December Take It Further: What Is It To Give?

First off - the updated photo from this morning. A foot of snow. For us that's " a WoW!

This is the last Take It Further Challenge for 2008. I have really enjoyed this monthly challenge & have learned a lot along the way. Although I have missed some month's, it has been wonderful to have included these challenges in my creative life! The question that was posed for this month was "what is it to give", along with an appropriate color scheme. As always, you could pick the color scheme to work with - or the verbal suggestion - or, as I prefer to do, a combination of the two. I love the rich, warm colors of this season & angels are some of my preferred beings. Yes, I DO believe in them. It seemed natural to me that I should combine the two! I painted a background that I added the image of a painted angel to. If I had the power to "give" -the things that I would give, that I would wish for all people, and for all nations as well, would be hope & blessings. Blessings, to my way of thinking, are wishes: for love, laughter, health, prosperity, & all things good. I wish that all peoples might enjoy the happiness of home & hearth, the fullness of having enough to eat ,and, as trite as it may sound, peace on earth & good will towards each other. Never, perhaps have those words meant as much to me as they do at this point in my own history. We are about to enter into a New Year that is filled with so many different kinds of challenges, and yet, in the midst of all the potential for fear & sadness, there is , always, hope.

Namaste.

Take It Further Challenge For October: Share Your Work Space

Sharon Boggins issued a somewhat unique challenge for the month of October. She suggested sharing a glimpse your textile work space. Further she queried "How do you feel about this space? What role does it play in your life?" This then, is where I spend much of my time, although I must admit that I have much of my 'necessaries' spread out all over the house. This is a work space that I cannot stand up in - that is it's major drawback. I am hopeful that sometime soon I will have a room of my own that will allow me to stand up to cut material and to store things is the organized manner that I prefer. I am grateful however, to have such a plethora of wonderful tools and textiles to choose from. How wonderful is it, actually, to be able to say that I have things that need that kind of space?! I know that standing up would allow me to work larger because I would be able to get a better perspective on my work. I say my prayers every day for a real room - but I also say prayers of thankfullness every day - that I have these things that I enjoy so much. My space means so much to me. It is my space to do with what I will - to focus, to create, to dream and, occasioanlly, to scream (well - mentally at least!) in frustration. Thanks Sharon, for this unique challenge for October!

TIF Challenge : August : A Matter Of Balance

August's theme for the TIF Challenge was "Balance". Sharon posted the color palette and then posed the the following 'seed' questions:

What does Balance mean to you?
Do you maintain a balanced life?
How do you balance aspects of your life?

Each month we have the option of using the color palette or creating something that speaks to the 'seed' thoughts. Generally, I like to try and use components of both. Balance has always been an issue for me. It's something that I always seek, occasionally find & easily lose once again! I am finding, however, that as I add years to my life balance becomes a bit easier to define. Learning the fine art of saying "no" to things that I know will throw me off balance becomes easier as does my ability to move "into flow" as I work on these themes.

I have found that this monthly challenge is really something that I look forward to. It's a wonderful, 'do-able', way to engage the creative brain in a spontaneous way. I try to just let an idea flow - without thinking it out too much. I hope that, when this year is finished, we will either have another go round from Sharon (preferably because she has such great ideas!) or that we will be able to carry on in some similar fashion.

This is the color palette for August. Sharon uses Colour Lovers to design the palettes. If you have not checked into this fantastic site before - you really should. It's really a colour lovers treat!

TIF Challenge : July

This month's "Take It Further Challenge" catch phrase was 'What does it mean to be at the half way mark'? One can take that in so many ways. Half way through the day, the year, the hour, your life, the project, dinner, the movie. We are almost always half way through - or have half way begun - with one thing or another. I wrote 'Half way from one thing is half way towards another. No matter where you go there you are.' I do know that I am hoping that this monthly challenge will continue past this first year - I have found it to most enjoyable and would miss it very much if, in another half, we were to discontinue the monthly practice.

I should have known that something was amiss with me last week when I came home from work & slept three hours only to get up for two hours & scurry back to bed. I should have known the following day when I was staring at my computer screen at work and the words got fuzzy & I wanted to sleep so badly. I should have known when I was dizzy enough that I considered getting a ride home rather than driving myself. Next day I stayed home from work, and, rather then be smart enough to cave in by myself and call the doctor, I waited until DH made me call while he stood there to make sure that I did! I should have known. Temperature, dizzyness (some would say that I am always a bit dizzy I suppose) - the usual URI, sinus infection & bad asthma flare. After a few days of prednisone & antibiotics, and should I add, a lot of extra sleep, I am beginning to feel like something other than an attached part of the bed clothes! I wonder how old I will have to be until I allow myself to accept that when things go awry my body tells me the tale - I just have to accept what it is telling me sooner than I do!

Take It Further Challenge For June

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Deeply

The theme for this month's TIF challenge was " Stories That Are Told: Stories That Are Possible". The Om sign symbolizes the presence of the divine in all things; and , in my opinion, that represents the concept of peace. Stories have indeed been told about this symbol and what it represents. In my naive moments I like to believe that peace is possible, and that if we begin to seek peace by appreciating the small, everyday, pleasures of living well, laughing often and loving deeply we may be able, in some small way, to glimpse what a world of peace might be like. Namaste and happy weekend to all.

Detail

The Month's Color Palette from Sharon B

Happy Memorial Day & Take-It Further Challenge Piece For May

It's Memorial Day here in the States. I try to take time each year to give thanks to everyone who has served our country in the military services. I especially give thanks to my three wonderful uncles - pictured above - who served during World War II. Thankfully, they all came home. My grandmother knew many families that received the dreaded phone call telling them that a family member was injured or had died. Throughout her life, my grandmother never did like the phone because of that experience! My uncles are gone now - but I believe that they know how proud I am of them.

Otherwise, I really have been catching up this weekend. I got the Grab Bag piece just about fit to mail. I also got the May Take-It-Further challenge piece finished. You may remember that I posted a photo of a mono print I did the other day. When I went to do the TIF piece I realized that it fit the suggested color scheme and, more to the point, it also fit the 'topic' for the month, which is "how do you describe yourself?". I am, truly, becoming & that's how I describe myself. It's frustrating to realize that with each passing year I am not only getting older but am also becoming the person I always wanted to be. I wish I had arrived at this point years sooner, but I also believe that there is a reason for everything. My "spousal unit" gives me the stability that I have always needed but also, at times, I liked to reject! Taking the big step of cutting back on work has also given me so much more freedom to work on discovering and 'becoming'. I am poorer financially, but so much richer all in all. The circles in this piece are also eminently appropriate for how I describe my life. Circles figure largely in my experience. They begin, and may be broken, but somehow they always manage to come back around in order to be completed. This was another small mono print on cotton. I enhanced the print with Caran D'Ache Neocolor water soluble crayons and ink. I printed the letters using this cool new toy that I got from "Making Memories". The letters are magnetic and fit into a holder that makes stamping words so easy! I had hesitated to spend the money on them when I was at Michaels last week on my off island jaunt with Lauren but now I am so glad that I did ! Now I am ready for June's challenge! Getting a bit caught up feels so good - now on to tackle the next "want to do" project - 'Quilt For An Hour" that I mentioned in yesterday's post.

Here is the piece in my sketch book along with my playing with those new, cool, alphabet stamps!

Finally! Doing Some Catch Up

Thus far this weekend I have been able to make some headway. Thankfully! I believe I will meet the dead-line for the Grab-Bag Challenge - I just getting into the quilting phase now. I need to check the "rules" sheet - I don't think I can post any photos of it yet. I am also within minutes of having my 'Take It Further' piece for May finished. I am going to be able, at last, be able to get somewhat caught up with Judy Laquidara Quilt For An Hour piece. I am happy with the colors I chose -and think it will make an unusual quilt.

"Poison" greens have always been a favored color for me, but, before I became so totally enamored with oranges & reds, my favorite colors were "my" "poison" greens & teals. I have never been too much of a true blues fans- and cool, pale blues make my eyes squirm ...maybe it's my memories of the requisite pale blues & other pastels that many of my high school classmates (notice I didn't necessarily say friends) wore to "fancy dances" when I was growing up . I wore deep red moire or black! Anyway, I feel that my needs are, once again, beginning to swing towards teals - and, as always, more & more "poison" green. Wonder why they are called "poison" green ????? Back to the machine - I REALLY want this Grab Bag Challenge DONE & outta here ! Have a great SUNday !

TIF Challenge: April: Playing Catch Up

I am really enjoying the Take It Further Challenge, but have fallen behind on April and May. Life intervened - too much so! Finally, however, I am feeling that I can begin to catch up ! This then, is April's piece. I know that the angels are always with me - and I do call on them a lot! I think I wear them out - but they always arrive when I really need them. I am hoping to have May's done this week. Then I will breath a "caught up" sigh of relief!

Take It Further Challenge March

I have to admit that I was more challenged that usual with this color scheme. I liked the theme though - noticing the little things - the details of life. My first thought was of orchids. These incredible plants that almost grow from air. Their colors reminded me of the challenge colors- and I also liked the fact orchids contain so many special, beautiful, small details. I tried out other themes and nothing really struck me - nothing else seemed to fit once I had orchids on my mind. I used canvas, paint,inks and papers to make this interpretation of March's theme. This challenge is so good for sparking imagination !

The palette we were to use is on top in this picture.

This was one I rejected....still on the orchid idea - but a colored block pront. I think I just went too fast on this one - It could have worked I suppose.