Author : halleday

1729 posts

Words to live by

I’m super excited to announce that I have the honor of hosting over at Art Journal Journey this month.

Art Journal Journey

I have chosen the theme of Words to live by.

An art journal page just doesn’t seem complete without at least one word on it if you ask me. I’d say that I’m a stickler for the rules and true definition of a journal but that would be a big fat lie. I’m more of a rules are meant to be broken sort of gal…just don’t tell my kids at home or school. However, the gals over at Art Journal Journey do have some rules to adhere to if you want to play along so be sure to check them out.

For my first journal page of the June theme, I began with an abandoned piece of painted watercolor paper. I think Mini-me was attempting a night sky perhaps. Or maybe it was even me…who knows…who cares. It became the base as I began to stack layers of papers and fabric until I found a pleasing arrangement.

I used my sewing machine to loosely stitch the background layers together while I still contemplated where my page was headed. I rarely have an end goal in mind when I sit down to create. It really tends to stifle my creative process.

After a time, I decided on an image I know I have used at least once…but I’m thinking perhaps twice in the past as my focal point. I slipped a piece of dictionary page and scrap of vellum under the image before attaching it with brads. 

The page was really coming together now. I added a few extras such as washi tape, a punched medallion and vintage button before searching out words for my page.

In general the words are my last but critical step in my journal process. As I said before, I cannot seem to create a page with words. Found text is really my favorite way of adding words. The challenge to find something relevant that speaks my mind is so much fun!

When I noticed this phrase I thought it very fitting for the crew in the photo. What is up with this group anyway? Siblings, co-workers, man and his many wives, school chums, glee club…what’s their story? I bet it could start with the phrase “Strangest thing happened…”

Won’t you join me for Words to live by over at Art Journal Journey?

Art Journal Journey

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T Tuesday: motivation edition

The beginning of this long Memorial Day weekend was filled with activity. Outdoors was where it was at. Mowing, garden planted, attending a graduation party, grilling, bonfire, morning “campfire breakfast” with the neighbors just to name a few. It was amazing.  

Obviously this was before planting. I didn’t get any photos of the after…not sure why but must have slipped my mind.

This is today…nothing much to see. I feel for all the Memorial Day remembrances and ceremonies that are either extremely soggy or had to be cancelled. Can’t change the weather though.

Today our pursuits are of the indoor variety.  I put together this this gift for another rock loving gal.

Mini-me is working on a children’s book assignment for her AP Biology class. They each had to pick a topic from the year to base their book upon. She chose ecosystems. The penguin will be explaining ecosystems to the leopard seal. I love out of the box projects such as this. Of course, it would have been a nightmare for my left-brained boy but it plays quite nicely into my creative girls strength.

I have been working away at my blog a bit. Getting caught up on some things. Leafing through the pages of ideas I’ve written over the past month or so in preparation for summer vacation.

I am old school when it comes to brainstorming. Pencil and paper are the way to go for me. I know there are all kinds of mind-map programs and other digital forms that people utilize, I’ve even tried a few myself but I always go back to the pencil paper method.

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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It’s all about presentation

Over 30 years ago, I mined these lovely black rocks and since then they have resided in an old Christmas tin…such a shame. The other day I decided that I wanted to gift another rock loving gal with some of my treasured Apache Tears.

Technically they are obsidian but the ones found in this particular area of Arizona are named Apache Tears.

The Apache Tear is named after a legend of the Apache tribe. In the 1870s, a small group of Apache warriors met the US Cavalry in a battle. They were horribly outnumbered and it became clear that they could not win the battle. Instead of conceding defeat and being captured then murdered, they decided to ride their horses off the side of a mountain to their deaths. According to the legend, when the wives and children of these warriors mourned, their tears turned to stones when they touched the ground where their warriors fell. Those stones were the Apache Tears so we would always remember what happened.

My friend’s mom is waving at us from our high vantage point….likely worried we’d scare up a rattlesnake or fall from the cliff behind us. But teenagers are fearless.

I took these photos during our time adventuring around at the mine. It is honestly one of my favorite memories of my spring break trip to AZ my junior year in high school. Getting to use a small pick ax to gently tap away at the perlite unearthing the rounds of obsidian was so much fun. I can see how miners could get “gold fever” very easily.  It’s my understanding that this mine is now closed to the public. So glad I had the chance to experience it when it was available.

When I came across this glass jar, I was instantly inspired to create a lovely displayable gift. The rubber stopper is removable so she can take out the stones to admire them any time she wants. I used an old dreamcatcher earring as decoration along with a specimen tag. I plan to make another for myself as soon as I find just the right bottle again.

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T Tuesday: long time, no see edition

This Spring has been a real challenge for me to stay creative AND post about it…or even catch up with my blog friends. It’s been 10 days since my last post…ridiculous!

I did sit down and do a bit of creating last evening and finished this morning.

I kept adding layers to the background. In fact the paper I started with was oversized for my scrapbook journal. It was a purposeful choice. I wanted to just work on the layers, then cut it down the the part I loved the most.

My only regret is that the image I used of the woman buckled from the wet glue I used. It’s ok though…art journals are a perfect place for all those imperfections.

Speaking of layers and imperfections…

I love how my little stack of papers and fabric turned out. Frayed and torn but lovely.

Did any of you T Tuesday people notice the coffee mugs in the background? Yep I’m counting it.

This afternoon after returning from another funeral, I found this baby bird.

It was still alive and breathing really hard. I was afraid it had crashed into the patio door but looked ok. I checked on it on and off for a while. Finally I decided to go see if I could help or at the very least scare it enough to fly into the nearby tree with low branches.

After a few attempts it was able to find its way to the tree.

I texted my bird loving cousin, who I happened to had just seen at the funeral, asking what kind of bird it was. She is pretty sure its a Tennesse Warbler. I hope he/she is able to continue its migration with the rest.

I am happy to say that there are only 12 school days left of the year. Not that its been a bad year but I’m ready for a break…the kids are too. I have so many things I want to do this summer, way more than I’ll be able to fit in but it will certainly be fun to try!

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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Quick cards

In my last post I shared more of my mini collage embellishments that I’m currently obsessed with creating. I’m sure some would wonder if I will ever be able to use them all. I can’t speak to using them all but they are very handy when pressed for time.

Having these on hand allowed me to make some thank you cards just by adding a stamped sentiment.

Each of these embellishments also included a previously created button flower embellishments. I’ve nearly used all of those up. Nothing goes to waste.

Besides, some times it’s just about creating…not about the product.

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T Tuesday: the birthday continues edition

Days like today (and yesterday, for that matter) remind me how I seem to forget or perhaps had grown complaisant in my suburban bubble thinking that my world is very small. For years it really was small. Being a SAHM for nearly 18 years definitely narrows your bubble. Over the past 24 hours I have had the most wonderfully joyful experience realizing that my bubble has expanded more than I ever thought. Texts, social media greetings, cards and emails have come my way. Not that I need acknowledgment to find my place in this crazy world but I’m not going to lie…it feels good. 

At school today I received these lovely gifts as well as a couple of hugs and genuinely lovely birthday greetings. I’m a people person, so it was really great! You can check out yesterdays post for the lovely handmade book Elizabeth sent me too.

It also happens to be staff appreciation week at school so we started our morning with donuts, bagel and coffee (sorry no photo). Not bad for Monday morning.

In addition to celebrating my birthday over the weekend we were in full winter/summer change-over mode as well as getting ready for J to come back from college. Lots of purging, organizing and switching stuff around. Friday, Mr. G and I will go get him and all of his stuff. Then we will definitely be packed to the gills around here. I have to put my sewing machine (which has lived on J’s desk) back away too.

Since I knew this was pretty much the last time I had for a while I made another stack of embellishments.

Then I still hadn’t had enough so I made a few more at my craft bench sans stitching, just glue.

This week will go quickly I think especially with Friday off.

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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Gifts

Today is my birthday. We don’t get too carried away with birthdays around here. The birthday girl or boy gets to choose their meal of choice whether that is out or “mom-made”. I decided on sushi, of course. I love sushi!!! We actually had it yesterday since our favorite sushi restaurant doesn’t open until 4:30pm on Sunday’s. I just didn’t want to wait that long.

A couple other gifts came my way for my birthday, the first was a handmade gift from my dear friend Elizabeth. 

We really are terrible at getting gifts to each other…it’s become a big joke between us about how bad we are at it.

But just look at the lovely handmade book she created. I love the real bird feathers. The texture of the fabric paper is awesome.

Thank you Elizabeth!!

I gifted myself with something I stumbled upon as well.

This lovely ring made from reclaimed glass. So cool. When I read the story behind it I knew I had to have a piece of her jewelry.

It’s so pretty! It is made from a pink depression glass plate rescued from a glass dump site. I love it!!

Speaking of not getting too carried away with celebrations…a couple weeks ago we quietly celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We went out to eat and reminisced about our elopement to Las Vegas. Towards the end of our meal we noticed carrot cake on the dessert menu. We knew we had to buy a piece to have later that even just like we did on our wedding night. The fancy restaurant we ate at that night gave us a complementary piece of carrot cake as our wedding cake.  Sweet memories.

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