Another installment of 30 Days of Creativity – Day 26: Write, draw or paint something with your non-dominant hand.
It was funny explaining this exercise to my kids, and I found it somewhat easier than I expected. My little one told me a few times to switch hands to make drawing easier. He can be so logical. Drawing felt a little weird, and I had to think a lot more about how to form letters, which way my pen was going. Would this be like being in a reverse universe?
From October 10-12 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage fellow stamper, and former Craft Critique Reporter Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you’re not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year. This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight. A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer. Her first post about it is here. The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.
This exclusive stamp designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file. 100% of the profits go to Katie’s fund to help her and her young family. Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support. In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale. Direct donations are also being accepted. Information central is HERE. This is a permanent page that will stay active at i{heart}papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.
Please visit the blogs in the hop today to see what they have done with this inspirational stamp! Here’s mine… won’t you Swim for Katie, too?
If you would like to send her a card, her mailing address is:
Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913
**update** Craft Critique will be posting more creations (I submitted mine.) – supply lists and/or tutorials will be included!
Day 13: Try something new! Play today with a new form of art or craft!
Not long ago I reviewed some pretty cool art supplies for Craft Critique and made this mixed media mini-scroll (rubber stamping on fabric). I have to say, those gelatos are super fun to use! And even though mixed media artwork (artwork in which different materials are used) might not be new, it’s a form I haven’t explored in a very long time.
Mini-scroll
Any readers trying something new this summer? Here are a few sites for you to check out. Won’t you share some of yours too?
I could be totally off base, or completely late, but is there a lot of lace going on in the fashion world? The leftmost picture on the bottom… those dresses have Spanish influence, and have to admit, they remind me of my great-aunt’s tablecloth. From the fashion runways to the craft stores. Look at these pieces from We R Memory Keepers, Tres Elegant collection, their new line out in stores.
Tres Elegant collection
And these stamps from InkyAntics – I was lucky enough to see these at the StampScrapArt Tour last April. I know they’re stitch patterns, but there’s a certain lacy quality to them. I have yet to post my review on these.
For more trend spotting, check out Craft Critique’s Trendy articles.
**UPDATE** I wrote this article a few days before this posting, not even thinking of the Royal Wedding. Honest.
Did you like Kate Middleton’s dress? The Palace has a new fashion icon…
From CNN
Who knew, March is National Craft Month, and of course, there’s Martha Stewart kicking it off with her Craft Show and lots of giveaways at her Craft Department blog and also at Craft Critique.
So, here’s the craft-along I mentioned. We’re all busy, we all have those days, but maybe, just maybe this can bring all of us crafters together. I won’t promise 30 consecutive days of Creativity, but this looks like a lot of fun while doing some soul-searching. “30 day” posts will be intermingled with others… that’s what I’m thinking.
And, don’t worry, I’m still cooking away at home. I just have another outlet for my food adventures at Niles Patch.
I feel remiss in saying hello to anyone who is new to my site especially via Craft Critique, Blog Frog and Top Mommy Blogs! Thank you for taking time to come by and reading ramblings about my crafty-foodie life which often involves my family. Having the site for 1-1/2 years now, it’s still surreal to believe there are readers who visit regularly or whenever time allows. It’s nice to know that I’ve helped or inspired others to do something different, something new. The crafting and cooking will return soon…
It's the simplicity I envy sometimes
I’m feeling a little introspective lately. Like everyone else, just lots of things going on with family and life, but things are under control. I mean really, I have a great family life and I’m finally exploring the artistic side of me which before, I hardly had time. At least now, I sneak it in once in a while: a late night, drawing or sketching in the car while waiting in the school pick-up line. I often wonder if my daughter remembers I used to work outside the house and I used to take her to the office with me. Or is this the me she sees now: mom, wife, personal secretary, chauffeur, cook, launderer, housekeeper, etc. I want to make sure my kids know I love them, want to set a good example, teach them life skills. We all do the best we can.
I think I just get run down with the parenting-homekeeping part of me, so it was great timing that a friend of ours managed to arrange two tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show! How surreal is that? I ended up going by myself because Eastman had a prior school event – out of town, even. And, while there was the “extra” ticket, how could I possible pick one friend to come along? How do you pick? I didn’t. It’s almost impossible. How does that Petula Clark song go *grin*?
Like a good audience member, in accordance to the “guest contract” I signed at Harpo Studios, I won’t blog about the program I saw (it was the Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers show, by the way – aired last Friday), but I can certainly document my journey there. It was really refreshing to have some time for myself…
I had a chance to forget all my troubles, forget all my cares… downtown.
(Thanks, Darwin! Thanks, East!)
