Vacation Part Deux

The Professor is on vacation. Still. Our original plan included a 10-day camping trip at a favorite spot beside a secluded lake on the Olympic Peninsula. That was replaced with somebody's (and NOT the Professor's, I hear) grand scheme to empty everything from his home office and replace mismatched bookcases with a custom wall unit designed and built by Himself. Did I mention he is a man of numerous talents? Along with the room reassembling, something about an overnight getaway at a favorite inn an hour away had been mentioned...and forgotten amidst the chaos we had created in the house.

So after much whining...and complaining...and grumping by the person who doesn't get out much (not Himself, of course), the Professor proposed a day trip. And without further ado, we escaped the chaos for the car. Before we hit the Interstate going south, we stopped for coffee. While we we waiting in line, he said, " You remind me of that. Look in your mirror."



(Okay, I found the image online.) But I had a good laugh. Now I know how those dogs feel when they get to go for a ride.

Two Week Project

Again, thank you Sara for inspiring my creative Thursday. New habits grow slowly, but surely. If you're considering beginning a new creative habit, check this out...


Since the Professor is on vacation right now, my usual slow and solitary pace has kicked into overdrive. We decided to remain at home while he created a bookcase wall for his ever-growing library. During this project, the contents of his office are being stored in the living room. I don't do chaos well; I should have taken a trip...

Anyway, enough whining. I'd been working on a couple of small art boards (watercolor pencils on a stamped image on gessoed matte board) while away with my girlfriends a couple of weeks ago and finally decided to use them for the covers of a journal (a belated birthday gift) for my friend, Ms. Jazzercise. So I got out my handy tool...


Cut pages to size and punched them...


In the process of binding the covers I smashed the pointer finger of my left hand, requiring ice. Yaa-owch!!


I was pleased with the outcome and have decided to let "Ms. J." determine the front cover..


But I'm tending toward this one...



Hope you have a lovely Thursday, doing something that gives you joy.
Blessings...

Done In By Tie Dye

This week has been slightly more crazy than usual. I know, difficult to believe, right? This is the weekend me and "the girls" do our annual camp-out, however this is the first time since we began the tradition that we actually plan to camp. (As in tents, sleeping bags, the Coleman stove and whatever else is supposed to go along with that.) Also, the competent woman who usually plans the food took a leave of absence due to her recent move. So the task fell to two of the occasionally forgetful other women. Knowing we had to put a menu together, we met a couple of weeks ago and planned everything. I promptly lost all my notes, but didn't worry since I knew I had PLENTY of time to get the list of my food responsibilities from my capable friend.

Fast forward to this week. She decided to drive 4 hours over the mountains to pick up nieces and a nephew for a few days. I decided they would benefit from participating in a Tie Dye Camp, an idea I've been kicking around for a couple of years. (After all, I had an extra DAY this week, so I might as well try to pull together this long-hatching idea. Since I had an engagement shoot on Monday, we scheduled the camp for Tuesday. I could then process the engagement photos Wednesday, shop and cook on Thursday and travel over the mountains on Friday.

So by Tuesday night my neck and shoulder had seized up in horrible pain from Monday and Tuesday's mistreatment, and my lower back was screaming. (Note to self: use an assistant for shoots and tables for any future camps!!!) Wednesday was spent medicated on heat and ice and in bed. Thank heaven I could move today to shop and chop veggies.

So here is my creative offering. The shirt on the far left is mine; a mess of color done by using an extra shirt I had brought along to mop up excess dye... It is my sad offering for Creative Thursday...

Found Inspiration

Okay, it's already Thursday again. Thank you Gitz for your weekly challenge which keeps me creating rather than dreaming/planning. And creating something just for me. I find I can fix, make, paint, sew, photograph... you name it... for anyone else. My challenge continues to be staying self-focused with this. I admit that I'm not always completely satisfied or even finished when I post my creation, but I am actually DOING. After all, the definition of an artist is someone who makes art. So, again, thank you Gitz for yet another Thursday. And yet another something I am doing simply for me. And for helping me to develop this habit.

Today I played in my sketchbook with pen and watercolor pencil and oil sticks. I don't usually do anything realistic, but I was inspired by a photo I'd taken years ago one dawn on the beach that I happened to come across this week...



If you'd like to join me in developing a weekly creative habit, check out this link.