Rebecca Sower

fun with letters

It's been a while since I've walked down the scrapbooking aisle at the craft store.  A lot has changed and a lot has remained the same.  It's all good.  I picked up a few things that I liked.  But, just like back in the day, when I went to use them I couldn't help myself from adding some handmade touches.

I liked these cardstock alphas and thought they'd be fun to use in one of my journal projects.  Lots of color and great fonts.  And to make them more 'mine' I pulled out my box of paint pens, put on some good music and started doodling (before I punched the letters out, much easier)...

And after some relaxing, sketching, playing time I have a stack of colorful, store-bought/handmade letters to use when I need them.

With plans to do more...lots more!

May you find peace and joy in this day.  Love!

 

needle and thread

Does it make me a nerd if those two words are among my favorites in the English language?  I venture out into all sorts of creative materials now and then, and love them all, but I always end up back here.  Stitching by hand...

I've been working on this design (getting ready for Spring perhaps?) and have listed it in my shop.  This one I stitched into a pillow, perfect for the front porch.  The design is pre-printed on fabric this time, all ready to go.  For this next one I'm going to use vivid Summer colors...a book bag maybe?  The center of a picnic quilt?...

If you order one, you will also receive the same design printed on paper too, that you can transfer to other materials.  I'm working on some of the flowers individually that will be made into little linen sachet bags, pinkeeps and such.  As they say, the possibilities are endless.

Much love to you on this warm and stormy Wednesday (that's my radar anyway, great stitching weather).

love series, session 2

"The first duty of love

is to listen."

{ paul tillich }

Here I stitched a simple heart design onto scrap of old sweater, stitched that to a scrap of vintage linen, then stitched that to a shipping tag.  Then tied the tag to an old bottle with ribbon and an antique key.  This heart design is on page 1 of my "50 Hearts" embroidery patterns here.

the autumn focus board

{unrelated update: I finally added the Google Friend Connect badge in my sidebar for those of you who've been asking...sorry it took me so long!}

A wish of mine, to gather all of autumn's colorful abundance in my arms and squeeze it into the nooks of my home.  The clear clean air, the warm sun, the crunchiness and crispness of it all.  Who says I can't scoop up a big bundle of the golden leaves that fall from the old maples out front and throw them down on the wood floors inside?  One of these years I might just do it, since my sweet family long ago dropped their quizzical looks at my 'decorating' ideas.

Summer's ending (sigh).  And the bittersweetness that comes every year at this time nudges me to cling to all that I have left of summer while I look forward a bit to fall.  I have the usual cleaning, organizing lists in my mind.  But I also want to breathe deeply and make autumn a little richer than that.

I want to focus on things like sharing summer's preserves with others, gathering with people I love, reconnecting with friends, nourishing my soul so I can nourish others, write in my journals (so long neglected)...all good stuff.

Do I need to be reminded to focus on these things?  Yeah, pretty much I do.  I'm a long believer that creatively putting words here and there around me helps me remember what's important in life. 

I created what I will call my 'autumn focus board'.  I am already inspired to do these things...just need to reign in my focus now and then you know?  And maybe you will be inspired just a bit to create something to help yourself focus on the things that matter.  That's my hope anyway.  Please share if you do.

Until next time, may your days be filled with grace and peace.  And all the abundance of autumn.

creatively cold

For all my dear friends who are still buried under an icy, snowy, wintery chill.  Who can't seem to find any creative warmth no matter how hard you try (there are many of you, I've been doing a little blog visiting--and I'm right there with you). 

I think what we all need is a big warm hug from the sun, don't you?

 

1. 052We interrupt your regularly scheduled photoshoot for a vintage bicycle, 2. Look To The Sun, 3. Bright Lights Full Apron, 4. yellow bliss, 5. warm sunny day, 6. Happy Yellow Sun Felt Handmade Ornament, 7. yellow dress yellow dress yellow dress, 8. Straw Bag,Crafts Bag,Fashion Straw Bag,Wheat Straw Bag,Knitted Bag,Beach Bag,Ladies HandBag,Straw Basket Bag,Tote bags, Straw bags,Paper Straw Bag,Straw Handbag., 9. Open Windows, 10. It was in the summer that we met, 11. Golden Summer, 12. Sun-baked Nachos, 13. Maternity Photo Series: Fill her shoes, 14. summer, 15. Golden Sunburst Ring RAD2010 #40, 16. Bench Monday - Picnic Blanket, 17. n115 zoom 2, 18. Two hearts, 19. Kodachrome - Woman in Antique Yellow Convertible Car, 20. Star Burst Mary Jane Slippers, 21. freedom, 22. Yellow Shutters, 23. clothesline, 24. Farmers' Market 11, 25. picnic stripes quilt

Let your creativity's winter doldrums run their course.  The sun will come out tomorrow.  It will.  And when it does, we will be warm again.

yesterday and tomorrow

To feed my creative spirit I have to take a glance back.  And then a long, dedicated focus forward.  My first step in doing this was to look over what I've done creatively over the past year or two...

I share this process with you because it's been really helpful and motivating.  I think it will be for you too.  Glance over the things you've created in the past (If you want to make a photo mosaic like I've done you can do that here)...and ask yourself these questions...

Would I create this same piece again?

Would I buy this and display/use in my home?

Is this something that really speaks of who I am artistically?

If you're saying an honest 'yes'...then go forward in the direction of your dreams (i stole that quote you know).

If you're saying 'hmmm, not so sure'...then focus on what you'd like to do to work toward some transformations in your art/craft.  For me, I look at my work and as much as I'm comfortable with most of it...well, I'm ready to stretch even further.  And that's what it all is, isn't it?  Continuing to stretch and push and discover (so nourishing to our creative spirit!).

Two ideas of encouragement and support (okay, advice)...

Take time to enrich your creativity.  This is hard for us (me).  Really, really hard.  We're conditioned to be more productive and then move on to the next thing.  But this isn't creatively satisfying.  Be okay with not churning out projects for a while.  Nuture your creative self with long, cleansing sessions of trying things out, discovering new techniques, even allowing frustrations at 'failures' along the way.  It's how we grow.

Make it you.  Each of us are inspired by others and that is a beautiful starting point.  But it will not nourish us creatively if we don't make it ours.  Be yourself!!  How many times have we heard that?  Trying to create something that you hope others will like/approve of is a burden.  It's so freeing to pour your own creative soul into something and just not care.  Trust me, I am speaking mainly to myself here...been guilty of this for so long.  Spend time pondering over all the things that make you you...what you love, your personality, your design preferences, your favorite words, colors, music, books.  What textures, mediums and materials do you love?  What sounds, scents and sights make you happy?...I could start a whole course here, but you get the idea.

Enough for today?  I think so too.

The word 'sacrifice' keeps popping into my head lately.  And how it ties into all this.  Maybe we can talk about that next time.

Grace for today, dear ones.

life, creatively

I'm in full-on homestead mode here on our little piece of earth.  If summer is busy, autumn is even more so.  But beautifully busy.  Feel-good distractions pulling me away from this computer.

Our newest hens are laying like crazy.  So with the baskets full of healthy, happy eggs comes much fall baking.  And since I'm in the kitchen...

 
I should bake a pie or two with these most delicious honeycrisp apples that I've gone back to the store three times to restock.  We can't stop eating them this time of year.  Wow, my kitchen is a busy place, a lot of kitchen sounds with good tunes to keep me bustling.

 
My sweet-16 cupcake baker made these.  And for dinner you could try this stew or this meatloaf.  We loved them both.  Let's see, what else is going on around here?

Oh yeah, it's time to drag this beast out and put her to work.  And work she does....

 

For the past few years I've been canning all sorts of foods with the best ingredients available, many are from local gardens and farmers.  It feels so good to be less relient on ingredients I'm not okay with.  Can you tell I watched Food Inc. again recently?  Gets me every time.

 

Fall is also backpacking season for us.  The packs are lined up and getting ready to go for our trip to the mountains next week.  100% nature and each other for three straight days.  We come home dirty and exhausted and a little grouchy.  But our spirits are cleansed and mended and re-energized.  Unplugging from everything always offer its own beautiful rewards.  Need a source of inspiration for getting out into God's green earth?  I have just the thing.  And when we return?  It's back to 'project studio re-do', no more procrastinating.  It's coming along, a little more slowly with my self-imposed budget of $0.  Pushes me to be a little more creative in my thought processes.

So you see?  There's much calling me away from this computer screen.  I know it's the same with you.  Grab my hand and let's get out there together.  No more sitting around talking about living creatively...let the creative life begin!

 

 

 

the beautiful combination of art & motherhood

Many of you young mothers out there think you have to wait until your children are older to have time for your creativity.  You think you're too tired to be creative.  You think you're too busy to make art.  So you are just waiting for that magical day, when your children are older, to have time to focus on your artistic side.

One young mother has found a way to bring it all together--her role as mommy and her art.  Shona Cole has written a practical guide for fitting creativity into your life.  May I introduce The Artistic Mother.

I have been asked to be a part of many art and crafting books, and each one has been a rewarding experience.  But this book, to me, is a little different.  It takes two of the most driving forces in my life--motherhood and art--and illustrates how those two things are more beautiful when they are in harmony.

Shona covers everything from writing poetry to step-by-step projects that will help you begin your journey toward being an artistic mother.  She gives guidance on planning your day, photography and art goals.  Scattered throughout are 'artist spotlights' from other art moms like Misty Mawn, Corey Moortgat and Susan Tuttle.  Truly, this is a really good book and I'm not just saying that because I'm in it. :)

I'll close this post with the opening quote in Shona's book, by John Updike...

"What art offers is space--

a certain breathing room for the spirit."

Well said indeed, Mr. Updike.  Until next time, dear friends . . .

 

(p.s.  There are some amazing things going on over at Haiti by Hand...like a Mary Engelbreit original...and some bags donated by Amy Butler...just didn't want you to miss out--wink wink.)

 

 

 

disorderly discoveries

"One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly

 making exciting discoveries."

{ a.a. milne     }

I have been meaning to post more often.  I have been busy making discoveries, mostly in my studio.  After a long spell away, I walk in with new eyes and find forgotten and neglected materials and ideas.  I'm rediscovering my paints and even my sketch pencils...and more on that later if I'm brave enough to share...

But I have missed my time here with you.  And I am ready to step out of my corner and reconnect.

First I will let you know about this...

 

...an article featuring a couple of my aprons in Art Quilting Studio.  For you stitchers and textile artists this really is a fascinating publication, rich with ideas and techniques...enough to make your fingers itch.

And this...

...am excited to be a part of this book.  More about this on the 4th (next Thursday?).  But for anyone who has a blog or is beginning a new blog, a really great book of inspiration, and I would not say that if it weren't true.

Hmmm, let's see...oh yes!...really excited to be teaching with Amy and others at Artology Retreat in Holland, Michigan, in October.   We'll each be teaching day-long workshops, mine on this project...

 

Oh plenty else going on...but enough for now.

And I'm thinking of giving something away to one of you, very soon.  So come back for a visit tomorrow...or maybe the day after that...

grace and peace.

 

small things

I know each of us feel this sometimes.  This brimming over with ideas of projects and pieces, all boiling and burning in us until we have the time to get in our studio and actually bring them to fruition.  I have yet to decide upon which is worse...artist's block or the plethora of motivation and ideas but real life pulling us to the point of not being able to create.  Which is where I am now.  I am feeling an almost physical pull toward my studio, but must push it aside to help with my son's science project or take a daughter to practice or, well on and on and on...you know, you've been there or are there now.

So I try to do small things.  Small things while the bigger things are trying to pound their way out.  But they have grown accustomed to waiting.  and waiting...and waiting...

Small things...

 

...just to keep my creative soul partially appeased...

  

...and to try to keep up with real life at the same time.

Real life is good.  Really good.  And holds its own measure of creativity, of course it does.  But sometimes...

Well, I knew you'd understand.