Netting the Honeysuckles

"net (net)n. 1. Openwork fabric made of cords, threads, or ropes woven or knotted together at regular intervals. . ." Webster's II

Years ago if you said, "net," I thought of fishing, hair, or profit. Today I think of altered art. What can I do with all the "nets" that I buy at the grocery store? I love using them but attaching them is another challenge for me depending on the art work. This post was inspired by one of my new blog friends,Bluebeard and Elizabeth. She and I started corresponding after she showed up in the Honeysuckles one day and saw my Hilda quote art work where I used my Thanksgiving turkey netting. That net is so cool because it is a beautiful burnished gold and works well in altered art.

In "Song Nets" I ended up stapling the net to the page and used "color" staples so it would blend in better. Yes, I did try to glue that baby down..... I knew it wouldn't work..... but I tried again...... again and again. Grabbed the stapler. I have to admit the net was an after thought. (After thought - I have them all the time when working a piece and I keep diddling with it until I can diddle no more and walk away.)

I am "focusing" this year on art journaling. Yes, I have done it - but it's been off and on. I want to discipline myself to do it more often and on a regular basis. ... .Which circles back around to (are you following me boys and girls?) netting. (whew - i knew i would get back there).

Another way I attach my netting is with tape -- masking, gaffer, electrical. In my Gratitude Journal kept for 30 whole days last May, I discovered that it was dull, yes, the journal was dull. So this past summer vacation I started adding art journaling to blank pages in between the posts and on top of the posts.

Staples were not an option on this piece since I had already created the previous page. Grab the 7 gypsies gaffer tape and you have the net attached. Okie, dokie, guess what - I have to get busy but I so enjoy chatting with you. Got several things on my "to-do-list" today and I had better get started..... I will be checking back in with you.... in the meantime ..... remember.....

"In my life's chain of events nothing was accidental. Everything happened according to an inner need." Hannah Senesh

Chopsticks in the Breeze

As some readers know I went to a holiday party last Saturday, Jan. 2. It was an annual party which had to be "delayed" due to the 22"-24" of snow we received on Saturday, Dec. 19. My Asian friends are wonderful. However, they always seem to make fun of me and chopsticks. Hey, boys and girls, I was born and raised in Oklahoma City and way back when I don't remember any Asian restaurants. Mexican, yes, Asian, no. Nope, Nope, Nope, sure don't. As far as I'm concerned chopsticks make wonderful creative sticks that you can have a lot of fun with.

Let me share with you that I love shows like Top Chef, Chef Academy, Hell's Kitchen, Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares.... I also loved Julia Childs cooking shows when I was younger and would sit with my German grandmother who was not making very positive comments about her "waste" of food..... Yes, Grandma would have made something with all those dough scraps Julia tossed.... (move over Julia - I'm starting my own show....)

OK, it might be called Chef Academy Dropout .... I still can't understand why I can't use the sticks to stir the pot and yes, I did go on a fishing trip trying to catch something in the chicken soup.

I managed while being laughed at - BUT I did it my way:

At least I was not playing with my food like I usually do in the Asian restaurants until they bring me forks. You would think my friends would give up on "teaching" me how to use chopsticks..... They do come in handy in making books, however, and I have used them in my art. You have seen my two Asian wax creations recently and some of you might not remember the two page spread I did in my Gratitude Journal last fall:



I found the Japanese catalogue at Paper Source on sale and I am still using the images.....

OK, boys and girls, those are your lessons in how not to use your chopsticks and, no, I am not encouraging you to play with food using the sticks - leave that to the professionals - like ME.... Goodnight!

Waxing in the Breeze

Headed out to play tennis but wanted to share the second Asian Wax work from yesterday:

The first on was posted earlier -- one of these will be headed off to Taiwan to the great grandmother. These were fun to create and work on. I love wax!

Quote for today: "Life's not a dress rehearsal." Live Loud!

Quick Post before Lunch

Or do you call that BL vs BC..... who knows...

Just finished putting that final touch on Hilda Conkling's Album. The cover page. The photo of Hilda is not clear and the only one I could find on the web.... Here is info on Hilda gather from two different sources and reworded by me..... hmmmm ...

"Hilda Conkling (1910-1986) was born in Northampton, Massachusetts. Her mother, Grace Hazard Conkling was a poet in her own right and taught at Smith College. Her father died when Hilda was four years old. She had an older sister, Elsa. Hilda was a child poet, and that is why she is remembered. It is really astonishing how she wrote most of her poetry between the ages of four and ten years old.

"Her mother Grace was her biggest influence. She used to read to her daughters all types of literature. As a result, Hilda began speaking poems, which her mother would write down and break into poetic lines. Her first published book appeared in 1920, “Poems by a Little Girl”, when she was ten. The preface was written by Amy Lowell. Two years later she published “Shoes of the Wind” and, finally, “Silverhorn” in 1924. These were the only books she wrote and she mysteriously stopped writing when she became a teenager.

"Most of Hilda’s poetry is concerned with nature; sometimes simply descriptive, sometimes mixed with elements of fantasy. Other common themes are love for her mother, stories and daydreams, and pictures or books that pleased her. Often themes intertwine, and she often made use of metaphor in her descriptions of plants and animals."

I did learn a few facts concerning Hilda and found two poems that I liked in addition to the 16 that we worked on the PaperWhimsy challenge. One was called Dandelion and the other Rooster. She did have charming poetry......... Sorry to leave her behind and yet also happy I found a use for the 5 year old Creative Memories black leather album....

Quote for today:

"And now let us welcome the New Year full of things that have never been."

Rainer Maria Rilke

The Honeysuckles are blowin' in the wind

Temp = 24 degrees and the wind = 50 mph gusts. The honeysuckles are blowing and hanging on for dear life. Nope, this is not the Breeze that we all have come to know and love.... it's the gale winds.....

Last night I managed to get all 16 (two pages per poem = 32 6 X 6 images) into a forgotten Creative Memories black leather album with black pages. This will do for the time being. I am searching for an photo of Hilda since I want to include that one the first page.

I also used an "enhancement" that was on another album I had never used ... so I very carefully "ripped" it off and reapplied the sticky red tape and put on the black leather.... it works...Please note this was not created by me - wish it was but it wasn't....



Today has been one devoted to baking, tea drinking, a run to Goodwill to move some stuff out so someone else can enjoy the stuff... and getting ready for a party tonight.
The tea was good,

The bread is baked,

I love my new apron (Christmas gift),

And it has been a wonderful day. I was looking in my Simple Abundance book from 1998 and saw this quote for today: You only live once -- but if you work it right, once is enough. Joe E. Lewis

Enjoy today! PS. Oliver is headed home from his Christmas vacation. I am craving puppy kisses....

Happy New Years -- 2010 in the Breeze

My New Year's day has been devoted to finishing up the challenge over at PaperWhimsy for the Hilda Conkling Poetry. I joined the journey the first of March 2009 and have just finished the final three poems. So with little talk and more photos, here they are...... (yes, I also made some New Year's Resolutions which I usually don't do... but I wrote them down and the word for 2010 -- Organization!). Enough of my words - now to Hilda's poetry:


For song nets I grabbed my Turkey netting from Thanksgiving this year and my trusty stapler and went to it!



Next we move on to Lonely Song....

One of my resolutions is to use up items I have held onto all year... you know like hoarding - but not like the TV show, I hope.... I love these "gold" picture corners..

And the last may be my favorite. The photos do not do it justice as the background paper is bold white but shows up a little gray here...... I give you Lullaby...

I used the "clock" works as my interpretation of the moon.... Both these pages have glitter but could not get it to show up in the photos....... I want a good camera this year and will start saving my pennies.... and then consult with the experts (like Julie) but that can wait for now.....

I have had a great day, haven't left the condo, worked on these poems and had glitter up to my elbows. What a wonderful way to welcome 2010! I am so not ready for my vacation to end.... Monday morning will be coming too soon.......... Oh, yeah, how about New Year's Resolution--be positive... Nope that was not one I made today...... LOL

Oh my, Oh me, blue moons in the breeze!

Tonight we will have a blue moon. As defined, a blue moon is the second full moon in the calendar month, and usually occurs every 2 1/2 years.

A blue moon happening on December 31 - unique, to say the least. Last time it happened was December 31, 1990.

The next time it happens will be December 31, 2028! WOW.....

Happy New Year, boys and girls, and to all a safe night if I don't come back before 2010! LOL, giggle, giggle......