Remember that Sept. 1948 issue of Calling All Girls magazine? My husband had the wonderful idea to make a charm from its cover. Here is is front and back. The image of the man is also from the magazine. I added the word HERS beside his face. I’ll be making more of these with different color marbles on each charm. This one is listed in my Etsy shop. The rest should be ready next week.

I love working with old things, especially magazines, catalogs, and photos. They have such a story to tell. The way that women thought, or the interests they pursued appear to be so different in 1948 if I look only at this magazine. Some things haven’t changed, such as the media directing the interests of the masses.

amanda ∞

My dad’s birthday is next week. I’m hoping he doesn’t read my blog before then because this is his gift. The photo is him as a boy. I collaged a 1940 Hunting and Fishing magazine ad page onto an old dictionary cover, 6.25″ X 8.75″. The silver strips are soldered. I was a little nervous that I would burn up the paper with the solder iron, but it worked great. The finishing touch will be adding wire on the back to hang it.

This piece also fits into the Mixed Media Monday theme of Paint, since I painted the paper and around the photo using acrylics.

amanda ∞

Sheri shared some fun odd quirky things about herself, and has tagged me to share as well.

1.)  I always carry books with me where ever I go, just in case. Although I seldom have the opportunity to read while on the go, the moment I leave them behind, I regret it.

2.)  I don’t like holes in things. Once we were served a stuffed pizza with holes on the top to let out steam. I couldn’t eat it. 

3.)  When I go out, I have to have something on my lips. I may not wear any other makeup, but feel naked with a little gloss or something.

4.)  I always let too much time go between haircuts. I don’t make the appointment until my scraggly stage. When will I ever learn?

5.)  I hum, whistle, or sing all the time. It is very hard for me to be quiet. I got in trouble alot in school because of this.

6.)  I love to roam around in my pajamas for half the morning. I don’t always get to, but it’s my preference.

I’ve desired to know how to draw for years. After several tries with “learn to draw or sketch” books with instructions and suggestions, I’ve finally decided that The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was worth the time investment it would take to read. It is more than a “learn to draw” book, but rather a “learn to see” book as it delves into the functions of the left and right sides of the brain. Combine this with the Artist’s Way and I have a fresh perspective on the walls I’ve built around creativity.

According to Julia Cameron, author of The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain:

The left hemisphere [of the brain] analyzes, abstracts, counts, marks time, plans stop-by-stop procedures, verbalizes, and makes rational statements based on logic.

Using the right hemisphere, we understand metaphors, we dream, we create new combinations of ideas. When something is too complex to describe, we can make gestures that communicate…and we are able to draw pictures of our perceptions.

Her book has many more examples of L-mode (left hemisphere mode) and R-mode characteristics. I absorbed them all eagerly, fascinated. All the while a thought was making its way to the surface:

I have been taught somewhere along the way that R-mode is bad and L-mode is good.

Now I understand why I loved playing the piano. I knew the keyboard well and would switch to R-mode as I played. I felt free and alive, but I never felt comfortable playing the piano in front of others. Somewhere along the line, I also learned that revealing one’s soul was bad and that is what I did in R-mode. No wonder it has taken me this long in life to let go and truly express myself. I was putting my soul under the guillotine every time I left L-mode.

I entered college with a piano scholarship. As part of the scholarship, I received money and also piano lessons from an excellent instructor. The catch was that I had to accompany vocal soloists to receive the scholarship. I made it through two semesters and then caved because of the pressure of having to play in front of others. But my piano instructor was so unbelievably fabulous. I could play in front of him. He introduced me to some of my favorite music and taught me so much. After the scholarship ended, so did my piano playing. I was 18.

Back to L-mode, this is the mode in which I have learned to function. Something deep within me kept turning me towards the creative, but every time I would get slightly involved, my L-mode self would tell my R-mode self that I didn’t have time to do those unimportant things, like learning to draw. And my R-mode was still was extremely self-conscious. 

As I began down the path with my altered hymnal, something inside me awakened. Still the only time I would allow myself to work on the pages was when I was alone. (Being a homeschool mom with a self-employed husband does not allow for much alone time.) The more I worked on the book, the more I wanted to learn. With the more I learned and experienced, the more I felt that this is what I was supposed to be doing. And then my L-mode would kick me in the pants and tell me that I was wasting time again.

The combination of these two books have given me a creative freedom that is also allowing me to be fully who God created me to be. I no longer view the creative mode as a “treat” that I might get at the end of the day - if I have time and am not too tired. My right hemisphere is rejoicing as I allow it freedom to roam almost all day. I am once again reminded of the childhood me that always thought of herself in 3rd person. My life was a story that was being continually played out. I was narrator and also the main character, She.

Some side affects of this freedom include a little messier house, and a lost concept of time. My stomach is the only clock left. Okay, also the coffee alarm. The difficult part is breaking bad habits and finding that delicate balance between creative freedom and irresponsibility. I am also learning to allow the kids more creative freedom in their school day. School can take longer this way, but is much more enjoyable along the way. In this I am also still finding balance.

And now, because I am practicing and learning to let go of all fears, I’m revealing my first self portrait and my hand. These were to be done with no instruction yet as to how to draw. After I work my way through the entire book, I am going to post a comparison self portrait. I’m hoping by then to conquer that dang nose.
  

At this point, I would appreciate no comments about my drawing, even if they are encouraging. Thank you.

amanda ∞

My neighbor had purchased a scrapbook at an estate sale. It has now found a home in our dining room. The dates of the contents stretch from the 1940s to 1960s. The scrapbook has fallen to pieces and now fills a large box with mementos from someone else’s life, her children, her relatives, scrapes & bruises, awards, letters from teachers, get-well cards. As we piece through this woman’s life, we find joy and peace. I like this scrapbook. Since I don’t recognize the faces and have only clues to the stories, I get to make up my own, to dream of the stories each picture or card holds. Can’t wait to use them in my art!

amanda ∞

Yesterday, we got a great chuckle out of Suzan’s artwork over at Thrify Collage Artist, so much so that my son made his own version:

You should walk a mile in someone else’s pants,
’cause then you will be a mile away.
And you will have their pants.

amanda ∞
 

Another favorite passage from Les Miserables:

Jean Valjean  Book First XVI: “There are people who ask nothing more; living beings who, having blue sky, say: “it is enough!” dreamers absorbed in marvel, drawing from idolatry of nature an indifference to good and evil, contemplators of the cosmos radiantly diverted from man, who do not understand how anybody can busy himself with the hunger of these, with the thirst of those, with the nakedness of the poor in winter, with the lymphatic curvature of a little backbone, with the pallet, with the garret, with the dungeon, and with the rags of shivering little girls, when he might dream under the trees; peaceful and terrible souls, pitilessly content.”

I find this passage even more intriguing after delving into Contentment myself. Biblical contentment is being satisfied with one’s state of being no matter what. It is, in a sense, being grateful, no matter the circumstances. The people described in the passage above are seemingly content. Victor Hugo describes them as “pitilessly content.” They have no compassion, so lulled with their own dreams and the beauty of nature.

Pondering why this passage struck me so, I think it’s from the fear that I would become such a person, so content with the happiness of my family and the ease of my life that I would forget the needs of others. God has created me in such a way that my heart grieves for those in need. And we have chosen to live in a part of our city that is not white-washed and beautiful. The need of mankind is evident here. But occasionally I do forget, or ignore the needs, so that I can just simply be. In this state, I have never found true contentment, but often depression as the my heart responds to the the cries of the people even when my mind does not.

amanda ∞

This page in my altered hymnal has a theme of contentment prompted by the latest challenge at Salt.

The words around the edge read: Paul says “for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, to be content.” I desire to be this way all the time, but sometimes contentment eludes me. Then I find it again.

Also the imagery is related to Matthew 6:26: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

This verse is a great reminder to me that God will take care of my needs, and my response should be contentment and gratefulness for this care, not worry or greed.

amanda ∞

I’m still not reading and still not enjoying not reading. I’m curious when I get done with this assignment if I will appreciate something about it. I have been busy though. Today I soldered a bit more. Here’s the result:

I painted the trees on Scripture and then gave them a blue glaze to tone down the printing. The back of the charm is painted with an ochre glaze with a small green border. I thought the word Grow was a perfect complement as trees are such a beautiful picture of man in the Bible. And I personally desire to Grow spiritually.

And exciting news for my daughter. She sold her first item in her Etsy Shop today. It was her favorite charm she has made.

amanda ∞
 

So I recently opened my own Etsy shop. In order to do this, I had to photograph my rings.

After viewing the photos on my Etsy shop, my husband went to his shop and quickly made me a Light Box covered in silk and gave me some instructions on taking photos.

So today, I tried again. The silk filters the sun nicely. I feel another skill is to be learned. This will be fun.

 amanda ∞