Soul Humming

Making an Advent Calendar

Every December 1st my sons look forward to opening the first little flap on their chocolate filled Advent Calendar as we count down the days until we celebrate Jesus' birth. This year will be no different. But, I decided that I would also make an Advent Calendar that could be filled with with fun things for us to do as a family, kind ways to help others, and a few small treats, as well.

 

Of course, getting a new puppy this past weekend threw me off course in the making of the calendar. I only this morning realized that today is the last day of November!

So I'm quickly working to finish it this morning as Faelan dozes.

My super easy method for making the Advent Calendar is something even a child can manage to create. I went to Target and bought 12 pairs of toddler mittens for a dollar a pair. You could also use the winter or Christmas-themed kid's socks they have in the dollar section. You need one sock or mitten for each day of Advent.

Now you will need a way to identify the 24 days of Advent. You could use chipboard numbers, punch out circles from card stock and write the numbers on them, rubber stamp the numbers onto muslin, or use metal.

I am keen to use what I already have so I used brass sheet metal. I really wanted to make small circles for each number but my circle cutter is ready for the garbage pail. I tried to hammer out a circle with it and the thing is all stuck together now. Not the first time this has happened. I didn't want to saw out 24 tiny circles so I just went with rectangles.

First I drew the shapes, then hammered on the numbers, drilled a hole on each one to stitch to the mitten, then cut them out with shears. Pretty fast and simple.

I'm still sewing on the numbers right now. But when I am done with that I will stitch the mittens to a ribbon or piece of twine long enough to hang on the banister of our stairs. I thought about hanging them on the mantle but our stockings with be there so that won't work. You could also hang them up with little clothespins and remove each mitten after that day has passed. If you remove each one as you go, you don't even have to put numbers on them.

Some of the mittens will have a small treat inside like candy or money. But most will have slips of paper featuring activities for us all to do together. For instance, Make popcorn and watch the movie Elf in Mom and Dad's room, or Go Ice Skating, or Buy a new toy to donate to the local toy drive, or Write and mail your letter to Santa, or Read the Christmas Story, or Make Gingerbread, or Sing Christmas Carols, and finally, Put up & Decorate the Tree. Those are a few of the things I'll be including. This way we will have special holiday activities planned throughout the month. They don't have to be big things but they do need to be fun things that we can all do together. While many are things we traditionally do this will be a special way to make the kids feel involved and excited about the traditions.

It's not too late...you really could make one of these today. It's a quick and simple way to guarantee lots of love and togetherness during the holiday season. And, I wanted to say, that you can make one for yourself even if your children are grown. Put in special activities such as decorating your mantle, making candy for friends, getting a new holiday movie, visiting the elderly in a nearby rest home, getting your nails done, or whatever you like to do. Create a balance of traditions and special treats that you can do for others and yourself.

Here, here, and here are some links to Advent calendars online that you can visit each day or download or find more inspiration to make your own version. Happy Holidays!

Faelan

We are deep in the throes of puppy love at our house.

 

FÁELÁN is Celtic and means Little Wolf.

He is a tri-color smooth Collie.

Margo Polo is very interested in her new house-mate.

Una is an adult tri-color smooth Collie.

 

 

We are overjoyed (and really tired)!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Praying
by Mary Oliver

It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

There's much to be thankful for in this beautiful life. I hope that you find time to celebrate with much Joy and Thanksgiving whether you are gathered together with your family or curled up on your couch with a book alone. 

 

Hold open your heart during these special days, smile at all the strangers you come across, sing loudly as you drive, hold hands with someone small or big, make an after-dinner walk into your own Thanksgiving Day parade. Take time to acknowledge the blessings you have and share your bounty with those with less.

I am thankful for you, my friends. Wishing you many blessings!

Happy Birthday!

"It takes a long time to grow young."

-Pablo Picasso

Today I am celebrating the birthdays of my Mama and my Daddy! 

I love you both so, so much and wish I could be with you to celebrate today.

Happy Birthday!

Simple Gifts

This week I find myself singing the old Shaker hymn, Simple Gifts, more and more. It reminds me to keep the holidays in perspective and not to let them spin me out of control.

The song was written in 1848 but speaks to me so strongly today. If you need a gentle reminder, as I do, during this busy time, then sing along.

"'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come round right."

A New Member of the Family

It has been really lonely around here since my Big Dog died this summer. I still walk in the door and look for him. I will hear something and think it is his soft sigh as he sleeps. Of course I am busy and well-loved but to lose a wonderful companion who shadows your every step is a difficult process. It's been a long, long time since I've not had a dog. But, that's all going to change next weekend when we get this little smooth Collie boy.

The kids haven't ever had a puppy before. And, I've never raised a puppy with two little boys and all their Legos. I've also never had to introduce a canine to two cats (I always had the dogs first and brought in a cat). I am readying myself for the task and while it seems daunting I am so excited about bringing this little guy into our family. You can be sure that I will have lots of photos and stories to share about him. And with a face like this, he's bound to find his way into many paintings.

Inspiration Exercises

Today's post previously appeared online at Everyday Art where I was a guest blogger. So, in case you missed it, it's here today. Think of it as getting your Thanksgiving leftovers a bit early. ;0)

I grew up in a small town. And for a part of my youth, I lived in the sticks, aka the country part outside the small town.

When you live in the sticks, there’s really not a lot of planned activities going on. There’s no Little League or art center. Instead, there’s cows, maybe a creek, and probably a bunch of dogs. You learn to be extremely creative with what you have available, which, outside of the cows might only be your mind and hands.

As a working artist, I am especially grateful for this time of my life. It taught me to look at the natural world with the eye of a dreamer, a believer of fairies, a story teller. I’m sure that living in the city might have given me the same benefits but surely with a different slant. 

It wasn’t until I was older and painting and making jewelry on a regular basis that I realized not everyone comes by their creativity easily. For some, finding keen inspiration is a true challenge. Yet, for the lucky ones, it is a never-ending fountain.While I don’t think I have quite the spewing fountain variety of creativity, I do have more half-full buckets than half-empty. So I wanted to share some of the ideas and adventures that work for me when I am looking for ways to play and come out of a dry patch.

 

A)   Read poetry, song lyrics, old books, even the newspaper. Find a way to illustrate a particular passage that turns you on, irritates you, or is particularly vivid.

 

B)    Take a walk outside your door. Look for found objects during your walk to use in your artwork. Create a piece of jewelry, an assemblage, or a small shrine with your found treasures.

 

C)    Pick one color and create a piece using only shades of this color. You can do this in a variety of media from jewelry to fabrics to pen and ink. Make a game of it and just have fun.

 

D)   Collaborate! This was an enormous boost to the creativity behind the book I did with my friend, Ruth Rae, titled A Charming Exchange. When you are working with elements created by someone else you are forced outside of your usual routine to find ways to make your own style work alongside that of someone else. It is a great way to challenge yourself and grow as an artist.

 

E)    Keep a journal to jot down ideas, inspirations, snippets of songs, matchbook covers, take-out menus, whatever moves you. When you need a little something to get you started, pick it up and take a look.

 

F)    Create more than one piece to illustrate the same concept in different ways. Either use different media, painting styles, or color schemes. Explore how making small changes to the design effect the overall message conveyed.

 

G)   Try on the style of your favorite master. Peruse the works of Chagall, Van Gogh, De Kooning…whomever turns you on. Play with their influence and try their color palette or themes in a piece of your own. Keep your style yours but let the inspiration flavor a new project.

I hope these ideas will give you some exercises to stretch your creative muscles. Remember that your work is for yourself. Try not to overly judge it or let your mind get in the way of your expression. Play, relax, and create with abandon.

 

Keep Out

 

I tell you what, lately I'm having a hard time approaching this little white box with the intention of writing. I don't want to talk. I don't want to write in here. I imagine that is fairly obvious as I've not had much to say. It started because my wrist was hurting so bad. And now it seems like a chore to slow down and put something out into the abyss of the world.

My mind is sporadically unorganized. It feels so flighty as if I have forgotten a whole list of very important things that I should be doing. Probably, this is due to the impending holiday season. It makes me stressed out to try to find gifts for everyone. And this year the budget for the gifts has gotten tighter, so that makes it even more problematic. And, even if the gifts are handmade, they still have to be made amidst school plays, class parties and other obligations. Time, time, time is running away from me. And I am feeling like sitting by myself and being quiet.

Perhaps it is best to stop with the self-inflicted pressure and get back to having fun with it. Time to make a game of it. Time to let go of expectations and remember to play.

Speaking of playing, a little while back I had a chance to relax and play at my friend's lovely birthday gathering. Beautiful Holly Stinnett came to lead us in making a romantic Regency inspired fabric/lace based necklace.

When I realized we had to sew I literally broke out in a sweat. I'm not one to worry about how to make something. I will just do as I please. But sewing and I have had harsh words and it put a wall up in my face.

Luckily, Holly is a wonderful teacher. She is so calm and cheery that I was put at ease right away and quickly relaxed and had a great time. I like how mine turned out. It's very girlie. I sent it over to my BFF Maija because I thought she would like it. I bet it looks gorgeous on her.

I hope that I will settle down and get back to writing here with some verve. I do enjoy talking with you all. And I hope that you will keep hollering at me even when I am excruciatingly dull. In the meantime, I'm off to finish working on my 13 ornaments. I hope you are having a day above days. I'll leave you with a song I like a lot. I love how he sings as if he is on his back porch. He doesn't over perform it or get all flashy and full of angst. His voice is beautiful to me. His accent sounds like most everyone I grew up with. It moves me and I hope you enjoy it, too.

 

Alter Ego - I go on Forever

 

"I go on Forever" - 16" x 8" acrylics on canvas 

Last week in art therapy we worked on a piece that was to represent our alter ego. The class is only about two hours long and I got there late. So I didn't have much time to bust something out. But, I have a start going and look forward to painting again.

"I hold a beast, an angel and a madman in me, and my enquiry is as to their working, and my problem is their subjugation and victory, downthrow and upheaval, and my effort is their self-expression." - Dylan Thomas

Kids' Ornament Exchange

The Crafty Crow is a fabulous blog featuring fun crafts to make with children. She always has great ideas and links to many sites for even more. She is currently taking sign-ups for the Second Annual Kids Ornament Exchange.

Every year I participate in a 12 Days of Christmas ornament exchange with a group of friends. Everyone makes 12 ornaments and sends one to each participant. Then, on the 12 days before Christmas we each open one present every day right up to Christmas Eve. 

My sons love it almost as much as I do. But by the fourth or fifth day they are usually pretty envious. And, they have often said they wished that they could do something like the 12 Days of Christmas Exchange. So when I saw that there was an ornament exchange for families, I signed right up. The theme this year is Fairy Tales. I'm thinking about the three little pigs and the big bad wolf. I'm sure the boys will want to make dragons instead. I'll keep you posted on how it is going.

Sign-ups are still open if you are interested in joining in the fun. Just click here to go straight to the Crafty Crow.