Dawn Sellers

Weird Science

I've been thinking a lot lately about serendipity and sychronicity, thanks to Kathryn over at True North Arts.  The prompt this month is serendipity and sychronicity and how it relates to the creative process.  I have way over thought this, I know. 

I believe completely that things happen for a reason.  I live my life open to that and am very aware of it.  I trust that things will work out and that when something happens another will follow.  Many times the reasons are not clear but I trust in it.  If I think too much about it, start to find reasons for things and try to find the meaning - it completely throws me off.  I get this unsettled feeling, it is so hard to try and explain.  That is where I am today, a little off, not quite in sync. 

It interests me greatly that each moment, each act, each movement, causes a different effect.  Because I spilled my coffee this morning and took time to clean it up does that save me from being in a car accident on the way to work?  Because I linger a little longer at the bookstore does that create the opportunity to run into someone I haven't seen for ages but have been thinking about?  Or would these things happen anyway just in a different manner? 

I've been trying to come up with some examples but they are hard to explain.  I am a very logical person, things need to make sense to me - except this.  I don't want it to make sense, I just want it to be and trust that it will be.  It is almost too weird for explanation.  A feeling that if I try to explain, it will end up like a really good episode of the X Files or Fringe.  Maybe it is something that can't be explained or at least that I cannot explain.  I know there are many who try to explain and have varying theories.  When sychronicity and serendipity happen I feel that things are as they should be, I am in the right place, doing the right thing.  All is well, even if they are not at that very moment, it is leading to something that will be right. 

Things in my life just happen.  Is it because I'm open to them or would they happen anyway?  Am I controlling them or are they out of my control?  Opportunities, chance meetings, terrible things that I always had a feeling about, unexpected good things that come my way.  Is it some sort of synchronocity or is it because of they way I live my life?  Do I just accept things that come out of left field and go with them or do things come out of left field because I'm not paying attention?

Is there a cosmic unconciousness?

Is it something that even needs to be explained or should we just go with it?

Is there a perfectly good explanation for this and I just haven't heard it yet?

What about Deja Vu, does that play a role in this?

"In the field of observation, chance favours only the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur

"In reality, serendipity accounts for one percent of the blessings we receive in life, work and love. The other 99 percent is due to our efforts." - Peter McWilliams

If you have thought about this before or post something on this subject leave me a comment so I can read it.  Or you can leave a comment that you just think this is really weird.  I'm still working on my journal layout for this prompt, it is an interesting one.

Painting Journal Backgrounds

The memory of my painting day remains today on my paint stained fingernails.  I really need a fresh manicure.  I am feeling much better after a nice weekend.  My bug bite seems to have healed so no worries there.

I spent most of the day Sunday between projects, one of which was painting backgrounds in my art journals.  It was fun to layer paints, papers, stamp and then scrub, dab on more paint, and just play.  These are some of the backgrounds that resulted. 

 

 

My trusty little brayer got a good workout as I played with different color combinations.  I worked on a few other painting projects in between while pages dried.  Will share those in another post.

These pages are all ready now.  I like having backgrounds all done and then as I flip through magazines or gather scraps, I can glue them down in my journal.  My book is filled with pages in progress and I really don't journal in sequence at all.  I'll jump around here and there, jotting down notes and thoughts randomly.  It doesn't need to make sense to anyone but me and I kind of like that it doesn't. 

 

I signed up for Mary Ann Moss' Stencilry class.  I think I'm way behind the times here as I've been seeing all of these great stenciled pages everywhere but she's offering the class again (starts in a couple of weeks) and pre-registration opened today.  I'm excited to learn some tips and tricks for cutting my own stencils.  I don't have much patience for that type of thing so I'm hoping she'll share some magic.

Sometimes you need to ask for directions

This prompt was from the True North Arts group.  I've been so busy wih finishing up the paintings that I wasn't sure I'd be able to complete it by today's deadline. 

Many times when I start a journal page, I really do not know where it is going to take me.  I'll start out with a plan and end up with something so completely different.  I let myself go with the flow and if I can get into a groove, I'm usually happy with the result.   For this page I started out with the map idea and ended up doing mostly collage.  It was a fun process.

I decided to map where I am right now.  Or at least, where I feel like I am.  Dare I say it?  The Midlife

Actually not a bad place to be.   

 

 

 

 

Although sometimes I feel like I need to ask for directions.

 

We have fruit flies at work.

All morning long, as I sit at my computer in my little cubicle, I keep seeing little gnats flying around.  I'm sure everyone in the office thinks I'm crazy because I keep swatting at them.  Someone must be keeping some fruit that is wayyy past it's prime.  Saving it for what?  famine in the office I suppose.  I really dislike the cubicle environment.  Not only is the noise and smell toxic but now we have fruit flies.

I am planning a little lunch time trip to the bead store, just for inspiration and who knows what I'll end up with.  I need a mental break today and the bead store is the perfect place to take that break.

This morning I slapped some paint on a couple of journal pages and I'm hoping to work on the True North Arts map prompt today.  Yesterday, I clipped out some collage materials and I have a plan for my map.  I am going to try and have it finished in time for the deadline of tomorrow (!) to post on the True North Arts blog.   If you have a chance check out some of the other maps that have been done, it is a great prompt that can be interpreted many different ways.

Looking forward to a glorious weekend and a great tutorial to share (EDM #14)

As the weekend approaches, I am getting more anxious for the warm weather to hit.  It is beautiful today but still a little cold.  C'mon 85 degrees, bring it on.

I didn't accomplish a single creative thing last night.  My hip was hurting and I was lazy.  Yesterday though I did gather some images for my stamp carving demo that will be happening Saturday night and made extra copies for everyone to share.  I'm hoping to carve a couple more stamps later today and will need to gather all of my supplies and tools.

I do have some creative links to share with you though so I am not a complete slacker.

I just came across this great tutorial for making your own journal, has nothing to do with stamp carving except that you could use the stamps in the journal I guess.

Anyway, I have used Teesha Moore's instructions for making journals but this new one from Lynn Fisher has a fancier binding and looks pretty simple.  If you try it leave me a comment so I can see what you come up with.  It looks like you can make any size journal and use any type of papers with this tutorial.

If you are looking for inspiration once you make a journal, the Soul Journaling group that I was in has morphed into True North Arts.  Check out Kathryn's revised blog and if you are on facebook you can join her group there.  Kathryn gives great prompts and inspiration for journaling.  I just wish I had more time to work on them.

Art journal pages not finished, but thought I'd share anyway

I started these a couple of weeks ago in one of my local art groups, Creative Circle.  We worked on Art Journaling and I mostly played around with paint, creating some fun backgrounds on watercolor paper.  I've tipped these into my art journal and was then inspired by a prompt from another group.  Lady In Red.

So far this is what I've come up with for my lady in red.  She needs some more work but I thought I'd share the page now.

 

I am loving the color on this second page.  Can you tell I'm feeling a little tropical?  I'm hoping to create some more work with brighter colors and get myself out of dreary mode of winter.

Spring Mitts and an Exciting Arrival

 

It as been so cold this early spring, it is hard to believe that the calendar is telling me March is almost over.  I'm ready for some sunshine and temperatures that get above 50 F.   I think the Cherry Blossoms are waiting too.  Each evening as I drive over the Willamette River towards home, I look down at the Waterfront and hope that I'll see a glimpse of a pink blossom.  Nothing yet, they are all still waiting - like me.

I've been working on a pair of spring mitts to keep my hands warm.  These are called Garden Trellis Mitts (ravelry link-you need to be a member to see- if you knit and are not a member, sign up quick to see what you've been missing).  I am knitting them with some amazingly soft Malabrigo Silky Merino.  I am addicted to Malabrigo, it is the drug of choice for many knitters.  Malabrigo comes in various weights, sock, chunky and worsted.  Then there is the Silky Merino in a double knit weight.  I have accumulated a bit of a stash. 

The computer has arrived!  My dad just called me (he's working at the store today) to tell me that the UPS man just delivered my new toy.  I am so excited to get home and play with it.  I've been looking up movies to download so I will have something to watch on the plane - if you know of a good site other than iTunes or Amazon leave me comment.  But not a free site, I believe in licensing and paying for the artists work.

I decided on the Acer Aspire One in white, with the hard drive (160 gb).  I know how I like to have my photoshop and other high demand software so I needed some space.  It is still lightweight (2.2 lbs) and tiny (8.9") and will fit into my bag.  I am going to try to get away without ordering the external dvd drive, we'll see how that goes. I did order the 16 gb flash drive but it was shipped seperately so isn't here yet.  I'm such a gadget geek.  I love them.  Now I need to find the perfect bag to carry all my stuff in (this is a never ending search in my life, for the perfect bag).   Hopefully there will be more photos and blog posts on a regular basis once I have a portable computer.  Here is the one I actually ordered:

Acer Aspire One

   

I have searched out all of the free wifi spots for my upcoming vacation to Kona, turns out there's free wifi at the condo where we will be staying and just up the road at the coffee shop on the beach (they advertise homemade cinnamon rolls too!) so watch for some vacation posts.  I plan to take tons of photos and I'm working on a travel journal to take with me so I can do a little vacation art journaling.

I am not looking forward to the flight so much.  I really do not like flying, in fact I'm terrified of it .  Something about that big plane way up there in the sky.  I try not to think to much about it and just enjoy my cocktails.

I am looking forward to getting together with my art friends on Sunday and hearing all about their upcoming trip to Artfest.  I won't be going this year but hopefully next, as I am certain they will all be wanting to go again.   I am planning to work on some fabric charms, two sets, for a swap I am in.  I need to get those finished and in the mail.  I also am hoping to make my paper bag pages tonight and let them dry so I can get those painted and bound into my travel journal for Hawaii.

Ahhhh, Spring at last . . . .

Even though it is a gray day, the calendar says it's spring.  That is very exciting.  We have had a crazy winter here in the Portland area.  More snow than I've ever seen in one winter and boy has it been cold.  I can feel a shift in the temperature just this week.  The bitter cold, you know the one.  It chills you down to your bones and you just can't get warm.  Well, it seems to have passed for the year.  At least I hope so.  The flowers are hoping so too as they bloom and start to brighten things up around here. 

I am looking forward to my first Sunday off since October.  This morning it hit me, I have nothing planned for Sunday, what will I do?  My first thought is that I will just lounge around and maybe watch a couple of movies and knit.  But then I realize that next Sunday I am finally going to get to join up with one of my art groups and I really can't take two Sundays off in a row without feeling a little guilty.  I will most likely work a bit at the store and get some things sorted and unpacked or maybe I will stay home and get back to sorting the tons of buttons and jewelry pieces that have just been sitting in my family room waiting for me.  We shall see.  I do know I won't be doing anything too strenuous.  My body is exhausted and needs some recovery time.  I've been having some hip pain that doesn't seem to go away.  I am blaming it on all of the trips up the stairs from the basement in that house, carrying boxes and such.

Tomorrow night I am getting together with some art firends to work on art journaling.  I'm really looking forward to this.  I brought my journaling bag to work with me today so I can do a little pruning and sorting and getting it ready for tomorrow.  I have a strong urge to start a new journal but I'm trying to fight that off and just continue in one of the two I have going.  What is the lure about starting a new project?  I have knitting patterns and yarn paired up for 4 new projects and I want to start them all at once. 

I have been taking some photos and they are all still on my camera, I'm finally getting a new laptop as soon as I can get to the computer store.  They have great prices but very limited hours.  I'm hoping to get there on Saturday.  This is the little gem I'm getting:

 

It is the Acer Aspire One, weighs 2.2 lbs.  It will fit in my bag!  Actually, I'm thinking of making a little felted sleeve for it.  I am getting it in black (not the blue shown in the photo).  It was between this and the Ipod Touch.  I was swayed to the Acer because of the keyboard.  I type with both hands so I wasn't too excited about having to type with one finger on the Ipod.  This way I can actually get some work done like website updates and blog posts and such.  And I'll be able to upload my photos more efficiently.  I have heard there have been some issues with this notebook when it first came out but I know someone who recently bought one and loves it.  I imagine like everything else it has improved since it  was first released.   Doug & I have been sharing the one laptop we have (also an Acer which has been a great computer, even after I spilled an entire cup of coffee on the keyboard) so it has been kind of a hassle.   When I was talking to my mom about this one she offered to buy it for me.  I'm a lucky girl!

The week is zooming by . . .

I finally made it all the way through the blog list on the One World One Heart giveaway.  I can't believe it but there are 911 blogs listed, each with a giveaway.  I've added some great blogs to my read list.  If you have not checked it out, take some time to look at some of the blogs.  You can still sign up for the giveaways until February 11th, the drawings are on the 12th.  The blog list will be up for some time so you will have an opporunity to get through them all.

I have been frantically working on jewelry for an art walk I'm participating in this Friday.  I'm afraid I won't have enough but I"m sharing the booth with a co-worker so hopefully we will be able to fill it.

I'll try to get some photos to post here but right now I'm just focusing on creating.

I have slowed down on the art journaling but hope to get right back to it next week.

Busy, busy, but nothing to show.

I've been doing lots but I have not photographs to share.  I have noticed the increased minutes of daylight however, and I'm thrilled! 

Sorting Beads, Buttons and Baubles!  Tons of them, jars and crocks and bags.  I have some ideas for many of them and yes, I'll be selling lots of them soon.  First, I have to sort them so I can see what I have, but believe me, there's some good stuff in there.

Continuing to unpack estate items at the store, packed all the Christmas away (yay!) and now the window is full of pastel colored treasures.

My job-that-pays-the-bills has fortunately, been at a tolerable level.  Although gearing up for the busy season again.

I am looking forward to a vacation.  Yes, it is going to happen.  The last vacation we took was 5 years ago.  A cruise in the Carribbean, it was wonderful.

This time we are going to Hawaii.  Kona, where I have never been.  I've been to Maui twice, but never Kona.   Doug bought a week's stay at a condo, which was donated for a charity auction at a local Hillsboro art group.  Now, Hawaiian Air is having some great deals on airfare so I think it's time to book the tickets.

I am looking forward to a week of relaxation, drinks, snorkeling, drinks, sun, drinks, you get the idea.  The problem is, I have been eating whatever I want since last summer.  That means none of my clothes fit now and the thought of getting into my swimsuit makes me depressed.  My focus now is to stop the madness, get back on track and get myself back into my reality where I am eating healthy and can actually fit into my jeans (not to mention that swimsuit).  I have a few months (3) so now is the time to start, which I did Sunday.  I have a strategy and a plan and my will power is revved up.

I'm already feeling better, not so sluggish.  I know all the water helps.  I always feel better when I drink water, so why do I reach for the soda?  And the sugar, that withdrawl hasn't started yet but will any minute I just know it.  Sugar is not my friend, never has been.  I love it, but it makes me crazy!  I want more and more and more!  So sugar, stay away from me and my hips and everywhere else on my body.  Go find someone else.  I'm too busy for your shenanigans.  I'm too busy dreaming about this:

and this  

**I have been continuing to art journal daily.  I'm really enjoying it and while I'm behind the others in the online group I'm just happy I'm doing it regularly.

**Thanks for all the comments on my last post about claiming my creative self.  It is something I have been working on for several years now and finally fell like I'm "getting it".