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

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A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail describes Bill Bryson’s attempt to walk the 2,100 mile long Appalachian Trail with his friend, Stephen Katz.  Along the way, you’ll learn the history of the trail, the challenges the trail faces, and you’ll come away with a taste of an American treasure.  Bill Bryson’s writing is laugh-out-loud funny and, at the same time, astute and introspective.  I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating book.

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Mr. Holland’s Opus is a touching, heartwarming story about Glenn Holland, an aspiring musician and composer who takes a job teaching high school music in 1964, while he saves money and composes his music.  His wife becomes pregnant, and Mr. Holland finds himself facing the reality of a family and a “day job.”  The film chronicles his life, both professional and personal, with all the highs and lows, and ends with his retirement, 30 years later, and the legacy of all the students he has inspired.  The scope of the movie is moving and believable…a life, lived well.

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Inspiration:

Crafted Love – DYI | Newspaper Art

Supplies:

Old book

Canvas

Découpage

Brush

Scissors

Paint

1.  Tear pieces for the background.  I used a fun tool from Stampin’ Up! called “The Tearing Edge.”

2.  Paint a thin layer of découpage on the area where you want to apply your first piece.  Put down your torn piece and apply découpage over the top of the paper. 

3.  Continue adding pieces until the entire canvas is covered.   I did the edges first, then the center.  Allow to dry.

4.  Add your design.  I used foam stamps and black paint to apply the word “Imagine.”   Check out the “inspiration” piece on Crafted Love for a different look.

5.  The possibilities are endless.  Quickly and inexpensively you can create a “just right” piece for your home or office.

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No, that’s not me running with Casper…I have short hair.

In 1980, Bo Derek was a greyhound owner!  The picture above is from her first feature in Playboy.  The 12-page spread appeared in the March 1980 issue.  Several of the pictures included her Greyhound, China.  Bo is a great animal advocate and has a line of pet care products, Bless the Beasts.

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August’s 4 Faves all come from my friends.  Check out what they like.

My beautiful friend, Amy, with Miura and Zonda

This week’s favorites come from my friends, Amy…she has the first three; and Bunny of Tales and Tails…she has the last one.

 

Greyt Glass

Look at the picture above, then look at Zonda & Miura below.  Aren’t these perfect!  Greyt Glass offers glass panels, ornaments, suncatchers and inlaid glass stepping stones.  Check out their website or “like” them on Facebook.

Gini’s Greyhound Fashions

When I spoke with Amy about why she loves Ginis Greyhound Fashions, “Customer service, customer service, customer service.” Other reasons…coats are made to custom measurements, which means a fabulous fit, and fantastic fleece color combinations, that you get make.  Don’t you love Zonda and Miura’s Santa coats!

 

Voyagers K9 Apparel Greyhound Raincoat

Amy loves the Greyhound raincoat from Voyagers K9 Apparel.  Why?  It has front pleats for easy mobility, the hood covers without binding (very important to Miura), it offers great coverage, it has a reflective safety strip across the back for better visibility, and Amy loves the school bus yellow…a classic color in rain slickers.

Ice Cream

Bunny recommends ICE CREAM as a favorite.  I think we’re all with you there, Miss Bunny.  Bunny’s favorite (and Lilac’s, and Blueberry’s and Morgan’s) is Schwan’s Doggie Sundaes.  Yum!  Visit Miss Bunny and all the Tales and Tails girls here.

This is the final installment of 4 Faves – Friends Version.  But don’t worry, it’s not the end.  I’ll do another “Friend Version” in November.  Thank you to everyone who shared their favorite things this month.

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I’m going through the e-course, Make Art a Part.  This week, I read through the section on “inspiration.”  Kaitlyn talks about where we draw inspiration from…the internet (Kaitlyn presented a wonderful list of some of her favorite sites), nature, art galleries and life. 

After each section, Kaitlyn asks a question that brings the material into your life.  With regards to “inspiration,” Kaitlyn asks, “What is an inspiring moment you would like to capture within a piece of art?  It can be a small moment or a big one.  Brainstorm five ways you could use the inspiration from that memory to create art.  What could you create?”  What a wonderful question!  So often I think of art as something to be appreciated or used to decorate my home.  I hadn’t thought of taking a moment of my life and creating art from it.  Several years ago, my mom gave me a pencil drawing that she had made from a photo of my daughter when she was a little girl.  I would love to create (or have them created) other pictures using differnet mediums (watercolor, oil, graphic art, collage).  I think it would be fun to sprinkle these throughout our home.

This week’s creation exercise was photography.  Three of Kaitlyn’s contributors offer instruction and inspiration on taking photographs.  I practiced nature photography.  I found this beautiful frog resting on the rhododendron plant outside my front door. 

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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This was in my mailbox on Wednesday.  It’s official…I’ll never have to pay for a small drink at Wendy’s ever again.  Oh, and I’m old.

I find myself wanting less, the older I get.  Wanting less in a world of “more” is tricky to navigate, but that’s where I’m headed.  Here are a few areas in my life that I’ve been thinking about:

1.  Menu planning and cooking – I’m a mess in the kitchen.  I need a really simple plan.

2.  Blog reading – I only have a few blogs that I remember to read faithfully.  There are more that I would like to follow on a regular basis, but I don’t know how to “organize” this area of my life.

3.  Photography - I want to take better pictures.  Reading through my camera’s owner manual would give me a big boost in this area, but what about programs like Photoshop?  That seems so complicated.  What’s the best way to learn?

4.  Lawn and landscaping - There is no other way to put it…I hate yard work.  I want it to look nice with the least amount of work.

I love to hear your ideas.  What help do you have for me in these areas?  What works for you?

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This is a sentimental favorite.  I read it as a very young woman and was captivated by the epic sweep of the novel.  Set in the Australian outback, the story focuses on the Cleary family between the years 1915 and 1969.  Most people who are familiar with the story will remember the forbidden love between Meggie and Father Ralph, but it is much more than that.   It is a story about family, longing, betrayal, ambition and tragedy.  I think it may be time to read this one again.

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This is a smart, charming and funny movie with Jack Nicholson playing the role of Melvin, an obsessive-compulsive curmudgeon who falls in love with waitress and single mother, Helen Hunt, and reluctantly befriends his gay neighbor, Greg Kinnear.  The dialog is sharp, witty and often poignant.  By the end of the movie, the humanity of all the characters is clear, and you see the dignity and worth that they (and we) all possess.

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Inspiration:

FreshStyle (Summer 2011 – Southern Lady Special) – Pg 26 (Pet Portraits)

Supplies:

Photograph

Cardstock (2 colors)

Pencil

Scissors

Gluestick

Frame

1.  Cut out the shape of your pet’s silhouette.

2.  Place it on a piece of cardstock, and trace the outline.

3.  Cut out the silhouette.

4.  Cut a piece of cardstock to fit your frame.  Glue your pet’s silhouette on the cardstock background.

5.  Put the picture in the frame and you have a very special, unique silhouette.  The really cool part, you can pick  fabulous color combinations!  My pretty model…that’s Zonda (my friend Amy’s houndie and my Paloma’s sister).