Reverb 10 - Wonder - Land and Alice!

December 4 – Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)

This post is dual-purposed: Reverb10 and the Oh Alice challenge! 

Today we awaken to fresh snow - half a foot. The neighborhood has transcended into a quiet, magical land. How appropriate that today's prompt is Wonder! 


My art focus helps me see things from that most magical perspective - child-level. I'm not afraid to ask those questions that we, as adults, are frowned upon broaching. I ask myself "What if..." a lot. I purposely stop and pick a random item, then imagine what else it might be, or if components can be put to a different use. I love doing that! 


I've been struggling lately with life - just getting things done, making sure priorities were met, and finally, I'm close to seeing the end of the tunnel! I rewarded myself by exploring a medium I know little about - encaustics. I spent some time on YouTube watching videos. I spent some time looking at materials and considering how I could try this medium without a lot of investment. I set off shopping and came back with some definite maybe products.


I will do a little video soon to tell you about the products I used, and the mess I made. [Insert very silly childlike grin here!] Here is one view of my Encaustic mixed media ATC:

{click to enlarge and see all the wonderful details!}

This ATC features a wonderful image from Some Odd Girl stamps. I just LOVE this image - it's me and Tinker! The background is all melted, colored wax, and I made my own adhesive tape with a text background stamp, Paula, the Journal Artista's glimmer glam paint formula, and medical tape. Fun! I colored Kaylee Cuddle (the image) with my Copic markers. This ATC will be included in an art journaling page describing how I love to enjoy days filled with wonder!


Now - you notice I had "And Alice" in the title? Well, I wasn't able to get my project completed yesterday, in time for the challenge blog to post. So - this is a reminder that YOU can play along with the Oh Alice Twisted Thirteen for a chance at winning your own Some Odd Girl stamps! Hop on over to the Oh Alice challenge blog for all the sweet details! You don't need to do encaustics to play - just use a handmade flower in your project! What are you waiting for? You have until midnight Friday, December 10th!


See you soon!
~ky

Reverb 10

This is my "catch-up" post for my late start with Reverb10. If you are interested, you can check out the details for this personal challenge at the Reverb10 website. I hope you will participate or at least follow along.

One Word

December 1 – One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)


I chose a word for 2010, as I traditionally do, on January 1. My word was Accept. There were changes brewing as we moved from 2009 to 2010, and I had no idea which way the year would take us. I realized that if I truly trusted my Saviour, that I would have to accept what He brought into my life. At the time, I was thinking more of home/work/life redirection. Now that I'm almost done with the journey of 2010, I realize my Saviour considers my "whole" person in all the changes He brings or allows. 

(click to enlarge) This art journal page documents my selection of the word Accept.

We had big changes. Karl changed jobs, changed locations, changed wardrobes (no more uniforms), changed attitudes, changed outlooks - ok you get the idea. Meanwhile, I changed too. I changed gears, changed responsibilities, changed houses, changed perspectives, changed attitudes, changed focus, changed doctors, and most of all - changed my ART. 


I fully believe that choosing to focus my energy on accepting, that I was freeing myself up to receive a huge blessing. Looking back now? Yep. Big ole fingerprints of God, plainly visible.


What's next for 2011? I don't know the future, but I know who holds my future. I usually spend December considering what word I should observe for the next year. I don't have that word yet, but when I do, I will document it.

Writing

December 2 – Writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? (Author: Leo Babauta)


There are several things I do that fall in this category. Unfortunately, I can't really dispense with them. We need clean clothes, dishes, floors, etc. My health requires a lot of my time and limited energy. Again - not really an option there. So, what do I do to maximize the time and energy I do have? Here are some ways:


1. when I need rest, I try to take an easy, art-based activity to my recliner. I read, draw, doodle, brainstorm, crochet, watch art-related videos, read blogs, participate in live discussions and demos with people who inspire me, etc. As a reminder - surround yourself with interesting and POSITIVE people. Poison personalities are *everywhere* and they suck the creative life right out of you.

(click to enlarge) Zendoodling lets my mind wander while resting.

2. when I have things that must be done, I try to multitask to get done faster, or to incorporate brainstorming for an upcoming project. I'm rarely out of reach of pen and paper to at least capture notes and ideas.


3. when managing my health, I choose uplifting and thoughtful music during physical therapy and let my mind go along for the ride - I get a ton of ideas this way. I take those art-based activities that are appropriate with me so I can work or daydream while waiting to see a doctor, etc.


4. when I'm playing with my family (6 furries and a grown 10 year old), my mind is stimulated with future stories to tell, past memories to capture, other perspectives to look at life, all kinds of things. 


So you see, even though there are many things we MUST do, we still have choices about HOW we do them. 

Moment

December 3 – Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)


November 7, 2010. I entered an 8-mile running event on the spur of the moment with Karl. It was a crisp morning, with a pale yet bright blue sky. We ran the race at Danada Forest Preserve - beautiful scenery, still fall colors evident, crunchy gravel trails. There were 200 or so people with us, but I felt like I was there on my own. I had only been back in my physical therapy (walking/jogging) for a little more than a week. I was a little iffy on if I could go the distance, but it felt so good just to be out there again. 

(click to enlarge) This art journal page is about the 86,400 seconds we have every day.

I felt the muscles in my legs one fibre at a time. I felt the air flowing in and out of my lungs. I heard small groups of ladies talking as they walked along the course. Men don't gather and walk/jog like women do. I prefer the men's tactic, personally. I can listen to the wind, feel the sun on my skin, soak up everything the event has to offer. It raises me up to a higher appreciation and awareness of my surroundings. I love it. That day, I felt every cell of my being echo the energy of the cosmos. It was a perfect day that I shared with Karl - unique experiences of the same event.

`Let's go on with the game,' the Queen said to Alice; and Alice was too much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed her back to the croquet-ground.

The other guests had taken advantage of the Queen's absence, and were resting in the shade: however, the moment they saw her, they hurried back to the game, the Queen merely remarking that a moment's delay would cost them their lives.

All the time they were playing the Queen never left off quarrelling with the other players, and shouting `Off with his head!' or `Off with her head!' Those whom she sentenced were taken into custody by the soldiers, who of course had to leave off being arches to do this, so that by the end of half an hour or so there were no arches left, and all the players, except the King, the Queen, and Alice, were in custody and under sentence of execution.'

What Amazing entries we had last week, unfortunately there can only be one winner and the winner of those Gorgeous three 4x6 reprints from our sponsor, Maigan Lynn Beaudoin Shaw is Mandy!
Please email me (see button, right top) to claim your prize!


So Welcome back to the land of wonder and where the saying, 'Off with her head' is a regular statement! Well here in wonderland this week, that is exactly what we want you to do. This week we want you to take your stamps and yep you guessed it,'Off with their heads'. So we are asking you to alter your stamps and mix it up a little by giving them a new head or body. Ohhh this is going to be sooo much fun seeing what you come up with!!!

Now here's what I created for you this week!

{click to enlarge}

I love My Favorite Things stamps. I paper pieced this "Who's That Girl" and colored her with Copics and stickles (love those shoes!). I added a splash of copper embossing, and some faux stitching for interest, and colored a background with my Prismacolor pencils. I added flocking to her darling sweater and the chicks - such a fun project! Ok - now, what will you share with us so we can have some wow's?

Up for grabs this week is a Scor Buddy from the lovely people at http://www.scrappingreatdeals.com. So  off with their heads for your chance to win this awesome prize. You have until the 3rd of Dec to play along with us. Link your project to the Oh Alice! Challenge blog! 


Ciao!
~ky

CHAPTER 40: Hooka Are You?

"Who are YOU?" said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, "I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then."
~Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,Chapter 5

Welcome to the mad world of Wonderland! Once again we are here to inspire you to create great things! The Caterpillar (Absalom) was the wisest creature in Wonderland. At least he thought so, and so did most of the others.

He is a fascinating character because of his wisdom, and his lack of understanding metamorphosis. Kind of a weird oxymoron, don't you think? Our challenge this week is to use either a caterpillar or a butterfly in your project. If you'd like to go one step farther, use a definition or dictionary paper in your design (any subject is fine).

If you are fortunate, you may find yourself wisely winning your choice of three 4x6 reprints from our sponsor, Maigan Lynn Beaudoin Shaw. FanTASTic!! Maigan is such a delightful artist, and the team appreciates the chance to work with one of her images! Here's what I created to inspire you:

Remember, you have all week to play this challenge! Link your project to the Oh Alice! Challenge blog by midnight, Friday, November 26th to be entered in the drawing. Happy creating!!

~ky