I was having a little trouble making my Americano’s taste as wonderful as my dotter’s. She shows me, I forget.
So she created an easy to follow instruction guide for me.
It works! Thank you, dotter!
I also wanted to share with you Regina’s step by step process for the last Joy Journal Project assignment:
Go here → Comforted in Sorrow
Oh my. Blessings.
We’ve lived in our home for 11 years next month. My very patient husband requested a curtain be put up on the front window to replace the nasty shade that was there. The shade lasted for about 5 years and was discarded leaving uncovered glass. Tonight the inspiration hit. I had just been cleaning some of my piles in the basement and came across a beautiful bedsheet with hand crocheted lace attached. Scott’s great-grandma crocheted piles and piles of lace. The colors used on this sheet happened to be the colors used in our living room.
Voilà! I am so pleased how it matches so well, and I’m sure Scott is glad that I finally got the job done with flare to boot.
This is today’s official Art Every Day Month creation. I call it the art of repurposing. In sewing this simple curtain, I think I fell in love with my sewing machine again. It has been seriously neglected these past few years. Today I remembered all the reasons I loved it so, including that hum it makes when I step on the pedal full speed.
I haven’t been posting much lately, I know. Last week’s shingles got me down for a bit, and this past week we shared Thanksgiving with family. I laughed so hard my eyes squinted shut and hugged so big that I left a part of my heart. And I am so thankful not only for my family, but for my health.
Wishing you all a happy and grateful heart.
AEDM Day 5 – Prepping a canvas.
This canvas is rather large. My studio is getting painted today. A decade ago, we painted this room with the bright trim.
And I textured by rag painting. The paint lost its charm several years ago.
I am thrilled to have a blank canvas.
Last January, I was inspired by Flora Bowley’s studio walls as she emptied her space. I want to have wall space to write, draw, paint. The walls will become a journal of sorts as I record various point of inspiration.
I learned from the master today. Scott works so fast. I painted at a slower pace, working on duplicating his technique. Team Jolley unite.
This evening, one more coat and we get to reassemble my studio!
AEDM Day 4
I have no photos. I have no canvas.
My art today is building loving relationships. Art of life that will last eternally. Laughter, family together, friends sharing truly from the deep places in life. I could never draw or paint this day. Yet the joy it has given me I will not forget.
Latest production by Max Jolley, inspired by the 1970s Norwegian underground film movement:
Or not.
amanda ∞
Pink curtains, green carpet, I remember you, playing on the floor of my new room. The Sunshine Family was my friend on many a quiet afternoon, forever transforming empty tissue boxes, lids, cotton balls, caps, toothpicks, fabric scraps, into furniture for my little family.
{cushion seat}
{hay bail}
{poncho}
(fringe on the jacket}
{yarn belt}
{knitting bowl}
This peaceful, self-sufficient little family was my first practice in recycling. My own grandmother was the living example, not wasting even a bread sack without finding another use. This little family reinforced for me the ideal of living simply.
To add to the charm, the cow could ‘drink’ water when the udder was squeezed. The trough pump worked. The hen laid eggs.
Today I played again, one more time, with my little family. Or rather I struggled to remember how the barn fit together and the cat played.
She loved the hen too.
amanda ∞
Pull tab found on the finely dusted floor of a western Kansas quonset, perhaps pulled from a beer my grandfather drank. Beauty.
Thanksgiving was spent with my family back home. We all met at my parents for a wonderful getaway. Much of the week was spent walking across stubbly fields, or jamming with the family band. All of our time was spent together. While I completed little conventional art, these were my days for the real art to come forth, the hidden art. Hidden art is that beauty, that strand of individuality, that lies within each of us revealing itself differently for each person. With such a diverse group of kin, much art was displayed.
Art Every Day Month – Days 24-28
Art Every Day Month – Day 29
Playing with faces in my Moleskine using Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Artists’ Crayons.
amanda ∞
Art Every Day Month – Day 6
Pasta Puttanesca, made with 14 cloves of garlic, anchovies, and kalamata olives, topped with some yummy chunks of fresh garlic goat cheese, and my breath is crazy bad tonight.
My daughter and I had a lovely afternoon shopping at art supply stores. We were searching for a Japanese screw punch. Although we were unsuccessful finding the punch, I did find that Creative Coldsnow is now carrying (like just now) R&F Paints encaustics, pigment sticks, and supplies! Happy, joy! I don’t have to order them online. I can pick the colors I want by sight. Squeal.
We also picked up my daughter-the-potter’s tiger cub from Red Star Studios. She hand built this in her room this summer and had dropped it off to be fired a couple weeks ago.
Next step is underglaze. And yes, that is the tail beside the cub. It will be attached at the end of the process.
And I noticed today that there has been an unexpected explosion on my desk. An innocent looking fruit from the sweet gum tree has taught me it’s secret. It is like a little spiked piñata, but didn’t even need a whack to share it’s surprise from within. I picked this sweet gum ball from a tree just a couple days ago thinking it would be lovely to sketch.
amanda ∞
I keep thinking I’ll have a moment to share, but have accepted the reality that Christmas is Friday! Merry Christmas to all (and no, my legs have never been that thin).
amanda ∞
