I love to have little painting projects that take just a small amount of time to complete. Projects like painting a wooden knife block to match the kitchen, little shelves like the one above the sink, paper towel holder, things that will add just a touch of me to my decorating. I used to sit for hours and paint, but I can no longer do that, so these little projects give me a way to create on a small scale. Right now, I have a Christmas wreath in the first stages of creation, an embroidered cloth with red work...to use in the center of our kitchen table, a blue knitted scarf, and my latest project...a birthday card. I saw this book of wildflowers at Amazon ...used, for just a few cents plus $3.99 shipping. It was suggested to use this book...to cut the pictures of flowers out and apply them to different items....by gluing..mod podge etc. I got an idea...I got some watercolor cards with envelopes and decided to make some cards. After using watercolors for the background, I would glue the flower to the paper and then use watercolors to do some shading on the flower and add some veining to the leaves. Then, using a pen, I would do a little decorative pen work to the picture. I waited for the book to arrive, and when it did...I looked at it and just couldn't cut it up. The book was in tip top condition and so beautiful. Thinking about it for a couple of days, I decided to search again on Amazon for another used book to use. This same book came up...so I ordered it. Now I have two books and cutting one up won't be so bad. We have a birthday in the family this week, so I set to work making the card. I am so pleased with the quality of the watercolor paper and the deckle edged envelopes.(I just made the picture larger and see that most of the painting didn't show up. It looks like just a dab of paint in each corner. There is actually a lighter color of yellow ochre that didn't show up and you can't see the pen work...oh, well that's how the picture turned out.). I started thinking about Christmas cards, but that would require hours of sitting...so I forgot about that. Just one at a time...that's my speed right now.
Today is warm, gloomy, rainy, and a good day to go to lunch with friends. I am meeting a couple of friends at a little restaurant here in town for lunch at noon. Lots of laughter, good conversation and a good lunch for today.
I am going to start my fall cleanup outside...when the weather changes this next week. I just can't wait any longer, because it will take me so long and I don't want to be out there in the cold. I plan to use our new weed whacker, which is so lightweight and easy to manage. I'm going to start in the back yard and leave the front for the fall season. The side yards can be done early too. I've decided not to try to save plants in the house this winter. Trying to lighten my load in the house. We don't have cleaning help... in the house, and it's a good sized house to take care of for me. I don't need anything extra to have to do.I've tried to get rid of plants this summer that aren't doing well or look scraggly I put several together to save me steps when watering. Just one amaryllis this year...I think that I will appreciate watching one grow even more than having several.
So, now I am thinking of Christmas preparations...I'll save that for another day. Just trying to keep my life simpler...one day at a time.
Balisha
9 comments:
I need to tackle fall cleanup too. I'm not bringing plants in this year. Simplify is a good motto.
Enjoy your lunch with friends. I can't think of a better way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Sounds like you are having a lovely time crafting. I wish I could paint! Jx
I am right there with you Pat. Adding the little personal touches when it becomes too much to tackle the big things. I used to pint watercolour pictures, now I make greetings cards as an instance.
Cutting down on the garden but having my 'quirky corner' too.
Balisha,
I like small projects too-wish I could take on bigger ones but I seem to lack the patience! Maybe someday!
I hope you had a lovely lunch date!
Warmest Hugs,
jemma
YES--I too starting fall clean-up next week--so humid and then rainy here. I too working on Christmas stuff. We are organized aren't we? Or is it that it now takes longer to do each task, so we start earlier to get it done? I have to rest between garden jobs nowadays. My mind says I am 40--my arthritis and back says I am 90. LOL
It seems like we are all in the same boat. Fall cleanup is my least favorite job in the garden. I love to work in the spring when everything is popping up fresh and green and then enjoy watching and tending as the garden grows lush in the summer...but fall...when things start dying back and look not so nice....I wish it would all magically go away.
When I see the lovely things that bloggers are creating...it gives me the idea that I want to create too. These little projects are fun and they satisfy my creative side.
Balisha
I love how you couldn't cut the first pretty book up :)
I was with a friend today at a flea market and we saw old Golden books for children. She was looking for Christmas ones to cut up for Christmas cards I thought that was interesting. Love your card. Happy fall.
I really like to follow your life, Balisha. I probably need to clean up my box flowerbed too. It's really overrun itself.
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