” and what I’m working on.

Love This – All the things I love…always or just today.

Whatever - A day to write about whatever I’d like.

I’d love to get some feedback and suggestions from you.  What do you think?  What do you like to read about?

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As American as Jazz…the hard-boiled private detective novel.  The Maltese Falcon is a classic.  Treat yourself to a trip back in time with this book from 1930 by Dashiell Hammett, starring his private detective, Sam Spade.  Sam is a man with cold detachment, a keen eye for detail and an unflinching determination to achieve his own justice.  The writing is straightforward and clean.  If you’re a fan of the movie, you’ll love the book.

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This is one of the films that ushered in the New Hollywood era.  Dealing freely with violence and sex, Bonnie and Clyde was groundbreaking in the 1960’s.  Viewed today, it is a compelling, romantic look at these two violent Depression-era gangsters.  You don’t get much prettier than Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in their prime.  If you’re looking for exact historical accuracy, you won’t find it in this movie.  What you will find is a beautifully crafted story of Great Depression mythology and masterful filmmaking.

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Inspiration:

blah to TADA! – Floral Accent

 

Supplies:

Plastic shopping bag

Scissors

Glue

Piece of cardboard

Button (not pictured)

1.  Cut a circle from the cardboard for the base.  Mine is about 2″ diameter.

2.  Cut a variety of large and small petals.  I cut 9 large and 9 small.

3.  Apply glue to the cardboard base.  Scrunch the bottom of the petal and apply to the base.

4.  Continue applying the petals around the cardboard base.,

5.  Repeat Steps 3 & 4 for the inner part of the flower.

6.  Glue something pretty in the middle of the flower.  I used a black button.  Apply doublestick tape to the base and add to your package.  You never have to go without a pretty package decoration again.

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1.  Greyhounds have stereoscopic vision.  This means that they are best suited to seeing moving objects.  They often don’t notice stationary objects.

2.  During a Greyhound’s complete stride, they are off the ground twice.  This type of stride in called a double suspension gallop.

3.  During the Middle Ages, Greyhounds nearly became extinct due to famine and disease.  The breed was saved by priests and clergymen who took special care to protect the Greyhounds and later bred them for the nobility.

4.  The mechanical lure was invented by Owen Patrick Smith in 1912.  The first Greyhound racing track opened in 1919 in Emeryville, California.

5.  The constellation Canes Venatici contains two Greyhounds…Asterion and Chara.  This minor constellation was created by Johannes Hevelius in the 17th century.

Want more?  Check out an earlier post, Greyhound Fun Facts.