I saw a hat ...

This ATC swap was so fun... it was for a collage ATC... the guidlelines were simple:  must clip images and words.  I went with a red/pinkish/white/gray theme as everything seemed to complement each other so well.  I was struck by the image of the woman... it was in a spread for some sort of valentine... I like it because of the hat.  ; )   

What does your hat say about you?

...scatter joy...

lindy

Ode to Oympics... Winter that is

I'm drawn to the olympics.  I love watching.... and cheering... and even a little tearing as the anthems are sung....

So of course I simply had to join in the fun when there was a swap for Winter Olympics ATC.... here is my rendition of speed skating.

What winter olympic sport is yours?

...scatter joy...

lindy

back door deLISH!

They say back door guests are best.... I use the back door daily (when I'm living at home) to take Baxie on his walks.  And my back door is in my kitchen.... it's a difficult eye-sore that causes me to groan when I try and figure out how to incorporate it into the beauty that is my kitchen...

And then it struck me (well... a while back but I finally did it...!).  I'd add some 'art'!  This art is in the form of an acrylic rub on transfer.... think: very thin layer of paint.... I got it from Stacy O's... I think this one is 'Dandelion Breeze' ... wait til you see the one I have for the bedroom!

What color is your door?

...scatter joy...

lindy

mini red zen*tangle INCHIES

Have you noticed that when I try something, I keep on trying it over and over and over and over again.... lol... probably boring you to tears... and that's one of the reasons I want to change up the organization of my blog... so that I provide a little more balanced commentary on what's going on in this collage called my life.

However, I'm not there yet, so, if you can indulge me just another minute, here are the Inchies I made for the Red Zentangle Inchie swap.  I thought it was going to be very difficult to draw in that teeny space... but I drew the tangles BEFORE I cut the inchies.  (Thanks, D, for the awesome tip!)

Have you tangled yet?

...scatter joy...
lindy

color*full Inchies

And here is the 2nd and 3rd attempt at Inchies... (2 partners, 4 inchies each)... It was a free theme, meaning the artist could choose how to proceed.  I'm still figuring out this artform... I did a few different techniques here... I did a couple miniature zentangles, a few collage and I even did  bit of faded drawings, (the red/fuschia to the right) is sketch of a girl in a winter coat ... the wind is blowing and the snow is swirling... the sentiment is 'merry winter'...

I have much to learn but have to say am enjoying the journey so much.  Thank you for looking and sharing.
What new thing have you learned recently?

...scatter joy...
lindy

What are INCHIES????

That was my question when I first saw the challenge on Swap-Bot. 

So, as is my custom, I did a search to see just what these things called 'inchies' are.  In the most basic sense, they are miniature works of art measuring 1"x1" and can be done using any variety of methods.  I still don't know what one 'does' with these little works of art... display them? collect them? keep them?  probably.  But I have a few other ideas as well... I think they are the perfect size for magnets, pins, and embellishments for larger works of art.

Here are my very first inchies...

I was so excited about these... I read the person's profile and saw that pink and black was her favorite color combo... and then, she has her own webiste offering her custom Tutus (it's great...if you have girls in your life, I think you should check it out!)... anyway, I assumed because she makes these custom tutus that she sews....... so several of the inchies focused on sewing.

After I completed the work I perused her profile one last time only to discover that she actually DOES NOT LIKE sewing.... arghhhhhhhhhh... how did I MISS that???? so I scibbled off  a note to her explaining my blunder and she was very gracious.... and she wrote back that her mom, in fact, loves sewing and that she was going to share those with her!

What have you 'missed' lately

...scatter joy...
lindy

Urban 'Loft'

As many of you know, one of my passions is design and decorating. I've been in the midst of re-making my space for quite a while now, and last weekend made significant headway... drum roll, please..... I now present to you my living space.


New sofa and chair in a mid-century modern style... gorgeous lime green slubbed fabric with button detail on the sofa... and the chair is a woven mocha ... both purchased from Stacy O's in Saginaw, MI. Also new is the TV cart (IKEA), the tables (which really are very very very similar to the style in Pottery Barn) that I found for a fraction of the cost on Overstock.com (gotta love the Overstock...) and the rug (one of my friends said that it reminds her of 'pepples' because of the size of the felted wool) is one of the softest I've ever experienced (also from Overstock).

The furniture pieces are slightly smaller scale so they don't dwarf the space... the tables, glass and iron to let the light and air dance through the room.

For me the key has been in visualizing what I'd like my space to look like... feel like.... and I wanted it to be a real reflection of me.... the woman I am today.

The best part.... I was able to make my purchases with the money from the items I sold that have been cluttering up my space that I was ready to release on Craig's List and Ebay.... and I sold my old furnture on Craig's List, too!


Baxter approves.

Sharing my Taste of Life

I am determined to change my blog a bit... as I find my voice and my focus I'm also discovering different ways I'd like to organize content.  So I'm on the hunt for a template that will allow me to have tabs or sections or some sort of categorization making it easier to find specific items of interest as well as keep me on track for posting a more balanced selection. 

Specifically my initial thoughts run towards weekly posts on the Life I'm Tasting:  The art I'm creating, the designing/decorating I'm doing, art/craft/diy tutorials, and easy choices for living a health*full life that are fun!

Because I'm new to blogging (less than a year at it) I am not sure of all the protocol involved, etc... so if anyone has any insight, feel free to send me a note... all help appreciated!  I'm not even sure if this is possible having a blogspot account....

So, keep on the lookout for changes.... and hopefully within a couple months end I'll have a new look and feel to the site...!

what changes have you made to your life recently?

...scatter joy...
lindy

The Color Purple

The challenge here was to create ATCs in the color purple.... I wasn't sure what I was going to create and I love how the cards turned out. 

Purple... Passion.... Happy Valentine's Day.  You are loved.

What does purple say to you?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Sticker Art & a little more orange...

This ATC challenge involved using a sticker and building a theme around it.  (Most ATC swaps I've been involved in have had the disclaimer "and don't just slap a sticker on a card and call it done"... I'm sure it's necessary but it makes me laugh.  So this challenge was a bit tongue in cheek... I created mine before I read my partner's profile.... I was slightly dismayed to see she didn't really like the color orange.  However, I sent it along anyway   : )


What is your least favorite color? 

...scatter joy...
lindy

Radical Reading Nook Phase II

OH BOY.............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Working away from home during the week has made it a little tougher to get my home design projects done... it takes a little longer, but last weekend was major breakthrough weekend and, da da da daaaaaaaaaaa.... here it is in all it's glory.

I'm not quite finished yet... but the final stage won't take place til late summer/fall.... so for now, *happy sigh* come join me in my nook and let's read awhile.... Doesn't it just look sooooooo inviting????  and, even though you can't see it very well, there is a great little table next to the chair for my glass of red....

what project are you looking forward to completing?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Live Your Most Succulent Wild Life!

One of my favorite books is Succulent Wild Woman by Sark.... and so when I had the opportunity to take part in an ATC 'Book Inspired' swap, my choices was clear...

If you haven't given SARK a try, I encourage you to do so... her message of self-love and living a life of succulence is one we can all benefit from.

What does succulent and wild look like in your life?

...scatter joy...
lindy

The ART of Staying Healthy

Another reason for me to LOVE art....  according to a recent survey by the Group Health Cooperative, creating art entertains us, exercises our brains, and exposes us to new experiences and social activities.

For me it's also very therapeutic.  No matter how stressed I can become with the day to day of being on a project far away from home, (hey, if I'm not sleeping in my own bed at night it's considered far! ; ) as soon as I bring out my art supplies the tension starts to fade and my world is immediately that much calmer.

The report goes on to state that those who make art a part of their lives have fewer doctor visits and health-care costs, use less medication and have lower rates of depression.  Expressing yourself through art may also help boost your immune system (or maybe it's that glass of red.... er,no, that keeps me HEART healthy...lol)

And the good news, at least for me, is you don't have to be great at it... you just have to Do IT!  Any creative act such as arranging flowers, journaling, decorating your house (or even making ATCs).... are forms of art.

What are some things you do to keep healthy?
...scatter joy...
lindy

Color * full Tangles

These are from 4 swaps... all for zentangles in color.  Traditionally Zentangles are done in black ink on white or ivory paper.
Blue, Rainbow, Purple and 'Free Color', which of course, I took to mean 'GREEN'....

Tangles are delightfully fun to do... and it's a great way to spend my evenings when I'm away from home. Watch a true artist at work creating a tangle here... it's time lapsed so goes by speedy, but not so speedy you can't see what's happening... zentangle tutorial

It's interesting to go back and look at them a few days later... I always wonder what I was watching or listening to at the time....


What color is your tangle?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Alphabet of Life ATCs C & D

Count Your Blessings and Dream... I loved the images & words I had chosen for Count Your Blessings... except they didn't translate as well onto an ATC... lol... so here's what I learned:  ATCs are small.  NOT BIG. small. 

And Dream... had fun with that one.  I love dreaming about Paris so took that as my focus.... used stamps, images, ribbon and incorporated my fave colors.

What are you blessed with?  What do you dream about?

...scatter joy...