Say hi to my Buddy!

Well it's been a rather rough couple of weeks... you know that cold bug that's going around... it got me...good!  In the middle of all of this misery that seemed to go on forever, the only bright spot was deciding to go with hubby on our planned trip to Seattle in spite of feeling so rotten.

It was worth it... as it usually is... I love Seattle!!  A couple of side trips down to the Pike Street Market and Pirosky, Pirosky for some Russian braid and smoked salmon turnovers while we were there definitely improved my waistline if not my health...but oh my was it tasty.  It was a nice little getaway and the weather was fantastic... for Seattle!

Now to today's blog entry...

A number of years ago, I had a real yen to make a "little corner buddy" but never did get around to it. What's a little corner buddy?  Well it's a little guy or girl "doll" that is dressed in   three year old clothes and stands in the corner with its face to the wall looking cute!

I decided to make it a reality over the Christmas break... Yes, yes, I know I must be entering my second childhood... wanting to play with minis and dolls... but oh my it is so much fun!!  Hubby just shakes his head when I come up with these crazy ideas, smiles and says "oh go for it sweetie"

I decided we would opt for a "boy"... hubby just sat there with a crooked smile on his face and chuckled audibly!!  He didn't realize at the time that WE were going to go clothes and shoe shopping for this little tyke.

Well it didn't take long before Buddy was put together... I had had the pattern for so long it was yellow with age.  The pattern cut out, the sewing machine humming, the stuffing firmly in place and the last stitch sewn, he wobbled into the guest room and over to the window... bare butt and all!  Yes, this little guy definitely needed some clothes!!

Off to the mall we went.  Now at first, hubby wasn't going to come to the kid section with me (the computer section is more to his liking) but then decided he'd go along for the chuckle.  Well guess who got right into it? 

"Hey look at this shirt... would that fit?" asked the man of the house.
"Is it size 3?" I inquired.
"Yep, and it would look good with a navy blue t-shirt and some jeans!"  He was getting right into this!

Well it didn't take long before hubby had all his clothes and get this... argyle socks... picked out.  Poor thing needed shoes though!  So off to the shoe department to buy some Adidas running shoes and we were done. 

It has been a few years since we had bought kid's clothes, I gulped at the check out.  When did little kid's clothes get so expensive?  Well never mind, he only needed one outfit...thank heavens!!

So here is our Buddy, all decked out in his new clothes.  With his Mustang racing hat on that Mama got on one of their Nascar racing trips down south, he's getting into trouble already messing around with stuff on the blanket box. 

This little guy is as cute as a button and when anyone sees him, they nearly do a double take...(I didn't know you had a grandson, they say) He looks pretty darn real from the back don't you think??
 

So until the next artsy fartsy idea hits me, keep on arting...and see you soon.

Sharon

Little Things Come in Big Packages

As I was getting ready today to pack up a "gift of polymer clay" for my dear friend Becky in North Carolina, I realized I hadn't taken any photos of some very cute "little clay things" that are going into the package.  Before I mail it today (late as usual!), I thought I would share some photos with you...

These crochet hooks are for Gramma (my friend's Mom whom I just adore).  Gramma is an avid crocheter and will appreciate these along with the little chocolate "calorie free" stitch markers that go with them.

A bit of background.  Becky and I have been close friends for eons and eons.  Even though we are separated by many, many miles and live on opposite coasts now, we still chat with each other every week. Among the other goodies in the package will be some little red running shoes.  Sorry that the photo below is not great... the shoes are so small that it was hard to get a good photo of them but trust me they are adorable.

 So why the red running shoes?

Well, Becky is a nurse and when she was on the floor she used to wear red tennies.  We used to call her Nurse Becky with the Red Tennies.  She is now in nurse management but the red tennies still hold a lot of significance for her.  They are a reminder for her to listen to and stay true to her heart.  Whenever she is in a quandary, is worried about something or needs to make an important decision we talk about her red tennies!!

Becky can make the little tennies into earrings (she is an avid jewelry maker).  They are less than 1" long and have her initials in them.  Along with them will go the larger shoe that she can make into a pendant or put on a chain.

There are some other surprises but I am staying MUM about them for now... don't want to reveal all the surprises in the package. I'll just sit back and wait for the package to arrive because...

It's hilarious when the package is plunked down on her doorstep.  She never waits for Christmas to open it.  Nope she dives right in, rips open the package and calls me!!  Ah, there is nothing like the beauty and love of chatting and being with old friends who know you "inside out" and "outside in" especially at this time of the year.

Santa is definitely on his way folks...

Have a delicious week,
Sharon

Feeling Stuck? Bogged Down? Need some Inspiration? Read on...

The last couple of days I have been thinking about what I would post this week! Personally, it's been a rather stressful week with one thing and another and nothing was coming to me... it was as if I had put my thinking cap somewhere and I'd be darned if I could find it.

I think most of us experience this from time to time and it can be very frustrating to say the least. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's finding a subject for a blog post, solving a problem, writing a story or inspiration for a new art piece. The more I try to get unstuck, the more stuck I get!

Our Oh So Serious Lives

Ever notice how bogged down you can get in work, worry, home chores,routine, paperwork, and/or "other people's agendas"? Personal, family, employment and community stressors can influence our lives so much that our "SELVES" seem to get lost in the "card shuffle" of everyday life.

Life becomes "serious" and we "should" all over ourselves... "I should but...(fill in the blank)" becomes our mantra. One day feels like the next as we start going through the motions. Our senses dull. We start snapping at the dog or uttering uncharitable words at the drivers on the freeway!

So what can we do when we find ourselves stuck in this quagmire? How can we pull ourselves out of the "muck" and recapture the excitement, surprise, wonder and serendipity that brightens our days and feeds our soul?

One word: PLAY

Excuses, Excuses

Now I am sure, like me, you could find a gazillion tried, true, familiar reasons why you might scoff at that idea. I don't need to write them down here for you. You know what they are! You might even be saying my favourite one to yourself right now "I don't have time. I've gotta get this (or that) done!"

Enough is enough!

When I sat down to write today (and nothing was coming to me), I knew that I was buying my own B.S. (basic storyline). No way I had time to play. Are you kidding? I had to get this done. No time for fooling around. BLAH! BLAH! BLAH! As I listened to myself conjure up every excuse in the book, I started to laugh. I was "wasting" time thinking up excuses. Now how silly is that? I heard my little self say to my big SELF: "Enough is enough." It was time to play.


I fired up my Internet browser. Scrolled down to the "Toybox" bookmark. A list of "web toys" appeared.

Blog Post Idea Generator - I just recently found this lovely little app by chance. I clicked on it and chuckled when I read: "Suggest ten free resources that your readers would benefit from". “Okay... that’s easy! “ I said to my SELF, “I’ll share my list of “break out” toys.” Try this one the next time you can't think of what to write about on your blog. It works!!!
Update:  This site is no longer there.  Try this site, Content Idea Generator instead.

One Word – One word writing prompts. This definitely can get you past writer’s block. One word with sixty seconds to write about it without thinking. A “just do it” app with a timer! You can even email what you wrote to yourself in those 60 seconds.

Imagination Prompt – Similar to the Blog Post Idea Generator, I really like this little app with it’s interesting prompts. “If your tears could speak to you, what would they say?” WHEW! I think I'll leave that one for some other time....

ShapeCollage - This is a fun toy! It takes photos or images on your computer and makes them into all sorts of different shapes. You will need to download it and install it on your computer. Only takes a few minutes to start having fun with your photos. 

Picture Prompt – This one can get me going when I need some “art” inspiration. Great for those of us who need visual stimulation to break through our “stuckness”. There’s a new one every day for you to have some fun with.

Scribbler Tool – Go doodle with this one or just mess around and see what comes up. You can use your mouse or a drawing tablet… and even upload something you are currently working on.

Colour Lovers – I love messing around on this site. I could spend hours here just playing with colour and patterns. It’s pretty simple. All you have to do is choose a colour, create a palette and design a new pattern. Try it! A word from the wise: Make sure you have a timer handy or an hour spent on this site might feel like it was only 10 minutes.

Kuler – from Adobe. If you like creating colour palettes, this is the site for you. Immerse yourself in colour and come up with some nifty combinations here to use in your next art drawing or digital collage.

Oblique Strategies – This is the web version of a deck of cards meant to inspire. The idea behind Oblique Strategies is that when we’re working hard or under stress, the pressure tends to push us away from the type of creative, productive thinking that we’re capable of when the pressure’s off.

Ideally you choose a card from the deck and as you read it, it breaks the deadlock to help your creative juices to start flowing again. Many of the strategies were designed with music in mind (it was developed by Brian Eno, a musician and his friend Peter Schmidt, a painter) so if the card prompt you draw doesn’t work for you, just choose another one.

I laughed to myself when I drew "Plug in your earphones!"

What a good idea... I picked up my IPod and listened to some of my favourite music for about 10 minutes. It picked my spirits up in no time!

Rum & Monkey – Lots of silly, fun “timewasters” (their words) to bring a smile to your face and get you unstuck and moving in a different direction. Little Tests to find out who you and some fun little toys to play with.
Update:  Unfortunately this site is no longer there but here's another one that you might enjoy: Brain Teasers

Well that’s ten but here’s another one, ‘cause I’m on a roll …LOL

Bomomo – A fun art generator. Hold down your left mouse button and try out all the different drawing buttons! Fun and colourful....

So there you have it! The next time you are feeling bogged down, need a break from monotony, want some inspiration or just want to play, you can reference this list. You'll be back on top of your game again in no time at all.

Have a fun and inspiring week…and remember to play!

Sharon

P.S. WOW I am feeling energized and ready to roar now. I found my thinking cap again. WHEW! That's a relief (smile).

Having Too Much Fun...

Is there such a thing?  If so, I am wallowing in it!  I have been so art deprived these past couple of months that I am making up for it BIG TIME this week.

Sewing is still a little difficult since my eye operation... the close up work gives me a headache rather quickly... so I had to find something else to fill me up with "happy juice".  I decided that I would play with my clay... and get the "celebration giveaway" for this week finished up while I was at it.

I have hesitated *forever* in trying to make a face cane.  I wasn't sure how to go about it and didn't have a clue as to how it would turn out.  I found some instructions in one of my clay books and decided to take the plunge.  It took me forever to put it together (like most of the day!) and get it reduced.  Well what a laugh I had when I finally got it done... it was so ugly, it was darn near cute! 

"OMG what am I going to do with this big,  fat, homely cane?" I mused to myself.  "Well let's see if I can dress it up..."

The "ButtonLady" below was fitted with a black "wig" (with a few strands of gray) and a button bonnet with a bow.  I keeled over laughing... what a "honker" she has!  Mouthy too.  LOL. Well, she just had to have some friends, so I took a piece of the cane, reduced it down and made her some "girlfriends" to have "heart to heart" chats with.  The more I look at them, the more I smile!  I am beginning to like them... they are just so "real".   Go figure...

They need some names.  Got any ideas?  One of the girlfriends is definitely a "Shirley"!  Don't ask me why... I haven't got a clue... she is just a "Shirley"!  Can you guess which one it is? 

Let's have some fun.  Leave a comment with your name ideas for these lovely ladies and I'll throw your name in the hat for the "Celebration Giveaway" to be drawn this Friday.  If you left a comment on the previous post announcing the "giveaway", here's you chance to get your name in twice!

Which brings me to... a photo of the (finally) finished "Giveaway"!  I had something else in mind when I first announced the giveaway but then I got together with three of my clay buddies last weekend for a "clay play day" to make raku lentil bead pendants.  Well, I just had to make another one.  It turned out so nicely that I decided it was the perfect gift for the giveaway draw. 

We all forgot to put seed beads in our beads on the weekend but I didn't forget them when I made this one.  It has tiny beads inside and when you shake it, it has a very gentle rattle.  It actually has more texture on it than is showing in the photo... you know me, I'm not that great a photographer... but trust me, there is!

So there you have it!  Help me name those ladies (leave your comment below) then check back on Friday (June 11) to see if you are the winner.  I'll show you some more "stuff" that should be finished by then too.

Chat with you on Friday...

Sharon